St Ansgar Lutheran Church, London

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Sunday Morning

We invite you to join us for any of the following worship services:

Sundays
10:30 a.m. (September through June)
10:00 a.m. (July and August)
Please see Calendar for communion Sundays.

Reopening for In-Person Worship on Sunday, March 6: Our Church Council has
resumed in-person meetings, with face masks and suitable distancing in Luther Hall.

Our services will be in the sanctuary including communion
.
All attendees at our worship services must be fully vaccinated.

Face masks are required. We will have some congregational singing in the service, with our masks on. We are not yet ready to have our coffee and fellowship time in Luther Hall after the service as we used to do in the days before COVID.

Registration It is helpful (though not essential) : It is nice to know how many are coming and who is coming. This will help us with setting up for Communion and it is also important for contact tracing if that should ever become necessary. If you would like to come to the service on a Sunday,
please let us know by email during the previous week, and not later than Friday morning. The address is st.ansgar@rogers.com and we will send you a reply to confirm your reservation.

Hand sanitizer will be available at the entrance and other locations in the church for
your use.

Washrooms will be available for use, but there may be only one person, or members of only one family, in a washroom at any given time.

In the service: We will not be using the pew cushions at this time, but you are welcome to bring your own cushion and take it home with you after the service. There will be no hymnals in the pews, but the service will be shown on the screen and we will sing some of the hymns. The offering will not be gathered and presented, but there will be an offering plate at the back of the sanctuary where you can put your offering as you enter or leave. We are now using continuous communion in the sanctuary, with careful attention to hand sanitizing. Pastor David distributes the communion wafers and an Assisting Minister distributes wine or grape juice in individual glasses. As worshippers come
forward to receive the elements, we try to maintain physical distancing and to manage the traffic patterns to minimize interactions among people.

Still no social time in the church: We will not yet be able to have our coffee and fellowship time in Luther Hall after the service as we used to do in the days before COVID. We will not be able to gather in the narthex to sit or stand and talk to each other before the service starts or after it ends. Pastor David is now meeting people at the door wearing his mask.

We will miss all these things and we look forward to a time when all these activities, that used to be such an important part of the life of our St. Ansgar church family, will be safe again.

We will continue to evaluate our worship service procedures on a monthly basis and we will make other adjustments when local COVID data and advice from the Health Unit indicate it is safer to do so.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2022

St. Ansgar Lutheran Church, Outline for Worship (with sermon)
Sunday, October 2, 2022 – Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
Based on ELW Setting Four

GATHERING

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God,
who is eager to forgive and who loves us beyond our days.
C: Amen.
P: Dear friends, together let us acknowledge
our failure to love this world as Jesus does.
P: God of mercy and forgiveness,
C: we confess that sin still has a hold on us.
We have harmed your good creation.
We have failed to do justice, love kindness,
and walk humbly with you.
Turn us in a new direction. Show us the path that leads to life.
Be our refuge and strength on the journey,
through Jesus Christ, our redeemer and friend.
Amen.
P: Beloved of God: your sins are forgiven + and you are made whole.
God points the way to new life in Christ, who meets us on the road.
Journey now in God's abiding love through the power of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.

ENTRANCE HYMN – Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee (ELW #836)

GREETING
P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion
of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you

KYRIE
A: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
A: For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
A: For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God,
and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
A: For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise,
let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
A: Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C: Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY
P: Let us pray.
P: Benevolent, merciful God: When we are empty, fill us. When we are weak in
faith, strengthen us. When we are cold in love, warm us, that with fervour we
may love our neighbours and serve them for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ,
our Saviour and Lord.
C: Amen

WORD

FIRST READING: Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4
1 The oracle that the prophet Habakkuk saw. 2 O LORD, how long shall I
cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you "Violence!" and you will
not save? 3 Why do you make me see wrong-doing and look at trouble?
Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.
4 So the law becomes slack and justice never prevails. The wicked
surround the righteous-- therefore judgement comes forth perverted.
1 I will stand at my watchpost, and station myself on the rampart; I will keep
watch to see what he will say to me, and what he will answer concerning
my complaint. 2 Then the LORD answered me and said: Write the vision;
make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it. 3 For there is still a
vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it
seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay. 4 Look at the
proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith.
A: The word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.

PSALM 146

PSALM 37: 1-9
1 Do not be provoked by evildoers;
do not be jealous of those who do wrong.
2 For they shall soon wither like the grass,
and like the green grass fade away.
3 Put your trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and find safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
who shall give you your heart’s desire.
5 Commit your way to the Lord; put your trust in the Lord,
and see what God will do.
6 The Lord will make your vindication as clear as the light
and the justice of your case like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently.
Do not be provoked by the one who prospers,
the one who succeeds in evil schemes.
8 Refrain from anger, leave rage alone;
do not be provoked; it leads only to evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who hope in the Lord shall possess the land.

