St Ansgar Lutheran Church, London

Home	About Us	Our Location	Sunday Morning	Contacting Us	Pastor's Message	Calendar	Useful Links	Photo Gallery

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.

St. Ansgar Lutheran Church, Outline for Worship (with sermon)

HOLY TRINITY SUNDAY, JUNE 15, 2025

St. Ansgar Lutheran Church, Outline for Worship (with sermon)
Sunday, June 15, 2025 Holy Trinity Sunday
Based on ELW Setting Four

GATHERING

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
P: In the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.

P: Baptized into Christ, let us confess our sin.

Silence is kept for reflection.

P: Merciful God,
C: you free us to love others, but we neglect our neighbours and follow
our own way.
You lead us by the Spirit of joy and peace, but we turn away from the
abundant life you offer.
You surround us with patience, kindness, and generosity, but we grow
weary in doing what is right.
In your mercy, forgive us. Do not give up on us.
Heal us, break our bonds, and show us the path of life.
Amen.

P: You belong to Christ Jesus and you are God’s children through faith.
In the cross of ☩ Christ, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, your sins are
forgiven. Clothed with Christ, you are a new creation.
C: Amen.

ENTRANCE HYMN - Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty! (ELW #413)

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: God of heaven and earth, before the foundation of the universe and the
beginning of time you are the triune God: Author of creation, eternal Word
of salvation, life-giving Spirit of wisdom. Guide us to all truth by your Spirit,
that we may proclaim all that Christ has revealed and rejoice in the glory
he shares with us. Glory and praise to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
now and forever.
C: Amen

WORD

FIRST READING: Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
1 Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice?
2 On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand;
3 beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals
she cries out: 4 "To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live.
22 The LORD created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts
of long ago. 23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of
the earth. 24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there
were no springs abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains had been
shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth-- 26 when he had not yet made
earth and fields, or the world's first bits of soil. 27 When he established
the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains
of the deep, 29 when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters
might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations
of the earth, 30 then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily
his delight, rejoicing before him always, 31 rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the human race.

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

PSALM: 8
1 O Lord our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth! –
2 you whose glory is chanted above the heavens out of the mouths
of infants and children;
you have set up a fortress against your enemies,
to silence the foe and avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars you have set in their courses,
4 what are mere mortals that you should be mindful of them,
human beings that you should care for them?
5 Yet you have made them little less than divine;
with glory and honour you crown them.
6 You have made them rule over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under their feet:
7 all flocks and cattle,
even the wild beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the air, the fish of the sea,
and whatever passes along the paths of the sea.
9 O Lord our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

SECOND READING: Romans 5:1-5
1 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have obtained access to this grace in
which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 And not
only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces
endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into
our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to 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 John 16:12-15
C: Glory to you, O Lord.
12 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will
not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to
you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take what
is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine. For this reason
I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

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

SERMON
Rev. Elina Singh
Assistant to the Bishop of the British Columbia Synod of the ELCIC
John 16:12-15
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
Grace to you and peace from God our Creator, our Redeemer, and our Sustainer.
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” What a
start to our gospel reading! Imagine, Jesus says this to his closest friends,
to the disciples who have walked with him for the past few years. These are
the people who have heard him preach and teach, and to whom he has
explained his parables. They have seen him heal the sick and raise the dead.
They have seen him turn water into wine, walk on water, and feed a large crowd
with just a few loaves of bread and some fish.
If these disciples can’t bear what Jesus has to say, who can?
Do we, the followers of Jesus two thousand years later who have not seen him
in person or shared a meal with him, do we have any chance to bear what Jesus
might want to tell us?
And what might Jesus want to tell us anyway? What would our God, who is
three yet one, want to say to us and to our small church?
As we know all too well, our church is in time of transition. Some call it liminal
space, others call it desperation. Attendance in most congregations has been
in decline for years. On Sunday mornings only a few make it to the pews.
The group of volunteers who do everything that needs to get done is small, and
getting smaller – and older. Our buildings are getting older as well.
Our budgets are getting more and more limited.
I don’t need to tell you more – you have likely seen the trend in your congregation
and discussed it at your annual meetings. Or, if your congregation is one of the
few vibrant, growing ones, you would know this story from your friends or from
synod gatherings.
For many congregations, the concern is urgent. How will we survive?
Will we survive? Will we exist in five years? Or ten?
And realistically, for many, the answer is no.
What does God want to say to us, to our church now?
I wish I had a clear, concise answer to give you! I wish I could bring you a word
directly from God, to tell you how all this is going to turn out, to give you the next
three steps we must take to turn things around. But obviously I can’t do that.
What we do have is Jesus’ words in John’s gospel.
“When the Spirit of truth comes”, Jesus says, “he will guide you into all
the truth.” The Spirit will guide you.
The promise Jesus makes to his disciples before his death, over and over again,
is that they will not be left alone. The Spirit, the advocate, will be their companion
on the way. The Spirit will guide them to all the truth, lead them along, and help
them understand.
And we know that this is what happened, the promise of Jesus came true.
Last week, on Pentecost Sunday, we heard the story of the arrival of the Holy
Spirit, like wind and flames! We heard the story of how the followers of Jesus
spoke various languages and told the story of God’s love for the world to all
who were present.
The Spirit was with the disciples when they gathered to tell their stories of
faith and to break bread together, empowering them to be God’s witnesses
in the world.
And the Spirit of God continues to be present and active in our church as well.
The voice of wisdom continues to call us to follow. God continues to lead God’s
people forward, even when we don’t quite know where we should go. The Spirit
continues to guide us into all the truth, nudging us along on the journey.
And we need those nudges. God’s truth is bigger than the disciples could bear,
and bigger than any of us can comprehend. We read the Scriptures, yes,
and we hear the word preached. We pray and we study. And yet, there’s
always something new to learn, something new to discover.
So then, during these uncertain times, how do we know where God is
nudging us?
Today is Trinity Sunday. Theologians have tried to explain the idea of trinity,
three yet one, in various ways over time. But instead of trying to explain,
or trying to understand how three can be one, maybe we can look at the
way the three interact. There is a closeness in God, an intimate relationship
where each one knows the mind of the others, where each is inseparable
from the others. The Father, Jesus, and the Spirit are one.
This closeness, this relationship, is a model to us as a church. Jesus called
his disciples to follow as a group, and sent them out two by two, not alone.
The Spirit called more people to join, and so the church began. We were
never meant to follow Jesus alone.
Whenever life of faith has been challenging, the people of God have
gathered together to break bread, to pray, and to encourage one another –
and to dream of better things.
So, we too, two thousand years later, continue to gather together, to share
stories and meals, to pray and to ponder. We gather in our congregations,
but also as synods and as the national church to pray and discern, to listen
to the nudges of the Spirit, to find the way forward.
We continue to follow the path Jesus showed through his life and his ministry –
the path of love, kindness, and compassion. As Paul writes in his letter to the
Romans, “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit
that has been given to us.” It is love that guides us and lights up our way.
We keep on going, step by step, and sometimes that one step is all we have.
We keep on going trusting that God does not abandon God’s church, but will
find a way to bring us life and hope, whatever that may look like.
We have Jesus’ promise that we will never be alone. God remains faithful
through the changing world, and the changing church. The Holy Spirit
continues to guide us to the truth – one step at a time.
Let us pray.
O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see
the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us
faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that
your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ
our Lord.
AMEN

