I am Russell Clark and I am the pastor here at Azle Christian Church. This morning I want to invite you all to release your anger and anxiety you’ve been holding onto this week and seek forgiveness and reconciliation with your brother and sister.

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

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.

May we stop for a moment and breathe… May we breathe in God’s peace and serenity and wholeness…and breathe out that which separates us from God and release the tension we’ve held onto this week.

God of shalom – Bring your wholeness and completeness to our lives so we may live full lives with all our loved ones. Reunite our community in your love and forgiveness this morning. Amen.

Come Christians Join To Sing

Come, Christians, join to sing

Alleluia! Amen!

Loud praise to Christ our King;

Alleluia! Amen!

Let all, with heart and voice,

Before His throne rejoice;

Praise is His gracious choice;

Alleluia! Amen!

Come, lift your hearts on high,

Alleluia! Amen!

Let praises fill the sky;

Alleluia! Amen!

He is our Guide and Friend;

To us He’ll condescend;

His love shall never end;

Alleluia! Amen!

Praise yet our Christ again,

Alleluia! Amen!

Life shall not end the strain;

Alleluia! Amen!

On heaven’s blissful shore,

His goodness we’ll adore,

Singing forevermore,

“Alleluia! Amen!”

Litany of Faith** – Nancy Robbins

One: Lord, we confess that we have not been true friends to our neighbors.

All: Forgive us, Lord, and show us how to love our neighbor as you have loved us.

One: Lord, we confess that we have not loved our spouses, our children, or our family members with our whole hearts.

All: Forgive us, Lord, and may we seek reconciliation with our loved ones.

One: Lord, we confess that we have not loved you like you desire.

All: Forgive us, Lord, and may we receive your redemption and forgiveness.

Scripture Meditation

Our scripture meditation for today is Matthew 5:21-24:

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca (Idiot)’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire pit of hell. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”

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

All: Thanks be to God.

Today we are continuing our series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and comparing it to themes in Disney films. Today we are talking about this scripture passage as it relates to the Disney film, Encanto.

We saw Encanto in the movie theater for Reagan’s 3rd birthday and it’s become a family favorite ever since. Kennedy loves Lin Manuel-Miranda who did the music for Encanto. “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” has become the #1 song of any Disney film, surpassing even Frozen’s “Let it Go.” I love the message of the film Encanto, and I encourage you all to see it if you haven’t yet because it was the first inspiration to do this sermon series. I’ll try to guide you through the theme of the film in my sermon, and why I think it is such an important message.

Forgiveness and reconciliation are essential to our faith, as it is with many religions. But forgiveness and reconciliation can also be the hardest thing we ever have to do.

Let us reflect on this as we prepare for the sermon and our time of prayer:

Pastoral Prayer

The Lord be with you. And Also with you. Let us pray.

God of peace – Soften our hearts to those we have shut off in our lives. Teach us how to understand those we have had disagreements with and where reconciliation is possible move us to leave this place and seek to reunite with a loved one we’ve missed.

Where reconciliation is not possible, may you lead us to seek forgiveness so we may find peace from the pain we’ve held on to for too long. For the toxic relationships we must avoid, help us find healing and to no longer give those persons control over our lives. Release us from the anxiety of listening to the wrong voices and may we hear your voice telling us who we truly are.

For where we have failed to love you or our loved one, please forgive us. Show us your love and your ways so we may love others how you wish for us too.

Thank you for dying on the cross for us to show us your forgiveness of our sins. Thank you for rising again to show us you have the power over our mistakes and hang-ups and broken promises. Restore us by the redemption of our sins to live a new life where healing is possible and reconciliation and grace are shown in ways we never knew was possible.

Give us the new life only you can bring, Lord. Show us the kind of love you desire, where our relationships build a family that comes only from you. Where joy and peace and wholeness and light are seen even on our toughest days.

And 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.

Come Share The Lord

We gather here in Jesus' name

His love is burning in our hearts like living flame

For through His loving Son the Father makes us one

Come take the bread come drink the wine

Come share the Lord

No one is a stranger here,

everyone belongs;

finding our forgiveness here,

we in turn forgive all wrongs.

