August 20th, 2017 THE ORDER OF WORSHIP

Time after Pentecost, Lectionary 20a PRELUDE Mont Saint Michel Geoffrey Robbins
Holy Communion (ELW 3) WELCOME

CONFESSION OF SINS AND PROCLAMATION OF FORGIVENESS

In the name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Let us pray. God of all mercy and consolation, come to the help of your
INTRODUCTION people, turning us from our sin to live in your love. Give us the power of
your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, be reconciled with you, and
Though Josephs brothers acted cruelly, God brings reconciliation, justice, live abundantly in Jesus Christ, the Savior and Lord of all. Amen.
and healing. The Canaanite woman in todays gospel is a Gentile, an
outsider, who is unflinching in her request that Jesus heal her daughter. As Silence for reflection and self-examination.
Jesus commends her bold faith, and as love overcomes hatred and anger in
Josephs life, how might our church extend its mission to those on the Most merciful God, we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot
outside, those who would harm us, and those whom we have harmed? In free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed,
our gathering around word and meal we receive strength to be signs of by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not
comfort, healing, and justice for those in need. loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as
ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us.
CHILDREN are always welcome to our Worship Service. Rainbow bags Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will
and a cry room are available. A staffed nursery is also available if needed. and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
An usher will gladly provide you with assistance.
Lord, have mercy.
As a worship courtesy, we ask that you please turn off or set to vibrate Christ, have mercy.
all cellular telephones and pagers during the worship service. Lord, have mercy.

God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and
We ask that all present today please fill out the Attendance and Communion
registration card found in your bulletin and place it in the offering plate so made us alive together with Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ, your sins
that we may record your presence with us. are forgiven. By grace you have been saved. Almighty God give you faith
through the Holy Spirit that the love of Christ may shine in your hearts and
show forth in your lives. Amen.
PRAYER UPON ENTERING THE PEW
GATHERING SONG: Jesus Loves Me (ELW 595)
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus
your Son. Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away
GREETING
the arrogance and hatred that infect our hearts; break down the walls that
separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and, through our struggle and The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of
confusion, work to accomplish your purposes on earth; so that, in your the Holy Spirit be with you all!
good time, every people and nation may serve you in harmony around your
And also with you!
heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
CANTICLE OF PRAISE compassion and constancy, that your name may be known throughout the
earth, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

FIRST READING Genesis 45:1-15

Moved to tears by Judahs plea on behalf of Benjamin, Joseph declares, I

am Joseph! and asks, Is my father still alive? The evil intent of the
brothers had been trumped by Gods using Joseph to preserve many lives
at a time of famine.
[After Judah offered himself in place of his brother Benjamin,] 1Joseph
could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he
cried out, Send everyone away from me. So no one stayed with him when
Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2And he wept so loudly that the
Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 3Joseph said to
his brothers, I am Joseph. Is my father still alive? But his brothers could
not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence.
4
Then Joseph said to his brothers, Come closer to me. And they came
closer. He said, I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into
Egypt. 5And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because
you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6For the
famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years
in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7God sent me before you
to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many
survivors. 8So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a
father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of
Egypt. 9Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, Thus says your son
Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not
delay. 10You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me,
you and your children and your childrens children, as well as your flocks,
your herds, and all that you have. 11I will provide for you theresince there
are five more years of famine to comeso that you and your household,
and all that you have, will not come to poverty. 12And now your eyes and
the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to
you. 13You must tell my father how greatly I am honored in Egypt, and all
that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here. 14Then he fell
upon his brother Benjamins neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his
neck. 15And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that
his brothers talked with him.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
The word of the Lord.
Let us pray. God of all peoples, your arms reach out to embrace all those Thanks be to God.
who call upon you. Teach us as disciples of your Son to love the world with
PSALM: PSALM 133 GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Refrain:

Tone:

