Lectionary Readings
Semicontinuous
Genesis 45:1–15
Joseph is reunited with his brothers; the family will move to Egypt.
Psalm 133
How good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity.
Complementary
Isaiah 56:1, 6–8
The Lord will welcome foreigners along with the outcasts of Israel.
Psalm 67
God’s saving power is known among all the nations of the earth.
Romans 11:1–2a, 29–32
God has not rejected Israel, but desires to show mercy to all.
Matthew 15:(10–20) 21–28
Debate about what defiles; a Canaanite woman shows great faith.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
O taste and see:
God is good.
Prayer of the Day
Lord of the harvest,
we praise you for the bounty
that only you can bring.
Teach us to trust you
with the persistence of the Canaanite woman,
who sought healing for her child,
and to advocate for the needs of one another.
Fill each pantry with sustaining food
and fill us with the fruits of the Spirit,
that we might serve you
until every hunger is met with justice
and every outcast is welcomed home,
in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Amen.
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Thanksgiving For Baptism
At the baptismal font:
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
O Lord our God, we give you thanks
for the grace that is at work in us
through the gift of our baptism—
the sign of your threefold name,
the communion of your faithful people,
the promise of your glorious realm.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
poured out upon us in baptism,
let your grace and peace grow in us,
until we gather at your heavenly throne
to give you thanks and praise forever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession and Pardon
At the baptismal font:
We call to God, saying, “Have mercy on us!”
We call to God, saying, “Lord, help us!”
We call to God even in the midst of our sin,
knowing that God is gracious and just.
God of all goodness,
We do not want to face all that is in our own hearts.
We want to focus on the good—
on the love, the compassion, the care—
and ignore the bad—
the greed, the envy, the cruelty.
But before you, God,
we must face it.
Forgive all the ways we have let evil
take hold in our hearts.
Cleanse us. Help us face our own demons,
and empower us to live
a Christlike life.
Lifting water from the font:
We have been disobedient to God,
but we have received mercy.
Let us live our lives as those transformed
by the abundant mercy of God!
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
Holy, Holy, Holy One,
guide us by the Spirit of truth
to hear the Word of life you speak,
and to give all glory, honor, and praise
to your threefold name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.
Listen to the word of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 6:4
After the readings:
Keep these words in your heart.
The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.
Thanks be to God.
Deuteronomy 6:6
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
To the Lord our God, Alpha and Omega,
be all glory and honor forever. Amen.
Revelation 21:6
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Affirmation of Faith
The life, death, resurrection,
and promised coming of Jesus Christ
has set the pattern for the church’s mission.
His human life involves the church
in the common life of all people.
His service to men and women
commits the church
to work for every form of human well-being.
His suffering makes the church sensitive
to all human suffering
so that it sees the face of Christ
in the faces of persons in every kind of need.
His crucifixion discloses to the church
God’s judgment on the inhumanity
that marks human relations,
and the awful consequences
of the church’s own complicity in injustice.
In the power of the risen Christ
and the hope of his coming,
the church sees the promise
of God’s renewal of human life in society
and of God’s victory over all wrong.
The church follows this pattern
in the form of its life
and in the method of its action.
So to live and serve
is to confess Christ as Lord.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.32–33
Prayers of Intercession
Let us pray in the Spirit, who helps us in our weakness,
interceding with sighs too deep for words.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the Spirit, we pray for the church . . .
Continue to show mercy to us, by your Spirit,
so that we may show your mercy to others.
Keep us faithful in our calling by your gift of grace.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the Spirit, we pray for the earth . . .
Be gracious, O God, and bless the earth;
let your face shine upon your creation
so that it may yield the harvest of peace.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the Spirit, we pray for all nations . . .
Let all the peoples praise you, O God,
for your desire is justice throughout the world
and equity for all the people you have made.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the Spirit, we pray for this community . . .
Help us to listen to the voices of strangers,
honoring the wisdom and faith they bring
and sharing your gifts of healing and bread.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the Spirit, we pray for loved ones . . .
Deliver those who are tormented by evil;
embrace those who are outcast or despised;
reunite those who have been estranged.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the Spirit, we pray to you, O God,
confident that all things work together for good
for those who love you
and are called according to your purpose.
Above all, we give you thanks, O God,
that nothing can separate us from your love
in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Romans 8:26, 28, 39
— Eucharist —
Invitation to Offering
At the communion table:
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,
to present yourselves as a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable to God.
Let us offer our lives to the Lord.
Romans 12:1
Prayer of Dedication
At the communion table:
God of unending gifts,
we praise you for your abundant goodness.
As you are generous, we want to be generous too.
May the gifts we bring
extend your generosity into the world,
so that all people may be made whole
by your goodness and grace. Amen.
Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
In times of trouble, you preserve your people.
You gather up the outcasts and bring home the lost.
Even what we intend for evil, you transform for good.
Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.
Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
You sent Jesus to gather the lost sheep of your people;
indeed, anyone who calls to him will not be turned away.
