Welcome & Opening Prayer
Good morning church!
I am Russell Clark and I am the senior minister here at Azle Christian Church. For those here in worship and those worshipping with us online, we’re so glad you’re here! May we see who Jesus is and who we are through Jesus 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.
Will you pray with me as we begin this time of worship?
Lord – Through the power of your resurrection and the Holy Spirit you sent to be with us, may we come to understand who we are and the calling you have placed on all of our lives as your disciples this morning. Amen.
May we take a moment before we get started to greet those next to us with a hug or a high five!
Opening Songs: All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name #91
1 All hail the power of Jesus' name!
Let angels prostrate fall.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all!2 O seed of Israel's chosen race
now ransomed from the fall,
hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all.
Hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all!
3 Let every tongue and every tribe
responsive to his call,
to him all majesty ascribe,
and crown him Lord of all.
To him all majesty ascribe,
and crown him Lord of all!
4 Oh, that with all the sacred throng
we at his feet may fall!
We'll join the everlasting song
and crown him Lord of all.
We'll join the everlasting song
and crown him Lord of all.
O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing #5
O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer's praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!
2 My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread thro' all the earth abroad
the honors of your name.
3 Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease,
'tis music in the sinner's ears,
'tis life and health and peace.
4 He breaks the power of cancelled sin,
he sets the prisoner free;
his blood can make the foulest clean;
his blood availed for me.
5 To God all glory, praise, and love
be now and ever given
by saints below and saints above,
the Church in earth and heaven.
Litany of Faith – Dan Robinson
One: Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.”
All: Jesus is the nourishment we need.
One: Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.”
All: Jesus is the light unto our paths.
One: Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd.”
All: Jesus, we will follow you.
One: Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.”
All: Jesus, you are the source of our new life.
One: Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
All: Jesus, you are everything.
One: Jesus said, “I am the true vine.”
All: We are the branches. We will remain in you, and bear your fruit as your disciples. Amen.
Scripture Meditation – Matthew 16:15-16
““But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”
One: This is the word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
This is the last week for our Questions Jesus Asked sermon series. The questions Jesus asked that we have looked at during this series have helped us reflect on who Jesus is, who God is, who we are, and who we are called to be as disciples.
As Joey helped us reflect on last week, the questions Jesus asked also helped us see how we should treat one another. And how we see God and ourselves shows in how we treat others.
Your image of who God is shows in how you love one another.
And your image of yourself is a reflection of who you believe God to be.
Consider this as we enter our time of prayer and prepare for the sermon this morning.
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord be with you. And Also with you. Let us pray.
God of grace and mercy and love and compassion and glory – may you reveal your character to us so we may live to embody who you are.
Let us serve as you serve.
Let us forgive as you forgive.
Let us heal as you heal.
Let us pray as you pray.
Let us love as you love.
Lord, will you break down the barriers within ourselves, within our loved ones, within our churches, and within this world that keep us from seeing the path you have for us?
May your justice and mercy be clearly seen in this world, in our church, and in our lives.
Plant the seeds within our hearts and within this church that we might grow to bear fruit through you.
Thank you for the seeds that have been planted around us to show us your beauty and glory. May we become more aware of how you have always been at work in our lives.
Empower our hands to reach out to our neighbors.
Get our feet ready for dancing in the streets to the glory of your name.
Help us to see your children all around us as you see us.
Give us grace glasses to see ourselves in the mirror with such great affection as you see us.
Let us feel deeply in our hearts how you look at us – all of us – and smile.
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 Messiah by Chris Tomlin
Children’s Moment – Anne Cummings
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 – King of Kings by Hillsong – Jessie Button & Jackson Monroe
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 Series: Questions Jesus Asked
Sermon: “Who do you say I am?” – Rev. Russell Clark
Holy Communion Meditation & Prayer – Dan Robinson
Communion Song – Seed, Scattered and Sown #395
Seed, scattered and sown,
wheat, gathered and grown,
bread, broken and shared as one,
the living Bread of God.
Vine, fruit of the land,
wine, work of our hands,
one cup that is shared by all,
the living Cup, the living Bread of God.
1.
Is not the bread we break, a sharing in our Lord?
Is not the cup we bless, the blood of Christ outpoured?
Refrain
2.
The seed which falls on rock will wither and will die.
The seed within good ground will flower and have life.
Refrain
3.
As wheat upon the hills was gathered and was grown,
So may the church of God be gathered into one.
Refrain
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 – Dan Robinson
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
We welcome Bill & Carol Morgan as new members of Azle Christian Church.
Bill & Carol have quickly become a part of our church family since they started attending our church at the beginning of the year. They came at just the right time when we needed Carol to paint faces at our block party, and what an OWESOME job she did. We are very excited to have them join our church today, as I know they will be vital to the ministry here at ACC!
In your bulletin is our congregation response or it is printed on our screen.
Reaffirming our own faith in Jesus the Christ,
We gladly welcome you into this community of faith,
Enfolding you with our love
And committing ourselves to your care.
In the power of God’s Spirit
Let us mutually encourage each other to trust God
and strengthen one another to serve others,
that Christ’s church may in all things stand faithful.
Welcome Bill & Carol to our church family!
*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 and you can find our calendar in the insert in your bulletin, as well as our prayer concerns and information about my new sermon series, Mosaic Faith, starting next Sunday.
You will notice that Wednesday evenings look a little different now for May and heading into summer. Revive UMC is still working out what they are doing for the summer, but we will still have our Wednesday dinners. However, we will no longer have bible studies on Wednesday night. We decided to focus on bible & beer as our bible study once a month on Sundays, at least through August.
On the 1st & 3rd Wednesdays we will have leadership meetings after dinner. And on the 2nd, 4th, & 5th Wednesdays we will have game night after dinner.
The youth are in the process of deciding what they want to do on Sundays & Wednesdays during May & the summer so speak with Joey if you’d like about that.
I will be continuing prayer walks on Tuesdays at 9:30am in Central Park in May. We’ve been enjoying this time of walking and sharing our lives and praying for one another. We’d love to have more people join us too!
This Saturday, May the 4th (be with you) is the DWM Spring Tea from 2-4pm. All ladies are encourage to join this special event! You can speak with Elizabeth or Beverly Robinson for more information.
Next Sunday, wear your ACC shirts and join us for tacos and fellowship at Main Street Tacos at 5pm for Holy Guacamole. It is Cinco De Mayo and they might be busy but that’s what we’re hoping for so the community sees us in our shirts and we make our presence known!
Again, be sure to check our calendar in your bulletin and add it to your personal google calendar from our new website – www.azlechristian.faith.
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 in spirit to receive this benediction?
Next week we are starting an important new series called Mosaic Faith. This series will be about breaking apart, or deconstructing, some ideas we have been taught and reconstructing hopefully a more strengthened, invigorated faith. The idea of Mosaic is it’s an artwork of broken pieces that create something beautiful, which is what I hope for all of us during this series.
I strongly encourage you to invite someone who has left the church or has questions about God and church to attend this series with us starting next Sunday, or at the very least follow to follow our series online through Facebook live or our podcast.
I want you all and everyone who might join us to know not who they are NOT, but to live into the reality of who they ARE in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Amen.
*BENEDICTION RESPONSE - Spirit Song #352
O let the son of God enfold you with His spirit and His love, let Him fill your heart and satisfy your soul. O let him have the things that hold you and his spirit like a dove will descend upon your life and make you whole. Jesus O Jesus come and fill your lambs.