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12th Sunday after Pentecost

10:00 AM Service August 16, 2026

PRELUDE

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

RINGING OF THE BELL

Please stand as you are able.

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, whose compassion endures

forever. Amen.

Let us confess our sin to God.

Silence is kept for reflection.

Compassionate God, we confess to you all our sins. Our burden

is heavy, and we cannot free ourselves. In your mercy, call us

back to you. Your yoke is easy and your burden is light. Restore

us to dwell in your peace. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying

heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” In the name of God,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, your sins are forgiven. Rest in God’s

love. Amen.

GATHERING HYMN “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy” Hymn #588

GREETING

The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the

communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

And also with you.

4

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. 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.

Please be seated.

WORD

FIRST READING Isaiah 56:1, 6-8

The prophet calls upon Israel to do justice in view of God’s imminent

intervention to save. Righteousness and obedience define who belongs

to the Israelite community—not race, nationality, or any other

category.

1 Thus says the Lord:

Maintain justice, and do what is right,

for soon my salvation will come

and my deliverance be revealed.

6 And 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—

7 these 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. 8 Thus 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.

SECOND READING Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32

God has not rejected Israel. Rather, the call and gifts of God are irrevocable

so that, while all have been disobedient, God has mercy

upon all.

[Paul writes:] 1 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no

means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member

of the tribe of Benjamin. 2a God has not rejected his people

whom he foreknew.

29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 Just as

you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because

of their disobedience, 31 so also they have now been disobedient

in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they also may now receive

mercy. 32 For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that

he may be merciful to all.

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

 

Please stand as you are able for the gospel reading.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

GOSPEL Matthew 15:21-28

The holy gospel according to Matthew.

Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus teaches his disciples that true purity is a matter of the heart

rather than outward religious observances. Almost immediately, this

teaching is tested when a woman considered to be a religious outsider

approaches him for help.

21 Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and

Sidon. 22 Just 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.” 23 But he did not answer her at

all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away,

for she keeps shouting after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to

the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before

him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 He answered, “It is not fair to

take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes,

Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’

 

table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it

be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that

moment.

The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON Pastor Chris Steubing

HYMN OF THE DAY “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” Hymn #733

THE PRAYERS

...God of grace, hear our prayer.

SHARING THE PEACE

The peace of Christ be with you always.

And also with you.

Let us share the peace with one another.

OFFERING

OFFERING MUSIC “Jesus Makes Me New"

Words and music by Wendy Kuenneman. Written for Fun and Faith Fridays 2026. Used by

permission.

 

OFFERING PRAYER

Let us pray. Loving God, we offer at your table the gifts of our

hearts. Help us take heart in you and share freely of your love,

so that all creation can taste your abundance. We ask this in the

name of Jesus, through the Spirit abiding with us now and

forever. Amen.

 

MEAL

THE 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.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and

in all places give thanks and praise. . . We praise your name and join

their unending hymn.

 

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread,

and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, Take and eat;

this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all

to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for

you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance

of me.

With this bread and cup we remember our Lord’s Passover from

death to life as we proclaim the mystery of faith;

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray…

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. And forgive us our trespasses, as we

forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into

temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom

and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

 

INVITATION TO COMMUNION

Heaven has come near. Come, share in the feast!

All are welcome to receive Holy Communion at the Lord's table. We

practice a continuous communion distribution. You are invited to

come forward at the direction of the ushers and kneel or stand at the

altar rail, filling in spaces starting from the center as they become

available. If you'd like to receive a blessing instead, you may simply

come forward and cross your arms over your chest. If you are unable

to come forward, please notify an usher and we will bring the sacrament

to you. The communion cups contain wine (red) or grape juice

(white). Gluten-free wafers are available upon request.

Communion Hymns

Hymn #496 “One Bread, One Body”

Hymn #612 “Healer of Our Every Ill”

Hymn #608 “Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling”

 

POST COMMUNION BLESSING

Please stand as you are able.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Let us pray. Compassionate God, through the gifts of bread and

wine our hearts are filled with the abundance of your love.

Strengthen us that we, through this holy meal, may share your

love freely, as you have shared with us. We ask this in the name

of Jesus, through the Spirit nourishing us now and forever.

Amen.

BENEDICTION

Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and

forever.

TABLE GRACE

SENDING HYMN “I’m So Glad Jesus Lifted Me” Hymn #860

DISMISSAL

Heaven has come near. Go, share the good news!

 

Calendar This Week

August 16—TODAY after worship—Vision, Fellowship & Lunch in the YAC

Church Staff and today’s worship leaders:

Pastor—Rev. Chris Steubing

Visitation Pastor—Rev. Judi Miller

Our Reader—Allen Brzozowski

Our Liturgist—Don Gillett

Our Communion Assistants –Vicki Lee & Ed Clark

Organist/Pianist—Jimmy Cheung

Choir and Hand Bell Director—Wendy Kuenemann

Office Administrator—Trista Stubblefield

Liturgy and songs reprinted by permission of One License.net License # - A-744251.