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.

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, JUNE 14 2026

St. Ansgar Lutheran Church, Outline for Worship (with sermon)
June 14, 2026 – Third 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 People That on Earth Do Dwell (ELW #883)

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 compassion, you have opened the way for us and brought us to
yourself. Pour your love into our hearts, that, overflowing with joy, we may freely
share the blessings of your realm and faithfully proclaim the good news of your
Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.
C: Amen

WORD

FIRST READING: Exodus 19:2-8a
2 They had journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and
camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain.
3 Then Moses went up to God; the LORD called to him from the mountain,
saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the Israelites:
4 You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles'
wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you obey my voice and
keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples.
Indeed, the whole earth is mine, 6 but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom
and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites." 7
So Moses came, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all
these words that the LORD had commanded him. 8a The people all answered
as one: "Everything that the LORD has spoken we will do."

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

PSALM: Psalm 100
1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness; come into God’s presence with a song.
3 Know that the Lord is God, our maker to whom we belong;
we are God’s people and the sheep of God’s pasture.
4 Enter the gates of the Lord with thanksgiving and the courts with praise;
give thanks and bless God’s holy name.
5 Good indeed is the Lord, whose steadfast love is everlasting,
whose faithfulness endures from age to age.

SECOND READING: Romans 5:1-8
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. 6 For while we were
still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Indeed, rarely will
anyone die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person someone
might actually dare to die. 8 But God proves his love for us in that while we still
were sinners Christ died for 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 Matthew 9:35-10:23
C: Glory to you, O Lord.

35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their
synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every
disease and every sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion
for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a
shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the
labourers are few; 38 therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers
into his harvest."
10:1 Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over
unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness.
2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter,
and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip
and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of
Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one
who betrayed him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions:
"Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but
go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim the good
news, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' 8 Cure the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give
without payment. 9 Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, 10 no bag for
your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for labourers deserve their
food. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and
stay there until you leave. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 If the house is
worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return
to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the
dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be
more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgement
than for that town. 16 "See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of
wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of them, for
they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; 18 and you
will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to
them and the Gentiles. 19 When they hand you over, do not worry about how
you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to
you at that time; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father
speaking through you. 21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his
child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22 and
you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the
end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for
truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the
Son of Man comes."

