Welcome & Opening Prayer
Criminal
Culprit
Crook
Convict
Felon
Delinquent
Lawbreaker
Offender
Villain
Bad Guy
Baddie
Evildoer
Hustler
Jailbird
Gangster
Deplorable
Hoodlum
Illegal
Robber
Trespasser
Debtor
Thief
Thug
Good morning church!
I am Russell Clark and I am the senior minister here at Azle Christian Church. Today we begin our Lent season looking at the words of Jesus on the cross by looking at the two thieves who were also on a cross with Jesus on his left and on his right – and how their story fits into our lives today.
May we see the thieves in our lives as Jesus sees them – and may we see the thug within ourselves.
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.
(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.
Loving God –
May we receive your grace even when we don’t deserve it.
May we share your grace even when it’s difficult.
May this grace be seen this morning during this time of worship and throughout our daily lives. Amen.
May we take a moment before we get started to greet those next to us with a hug or high five.
Opening Songs: They’ll Know We Are Christians #494
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah they'll know we are Christians by our love
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
1 O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer's praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!
So Come on and sing out let our anthem grow loud there is one great love Jesus
2 My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread thro' all the earth abroad
the honors of your name.
3 Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease,
'tis music in the sinner's ears,
'tis life and health and peace.
4 He breaks the power of cancelled sin,
he sets the prisoner free;
his blood can make the foulest clean;
his blood availed for me.
5 To God all glory, praise, and love
be now and ever given
by saints below and saints above,
the Church in earth and heaven.
Litany of Faith – Chris Piercy
One: Lord, give us your eyes that we might see.
All: Lord, give us your love for humanity.
One: Lord, give us your arms for the brokenhearted. Give us your heart for the ones forgotten.
All: Lord, give us your love for humanity.
One: Lord, give us your grace for the ones who need forgiveness. Give us your mercy for the ones who need a helping hand.
All: Lord, give us your love for humanity.
Scripture Meditation – Luke 23:39-43 (NIV)
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ But the other criminal rebuked him. ‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’”
One: This is the word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
We pray every week in the Lord’s prayer: “Forgive our debts. As we forgive our debtors.”
Which statement is easier for you to pray? “Forgive our debts.” Or “Forgive our debtors.”
Which prayer is harder for you to pray?
To ask for forgiveness? Or to forgive those who have wronged us?
Have we forgiven our debtors? Have we received forgiveness ourselves?
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.
Lord, we come here this morning heavily burdened.
For the deaths in our church family & for our own loved ones, we pray.
For the tragedy in Kansas City and putting an end to senseless violence, we pray.
For the illnesses and injuries and recovery from surgeries, we pray.
For the new babies and new beginnings within our families, we give praise.
For the people within this church who remind us we are not alone, we give thanks.
For the ways you remind us we are loved, we give praise.
For the way you forgive us when we have screwed up, we give thanks.
May we seek to forgive as you forgive, to show grace as you show grace, to love one another as you have loved us.
And we praise you that your grace is greater than our own, that your ways are not our ways, and that your future looks brighter than any we could come up with.
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 –
Though I may speak with bravest fire,
And have the gift to all inspire,
And have not love, my words are vain,
As sounding brass, and hopeless gain.
Though I may give all I possess,
And striving so my love profess,
But not be given by love within,
The profit soon turns strangely thin.
Come, Spirit, come, our hearts control,
Our spirits long to be made whole.
Let inward love guide every deed;
By this we worship, and are freed.
Children’s Moment – Emily Harden
Stewardship Moment – Sheila Foster, Tyler Harden, Russell Clark
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 – How Beautiful
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 – Chris Piercy
Series: Seven Sayings on the Cross
Sermon: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” – Rev. Russell Clark
Holy Communion Meditation & Prayer – Chris Piercy
Communion Song –
In this very room, there's quite enough love for all of us
And in this very room, there's quite enough joy for all of us
And there's quite enough hope
And quite enough power
To chase away any gloom
For Jesus, Lord Jesus
Is in this very room
In this very room, there's quite enough love for all of us
And in this very room, there's quite enough joy for all of us
And there's quite enough hope
And quite enough power
To chase away any gloom
For Jesus, Lord Jesus
Is in this very room
Yes there's quite enough hope
And quite enough power
To chase away any gloom
For Jesus, Lord Jesus
Is in this very room
In this very room
In this very room
In this very room
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 – Chris 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.
This Saturday is Food Hub. Come help prepare food to hand out to our community at 8am.
This Thursday is our Lent Devotional & Lunch starting at 11:30. Rev. Christy Drechsel will be our guest speaker this week.
This afternoon is the youth game night starting at 3. Come play video games with your friends and meet our new youth minister, Joey.
Directly after worship is the Disciples Women’s Ministry 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…
May we see the healing that comes from knowing we are the thief on the cross and paradise is offered to a sinner like us. We are forgiven and free.
And may we offer the same grace to the debtors in our lives and forgive as we have been forgiven.
Amen.
*Benediction Response –
1 Alas! and did my Savior bleed,
and did my Sovereign die!
Would he devote that sacred head
for sinners such as I?
2 Was it for crimes that I have done,
he groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! Grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!
3 Well might the sun in darkness hide,
and shut its glories in,
when God, the mighty maker, died
for his own creature's sin.
4 Thus might I hide my blushing face
while his dear cross appears;
dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
and melt mine eyes to tears.
5 But drops of tears can ne'er repay
the debt of love I owe.
Here, Lord, I give myself away;
'tis all that I can do.