PRESERVICE MUSIC
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
GATHERING HYMN: 264 Prepare the Royal Highway
ADVENT LITANY
P: By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us.
C: By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us.
P: The days are surely coming, says the Lord.
C: Instill in us a yearning to seek your presence in each other.
P: The days are surely coming, says the Lord.
C: Quicken us to help all people feel welcomed and supported.
P: The days are surely coming, says the Lord.
C: Rouse us to care for one another, friend and stranger alike.
P: The days are surely coming, says the Lord.
C: Inspire us to be your handiwork in the world.
P: The days are surely coming, says the Lord.
C: Fill us with a holy hunger for a just world where all are fed.
P: The days are surely coming, says the Lord.
C: The days are surely coming, says the Lord.
P: Stir up our hearts, Lord, God, to prepare the way of your Son.
C: Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come!
Lighting of the Advent Candle: sing verse 3 of 253 He Came Down
PRAYER OF THE DAY (Read in unison)
Stir up the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the preaching of John, that, rejoicing in your salvation, we may bring forth the fruits of repentance; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Zephaniah 3:14-20
14Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! 15The Lord has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more. 16On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak. 17The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing 18as on a day of festival. I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it. 19I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. 20At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the Lord.
Isaiah 12:2-6 (Read responsively)
2Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might, and has become my salvation. 3With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the Lord, call on God’s name; make known the deeds of the Lord among the nations; proclaim that this name is exalted. 5Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. 6Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
Philippians 4:4-7
4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
P: The Holy Gospel of Luke Chapter 3 and I read in Jesus’ name.
C: Glory to you O Lord.
7John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” 11In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” 12Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” 14Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.” 15As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 18So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
P: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to You, O Christ.
CHILDREN’S SERMON
SERMON
HYMN OF THE DAY: 249 On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry
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.
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.
HOLY COMMUNION
P: All who hunger and thirst, come. The table is ready.
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 gather 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
Come to Christ’s banquet. Feast on God’s gift of grace.
SHARING THE MEAL
COMMUNION HYMN: 715 Christ, Be Our Light
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
L: Most High God, you have come among us at this table. By the Spirit’s power, form us to be bearers of your word, sharing gifts of mercy and grace with all, through Christ Jesus, our host and our guest.
C: Amen.
BLESSING
L: The God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that we may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit, through Christ Jesus for whom we wait.
C: Amen.
SENDING HYMN: 239 Hark, the Glad Sound!
BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace. Christ is near.
C: Thanks be to God.
THE FLOWERS AT GRACE are given by the Brooks family in memory of Bob and Brad.
The Elroy Senior Meal Site will need a cook starting the first of the year, 2022. It is part time 6 – 7 hours a day, 4 days a week. If you are interested or know someone have them call Karen Nelson at 608-547-4108 or stop down to the meal site any Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday after 9:30 A.M.
The new FLOWER CHART for 2022 is up at Grace. You may begin completing your intent to honor or remember someone by sponsoring the altar flowers for a given Sunday. The flowers are yours to take after the service. The cost to sponsor the two bouquets is $30.
Grace Worship Assistants scheduled for December 12: Greeters/Ushers: Gene and Shirley Preuss; Reader: Lori Brooks; PowerPoint: Michele Clark; Communion set-up: Renee Urban; Communion Assistants: Renee Urban and Lori Brooks. Let the Office know if you cannot complete these tasks so someone else can be asked to do it.
COMMUNION INSTRUCTION for children will be given soon. If you have a child you would like to attend, let the church office know (608-462-5398).
+ 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
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