In a statement released on 29 August 2025, the Lutheran World Federation calls for immediate action to end famine, stop violence and atrocities in Gaza.

On Sunday, we heard Jesus call to disrupt the status quo – in table manners. Instead of scrambling for the places of honor, Jesus reminds us: “For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

At God’s table, honor is not about status, wealth, or return invitations. It’s about humility, generosity, and creating space where the poor, the marginalized, and the unseen are welcomed first.

This vision isn’t just about ancient banquets—it’s about how we live, how we gather, and how we use the gifts entrusted to us today. At St. Paul’s, we are discerning how to use our back two acres of land. Will it simply be a patch of ground, or can it become a banquet table wide enough for our neighbors, a space where abundance is shared and all are welcomed?

As you step into this week, ask yourself:

• Where can I practice humility in my daily life?
• How can I make more room at my table for those who are overlooked?
• What “two acres” of my own life—time, gifts, resources—might God be inviting me to open wide?

The kingdom of God is abundance, not scarcity; love, not fear. Let’s lean into that truth this week.

The six bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in Minnesota have prepared a pastoral message and worship resources for use this Sunday. Consider joining other ELCA congregations around the state in remembering those children who were killed, those who continue to heal, and all who have been impacted by this senseless act. Come, Holy Spirit.

Celebrate workers as the real backbone of the nation.

Creator God,

On this Labor Day, we give thanks for the gift of work and for the dignity it brings to our lives. We remember all whose labor sustains our communities—the visible and the unseen, the paid and the unpaid, those who labor with their hands, their minds, and their hearts.

We pray for safe workplaces, fair wages, and just treatment for all workers. We lift up those who are unemployed, underemployed, or overworked, and those whose labor is not valued as it should be.

Bless the unions and advocates who seek justice for workers. Strengthen us to honor the labor of others with respect and gratitude, and to use our own work—whatever form it takes—for the good of our neighbors and the flourishing of your creation.

In the name of Jesus, who taught us that the labor of love is the greatest work of all, we pray. Amen.

Did you know? Over 80% of Nevada is public land—the highest percentage of any state! That means these lands belong to YOU. From hiking to history, there’s so much to discover.