He joins us here He breaks the bread

The Lord who pours the cup is risen from the dead

The One we love the most is now our gracious host

Come take the bread come drink the wine

Come share the Lord

We are now a family

of which the Lord is head;

though unseen he meets us here

in the breaking of the bread.

We'll gather soon where angels sing

We'll see the glory of our Lord and coming King

Now we anticipate the feast for which we wait

Come take the bread come drink the wine

Come share the Lord

Children’s Moment

Forgiven - by Crowder

The Sermon on the Mouse

Exploring Jesus’ Teachings Found in Disney Films

“We Don’t Talk About Bruno”

In the Jewish religion, if you kneel down to pray, but you have a grievance against your brother and sister, you must leave and go to them first and ask for forgiveness before you can kneel to pray.

Not only that, but if they don’t accept your forgiveness then you must go get another family member and ask for forgiveness again.

And then if they still don’t accept your forgiveness you go and get more family members to join you and you ask for forgiveness again with your village present.

And then if they still don’t accept your forgiveness you may forgive them in your heart knowing that you have done everything to seek reconciliation.

Jesus was Jewish so he would have known these practices when he said that you cannot make your gift at the altar until you have gone to reconcile things with your brother or sister.

I recommend seeing the new film on Netflix called “You’re So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah.”

It’s a modern example of what reconciliation can look like that transcends the Jewish religion that can be a universal illustration of what Jesus meant to reconcile things with someone we have hurt them.

It’s also a big part of the 12-step program or celebrate recovery to make amends as part of your healing. We can’t properly heal from an addiction or struggle without confessing how we have hurt others and ask for forgiveness.

What’s even harder is forgiving someone who has hurt us. When we’ve been deeply hurt by a close friend or family member, it’s not that easy to forgive.

Those closest to us can know how to cut us deep and the pain and years of abuse are not so easy to just put a band-aid over our scars and move on. It can take therapy and knowing full well that the healthiest way to be in relationship with certain people is not to see them ever again.

Dr. Joretta Marshall – author of “How Can I Forgive?” and professor at Brite Divinity School – says, “It takes just as long to forgive as the time we spent in that relationship.”

The longer we spent with someone who has hurt us, the longer it takes us to forgive them.

The saying goes, “Time heals all wounds.” But sometimes the wounds have been so deep for so long that healing just isn’t that easy.

Forgiveness and Reconciliation are part of the core teachings of Jesus and our church – and also can be the HARDEST for any one of us to follow.

When time heals and reconciliation is possible, I promise it’s worth it.

I’ve seen marriage affairs be reconciled and spouses deciding to continue their marriage and go through counseling and God blessed them with a new, healthier marriage.

I’ve seen divorced couples treat each other with respect and co-parent together without cutting each other down or speaking ill of their ex-spouse and have even enjoyed their blended families together enjoying grandchildren’s birthday parties together.

I’ve seen children reconcile things with their abusive parents after many years of being a part and forgiving them and seeking to move on so their children and grandchildren and cousins can get to know one another.

God is in the business of bringing healing to broken relationships and I’ve seen true transformation happen in real life where no one thought it was possible when God’s people have believed that real forgiveness and reconciliation is possible by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I also know the stories of many of you in this room and I know the pain your brothers and sisters and spouses and parents have caused you. God knows your pain and hears your cries and you’ll never be asked to repair something that can’t be repaired or re-enter a toxic relationship where you were abused or neglected.

The movie the Perks of Being a Wallflower says, “We accept the love we think we deserve.”

You don’t deserve to be in a toxic relationship where you’re constantly being hurt or neglected. You are allowed to walk away from the people who don’t love or respect you, and create boundaries for yourself.

You deserve to create your own family where you are loved the way you deserve. You deserve to be with people who encourage you and lift you up and are a part of your healing. You deserve a family that brings you joy and listens to you.

Where reconciliation is not possible in toxic relationships, may you be reconciled by the power of the Holy Spirit to reclaim how you deserve to be loved!

I really love the movie Encanto and if you haven’t seen it, I highly encourage that you check it out. It is the movie that inspired this entire sermon series.

The movie is centered around The Family Madrigal in Colombia who has been given a “miracle.” They’ve been given special superpowers to help their village. These superpowers become their identity led by their Abuela (their grandmother). Family members have powers like super strength, healing powers, the ability to talk to animals, the ability to hear everything, the ability to make flowers appear, and the ability to control the weather.

