Prelude – – Jump for Me by Count Basie

Welcome
August 16 – Season of Creation: Enough for All
Welcome to worship. In Isaiah we hear that God’s house shall be a house of prayer for all people and that God will gather all those at the margins. The Canaanite woman in today’s gospel is a Gentile, an outsider, who is unflinching in her request that Jesus heal her daughter. As Jesus commends her bold faith, how might our church extend its mission to those on the margins of society? In our gathering for worship we receive strength to be signs of comfort, healing, and justice for those in need.

Song  – Praise to the Lord, the Almighty Worship 859 (verses 1, 2, 3)

1   Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the God of creation!
My heart is longing to offer up sweet adoration.
Melody make; dulcimer, harp, now awake. 
Sound forth your praise, ev’ry nation.

2   Praise the Almighty, o’er all life so wondrously reigning,
and, as on wings of an eagle, uplifting, sustaining.
Have you not seen? All that is needful has been
sent by God’s gracious ordaining.

3   Praise the Almighty, who prospers your work and defends you; 
see from the heavens the showers of mercy God sends you.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do;
Infinite Love here befriends you.

Text: Joachim Neander, 1650-1680; tr. composite
Text © 2000 Augsburg Fortress.

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.

Camp Song – Sanctuary
Offered by Natalia & Mike Peterson

First Reading  Isaiah 56:1, 6-8
A reading from Isaiah –
Thus 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.
Word of God, word of Life. Thanks be to God.

 Children’s Time – Vicar Anne

Alleluia Worship 175

Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28
The gospel is from Matthew:
  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.
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

Message – Vicar Anne

Song – Healer of our every ill      Worship 612 (vs 1-3)

Refrain
Healer of our ev’ry ill,
light of each tomorrow,
give us peace beyond our fear,
and hope beyond our sorrow.

1   You who know our fears and sadness,
grace us with your peace and gladness;
Spirit of all comfort, fill our hearts.  Refrain

2   In the pain and joy beholding
how your grace is still unfolding,
give us all your vision, God of love.  Refrain

3   Give us strength to love each other,
ev’ry sister, ev’ry brother;
Spirit of all kindness, be our guide.  Refrain

Text: Marty Haugen, b. 1950
Text © 1987 GIA Publications, Inc., 7404 S. Mason Ave., Chicago, IL 60638. www.giamusic.com. 800.442.3358. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Confession and Forgiveness
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, whose steadfast love is everlasting, whose faithfulness endures from generation to generation. Amen.

Trusting in the mercy of God, let us confess our sin.
Silence is kept for reflection.

Reconciling God, we confess that we do not trust your abundance, and we deny your presence in our lives. We place our hope in ourselves and rely on our own efforts. We fail to believe that you provide enough for all. We abuse your good creation for our own benefit. We fear difference and do not welcome others as you have welcomed us. We sin in thought, word, and deed. By your grace, forgive us; through your love, renew us; and in your Spirit, lead us; so that we may live and serve you in newness of life. Amen.

Beloved of God, by the radical abundance of divine mercy we have peace with God through ☩ Christ Jesus, through whom we have obtained grace upon grace. Our sins are forgiven. Let us live now in hope. For hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayers of the People
Confident of your care and helped by the Holy Spirit, we pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need.
A brief silence.

Lord, you gather the church to be part of your mission as ambassadors of Jesus Christ. As Jesus acknowledged the great faith of a woman from outside his people, help your church discover and find blessing in the faith of people we might reject. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

You have blessed us with the bounty of the earth. Grant your grace to all your creatures, that the earth will flourish. Relieve waters choked by garbage, renew soils stripped of nutrients, and refresh the air all creatures need to live. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

You call the nations to be glad and sing for joy. Let your way be known among all the nations of the world, now divided by competing interests, contending alliances, and consumed by enormous worry. Bless us and make your face shine upon all. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

You show unexpected mercy, kindness, and generosity. We pray for those who do not have enough, for outcasts in our villages, cities, and town, and for those who need your healing (especially……………………………………….). Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In you we live and move and have our being. Grant our congregation (name) grace to find our life refreshed in you. Accompany us in the rhythms of late summer. Give us rest and renewal, and strengthen us for mission in your name. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Your eternal promises are more than we could ever imagine. As you gather all the saints join us also with them on the great day of your salvation. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In the certain hope that nothing can separate us from your love, we offer these prayers to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Peace
Johm riab sua.
Selam.
The peace of Christ be with you all. And also with you. 

Offering – – A flower is a lonesome thing by B. Strayhorn

Offering Prayer
God of goodness and growth, all creation is yours, and your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. All around us are signs of your abundant grace. Nourish us through these gifts, that we might proclaim your steadfast love in our communities and in the world, through Jesus Christ, our strength and our song. Amen.

Cambodian Lord’s Prayer

Blessing
Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. God, the creator, ☩ Jesus, the Christ, and the Holy Spirit, the comforter, bless you and keep you in eternal love. Amen. 

Song – Creating God, Your Fingers Trace Worship 684

1   Creating God, your fingers trace
the bold designs of farthest space;
let sun and moon and stars and light
and what lies hidden praise your might.

2   Sustaining God, your hands uphold
earth’s myst’ries known or yet untold;
let water’s fragile blend with air,
enabling life, proclaim your care.

3   Redeeming God, your arms embrace
all now despised for creed or race;
let peace, descending like a dove,
make known on earth your healing love.

4   Indwelling God, your gospel claims
one fam’ly with a billion names;
let ev’ry life be touched by grace
until we praise you face to face.

Text: Jeffery Rowthorn, b. 1934
Text © 1979 The Hymn Society, admin. Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Dismissal
Go in peace. Christ is with you.
Thanks be to God.

Postlude – Let’s Cool One by Theolonius Monk