INTRODUCTION

As we are invited today to consider what it means to be managers (rather than owners) of all that we have, it is crucial to recognize that we are bought with a price. “Christ Jesus, himself human, . . . gave himself a ransom for all.” Apart from the generosity of God we have nothing—we are nothing. By God’s gracious favor we have everything we need.

ANNOUNCEMENTS   

PRELUDE

* CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

In the name of the Father, and of the   Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Baptized into Christ, let us confess our sin.

Merciful God,

you free us to love others, but we neglect our neighbors and follow our own way. You lead us by the Spirit of joy and peace, but we turn away from the abundant life you offer. You surround us with patience, kindness, and generosity, but we grow weary in doing what is right.

In your mercy, forgive us. Do not give up on us. Heal us, break our bonds, and show us the path of life. Amen.

You belong to Christ Jesus and you are God’s children through faith.

In the cross of   Christ, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, your sins are forgiven. Clothed with Christ, you are a new creation. Amen.

* PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. 

God among us, we gather in the name of your Son to learn love for one another. Keep our feet from evil paths. Turn our minds to your wisdom and our hearts to the grace revealed in your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

*GATHERING SONG   Take My Life, That I May Be (ELW 685)

FIRST READING: Amos 8:4-7

 4 Hear this, you who trample on the needy,

  and bring to ruin the poor of the land,

 5 saying, “When will the new moon be over

  so that we may sell grain,

 and the Sabbath,

  so that we may offer wheat for sale 

 We will make the ephah smaller and the shekel heavier

  and practice deceit with false balances,

 6 buying the poor for silver

  and the needy for a pair of sandals

  and selling the sweepings of the wheat.”

 7 The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob:

 Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.

PSALM: Psalm 113

 1 Hallelujah! Give praise, you servants | of the LORD;

  praise the name | of the LORD.

 2 Let the name of the | LORD be blessed,

  from this time forth forevermore.

 3 From the rising of the sun to its | going down

  let the name of the | LORD be praised.

 4 The LORD is high above all nations;

  God’s glory above the heavens. 

 5 Who is like the | LORD our God,

  who sits enthroned on high,

 6 but stoops | to behold

  the heavens | and the earth 

 7 The LORD takes up the weak out | of the dust

  and lifts up the poor | from the ashes,

 8 enthroning them | with the rulers,

  with the rulers | of the people.

 9 The LORD makes the woman of a | childless house

  to be a joyful mother of children. | Hallelujah! 

SECOND READING: 1 Timothy 2:1-7

1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is right and acceptable before God our Savior, 4 who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For 

 there is one God;

  there is also one mediator between God and humankind,

 Christ Jesus, himself human,

  6 who gave himself a ransom for all

—this was attested at the right time.7 For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth; I am not lying), a teacher of the gentiles in faith and truth.

*GOSPEL: Luke 16:1-13

The holy gospel according to Luke. Glory to you, O Lord.

1 Then Jesus said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. 2 So he summoned him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you  Give me an accounting of your management because you cannot be my manager any longer.’ 3 Then the manager said to himself, ‘What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me  I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.’ 5 So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master ’ 6 He answered, ‘A hundred jugs of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.’ 7 Then he asked another, ‘And how much do you owe ’ He replied, ‘A hundred containers of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill and make it eighty.’ 8 And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly, for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone they may welcome you into the eternal homes.

  10 “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much, and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. 11 If, then, you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches  12 And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own  13 No slave can serve two masters, for a slave will either hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

The gospel of the Lord.  Praise to you, O Christ.

MEDITATION

*HYMN OF THE DAY God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending (ELW 678)

* 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.

*PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Gracious God, we come to you in prayer for the church, the world, and all in need.

O God, teach your church to act in solidarity with the poor, frustrating the efforts of those who trample on the needy and practicing justice in our own life and community. God of grace, receive our prayer.

Almighty Creator, we pray for an end to the misuse of the earth and its resources, that all people may benefit from your abundant gifts and that our stewardship of creation would be marked by justice and sustainability. God of grace, receive our prayer.

