Sunday Worship Service, 16 August 2020

Order of Worship for August 16, 2020

Prelude: “Praise Him, Praise Him, All Ye Little Children,” public domain. Amaya Lee, pianist.  Amaya and Abbigail Lee, vocalists.

Confession and Forgiveness

Opening: ELW 858- “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,” all 4 verses. Miriam Anderson, vocalist. Pam Edwards, pipe organ.

Prayer of the Day

God of all peoples, your arms reach out to embrace all those who call upon you. Teach us as disciples of your Son to love the world with compassion and constancy, that your name may be known throughout the earth, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

Readings: Pam Edwards

First Reading: Isaiah 56:1, 6-8

The prophet calls upon Israel to do justice in view of God’s imminent intervention to save. Righteousness and obedience define who belongs to the Israelite community—not race, nationality, or any other category.

1Thus says the Lord:
  Maintain justice, and do what is right,
 for soon my salvation will come,
  and my deliverance be revealed.

6And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,
  to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord,
  and to be his servants,
 all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it,
  and hold fast my covenant—
7these I will bring to my holy mountain,
  and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
 their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
  will be accepted on my altar;
 for my house shall be called a house of prayer
  for all peoples.
8Thus says the Lord God,
  who gathers the outcasts of Israel,
 I will gather others to them
  besides those already gathered.

Second Reading: Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32

God has not rejected Israel. Rather, the call and gifts of God are irrevocable so that, while all have been disobedient, God has mercy upon all.

[Paul writes:] 1I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2aGod has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.

  29For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, 31so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. 32For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.

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

Jesus teaches his disciples that true purity is a matter of the heart rather than outward religious observances. Almost immediately, this teaching is tested when a woman considered to be a religious outsider approaches him for help.

[10[Jesus] called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and 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 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 heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.” 15But Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.” 16Then he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the 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, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. 20These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.”]
  21Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started 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 disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps 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 children’s 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 is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Sermon: Pastor Chris Lee

Hymn of the Day: ELW 704- “When Pain of the World Surrounds Us,” verses 1, 3, & 4. Brittany Anderson & Miriam Anderson, vocalists. Pam Edwards, pianist.

Prayers: Pam Edwards

Lord’s Prayer

Sending Hymn: ELW 886- “Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing,” verses 1, 3, & 5. Brittany Anderson & Miriam Anderson, vocalists. Pam Edwards, pump organ.

Blessing

Worship for 16 August 2020

Order of Worship for August 16, 2020Prelude: "Praise Him, Praise Him, All Ye Little Children"- public domain * Amaya Lee, pianist Amaya and Abbigail Lee, vocalistsConfession and ForgivenessOpening: 858- Praise to the Lord- all 4 verses * Miriam Anderson, vocalist * Pam Edwards, pipe organPrayer of the DayGod of all peoples, your arms reach out to embrace all those who call upon you. Teach us as disciples of your Son to love the world with compassion and constancy, that your name may be known throughout the earth, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.Amen.Readings- Pam EdwardsFirst Reading: Isaiah 56:1, 6-8The prophet calls upon Israel to do justice in view of God’s imminent intervention to save. Righteousness and obedience define who belongs to the Israelite community—not race, nationality, or any other category. 1Thus says the LORD: Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. 6And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant— 7these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. 8Thus says the Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I will gather others to them besides those already gathered.Second Reading: Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32God has not rejected Israel. Rather, the call and gifts of God are irrevocable so that, while all have been disobedient, God has mercy upon all.[Paul writes:] 1I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2aGod has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. 29For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, 31so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. 32For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.Gospel: Matthew 15:[10-20] 21-28Jesus teaches his disciples that true purity is a matter of the heart rather than outward religious observances. Almost immediately, this teaching is tested when a woman considered to be a religious outsider approaches him for help.[10[Jesus] called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and 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 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 heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.” 15But Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.” 16Then he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the 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, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. 20These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.”] 21Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started 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 disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps 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 children’s 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 is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.Sermon- Pastor Chris LeeHOD: 704- When Pain of the World Surrounds Us- verses 1,3,4 * Brittany Anderson & Miriam Anderson, vocalists * Pam Edwards, pianistPrayers- Pam EdwardsLord’s PrayerSending: 886- O For a Thousand Tonuges- verses 1,3,5 * Brittany Anderson & Miriam Anderson, vocalists * Pam Edwards, pump organBlessing

Posted by First Lutheran Church – Rock Island, IL on Saturday, August 15, 2020

Image credits: Woman of Canaan, commons.wikimedia.org and Great Faith Canaanite, becomingchristians.com

Music credits:

Prelude: “Praise Him, Praise Him, All Ye Little Children.” Public domain.

Opening: ELW 858- “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty.” Text: Joachim Neander, 1650 – 1680; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827 – 1878, alt.. Music: Ernewerten Gesangbuch, Part II, Stralsund, 1665. Public domain.

Hymn of the Day: ELW 704- “When Pain of the World Surrounds Us.” Text: Jim Strathdee, b. 1941. Music: Jim Strathdee. Text and music copyright 1978 Desert Flower Music. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.

Sending Hymn: ELW 886- “Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing.” Text: Charles Wesley, 1707 – 1788, alt.. Music: Carl G. Glaser, 1784 – 1829; arr. Lowell Mason, 1792 – 1872. Public domain.

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