A special welcome to all our visitors. If you are a visitor, please fill out a visitor’s card found in the pew rack and place it in the offering plate. Activity bags for children to enjoy during worship are on the rack in the narthex.
PRESERVICE MUSIC
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
P: Blessed be the holy Trinity,☩ one God, whose steadfast love endures forever.
C: Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence is kept for reflection.
P: 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.
P: 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.
GATHERING HYMN: 837 Many and Great, O God
GREETING
P: The grace 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)
Almighty God, you sent your Holy Spirit to be the life and light of your church. Open our hearts to the riches of your grace, that we may be ready to receive you wherever you appear, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
READINGS
Genesis 15:1-6
1After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” 4But the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” 5He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.
Psalm 33:12-22
12Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord! Happy the people chosen to be God’s heritage! 13The Lord looks down from heaven, and sees all humankind. 14God sits firmly enthroned and watches all who dwell on the earth. 15God fashions all their hearts and observes all their deeds. 16A king is not saved by the size of the army, nor are warriors rescued by their great strength. 17The horse gives vain hope for victory; despite its great strength it cannot save. 18Truly, your eye is upon those who fear you, O Lord, upon those who wait for your steadfast love, 19to deliver their lives from death, and to keep them alive in time of famine. 20Our innermost being waits for you, O Lord, our helper and our shield. 21Surely, our heart rejoices in you, for in your holy name we put our trust. 22Let your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us, even as we place our hope in you.
Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. 3By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. 8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised. 12Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.” 13All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, 14for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.
Holy Gospel: Luke 12:32-40
P: The Holy Gospel according to Luke.
C: Glory to you O Lord.
[Jesus said:] 32“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 35“Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; 36be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. 37Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. 38If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. 39“But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”
P: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to You, O Christ.
VBS CHILDREN SINGING
SERMON
HYMN OF THE DAY: 638 Blessed Assurance, verses 1-2
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.
OFFERING
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.
P: Let us pray.
Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things. Through your good ness you have blessed us with there gifts: our selves, our time, and or possessions. Use us, and what we have gathered, in feeding the world with your live, through the who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C: Amen
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: In Christ’s presence there is fullness of joy. Come to the banquet.
COMMUNION HYMN: 856 How Great Thou Art
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
P Life-giving God, through this meal you have bandaged our wounds and fed us with your mercy. Now send us forth to live for others, both friend and stranger, that all may come to know your love. This we pray in the name of Jesus.
C: Amen.
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: 834 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise, verses 1-2
BENEDICTION
P: Go in peace. Love your neighbor.
C: Thanks be to God.
The flowers at Grace are given Callie and Karen Nelson.
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH. Thursday: 1 pm Regular Food Pantry Distribution at Grace; Friday and Saturday Garage Sale; Sunday, July 24: 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, 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, Sue Ann Preuss, Barb Nofsinger, Sharon Halverson, Kathy Christensen, Jeanne Nastali, Dorothy Klipstein, Ethel Mae Baldwin
Looking ahead: Sunday School will resume on September 11 with a Rally Day. Open to all children; those under 3 may come with a parent.
+ 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
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