INTRODUCTION

In Isaiah we hear that God’s house shall be a house of prayer for all people and that God will gather the outcasts of Israel. 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 around word and meal we receive strength to be signs of comfort, healing, and justice for those in need.

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

*CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

God of all mercy and consolation, come to the help of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Most merciful God, we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

*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.

*GATHERING SONG All Are Welcome (ELW 641)

FIRST READING: Isaiah 56:1, 6-89

 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.

PSALM: Psalm 67

1 May God be merciful to us and bless us;

  may the light of God’s face shine upon us.

 2 Let your way be known upon earth,

  your saving health among all nations.

 3 Let the peoples praise you, O God;

  let all the peoples praise you.

 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,

  for you judge the peoples with equity and guide all the nations on earth. 

 5 Let the peoples praise you, O God;

  let all the peoples praise you.

 6 The earth has brought forth its increase;

  God, our own God, has blessed us.

 7 May God give us blessing,

  and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe.

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

A reading from Romans.

[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.

*GOSPEL: Matthew 15:[10-20] 21-28

The holy gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord.

[10 [Jesus] called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand:11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.” 12 Then the disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” 13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.” 15 But Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.” 16 Then he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach and goes out into the sewer? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. 19 For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.”] 

  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.

MEDITATION Pastor Wende Bleam

*HYMN OF THE DAY Healer of Our Every Ill (ELW 612)

*APOSTLES’ 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 to the dead.*

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 the life everlasting. Amen.

OFFERING OF TITHES AND GIFTS TO GOD

Please place your offering in the plate near the Sanctuary door any time during or following worship. Your offering and tithes may be made online through our website, stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org or sent by mail to

St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1500 Glen Avenue, Folcroft, PA 19032.

* OFFERING PRAYER

*PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

With bold trust in God’s unfailing provision, we pray for the church, those in need, and all of God’s creation.

For believers around the world who stream to your holy mountain, that all be united in faith and harmony in the body of Christ. Let your church on earth be a witness to the beloved community of your heavenly kingdom. Merciful God,

receive our prayer.

For the nations of the world and all in authority, that they heed the cry of the outcast and ensure care for the most vulnerable. Give wisdom to leaders of countries, congregations, and communities, that they lead and serve justly. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

For all who are lonely, grieving, or struggling with chronic pain, that they find comfort, community, and hope. Send relief to all who struggle with illness of any kind. We pray for the family and friends of Bishop Pat Davenport, the family and friends of Hikeen and Charles, the family and friends of Dawn Butler, Folcroft Police and Fire Company members, Ceasar, Bruce, Paul, Ruth, Deb, Richie, Donna, Carol, Barbara, Vince, Danielle, Connor, Bryant, Walt, Lisa, Pastor Wende, Ray, Lillian, Alexis, Dadiana, Martie, Derek, Robert, Sandy, Tonie, Frank, Billy, Birtey and those we now raise before you in our hearts. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

For this congregation, for visitors and those new to this faith community, that all may recognize the presence of Christ in each new face. Draw this community together in love and strengthen it in unwavering faith. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Receive our prayers and answer, O God, as you have promised. All this we ask in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

* LORD'S PRAYER

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.

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.

*PEACE

The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you

*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 to you, almighty and merciful God,

through our Savior Jesus Christ;

who on this day overcame death and the grave,

and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life.

And so, with all the choirs of angels,

with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

*HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

 

In the night in which he was betrayed,

our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;

broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:

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.

INVITATION TO COMMUNION

Come to the banquet, for all is now ready.

COMMUNION SONG

 

May the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. Amen. 

*PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

*BLESSING

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

Amen.

* SENDING SONG             My Faith Looks Up to Thee (ELW 759)

DISMISSAL - Go in peace. Share the good news. Thanks be to God.

The ETERNAL CANDLE is sponsored for the month of August by John Bindi.

YOU CAN HELP!  You can be a good steward AND get your grocery shopping done.  Did you know that if you purchase a grocery food gift card from St. John’s, our congregation will receive 5% of all sales of gift cards.  Please see MaryAnne Rossi if you wish to purchase and gift cards.  Thank you for helping us raise that 5% for helping to continue our ministry. 

 

For the month of August, we are collecting school supplies: backpacks

spiral notebooks, composition notebooks, 3-ring binders, loose leaf paper,

2-pocket folders, posit notes, index cards, glue sticks or bottles, rulers

pencils, pens, colored pencils, crayons, pencil boxes or pouches, markers,

highlighters, erasers, pencil sharpener and scissors.

Each week, we collect food for our hungry neighbors in need in our SHARING GOD'S BOUNTY WAGON.  Hunger doesn’t take a vacation.  Please consider making a donation of a food item each week. If you are in need of food, please notify Mary Anne Rossi and she will let you know what we have available.

The Social Ministry Committee would love to hear from you if you have any ideas for small fundraising and/or social ministry events that we could pull off with minimal effort. Challenge us with your ideas!!

With our church building getting older, we need everyone’s eyes and ears to help keep her in good repair. If you see any problems like a burnt out light bulb, please let Barb or 

MaryAnne know or drop a note in the offering plate on Sunday. We need to get a jump on current or upcoming problems.

Our Financial Response (thru July)

CURRENT

Budgeted costs per month $ 7,305.04

Please continue to support St. John's.  Our expenses continue each month. 

Your offering and tithes may be made online through our website, 

stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org  or sent by mail to

St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1500 Glen Avenue, Folcroft, PA 19032.