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