Silence is kept for reflection.

HYMN OF THE DAY – Come, Join the Dance of Trinity (ELW #412)

NICENE CREED
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures;
he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
A: Drawn into the embrace of the holy Trinity, we lift our prayers for the
wholeness of the church, the world, and all creation.
A: God of our church, send forth your Spirit as we pray for our Bishops Susan
and Carla. Empower them with your wisdom to lead the church. We also pray
for the Thames Ministry area, especially Pastor Rob Wiesner and the people of
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Brodhagen. God of grace,
C: hear our prayer.

A: Abiding God, your love pours into your whole church, creating faith and
bestowing hope. Fill all the baptized with these good gifts in our various callings.
Gather your church in every place and expression into the unity of your Spirit.
God of grace,
C: hear our prayer.

A: Creating God, your name is majestic in all the earth, and we are filled with
awe at your creation. Renew this planet and all its wonders: springs
abounding with water, earth and soil, beasts of the field, birds of the air, and
fish of the sea. God of grace,
C: hear our prayer.

A: Sovereign God, you delight in the whole human race. On this week of
Juneteenth, bring an end to racial oppression and heal the wounds of racial
trauma. Grant us your wisdom, so that all people, especially those in authority,
work for the life and freedom of others. God of grace,
C: hear our prayer.

A: Compassionate God, your mindful care for us is everlasting. Give peace to all
who are troubled, endurance to all who suffer, deliverance to all who are
afflicted, and healing for all who are sick. We pray especially for Beth, Jean,
Mary Margaret, Kristine, Karen, Emma, Cathy, Jo-Anne, Ahlen, Lene, and those
others who are in our hearts. God of grace,
C: hear our prayer.

A: Living God, your glory appears in our shared life. On this Father’s Day, give
to all fathers and father-figures gentle hearts and strong spirits, heal the wounds
in our families, and comfort those for whom this day brings pain. God of grace,
C: hear our prayer.

A: Merciful God, we pray for peace as war continues to rage in Ukraine and in
Israel and Gaza. 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. God of grace,
C: hear our prayer.

A: Eternal God, your hope does not disappoint. We give you thanks for all who
have died in the hope of the resurrection. Hold us in our grief, and bring us at
last to fullness of life in you. God of grace,
C: hear our prayer.

A: Gather all our prayers in your mercy, O God, through Jesus Christ, our
Saviour.
C: Amen.

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

OFFERING PRAYER
A: Creator God, in your wisdom you bring forth all that is good and the
harvest is plentiful. Strengthen us at your table with these gifts of the earth
and our labour, that we may work for the good of all, through Jesus Christ,
our Saviour.
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: The love of God abound in you; the grace of our Saviour Jesus Christ
fill your hearts; and the life of the Spirit ☩ bless you and give you peace.
C: Amen.

SENDING HYMN – Holy God, We Praise Your Name (ELW #414)

DISMISSAL
A: Go in peace. Live by the Spirit.
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)