Welcome & Opening Prayer
Good morning and welcome to our last worship service of 2023! What a year it has been!
Today we will be celebrating all God has done for us this year as we look forward to the hope of tomorrow in 2024!
Thank you to our Disciples Men’s Ministry and all who provided breakfast for this morning! Please continue to enjoy your breakfast as we have a more informal worship service.
Let us pray:
God – Joy to the world! The Lord is here! Be present with us as we celebrate this Christmas season, the end of one year, and the beginning of a new year. Amen.
Opening Songs: Joy to the World #143
We Three Kings #172
Litany of Faith – Rev. Russell Clark
One: As we close out 2023, let us give thanks for all that God has done for us!
All: For new life and love and laughter that has filled our hearts this year, we give thanks!
One: Let the mistakes and pain of yesterday be forgotten so we may start anew tomorrow.
All: Tomorrow is a new day… a new year!
One: May the hope of tomorrow fill our spirits to boldly share God’s love and grace this upcoming year.
All: Let us sing your praises, O Lord, as we wrap up this year! May this song guide us in all we do in 2024! Amen.
Scripture Meditation Colossians 1:3-4 – Rev. Russell Clark
“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all of God’s people.”
One: This is the word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
The Apostle Paul often greets people with this often in his letters.
“I thank my God every time I remember you.”
I’ve heard of some couples having this verse put on the inside of their wedding rings.
It’s important to give thanks and look back on all that God has done and for the people we love in our lives. Sometimes we’re so focused on what we hope comes next that we forget how far we’ve come.
Today is all about remembering and thanking God for the past and the people who have changed our lives in 2023.
I was talking with Helen Womack before Christmas and she said, “I don’t like the phrase, “Forget the past.”” She said, “I understand the sentiment but in the past is my late husband and I don’t want to forget him. I don’t want to forget the special moments I had with him and my children and grandchildren.”
It’s always true that some parts of the year we’d rather forget. But today let us focus on those memories that we want to cherish forever.
During the sermon we will have a time of sharing “Where have you seen God in 2023?”
Be thinking about what you would like to share as we enter our time of prayer.
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord be with you. And Also with you. Let us pray.
God with us – Let us thank you, Lord, for all you have done this year. We have seen new beginnings and tough endings. We have seen new life and tragic deaths. In our grief, comfort us. In our joy, we praise you.
Where we have fallen short, we ask your forgiveness. Where we are content, we thank you. Where we are in need, we ask you to fill us up. No matter our circumstances we give thanks for you, Lord, have been present with us in good times and bad and taught us how to set our eyes and hearts on things above.
Remind us of what truly matters. Let us give thanks for how far we’ve come and look to you to start a new day.
May your glory be seen in the life of Azle Christian Church and may you continually mold us to serve your people in 2024.
Lord, hear us as we pray the prayer your son 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 – Infant Holy, Infant Lowly #163
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 – The First Noel
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 – Rev. Russell Clark
Lord, receive these gifts from our hearts to be used for your service. May everything we have and all that we do be used to magnify you and bring your light to the world. Amen.
Sermon: “A Year in Review”
Discussion: Where Have You Seen God in 2023?
Holy Communion Meditation & Prayer – Rev. Russell Clark
Communion Song – It Came Upon a Midnight Clear #153
We believe Jesus Christ is the gracious host at this table. Everyone is welcome to participate in communion. If you did not get a communion cup, please raise your hand and a deacon will bring one to you. Hold cups until instructed by Elder to take in unison.
Holy Communion Words of Institution – Rev. Russell Clark
INVITATION
If you would like to dedicate your life to Christ or become a member of Azle Christian Church, you may come forward after the benediction or speak with me after worship.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
A few announcements for this week before our benediction:
Our Wednesday dinner and bible study is back this Wednesday, with our Elder meeting afterwards at 7:15pm with our new elders!
This Saturday is our Congregation Vision and Planning Meeting starting at 9am. Everyone is invited to join us as we look ahead to 2024. Jessie will be leading us as what I’ve termed our “Energy Consultant.” We’ll be looking at (1) What are our values?, (2) Where are we going?, and (3) How do we communicate who we are to our community?
February 9 is Night to Shine at the Church at Azle. Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom experience for person with special needs where churches and organizations all over the world host this event at the same time. This is the 2nd year The Edge Church is sponsoring this event in Azle. They are expecting around 100 guests, which means they will need about 200 volunteers. Every volunteer will have to fill out a volunteer/buddy registration form and fill out a background check. I’ve always wanted to be a part of this special, worldwide event so I’m very excited for us to participate. This will be a great opportunity for our church to get together with our community to do something really special.
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:
Please rise in body and spirit for the benediction & the final song.
Next Sunday we will be talking about how “God made you to be OWESOME!” It’s an inspiring message to lift your spirits and pump you up for the new year! Until next Sunday, receive this blessing:
May we close out 2023 seeing the many reasons to be thankful. May 2024 be a blessed year for all of you and may God give you a fresh start to be filled with hope for the upcoming year. I thank God for all of you. Amen.
** BENEDICTION RESPONSE – Go Tell it on a Mountain #167