St Ansgar Lutheran Church, London

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Sunday Morning

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

Sundays
10:30 a.m. Worship service

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

Washrooms will be available for use.

In the service: The service will be shown on the screen. 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. Pastor David distributes the communion wafers and an Assisting Minister distributes wine or grape juice in individual glasses.

We have coffee and fellowship time available again in Luther Hall after the service.

We will continue to evaluate our worship service procedures on a monthly basis.

TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, AUGUST 2 2026

St. Ansgar Lutheran Church, Outline for Worship (with sermon)
August 2, 2026 – Tenth 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, whose compassion endures forever. ☩
C: Amen.

P: Let us confess our sin to God.

Silence is kept for reflection.

P: Compassionate God,
C: we confess to you all our sins.
Our burden is heavy, and we cannot free ourselves.
In your mercy, call us back to you.
Your yoke is easy and your burden is light.
Restore us to dwell in your peace. In Christ’s name we pray.
Amen.

P: Jesus says, “Come to me, all who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest.”
In the name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, your sins are forgiven. Rest ☩
in God’s love.
C: Amen.

ENTRANCE HYMN - All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly (ELW #461)

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.

HYMN OF PRAISE (ELW p. 149)
P: This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia.
C: Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,
whose blood set us free to be people of God.
Power and riches and wisdom and strength,
and honour and blessing and glory are his.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia.
Sing with all the people of God
and join in the hymn of all creation:
Blessing and honour and glory and might
be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God,
for the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign.
Alleluia. Alleluia.

PRAYER OF THE DAY
P: Let us pray.
P: Glorious God, your generosity waters the world with goodness, and you cover
creation with abundance. Awaken in us a hunger for the food that satisfies both
body and spirit, and with this food fill all the starving world; through your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.
C: Amen
WORD

FIRST READING: Isaiah 55:1-5
1 Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money,
come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for
that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and
delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that
you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure
love for David. 4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and
commander for the peoples. 5 See, you shall call nations that you do not know,
and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your
God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.

A: The word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.

PSALM: Psalm 145: 8-9, 14-21
8 The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 Lord, you are good to all,
and your compassion is over all your works.
14 The Lord upholds all those who fall
and lifts up those who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord,
and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open wide your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 You are righteous in all your ways
and loving in all your works.
18 You are near to all who call upon you,
to all who call upon you faithfully.
19 You fulfill the desire of those who fear you;
you hear their cry and save them.
20 You watch over all those who love you,
but all the wicked you shall destroy.
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord;
let all flesh bless God’s holy name forever and ever.

SECOND READING: Romans 9:1-5
1 I am speaking the truth in Christ--I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by
the Holy Spirit-- 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For
I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of
my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to
them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the
worship, and the promises; 5 to them belong the patriarchs, and from them,
according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed forever.
Amen.

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 Matthew 14:13-21
C: Glory to you, O Lord.

13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted
place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from
the towns. 14 When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had
compassion for them and cured their sick. 15 When it was evening, the disciples
came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send
the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for
themselves." 16 Jesus said to them, "They need not go away; you give them
something to eat." 17 They replied, "We have nothing here but five loaves and
two fish." 18 And he said, "Bring them here to me." 19 Then he ordered the
crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he
looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the
disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And all ate and were
filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets
full. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and
children.

