Worship Order – Outdoor Service of the Word ~ 9:15am
August 16, 2026 ~ 12th Sunday after Pentecost
Prelude
Announcements
Opening Hymn Here I Am, Lord, WOV 752
1 “I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in deepest sin
my hand will save.
I, who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?”
Refrain:
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
2 “I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.
I, will break their hearts of stone,
give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them.
Whom shall I send?” [Refrain]
3 “I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide
till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?” [Refrain]
Invocation
Hymn of Praise How Great Thou Art
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the Worlds Thy hand hath made.
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed
Refrain
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze. Refrain
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin. Refrain
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And there proclaim: “My God, how great Thou art!” Refrain
Prayer of the Day
Holy One, refine us by the fire of your love so that we find ourselves able to stand firm in the faith. By the death and resurrection of your Son, bring to that day when we shall stand with the great cloud of witnesses in your eternal presence; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.
1st Scripture Lesson: Isaiah 56:1, 6-8
1Thus says the Lord: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed.”
6And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant — 7these 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.” 8The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, “I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered.”
The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Psalm 24
1The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,
2for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
3Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place?
4He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear
deceitfully.
5He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah
7Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
8Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle!
9Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
10Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah
Gospel Matthew 15:21-28
The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 15th Chapter.
C: Glory to you, O Lord.
21Jesus went away from {Gennesaret} and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
The Gospel of the Lord
C: Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon
Hymn of the Day In the Garden
I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses.
Refrain:
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing;
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing. Refrain
I’d stay in the garden with Him
Tho’ the night around me be falling;
But He bids me go; thro’ the voice of woe,
His voice to me is calling. Refrain
Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.*
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again 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
Passing of the Peace
Offering
Offertory The Doxology (564)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, Ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Offertory Prayer p. 87 LBW
Prayers of God’s People
The Lord’s Prayer
Benediction p. 94 LBW
Closing Hymn For the Beauty of the Earth, LBW 561
1 For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies:
Refrain:
Christ, our Lord, to you we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.
2 For the wonder of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale and tree and flow’r,
Sun and moon and stars of light: [Refrain]
3 For the joy of ear and eye,
For the heart and mind’s delight,
For the mystic harmony
Linking sense to sound and sight: [Refrain]
4 For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth and friends above;
For all gentle thoughts and mild: [Refrain]
5 For yourself, best gift divine
To the world so freely giv’n;
Agent of God’s grand design,
Peace on earth and joy in heav’n: {Refrain}
Dismissal p. 95 LBW
Postlude