PRESERVICE MUSIC
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
GATHERING HYMN: 631 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
P: You are the God of love; the Giver of love; the one whose love sent Jesus Christ to live, die and rise from the dead. Because you love us, we can confidently confess our sin.
C: You love us, choose us, and call us to live in love for others. We admit we cannot love you, love one another, or love our neighbors as we should. Forgive us, and by the power of your Holy Spirit, give us new life that only comes from you. Teach us to trust in your love and not our own. Call us into your deeper purposes for the sake of your kingdom.
P: Your love for us is most evident in sacrificial life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are Easter people who live in the promise of resurrection living.
C: Because of your love for us we can live in peace. (Silence for reflection & prayer)
P: You change our mourning into dancing. You bring light into the middle of our darkness. you bring joy where there is only sadness. You give new life to those who are dead in sin. Because of you, we can live into your deeper purposes for us and for your kingdom.
C: We praise you! We worship you! Amen!
PRAYER of the DAY (read in unison)
O God, you have prepared for those who love you joys beyond understanding. Pour into our hearts such love for you that, loving you above all things, we may obtain your promises, which exceed all we can desire; through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
READINGS
Acts 10:44-48
44While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, 46for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, 47“Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.
1 John 5:1-6
1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, 4for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. 5Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.
John 15:9-17
HOLY GOSPEL
P: The Holy Gospel of John Chapter 15 and I read in Jesus name.
C: Glory to you O Lord. (Reading of the Gospel)
[Jesus said:] 9“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. 12“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”
P: The Gospel of the Lord
C: Praise to You, O Christ.
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
SERMON
HYMN OF THE DAY: 708 Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love
STATEMENT OF FAITH: THE 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, and 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 life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
P: . . . Hear us, O God.
C: Your mercy is great.
OFFERING
We join Christians all over the world in worshipping God through our giving of financial resources. For members and friends, the mission and ministry of this congregation is completely dependent upon your generous giving. Our offering is a significant act of worship, and we now worship God through our giving. If you have brought your offering with you today, please place it in the basket in the back as you leave. You may send your giving to the church office or give through the link on our website. Thank you for supporting our ministry.
HOLY COMMUNION
P: God declares that we are Easter people!
C: We are here because Jesus Christ has died; Jesus Christ has risen; and Jesus Christ will come again.
P: The risen Christ is present in bread and wine.
C: We are the body of Christ who wish to celebrate his resurrection
presence among us. Holy God, we thank you for your perfect plan to save all humankind from death and sin. We praise you for the saving action of Jesus Christ and his gift of forgiveness.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION (In the night in which he was betrayed . . . )
P: Come, Holy Spirit, and grant us together as your forgiven people who feast together in resurrection celebration of the One who has come among us and the One who will come again.
C: Amen!
LORD’S PRAYER
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.
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
The risen Christ invites us to this table.
Come, eat and be satisfied.
SHARING THE MEAL (Follow instructions given. Ushers will direct you in when to begin.)
Prayer after Communion
Wellspring of joy,
through this meal you have put gladness in our hearts.
Satisfy the hunger still around us,
and send us as joyful witnesses,
that your love may bring joy to the hearts of all people,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Blessing
May our glorious God grant you a spirit of wisdom
to know and to love the risen Lord Jesus.
The God of life,
Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit,
bless you now and forever.
Amen.
SENDING HYMN: 666 What Wonderous Love Is This
BENEDICTION
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Go in peace. Share the good news. Alleluia!
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
THE ELROY SENIOR MEALS SITE is looking for volunteers when they reopen the meals site soon. Volunteers are needed to serve out meals and do dishes; clear tables and clean up; or transport people to the site. Volunteers are scheduled ahead, generally for two days per week. Volunteers receive a free meal. Contact Karen Nelson at 462-5175 to volunteer.
BIBLE STUDY: A study from Ephesians will take place at 9:30 AM on Thursday, May 13 in the conference room in the parish office in Elroy. The Bible study is open to all; the Esther Circle will meet after the study.
GRACE ANNUAL MEETING is Sunday, May 16 right after the worship service in the sanctuary—you won’t even have to move from your seat. If you wish to attend the meeting but can’t make it to worship, plan to arrive by 11:15 AM.
THE FLOWERS AT GRACE are from Clayton Jacobson’s Memorial Service, which was yesterday, May 8.
GRACE’S FLOWER CHART: The Grace congregation will again be taking requests to give flowers in memory or in honor of a person or event. Two nice altar bouquets are provided for each Sunday. The cost is $28 to sponsor the flowers and you may take them home after the service. You may sign up on the chart in the hallway. Let us fill the year with flowers!
COFFEE HOUR will resume on June 6. Grace members may sign by to serve coffee and bring treats in the back of the church.
+ Together In Mission +
WELCOME! If you are a visitor please fill out a “Welcome Card” and drop it in the offering plate. Fountain Grace Trinity Lutheran Parish is a congregation of the ELCA in the La Crosse Area Synod. We invite you to participate with us in following Christ as he leads.
Parish Office: 226 Erickson Street, Elroy WI 53929 Parish E-mail: fgtlpadmin@centurytel.net Phone: (608)462-5398 Sunday Organist: Heather Vlasak Sunday Pianist: Bev Rood
Parish Secretary: Kris Stauffacher; Grace Custodian: Dave Clark
Check us out on our web page www.fgtlp.org
AND find us on Facebook search @FGTLutheranParish
We gather each week to worship God, Sunday morning at 10:15 a.m. at Grace & each Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m. at Trinity or Fountain.
Our Communion invitation is for all who seek to partake of the real presence of Christ in this meal. All are welcome to the Lord’s Table.
Office Hours Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 8 AM—1 PM
FLOWERS AT GRACE: were given this week by Freida Jacobson and were also used as part of the memorial service for Clayton Jacobson yesterday.
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