The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost 
Isaiah 1.1, 10-20 
The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, 
Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. 
Hear the word of the Lord, 
you rulers of Sodom! 
Listen to the teaching of our God, 
you people of Gomorrah! 
What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? 
says the Lord; 
I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams 
and the fat of fed beasts; 
I do not delight in the blood of bulls 
or of lambs or of goats. 
When you come to appear before me, 
who asked this from your hand? 
Trample my courts no more! 
Bringing offerings is futile; 
incense is an abomination to me. 
New moon and Sabbath and calling of convocation— 
I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity. 
Your new moons and your appointed festivals 
my soul hates; 
they have become a burden to me; 
I am weary of bearing them. 
When you stretch out your hands, 
I will hide my eyes from you; 
even though you make many prayers, 
I will not listen; 
your hands are full of blood. 
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; 
remove your evil deeds 
from before my eyes; 
cease to do evil; 
learn to do good; 
seek justice; 
rescue the oppressed; 
defend the orphan; 
plead for the widow. 
Come now, let us argue it out, 
says the Lord: 
1 
If your sins are like scarlet, 
will they become like snow? 
If they are red like crimson, 
will they become like wool? 
If you are willing and obedient, 
you shall eat the good of the land, 
but if you refuse and rebel, 
you shall be devoured by the sword, 
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. 
Psalm 50.1-8, 23-24 
Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 
The Meaning of Faith 
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our 
ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, 
so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. 
The Faith of Abraham 
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an 
inheritance, and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he 
had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him 
of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder 
is God. By faith, with Sarah’s involvement, he received power of procreation, even though he was too 
old, because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as 
good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of 
sand by the seashore.” 
All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted 
them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this 
way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had 
left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better homeland, that 
is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city 
for them. 
Luke 12:32-40 
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your 
possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in 
heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart 
will be also. 
2 
Watchful Slaves 
“Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return 
from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and 
knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will 
fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the 
middle of the night or near dawn and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. 
“But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not 
have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you 
do not expect.” 
Prelude : Just as I AM , Without One Plea 
Wm. Bradbury arr.Mark Hayes  -------- 
Open : CP 601 God Whose Giving Knows No Ending 
"Blaenwern" Wm.P. Rowlands Text: R.L. Edwards 
God, whose giving knows no ending, 
From Your rich and endless store: 
Nature's wonder, Jesus' wisdom, 
Costly cross, grave's shattered door, 
Gifted by you, we turn to you, 
Off'ring up ourselves in praise; 
Thankful song shall rise forever, 
Gracious donor of our days. 
Skills and time are ours for pressing 
Toward the goals of Christ, your Son: 
All at peace in health and freedom, 
Races joined, the Church made one. 
Now direct our daily labor, 
Lest we strive for self alone; 
Born with talents, make us servants 
Fit to answer at your throne. 
Treasure, too, you have entrusted, 
Gain through pow'rs your grace conferred; 
Ours to use for home and kindred, 
And to spread the gospel word. 
Open wide our hands in sharing, 
As we heed Christ's ageless call, 
Healing, teaching, and reclaiming, 
3 
Serving you by loving all. ----- 
Invitory Psalm  
CP 359 This is the Day 
Marty Haugen  
Refrain :  
This is the day that the Lord has made, 
Let us rejoice and be glad, and be glad. 
This is the day that the Lord has made, 
alleluia, alleluia. 
Let us sing unto the Lord, praise God's name with our joyful shouts, 
enter in with our joyful hearts, to the God of our salvation. 
This is the day... 
Let the heavens be glad, let the earth now rejoice and sing, 
let the fields and the trees cry out and the oceans thunder praise. 
This is the day... 
Bring your gifts before the Lord, bring your off'rings into his court; 
tell God's glory to all the earth and God's wonders for all time. 
This is the day... -------- 
Gradual: Give Me Oil in My Lamp 
Traditional  
Give me oil in my lamp,keep me burning 
Give me oil in my lamp, I pray 
Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning 
Keep me burning till the break of day 
Chorus:  
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna 
Sing hosanna to the King of kings. 
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna 
Sing hosanna to the King. 
2.Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising... 
4 
---gospel -------- 
3.Give me peace in my heart, keep me loving... 
4.Give me love in my heart, keep me serving... ----------------------- 
Offertory : Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus  
Helen Lemmel 
O soul are you weary and troubled 
No light in the darkness you see 
There's light for a look at the Savior 
And life more abundant and free 
Chorus: 
Turn your eyes upon Jesus 
Look full in His wonderful face 
And the things of earth 
Will grow strangely dim 
In the light of His glory and grace 
His Word shall not fail you He promised 
Believe Him and all will be well 
Then go to a world that is dying 
His perfect salvation to tell.  Chorus.. ---------------- 
Close: CP244 We Walk By Faith, and Not By Sight 
Words: H. Alford Music: M. Haugen   
We walk by faith, and not by sight: 
No gracious words we hear 
Of him who spoke as none e’er spoke, 
But we believe him near.  
We may not touch his hands and side, 
Nor follow where he trod; 
Yet in his promise we rejoice 
And cry, “My Lord and God!” 
Help then, O Lord, our unbelief, 
And may our faith abound; 
To call on you when you are near, 
5 
And seek where you are found: 
That when our life of faith is done 
In realms of clearer light 
We may behold you as you are 
In full and endless sight. 
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