Year A - Proper 15 (14 Aug - 20 Aug)

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VERSION: 8 May 2002

SUNDAY BETWEEN 14 AND 20 AUG (PROPER 15), YEAR A

In 2002: 13th Sunday after Pentecost, 18 Aug

In 2005: 13th Sunday after Pentecost, 14 Aug

In 2008: 14th Sunday after Pentecost, 17 Aug

In 2011: 9th Sunday after Pentecost, 14 Aug

In 2014: 10th Sunday after Pentecost, 17 Aug

- - -

Note: For explanations and suggestions on the various resources provided, see the documents 'General notes and resources' and 'Time after Pentecost' in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

LITURGY

SENTENCE

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder for suggestions on using a Sentence.

Thus says the Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel,

'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.'

(Isa 56:8a,7b NRSV)

OR, use one of the general Sentences in the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

INTRODUCTION TO CONFESSION

The following introduction to the confession of sins may be used.

Friends in Christ:

Jesus said:

'It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person,

but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles . . .

For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery,

fornication, theft, false witness, slander.

These are what defile a person.'

As we have come into the presence of God who searches our hearts,

let us confess our sins to him,

and ask him to forgive us and make us clean

for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Then follows the prayer of confession according to the order of service.

LORD, HAVE MERCY

The gospel for this Sunday contains one of the texts on which the liturgical cry 'Lord, have mercy' is based (Matt 15:22). This could be highlighted in the sermon and/or by having a different or longer kyrie for the day to emphasise that the main thrust of the 'Lord, have mercy' is as a cry for God to regard the supplicant favourably and bring help and deliverance from trouble. (See the suggestions in the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Lord, have mercy' in both the 'Liturgy' and 'Hymns and songs' sections, in the 'General and seasonal' folder.)

Or this 'Lord, have mercy' may be used:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of David, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus Christ, sent to the lost sheep of Israel, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus Christ, light of the nations, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)

Traditional

Almighty and merciful God,

since you give your faithful people grace

to offer you true and acceptable service:

Grant that we may so faithfully serve you in this life

that we fail not finally to obtain your heavenly promises;

through your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, modernised traditional

Almighty and merciful God,

it is your gift

that your faithful people serve you well.

Help us to run without stumbling

and reach what you have promised.

We ask this through your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, alternative

(Let us pray that all people may find their fulfilment in Christ. [silence])

Almighty and merciful God,

you have fulfilled our human longing

for justice and peace

in the coming of your Son as a human being.

May he shine in our lives,

so that all who see us

are drawn to him

as their only Saviour.

For he lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, new

(Let us pray for boldness in prayer. [silence])

Thank you, God of the nations,

for calling all kinds of people into your kingdom,

even though none of us deserve your great love.

Make us confident in praying to you

for our own needs

and for the needs of others.

We ask this through your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

FIRST READING AND PSALM

Note: There are two sets of first readings (with accompanying Psalms) given for the Sundays after Pentecost: (a) a new semi-continuous set, and (b) a set related thematically to the gospels (as in the earlier form of the lectionary). It is intended that either one of these two sets be used throughout and that they not be mixed.

1a

Genesis 45:1-15 Joseph reveals himself to his brothers

Psalm 133

Antiphon:

How good it is to live together in unity! (based on Ps 133:1 NRSV)

OR, 1b

Isaiah 56:1,6-8 God's people will include foreigners

Psalm 67

Antiphon:

(Let the peoples praise you, O God;) let all the peoples praise you.  (Ps 67:3 NRSV)

SECOND READING

Romans 11:1,2a,29-32 The salvation of the Jews as well as the Gentiles

ALLELUIA VERSE(Isa 56:8)

Alleluia, alleluia.

Thus says the Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel,

I will gather others to them besides those already gathered.

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

Matthew 15:(10-20)21-28 The healing of an unclean woman's daughter

(If beginning at v 10, begin: 'Jesus called the crowdÖ')

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Lord Jesus, thank you for your mercy to all people.

Give us faith to ask for your help in all our needs,

knowing your great love for us.

Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER

Thank you, Lord, for accepting us

and people from all backgrounds into your kingdom -

Gentiles as well as Jews,

the outsiders

as well as those who have grown up in the church.

Help us to accept other people

and welcome them, as you do.

Use us and our gifts to reach out to those in need.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

The Canaanite woman came to Jesus, trusting that he would hear and help her. Let us turn to our heavenly Father, praying for ourselves and our world.

The regular response, OR

Let us call out to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Suggested intercessions

Concluding prayer

Heavenly Father, as weak and sinful human beings we come to you asking for your mercy. Listen to our cry for help, and hear our prayers. We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

PREFACE

It is indeed right and good,

Lord God, holy Father,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks to you,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(On this day)*

he overcame death by his resurrection

and opened up for us

the way to eternal life with you.

And so, with angels and archangels,

and with all the company of heaven,

we adore and praise your glorious name:

* The words 'on this day' are used only on Sundays.

