Welcome & Opening Prayer
Good morning church!
I am Russell Clark and I am the senior minister here at Azle Christian Church. May the grace and forgiveness that God offers become more real in our own lives and the life of this church here this morning.
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.
Gracious God – during this messy, imperfect worship, will you meet us in our brokenness and create something beautiful out of us? Amen.
May we take a moment before we get started to greet those next to us with a hug or high five.
Opening Songs:
Are you hurting and broken within?
Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin?
Jesus is calling
Have you come to the end of yourself?
Do you thirst for a drink from the well?
Jesus is calling
O come to the altar
The Father's arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ
Leave behind your regrets and mistakes
Come today, there's no reason to wait
Jesus is calling
Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy
From the ashes, a new life is born
Jesus is calling
O come to the altar
The Father's arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood
Oh, what a Savior
Isn't He wonderful?
Sing hallelujah, Christ is risen
Bow down before Him
For He is Lord of all
Sing hallelujah, Christ is risen
O come to the altar
The Father's arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ
O come to the altar
The Father's arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ
The Father's arms are open wide
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save me from its guilt and power.
2
Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All could never sin erase,
Thou must save, and save by grace.
3
Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress,
Helpless, look to Thee for grace:
Foul, I to the fountain fly,
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
4
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
Litany of Faith – Valerie Piercy
One: For the times we lacked compassion and concern for others,
All: Forgive us, Lord.
One: For our prejudices, biases, and deliberate acts of discrimination,
All: Forgive us, Lord.
One: For holding grudges and refusing to have a forgiving heart,
All: Forgive us, Lord.
One: For lacking the wisdom to love one another as you call us to,
All: Forgive us, Lord.
One: Open our minds and hearts to forgive as you have forgiven us. All: Amen.
Scripture Meditation – Luke 23:32-34 (NIV)
“Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals – one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, ‘Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’”
One: This is the word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
Last week we talked about the two thieves on the cross. One of them hurled insults at Jesus, while the other asked Jesus to remember him when he enters his kingdom.
If someone were hurling insults at you while you were dying and excruciating death on a cross, how would you respond?
Would you say, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”? Or would you have a few other choice words for someone when you were enduring this excruciating pain?
What does this saying teach us about how to live better lives today?
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 grace – We admit we don’t have the patience to endure suffering. We haven’t responded with grace when we should have. We didn’t respond with love for our enemies when we could have.
Help us to show grace as you show grace, to forgive as you have forgiven us. Help us to know better how to treat others, and to do better. Let us be who we say we are. Let us reflect more of you, Lord.
Thank you for exposing our shortcomings so we know how to do better next time. Help us to learn from our mistakes so we might better reflect your love and grace.
May we be the church you desire for us to become. May we show the world your grace and mercy as you see fit. Let us be a light in the world to show people a different way, a better way, your way.
You are the way, the truth, and the life. Let us be your disciples and follow you more every day.
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 –
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine with 10, 000 beside
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Blessing of John Henry Piercy – Rev. Russell Clark & Rev. Diane Clark
Rev. Russell: We would ask the parents, grandparents, and family to join us at the front with our new baby.
We are thrilled this morning to welcome our newest member of our church family, and to make a commitment this morning – a commitment made by his parents, his family, and as a church – to nurture his life and care for him, anticipating that later in his life he will make his own commitment to his faith and be baptized.
(To parents) What name was given to this child?
John Henry Piercy
As the family of God, we rejoice in God’s good gift of life through the miracle of birth. We join with these parents in embracing this child with open arms, even as Jesus welcomed the little children. We acknowledge God’s love and grace is already at work in John, and we pledge ourselves to be committed to nurture him in his faith and life.
Rev. Diane Clark sharing a few words
Rev. Diane: You parents now are to recall your own baptism, and seeking to fulfill its promises, give yourselves in covenant to lead your son toward a full discipleship in Christ.
Do you commit to remain faithful in love to your child, offering support through nurture, care, and embodying what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?
I do, God helping me.
Rev. Russell: We now ask the grandparents and family of John:
Do you commit to remain faithful in love to this child, offering support through nurture, care, and embodying what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?
We do, God helping us.
And now, to our church:
Do you commit to remain faithful in love to this child and their parents and family, offering support through nurture, care, and embodying what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?
We do, God helping us.
Rev. Diane: Blessing of John Henry Piercy
Rev. Russell: Introduction of John Henry Piercy to congregation
Rev. Russell: Let us pray – Loving God – mold the life of John Henry Piercy that he may come to know of your love and grace and will for his life. Help us as his parents, his family, and his church to continually seek out ways to help him learn the good news of Christ, and to lead him to join us as disciples of Christ. In your name we pray and play, Amen.
Children’s Song – All The Children – Rose Thomason, violin
Children’s Moment – Susie Hiles
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 –
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 – Valerie Piercy
Series: Seven Sayings on the Cross
Sermon: “Father forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” – Rev. Russell Clark
Holy Communion Meditation & Prayer – Valerie Piercy
Communion Song –
We gather here in Jesus' name
His love is burning in our hearts like living flame
For through His loving Son the Father makes us one
Come take the bread come drink the wine
Come share the Lord
No one is a stranger here,
everyone belongs;
finding our forgiveness here,
we in turn forgive all wrongs.
He joins us here He breaks the bread
The Lord who pours the cup is risen from the dead
The One we love the most is now our gracious host
Come take the bread come drink the wine
Come share the Lord
We are now a family
of which the Lord is head;
though unseen he meets us here
in the breaking of the bread.
We'll gather soon where angels sing
We'll see the glory of our Lord and coming King
Now we anticipate the feast for which we wait
Come take the bread come drink the wine
Come share the Lord
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 – Valerie Piercy
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.
Next Sunday, we will have Holy Guacamole at El Torito at 5pm. We will get together for good food & fellowship and a short devotional.
We have our 3rd Lent Devotional & Lunch this Thursday starting at 11:30 with Rev. Todd Pick giving the devotional.
Directly after worship, we have a Drive for Compassion planning meeting.
Again, be sure to check our calendar to see everything that’s coming up this month & next month!
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…
You are forgiven.
From your personal sins.
From our communal sins as a church and community.
Jesus has lived and died so we might do better to break the chains of corruption and injustice from this day forward. To bring healing and peace and restoration and freedom to this land.
Amen.
*Benediction Response –
1
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch; like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
2
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
3
The Lord hath promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
4
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.