[Sunday's Worship Service and Scripture Readings]

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The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost 8-10-25

Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;

make melody to our God on the lyre!

He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain   for the earth;

he makes grass grow on the hills.

He gives to the beasts their food,

and to the young ravens that cry.

His delight is not in the strength of the horse,

nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,

but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him,

in those who hope in his steadfast love.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;

make melody to our God on the lyre!

 

Collect Almighty and merciful God, it is by Your grace that we live as Your people who offer acceptable service.  Grant that we may walk by faith, and not by sight, in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 

 

Genesis 15:1-6 …the LORD spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, "Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great." 2 But Abram replied, "O Sovereign LORD, what good are all your blessings when I don't even have a son? Since I don't have a son, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. 3 You have given me no children, so one of my servants will have to be my heir." 4 Then the LORD said to him, "No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own to inherit everything I am giving you." 5 Then the LORD brought Abram outside beneath the night sky and told him, "Look up into the heavens and count the stars if you can. Your descendants will be like that-- too many to count!" 6 And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD declared him righteous because of his faith.

 

Hebrews 11:1-4a, 5-16   What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. 2 God gave his approval to people in days of old because of their faith.  3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.  4 It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. 5 It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying-- "suddenly he disappeared because God took him." But before he was taken up, he was approved as pleasing to God.  6 So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.  7 It was by faith that Noah built an ark to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about something that had never happened before. By his faith he condemned the rest of the world and was made right in God's sight.  8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.  9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith-- for he was like a foreigner, living in a tent. And so did Isaac and Jacob, to whom God gave the same promise. 

10 Abraham did this because he was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.  11 It was by faith that Sarah together with Abraham was able to have a child, even though they were too old and Sarah was barren. Abraham believed that God would keep his promise. 

12 And so a whole nation came from this one man, Abraham, who was too old to have any children-- a nation with so many people that, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.  13 All these faithful ones died without receiving what God had promised them, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed the promises of God. They agreed that they were no more than foreigners and nomads here on earth.  14 And obviously people who talk like that are looking forward to a country they can call their own.  15 If they had meant the country they came from, they would have found a way to go back. 

16 But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a heavenly city for them.

 

Luke 12:22-34   Then turning to his disciples, Jesus said, "So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life-- whether you have enough food to eat or clothes to wear.  23 For life consists of far more than food and clothing.  24 Look at the ravens. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!  25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not!  26 And if worry can't do little things like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things?  27 "Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? You have so little faith!  29 And don't worry about food-- what to eat and drink. Don't worry whether God will provide it for you.  30 These things dominate the thoughts of most people, but your Father already knows your needs.  31 He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.  32 "So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.  33 "Sell what you have and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven have no holes in them. Your treasure will be safe-- no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. 

34 Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.

 

 

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