GOSPEL: Matthew 15:[10-20] 21-28

As the Gospel is announced, worshippers are invited to trace a cross upon
their forehead, then over their lips, and then over their hearts, silently
1
How good and how pleas- | ant it is, praying, May the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ be ever on my mind, on
when kindred live togeth- | er in unity! my lips, and in my heart.
2
It is like fine oil upon the head, flowing down up- | on the beard,
upon the beard of Aaron, flowing down upon the collar | of his The holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
robe. Glory to you, O Lord.
3
It is like the dew of Hermon flowing down upon the | hills of Zion.
For there the LORD has commanded the blessing: life [10[Jesus] called the crowd to him and said to them, Listen and
for- | evermore. R understand:11it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it
is what comes out of the mouth that defiles. 12Then the disciples
SECOND READING: Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 approached and said to him, Do you know that the Pharisees took offense
when they heard what you said? 13He answered, Every plant that my
God has not rejected Israel. Rather, the call and gifts of God are heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14Let them alone; they are
irrevocable, so that while all have been disobedient, God has mercy upon blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will
all. fall into a pit. 15But Peter said to him, Explain this parable to us. 16Then
[Paul writes:] 1I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I he said, Are you also still without understanding? 17Do you not see that
myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the
Benjamin. 2aGod has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. sewer? 18But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this
is what defiles. 19For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery,
29
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30Just as you were fornication, theft, false witness, slander. 20These are what defile a person,
once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.]
21
disobedience, 31so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and
mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. 32For God has Sidon. 22Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started
imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all. shouting, Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is
tormented by a demon. 23But he did not answer her at all. And his
The word of the Lord. disciples came and urged him, saying, Send her away, for she keeps
Thanks be to God. shouting after us. 24He answered, I was sent only to the lost sheep of the
house of Israel. 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, Lord, help
me. 26He answered, It is not fair to take the childrens food and throw it
to the dogs. 27She said, Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that
fall from their masters table. 28Then Jesus answered her, Woman, great PEACE
is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish. And her daughter was
healed instantly. Please stand and greet one another in the peace of the risen Christ.

The Gospel of the Lord! The peace of Christ be with you always.
Praise to you, O Christ. And also with you.

SERMON Pastor Charles Peterson ANNOUNCEMENTS

HYMN OF THE DAY: Just As I Am (ELW 592) MUSIC AT THE OFFERING Meditation on Just As I Am Wells

APOSTLES CREED OFFERTORY HYMN:

As they recite the creed, worshippers are invited to bow beginning with the
words born of the Virgin Mary, until the words he descended to the
dead.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived
by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius
Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at
the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and
the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of
saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life
everlasting.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Generous, compassionate God, we gather before you to pray for the church,
the world, and all in need.
Please sit or kneel as you are able.
OFFERING PRAYER
Each petition ends with:
Lord, in your mercy, Let us pray.
hear our prayer. Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you
have blessed us with these gifts: ourselves, our time, and our possessions.
Into your hands we place all our prayers, spoken and unspoken, trusting in Use us, and what we have gathered, to show your love to this beautiful and
the mercy of Christ Jesus. Amen. broken world, through the one who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ, our
Savior and Lord. Amen.
DIALOGUE Holy, mighty, and merciful Lord, heaven and earth are full of your glory. In
great love you sent to us Jesus, your Son, who reached out to heal the sick
and suffering, who preached good news to the poor, and who, on the cross,
opened his arms to all. In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord
Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples,
saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the
remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and
gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the
remembrance of me.

Remembering, therefore, his death, resurrection, and ascension, we await

his coming in glory. Pour out upon us the Spirit of your love, O Lord, and
unite the wills of all who share this heavenly food, the body and blood of
Jesus Christ, our Lord; to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honor
and glory, now and forever. Amen.
PREFACE
LORD'S PRAYER
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
Risen Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom
come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our
daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who
trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.

All baptized people are welcome to the table to receive Christs body and
blood. If you have not been baptized, you are also welcome to the table as
Gods guest; we are honored by your presence. We recognize the Body of
Christ as the community of the baptized, so if you would like to become part
of the Body of Christ, we encourage you to seek baptism. If you cant or
dont wish to receive today, we encourage you to hold your hands over
your chest for a blessing as you come forward.

INVITATION TO COMMUNION
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
Worshippers are invited to bow with the consecration of the Lords body Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Happy are
and blood, each time the words Do this for the remembrance of me, are all who are called to this table.
spoken. Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and your
servant shall be healed.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
LAMB OF GOD PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Let us pray. We give you thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us
through the healing power of this gift of life. In your mercy, strengthen us
through this gift, in faith toward you and in fervent love toward one
another; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

BLESSING

Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
Amen.

SENDING HYMN: Beautiful Savior (ELW 838)

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Share the good news.

COMMUNION Thanks be to God.

The body of Christ, given for you. POSTLUDE Toccata in C Johann Pachelbel
The blood of Christ, shed for you. Amen.
The flowers on the altar are given to the glory of God and in
SONG DURING DISTRIBUTION: Let Us Break Bread Together memory of Jack and Olive Workman.

Presented by Pat Bennett

Upcoming Commemorations

Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, died 1153

Sunday, August 20, 2017
Bernard, a Cistercian monk, was a man of great spirituality who wrote
mystical works and criticized those whom he thought took an overly
intellectual approach to the faith. He became an abbot, and wrote several
hymns that are still beloved today.

Bartholomew, Apostle
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Mentioned as one of Jesus' disciples in Matthew, Mark, and Luke,
Bartholomew's name is replaced in John's gospel by Nathanael, leading
many to believe that the two are different names for the same person. Little
is known about his work, though some traditions place him later in India or
Armenia.