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"Return to the LORD, your God, who is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love" (Joel 2.13). Join us for worship this evening at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome to our soup supper at 6:00 p.m. as well.

St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church - Ridgeway, Ontario

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"This is my Son, my Chosen, listen to him!" (Lk 9.35). Join us for worship this morning at 10:30 a.m.

Timeline Photos

Today the church commemorates the Martyrs of Japan, died 1597. In the sixteenth century, Jesuit missionaries, followed by Franciscans, introduced the Christian faith in Japan. But a promising beginning to those missions—perhaps as many as 300,000 Christians by the end of the sixteenth century—met complications from competition between the missionary groups, political difficulty between Spain and Portugal, and factions within the government of Japan. Christianity was suppressed. By 1630, Christianity was driven underground. Today we commemorate the first martyrs of Japan, twenty-six missionaries and converts who were killed by crucifixion. Two hundred and fifty years later, when Christian missionaries returned to Japan, they found a community of Japanese Christians that had survived underground.

The problem to be faced is: how to combine loyalty to one's own tradition with reverence for different traditions." (Abraham Joshua Heschel, Moral Grandeur and Spiritual Audacity: Essays, 242)

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

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Today the church commemorates Ansgar, Bishop of Hamburg, missionary to Denmark and Sweden, died 865. Ansgar was a monk who led a mission to Denmark and later to Sweden, where he built the first church. His work ran into difficulties with the rulers of the day, and he was forced to withdraw into Germany, where he served as a bishop in Hamburg. Despite his difficulties in Sweden, he persisted in his mission work and later helped consecrate Gothbert as the first bishop of Sweden. Ansgar had a deep love for the poor. He would wash their feet and serve them food provided by the parish.

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Today is the festival of the Presentation of Our Lord. Forty days after the birth of Christ we mark the day Mary and Joseph presented him in the temple in accordance with Jewish law. There a prophetess name Anna began to speak of the redemption of Israel when she saw the young child. Simeon also greeted Mary and Joseph. He responded to the presence of the consolation of Israel in this child with the words of the Nunc dimittis. His song described Jesus as a "light for the nations." "Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel" (Lk 2.29-32). Almighty and ever-living God, your only-begotten Son was presented this day in the temple. May we be presented to you with clean and pure hearts by the same Jesus Christ, our great high priest, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

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"You shall go to all to whom I send you. Do not be afraid, for I am with you" (Jer 1.7, 8). Join us for worship this morning at 10:30 a.m.

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