This Week’s Bulletin
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Sunday, August 3, 2025 | The 8th Sunday after Pentecost
+ THE LITURGY OF THE GATHERING +
8:55AM The Ringing of the Valley of Hope Spire Bells
WORDS OF WELCOME
THE VOLUNTARY
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Please stand as you are able and face the cross as it processes down the aisle, leading us into worship.
P In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
P Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we will perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord
C Amen
P Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence is kept for reflection.
P Most Merciful God,
C we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we will delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
P In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
THE GATHERING HYMN – ELW #705 — God of Grace and God of Glory
THE APOSTOLIC GREETING
P The grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C And also with you.
THE KYRIE
THE HYMN OF PRAISE
THE COLLECT/PRAYER OF THE DAY
P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
P Benevolent God, you are the source, the guide, and the goal of our lives. Teach us to love what is worth loving, to reject what is offensive to you, and to treasure what is precious in your sight, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C Amen.
Please be seated.
+ THE LITURGY OF THE WORD +
We hear readings from Holy Scriptures. A lesson from the Old Testament (or Hebrew Bible), a Psalm, a lesson from the New Testament, and a reading from one of the four Gospels are read.
THE FIRST READING – Ecclesiastes 1:2; 12-14; 2:18-23
The teacher of wisdom who wrote Ecclesiastes sees that working for mere accumulation of wealth turns life into an empty game, a “vanity of vanities.” Nevertheless, he asserts in the next verse, it is good to find enjoyment in one’s work because such enjoyment is a gift from God.
2 Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
12 I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I applied my mind to seek and to search out
by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to humans to
be busy with. 14 I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun, and see, all is vanity and a chasing
after wind.
2:18 I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to my
successor, 19 and who knows whether he will be wise or foolish? Yet he will be master of all for
which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. 20 So I turned and gave my
6heart up to despair concerning all the toil of my labors under the sun, 21 because sometimes one who
has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not
toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22 What do mortals get from all the toil and strain with
which they toil under the sun? 23 For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even
at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity.
After the reading: Word of God. Word of Life.
All respond: Thanks be to God.
THE PSALMODY – PSALM 49:1-12
We will read the Psalm responsively.
Your steadfast love endures forever; do not abandon the works of your hands. (Ps. 138:8)
My mouth shall speak of wisdom. (Ps. 49:3)
1 Hear this, all you peoples;
give ear, all you who dwell in the world,
2 you of high degree and low,
rich and poor together.
3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom,
and my heart shall meditate on understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb
and set forth my riddle upon the harp.
5 Why should I be afraid in evil days,
when the wickedness of those at my heels surrounds me,
6 the wickedness of those who put their trust in their own prowess,
and boast of their great riches?
7 One can never redeem another,
or give to God the ransom for another’s life;
8 for the ransom of a life is so great
that there would never be enough to pay it,
9 in order to live forever and ever
and never see the grave.
10 For we see that the wise die also; like the dull and stupid they perish
and leave their wealth to those who come after them.
11 Their graves shall be their homes forever, their dwelling places from generation to generation,
though they had named lands after themselves.
12 Even though honored, they cannot live forever;
they are like the beasts that perish.
THE SECOND READING – Colossians 3:1-11
Life in Christ includes a radical reorientation of our values. Just as the newly baptized shed their old
clothes and put on new garments, so Christians are called to let go of greed and take hold of a life
shaped by God’s love in Christ.
1 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at
the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on
earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your
life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil
desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those
who are disobedient. 7 These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that
life. 8 But now you must get rid of all such things: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive
language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old
self with its practices 10 and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed
in knowledge according to the image of its creator. 11 In that renewal there is no longer Greek
and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, enslaved and free, but Christ is all
and in all!
After the reading: The word of the Lord.
All respond: Thanks be to God.
THE GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
We stand to welcome the good news from the Gospel:
THE READING OF THE GOSPEL – Luke 12:13-21
P The Holy Gospel for this day is according to St. Luke, the 12th chapter.
C Glory to you, O Lord.
In God’s reign, the “rich will be sent away empty.” Jesus uses a parable to warn against identifying the worth of one’s life with the value of one’s possessions rather than one’s relationship with God.
813 Someone in the crowd said to [Jesus,] “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” 16 Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17 And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have
no place to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are
not rich toward God.”
After the Gospel is read,
P The Gospel of the Lord.
C Praise to you, O Christ.
THE GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Please be seated.
THE HOMILY Pastor Scott+
A time for reflection.
THE HYMN OF THE DAY – ELW #764 — Have No Fear Little FLock
Please stand as you are able.
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
A With the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, let us pray for the church, those in need, and all of God’s creation.
After each petition…
A …God of grace,
C hear our prayer.
P Trusting in your lovingkindness, we place our prayer and hope in you, in the name of Jesus Christ..
C Amen.
THE SHARING OF THE PEACE
As forgiven people, we share the peace of Christ with one another.
P The peace of Christ be with you always.
C And also with you.
The ministers and congregation may greet one another with a gesture of peace, using these or similar words: Peace be with you.
Please be seated.
GREETINGS FOR THE DAY
+ THE LITURGY OF THE MEAL +
THE GIVING OF OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS TO GOD
We bring our offerings at the front of the altar. The basket on the left (closest to the piano) is for BLAST! offerings. The basket on the right (closest to the pulpit) is for adult offerings.
OFFERTORY MUSIC
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Please stand as you are able.
A Let us pray. Creator God, in your wisdom you bring forth all that is good and the harvest is plentiful. Strengthen us at your table with these gifts of the earth and our labor, that we will work for the good of all; through Jesus Christ, our Savior.
C Amen.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
THE PREFACE
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times…we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
SANCTUS
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
THE LORD'S PRAYER
We pray together the prayer Our Lord taught to his disciples:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
Please be seated.
INVITATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE HOLY AND BLESSED SACRAMENT
All are welcome to Christ’s table. Whatever happens, you cannot do it incorrectly. Gluten-free, rice-free, and non-alcoholic options are available. Prayer Ministers will be available during Holy Communion on either side of the front part of our worship space.
THE AGNUS DEI
COMMUNION HYMN – ELW #483 – Here is Bread
SENDING of HOME COMMUNION MINISTERS
Vic and Karen Ramey
THE POST COMMUNION BLESSING AND PRAYER
Please stand as you are able.
P The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen and keep you in His grace.
C Amen.
A Mothering God, you gathered us to your table, and we drank deeply of your grace. Send us out by your Spirit to love our neighbors as ourselves and to proclaim your love in Jesus’ name.
C Amen.
+ THE LITURGY OF THE SENDING +
THE BENEDICTION
P The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine upon you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor, and + give you peace.
C Amen.
THE SENDING HYMN – ELW #768 – Lead Me, Guide Me
THE SENDING PRAYER
Draw your church together, O God, into one great company of disciples, together following our teacher Jesus Christ in every walk of life, together serving in Christ’s mission to the world, and together witnessing to your love wherever you will send us; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE DISMISSAL
P Go in peace. Live by the Spirit!
C Thanks be to God!
THE VOLUNTARY
Liturgy reprinted by permission of Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2025 Augsburg Fortress license #23630. All rights reserved. Hymns reprinted by permission Sundays and Seasons #23630, OneLicense #A-705758, and CCLI#2530682. Other hymns printed by permission as noted. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Permission to Podcast the music in this service obtained from OneLicense.net, Augsburg Fortress, and CCLI.
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