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.

CHRIST THE KING SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2025.

St. Ansgar Lutheran Church, Outline for Worship (with sermon)
Sunday, November 23, 2025 – Christ the King Sunday
Based on ELW Setting Four

GATHERING

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who forgives all our sin, whose
mercy endures forever.
C: Amen.

P: Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Silence is kept for reflection.

P: Faithful God,
C: you have shown us the ways of your heart, yet we stray from
your paths.
We are stuck in sinful systems of oppression and do not embrace
the freedom of your faithful promises.
We ignore our neighbours. We exploit the earth. We reject your
abundance, trusting our impulses instead of your steadfast love.
Repair our relationships, restore what we have broken,
renew our hearts, and bring us to new life.
Amen.

P: Hear the good news. God the Faithful One loves you, ☩ in Christ Jesus
your sins are forgiven, and by the power of the Holy Spirit you are set free.
C: Amen.

ENTRANCE HYMN - Crown Him with Many Crowns (ELW #855)

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: O God, our true life, to serve you is freedom, and to know you is unending joy.
We worship you, we glorify you, we give thanks to you for your great glory.
Abide with us, reign in us, and make this world into a fit habitation for your
divine majesty, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen

WORD

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 23:1-6
1 Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!
says the LORD. 2 Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel,
concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have
scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended
to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the LORD.
3 Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands
where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they
shall be fruitful and multiply. 4 I will raise up shepherds over them who will
shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed,
nor shall any be missing, says the LORD. 5 The days are surely coming,
says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch,
and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice
and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved and
Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called:
"The LORD is our righteousness."

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

PSALM: 46
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved,
and though the mountains shake in the depths of the sea;
3 though its waters rage and foam,
and though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be shaken;
God shall help it at the break of day.
6 The nations rage, and the kingdoms shake;
God speaks, and the earth melts away.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
8 Come now, regard the works of the Lord,
what desolations God has brought upon the earth;
9 behold the one who makes war to cease in all the world;
who breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, and burns the shields with fire.
10 “Be still, then, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

SECOND READING: Colossians 1:11-20
11 May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his
glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience,
while joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share
in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has rescued us from the
power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son,
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image
of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 for in him all things in
heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether
thrones or dominions or rulers or powers--all things have been created
through him and for him. 17 He himself is before all things, and in him
all things hold together. 18 He is the head of the body, the church; he is
the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to
have first place in everything. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was
pleased to dwell, 20 and through him God was pleased to reconcile to
himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace
through the blood of his cross.

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 23:33-43
C: Glory to you, O Lord.

33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified
Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.
34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what
they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the
people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying,
"He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God,
his chosen one!" 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and
offering him sour wine, 37 and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews,
save yourself!" 38 There was also an inscription over him, "This is the
King of the Jews." 39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept
deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!"
40 But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are
under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been
condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds,
but this man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember
me when you come into your kingdom." 43 He replied, "Truly I tell you,
today you will be with me in Paradise."

