ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCH

THE LUTHERAN CHURCH—MISSOURI SYNOD LITTLETON, COLORADO

August 20, 2017

8:00 am

ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST A Crumb For Me AS WE GATHER

Pet dogs know the right place to be at mealtime: under the table. They know you don’t need a special seat; these dogs are happy to get crumbs of “people food.” And we rejoice to receive what we don’t deserve: whatever blessings God bestows on us, disobedient sinners that we are. In the Old Testament Reading, God promises that He would call us foreigners to His table, and here we are. Even the disobedience of God’s Old Testament people has proven good for us, as we see everyone receiving mercy from a gracious God. The Canaanite woman in the Gospel saw herself in the position of a dog, trusting she would receive crumbs from the family table. But the bread crumb falling to earth she and we have received is none other than the Son of God, the Bread of Life. The crumb each of us receives is priceless! As we gather around Word and Sacrament, we get no stale food, but the nourishment we need for abundant life each day until we join saints and angels at the eternal feast in heaven.

PREPARATION

PRELUDE “Toccata in C Major” J.S. Bach

GREETING Pastor Larson

TOLLING OF THE BELL Congregation, please stand during the tolling of the bell

OPENING HYMN “Lord, This Day We’ve Come to Worship” LSB 911

INVOCATION

Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. People: Amen.

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

Pastor: Our gracious God has promised to hear and forgive for Jesus’ sake. Let us therefore go to Him, confessing our sins.

Silence for reflection on the Word of God and for self-examination.

Pastor: Creator God, People: we confess our sinful thoughts, words, and deeds, as well as our

sinful condition. We are not the creatures You intend us to be. Forgive us and rescue us from our unrighteousness that we may reflect Your righteousness and holiness.

Pastor: Promised Savior, People: we confess that we are not only in the world, but too often act as part

of it. We are as aliens in Your kingdom of grace. Forgive us and graciously treat us as Your own people for Your own name’s sake.

Pastor: Holy Spirit, Comforter, People: we confess that we have wandered from the truth and sought to fulfill

our own wants and desires. Forgive us, renew in us pure hearts, and guide us to walk in Your ways each day as long as we live.

Pastor: Our heavenly Father sent His Son into the world to bear the sins of all. He has opened the kingdom of heaven to all who trust in Him for salvation. As a called and ordained servant of Christ and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all of your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

People: Amen KYRIE

Pastor: Creator God, People: Lord, have mercy, Pastor: Promised Savior, People: Christ, have mercy Pastor: Holy Spirit, Comforter, People: Lord, have mercy. HYMN OF PRAISE (Based on the Magnificat)

“Tell Out My Soul”, the Greatness of the Lord” LSB 935

SALUTATION

Pastor: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY Pastor: Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting Father, although we do not deserve

to be heard, You invite us to call out to You in every circumstance. People: Grant us confident faith that You hear us and put peace in our hearts

that Your answers will meet our deepest needs. Then we will “Tell Out, My Soul, the Greatness of the Lord.”

Pastor: through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

People: Amen. (Sung) Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord! Make known His might, the deeds His arm has done; His mercy sure, from age to age the same; His holy name, the Lord, the Mighty One.

WORD

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 (God promises to listen to the prayers of Gentiles.)

This is what the LORD says: "Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.

And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant--these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." The Sovereign LORD declares--he who gathers the exiles of Israel: "I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered."

Lector: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

EPISTLE: Romans 11:1-2a, 13-15, 28-32 (God’s mercy extends to all people.)

I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew.

I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you. For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

Lector: This is the Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

Congregation, please stand.

HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 15:21–28 (A Canaanite woman begs Jesus for help and is granted her request.)

Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the fifteenth chapter. People: Glory to You, O Lord.

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession." Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said. He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." "Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to You, O Christ.

HYMN OF THE DAY “We Sing for All the Unsung Saints” LSB 678

SERMON Tomorrow – Worry or Wonder? Pastor Larson Text: Psalm 8

APOSTLES’ CREED Found in the back cover of the Hymnal PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

[The responses are sung to the tune Old Hundreth – “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”]

Pastor: Let us pray for ourselves, the Church around the world, and all people in

their various stations and conditions. For the Church, calling sinners to repentance and proclaiming the Gospel among people of every tribe and tongue, that clergy and lay leaders be faithful in their calling and protected under persecution, let us pray to the Lord.

(Response) People: Your crumbs, O Lord, we merit not,

Yet Bread of Life to us You send. Seats at Your feast Christ’s blood has bought. O gracious God, our prayer attend.

Pastor: For the nations of the world, ordering society for peace and prosperity, that their leaders be just and compassionate, and that their citizens work together—harvesting and milling, teaching and learning, producing and providing, caring and conserving—to give glory to our gracious God and dignity to one another, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Your crumbs, O Lord, we merit not, Yet Bread of Life to us You send. Seats at Your feast Christ’s blood has bought. O gracious God, our prayer attend.

