Welcome & Opening Prayer – Rev. Russell Clark
Good morning church!
I am Russell Clark and I am the senior pastor at Azle Christian Church. It’s great to be back after a relaxing and rejuvenating vacation! Thanks to Joey and Beverly and everyone who filled in for me while I was gone!
If you are new to our church, there is information in your bulletin about filling out the attendance registration and getting connected with us, about how we love our kids here and we have space in the back for them to move around or our nursery if needed, and how to find our liturgy on our website.
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May we open up our time of worship with a prayer:
Lord, May we take this time to pause and breathe and meditate. And may this time of worship teach us to regularly rest and reflect on who you call us to be every day of our lives. Amen.
Opening Songs:
Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
Just to take Him at His Word
Just to rest upon His promise
Just to know, "Thus saith the Lord"
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus
Oh, for grace to trust Him more
I'm so glad I learned to trust Him
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend
And I know that He is with me
Will be with me to the end
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus
Oh, for grace to trust Him more
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus
Oh, for grace to trust Him more
Oh, for grace to trust Him more
Trust in God - Elevation Worship
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
He's been my fourth man in the fire, time after time
Born of His spirit, and washed in His blood
And what He did for me on Calvary is more than enough
I trust in God, my savior
The one who will never fail
He will never fail
Perfect submission, all is at rest
I know the author of tomorrow has ordered my steps
So this is my story, and this is my song
Oh, I'm praising my risen King and savior all the day long
I trust in God, my savior
The one who will never fail
He will never fail
I trust in God, my savior
The one who will never fail
He will never fail
I sought the Lord and He heard, and He answered
I sought the Lord and He heard, and He answered
I sought the Lord and He heard, and He answered
That's why I trust Him, that's why I trust Him
I sought the Lord and He heard, and He answered
I sought the Lord and He heard, and He answered
I sought the Lord and He heard, and He answered
That's why I trust Him, that's why I trust in-
God, my savior
The one who will never fail
He will never fail (that's why I trust Him, that's why I trust in-)
God, my savior
The one, the one who will never fail
He will never fail (that's why I trust Him, that's why I trust in-)
God
Whoa-oh-oh (that's why I trust Him, that's why I trust in-)
Yes, I trust in God
Litany of Faith – Chris Piercy
One: Let us unplug ourselves – from the world, from our worries, from our stress, from our busy-ness, from doing and moving and going.
All: Let us unplug so we can recharge and refocus who we are as disciples.
One: Jesus encouraged his disciples to prioritize rest and retreat as ways to recharge our mind, bodies, and souls.
All: Let us stop to breathe and care for ourselves so when we return we will be better equipped to care for one another. Amen.
Scripture Meditation – Mark 6:30-32
“The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.”
One: This is the word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
How many of you know what it’s like to be like the disciples in this scripture passage?
You want to tell your master or your boss or co-worker all about your day and how it went.
How many of you come home and spill your guts to your spouse or call up your friend to tell them how your day went?
How many of you know what it’s like to be working so hard that you forget to stop and eat your meal as the disciples did?
We often work ourselves to death that we forget to eat, to rest, to breathe, to retreat.
We serve a God who rested on the seventh day. We serve a master who didn’t forget to rest. We serve a master who told his disciples to rest and retreat away from all that they are doing.
Taking care of yourself, Jesus knew, is the only way you can care for others.
Rest and retreat is an essential part of our lives.
We’ll be talking about this more when we get to the sermon. Let us think about this as we enter our time of prayer…
Time of Prayer & Reflection –
One: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Let us pray.
God of Shalom and Peace, Who brings wholeness to our shattered lives,
We pray for our campers this week, Alison and Rose, that they would have a blessed time at camp connecting with their counselors and fellow campers and that they would grow closer to you this week and your love and purpose for their lives.
