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 we prepare ourselves to hear the good news God has for us 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 hear your good word for us that takes us from death to life, from brokenness to wholeness, and from the dump to heaven here on earth today and forevermore. Amen.

May we take a moment before we get started to greet those next to us with a hug or high five.

Opening Songs:

This is Amazing Grace

Who breaks the power of sin and darkness?

Whose love is mighty and so much stronger?

The King of glory, the King above all kings

Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder?

And leaves us breathless in awe and wonder?

The King of glory, the King above all kings

This is amazing grace

This is unfailing love

That You would take my place

That You would bear my cross

You laid down Your life

That I would be set free

Oh, Jesus, I sing for

All that You've done for me

Who brings our chaos back into order?

Who makes the orphans a son and daughter?

The King of glory, the King of glory

Who rules the nations with truth and justice

Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance

The King of glory, the King above all kings

This is amazing grace

This is unfailing love

That You would take my place

That You would bear my cross

You laid down Your life

That I would be set free

Oh, Jesus, I sing for

All that You've done for me

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

Worthy is the King who conquered the grave

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

Worthy is the King who conquered the grave

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

Worthy is the King who conquered the grave

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

Worthy, worthy, worthy

This is amazing grace

This is unfailing love

That You would take my place

That You would bear my cross

You laid down Your life

That I would be set free

Oh, Jesus, I sing for

All that You've done for me

Spirit, Spirit of gentleness,

blow through the wilderness calling and free,

Spirit, Spirit of restlessness,

stir me from placidness,

wind, wind on the sea.

1 You moved on the waters,

you called to the deep,

then you coaxed up the mountains

from the valleys of sleep;

and over the eons you called to each thing:

""Awake from your slumbers

and rise on your wings.""

2 You swept through the desert,

you stung with the sand,

and you goaded your people with a law and a land;

and when they were blinded

with idols and lies,

then you spoke through your prophets

to open their eyes.

3 You sang in a stable,

you cried from a hill,

then you whispered in silence

when the whole world was still;

and down in the city

you called once again,

when you blew through your people

on the rush of the wind.

4 You call from tomorrow,

you break ancient schemes.

From the bondage of sorrow

all the captives dream dreams;

our women see visions,

our men clear their eyes.

With bold new decisions

your people arise.

Litany of Faith – Dora McDonald

One: Let us all come together at the calling of our Lord. Let God raise up a people by His Word.

All: With glad hearts and humble spirits, our communion is restored. Let us kneel before the Savior we adore.

One: For, He, who was broken, has made a new day. With heavenly hosts, let us proclaim:

All: Praises be to God, our King! Praise to God, who gives us all good things! Men, women, and angels will sing, “Hallelujah never ending!”

One: Let us go forth in worship. Let us go forth in grace. Let us take to the nations a saving face.

All: Let us show the world God’s mercy. Let us be the salt and light. Let us serve God together, unified. Amen.

Scripture Meditation – 2 Timothy 1:8b-10 (The Message)

“We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it. But we know it now. Since the appearance of our Savior, nothing could be plainer: death defeated, life vindicated in a steady blaze of light, all through the work of Jesus.”

One: This is the word of God for the people of God.

All: Thanks be to God.

We are concluding our Love Wins sermon series this morning. I wish that I could have bottled up our discussion at Bible & Beer last Sunday for all of you to hear this morning. We had a really great discussion about the questions we’ve asked during this sermon series.

When Joey (our new youth minister, who I will introduce in a few minutes) – When Joey and I were leaving Bible & Beer, he said, “I wonder if they realize how unique is it to be able to have a discussion like that with a church group.”

I said, “I know, man, it’s so freeing to be at a church like this!”

This sermon series has proven to me once again that asking the tough questions is essential to our faith and our spiritual growth.

We have been called by Jesus to be his disciples, his followers, who share a good word about his love and grace in ways that are freeing and unique and empowering and inclusive. What a joy it is to be a church like this who encourages true spiritual growth no matter who you are or where you are in your life!

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 all creation – We pray for our world. Where there is war, may you bring peace. Where there is conflict, may you bring unity.

We pray for our nation. May we stand out in our country as those who seek to show love, grace, and understand those different than us. Help us to not get caught up in conversations that seek to make an enemy out of our brothers and sisters.

We pray for our community. May we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and find shelter for the homeless in our community. May we be your hands and feet to meet the needs of those we meet.

We pray for our families. May we prioritize our loved ones in our busy lives. May we reach out to those family members who need love and care. May we show your children they are loved deeply.

We pray for our church. May you guide us in this place to be your disciples. Teach us new ways to grow in our faith and as we serve each other, our families, our community, our nation, and our world.

We pray for ourselves. May we take time to sit and breathe and reflect on your calling in our lives. May we pause each day to hear your new word for us. May we take care of ourselves so we are nourished and renewed to care for others.

We pray for our faith. May we learn more of who you are, Lord, and may we be your disciples and follow you wherever you send us next.

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 –

We fall down

We lay our crowns

At the feet of Jesus

The greatness of

Mercy and love

At the feet of Jesus

And we cry holy, holy, holy

We cry holy, holy, holy

Is the lamb

We fall down

We lay our crowns

At the feet of Jesus

The greatness of

Your mercy and love

At the feet of Jesus

And we cry holy, holy, holy

We cry holy, holy, holy

Is the lamb

And we cry holy, holy, holy

We cry holy, holy, holy

Is the lamb

We cry holy, holy, holy

Is the lamb

Children’s Moment – Sheila Foster

Introduction of New Youth Minister, Joey Garcia

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 – Getting Started by Jeremy Camp – Kennedy Clark

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 – Dora McDonald

Series: Love Wins: Heaven, Hell, & The Fate of Every Person

Sermon: The Good News is Better Than That – Rev. Russell Clark

Holy Communion Meditation & Prayer – Dora McDonald

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 – Dora McDonald

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 Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, a day we remember our own mortality as we begin the season of Lent. We will have a pancake dinner at 6pm followed by a special worship service with Revive United Methodist at 7pm.

This Thursday is the first week of our Lent Devotionals & Lunch. This week our Regional Minister, Rev. Andy Mangum, will be giving the devotional at 11:30 in the Heritage Chapel followed by lunch directly afterwards.

Next Sunday the Disciples Women’s Ministry will have a meeting after church.

Also, next Sunday the Youth will have a game night from 3-5:30pm. Come meet your new youth minister, Joey, eat some pizza, and we will have multiple video game consoles set up for a fun game night!

Again, be sure to check our calendar to see everything that’s coming up this 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?

Next week we will be starting a new sermon series for lent on Jesus’ seven sayings while he was on the cross. And join us this Wednesday for our Ash Wednesday Service with Revive UMC. Until then…

May you express the good news of our great God in ways you never have before.

May you live in a way that expresses the love and grace that has become lost in our culture & community.

Let us live out this love and share this good news of grace until the whole world can see…

Heaven is here on earth. Jesus has returned with us.

For, LOVE. WINS.

Amen.

*Benediction Response –