Everyone in The Family Madrigal has superpowers…except Mirabel.

Mirabel feels like the black sheep of the family. But she’s not the only black sheep in her family.

Mirabel’s uncle Bruno has the power of prophecy, but he made prophecys the family didn’t like so he was banished from the family home.

“We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is the song by Lin Manuel-Miranda that became the most played Disney song ever.

We all have a Bruno in our family who we don’t talk about because he or she brings too much pain and heartache.

And maybe some of you have felt like Mirabel, where everyone in your family has a super power but you.

Yet what Mirabel learns is that her siblings, Luisa and Isabella, don’t want to be defined by their superpowers.

Luisa is tired of being known by only her strength and she feels so much pressure to use her strength to take care of everyone around the village. She starts to lose her super strength because of being overwhelmed by this anxiety. Can anyone relate to that?

Isabella is tired of making beautiful flowers for everyone to adore. She wants to paint a different kind of landscape with cacti and thorns and a variety of colors that reflect more of her inner personality she has tried to hide. She wants the freedom to be her truer self and make her own choices. And she doesn’t want to marry the boy her Abuela wants her to marry.

When Mirabel learns the truth about her siblings and about Bruno, her family home begins to crumble and tear apart, which makes her Abuela believe Mirabel is to blame for this destruction.

We see the destruction of their “miracle” and their family home in this clip as Abuela and Mirabel argue:

https://youtu.be/ta31VGaVHrY?si=1W4Gd6teZAFEi9Zp

Often the arguments we have between our family members are a misunderstanding that grow into anger and into bitterness and cracks and into hurt that eventually break up relationships and destroy our family home.

Mirabel says to her Abuela: “I will never be good enough for you…no matter how hard I try, no matter how hard any of us try.” This act of “holy disobedience” is a powerful moment of Mirabel standing up to her grandmother to say what needs to be said.

When Jesus talks about not becoming angry, I think he’s talking about what stews hatred in our hearts. But Jesus was angry when he saw a church being turned into a marketplace. Jesus was angry with the disciples when they fell asleep instead of keeping watch.

Anger can be used for change and standing up for what’s right and breaking a cycle of neglect or abuse. Anger can be used to tell those voices that tell you that “you are not worthy to be loved” to sit down and shut up!

I once went to talk to Dr. Brian Feille, who many of you know because his wife, Laurie, was the pastor here…

I told Dr. Feille how angry I was about a situation and how I couldn’t get rid of my anger and move on.

Dr. Feille said, “Russell, you have every right to be angry. This person threatened your livelihood, your marriage, your ministry, your calling, your life. You should be angry.”

That was the first time someone told me it was okay to be angry. So, I’m telling you…it’s okay to be angry.

It’s okay to stand up for yourself and break the cycle of hurt and pain and injustice and to ONLY accept the unconditional love that YOU DESERVE.

You deserve love and respect. And you do whatever it takes to get to that healthy place where you and your family are treated the way you are meant to be treated.

After Mirabel’s argument with her Abuela, what happens next to The Family Madrigal Home is what happens to many of our homes after a climatic argument: the miracle light was extinguished and their home was reduced to rubble.

Some of you can relate all too well to seeing your family home being reduced to rubble and ash.

The movie could have ended there…and that would be a pretty terrible ending.

What happens next, though, is my hope for all of you.

Abuela has a change of heart. She returns to Mirabel in an act of reconciliation and she admits she was wrong.

Abuela says to Mirabel that she was trying to hold onto this miracle for their family, but, she says:

“The miracle is you. Just you.”

The miracle was never their superpowers. The miracle was the love that brought this family together. The miracle of their grandfather before them who sacrificed himself for their family.

What Mirabel had done was show this family what truly matters – not your gifts and what you do for the family – but simply being loved for who you are.

What happens next is Bruno returns to his family and they are able to hug and welcome him like the prodigal son back into their family.

But they have lost their home.

Then the village shows up to help build them a new family home; to care for this family as they have taken care of them.

What Mirabel realizes is her superpower – in a sense – is that she is the glue that holds her family together.

