11th Sunday of Pentecost - 8:30AM Worship Service. First reading Isaiah 56:1, 6-8; Second reading Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32; Gospel reading Matthew 15:10-20, 21-28. This passage gives us permission to think about our faith, where we are, here and now. Perhaps this passage calls us to acknowledge the fluidity of faith and that different circumstances will call on different features of faith. Maybe the Canaanite woman’s story is not about what faith is, some sort of definition for all times and places, but what faith looks like in action. Faith is not just a status quo of creeds and beliefs, but lays claim on how we are in the world, how we choose to be in the world and how we choose to live each moment of our lives. Maybe faith is not about having perfect belief, but tenacity, a stick-to-it ness that keeps leadingus back into the life of the Holy Trinity. Faith is not just a collection of beliefs, but a state of being—not because of what we do, but because of who and whose we are. Could it possibly be that this story of unexpected outcomes works transformation in us as well? Will we dare to see the extravagance of God’s mercies, that reaches far beyond any human boundary? We join the Canaanite woman, with faith, clinging to God’s mercies, that joins us with all the outcasts—the wounded, the hungry, the lonely, the homeless. We join the same chorus each and every Sunday with God’s faithful people of all times and places. For the peace from above and for our salvation, for peace throughout the world, for God's church and unity, for all who worship and praise, for all who serve and gather around font and table with faith, with hope, and renewal: We pray "Lord have mercy".