St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church

Christ the King Sunday, November 23, 2003

Special Dedication Service for the Memorial Plaque

WELCOME to St. Ansgar's this fine morning! Blessed are all thy saints, O God and King, who have traveled over the tempestuous sea of this life, and have made the harbour of peace and felicity. Watch over us who are still in our dangerous voyage and remember such as lie exposed to the rough storms of trouble and temptations. Frail is our vessel and the ocean is wide; but, as in thy mercy thou hast set our course, so steer the vessel of our life toward the everlasting shore of peace, and bring us at length to the quiet haven of our hearts' desire, where thou, O our God, art blessed and livest and reignest foreever and ever. Amen (Ste. Augustine)

Thank you for coming and celebrating this special occasion with us. Please join us after the service for refreshments.

We prepare to worship

Call to Worship
Deacon's Prayer
Organ Prelude

We speak to God

Opening Hymn: The Church's One Foundation (LBW # 369)

The Church’s one foundation Is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
She is his new creation By water and the Word.
From heav’n he came and sought her To be his holy bride;
With his own blood he bought her, And for her life he died.

Elect from ev’ry nation, Yet one o’er all the earth;
Her charter of salvation: One Lord, one faith, one birth.
One holy name she blesses. Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses With ev’ry grace endued.

Though with a scornful wonder This world sees her oppressed,
By schisms rent asunder, By heresies distressed,
Yet saints their watch are keeping; Their cry goes up: “How long?”
And soon the night of weeping Shall be the morn of song.

Through toil and tribulation And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation Of peace forevermore;
Till with the vision glorious Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious Shall be the church at rest.

Yet she on earth has union With God, the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion With those whose rest is won.
O blessed heav’nly chorus! Lord, save us by your grace,
That we, like saints before us, May see you face to face.

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.

P: Salvation comes from our God who is seated on the throne;

C: And from the lamb at the centre of the throne who is our shepherd.

P: All blessing and glory,

C: All thanksgiving and honour,

P: All power and might,

C: All praise and worship,

P: All tributes that heaven and earth can offer,

C: Belong to our God forever and ever. Amen

Confession & Forgiveness:

P: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C: But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (Silence for reflection on God's Word.)

P: Most merciful God,

C: We come before You in prayer today, asking for forgiveness. We have not loved you as we ought to love, we have not given as we ought to give, and we have fallen short of the mark of truly being your obedient sons and daughters. We recognize our sin and in this moment of silence, we privately remember our shortcomings in love and life.

P: As you have confessed, God in His love forgives you because of Jesus' death and resurrection.

C: Send us forth now with clean hearts and minds to do Your work and be of service to You. Protect us in our ways and guide us in our steps. Amen.

P: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

C: Lord, have mercy.

P: For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

C: Lord, have mercy.

P: 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.

P: For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.

C: Lord, have mercy.

P; Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

C: Amen.

P: The Lord be with you.

C: And also with you.

Let us pray:

P: Holy and Loving God, as the angels and all the saints gather before your throne and proclaim your everlasting praise and glory, so we gather here today in your holy sanctuary to worship and adore you. Stir up, O Lord, your faithful ones to seek more eagerly your living presence and attend us in this time we have set aside so that we may more worthily magnify your most holy name. Grant us grace to follow those who have gone before us in lives of faith and commitment, that we, with them, may know the inexpressible joys you have prepared for those who love you - we ask it through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

C: AMEN.

God Speaks to Us

First Lesson: Revelation 21:1-7

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

Special Music Offering by St. Ansgar's Choir

Second Lesson Revelation 1:4b-8

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. 8 ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. (http://www.devotions.net/bible/00bible.htm)

Gospel Acclamation:
Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia. Alleluia.

P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the sixth chapter

C: Glory to you,O Lord.

Gospel Luke 6:20-26

Then he looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God . "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. "Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. "Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. "Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. "Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.

C: Praise to you, O Christ.

Hymn: When Peace, like a River

When peace like a river, attendeth my way;
When sorrows, like sea billows, roll;
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well...with my soul... It is well, it is well, with my soul...

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well...with my soul... It is well, it is well, with my soul...

He lives--oh, the bliss of this glorious thought;
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Oh my soul.
It is well...with my soul... It is well, it is well, with my soul...