Today is World Communion Sunday. It’s a reminder that God’s family is much wider than our own home. It’s a vast family of diverse people and colors who are united to share this light, this miracle of Christ that unites us to love and care for one another.

Like The Family Madrigal, we all have different gifts. Some of us are Bruno, some are Mirabel, some are Luisa, some are Isabella. But we all are a part of this family and this village that is glued back together by the forgiveness of our sins by Jesus on the cross and the resurrection and restoration to be God’s children in God’s house.

If your family has not welcomed you back into their home, then this is your home now. We are your brothers and sisters. And we will only allow you to accept the love that you deserve. You deserve this unconditional love that surpasses our own understanding. You deserve healing from the broken relationships in your lives and the forgiveness to let go that which has hurt you and be free to live a new life in Jesus Christ.

You no longer have to hold onto to the words and scars and broken home that keeps you from living in the freedom of God.

Right now, as we prepare to take communion together, may you lay your burdens at the feet of Jesus.

Jesus died to show us that there is nothing we could ever do to make God love you less. You are forgiven and free. This freedom is yours. This forgiveness is yours today.

Lord, for those who have held onto anger for too long, may you take it from them…

Lord, for those who have been hurt by the ones who were supposed to love them, may you take their pain away…

Lord, for those who have hurt others, will you forgive them and help them to seek reconciliation where reconciliation is possible…

Lord, for the hurtful words we have spoken in anger, may we seek forgiveness and reconciliation where reconciliation is possible…

Lord, restore us to be a new creation in the way only you can…

Lord, for the misunderstandings that escalated into broken, destroyed homes and relationships, may you create something new from our rubble…

Lord, may you show us our true family who loves us into being, who gives us the spirit to know we can be anyone we can be, and we’ll be loved no matter who we become.

And Lord, for those of us who still need more time to heal, may you love us still as we process our grief and hurt…

Remind us this day of the new, restored home that is waiting for us.

Remind us this day of the lives transformed by your grace.

Remind us this day of the love that is more than we deserve but it is ours to claim.

Remind us who we are – that we are dearly beloved children of God.

The miracle is you. Just you.

If you’re the family member who puts all the pressure on yourself, it’s ok to cut yourself some slack.

If you’re the family member who thinks you have to be what everyone tells you to be, you can be free to be your true self.

If you’re the family member who doesn’t know your place yet in the world, that’s okay too.

The miracle is you. Just you.

Now it’s okay to talk about Bruno.

Amen.

When I Survey The Wondrous Cross

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of Glory died

My richest gain I count but loss

And pour contempt on all my pride

Forbid it Lord the I should boast

Save in the death of Christ my God

All the vain things that charm me most

I sacrifice them to His blood

Were the whole realm of nature mine

That were a tribute far too small

Love so amazing so divine

Demands my soul my life my all

Love so amazing so divine

Demands my soul my life my all

COMMUNION

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.

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 of events is found in the insert of your bulletin so you can transfer that to your personal calendars.

Some updates to two of our Sunday School classes.

The Parlor Sunday School class (which if you’re new meets in the room labeled Journey) is starting a new study called Animate Faith and it’s a 7 week video series including leaders like Brian McLaren and Nadia Bolz-Weber.

The Youth Sunday School class will now be led by Harold Williams and the youth will be staring a new series called “The Bible in 50 Words.”

The Memorial Service for a beloved church member, John Pastre, will be this Saturday at 11am, with lunch to follow.

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.

Susie/Dan – We will have a Congregational Meeting October 8th following church service to vote on a recommendation from the Board. The Search and Call Committee has recommended Russell Clark for our Standing Minister, and the Board/Leadership team agrees with the recommendation from the committee. Please plan to be here for this important meeting.

BENEDICTION:

Please rise in body and spirit for the benediction, the final song, and the doxology. Receive this blessing:

Next week we will be continuing our series talking about Jesus’ words on “loving our enemies” through the lens of the classic Disney film, Beauty & The Beast.

Until next week……..

May we seek forgiveness however it is possible for you.

May you be renewed through reconciliation however it is possible for you.

May you release the anger you’ve been holding onto and find shalom – find wholeness and completeness and healing and peace to start a new day with your brothers and sisters.

Amen.

How Great Is Our God

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

The Godhead Three in One

Father Spirit Son

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

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