Amos 8:1-12 Amos proclaims the Lord's judgment: "The end has come for Israel." Amos names the economic practices God condemns: trying to rush Sabbath to return to selling, false weights, price gouging, keeping the poor in virtual slavery, and selling the lowest quality goods to the poor.
Psalm 52 or Psalm 82 (UMH 804) If you used Psalm 82 last week, consider doing so again this week for the sake of continuity — and a chance, perhaps, to teach chanting. Use Tone 5 for the entire psalm, including the refrain. Psalm 52 is not available in the hymnal, as it was not included in the Common Lectionary (available when the hymnal was published), but does appear in the Revised Common Lectionary (adopted when the Book of Worship was published in 1992).
Colossians 1:15-28 Paul offers a Christology that reflects the depth of growth in the knowledge of God he has previously prayed for the Christians in the region of Colossae. Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the source and destiny of creation itself, head of the church, and agent of reconciliation of all things.
Luke 10:38-42 "Martha, Martha, you are fretting and distracted. . . there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part . .
