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 free to be who God made you to be – fully and completely.
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 grace and compassion – May we pour out our souls to you this morning as our act of worship. Amen.
May we take a moment before we get started to greet those next to us with a hug or high five.
Opening Songs:
Litany of Faith – Girl Scout Sunday – Kennedy Clark
One: Today is Girl Scout Sunday, a day we honor girl scouts past and present and the values they represent. If you have ever been a girl scout before, will you please stand as you are able? Will you say the Girl Scout Promise with me?
All: On my honor, I will try to serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout law.
One: Will you say the Girl Scout Law with me?
All: I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.
One: Thank you for supporting the girl scouts!
Scripture Meditation – Matthew 27:45-46 (NIV)
“From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?’”
One: This is the word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
As darkness overcomes the land where Jesus hung on a cross, we know the time Jesus hung on the cross is more than anyone could bear.
What is the significance of Jesus’ cry “my God, my God why have you forsaken me?” on the cross?
What does it say about Jesus’ relationship to God? What does it say to US about our relationship with God?
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.
Before we have our prayer time this morning, first I want to tell a story from author Roger Woolsey to help us focus on our prayer.
In Southeast Asia they developed an ingenious method to catch monkeys alive and unharmed. They call it the “Monkey Trap.” They put a pot with a wide bottom and a narrow opening and bury it in the ground. They put pieces of fruit, nuts, or meat in the pot and as they day grows warmer, the monkeys are attracted to the treats in the pot. As the monkeys put their hand inside the pot and grab a fist full of the treats, their hands will not fit through the narrow opening. The monkeys will scream in frustration when their hands are unable to be removed from the pot.
When the trappers hear the monkey screams, they stroll over to retrieve the animal. Even though the monkey could release the food, it holds onto the food tighter. It tries even harder to get its fist-full out of the pot. If all the monkey did was let go, it wouldn’t be caught in this trap and it could run free!
So it is with us. Sometimes we have a fist-full of what we want or what we’ve held on to for too long or the worries and concerns we just won’t let go of, but it’s trapping us. As we enter into our time of prayer, may we be smarter than the monkeys and know it’s time to let go so we can be free. Let us pray:
Lord – As you reveal more of yourself to us through Scriptures and your Word being shared to us today through your Spirit, may we confess more of who we are to you so we may be free from our worries and see better ways to live more fully as your disciples, your followers.
May we find freedom in letting go. We release our worries and guilt and shame from our grasp. Take those things that have been holding us back from living more freely.
For those things that are out of our control, take them from us.
For those distorted ways of thinking that have not allowed us to receive your grace and love freely, may you release us from their grip.
For the behaviors and ideas and images that keep us from being who we truly are, who you made us to be, may we let go and let you mold us into our true selves and live out the purpose you have set out for us.
Show us where to go next. Show us the next steps in our journey of freedom.
We cry out to you today, O Lord. May you show us the end of the song in Psalms where resurrection and return and renewal are waiting for us. Free us from the traps we’ve put ourselves in. Help us to let go so we can walk hand-in-hand with you.
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 –
Children’s Moment – Anne Cummings
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 – Dan Robinson
Series: Seven Sayings on the Cross
Sermon: “My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken me?” – Rev. Russell Clark
Holy Communion Meditation & Prayer – Dan Robinson
Communion Song –
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 – Dan Robinson
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, March 17, the youth will be playing mini golf from 3-5pm. Joey is on vacation this week but he has been looking for volunteers to make food, for transportation, and to be with the youth as they play golf. You can text Joey or contact the church office.
Next Sunday after church is the DWM meeting.
Even though it is spring break, we will still be having our Wednesday dinner and gathering this week with Revive, followed by bible study and the DMM meeting.
We have our 5th Lent Devotional & Lunch this Thursday starting at 11:30 with the OWESOME Pastor Delbra from Wesley chapel 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 will be continuing our discussion of the Seven Sayings on the Cross next week with “I Thirst”, but until then…
May we see that we don’t have to put on a happy face to be a boy, a girl, a girl scout, a man, a woman, or a Christian. Expressing our true emotion gives others permission to do the same.
We can cry out to God because this isn’t a lack of worship; this is a heartfelt prayer that is worship.
And may we see Jesus crying with us – and directing us to sing the rest of the song.
Amen.
*Girl Scout Benediction Response – Make New Friends