And, Lord, haste the day when our faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trumpet shall sound, and the Lord shall descend;
Even so, it is well with my soul...
It is well...with my soul... It is well, it is well, with my soul...

Message of the Day: "Our Saints"

Hymn of the Day Hymn “Abide With Me” (LBW #272)

Abide with me, fast falls the eventide.
The darkness deepens, Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.

I need thy presence every passing hour,
What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who like thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, oh, abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay, in all around I see;
O thou who changest not, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if thou abide with me!

Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes,
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies;
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, Abide with me.

We Respond to God's Word

Apostle's Creed:

C: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again 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

Sharing of Peace:
P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C: And also with you.

Liturgy of the Holy Sacrament

Offering:

Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord, and fill to the brim our cup of blessing.
Gather a harvest from the seeds that were sown,
that we may be fed with the bread of life.
Gather the hopes and the dreams of all; unite them with the prayers we offer now.
Grace our table with your presence, and give us a foretaste of the feast to come.

Offertory Prayer :

P: Merciful Father,

C: we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us—our selves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen   

The Great Thanksgiving :

P: The Lord be with You
C: And also with you

P: Lift up your hearts

C: We lift them to the Lord.

P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

C: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

P: It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord …And so with the Church on earth and the host of heaven, we praise your name and join in your unending hymn:

C: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might: Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna, Hosanna., Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

P: We praise you, O God, in the assembly of your faithful people, for by your great power you have called us to a rich hope and pledged us a glorious inheritance among the saints whom you have gathered before your throne. In ages past you warned us, through your prophets, of the terrifying forces arising on the earth, but promised us that your Kingdom would belong forever to those who embraced your holiness and who walked in the path of righteousness revealed to us by your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.

  In him you have given us a spirit of wisdom and revelation, enlightening the eyes of our hearts to see beyond the struggle of the beatitudes to the resurrection of all your people, when the hungry will feast and the mourners laugh, and all will embody the fullness of Christ who fills all in all.

  In him you have given us - and all the saints before us and those who will come after us - the gift of your love and forgiveness, the power of your sustaining spirit, and the firm foundation of your most blessed word. Through him that which is mortal is clothed with immortality, that which is perishable puts on imperishability, and that which has no honour becomes worthy of praise.

  Wherefore, most loving God - we set before you this table - in praise and in thanksgiving to you and to Christ Jesus - who, on the eve of his death, took bread, and gave you thanks (as we do now give you thanks for the bread that you give to us), and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, " take and eat, this my body, broken for you".

  We remember too, how when the meal was over, he took the cup, the cup of blessing, and having given you thanks, gave it his disciples, saying "take and drink; this is my blood, the blood of a new covenant for the forgiveness of sins, poured out for many"... As often as you do this, "do this in remembrance of me."

  Almighty God, whose people are knit together in one mystic communion, we

pray you to send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this bread and this cup - that they may be for us the body and the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Grant that we may we rejoice in the holy men and women of every time and place, and with them know your forgiveness and love and grow in grace as we advance in years. We ask it in the name of Christ Jesus, in the prayer he taught us....

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

Lamb of God:

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.

Distribution of Communion

Thank the Lord:

Thank the Lord and sing his praise; tell ev'ryone what he has done.

Let all who seek the Lord rejoice and proudly bear his name.

He recalls his promises and leads his people forth in joy with shouts of thanksgiving,

Alleluia, Alleluia.

Post-Communion Prayer:

P: Let us pray…Pour out upon us the spirit of your love, O Lord, and unite the wills of those whom you have fed with one heavenly food; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C: Amen

Dedication of the Saints:

P: St. Ansgar's like many Christian communities across the world have experienced the loss of its' saints. Today is an occasion to bring together a cross section of our past and future. This Memorial Plaque has been placed intentionally in this sanctuary for two reasons: one, to present the example of service above self which these saints represented. What a lesson for the coming generations who come to worship here and, two, because in this church building we have encapsulated all the hopes for a bright and prosperous future in God's kingdom.

"I would like to say a word or two before the unveiling. We are gathered here for a very special purpose. This gathering is firstly a memorial service to show our affection for those who have passed on to new life. We remember and cherish their memories. We knew, we respected and we loved them.

