Welcome & Opening Prayer

Good morning church! Praise God for Alison and her baptism this morning!

I am Jessie Button and I am the worship minister 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! As I like to say to Pastor Russell, “LET’S GROW!!!”

We like for everyone to know a few things before we begin worship every week.

(1) First, if you are new to our church, we want you to see what we are doing and to be a part of our story! There is information in the bulletin about getting connected to our weekly eBlast newsletter or Realm, which is like our church social media. You may also fill out an information card so we can get to know you more and care for you.

(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.

God of all creation – Will you open our eyes to see your beauty all around us? Will you fill us with Your Spirit and Your Story so we may create a new world where your love and grace and goodness are seen more clearly? Create in us a fresh spirit of gratitude, giving thanks for all you have done and will do in our lives. Amen.

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

Opening Songs –

Every move I make

Every move I make, I make in You

You make me move Jesus

Every breath I take, I breathe in You

Every step I take, I take in You

You find my way Jesus

Every breath I take I breathe in You

Every move I make

Every move I make, I make in You

You make me move Jesus

Every breath I take I breathe in You

Every step I take, I take in You

You find my way Jesus

Every breath I take I breathe in You

Waves of mercy

Waves of grace

Everywhere I look

I see your face

Your love has captured me

Oh, my God this love

How can it be?

How can it be, Lord?

Every move

Every move I make, I make in You

You make me move Jesus

Every breath I take I breathe in You

Every step I take, I take in You

You find my way Jesus

Every breath I take I breathe in You

Waves of mercy

Waves of grace

Everywhere I look

I see your face

Your love has captured me

Oh, my God this love

How can it be?

How can it be Lord?

All Creatures of Our God and King

1 All creatures of our God and King,

lift up your voice and with us sing,

"Alleluia! Alleluia!"

Thou burning sun with golden beam,

thou silver moon with softer gleam,

O praise Him, O praise Him!

alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

2 Thou rushing wind that art so strong,

ye clouds that sail in heav'n along,

O praise Him! Alleluia!

Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice,

ye lights of ev'ning, find a voice,

O praise Him, O praise Him!

alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

3 And all ye men of tender heart,

forgiving others, take your part,

O sing ye! Alleluia!

Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,

praise God and on Him cast your care;

O praise Him, O praise Him!

alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

4 Let all things their Creator bless,

and worship Him in humbleness;

O praise Him! Alleluia!

Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,

and praise the Spirit, Three in One;

O praise Him, O praise Him!

alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Litany of Faith – Nancy Robbins

One: God always knows what each person needs.

All: He had Abraham take a walk, Elijah take a nap, Joshua take a lap, and Adam take the rap.

One: He gave Moses a forty-year time out, he gave David a harp and a dance, and he gave Paul a pen and a scroll.

All: God wrestled with Jacob, argued with Job, whispered to Elijah, warned Cain, and comforted Hagar.

One: He gave Aaron an altar, Miriam a song, Gideon a fleece, Peter a name, and Elisha a mantle.

All: Jesus was stern with the rich young ruler, tender with the woman caught in adultery, patient with the disciples, blistering with the scribes, gentle with the children, and gracious with the thief on the cross.

One: God never grows two people the same way. God is a hand-crafter, not a mass-producer. God does not do “one-size-fits-all.”

All: Now, God wants to do a new thing through us.

Scripture Meditation Colossians 3:15-17 – Rose Thomason

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (NIV)

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

All: Thanks be to God.

This week and next week we will be talking about restoring our faith in new ways. This is inspired by a book called The Next Christians by Gabe Lyons.

As we prepare for Thanksgiving this week, how can we be ready to welcome all of God’s children to the table? How can we listen to love those around the table as Jesus would have us do as his disciples?

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.

God of grace – May we welcome all of your children at the table this Thanksgiving. May we set aside our own hopes and dreams and worries and anxieties to be fully present with those we meet at the table this week. May we hear their stories and understand their world better so we can know how to love them more. Let us reach those in our lives in a new way this week, extending your radical hospitality and grace to love them exactly for who they are.

Thank you Lord for another day here on this earth. Thank you for this church where we learn more about who you are and your love for us. Thank you for sending your son to show us how much you love us and for your sacrifice on the cross that shows us you love us still. Thank you for the power of the resurrection giving us new life daily.

Create in us a clean heart, O Lord, as we lay our sins at the feet of the cross. Mold us to live into your glory. May we live refreshed by your Spirit daily to bring about the new creation you desire.

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 –

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He's given

Jesus Christ His Son

[Chorus]

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He's given

Jesus Christ His Son

[Verse]

And now let the weak say I am strong

Let the poor say I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us

And now let the weak say I am strong

Let the poor say I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us

[Chorus]

Give thanks with a grateful heart (With a grateful heart)

Give thanks to the Holy One (To the Holy One)

Give thanks because He's given

Jesus Christ His Son

Children’s Moment

Anthem –

Sermon – “The Next Christians: Creators, Not Critics” – Rev. Russell Clark

COMMUNION MEDITATION

SONG – It only takes a spark to get a fire going,

And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing;

That's how it is with God's Love,

Once you've experienced it,

Your spread the love to everyone

You want to pass it on.

What a wondrous time is spring,

When all the tress are budding

The birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming;

That's how it is with God's love,

Once you've experienced it.

You want to sing, it's fresh like spring,

You want to pass it on.

I wish for you my friend

This happiness that I've found;

You can depend on God

It matters not where you're bound,

I'll shout it from the mountain top - PRAISE GOD!

I want the world to know

The Lord of love has come to me

I want to pass it on.

I'll shout it from the mountain top - PRAISE GOD!

I want the world to know

The Lord of love has come to me

I want to pass it on.

COMMUNION WORDS OF INSTITUTION

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.

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.

The Disciples Women’s Ministry will meet right after worship.

The youth have their 2nd of 3 game and craft nights this afternoon at 4:30pm before their upcoming craft fair on December 9.

There is NO Wednesday gathering this week for Thanksgiving week.

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, and the doxology. Receive this blessing:

May everyone have a blessed Thanksgiving holiday this week. May we love without an agenda or being a critic or a need to get what we want, but may we love with a radical hospitality that creates a world where everyone is truly invited to the table without condition, and listen by God’s abounding grace and deep, deep love. May the peace of Christ rule in our hearts since as members of one body we are called to peace. And be thankful. Amen.

** BENEDICTION RESPONSE –

How lovely is your dwelling place

Oh, Lord Almighty

For my soul longs and even faints for You

For here my heart is satisfied

Within Your presence

I sing beneath the shadow of Your wings

Better is one day in Your courts

Better is one day in Your house

Better is one day in Your courts

Than thousands elsewhere

One thing I ask and I would seek

To see Your beauty

To find You in the place Your glory dwells

One thing I ask and I would seek

To see Your beauty

To find You in the place Your glory dwells

My heart and flesh cry out

For You, the living God

Your Spirit's water to my soul

I've tasted and I've seen

Come once again to me

I will draw near to You

Doxology