Welcome & Opening Prayer
Good morning church!
I am Russell Clark and I am the senior minister here at Azle Christian Church. May all those here in worship and those online worshipping know you are a minister of this church. We are all called to love and care for one another as part of this church family.
We like for everyone to know a few things before we begin worship every week.
(1) If you’re a guest today, we’re so happy you’re here! Filling out the attendance registration in your pew helps us connect names with faces and sharing your e-mail helps us to connect you to our weekly newsletter. There are information brochures in your pew to get to know us more and there is information about our weekly activities and calendar in your bulletin.
(2) Second, we love our children here in worship and we always welcome them here. There is a kids corner in the back if your children need a space to move around. There is also a nursery available if you’d like. [TBD - We’re in the process of improving our nursery and bringing back children’s church soon. Parents, we’re asking you to get in the habit of signing in your child before the service if you plan to take them to the nursery or children’s church after children’s moment.]
(3) Finally, our liturgy is posted each week on the website if you would like to follow along with our service.
Now, may we take a moment to pray as we enter this time of worship.
God of love – May we filled with your love and care this morning so we may do the same with everyone meet this week. Amen.
May we take a moment before we get started to greet those next to us with a hug or high five.
Opening Songs: Gather Us In #284
Here in this place new light is streaming
Now is the darkness vanished away
See in this space our fears and our dreamings
Brought here to you in the light of this day
Gather us in, the lost and forsaken
Gather us in, the blind and the lame
Call to us now and we shall awaken
We shall arise at the sound of our name
We are the young, our lives are a mystery
We are the old who yearn for your face
We have been sung throughout all of history
Called to be light to the whole human race
Gather us in, the rich and the haughty
Gather us in, the proud and the strong
Give us a heart so meek and so lowly
Give us the courage to enter the song
Here we will take the wine and the water
Here we will take the bread of new birth
Here you shall call your sons and your daughters
Call us anew to be salt for the earth
Give us to drink the wine of compassion
Give us to eat the bread that is you
Nourish us well and teach us to fashion
Lives that are holy and hearts that are true
Not in the dark of buildings confining
Not in some heaven light years away
But here in this place the new light is shining
Now is the kingdom, now is the day
Gather us in and hold us forever
Gather us in and make us your own
Gather us in, all peoples together
Fire of love in our flesh and our bones
Fire of love in our flesh and our bones
Rest on Us – Maverick City Music
As the Spirit was moving over the waters
Spirit, come move over us
Come rest on us
Come rest on us
As the Spirit was moving over the waters
Spirit, come move over us
Come rest on us
Come rest on us
So come down
Spirit, when You move You make my heart pound
When You fill the room
You're here and I know You are moving
I'm here and I know You will fill me
Come down
Spirit, when You move You make my heart pound
When You fill the room
You're here and I know You are moving
I'm here and I know You will fill me
Hey
Come fill us up
Come fill us up
Come fill us up
And as the Spirit was moving over the waters
Spirit, come move over us (come on)
Come rest on us
Come rest on us
As the Spirit was moving over the waters
Spirit, come move over us
Come rest on us
Come rest on us (I feel the fire)
Fire and wind, come and do it again
Open up the gates, let Heaven on in (come)
Come rest on us (won't you come)
Come rest on us (I feel the fire)
Fire and wind, come and do it again
Open up the gates, let Heaven on in
Come rest on us
Come rest on us
So come down
Spirit, when You move You make my heart pound
When You fill the room
You're here and I know You are moving
I'm here and I know You will fill me
Come down
Spirit, when You move You make my heart pound
When You fill the room
You're here and I know You are moving
I'm here and I know You will fill me
Won't You fill me afresh?
Fill me afresh (ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh)
Holy Spirit, come rest on us
You're all we want
You're all we want
Holy Spirit, come rest on us
You're all we want
You're all we want
Holy Spirit, come rest on us
You're all we want (yeah)
You're all we want
Oh, Holy Spirit, come rest on us
You're all we want
You're all we want (Holy Spirit)
Holy Spirit, come rest on us
You're all we want (yeah, you're all)
You're all we want (hey)
Holy Spirit, come rest on us
You're all we want
You're all we want
So come down
Spirit, when You move You make my heart pound
When You fill this room
You're here and I know You are moving
I'm here and I know You will fill me
Come down
Spirit, when You move You make my heart pound
When You fill the room
You're here and I know You are moving (hey)
I'm here and I know You will fill me (won't You come down, come down?)
Come down
Spirit, when You move You make my heart pound
When You fill the room
You're here and I know You are moving
I'm here and I know You will fill me
Come down
Spirit, when You move You make my heart pound
When You fill the room
You're here and I know You are moving
I'm here and I know You will fill me
'Cause You love to meet us here
Hey, baptize us afresh tonight
Baptize us afresh tonight
Litany of Faith – Rick Seeds
One: Let us care for our elders and those in need.
