Description
Matthew 15:21-28
Matthew gives an account of a Canaanite woman pleading for Jesus to help her daughter, who is possessed by a demon. Jesus at first seems to refuse, saying He was sent only for the lost of Israel. The woman has faith and states that even she, a Canaanite, a dog, can receive food from her master. Jesus says she has great faith and heals her daughter.
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship [Preservice options include video countdowns, worship song videos, welcomes), CDs, or live music.]
Welcome & Time of Greeting
Time of Praise and Worship
This is Amazing Grace
Jeremy Riddle, Josh Farro, & Phil Wickham, ©2012 Bethel Music (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing) Phil Wickham Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) Seems Like Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) Sing My Songs (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) Warner Chappell Music (Admin. by Unaffiliated Admin (UA))
What Faith Can Do
Scott Davis & Scott Krippayne, ©2008 Word Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) Life Of Rhyme Music Publishing (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) Pirk Music
Beautiful One
Tim Hughes, ©2002 Thankyou Music
[Traditional Options]
God Loved the World So That He Gave
BH75 445; ELW 323; LBW 292; LSB 571; LW 352; NCH 208
We Walk By Faith And Not By Sight
BH75 357; EH 209; ELW 635; LSB 720; NCH 256; PH 399; TFWS 2196; WOV 675
May God Bestow On Us His Grace
LBW 335; LSB 823/824; LW 289
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
With joy and delight, we gather to praise our Holy God! With reverence and awe, we approach our Gracious God.
Worshipers
We give thanks that God understands us, and does not want us to be that which we were never created to become!
Pastor / Worship Leader
Creating God, you call us to worship you as your children, made in your image, with a divine spark within each of us.
Worshipers
We give thanks that God understands us, and encourages us to grow in our knowledge of God’s awesome holiness.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Glorious God, you invite us to sink our roots deep into your love and holiness, and to grow stronger each day in our faith in you.
Worshipers
We give thanks that God understands us, and that the fruits we bear are consistent with what God created us to become. We gather to worship and praise our supporting and caring God.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Amen.
Worshipers
Amen!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
With open arms You welcome all who call on Your name—who acknowledge You as Lord and look to You in faith. No one stands outside the circle of Your mercy and love. And so we come to offer You our worship— to declare that You are our God, and that we are Your people, called and chosen by You from the very beginning. Through the presence of Your Holy Spirit open our eyes to see You here; open our minds to receive Your truth, and our mouths to speak and sing Your praise. For You alone are God—
worthy of all praise and worship, now and to the end of time. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Worshipers
Amen!
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Merciful God, we confess that, just like Jesus’ disciples, we too sometimes lose patience with people who need our help and support.
Worshipers
Like the disciples, we find ourselves wishing that they would just go away and leave us in peace.
Pastor / Worship Leader
In Your mercy, forgive us.
Worshipers
Remind us again of the deep love You showed toward us when we were still in need—a love so deep that it sent You willingly to the cross on our behalf.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Show us how to love others as You have loved us.
Worshipers
Teach us Your compassion, so that we may be Your hands and feet to those in need.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Thanks be to you, God of grace and glory! Through Christ Jesus our Savior.
Worshipers
Amen!
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Isaiah 56:1, 6-8
The Lord, speaking through the Prophet Isaiah, assures his people that salvation is near, and His righteousness will soon be revealed. And others including foreigners and exiles will also be gathered, will also be saved.
1This is what the Lord says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.
6 And foreigners who bind 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 without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant—7 these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” 8 The Sovereign Lord declares—he who gathers the exiles of Israel: “I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered.”
