PRESERVICE MUSIC
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
INTRODUCTION TO THE HYMN SING AND HYMN STORIES
GATHERING HYMN: 779 Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound
Story Behind the Hymn
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
L: Blessed be the holy Trinity,☩ one God, whose steadfast love endures forever.
C: Amen.
L: Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Merciful God,
C: we confess that we have not followed your path but have chosen our own way. Instead of putting others before ourselves, we long to take the best seats at the table. When met by those in need, we have too often passed by on the other side. Set us again on the path of life.
Save us from ourselves and free us to love our neighbors. Amen.
L: Hear the good news! God does not deal with us according to our sins
but delights in granting pardon and mercy. In the name of ☩ Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. You are free to love as God loves.
C: Amen.
HYMN: 793 Be Thou My Vision
Story Behind the Hymn
GREETING
P: The grace and 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.
PRAYER OF THE DAY (Read in unison)
Sovereign God, ruler of all hearts, you call us to obey you, and you favor us with true freedom. Keep us faithful to the ways of your Son, that, leaving behind all that hinders us, we may steadfastly follow your paths, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
READINGS
Isaiah 65:1-9
1I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask, to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that did not call on my name. 2I held out my hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices; 3a people who provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens and offering incense on bricks; 4who sit inside tombs, and spend the night in secret places; who eat swine’s flesh, with broth of abominable things in their vessels; 5who say, “Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.” These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all day long. 6See, it is written before me: I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will indeed repay into their laps 7their iniquities and their ancestors’ iniquities together, says the Lord; because they offered incense on the mountains and reviled me on the hills, I will measure into their laps full payment for their actions. 8Thus says the Lord: As the wine is found in the cluster, and they say, “Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it,” so I will do for my servants’ sake, and not destroy them all. 9I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah inheritors of my mountains; my chosen shall inherit it, and my servants shall settle there.
Psalm 22:19-28 (Read responsively)
19But you, O Lord, be not far away; O my help, hasten | to my aid. 20Deliver me from the sword, my life from the power of the dog. 21Save me from the lion’s mouth! From the horns of wild bulls you have rescued me. 22I will declare your name to my people; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you. 23You who fear the Lord, give praise! All you of Jacob’s line, give glory. Stand in awe of the Lord, all you offspring of Israel. 24For the Lord does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty; neither is the Lord’s face hidden from them; but when they cry out, the Lord hears them. 25From you comes my praise in the great assembly; I will perform my vows in the sight of those who fear the Lord. 26The poor shall eat and be satisfied, Let those who seek the Lord give praise! May your hearts live forever! 27All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; all the families of nations shall bow before God. 28For dominion belongs to the Lord, who rules over the nations.
Galatians 3:23-29
23Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. 24Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, 26for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. 27As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.
Holy Gospel: Luke 8:26-39
P: The Holy Gospel according to Luke.
C: Glory to you O Lord.
26Then [Jesus and his disciples] arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. 28When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me”—29for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) 30Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. 31They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss. 32Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. 33Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. 34When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. 35Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. 37Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. 38The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39“Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.
P: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to You, O Christ.
HYMN OF THE DAY: 632 O God, Our Help in Ages Past
Story Behind the Hymn
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: God of grace,
C: hear our prayer.
HYMN: 742 What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Story Behind the Hymn
PEACE
Please share a sign of peace with those around in whatever way you are most comfortable.
P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: And also with you.
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.
LORD’S PRAYER (Read in unison)
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.
HYMN: 423 Shall We Gather at the River
Story Behind the Hymn
BLESSING
P: The God of peace, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you, comfort you, and show you the path of life this day and always.
C: Amen.
SENDING HYMN: 536 God Be with You Till We Meet Again
Story Behind the Hymn
BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace. Love your neighbor.
C: Thanks be to God.
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH. Wednesday: 6 pm Grace Council Meeting; Thursday: 1 pm Regular Food Pantry Distribution at Grace; Friday and Saturday Garage Sale; Sunday, June 26 8:30 am Communion Worship at Fountain; 10:15 am Communion Worship at Grace
WE PRAY FOR: Andy Helmann, Lola Frye, Holly and Harry Hinzpeter, Shirley Hyer, Calvin Nelson, Kandy Hagen, Mariam Burdick, Kathy Haske, Suzanne Soltvedt, Lola St. Clair, John Thompson, Clarence Johnson, Carol Leopold, Alan Leopold, Pete Nelson, Pat Nelson, Donnie Benson, Barney Johnson, Bob Brod, LouAnn Bever, Sue Ann Preuss, Barb Nofsinger, Sharon Halverson, Karyn Bell, Kathy Christensen, Gail Nastali, Jeanne Nastali, Dorothy Klipstein, the family of Norm Hyer who recently passed away
Gundersen Health System is hosting a Virtual weekly ‘Healthy Living with Chronic Pain” Class in July/August. For more information please call 608-775-6870.
Vacation Bible School will be an “udderly” great week-long event that this year we will transform our Grace Lutheran Church into a friendly farm. The dates this year are August 1st – 4th from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM we will have a meal at 5:30 PM for those that want to join us for fellowship. Each evening a meal will be served right at the start, followed by a variety of happenings such as moo-sic, fun, lesson, hog wild games, projects with purpose, and crafts. Parents can stay with the children and join in on the fun! We don’t want anyone to miss out! A Bible story will be shared to help your kids better understand farmin’ fun as they explore one simple Bible truth: Jesus will always love us! HayDay VBS is full of wide open spaces, playful animals, and rustic charm – guaranteed to be a place where we will have barrels of fun! If you have friends and/or neighbors you think would enjoy this program, bring them along! All are welcome!
Register today: https://vbsmate.com/GrowWithJesusinElroy
+ Together In Mission +
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
Comments