Welcome & Opening Prayer – Joey Garcia
Good morning church!
I am Joey Garcia and I am the youth 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 God’s love and healing become a reality in our lives 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 – Even though Easter was a week ago, may the power of your resurrection and the new life found through you continue to transform us today. 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:
1 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!
2 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!
3 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!"
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah they'll know we are Christians by our love
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
Litany of Faith – Becky Stults
One: May our love for one another look more like the unconditional love Jesus has for us.
All: May we live to serve one another and lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
One: May this love bring healing from past pain, freedom to live free lives, and wonder at the transformed life we have now.
All: May we forgive one another as Jesus forgives us. And may we forgive ourselves as Jesus forgives us.
One: May we allow Jesus to stretch our thinking from doubt to faith, from denial to redemption, and from conditional to unconditional love.
All: May this everlasting, unconditional love transform us so we may live as disciples of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Scripture Meditation – John 21:15-17 – Joey Garcia
“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”
One: This is the word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
We are continuing our sermon series – “Questions Jesus asked” – by continuing to walk this journey with the Resurrected Jesus. When Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?,” this is the 3rd time in the Gospel of John that he has appeared to the disciples after he was resurrected.
Pastor Russell will be exploring this question and the disciples journey with Jesus after the resurrection – and what it means for us as disciples today – when we get to the sermon.
For now, let us consider how we would answer Jesus’ question, “Do you love me?” as we enter our time of prayer.
Pastoral Prayer – Joey Garcia
The Lord be with you. And Also with you. Let us pray.
Lord, it’s hard for us sometimes to receive your grace & forgiveness. It’s even harder to show this grace and forgiveness to one another.
Where we have failed to show grace, we’re sorry.
Help us to be more like you. Help us to love by serving one another as you did for us. Help us to care by sacrificing ourselves to meet the needs of others. Help us to bring healing and transformation to the lives of others by first receiving this healing and transformation in our own lives.
Your grace has the power to heal us from past mistakes. Your love gives us the hope and strength to move forward in a new day. The power of your resurrection resides in us and gives us the freedom of a new life (that starts today)!
We thank you for this amazing grace! May we live freely to love and care for one another as you call us to live.
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 –
In loving partnership we come
Seeking O God your will to do
Our prayers and actions now receive
We freely offer them to you
We are the hands and feet of Christ
Serving by grace each other’s need
We dare to risk and sacrifice
With truthful word and faithful deed
In loving partnership O God
Help us your future to proclaim
Justice and peace be our desire
We humbly pray in Jesus’ name
Children’s Moment – Joey Garcia
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 –
Doxology - Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host: Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Offering Prayer – Becky Stults
Sermon Series: Questions Jesus Asked
Sermon: “Do you love me?” – Rev. Russell Clark
Holy Communion Meditation & Prayer – Becky Stults
Communion Song –
One bread, one body, one Lord of all
One cup of blessing which we bless
And we, though many, throughout the Earth
We are one body in this one Lord
Gentile or Jew
Servant or free
Woman or man
No more
One bread, one body, one Lord of all
One cup of blessing which we bless
And we, though many, throughout the Earth
We are one body in this one Lord
Many the gifts, many the works
One in the Lord
Of all
One bread, one body, one Lord of all
One cup of blessing which we bless
And we, though many, throughout the Earth
We are one body in this one Lord
We are one body in this one Lord
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 – Becky Stults
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 – 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, such as Sunday School, our Ukulele Group, our Wednesday dinner and bible study, and our prayer group. In the insert, you will find our calendar to transfer to your personal calendars. We also have a google calendar on our website to add to your personal calendar.
This Tuesday I will be at central park at 9:30 in the morning to walk the circle and pray for our church & community if anyone would like to join me! Sorry I missed last Tuesday. I’ve been dealing with allergy issues for most of March, which led me to have really bad nosebleeds for most of the week last week.
This afternoon, the youth will have a fun park day from 3-5 at central park and they’ll be passing out flyers for our block party.
This evening, we will have Bible & Beer at Rick Seed’s house at 5pm. His address is printed in the bulletin. At bible & beer, we have a bible study, great conversation, and we always have snacks and beverages. You don’t have to drink beer, but of course you can!
THIS SATURDAY is our Community Block Party will be from 11am-2pm. We will have live bands, food, frios gourment pops, bounce house, petting zoo, face painting from our very own Carol, and crafts with Kathy & Jeannie.
The purpose of this event is to make our church more visible by throwing an epic party for our community! As I said last week, Rick has said, “Azle Christian Church is the best kept secret in Azle.” I don’t want us to be a secret anymore! We need to show our community who we are because we’re OWESOME!
T-shirts are available today for $25 after worship. You may purchase your shirt through Realm if you need to pay by credit or debit card.
For this event to reach our community and make our church more visible we need (1) for you to get a shirt and wear it this Saturday and (2) to invite friends, family, and neighbors and spread the word about the block party this Saturday!
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?
I hope to see you all Saturday for the block party to show our community how OWESOME this church and God’s love is. Until then…
May we show our love for Jesus as his disciples by loving and caring for one another with this agape-type of love.
Amen.
*BENEDICTION RESPONSE -
Day by day
Day by day
Oh, Dear Lord
Three things I pray
To see thee more clearly
Love thee more dearly
Follow thee more nearly
Day by day
Oh
Day by day
Day by day
Oh, Dear Lord
Three things I pray
To see thee more clearly
Love thee more dearly
Follow thee more nearly
Day by day
Day by day
Day by day
Oh, Dear Lord
Three things I pray
To see thee more clearly
Love thee more dearly
Follow thee more nearly
Day by day