August 20, 2023
Gathering
MUSICAL OFFERING
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please join us in Calvin Hall following worship today for a time of fellowship.
We will receive your gifts to assist those devasted by the fire in Maui. Please mark your checks Maui or fire.
If you would like to assist the United Way organizer to sort materials for their back to school drive. Please speak to Mary Emmert so she cam mark your name to be notified when that takes place. Thank you
The Gathering Place continues to serve the needs of people for connection and socialization. Tell your friends. Come assist and join with this thing that Christ is doing in our midst. Please speak to Pastor Joyce to sign up to assist in the near future.
PRAYER REQUESTS
JoAnn Grimm who struggles with health problems.
Joan Pinkston, on hospice.
PRELUDE
*CALL TO WORSHIP (based on Psalm 133)
One: Holy God and gracious King, we lift our voices to exalt you.
All: We join with all creatures to lift our voice in praise.
One: You gather your people with all of creation to live in unity.
All: You bless all creatures with grace and love abounding.
One: How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity;
All: For there the Lord bestows his blessing. Alleluia! Alleluia!
*GATHERING PRAYER
Spirit of our Living God, fall afresh on us. Open us to your life-giving
Word this hour of worship. Quiet the voices within us so that we may focus fully on you. Open our minds and our hearts to the scriptures we read and the message you intend for us so we may join together, faithfully discern your way and bring glory to your holy name. Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
*HYMN All Creatures of Our God and King (vs 1, 5, 6) #455
(You may be seated.)
CALL TO CONFESSION
“PRAYER OF CONFESSION based on Matthew 15: 21-28
Merciful God, we confess that, just like Jesus’ disciples, we too sometimes lose patience with people who need our help and support. Like the disciples, we find ourselves wishing that they would just go away and leave us in peace. In Your mercy, forgive us. 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. Show us how to love others as You have loved us. Teach us Your compassion, so that we may be Your hands and feet to those in need.
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE Romans 8: 34
SONG OF PRAISE Gloria Patri #579
PASSING THE PEACE
May the peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
INTERLUDE
Word
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Open our eyes that we may see, our ears that we may hear, and our hearts and minds that we may understand your precious Word read and proclaimed this day, most Holy God. Amen
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
The Old Testament Genesis 45: 1-15
45 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. 3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. 4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11 I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’ 12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. 13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.” 14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.
The Gospel Matthew 15: 21-28
21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” 23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” 25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. 26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” 27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” 28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
PASTORAL PRAYER
MESSAGE The Unity of Love
*HYMN Though I May Speak #335
PASTORAL PRAYER
LORD’S PRAYER
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.
Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, now and forever. Amen.
OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD
*DOXOLOGY Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow #592
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Gracious God, the gifts we offer reflect only a portion of all that you
have given us. Take these offerings, we pray, and multiply them for your use. May our offerings be a blessing to those most in need; to those most vulnerable. May our offerings, given in a spirit of generosity, reflect your love in the world and bring glory to your kingdom here on earth. Amen.
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Apostle’s Creed
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 into hell.
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 life everlasting. Amen.
*HYMN O For A World #386
Sending Forth
*CHARGE & BLESSING
POSTLUDE
* Sections of the service preceded with * are times to stand if you are able to do so.
Bold text is to be read together aloud as a congregation.
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