PRESERVICE MUSIC
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
P: In the name of God, who makes a way in the wilderness, walks with us, and guides us in our pilgrimage.
C: Amen.
Silence is kept for reflection.
P: Holy One,
C: we confess that we have wandered far from you: we have not trusted your promises, we have ignored your prophets in our own day, we have squandered our inheritance of grace, we have failed to recognize you in our midst. Have mercy on us! Forgive us and turn us again to you. Teach us to follow in your ways, assure us again of your love, and help us to love our neighbor. Amen.
P: Beloved in Christ, the Word draws near to you, and all who call out to God shall be saved. In Jesus, God comes to you again and again and gathers you under wings of love. In ☩ Jesus’ name, your sins are forgiven.
God journeys with you and teaches you how to live in love.
C: Amen.
GATHERING HYMN: 618 Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer
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)
Eternal God, your kingdom has broken into our troubled world through the life, death, and resurrection of your Son. Help us to hear your word and obey it, and bring your saving love to fruition in our lives, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
READINGS
Isaiah 55:1-9
1Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. 4See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. 5See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. 6Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; 7let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. 9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Psalm 63:1-8
1O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2Therefore I have gazed upon you in your holy place, that I might behold your power and your glory. 3For your steadfast love is better than life itself; my lips shall give you praise. 4So will I bless you as long as I live and lift up my hands in your name. 5My spirit is content, as with the richest of foods, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips, 6when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the night watches. 7For you have been my helper, and under the shadow of your wings I will rejoice. 8My whole being clings to you; your right hand holds me fast.
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
1I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3and all ate the same spiritual food, 4and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. 5Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness. 6Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did. 7Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.” 8We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. 10And do not complain as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. 13No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.
Holy Gospel: Luke 13:1-9
P: The Holy Gospel according to Luke.
C: Glory to you O Lord.
1At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.2[Jesus] asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?3No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.” 6Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ 8He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. 9If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”
P: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to You, O Christ.
CHILDREN SINGING
SERMON
HYMN OF THE DAY: 331 As the Deer Runs to the River
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: Merciful God,
C: receive our prayer.
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.
INSTALLATION OF CHURCH COUNCIL (Fountain and Grace)
P: The following people have been elected by the congregation to positions of leadership. We give thanks for their willingness to serve. In baptism we are welcomed into the body of Christ and sent to share in the mission of God; we rejoice now that these sisters and brothers will lead us in our common life and our mutual mission as a congregation.
Fountain: Phil Baumbeck, President; Joy Bever, Vice-President; Mary Waarvik, Secretary; Sue Baumbeck, Treasurer; Joni Newlun, Janel Maulsby
Grace: Dave Clark, President; Mary Houzner, Vice-President; Kathy Besant, Treasurer; Sharon Knuth, Treasurer; Justin Eckelberg, Kathy Lindemann, Keith Clark, Kelly Green, Kris Stauffacher
A reading from First Corinthians: There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)
You have been elected to positions of leadership and trust in this congregation.
You are to see that the words and deeds of this household of faith bear witness to God, who gathers us into one together with the whole church.
You are to seek to involve all members of this congregation in worship, learning, witness, service, and support, so that the mission of Christ is carried out in this congregation, in the wider church, in this community, and in the whole world.
You are to be faithful in your specific area of serving, that the Spirit who empowers you may be glorified.
You are to be examples of faith active in love, fostering peace, harmony, and mutual understanding in this congregation.
On behalf of your sisters and brothers in Christ, I ask you:
Will you accept and faithfully carry out the duties of the offices
to which you have been elected?
Council Members: I will, and I ask God to help me.
P: People of God, I ask you: Will you support these, your elected leaders, and will you share in the mutual ministry that Christ has given to all who are baptized?
C: We will, and we ask God to help us.
P: I now declare you installed as officers / council members of this congregation. Almighty God bless you, and direct your days and your deeds in peace, that you may be faithful servants of Christ.
C: Amen.
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
P: Here is food and drink for the journey.
Take and be filled.
SHARING THE MEAL
COMMUNION HYMN: 472 Eat This Bread
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
P: Blessed Jesus, in this rich meal of grace, you have fed us with your body, the bread of life. Now send us forth to bear your life-giving hope to a world in need.
C: Amen.
BLESSING
L: You are children of God, anointed with the oil of gladness and strengthened for the journey. Almighty God, motherly, majestic, and mighty, ☩ bless you this day and always.
C: Amen.
SENDING HYMN: 328 Restore in Us, O God
BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace. Jesus meets you on the way.
C: Thanks be to God.
Flowers at Grace are given in memory of Geb and Lorraine Fischer by Todd and Kathy Lindemann.
Grace’s Ruth Circle has voted to change their Bible study and meeting dates to the first Thursday at 10 am. This will allow members to go directly to the Senior Meals program after the meeting. The next meeting is April 7.
If you know of any members graduating from high school or college, please let the church office know by May 1. Please share contact information so we can get photos and information about where they attend school and future plans.
A Mother-Daughter Banquet will take place at Grace on Saturday, May 14 at 6 pm. Please mark this on your calendar. This is open to the entire parish.
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH. Wednesday, March 23 5:30 pm Soup Supper at Grace; 6:30 pm Mid-week Lenten Service at Grace; Thursday: 9 am 1 pm Regular Food Pantry Distribution at Grace; Sunday, March 27 8:30 am Worship at Trinity; 8:45 am Sunday School at Grace; 10:15 am Worship at Grace; 11:30 am Grace Congregational Discussion at Coffee Hour
The last day of Sunday School for this school year will be May 15. The children will be singing in church that day.
SCHEDULE OF MID-WEEK LENTEN SERVICES
All services begin at 6:30 pm.
March 23 Grace
March 30 Fountain
April 6 Trinity
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, Everett Burdick, Bob Brod, LouAnn Bever, Sue Ann Preuss,
Our Youth Group will be having a Rock-A-Thon Saturday, March 26 through Sunday, March 27. They are dong this to raise funds for youth group activities including the National Youth Gathering in 2024. Ways you can help: sponsor/provide a meal or sponsor one of the rockers a flat or hourly rate—please be encouraging when youth ask you to sponsor them. Any questions can be directed to Kelly Green 608-547-9025 or eashdayisagift@hotmail.com.
+ 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
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