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  • Writer's picturePastor Gary

November 27th Worship Program

Welcome!

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. This season is significant in many ways. It marks the beginning of the Christian Calendar; it also is a prelude to Christmas as we remember those waiting for the birth of Jesus; and it sets us up to anticipate, to look forward to, the return of Jesus in consummation of the promises of God.

We are breaking away from our study of the Gospel of Luke for a look at the books of the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament. These books were written in a time when God’s people were desperate for God’s help. In our study of their suffering, defeat, doubt, and unworthiness we will find how God helps us in our seasons of desperation. I pray your faith is encouraged.

If you didn’t know, this is actually a gathering of three “sister” churches in our community that share one mission, to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of Rock Hall and the world. Our gathering for worship is a testimony to our community of the power of Jesus to save, transform, and redeem.

Everyone is welcome here because no one here is perfect, but together anything can happen.

The same power that has transformed our lives is transforming our community as we live out our faith, sharing and showing God’s love, by serving our neighbors and telling the story of how His love transformed our lives.

If you have any questions about our church or want to discuss your faith journey, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly. My email is gary@yourrockhall.church and my office telephone is 410-639-2144.

Thank you again for joining us.

Order of Worship:

Welcome Advent Reading, Prayer, and Candle lighting

Prayer of Adoration & Confession

Prayers of the People Message

Pastor Gary Priddy Habakkuk Hope for the Suffering

Next Steps

Find practical ways you can take a first “next step” in your faith journey on our website. Just go to nextsteps.yourrhc.com.

Prayer of Thanksgiving Benediction

Life is much more than an accident. Wherever I go, I believe God needs me there. Wherever I am, I trust God has put me there. He has a purpose for me being there - Christ, alive in me, wants to do something through me, no matter where I am. I believe this and go in His grace and His love and His power.

Raum Chapel

211 O Come Emmanuel

189 Fairest Lord Jesus

196 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Wesley Chapel

2090 Light The Advent Candle

196 Come,Thou Long-expected Jesus

211 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Rock Hall Church

See a Victory

Holy is His Name

God Really Loves Us

 

Message Notes:

Hope for the Suffering

Habakkuk


Advent is God’s invitation for the suffering to hope


Habakkuk’s Complaint: Habakkuk 1:2–4; 12–17

How will we get through this?

Is God listening?

How is this fair?

If he’s good, he would. If he could, he should. Since he doesn’t, that means he isn’t.


Suffering is one of God’s most common tools to drive us into a deeper faith.


God’s Answer: Habakkuk 1:5-11; 2:2-20

It possible for a good God to allow something painful when he could stop it

2 Corinthians 5:6–7 ESV

6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.


Life-Giving Hope: Habakkuk 3

Hope can live with grief

Hope is a choice

Hope grows from the depths of faith


Advent is God’s invitation for the suffering to hope

 

This week’s YouVersion Bible Devotional:


Some days it seems as if a spirit of anger is permeating the entire world. Stories of violence, rage, and discord fill the airwaves while families are being torn apart by unresolved conflict. Where can you turn to find peace in this angry world? Join Dr. Charles Stanley as he helps you discover the consequences of anger.

 

Pastor's Study: Living Faithfully Starting next Sunday, 12/4, at Wesley Chapel UMC, Pastor Gary will be leading a study based on the book Living Faithfully, Human Sexuality and the United Methodist Church. Gatherings will be on 12/4, 12/18, 1/8, and 1/15 The book is available in print and digital formats. This is a required step in our disaffiliation discernment process. All are invited

 
 

This Week's Announcements:

Meet with Pastor Gary Do you have a question or issue you need to discuss? Pastor Gary is available for pastoral counseling with individuals and couples To schedule, just Click “Meet with Pastor Gary” on our website


Prayer Request Policy Change In order to maintain a more current prayer list, we provide a copy of this past week’s prayer requests. Submit prayer requests using the prayer request cards in the pews or the digital prayer request form on our website: pray.yourrhc.com Please make sure you have permission to share other’s information.

Current Prayer Requests

  • Our children and youth ministries

  • Caregivers and first responders

  • People of Ukraine

  • Our nation’s leaders

  • Healing of our nation

  • Israel and the Middle East

  • People battling addictions

  • Single parents and their kids

  • Pastor Gary & Family

  • Joe & Cheryl Holliday

  • Josh Greenwell

  • Eddie & Rosalie Kuechler

  • Karen Weller

  • Dean & Anna Mae Wood

  • Mariann Dulin

  • Carole Coleman

  • Joe Bramble

  • Dickie & Bettie Porter

  • Michael Geibel

  • David Kelley

  • Rick Reedy

  • Patricia Brown

  • Glenda Dierker

  • Pat Hastings

  • Don & Debbie Bergen

  • Peggy Fuss

Active Military & their families including:

  • Trevion Hopkins

  • Kyle Schauber

  • Brock Willey

  • Kelly Bertelsen

  • Steve McCarthy

  • Tristan Hague

  • Dakota Collison

  • Geoffrey Andersen

  • John Pettit

  • Makenzie Williams

  • Dante Spagnolo

  • Ben Coppage

  • Jonathan Conner

Homebound:

  • Phyllis Dierker

  • Edna Cox

  • Ann Leary

This week's prayer focus:

Join us in focused and specific prayer for our church, our community, and our world. Be prepared to see God do great things as we collectively turn to Him in prayer

  • Sunday - Our Mission: God, increase the desire of believers to fulfill the Great Commission. Matthew 28:19-20

  • Monday - Our Church: God, direct our vision for the Future. Proverbs 19:21

  • Tuesday - Our Leadership: God, help our ministers and volunteers persevere in Your work. 1 Corinthians 15:58

  • Wednesday - Families: God, help our families be committed to the Lord and His Work. Joshua 24:15

  • Thursday - Our Community: God, bring salvation to the lost. Luke 19:10

  • Friday - Children/Youth: God, help our young people set an example of godliness for others. 1 Timothy 4:12

  • Saturday - Adults: God, give our adults discernment to not be deceived by the world and Satan. 1 Peter 5:8

This week’s events:

Monday 11/28:

6:00pm - Women’s Small Group @Wesley Chapel

6:30pm - Women’s Small Group @The Priddy’s

7:00pm - Men’s Theology Study Group @Charge Office

Tuesday 11/29:

7:00pm - Small Group Bible Study @RH Church Hall

Thursday 12/1:

5:00pm - Choir Practice @WCUMC

7:00pm - Praise Band Practice @RHUMC

Sunday 12/4:

Communion and New Member Sunday

5:00pm - Living Faithfully Study


Birthday’s

Carolyn Spray 11/27

Becky Glenn 11/30

Jim Brown 12/1

Mariann Dulin 12/1

Edgar Legg 12/2

Karen Castro-Weller 12/4







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