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

SERMON
Matthew 9:35-10:23
The sermon for today has been prepared by Rev. Dr. Gregory Kiel, Assistant to
the Bishop for the Southern Ministry Area of the Saskatchewan Synod of the
ELCIC. He writes:
My name is Rev. Dr. Gregory Kiel, Assistant to the Bishop for the Southern
Region of the Saskatchewan Synod.
I say my name because we have some things to name from this Gospel
passage in Matthew.
You may not remember this television series, depending on your age, “The
Friendly Giant”. The “Friendly Giant” was a children’s television series when I
was young. The beginning of the show always started with the star of the show,
in a castle, introducing himself, and then he would introduce the next character
on the show and say, “Now look up, way up...” and introduce the puppet,
Jerome the giraffe. A giraffe being a wonderful companion for a giant! Then
there was the scene of the chairs around a fireplace and the chimney, and the
Friendly Giant would say hello to the listeners using a variety of children’s
names. Each week he would use different names. I watched and waited, and
watched and waited, week after week, for my name to be said. I wanted to hear
my name and know that I was included and welcomed by the Friendly Giant.
Then he would arrange chairs around the fireplace for people to sit and then he
would arrange the rocking chair and my siblings and I would always try to be the
first to say, “I get the rocking chair!”
In the Gospel of Matthew today, Jesus is sending the disciples out to the lost
sheep of Israel, to call them back into the sheepfold. He empowers them to be
able to heal and cure every sickness and declares; “the harvest is plentiful but
the labourers are few, and ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into
the harvest.” Jesus gives them “authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out
and to cure every sickness.”
The path that Jesus sends the disciples out on seems precarious, even
treacherous and dangerous, uncertain and tentative, he even tells them to raise
the dead! He is sending them out like sheep into the midst of wolves, and they
will be dragged in front of governors and kings and councils, and be flogged,
and they will be hated. Now, with the price of gas being what it is today, that
sounds like a really good stay-cation!!
The Gospel of Matthew ends by widening that circle by saying: “Go therefore
and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I
have commanded you.”
Take a look at what is going on in the world today. There are wars and threats of
wars, fighting over natural resources like oil and gas and rare earth and critical
minerals, nuclear weapons and yellow cake uranium. It looks like a global crisis
and with all that going on, the good news is that as a disciple, you might not
even be limited to a good stay-cation anymore!
Out here in Saskatchewan, farmers can relate to the shortage of labourers.
Farms are larger and there are fewer farm families and fewer people who know
how to operate the new large equipment.
We as a church, can also relate to the fact that the labourers are few and
becoming fewer.
In the month of May, I attended a SK Synod-wide Zoom meeting called PARLEZ
in which the presenters were from the Daughters of Africa and the African
Descent Professional Associates. They shared the startling fact of wide-spread
racism and hatred toward those of other cultures. They spoke of African
Descent youth who are taking their own lives, because they see no hope and
are widely rejected in the communities in which they are living. Hatred runs
rampant and so does the inability for employment, especially for women. For
some reason, the colour of their skin is an indicator for some employers as a
lack of education or professionalism. Dr. Christine Lwanga showed a circle
diagram that indicated that 99% of every human being on this planet shares
common DNA. The diagram showed only 1% of any kind of variation in human
beings and yet racism runs rampant.
The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement, MMIW, in Canada is
a similar organization that strives to raise awareness of young indigenous girls
and women that are being taken and put into Human Trafficking and eventually
disappear. It seems they disappear but like the blood that God is aware of when
Cain kills Abel, so is God aware of this blood that soaks the earth.
We need to do a lot of education of what is going on in our own country and
around the world. Dr. Christine Lwanga says that our Human Rights bill in
Canada is 75 years old and yet we are still struggling with this issue. The
harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few. Our church is not so small that it
cannot still have a voice to cry out for justice and speak out against racism and
world issues.
I always include some humour in sermons.
“Why did it take so long for the construction worker to propose to his girlfriend?
He was building up to it!”
“Why did the crane operator get promoted? He always lifted up the team!”
What was God building up to when he raised Christ from the dead? To break
down the barriers, to lift up the team, to show us that there is hope. To
encourage us.
The Gospel for today lists the names of the disciples and I would like to call out
some more.
I call out to:
Olivia, Emma, Amelia, Charlotte, Mia, Sophia, Isabella, Camila, Eleanor, and
Evelyn.
Liam, Noah, Oliver, Theodore, Henry, James, Elija and Mateo, William and
Lucas.
Violet, Elizabeth, Hazel and Chloe; Benjamin, Jack, Levi and Daniel...
If I haven’t called your name, SHOUT IT OUT NOW! Let it be known that you
are called by name into the mission of the Church in Christ. When we are
baptized, we are claimed and called “children of God.” So, children of God, go
forth into the world with the Good News of our Saviour Jesus Christ!
Look up, way up... and see what God is doing in the world and where we as
Christians are being called to respond and proclaim the Good News. For those
who are in need of care, those who hunger, those who have no voice, those
whose voice is not heard, those whose blood cries from the ground. There is no
time to sit; reach out, O people of God. Go into the harvest. The harvest is
plenty but the labourers are few. The Spirit goes with you to proclaim wherever
you go, the kingdom of heaven has come near!
May the blessing of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be with you now as
you go. +
AMEN

HYMN OF THE DAY – Rise Up, O Saints of God! (ELW #669)

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: Gathered together by the Holy Spirit, let us pray for the church and the needs
of the world.
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 the
Thames Ministry area, especially for Pastor Rob Wiesner and the people of St.
Peter’s Lutheran Church, Brodhagen. God of grace,
C: hear our prayer.

A: God of freedom, you ransomed Israel from slavery to be a holy people. Free
us also to be a people who proclaim your liberating love. God of grace,
C: hear our prayer.

A: God of creation, you call all the earth to make a joyful noise to you. Let us
join the chorus of the natural world in proclaiming your glory. God of grace,
C: hear our prayer.

A: God of the nations, you sent Jesus as peace for all of humankind. Bring an
end to war and conflict, bring hope to places devastated by destruction, and
sustain those who advocate for peace. God of grace,
C: hear our prayer.

A: God of grace, you pour hope and love into our hearts in times of shame and
doubt. Protect those experiencing housing insecurity. Uplift anyone struggling
with hopelessness, illness, or other worries. We pray especially for Beth, Jean,
Mary Margaret, Kristine, Karen, Emma, Cathy, Lene, Lyra, Bud, Pastor Bob,
Heather, Margaret, and those others who are in our hearts. God of grace,
C: hear our prayer.

A: God of all, you call your children to serve in a plentiful harvest. Give us the
wisdom to know how best to serve our local community and our neighbours.
God of grace,
C: hear 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. God of grace,
C: hear our prayer.

A: God of faith, we give thanks for all the saints who earnestly served you.
Guide us as we seek to follow those who have led your church. God of grace,
C: hear our prayer.

A: Trusting you receive all our prayers, we commend our spoken and unspoken
prayers to you, O God, through Jesus our Saviour.
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 – Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (ELW #858)

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)