Order of Worship Service for PENTECOST 15 (September 21, 2025)

PENTECOST 15
09-21-2025 10:00AM Worship (in person and online)

+ We Rejoice in God’s Spirit +

THE OPENING RITE… a time of confession and forgiveness:
L Without any warning or “prep time”, God summons us forward, commands us to present ourselves, and orders us to give
an accounting of the ways we have managed our lives this past week, these past weeks. The record does not look good.
Today we must take desperate measures, confess our sin, beg God’s mercy, and seek a second chance.
C O mighty and merciful God, we come to you with sorry hearts and dirty hands.
Forgive us for our shallow murmurs of thanks to you… and our many moments of forgetting you.
Forgive us that we have mismanaged our lives, misused your grace, and embezzled your blessings.
Forgive us that we have cheated on your will and robbed the neighbors you would have us serve.
Forgive us for setting our hopes on this world’s fading treasures.
Forgive us for using up our time on this world’s fleeting pleasures.
And forgive us for ever thinking that we are either too good or too bad for your mercy and love. AMEN.
L You and I don’t deserve it and haven’t earned it, and God is no fool who can be conned and swindled.
But God’s own Son, Jesus Christ, has paid what we owed, giving his life as a ransom for all.
In the name, spirit, and mission of (+) Jesus Christ you are forgiven.
Today you are called to serve God, to invest yourself in the salvation of all people.
The kingdom of God, with all its present joys and eternal treasures, awaits those who will truly follow Christ. Amen.
OPENING SONG: “WE WILL GLORIFY” Brown #281
PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):
God who dearly loves us, you sent your Son Jesus to slip into our skin, to walk in our shoes, to bring
pardon to our sin, to show us how to love, and to teach us to do the right thing.
Help us to be wise stewards of the time and the blessings you have entrusted to us. AMEN.
+ We Rejoice in God’s Saving Word +

FIRST LESSON: AMOS 8:4-7
[The corruption of trampling on the needy” while pretending to love and serve God.]
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
SECOND LESSON: I TIMOTHY 2:1-7
[The economy of God’s amazing inclusive grace – intended for every human being on this earth!]
GOSPEL VERSE: “I really love the Lord… I really love the Lord!

You don’t know what He’s done for me, gave me the victory.
I love Him, I love Him… I really love the Lord!” (repeat)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: LUKE 16:1-13
[The good example of a dishonest man – and learning to be as “shrewd” with God’s far more valuable gifts to us.]
THE SERMON: Pastor Gwen or Pastor Neil
SONG RESPONSE: “YOU BETTER MIN’!”
(1) You’d better min’ how you talk, you’d better min’ what you talkin’ about,
You got to give account in de Judgment, you’d better min’.
You’d better min’ (you’d better min’), you’d better min’ (you’d better min’)…
You got to give account in de Judgment, you’d better min’.
(2) You’d better min’ how you sing, you’d better min’ what you singin’ about…
(3) You’d better min’ how you shout, you’d better min’ what you shoutin’ about…
THE PRAYERS… We pray for NEW LIFE in the Spirit and for the MISSION of the Church to the world!

+ We Rejoice in God’s Nourishing Meal +

OFFERING OF OUR TITHES (10% giving) AND GIFTS… Jesus teaches us that we cannot serve both God and wealth.
Glorify God with your gratitude and your generous response!
Here in the Sanctuary you can put your offering in the offering plate to share your gratitude and
your generosity in response to Christ’s love. If you “out there” farther away, you can mail a check
or money order to St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2169 74th Avenue, Philadelphia,
PA 19138… contribute online through bit.ly/stpetersgiving and set up a one-time donation or a
recurring weekly gift to selected categories… or text Give+ at 833-914-0896 and follow the
instructions to register and record your contribution. Give gratefully. Give generously.
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE OFFERTORY SONG: “More about Jesus would I know, more of his grace to others show, (Tan #565)

More of his saving fullness see, more of his love who died for me.
MORE, MORE ABOUT JESUS… MORE, MORE ABOUT JESUS…
MORE OF HIS SAVING FULLNESS SEE, MORE OF HIS LOVE WHO DIED FOR ME.
More about Jesus let me learn, more of his holy will discern;
Spirit of God, my Teacher be, showing the things of Christ to me.”
OFFERING PRAYER led by the Communion Assistant: [see PHILIPPIANS 3:10-11]
Dear God, I want to know Christ inside and out. I want to experience the power of his resurrection and join him
in his suffering. I want to be like him in his death and be raised like him from death. As I grow in the grace of
Christ, make me strong in my faith, bold in my witness, and fervent in my servant-love. There is no better life
than life in Christ! Amen.
THE PREFACE:
L The Lord be with you. C And also with you.
L Lift up your hearts! C We lift them up in love for God!
L Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C It is right to give God our thanks and praise.
L We are the Body of Christ! C His Spirit is in us! Alleluia!
L [continues the Preface]… we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
C [singing…] “Holy, holy, holy, holy,
holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
and we lift our hearts before you as a token of our love,
holy, holy, holy, holy.
Precious Jesus, precious Jesus,
We’re so glad that you redeemed us, precious Jesus…
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
come and fill our hearts anew, O Holy Spirit…”
THE EUCHARISTIC WORDS by the Celebrant, who recalls and re-enacts Jesus’ Holy Meal.
THE LORD’S PRAYER (spoken)
COMMUNION AND BLESSINGS… All believers in Jesus Christ are welcome at the Lord’s Table! The wine may be received from
the pouring chalice; we also have grape juice on the tray. Praise the Lord for this community meal that unites us together, renews
our spirits, powers our faith, and reminds us of the future heavenly banquet that awaits us!
COMMUNION SONGS: Brown #123 Brown #195
THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant.

+ We Rejoice in God’s Mission +

THE BENEDICTION by the Pastor… We are sent forth to be and become and BODY OF CHRIST for the world!
CLOSING SONG: “LET US TALENTS AND TOUNGES EMPLOY” Brown #232