This is a religious gathering in which we are taking part this day. Who are those names that appear on the plaque? In the New Testament, we read such words as these “I would not have you be ignorant brethren to mourn as those without hope, those who died in Christ Jesus."

P: Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the Life.  Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live.
C: And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.
P: During these past years there have been loved ones from among us who have died, receiving their eternal reward in Christ Jesus.
C: We miss the presence and ministry of these persons and ask God to continue to bring healing and strength in our lives.
P: We thank you for the many ways, Gracious God, in which their lives have touched and enriched our own.
C: We thank you for the hopes, dreams, disappointments and sorrows that we have shared.
P: For the tears and the laughter, the quiet conversations and the joyful celebrations, we give you thanks, O God.
C: For these companions along life's journey, we are forever grateful.

P: We praise you especially, O God, for these saints that we name here this day. In closing, it is a matter to Him of great pleasure in being present today. The following words symbolize how much we loved these saints.

“In loving memory……"

P: As well as this Memorial Plaque , we also take the time to dedicate

•  the "Sound system in memory of Bergljot Sorensen"

•  Reading corner, Paschal Candle stand, & Advent Wreaths stand in memory Kirsti Styker

•  the "Piano" in memory of Eli & Henning Ross-Jensen

All these have been given to St. Ansgar's Church for the glory of God. We praise You, O Lord in this dedication service. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Benediction

P: Go in peace, love and care for one another in the name of Jesus,

- and may God give you grace to follow the saints of Christ in faith, hope, and love,

- may the living word bloom and grow within your hearts and minds,

- and may the fruit of the Holy Spirit be present in your lives,

both now and forevermore. Amen

C: Amen (Three-fold)

Crown Him with many crowns The Lamb upon His throne;
Hark, how the heavenly anthem drowns All music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing Of Him who died for thee
And hail Him as thy matchless King Through all eternity.

Crown Him the Virgin's Son, The God incarnate born,
Whose arm those crimson trophies won Which now His brow adorn;
Fruit of the mystic rose, Yet of that rose the stem,
The root whence mercy ever flows, The Babe of Bethlehem.

Crown Him the Lord of Love--- Behold His hands and side,
Rich wounds, yet visible above, In beauty glorified.
No angels in the sky Can fully bear that sight,
But downward bend their burning eyes At mysteries so bright.

Crown Him the Lord of Life, Who triumphed o'er the grave
And rose victorious in the strife For those He came to save.
His glories now we sing, Who died and rose on high,
Who died, eternal life to bring, And lives that death may die.

Crown Him the Lord of years, The potentate of time,
Creator of the rolling spheres, Ineffably sublime,
All hail, Redeemer hail! For Thou hast died for me
Thy praise and glory shall not fail Throughout eternity

Deacon's Prayer

Dismissal

P: The worship is over, the service begins. In the power of the Holy Spirit, we now go forth into the world, to fulfil our calling as the people of God, the body of Christ.

C: Thanks be to God.

Worship Bell

Postlude

Many thanks for attending this morning's service of dedication of our saints. Your presence has been appreciated and may God continue to bless us all. St. Ansgar would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to all who made this occasion possible. Thank you to all council members and those involved for all your hard work. Your contribution of time, energy and effort is most appreciated.

Refreshments will be served after the service. Please stay and enjoy the food and fellowship.   

A Dedication Day Prayer

Eternal God,
Creator of years, of centuries,
Lord of whatever is beyond time,
Maker of all species and master of all history --

How shall we speak to You
From our smallness and inconsequence?
Except that You have called us to worship You
In spirit and in truth;

You have dignified us with loves and loyalties;
You have lifted us up with Your lovingkindnesses.
Therefore we are bold to come before You without groveling
And without fear.

We sing with spirit and pray with courage
Because you have dignified us;
You have redeemed us from the aimlessness
Of things' going meaninglessly well.

God, lift the hearts of those
For whom this holiday is not just diversion,
But painful memory and continued deprivation.

Bless those whose dear ones have died
We remember with compassion those who have died
There is none of us but must come to bereavement and separation,

When all the answers we are offered
Fail the question death asks of each of us.
We believe that You will provide for us
As others have been provided with the fulfillment of

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

- Author Unknown