By the gift of faith, you welcome all as beloved children.
The words of institution are included here.
Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation (e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.
As you promise never to reject or forsake your people,
let us bring good news to the rejected and forsaken,
sharing the gifts of your great mercy and unbroken love.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.
Lord’s Prayer
Breaking the Bread
Communion of the People
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Prayer after Communion
At the communion table:
Holy Spirit, you have filled us with your life.
Christ our Savior, you have embraced us in your love.
God our Mother, you have fed us with your grace.
Now send us out into your beloved world
to share your life, your love, your grace with all.
Blessing and honor and glory to you,
holy, holy, holy Lord. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
May the blessing of the Trinity—
holy, holy, holy Lord—
be with you now and always. Alleluia!
Isaiah 6:3
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
“Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here I am; send me!” Amen.
Isaiah 6:8
“The Daughter of the Canaanite Woman”
Peter Koenig, 2016
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
-
In the Bulb There Is a Flower (Os) PROMISE GTG 250
-
Let Us Build a House (OcG) TWO OAKS GTG 301
-
I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art (E) TOULON GTG 624
-
For Everyone Born (G) FOR EVERYONE BORN GTG 769
WORD
-
When the Morning Stars Together (Oc) WEISSE FLAGGEN GTG 689
-
For the Troubles and the Sufferings (G) PELAS DORES DESTE MUNDO GTG 764
-
Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound (E) AMAZING GRACE GTG 649
-
Help Us Accept Each Other (G) BARONITA GTG 754
-
If You Only Had Faith (G) SI TUVIERAS FE GTG 176
-
We’ve Come This Far by Faith (G) THIS FAR BY FAITH GTG 656, TFF 197 (with verses)
-
There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy (E) IN BABILONE GTG 435
EUCHARIST
-
Now the Heavens Start to Whisper (Oc) JEFFERSON GTG 94
-
What Shall I Render to the Lord (Oc) MARTYRDOM GTG 655
-
In the Singing (G) BREAD OF PEACE GTG 533
SENDING
-
O God, in a Mysterious Way (Os) DUNDEE GTG 30
-
O for a World (Oc) AZMON GTG 372
-
In Christ There Is No East or West (EG) MC KEE GTG 317
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 133
Metrical
- How Very Good and Pleasant [HOW VERY GOOD]; GTG 398
- Behold the Goodness of Our Lord [DETROIT]; PAS 133A
Responsorial
- The Lord Anoints and Blesses, Gives Life Forevermore; PSA 137
- Psalm 133, A Responsorial Setting; PAS 133E
- God of Love and Mercy; PP 268
Psalm 67
Metrical
- God of Mercy, God of Grace [DIX]; PAS 67A
Responsorial
- Let the People Praise You, Lord; PP 118
- Let the People Praise You, O God; PSA 60
Organ Music
-
“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” Three Organ Preludes on Hymns of Invocation, Kenneth T. Kosche, MSM (ME)
-
“Praise, Praise, Praise the Lord,” God of the World: Hymn Tunes from Many Nations, Edwin T. Childs, AF (MA)
-
“There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy,” Lord, Thee I Love, David Cherwien, AF (M)
Piano Music
-
“Arietta, Op. 12, No. 1,” Lyric Pieces, Op. 12, Edvard Grieg, HEN (M)
-
“Ballade in F-sharp Major, Op. 4, No. 1,” Ossian, Op. 4, Louis Moreau Gottschalk, IMSLP.org (MA)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
-
“A Prayer for Mercy,” Allen Pote, CGA, SA, pno (E)
-
“Christ Has Broken Down the Wall,” Mark Miller, CGA, SATB, pno (ME)
-
“I Will Sing of the Mercies of the Lord Forever,” David Rasbach, CGA, SATB, pno (ME)
-
“Make Me a Channel of Your Peace,” Tom Fettke, OCP, SATB, pno or orch (ME)
-
“Psalm 133,” Peter J. Durow, CV, SATB, pno, opt perc (M)
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“Woman in the Night,” William P. Rowan, SEL, SATB, org (M)
-
“Let the People Praise Thee, O God,” William Mathias, OUP, SATB, org (A)
Vocal Solos
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“Is There Anybody Here?” Sweetest Sound I Ever Heard, Roland Carter, Classical Vocal Reprints, medium (M)
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“Wayfaring Stranger,” 12 Sacred Songs, Jacob Niles, HAL (ME)
-
“My Lord, What a Mornin’,” First Book of Tenor Solos, Hall Johnson, GSH (M)
Art
-
Christ and the Canaanite Women, Abraham Bloemaert, late 16th–mid-17th cent. (PD)
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Woman of Canaan, Sadao Watanabe, 1940-1996 (VDL)
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Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers, Peter von Cornelius, 1816 (VDL)
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The Canaanite Woman Asks for Healing for Her Daughter, Ilyas Basim Khuri Bazzi Rahib, 1684 (VDL)
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Celebration, John August Swanson, 2016 (EYE)