Holy One, embolden elected leaders to pursue policies of economic justice for the benefit of all, especially those who are most vulnerable and marginalized. Persuade them by your example of generosity and compassion. God of grace, receive our prayer.

Compassionate God, we pray for all facing illness, those near death, or those grieving the loss of loved ones. May they find comfort and strength in your love. Prepare us to surround them with your healing care. We pray especially for the Folcroft Police and Fire Company members, the family of Tiona, family and friends of Dan, Pastor Wende, Ray, Richie, Jules, Derek, Chris, Bill, Donna, Trena, Keyasi, Sorie, Bill, Carol, Vince, Danielle, Barbara, Deb, Connor, Dawn, Elaine, Robert, Anna, Don, Bryant, Lois, Curt, Calvin, Robin, Helen, Hoon, Pat, Joe, Ruth, Lisa, Jacklyn, Lillian, Alexis, and those we now raise before you in our hearts.  We pray for those affected by the Covid virus in mind, body or spirit.  Grant them healing and wholeness. God of grace, receive our prayer.

God of love, motivate our congregation to enact economic justice through tangible action, prioritizing the needs of our community and sharing resources generously through our outreach and justice ministries. God of grace, receive our prayer.

Gracious God, we give thanks for the saints who now join the heavenly chorus in praising your name. Lift us up from the dust of grief and remind us of your promise of new life. God of grace, receive our prayer.

We entrust these prayers to you, O God, in the name of Jesus Christ, our redeemer and friend. Amen.

* LORD'S PRAYER

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.

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.

*PEACE

The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.

OFFERING OF TITHES AND GIFTS TO GOD

Please place your offering in the plate near the Sanctuary door any time during or following worship. Your offering and tithes may be made on line through our  website:   stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org  or sent by mail to

St. John’s Lutheran church, 1500 Glen Avenue, Folcroft, PA 19032.

* OFFERING PRAYER

*BLESSING

The love of God abound in you; the grace of our Savior Jesus Christ fill your hearts; and the life of the Spirit   bless you and give you peace. Amen.

* SENDING SONG  Rise Up, O Saints of God! (ELW 669)

DISMISSAL - Go in peace. Live by the Spirit. Thanks be to God.

The ETERNAL CANDLE is sponsored for the month of September by Joe and Sherrie Modge in honor of Julie and TJ Wiker on their first wedding anniversary.

UPCOMING MEETINGS:

YOU CAN HELP!  You can be a good steward AND get your grocery shopping done.  Did you know that if you purchase a grocery food gift card from St. John’s, our congregation will receive 5% of all sales of gift cards.  Please see MaryAnne Rossi if you wish to purchase and gift cards.  Thank you for helping us raise that 5% for helping to continue our ministry. 

Each week, we collect food for our hungry neighbors in need in our SHARING GOD'S BOUNTY WAGON.  Hunger doesn’t take a vacation.  Please consider making a donation of a food item each week. If you are in need of food, please notify Pastor Wende and she will let you know what we have available.

The Social Ministry Committee would love to hear from you if you have any ideas for small fundraising and/or social ministry events that we could pull off with minimal effort. Challenge us with your ideas!!

With our church building getting older, we need everyone’s eyes and ears to help keep her in good repair. If you see any problems like a burnt out light bulb, please let Barb or Bud know or drop a note in the offering plate on Sunday. We need to get a jump on current or upcoming problems.

Our Financial Response  (August) 

CURRENT

Budgeted costs per month        $   7,263.55

Offering last month        $   6,097.14

Budget required to date (8 months)        $  58,108.40

Total received to date        $  44,605.12

MISSION SUPPORT

Budget required to date (8 months)        $   3,200.00

Total received to date        $   3,091.76

Please continue to support St. John's.  Our expenses continue each month. 

Your offering and tithes may be made on line through our  website:   stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org  or sent by mail to

St. John’s Lutheran church, 1500 Glen Avenue, Folcroft, PA 19032.