(Image: “Woman of Canaan” Watanabe, Sadao, Print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC)
©Order of Worship for Sunday August 16, 2026
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
For the Avent Ferry UMC Worship Video Click Here Link (Link opens in a new window)
Prelude:…………“Oh, I Know the Lord’s
Laid His Hands on Me”……………….Greg D.
Coming of the Light:……………………………………
Greetings:……………………………………..…Pastor Liz
Announcements:………………………………………..Lorri B.
Call to Worship:…………………………………………Congregation
Holy spirit, You are welcome here
come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
to be overcome by Your presence, Lord
Opening Prayer: ……………………………….……….…Margaret S.
Opening Hymns: “My Faith Looks Up to Thee” #452 UMH
Words: Ray Palmer, 1875 Music: Lowell Mason, 1831
1. My faith looks up to thee, thou Lamb of
Calvary, Savior divine! Now hear me
while I pray, take all my guilt away,
O let me from this day be wholly thine!
2. May thy rich grace impart strength to my
fainting heart, my zeal inspire! As thou hast
died for me, O may my love to thee
pure, warm, and changeless be, a living fire!
3. While life’s dark maze I tread, and griefs
around me spread, be thou my guide; bid darkness
turn to day, wipe sorrow’s tears away,
nor let me ever stray from thee aside.
4. When ends life’s transient dream, when death’s cold,
sullen stream shall o’er me roll; blest Savior,
then in love, fear and distrust remove;
O bear me safe above, a ransomed soul!
“Freely, Freely” 389 UMH
Words: Carol Owens, 1972 Music: Carol Owens, 1972
© Communique Music, Inc.
1. God forgave my sin in Jesus’ name,
I’ve been born again in Jesus’ name,
And in Jesus’ name I come to you,
To share his love as he told me to.
He said, “Freely, freely you have received,
freely, freely give.
Go in my name, and because you believe,
others will know that I live.”
2. All power is given in Jesus’ name,
In earth and heaven in Jesus’ name,
And in Jesus’ name I come to you,
To share his power as he told me to.
He said, “Freely, freely you have received,
freely, freely give.
Go in my name, and because you believe,
others will know that l live.”
Passing of the Peace:…………………………………Pastor Liz
Let us offer signs of reconciliation and peace to one another.
Giving of our tithes and offerings ……….…Pastor Liz
You can do this with no fee through your bank’s online bill pay option. It is easy to set up for automatic monthly giving. Or, you can use this link: Online Giving
Offertory: ……………………………..…………Mark B.
Offertory Response:
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” #95
The United Methodist Hymnal
Words by Thomas Ken, 1674 Music attributed to Louis Bourgeois, 1551
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise God, all creatures here below;
praise God above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Prayer After Receiving:………………………………Pastor Liz
Prayers of the People:…………………………………Pastor Liz
The Lord’s Prayer:
Gospel Lesson:………..Matthew 15: 21-28…………Margaret S.
Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 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.” 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.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 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.
Hymn of Preparation: “Send Us Your Spirit” #3185 W&S
Words and Music: Dan Schutte © 1985 OCP
1. Send us your Spirit, O Lord.
Evening enfolds us and holds us too near.
Wake the morning light. Make our living bright.
Shine on our darkness, O Lord.
2. Hold us with mercy, O Lord.
Sorrow has spoken, has broken our hearts.
Clothe us in your care. Be the life we bear.
Feed us and fill us, O Lord.
3. Teach us your wisdom, O Lord.
Shadows have clouded, have crowded our sight.
Give us hearts that see. Set our loving free.
Hear us and help us, O Lord.
4. Send us good summer, O Lord.
Winters have chilled us and stilled us too long.
Give us love’s own fire. Be our true desire.
Send us your Spirit, O Lord.
Sermon:……………………………………………………Pastor Liz
Response to the Word:
Closing Hymn: “Victory in Jesus” UMH 370 UMH
Words: Eugene M. Bartlett, 1939 Music: Eugene M.
Bartlett, 1939 © 1939 Eugene M. Bartlett, renewed
1967 Mrs. Eugene M. Bartlett, by permission of
Albert E. Brumley & Sons, Inc.
1. I heard an old, old story, how a Savior came
from glory, how he gave his life on Calvary
to save a wretch like me; I heard about his
groaning, of his precious blood’s atoning,
then I repented of my sins and won the victory.
O victory in Jesus, my Savior forever! He sought
me and bought me with his redeeming blood;
he loved me ere I knew him, and all my love
is due him; he plunged me to victory
beneath the cleansing flood.
2. I heard about his healing, of his cleansing power
revealing, how he made the lame to walk again
and caused the blind to see; and then I cried, “Dear
Jesus, come and heal my broken spirit,” and somehow
Jesus came and brought to me the victory.
O victory in Jesus, my Savior forever! He sought
me and bought me with his redeeming blood;
he loved me ere I knew him, and all my love
is due him; he plunged me to victory
beneath the cleansing flood.
3. I heard about a mansion he has built for me
in glory, and I heard about the streets of gold
beyond the crystal sea; about the angels
singing and the old redemption story, and some
sweet day I’ll sing up there the song of victory.
O victory in Jesus, my Savior forever! He sought
me and bought me with his redeeming blood;
he loved me ere I knew him, and all my love
is due him; he plunged me to victory
beneath the cleansing flood.
Dismissal with Blessing:……………………………Pastor Liz
Postlude:……………………………………………………..
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Sunday August 16th Worship Service