Pastor: For the downtrodden and oppressed, the lonely and forgotten, the sick and dying, and for those near and dear to us, [including . . .], that God would hear their prayers, surround them with circles of skilled and understanding people, and answer their deepest needs according to His loving plans for them, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Your crumbs, O Lord, we merit not, Yet Bread of Life to us You send. Seats at Your feast Christ’s blood has bought. O gracious God, our prayer attend.

Pastor: For ourselves—young and old, rich and poor, singles, couples, and families—as we gather for worship and care for one another in our spiritual, emotional, and physical needs, that the Word of God grow richly among us to the praise of God’s holy name, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Your crumbs, O Lord, we merit not, Yet Bread of Life to us You send. Seats at Your feast Christ’s blood has bought. O gracious God, our prayer attend.

Pastor: Into Your hands, heavenly Father, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting that in Your mercy You will answer with blessings none of us deserves for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

People: Amen.

SHARING THE PEACE

Pastor: The peace of the Lord be with you always. People: And also with you.

(We greet one another with a word of reconciliation, such as “Peace be with you.”

OFFERINGS OFFERTORY “There is a New Song” by Jon Paige

Anita Barasel and Valarie Flickinger, soloists

HOLY COMMUNION AT ASCENSION

The Lord, our Host, invites to his Supper those who are baptized into the Christian faith, confess him as Savior, have examined themselves, truly repent of sins, believe the Risen Lord is present in the sacrament with his true body and blood, and resolve to live faithfully and obediently. For those with an intolerance to alcohol, the center ring of the tray contains grape juice. Gluten free wafers are available to those with wheat allergies. Children who have not been instructed, yet desire a blessing, are invited to come forward with arms crossed. Come, for the Supper is ready! When receiving the bread and wine, the communicant may respond with “Amen!”, a word of affirmation and belief.

SACRAMENT PREFACE

Pastor: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Pastor: Lift up your hearts. People: We lift them to the Lord. Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People: It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

PROPER PREFACE

Pastor: It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who on this day overcame death and the grave and by His glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and singing:

SANCTUS

THE WORDS OF OUR LORD (Consecration)

Pastor: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.” In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

PROCLAMATION OF CHRIST

Pastor: As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. 1 Corinthians 11:26

People: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20 Pastor: O Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, in giving us Your body and

blood to eat and to drink, You lead us to remember and confess Your holy cross and passion, Your blessed death, Your rest in the tomb, Your resurrection from the dead, Your ascension into heaven, and Your coming for the final judgment. So remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

LORD’S PRAYER (Inside Back Cover) AGNUS DEI (Lamb of God)

DISTRIBUTION HYMNS AND MUSIC MINISTRY

“Lord Jesus Christ, Life-Giving Bread” LSB 625 Duet: “The Gift of Love” arr. Hal Hopson

Anita Baresel and Valorie Flickinger, soloists “Come, Let Us Eat” [Leader sings lines 1 & 3; Cong. sings lines 2 & 4] LSB 626 “What Is This Bread?” LSB 629

POST-COMMUNION THANKSGIVING

Pastor: You, O Lord, bless us with all the gifts we need to thrive as Your people in the world. For the abundance of Your gifts to us, we give You thanks. Especially we do thank You for Christ’s body and blood, the Living Bread of Heaven, by which our sins are forgiven and we are made one in the Body of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

People: Amen.

BENEDICTION Pastor: Nourished by the Word of Christ and fed by Christ’s body and blood, you

are sent out into the world in the name of Jesus to fill the hungry with good things.

Pastor: The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Numbers 6:24–26

People: Amen.

CLOSING HYMN “Christ, the Eternal Word” (verses 1-3) LSB 829 CONGREGATIONAL CONCERNS P Go in peace. Serve the Lord. C Thanks be to God!

POSTLUDE “Jig Fugue in C Major” Dietrich Buxtehude

Serving in Worship

OFFICIANT and CELEBRANT Rev. John Larson, Pastor BAPTISM PASTOR The Rev. Tim Lindeman, Pastor and Proud Grandpa DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRIES Michael Zehnder ELDER 8:00 Norm Finfrock

10:00 Bill Redden PRAISE TEAM 10:00 Youth Band LECTOR 8:00 Ted Lemke

10:00 Mike Reimnitz ACOLYTE 8:00 Josh Federico

10:00 Tyrus Pierce USHERS 8:00 Barry Kratzer, Members of the Congregation

10:00 Jason Dierking, Members of the Congregation

SERVER 10:00 Les Young ALTAR GUILD Joyce Dowdy, Rita Kratzer, Deb Shiflet FLOWERS Edna & Linda Achziger in loving

memory of Carla Achziger

CCLI License #1903595