COMMUNION INVITATION

For a choice of communion invitations, see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Communion invitation', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

See the service order for a standard post-communion prayer. Alternatively, use the third prayer of the day (as listed above) at this point. It may be modified as follows.

Almighty and merciful God,

you fulfilled our human longing

for justice and peace

when your Son came as a human being.

As we have received his body and blood in this sacrament,

may he shine in our lives

so that all who see us

may be drawn to him

as their only Saviour.

For he lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

DISMISSAL

Go in peace, trusting in the Lord for all you need.

Thanks be to God. OR In the name of Christ. Amen.

HYMNS AND SONGS

FOR THE READINGS

Please note:        * =        Modernised version available

      G3, G4 . . . =        Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . . .

      GS =        Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH

First reading (a): Genesis 45:1–15

LHS

AT

TIS

First reading (b): Isaiah 56:1,6-8

LHS

AT

TIS

Second reading: Romans 11:1,2a, 29-32

LHS

AT

TIS

Gospel: Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28

LHS

AT

TIS

PSALM 133

For musical settings of Psalm 133, see Music Packages 3 and 5.

The following paraphrase of Psalm 133 by David Sch¸tz is sung to the tune 'A New Commandment'. Use the music in ATN 65; the tune at LHS 853 is slightly different. It is also at TIS 699. (Note: the word 'oil' is pronounced with one syllable here.) If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

How good and pleasant it is when we live

just like brothers and sisters, together as one,

just like brothers and sisters, together as one.

It's like precious oil poured out on the head of Aaron,

and down his beard onto his vestments.

It's like dew of Hermon descending on Mount Zion,

where God gives life to those he blesses.

PSALM 67

For musical settings of Psalm 67, see Music Packages 4 and 8.

LH 216, May God bestow on us his grace, is a paraphrase by Luther of Psalm 67, although the traditional tune is difficult for congregations to sing. TIS 37, our God, be gracious unto us, is also a paraphrase of this psalm.

The following  paraphrase by David Sch¸tz may be sung to the tune at ATO 331. If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

God be gracious and bless us,

make your face shine upon us,

then the earth will know your way,

nations know your saving.

Let the peoples praise you, God;

all humanity praise you.

Let the nations all rejoice,

let them sing with gladness.

You guide every race on earth,

and you judge us with justice.

Let the peoples praise you, God;

all the peoples praise you.

Earth has yielded its reward,

God, our own God, has blessed us.

May God bless us always and

all the earth revere him.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Notes on the readings', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

GENESIS 45:1-15: If anyone might have been tempted to exact pay-back from someone who had wronged him it would surely be Joseph. Rather, now in the position of power, he chose the higher ground of loving generosity expressed in total forgiveness of his brothers. They, full of evil intentions, had sold him to foreigners into slavery. Wrongful imprisonment followed. Joseph could see that it was the hand of God which had brought him to Egypt to save many people from starvation over and above his brothers' evil intentions. His whole life was governed by his love for God, hence his care for the family.

ISAIAH 56:1,6-8: Those who enjoyed the blessedness of God's covenant could do so because they had deliverance from their sin.  Isaiah is saying that regardless of whether they were born among God's people, or whether they came into it as converted strangers (foreigners), this blessedness should make it impossible to insult God by breaking his commandments. Those who honour his covenant in this way will be given the further blessings of being included on his holy mountain.

ROMANS 11:1,2a,29-32: The Jews had often rejected God right through their history.  Had God therefore abandoned them?  Paul's answer is a definite NO. He himself was a proof of this (vv 1,2). He also feels sure that just as their rejection of Christ led to the inclusion of the Gentiles (heathen), so God will also save the Jews one day through Gentile believers.  God's kingdom is open to all unrighteous people, Jews or Gentiles, to all who will but repent and believe the gospel.

MATTHEW 15:(10-20)21-28: The Canaanite woman's initial piteous cry for help was met by silence from the Lord. Her faith was further put to the test by his seeming heavy rebuff. A Gentile, she yet continued to call on him as 'Messiah' (Son of David) to help.  Jesus honoured that persistent expression of faith. Faith is the key to receiving the blessings of Christ, regardless of race, sex, colour or ability.

VISUAL

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS

Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, the first reading from Genesis could be illustrated by a picture like the one in the TEV Bible for Genesis 45:14.

DRAMA

'MEGA DRAMA'

See a drama for the day in Mega Drama resources (Openbook Publishers), originally included in these worship resources when they were released on disks.

DRAMATISING THE READINGS

The readings can be read by more than one person to make the dramatic meaning of the text clearer. For instance, the first reading (1a) could be read by two readers: narrator and Joseph; and the gospel could be read by various readers: narrator (the pastor), Jesus, disciple(s), (Peter,) woman.

CHILDREN

'COME AND SEE JESUS'

The Come and See Jesus curriculum published by Openbook Publishers has a wealth of material and ideas that may be adapted for use in worship. Please note that a new edition of this material is currently available for the Revised Common Lectionary.

This week's story is 'The faith of a Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:21-28)'. Material for this story may be found in

Original Edition, Year A, 13 Pentecost

OR

Revised RCL Edition, Year A, Proper 15