All: May we all be ministers who selflessly care for one another.
One: Let us care for our children and nurture them into being a disciple of Jesus Christ.
All: May we all be ministers who lovingly teach God’s children.
One: Give us the divine wisdom we need so we may love as Jesus loves.
All: May we all be ministers who help meet the needs of our neighbor. Amen.
Scripture Meditation – John 19:25-27 (NIV)
““Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her ‘Woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.”
One: This is the word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
This is the third week of our Seven Sayings on the Cross sermon series. This week we see more of what Jesus values: the love and care of his loved ones. Just as many people do before they die, they want to ensure their loved ones are cared for before they go.
What do Jesus’ words show us about what we should prioritize in our lives?
Think about this as we get ready for our sermon and enter our time of prayer.
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord be with you. And Also with you. Let us pray.
God of love – Will you comfort those who are burdened with stress and grief this morning? May you make their burdens light and carry their worries away. May we have the strength to lay everything at your feet and allow you to free us to live a new day.
Take our illnesses and ailments, and show us relief and strength.
Take our financial worries and job concerns, and show us how to be better stewards of what you have given us.
Take our concern for our loved ones, and let us be there for them where we should and to take our concerns to you where we should.
Take our spiritual distress, and may we see your love and grace how we need it this day.
Take our anger and grief and anxiety, and will you help us to find the right persons to talk to so we may release our emotions and receive a new spirit of peace and joy and wholeness.
Take the worries of this world, and may we see you moving in this world to make it beautiful and gracious and whole.
Where we can help, may we help.
Where we can heal, may we heal.
Where we can bring comfort, let us bring comfort.
Where we can listen, let us listen.
Where we can be present, let us be present for one another.
Show us how to be your disciples – to minister to one another in your love and care.
You are our strength when we are weak. You are the light in the darkness. You are the bread that nourishes us. You are the drink that fulfills our souls.
And Lord, will you hear us as we pray the prayer Jesus taught us…
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
Forgive us our debts
As we forgive our debtors
And lead us not into temptation
But Deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
RESPONSIVE HYMN – We are Called to Follow Jesus #465
Children’s Moment – Becky Stults
Stewardship Moment – Dan Robinson
Sharing Our Resources
There are many ways to support the ministries of Azle Christian Church. You can give online on our website, on Venmo, use the QR code in your bulletin, or place it in the offering plate as the deacons come by during our anthem. You can also put in a prayer request card or information card in the plate.
Anthem – With Every Act of Love – Jason Gray
Doxology - Praise God from whom all blessing flow; praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host: Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Offering Prayer – Rick Seeds
Series: Seven Sayings on the Cross
Sermon: “Behold your son, behold your mother.” – Rev. Russell Clark
Holy Communion Meditation & Prayer – Rick Seeds
Communion Song – Fill the World with Love #467
With the vision in our minds of how the world can be
And the fullness of our hearts from the suffering we see
When we make all that we are and have part of Gods destiny we can full the world with love
We believe Jesus Christ is the gracious host at this table.
Everyone is welcome to participate in communion. Please pass tray to your neighbor after receiving your communion cups. Please help those who need assistance. Hold cups until instructed by Elder to take in unison.
Holy Communion Words of Institution – Rick Seeds
Invitation – If you would like to make your statement of faith or become a member of ACC, you may come forward after the benediction or talk to our minister after worship.
*Announcements & Benediction – Rev. Russ Clark
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
A few announcements for this week before our benediction:
You can find information on the back of your bulletin about our weekly activities, such as Sunday School, our Ukulele Group, our Wednesday dinner and bible study, and our prayer group. In the insert, you will find our calendar to transfer to your personal calendars. We also have a google calendar on our website to add to your personal calendar.
In two weeks, on March 17, the youth will be playing mini golf from 3-5pm. See Joey for more information.
This evening, we will have Holy Guacamole at El Gran Torito at 5pm. We will get together for good food & fellowship and a short devotional.
We have our 4th Lent Devotional & Lunch this Thursday starting at 11:30 with Rev. Lynne Spencer, chaplain at Harris Methodist Hospital here in Azle, giving the devotional.
Again, be sure to check our calendar to see everything that’s coming up this month, including our Easter Egg Hunt & Holy Week activities.
Finally, If you or someone you know needs a visit OR has a prayer request OR would like home communion, you may contact the church office or contact me directly.
BENEDICTION –
Will you please rise in body and spirit for the benediction and receive this blessing?
We’ll be continuing our sermon series on Jesus’ seven sayings on the cross next week. Until then…
May we go out of our way to care for those in need this week.
You are the minister – the family – someone needs.
Amen.
*Benediction Response – Time Change Song