SECOND READING: 2 Timothy 1:1-14
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the
promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my beloved child:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I am grateful to God--whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my
ancestors did--when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.
4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.
5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your
grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.
6 For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you
through the laying on of my hands; 7 for God did not give us a spirit of
cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.
8 Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his
prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of
God, 9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our
works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to
us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 but it has now been revealed
through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and
brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 For this gospel I was
appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, 12 and for this reason I suffer
as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust,
and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to
him. 13 Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from
me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good
treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.
A: The word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
C: Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
P: The Holy Gospel according to Luke 17:5-10
C: Glory to you, O Lord.
5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" 6 The Lord replied, "If
you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree,
'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. 7 "Who among
you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending
sheep in the field, 'Come here at once and take your place at the table'? 8
Would you not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, put on your apron
and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink'? 9 Do you
thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you
have done all that you were ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves;
we have done only what we ought to have done!'"
P: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON
Luke 17:5-10
Let us pray: May the words of my mouth, and the prayers of our hearts,
always be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our Strength, and our Redeemer.
AMEN
When we read verses seven through ten from our Gospel lesson this morning,
it is somewhat shocking to read that Jesus said these words in describing our
relationship with God. Particularly troubling is the question, “Do you thank the
slave for doing what was commanded?” We must remember, however, that like
most parables, this is only a partial description of God. There is no mention
here, for example, of God’s love and forgiveness.
These words of Jesus show a knowledgeable and realistic picture of rural
Palestinian life in Jesus’ day. Here Jesus is neither commending nor
condemning the master’s treatment of his servants. He is merely describing
what was to them a well-known situation. Jesus always had a reason for his
teaching, and these forceful words are no exception. So, what was Jesus’
purpose in telling this parable to his disciples, and that includes us?
It was a warning that following Jesus simply in the expectation of cheap
blessings and comfort is to miss much of the responsibility and obligation
of discipleship. It is evident in many places in the Gospels that Jesus
understood some of those who followed him were doing so out of ignorance
of what was expected of them. They were unaware of the cost of
discipleship. Discipleship is not all play and no work.
Scripture records one would-be follower as saying to Jesus, “I will follow
you, Lord; but first let me say farewell to those at my home.” Another would-
be follower who was invited to follow Jesus responded to him saying, “Lord,
first let me go and bury my father.” When the one with many possessions
was told if he wanted to follow Jesus, he would have to sell his possessions
and give the money to the poor, the young man went away grieving, for he
had many possessions. One excuse is as good as another.
It is inevitable that this misunderstanding of the cost of discipleship would
be present in our time as well. In our discussions of the Christian life,
we tend to emphasize its joys, its peace of mind, its awareness of
forgiveness. This parable is a stern warning that following Jesus is not simply
becoming a kind person and joining a happiness club. There is indeed joy,
a sense of forgiveness, a peace of mind that comes from believing in Jesus
as our personal Saviour. There is a certain appeal as we see the patience,
kindness, love, forgiveness, and generosity of the Christian life in action.
However, there is also another side to the Christian life. There are the
expectations of those who would be Jesus’ disciples, and Jesus tells us what
those expectations are. He uses the hard, unyielding word “duty.” The dictionary
defines duty as something we ought to do. It is not a choice, but an obligation.
In our Gospel lesson, Jesus tells us that being a disciple involves rigorous duty.
There is no room for pride in what we do for God. As Christians, our main
concern is obedience, and the word obedience, like the word duty, is not a
pleasant sound to our ears. We live in a parliamentary democracy, where the
words duty and obedience are seldom used, which is even more reason to
listen to these words form Jesus. While we need to remember all the blessings
we have received from God, we need to focus even more on our duty as
Christians toward God.
These verses from the Gospel of Luke remind us that the nature of God
is complex. Like a beautiful diamond, the nature of God has many facets.
In today’s lesson Jesus reveals an aspect of God’s nature which we may not
like, but which we need to see, hear, and remember. Jesus has shown that
God, as revealed in Jesus, is a loving Father, an understanding, forgiving
Lord, a suffering servant whose followers do not walk in darkness, but who
have the light of life.
Here Jesus declares that God is not only loving, but God is also expectant.
God is not only patient, but God is also demanding. God is easy to please,
but hard to satisfy. Serving God is a constant and unending task. In our
discussions about Christian discipleship, we must not neglect to include this
facet of the nature of God.
This parable keeps us from being proud of our virtues or smug in our
goodness. We are only doing what is expected of us. The last four verses
of our Gospel lesson keep us from self-pity in our sorrows, our setbacks,
and our hardships. We are only doing what is expected of us. The rest is in
God’s hands. Take a moment to look back on your school days, when you
were a student. From whom did you learn the most? Whose requirements
best prepared you for life, the easy teachers or the hard taskmasters?
For me it was Mrs. Milnar, grade 11 English. She was a tough teacher
and there were no easy grades. Mrs. Milnar was a source of constant
encouragement, generous help, and patience, but always demanding in
performance. Her students worked hard, but we learned and respected her.
It was not until I went to university that I appreciated what she did for us as
her students. I went to university with students who did not know a topic
sentience from concluding statement. We learned to write and write well.
Not only did she prepare us for university writing, but she also served as
an excellent model of good teaching for those of us who went into education.
Yet, I will confess as a grade 11 student, I had no appreciation for all her
hard work.
Does our Gospel lesson today sound as though God is a hard taskmaster?
The word disciple comes from the Latin word meaning learner. To be a
disciple means to be not only a follower, but also a learner. We are learners
of the lessons of life and eternity, lessons that prepare us for God’s heart
and home.
Evidently Jesus believed his disciples, his followers, needed to hear this
parable, even though we would much rather read about and hear about
God’s love and forgiveness and blessings than we would about God’s
demands. As disciples of Jesus, following his footsteps on the journey
to eternal life, we need to remember that God does God’s labour of love
and life, not through snap courses, but through demanding assignments.
From the word disciple we get the word discipline. Our Gospel lesson
today reveals God’s discipline.
As true disciples of Jesus, we must promise to respect the dignity of every
human being, to rid ourselves of prejudice and hatred, to welcome outsiders,
and to live in harmony. We must be stewards of God’s creation, caretakers
of the earth and its resources rather than exploiters and consumers of it.
We do these things not as works to earn our way into heaven, but with a
sense of duty following the example of our Lord and Saviour. We do these
things because they are things God expects and demands of us.
AMEN

