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
Thus says the Lord:
Maintain justice, and do what is right,
for soon my salvation will come.
God will bring us to the holy mountain,
a house of prayer for all people.
God gathers all the outcasts together,
and makes us joyful!
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
- O for a World (OE) AZMON GTG 372, PH 386
- God Welcomes All (O) THEMBA AMEN GTG 399
- Men of Faith, Rise Up and Sing (OG) SMITH GTG 319
- Let Us Build a House (O) TWO OAKS GTG 301
WORD
- Woman in the Night (G) NEW DISCIPLES GTG 161
- Remember Not, O God (OE) SOUTHWELL GTG 430
- God of Compassion, in Mercy Befriend Us (E) O QUANTA QUALIA GTG 436, PH 261
- To Them the Cross, with All Its Shame (O) NOTTINGHAM CH4 4
EUCHARIST
- Bread of the World in Mercy Broken (E) RENDEZ À DIEU GTG 499, PH 502
- Come, Behold! the Feast of Heaven (OE) LLANFAIR GTG 511
- One Bread, One Body (OEG) ONE BREAD, ONE BODY GTG 530
- We the Lord’s People, Heart and Voice Uniting (O) DECATUR PLACE EH 51
SENDING
- Great Is Thy Faithfulness (G) FAITHFULNESS GTG 39, PH 276
- We Are One in the Spirit (OG) THEY’LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS GTG 300
- O God of Every Nation (OEG) LLANGLOFFAN GTG 756, PH 289
- Will the Circle Be Unbroken (O) UNBROKEN CIRCLE AAHH 598
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 133
Metrical
- ¡Miren qué bueno! / O Look and Wonder [MIREN QUÉ BUENO]; GTG 397, PAS 133D, LUYH 260, SSS 230
- Behold the Goodness of Our (the) Lord [DETROIT, CRIMMOND]; PAS 133A, PH 241
- Mirad cuán bueno y cuán delicioso / Behold, How Good and Delightful [MIRAD CUÁN BUENO]; PAS 133B, SSS 234
Responsorial
- Miren qué bueno / O Look and Wonder [MIREN QUÉ BUENO]; PAS 133E, SSS 230
- God of Love and Mercy [SCARBOROUGH FAIR]; PP 268
- The Lord Anoints and Blesses; PSA 137
Psalm 67
Metrical
- O God, Show Mercy to Us [THAXTED]; GTG 341
- God of Mercy, God of Grace [DIX, KING OF KINGS, IMPACT]; PAS 67A, LUYH 934, PP 118 (with refrain), PH 203
- God in Mercy Grant Us Blessing [ZEUCH MICH, ZEUCH MICH]; PAS 67B
- O Lord, Be Gracious [9.8.9.8]; SGP 96
- May God Be Gracious [AE FONDE KISS]; CP1 6
Responsorial
- Let the Peoples Praise You; PAS 67C
- Let the People Praise You; PSA 60
- El Señor Jesucristo / May the Love of the Lord; SSS 707–708
Organ Music
- “O Day of Rest and Gladness,” Prayerful Preludes Set 10, Robert J. Powell, MSM (E)
- “Beautiful Savior,” Lord, Thee I Love, David Cherwien, AF (E)
- “We Are Marching in the Light of God,” Three Global Songs, John A. Behnke, HOPE (ME)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “Joined Together as One Body,” James and Marilyn Biery, MSM, SATB, opt brass (E)
- “Ubi Caritas,” Ola Gjeilo, WAL, SATB (MA)
- “Ubi Caritas,” Victor Johnson, CGA, SAB, pno (E)
- “Oh, How Good It Is,” Getty and Townsend, arr. Joshua Spacht, WORD, SATB (M)
- “Beautiful River,” John Rutter, Bourne, SSAATTBB, org (A)
- “Psalm 67,” Philip Benson, PAR, SATB (MA)
- “Once to Every Man and Nation,” David York, TPR, SATB, org (M)
- “The Call,” Z. Randall Stroope, MSM, SATB, keybd (M)
Handbell Music
- “Contemplation on Ubi Caritas,” Catherine McMichael, 3–6 oct, opt 3 oct hc, AGEHR, AG36036, Level 3+
- “Acclamation on Azmon,” Arnold Sherman, 3–5 oct, HOPE, 1363, Level 2+
- “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love,” Jeffrey Honoré, 3, 5, or 6 oct, CON, 97-7214, Level 2
Art
- The Story of Joseph, John August Swanson, 2005 (VDL)
- Woman of Canaan, Sadao Watanabe (VDL)
- The Daughter of the Canaanite Woman, Peter Koenig (VDL)