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

SERMON
Luke 23:33-43
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
Each of the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion has its own peculiarity.
Luke presents the trial of Jesus in a way that points fingers directly at the
Jewish leaders involved. Yet, scholars agree that these verses should never
be understood in a way that would cause anyone to blame the death of
Jesus on the Jewish people in general.
Luke has set the stage for us to understand just how important it is
to comprehend Jesus’ words of forgiveness. We might rightfully ask,
“How can he forgive these people who are in the process of ending his life?”
And one of the most critical things for all of us to grasp is that unless Jesus
does what he does, the cross stands for nothing.
When tragedy strikes, it is often hard to trust in God. We give God lots of
lip service when a child is born or some other wonderful thing comes into
our lives, but we are equally as quick to condemn God, or at least ask,
“How God, could you let this happen? If you are a God of love, how could
you let this happen?” There are no easy answers, but it is into this environment
that we find ourselves in the accounts of the crucifixion and in the presence of
Jesus’ act of forgiveness. We learn from this horrific act that Jesus is the
supreme example of innocent suffering.
H. G. Wells wrote a short story published in 1904 titled, “The Country of
the Blind.” In this story he tells about a hidden valley shut off from the rest
of the world by very high cliffs. The valley was inhabited only by blind people,
and no one there had ever been able to see.
A lost and weary traveller stumbled into this country of the blind and stayed
with them for a while. As he lived among them, he found himself falling in
love with a blind maiden and began thinking about the possibility of marriage.
However, the blind people thought that this man who could see was strange.
They felt that his mind was cluttered and confused, distracted by his ability
to see. They insisted that if he wanted to continue living among them,
he would have to have his eyes put out and become blind like them.
For a while, the man thought he would be willing to do that, but one morning he
got up and saw the beauty of the sunrise, the mist rising from the valley floor,
the dew glistening on the petals of the flowers, and he realized that he could
not stay in the valley and he returned to the world of sight.
The way in which Jesus forgave allows us to see the true light. It also allows us
to see Jesus not only as the suffering servant, but as Christ the King. Who but
a servant and king could understand the relevance of true forgiveness?
When Jesus came into the world, he saw things that the people of the world
could not see. Jesus viewed the world from more than one vantage point.
He saw the world both as a carpenter from Nazareth and as a King of kings.
He lived and did things that the rest of humanity could not grasp. He thought
thoughts that the people of the world never thought. He did deeds that the rest
of the world could not do. And our world could not stand that. It tried to pull him
down to its own level, but Jesus refused to be a part of the darkness of the world.
Unlike the character in the H. G. Wells short story, Jesus did not run away
from darkness. Instead, Jesus conquered it. The place where the victory took
place was a hill called Calvary, Golgotha, the place of the skull, on an old
rugged cross. As Jesus hung on that old, rugged cross, as Jesus prayed to
his Father to “forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” he
revealed that there are no limits to God’s willingness to forgive and pardon.
Because we are all weak, we tend to strike out when we are hurt. But, when
we pay attention to our Gospel lesson from Luke this morning, we learn that
even when we strike out in anger or fear, the cross of Christ calls us to pull
back and reassess our feelings. We are called to be examples of forgiveness,
even and especially when it is the hardest. Jesus has shown us that there is
nothing we can ever do to put ourselves beyond Jesus’ healing reach.
One of the remarkable things about what is happening on the cross is the
very fact that Jesus is praying. Think about it. What a place to pray! We pray
in church, we pray when we prepare for bed, we pray at the table before a meal,
but on a cross?
I think that most of us would agree that if we found ourselves on the cruel and
torturous cross, we would curse the cross and not pray on it. We would scream
out our hate and indifference. We would cry. We would experience the physical
pain from hanging on the cross. We certainly would not pray to forgive others
while hanging there.
Historically, the Romans worshipped revenge as one of their gods, and that
god’s name was Nemesis. The Romans were constantly waging war and
seeking revenge. For them revenge was a tool in the art of warfare.
Revenge was sweetest when they conquered a people and then enslaved them
into their service. The Romans used conquered people to build roads and cities.
The exploited the conquered people for whatever they could get from them
and out of them, but they were never paid.
Crucifixion was accomplished by nailing or tying the arms and legs of the
victim to the cross. The agony was planned, and the victim was supposed to
suffer and become an example to anyone who broke the law. Yet, Jesus prayed
to forgive them.
God hangs on a cross. Jesus clearly identified in death as he had in life with
the regular people of his time. Jesus hung on the cross and in that suffering
he did in death what he did in life. Born in a stable, for a short time a refugee
in Egypt, laboured as a carpenter, and then, a brief ministry as a rabbi who
socialized with the outcasts of his day. Jesus stands forever as the servant
of the poor and the downtrodden. But, just as clearly Jesus stands as Christ
the King who welcomes all into his kingdom, even those who would kill him.
The death of Jesus on the cross is not a matter of an angry God requiring
a perfect offering or sacrifice. Nor does it represent some kind of agreement
between God and Satan. The cross is at the centre of the Christian faith,
now and forever, because the cross is a window into the heart of God.
The cross reveals the overarching, all-encompassing, never-ending love
of God. The empty cross that hangs in our sanctuary is a visible reminder
to us of the victory of the resurrection in which we will all share one day.
Who but a servant and king could offer such a gift?
AMEN

Silence is kept for reflection.

HYMN OF THE DAY – Beautiful Saviour (ELW #838)

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 with one voice, we offer our prayers for the church, the world,
and all who are in need.
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 our Pastor David and the people of
St. Ansgar congregation. Hear us, O God.
C: Your mercy is great.

A: We pray for the church in the world, its leaders, and its mission to share
the good news of healing and restoration. Inspire us to embody the beloved
community in ways that faithfully witness to the Holy Spirit. Hear us, O God.
C: Your mercy is great.

A: We pray for the trembling mountains and glad streams of creation.
Preserve and renew your coastlines, deep seas, forests, and grasslands.
Guide all who tend flocks or care for creatures of all kinds. Hear us, O God.
C: Your mercy is great.

A: We pray for leaders and advocates in government, civic life, and public
safety. Support equity across the globe, and heal division with accountability
and truth. Hear us, O God.
C: Your mercy is great.

A: We pray for any who are hungry, living in poverty or desperation, weary
in body or spirit, or sick, especially Beth, Jean, Mary Margaret, Kristine, Karen,
Emma, Cathy, Lene, Heather, Grethe, Lyra, Donna, Ahlan, and those others
who are in our hearts. Comfort all in need of your tender care. Hear us, O God.
C: Your mercy is great.

A: We pray for this part of the body of Christ gathered around word and
sacrament. Bring us into authentic community where all ages are valued
and experience God’s faithfulness together. Hear us, O God.
C: Your mercy is great.

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. Hear us, O God.
C: Your mercy is great.

A: We give thanks for all who have died in faith. May we remember them
faithfully until we are gathered with you in the paradise you promise.
Hear us, O God.
C: Your mercy is great.

A: We offer these and all our prayers to you, O God, trusting in your grace
and unyielding love; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C: Amen.

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

OFFERING PRAYER
A: God of healing and hope, you bless those who are hungry, promising to
fill them with good things. Fulfill that promise through us and these your gifts.
Nourish us with the abundance of your feast and unite us into the blessed
body of Jesus Christ our Saviour, now and forever.
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 the Sovereign strengthen you, God the Son
save you, and God the Holy Spirit anoint you for the week ahead.
The holy Trinity bless you ☩ and grant you
a faithful and courageous heart now and forever.
C: Amen.

SENDING HYMN – The Church’s One Foundation (ELW #654)

DISMISSAL
A: Go in peace. Share the harvest.
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)