HYMN OF THE DAY – How Firm a Foundation (ELW #796)

APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come 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.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
A: As scattered grains of wheat are gathered together into one bread, so let us
gather our prayers for the church, those in need, and all of God's good creation.
A: God of our church, send forth your Spirit as we pray for our Bishops Susan
and Michael. Empower them with your wisdom to lead the church. We also pray
for the Thames Ministry area, especially Pastor Steve Johnston and the people
of Trinity Lutheran Church, London. God of grace,
C: hear our prayer.
A: We pray for your holy church in every place and for those who serve following
the example of Christ. Help them to live by faith and walk by the light of your
gospel. God of grace,
C: hear our prayer.
A: For parts of the world ravaged by natural disaster: relieve those affected by
floods, wildfires, droughts, earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes.
God of grace,
C: hear our prayer.
A: For every nation and for those entrusted with authority: grant our leaders
self-discipline in all things, and inspire them with love for your people.
God of grace,
C: hear our prayer.
A: For victims of violence, abuse, and neglect: heal those who have been
harmed and protect those who are vulnerable. For all who are sick.
God of grace,
C: hear our prayer.
A: For this and every congregation: rekindle your gifts within your people, and
inspire councils, committees, and individuals to plan and work together that all
may know your love. God of grace,
C: hear our prayer.
A: We pray for the people of Ukraine and their leaders. We especially pray
for the innocent children and the families caught in the conflict. Watch over
them and protect them. Guide the leaders of Ukraine in ways that protect the
people and in ways to successfully work for peace. Open the hearts and
minds of the aggressors to the senselessness of war and to the possibility
of peace and coexistence. Bless the efforts of the peacemakers.
God of grace,
C: hear our prayer.
A: In thanksgiving that you have abolished death, and for the saints who have
died. Bring us all to eternal life with you. God of grace,
C: hear our prayer.
A: Gathered together in the sweet communion of the Holy Spirit, gracious God,
we offer these and all our prayers to you; through Jesus Christ, our Saviour.
C: Amen.

PEACE
P: The peace of Christ be with you always.
C: And also with you.

MEAL

OFFERING PRAYER
A: Gracious God, in your great love you richly provide for our needs. Make of
these gifts a banquet of blessing, and make us ready to share with all in need;
through Jesus Christ, who sets a table for all.
C: Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER
P: Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray.
C: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.

SENDING

BLESSING
P: God, who gives life to all things and frees us from despair, bless you with
truth and peace. And may the holy Trinity, + one God, guide you always in faith,
hope, and love.
C: Amen.

DISMISSAL
A: Go in peace, with Christ beside you.
C: Thanks be to God.

DISMISSAL HYMN – Go Now in Peace
Go now in peace, never be afraid.
God will go with you each hour of every day.
Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true.
Know He will guide you in all you do.
Go now in love, and show you believe.
Reach out to others, so all the world can see.
God will be there, watching from above.
Go now in peace, in faith, and in love.