Welcome toMemorial Drive Lutheran Church!12211 Memorial Drive
Houston, TX 77024
(At the corner of Memorial Dr. and Gessner)
713-468-9443
Pastor Will Storm, Senior Pastor
We serve the Houston community and beyond in spreading the Good news and love of Christ by serving others and examining and living by the Word with faith, hope, love and enthusiasm.
Sunday, August 20, 2017
11th Sunday after Pentecost
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.
Prayer of the Day
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.
Readings and Psalm
Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 A house of prayer for all peoples
Matthew 15:[10-20] 21-28 The healing of the Canaanite woman's daughter
HYMNS FOR WORSHIP
Gathering
Build Us Up, Lord
Hymn of the Day
Healer of Our Every Ill
Communion
Let Us Go Now to the Banquet
One Bread, one Body
Sending
Jesus Shall Reign
Prepare Ye the Way...to Godspell!
Fun fact: Pastor Will once acted in the musical Godspell and sang the song "All Good Gifts."
Gospel is a retelling of the Gospel of Matthew for our modern world, and gives a glimpse of what it might look like to be pulled into a life of discipleship with Christ.
Now, Godspell is coming to the stage here in Houston at AD Players. Pastor Will and Erin will be going on August 19th at 7:30pm and invite anyone in the congregation who would like to come along. Tickets start at $19 a seat and are available at www.adplayers.org .
Limited discount tickets are also available via Goldstar. Get your own tickets and let Pastor Will (pastorwill@mdlc.org) or Erin (erinmstorm@gmail.com) know you're coming.
Save the date for the ELCA's national day of service.
Our worship that day will draw in some of the themes of service and we will be joining with our sibling congregation Christ the Servant for projects at Covenant House (a transitional housing program for those without homes)
and for Krause Children's Center (a recovery center for young girls).
Projects are likely to happen on Saturday, September 9th in the morning and
Sunday, September 10th immediately following worship.
More "God's Work, Our Hands" shirts will soon be on their way here if you don't have one yet. Look for more details to come.
Potluck and Rally Day
September 17th!
Mark your calendar for a church potluck on September 17th! We hold potlucks on the third Sunday of every odd numbered month (so you can go ahead and mark November 19th and January 21st, too!). This will also be our back-to-school kick off for youth programs at the church, so I hear there is a chance for some games and fun!
Care Ministry
Do you feel connected to God when you pray? Sometimes we find ourselves in ruts--always eating the same meals, doing the same activities. It's helpful to refresh all areas of our lives, including our prayer life.
Here are some ideas: try a different prayer posture, pray with a Gospel reading or one (or several) of the Psalms. Envision a conversation with Jesus. Say the Jesus prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." May we all find peace, comfort, hope and joy through our time spent in prayer.
Do you have ideas for enhancing our prayer life, connectedness, and care for others? Please email karenwhitefield@me.com or call (713) 446-8678.
Acolytes
Acolytes play an important role in worship. The word acolyte means "one who helps," and MDLC Acolytes do just that! These volunteers light and extinguish candles, collect the offering, and assist with communion and baptisms. Students in elementary school are encouraged to participate. Training is provided. To sign up for a specific worship service click HERE
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To sign up to get on the MDLC mailing list click HERE!
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Memorial Drive Lutheran Church is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod.
E-mail admin@mdlc.org with any questions or comments.
