We have an accounting and bookkeeping parable on Sunday. Jesus tells one about a rich man and the manager of his money. It’s a puzzling story, ending with the well-known line, “You cannot serve God and wealth.”

If the rest of the parable is hard to understand, that line at least sounds like it comes right from the front page of Israel’s playbook: You shall have no other gods. Luther said that wealth is the most common of all the gods. People bow their heads in worship to it and give undue honor to those who control it.

Sunday we’ll spend a little time trying to find the meaning in the story of the shrewd money manager.

Kim Canning, our faith formation coordinator, will introduce our children and their adult leaders. We’ll pray for them and cheer them forward into another year of learning.

The members of the congregation council will be introduced. The order for installation of the council is an important annual ritual. It’s like taking the oath of office. I will tell you again tomorrow that the council of a congregation is not a committee, deciding unimportant matters. The council makes decisions about the future course of our church. Serving on the council is a serious commitment. Council members are responsible for a lively expression of the Christian faith for those of us who are here now, and for a full transmission of the Christian tradition to the next generation. The members of the council are the senior managers and stewards of our church.

The students will visit their classrooms and we’ll all enjoy lunch together. Bring a dish to share. Member of the council will grill hotdogs.

Tomorrow, Saturday, September 17, the mothers and children from the Florence House will be at Beehive Art. Some of you are coming to watch the children while the mothers do an art project. Confirmation students are asked to come and help out as needed. If the children are taken care of we’ll work in the garden.

Bring in paper goods or any non-perishable food item for the Wayland Food Pantry.

Rejoicing Spirits Sunday at 4 pm.