Welcome & Opening Prayer
Good morning church!
I am Russell Clark and I am the senior pastor here at Azle Christian Church. May everyone here in this room and those joining us online know they are deeply loved by God and they are enthusiastically loved by the people here at this church!
We like for everyone to know a few things before we begin worship every week.
(1) First, if everyone will fill out the attendance registration. If you’re a guest at our church, sharing your names will help us to get to know you more. Sharing your e-mail will help us connect you with our weekly newsletter and all the church happenings. There are brochures with more info about our church in your pew to help you get to know us more and what we’re about. And there is also information about getting connected on the back of 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.
The Alpha and The Omega, The Beginning and The End, throughout all time, you have been there telling your story in new ways throughout the ages. May this generation of your church in this time and place be inspired to be the church your people need TODAY. 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
O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing #5
Litany of Faith – Dan Robinson
One: The Spirit of the Lord is upon us.
All: We have been anointed to proclaim good news to the poor.
One: God has sent us to proclaim freedom for the prisoners.
All: We have been sent to recover sight for the blind.
One: We shall set the oppressed free.
All: It is time for us to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor!
(from Luke 4:18-19)
Scripture Meditation 1 Corinthians 12:27 – Rev. Russell Clark
“You are Christ’s body – that’s who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your “part” mean anything.” (The Message Bible)
One: This is the word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
This week we will continue talking about restoring our faith in new ways & being a new generation of God’s church. This is inspired by a book called The Next Christians by Gabe Lyons.
As we prepare for Advent next week, how is God preparing us for the coming of the Christ Child to this earth? How God is bringing Christ to us – even now – today? How can we bring Christ to our culture in new ways today?
We’ll be talking about this more when we get to the sermon. For now let us reflect on this as we enter our time of prayer.
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord be with you. And Also with you. Let us pray.
Lord, during this busy season, may you calm our hearts and slow things down for us. Help us to focus on what really matters. It’s not our anxiety or our to-do lists or the events we have coming up. It’s stopping to listen to you. It’s breathing. It’s being still.
We confess that we have not loved you with our full hearts and we have been consumed by the sin of busyness.
Help us to be still and know you are our God. Help us to listen for the cries of the Christ child in our midst. Help us to listen to the needs of those in our community and in our lives. Help us to speak new life in to those who need it and to stop and listen to those who simply need our presence.
As you have come near to be with us, O Lord, help us to be your hands and feet to be near to those who need your loving and healing presence during this season. You are our strength when we are weak, you are the great Healer of broken relationships and illnesses and trauma. Thank you for redemption, reconciliation, restoration, and resurrection!
Restore us to be a new generation of disciples for your church and your world today.
And 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 – The Gift of Love #526
Children’s Moment
Stewardship Moment – “How Our Church Changes Lives” – Sheila Foster
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 final song. You can also put in a prayer request card or information card in the plate.
There is a Thanksgiving envelope in your bulletin to make a donation to the Disciples mission fund.
Anthem – How Beautiful – Twila Paris
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
Sermon – “The Next Christians: Bridging the Generational Gap” – Rev. Russell Clark
COMMUNION MEDITATION
SONG – Great is Thy Faithfulness #86
COMMUNION WORDS OF INSTITUTION
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:
You can find information about our weekly activities, such as Sunday School, our Ukulele Group, our Wednesday dinner and bible study, and our prayer group, on the back of your bulletin or on our website. Our calendar is found in the insert of your bulletin so you can transfer that to your personal calendars – or you can also add our calendar to your google calendar through our website.
This Wednesday we will have game night following our dinner & bible study.
Next Sunday, we will have our special hanging of the greens to kick off Advent during worship.
After worship next Sunday, the DWM will have their Christmas party.
And the youth will have their final game & craft night at 4:30pm to get ready for the upcoming winter craft fair on December 9.
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. Receive this blessing:
May we be a generation that shares the love and grace and healing of Christ in new, real, meaningful ways today. May we prepare for the Christ child to be present with us and with the world during this upcoming Advent season. Amen.
** BENEDICTION RESPONSE – Spirit #249