Seventh Sunday after Pentecost 2025: July 27, 2025

Join us this Sunday, the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost 2025, at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church in Burlington, WI (216 E. Chandler Blvd.), for Holy Eucharist at 9:00 AM as we gather around scripture, prayer, and communion. Whether in person or online, you are welcome to join via live stream, replay video, or our weekly podcast.

Join Us Electronically

We understand that you may be unable to join us for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost 2025, but we would still like to invite you to participate. We have a few options available.

Live Stream/Replay

We offer a live stream each Sunday at 9 AM Central Time. As soon as the live stream ends, it becomes a replay video.

Podcast

We also offer a podcast that you can listen to on the go. The podcast covers everything from the opening hymn to the Sharing of the Peace.

You can listen to the St John the Divine Podcast on all major podcast platforms. Follow or subscribe today to get notified when new episodes are released.

Collect of the Day for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost 2025

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Readings for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost 2025 (Proper 12C – Track Two)

Genesis 18:20–32

Abraham intercedes with God for mercy on behalf of Sodom, engaging in a heartfelt negotiation. God listens attentively, demonstrating a balance of divine justice and compassion.

20Then the Lord said, “How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin! 21I must go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me; and if not, I will know.” 22So the men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before the Lord.

23Then Abraham came near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you then sweep away the place and not forgive it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25Far be it from you to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”26And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will forgive the whole place for their sake.” 27Abraham answered, “Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.28Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29Again he spoke to him, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” 30Then he said, “Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” 31He said, “Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” 32Then he said, “Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak just once more. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.”

Psalm 138

A psalm of praise and thanksgiving.

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe.”
The psalmist celebrates God’s steadfast love and nearness in times of trouble.

1 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart; *
        before the gods I will sing your praise.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple
  and praise your Name, *
        because of your love and faithfulness;
3 For you have glorified your Name *
        and your word above all things.
4 When I called, you answered me; *
        you increased my strength within me.
5 All the kings of the earth will praise you, O Lord, *
        when they have heard the words of your mouth.
6 They will sing of the ways of the Lord, *
        that great is the glory of the Lord.
7 Though the Lord be high, he cares for the lowly; *
        he perceives the haughty from afar.
8 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe; *
        you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies;
        your right hand shall save me.
9 The Lord will make good his purpose for me; *
        O Lord, your love endures for ever;
        do not abandon the works of your hands.

Colossians 2:6–15 (16–19)

Paul encourages believers to stay grounded in Christ, avoiding distractions from false teachings. In Christ, we are made alive, forgiven, and victorious over every power.

6As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. 9For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority. 11In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; 12when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

13And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, 14erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. 15He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it.

[16Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths. 17These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, dwelling on visions, puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking, 19and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.]

Luke 11:1–13

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. He gave them the Lord’s Prayer and encouraged them to persist in prayer with bold trust, reminding them of God’s goodness.

“How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

1He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3Give us each day our daily bread. 4And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.” 5And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ 7And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ 8I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. 9“So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? 12Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? 13If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Reflection Seventh Sunday after Pentecost 2025

This week’s scriptures invite us to develop a deeper relationship with God.

• Abraham’s prayer serves as a model for intercession, demonstrating divine patience.
• The psalmist discovers strength and offers praise, even in the face of troubles.
• Paul reminds us that we are already complete in Christ—we are rooted, forgiven, and raised.
• Jesus encourages us to pray with confidence and expectation, trusting that God is good.

This Sunday, we are called to trust more deeply, pray more freely, and live more fully in Christ’s love and teachings.

Join Us

• 216 E Chandler Blvd, Burlington, WI
• Live Stream & Replay Available
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No matter where you are on your journey, you are welcome at St. John’s.