P: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON
Matthew 14:13-21
The sermon for today has been prepared by Rev. Carmen Ramirez, Assistant to
the National Bishop of the ELCIC, with responsibility for Diversity, Equity and
Inclusion.
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
There Is Enough: God's Abundance in our World
When we hear the story of the feeding of the five thousand, our attention is often
drawn to the miracle itself. Five loaves of bread and two fish become enough to
feed a crowd of thousands. It is a powerful story of God's abundance. But before
the miracle happens, there is something equally important taking place. Jesus
sees the crowd. He notices their needs. He sees their hunger, their exhaustion,
and their vulnerability. Matthew tells us that Jesus had compassion for them.
The miracle begins not with bread, but with compassion.
That detail matters because compassion changes the way we look at people.
The world often teaches us to move quickly past those who are struggling. We
become accustomed to statistics, headlines, and social problems. Yet Jesus
never sees people as problems to be solved. He sees human beings created in
the image of God. He sees people who matter. He sees people worthy of dignity,
care, and love.
Just a few days ago, July 30, was the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
In this context, our Gospel invites us to think about those who are often unseen
in our society. Human trafficking exists because vulnerable people are treated
as commodities rather than God’s family. Around the world and here in Canada,
men, women, and children are exploited through forced labour, sexual
exploitation, and other forms of abuse. Many are isolated, afraid, and unable to
seek help. Some are newcomers searching for opportunities. Some are youth
looking for acceptance. Some are people living in poverty who have few options.
Their vulnerability becomes an opportunity for others to profit from their
suffering.
The disciples look at the crowd and come to a practical conclusion. They tell
Jesus to send the people away. It seems reasonable. The day is ending, the
place is remote, and there is not enough food. The disciples see limitations.
They see scarcity. They see a problem that appears too large to solve. Jesus
responds with words that challenge every generation of believers: "They need
not go away; you give them something to eat."
Those words are not only about food. They are about responsibility. In today’s
time, our responsibility. Yours and mine. In the Gospel passage we see how
Jesus refuses to dismiss the crowd. He refuses to send away those who are
vulnerable. He invites his disciples to become part of God's answer. The
disciples know they do not have enough. Five loaves and two fish seem
insignificant compared to the need before them. Yet Jesus asks them to offer
what they have.
That is often how God works. We look at the problems of our world and feel
overwhelmed. Human trafficking is a complex issue. Poverty is a complex issue.
Loneliness, injustice, and exploitation can feel far beyond our ability to address.
We may think that our contribution is too small to matter. Yet Jesus does not ask
the disciples to solve the entire problem. He asks them to bring what they have.
He takes their small offering, blesses it, and uses it in ways they could never
imagine.
The Church is called to do the same. We may not have all the answers, but we
can create communities where people are seen and valued. We can welcome
newcomers. We can support those who are vulnerable. We can learn about the
realities of trafficking and exploitation. We can advocate for justice. We can offer
friendship, hospitality, and practical assistance. What seems small in our hands
can become something much greater when placed in God's hands.
I have seen this happen in our own Spanish-speaking ministry. Many people
come to Canada carrying hope for a better future, but they also arrive with
uncertainty. Some do not know the language. Some do not understand how
some systems work, and one example is the credit system. Some are looking
for employment, housing, or simply a place where they belong. These
circumstances can make people vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. At our
church, we cannot solve every problem, but we can offer welcome. We can help
people find information, connect with resources, practise English, build
friendships, and discover a community that cares about them. What may seem
like a small act—a conversation after worship, a shared meal, an introduction to
someone who can help—can become a reminder that they are not alone. It is
one way that God takes what little we have and uses it to bless others.
I have watched newcomers arrive knowing almost no one in the city. Months
later, they have friends, support, and a church family. That transformation does
not happen because we have great resources. It happens because people
share what they have, and God multiplies it. And although I can see the physical
transformation, they also seem happier and with hope.
We may never fully know the impact of the compassion we show.
At the end of this particular Bible passage, everyone is fed. Not only that, but
there are twelve baskets left over. Matthew wants us to see that God's
abundance is greater than human scarcity. The disciples saw only what was
lacking. Jesus revealed what was possible. In God's kingdom, there is enough
grace, enough mercy, enough compassion, and enough hope. The resources
may not always appear sufficient to us, but God's love is never exhausted.
This Gospel reminds us that the miracle begins when we refuse to look away
from those in need. Jesus saw the crowd and had compassion. As his followers,
we are called to see what he sees. We are called to recognize the dignity of
every person, especially those who are vulnerable and overlooked. And we are
called to trust that when we offer what we have in service to our neighbours,
God can do far more than we could ever accomplish on our own.
May we be people who refuse to send others away. May we be people who see,
who care, who welcome, and who share. And may we trust that the God who fed
the multitude is still at work today, transforming small acts of compassion into
signs of God's abundant kingdom.
AMEN.

HYMN OF THE DAY – Break Now the Bread of Life (ELW #515)

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: With bold trust in God’s unfailing provision, we pray for the church, those in
need, and all of God’s creation.
A: God of our church, send forth your Spirit as we pray for our Bishops Larry and
Carla. Empower them with your wisdom to lead the church. We also pray for our
neighbours in the Anglican Church of Canada, especially the people of St.
Aidan’s Anglican Church, London, and their Rector, Rev. Rob Henderson, and
Bishop of Huron, Todd Townshend. Merciful God,
C: receive our prayer.

A: For your church in every place, that it satisfies those who hunger for your
word. Bless the ministry of readers, translators, Bible study leaders, and writers,
that God’s word is broken open and shared with all. Merciful God,
C: receive our prayer.

A: For your wondrous creation and all the bounty it provides, that your
creatures are fed and nourished. Bless the work of farmers, farm workers,
those who fish, and all whose labour brings your abundance to our tables.
Merciful God,
C: receive our prayer.

A: For your children in every nation, that they learn to love justice and live in
harmony. As this week we remember the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki, keep us mindful of the horrors of war; draw our hearts instead toward
your reign of love, hope, and peace. Merciful God,
C: receive our prayer.

A: For all who cry out with great sorrow and unceasing anguish, that they are
comforted. Feed all who struggle with food insecurity; have mercy on all who are
suffering in body, mind, and spirit. We pray especially for Beth, Jean, Mary
Margaret, Kristine, Karen, Emma, Cathy, Lene, Lyra, Bud, Pastor Bob, Margaret,
and those others who are in our hearts. Merciful God,
C: receive our prayer.

A: For this congregation, that it bears faithful witness to the abundance and joy
of life in you. Bless all your faithful people gathered here, that they may become
blessings for this community. Merciful God,
C: receive our prayer.

A: Merciful God, we pray for peace as war continues in Ukraine and in the
Middle East. Shelter all living in fear; protect those seeking refuge in
neighbouring countries; sustain families separated by the horrors of war;
tend to those who are injured; comfort all who mourn their dead.
Direct your people into the way of peace. Merciful God,
C: receive our prayer.

A: With thanksgiving for the faithful who now rest in your mercy, that their
witness continues to inspire the church. By their example, may we trust your
promises in life and in death. Merciful God,
C: receive our prayer.

A: Receive our prayers and answer, O God, as you have promised. All this we
ask in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen.

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

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: Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, + one God, bless, heal, and hold you today
and always.
C: Amen.

SENDING HYMN – Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ (ELW #674)

DISMISSAL
A: Heaven has come near. Go, share the good news!
C: Thanks be to God.

DISMISSAL HYMN – The Lord Now Sends Us Forth (ELW #538)
Verse 1
The Lord now sends us forth
with hands to serve and give,
to make of all the earth
a better place to live. Repeat (2X)

Verse 2
The angels are not sent
into our world of pain
to do what we were meant
to do in Jesus' name;
that falls to you and me
and all who are made free.
Help us, O Lord, we pray,
to do your will today. Repeat (2X)