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Bethel Congregational Church

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August 16, 2026 12th Sunday after Pentecost

10am - Live In-Person Worship THIS WEEK

Sunday, August 16, 2026
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost | Year A


Focus Theme:
Will Not Come to Poverty


Focus Prayer:
Holy One, thank you for coming closer to us and providing for us. Amen


Focus Scripture:
Genesis 45:1-15
Then  Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by  him, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me.” So no one stayed  with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?”  But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his  presence.
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer  to me.” And they came closer. He said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom  you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are five  more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here but God; he has made me a father to  Pharaoh and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son  Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me; do not  delay. 10 You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you  shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as  well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 I  will provide for you there, since there are five more years of famine  to come, so that you and your household and all that you have will not  come to poverty.’ 12 And now your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you. 13 You must tell my father how greatly I am honored in Egypt and all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” 14 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them, and after that his brothers talked with him.


All readings for this Sunday:
Genesis 45:1-15 and Psalm 133 • Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 and Psalm 67 • Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 • Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28


Focus Questions:
What causes famine?
What causes poverty?
Why does poverty persist even when resources are abundant and excessive?
How can poverty be eliminated?
How would the world change without poverty?

SCRIPTURES FOR This Sunday

Genesis 45:1-15 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

GOSPEL READING: Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

GOSPEL READING: Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

Genesis 45:1-15


Then  Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by  him, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me.” So no one stayed  with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?”  But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his  presence.
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer  to me.” And they came closer. He said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom  you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are five  more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here but God; he has made me a father to  Pharaoh and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son  Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me; do not  delay. 10 You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you  shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as  well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 I  will provide for you there, since there are five more years of famine  to come, so that you and your household and all that you have will not  come to poverty.’ 12 And now your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you. 13 You must tell my father how greatly I am honored in Egypt and all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” 14 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them, and after that his brothers talked with him.


GOSPEL READING: Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

GOSPEL READING: Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

GOSPEL READING: Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28


15:10 Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, "Listen and understand:

15:11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles."

15:12 Then the disciples approached and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?"

15:13 He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.

15:14 Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit."

15:15 But Peter said to him, "Explain this parable to us."

15:16 Then he said, "Are you also still without understanding?

15:17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach and goes out into the sewer?

15:18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles.

15:19 For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

15:20 These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile."

15:21 Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon.

15:22 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."

15:23 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."

15:24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

15:25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me."

15:26 He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs."

15:27 She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."

15:28 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.

Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

Isaiah 56:1, 6-8

                                   

56:1 Thus says the LORD: Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come and my deliverance be revealed.

56:6 And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him,  to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, all who keep the  Sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant--

56:7 these 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.

56:8 Thus says the Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel: I will gather others to them besides those already gathered.

Psalm 133 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

Psalm 133

                  


133:1 How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!

133:2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard,  on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes.

133:3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion. For there the LORD ordained his blessing, life forevermore.

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