Welcome & Opening Prayer
Good morning church!
I am Russell Clark and I am the senior minister here at Azle Christian Church. We’re so thrilled you all are here with us in worship – both here in the sanctuary and online! May God’s will be done in our lives here on earth as it is in heaven 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.
(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 see more of who you truly are today, Lord, as we set our hearts towards you. Amen.
May we take a moment before we get started to greet those next to us with a hug or high five.
Opening Songs:
God be the glory, great things He hath done,
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life our redemption to win,
And opened the life-gate that all may go in.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice;
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory; great things He hath done.
2
Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
3
Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport when Jesus we see.
When The Saints Go Marching In
I am just a weary pilgrim traveling through this world of sin
I’m getting ready for that city when the saints go marching in
Oh when the saints go marching in
Oh when the saints go marching in
O Lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in
I am waiting for that chariot to swing down and I’ll step in
On the clouds I’ll ride to glory when the saints go marching in
Oh when the saints go marching in
Oh when the saints go marching in
O Lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in
Oh I know I’ll meet the Savior if my llife is free from sin
With open arms He waits to greet me when the saints go marching in
Oh when the saints go marching in
Oh when the saints go marching in
O Lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in
Litany of Faith – Rick Seeds
One: All things bright show how you beautiful you are.
All: God of heaven come down!
One: All things wise show how wonderful you are.
All: God of heaven come down!
One: Even in our darkness, you will rise.
All: God of heaven come down!
One: All things new show how we can start again.
All: God of heaven come down!
One: You, Creator God, have called us your friend.
All: God of heaven come down!
One: We sing praises from our souls. For just to know you are near is enough.
All: God of heaven come down!
Scripture Meditation Revelation 21:3 – Rev. Russell Clark
“God’s dwelling place is now among the people.”
One: This is the word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
The past two weeks we have been discussing heaven, hell, & the fate of every person, and asking the tough questions we all wrestle with. We like to say we know what happens when we leave this earth but we know very little. What we have discussed so far is not just about what happens after we die, but how we create heaven and we create hell by how we are living NOW on this earth.
Today we will be talking about heaven, specifically, and how God seeks to make “thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.”
What is heaven like? What does Jesus and Scripture say about heaven?
Think about these questions and questions you might have about heaven as we get ready to explore them more in our sermon and enter our time of prayer.
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord be with you. And Also with you. Let us pray.
Our Father, who art in heaven, who came down from heaven to be with us and show us how to live and how to love.
Hallowed be thy name. We praise your holy name – Emmanuel, Messiah, The Word, Redeemer, Savior, Spirit, Friend, Lord, King of Kings, Yahweh, Son of God, Creator, God of Love, Resurrected One, The Light of the World, Jesus.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done. May your kingdom rule in our lives. May your will guide our every move.
On earth as it is in heaven. May heaven start now. May we see your glory and presence all around us. May we “Go to Heaven!” right here and right now.
Give us this day our daily bread. Fill us up with your Word that nourishes our souls and spirits.
Forgive us our debts. As we forgive our debtors. Release the baggage that we are holding onto and those who have wronged us. Free us from the sin and shame and suffering and hell we’ve created. May we let it go now and lay it at your feet.
And lead us not into temptation. Keep us away from that which separates us from you.
But deliver us from evil. Turn us away from the roads that lead to destruction and guide us to where your love and grace and glory reign.
For thine is the kingdom. Not our kingdom but yours!
And the power. Authority in heaven is yours!
And the glory. The glory is yours!
Forever. And ever and ever and ever and ever. May your presence live forever in our hearts and may our lives be transformed daily more and more by knowing you are with us.
Lord, may you bring new meaning to this prayer we pray every week… 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 –
The splendor of a King, clothed in majesty
Let all the Earth rejoice
All the Earth rejoice
He wraps himself in light
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end
The Godhead Three in One
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
Name above all names (how great is our God, sing with me)
Worthy of our praise (how great is our God, and all will see)
My heart will sing
How great is our God
You're the name above all names (how great is our God, sing with me)
You are worthy of our praise (how great is our God, and all will see)
And my heart will sing
How great is our God
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
Children’s Moment – Dan Robinson
Recognition of Elder Emeritus & Deacon Emeritus
If James Cudd, Jan Flavin, Dollene Price, and Lynda “Scottie Scott would stand as you are able, to be recognized as Elder Emeritus,
And we honor the memory of David Woodall as Elder Emeritus and Carolyn Woodall and Harry Dekin as Deacon Emeritus.
We thank you all for your many, many years of faithful service to Azle Christian Church. You will forever be a part of the history of Azle Christian Church. We hope you see the fruit of your obedience to the Lord and this church for many more years to come as our new elders and deacons continue this faithful service for generations to come. (applause)
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 – Rick Seeds
Series: Love Wins: Heaven, Hell, & The Fate of Every Person
Sermon: Heaven – Rev. Russell Clark
Holy Communion Meditation & Prayer – Becky Stults
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 – 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.
Next Sunday, we will have bible & beer at 5pm at ________________’s house. Bible & beer is a laid back time to get together where everyone brings snacks and whatever beverage they like to drink. It does not have to be beer, but it can be beer if you choose. We will be having a discussion centered around our current sermon series and sharing your thoughts on some of the questions that have been asked in this series.
This Wednesday after dinner and bible study we will have game night. Come join us if you love saying “Farkle!”
Directly after worship we will have a lunch to celebrate all of our new members and baptisms from 2023. Everyone is invited & encouraged to attend to welcome our new members to our church family! At lunch, we will have a time for questions about our church or denomination and explain a little more about our new leadership team and what we do and why we do it.
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 for the benediction and receive this blessing?
I don’t know how to encourage you all to come next week to a sermon about hell… But next week we will be looking at hell and how Jesus talked about it and how Jesus takes us away from it. Until then…
Let’s “Go to heaven!”
May the kingdom of heaven be present for you here and now.
May we experience heaven as we have lunch together and celebrate our new members and those who have been baptized, for the lives that our being transformed daily at this church.
May you experience what heaven is like and feel the presence of God more in your lives every second of every day as you partner with God in the ongoing creation of the world.
Heaven starts now. Amen.
*Benediction Response –
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of his Spirit, washed in His blood
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
Perfect submission, perfect delight
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
Praising my Savior all the day long