St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church
Highlights of Oct 28, 2002 Service

Celebration of the Reformation

Service Highlights

• Special Tri-Parish Service
  Three neighbouring congregations in NDG, all within a few blocks of each other, got together in a common celebration of The Reformation. These were: St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church, St. Columba's Anglican Church, and Wesley United Church. The service was held at Wesley United, with the Rev. Marha Nell Thomson presiding.

  Also in attendance, and assisting, were Rev. Samuel King Kabu (St. Ansgar's), Rev. Mark Rogers (St. Columba), Rev. Peter Huish (St. Columba), and Rev. Dr. Stanley Frost (Wesley United). The organist at Wesley United was Lynette Wahlstrom and the choir director was Vivienne Deane. Some lay members of each congregation also assisted in the servie.

  [From the Eucharist Service] ...As we come to this table, we are reminded that this is not the table of St. Ansgar, or St. Columba or the Wesley congregation. Nor is it the table of the Lutheran, Anglican, United Church of Canada, or any particular denomination. It is the table of Jesus Christ, the family feast of the whole people of God...

• The Reformation On this date in 1517, Martin Luther posted 95 theses on the door of the Wittenberg Casle Church as an invitation to debate the sale of indulgences for forgiveness. That event sparked a reform movement that eventually led to the Protestant Church and separate denominations. While there is much sorrow in the disunity which the Reformation caused, Luther did establish the idea that the Church is always in need of reform in the light of the Gospel. Luther's primary principal that Christians are justified by God's grace through faith in Christ has also found universal acceptance among denominations. Today we pray for church unity, for the purity of God's word, and for a church that is always open to reform and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

• Our Opening Hymn:
  Holy, holy, holy,
  Lord God Almighty!
  Early in the morning,
  Our song shall rise to thee...

• For the Young at Heart: A special presentation to the youth of the congregations

  Pastor Samuel told the story of a young boy who complained about always having to follow his minister father around as he told people of God's grace and forgiveness. "But Father," the boy cried, "I have not sinned! It's not fair that I should have to travel around all the time telling people about God's grace.". The father left a box on the table and told the boy that if he did not open it, then he would not have to travel along any more. Alas, the boy could not keep from disobeying, and the bird that was in the box flew away. When the father returned he told the boy, "Like Adam & Eve, you could not keep your father's commandment, and so you, like the rest of us, have sinned. You will have to come with me to tell people of God's marvellous grace towards sinners.

• The First Lesson: Jeremiah 31:31-34
  The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new convenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah...
  I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts...

• Hymn
  A mighty fortress is our God...
  Our helper sure amid the flood...
  ...our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe...
  On Earth he has no equal...

  Did we in our own strength confide,
  Our striving would be losing
  Were not the right man on our side
  The man of God's own choosing
  Dost ask who that may be?
  Christ Jesus, it is he...
  And he must win the battle.

• The Second Lesson: Romans 3:19-28
  ...Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith.

• The Gospel Lesson: John 8:31-36
  Then Jesus said... If you continue in my word... you will know the truth and the truth will make you free...

• Hymn of the Day:
  We are one in the Spirit, We are one in the Lord...
  And we pray that all unity will one day be restored
  And they'll know we are Christians by our love...

• Let us go in peace and serve the Lord.
  Thanks be to God!