We pray for the marginalized and broken in our society, that they would know how deeply they are loved by you, God, and how there is a place for everyone here at Azle Christian Church. We ask for your forgiveness for the times we have been uneducated and unaware of how to reach those in the trenches. As this month commemorates Pride Month, Juneteenth, and Men’s Mental Health Awareness, may you continue to empower those who feel empty and bring your healing and wholeness to those who need it, and continue to break the chains of injustice and oppression so all persons may be free. Teach us how to pursue your justice and freedom so all persons may know of your deep, extravagant love and grace.
We serve a God who has liberated His people and who continues to liberate us daily from sin and shattered lives. Restore us, O Lord, by your grace and mercy that we might see ourselves and our lives more clearly.
Teach us how to breathe and take a break from our busy lives. Give us space to retreat and rest and recharge so we may be ready to resurrect new life into our church and community. Restore our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls so we may see clearly where you are guiding us to go next.
Unplug us from our day-to-day lives so we can be recharged by you.
Thank you for freeing us to live free lives where we can know who we are and who we are called to be.
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 –
Jesus, the very thought of thee
with sweetness fills the breast;
but sweeter far thy face to see,
and in thy presence rest.
2 O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
to those who fall, how kind thou art!
How good to those who seek!
3 But what to those who find? Ah, this
nor tongue nor pen can show;
the love of Jesus, what it is,
none but his loved ones know.
4 Jesus, our only joy be thou,
as thou our prize wilt be;
Jesus, be thou our glory now,
and through eternity.
Children’s Moment – Dan Robinson
Sharing Our Resources
At this time may we give all of ourselves to God –
We give our time to love one another and show mercy to those who need it and sitting with one another in our mess.
We give our talents by creating something new to make the world a little brighter.
We give financially to help the ministries of our church serving our community.
We give prayerfully by lifting up prayers for our family and church family and community.
We give by laying down our bodies to serve the body of Christ – to love and serve one another in the way God has called each of us to live. Amen.
Anthem – Washed by the Water - NEEDTOBREATHE
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 – Chris Piercy
Series: Unplugging: Prioritizing Self-Care
Sermon: Recharging – Rev. Russell Clark
Holy Communion Meditation & Prayer – Chris Piercy
Communion Song –
Oh Lord, my God
When I, in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
And when I think that God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration
And then proclaim, my God, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
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 – Chris Piercy
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 –
Please check your bulletin for our weekly activities and calendar of upcoming events this summer and transfer these dates to your personal calendars.
In two weeks, we will have a church cookout after church on July 7 so save that date.
Next Sunday we will have a Youth Lake Day from 3-5pm at the Williams’ home for all youth and their family and friends. Parents are encouraged to attend as we will need adult supervision. This should be a really fun afternoon for youth and their families and friends! You may talk to Joey for more information about the lake day next Sunday.
This Wednesday after our dinner at 5:30pm, we will have game night at 6:30pm and then the VBS planning meeting starting at 7pm.
Tonight is Bible & Beer at 5pm at Rick Seed’s home. Bible & Beer is a laid back time for bible study and open discussions. Rick will be leading the bible study and discussion this evening because I will be at Kennedy’s piano recital. Everyone is encouraged to bring appetizers to share and your beverage of choice. We encourage more adults to join us because we had a really great time and discussion last month.
And don’t forget to be in prayer for our campers, Alison and Rose this week, and we wish them traveling mercies to and from camp, as well.
Will you please rise in body and spirit to receive the benediction?
Next week we will continue our discussion on self-care and unplugging our lives to hear the voice of God.
Until next week,
Take time every day this week to stop and breathe. Realize how rest and retreat are an essential aspect to your everyday lives so you can live better, fuller lives as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
*Benediction Response –
1 There is a place of quiet rest,
near to the heart of God,
a place where sin cannot molest,
near to the heart of God.
Refrain:
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
sent from the heart of God,
hold us, who wait before thee,
near to the heart of God.
2 There is a place of comfort sweet,
near to the heart of God,
a place where we our Savior meet,
near to the heart of God. [Refrain]
3 There is a place of full release,
near to the heart of God,
a place where all is joy and peace,
near to the heart of God. [Refrain]