Worship Program - 1/11/26
- Pastor Gary
- 3 hours ago
- 5 min read
Welcome to worship. We’re glad you’re here today.
As we begin this new season together, we are also beginning a new teaching series rooted in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount—words that have shaped the life of the Church from the very beginning.
The Sermon on the Mount held a special place in the life of the Methodist movement. John Wesley believed these teachings offered a clear picture of the Christian life—not as a list of rules to follow, but as a description of hearts shaped by grace. Jesus speaks to ordinary people about what it means to live as citizens of God’s Kingdom, formed by humility, repentance, mercy, and love.
Over the coming weeks, we will walk through these teachings together, listening carefully to Jesus’ words and allowing them to examine, challenge, and encourage us. This journey is not about striving to become better people on our own strength, but about learning to live more fully in the grace God freely gives.
We’re grateful you are here to be part of this journey. If you’re new with us, or if you’d like to learn more about our church or how to get connected, we’d love to hear from you. You can reach the charge office at 410-639-2144, or use the question cards found in each pew.
May God meet you here today—shaping our hearts, renewing our hope, and guiding us as we seek to follow Jesus together.
In Christ,
Pastor Gary
Order of Worship
Welcome | |
Prayer of Adoration | |
Opening Worship | |
Prayer of Confession | |
Prayer of Intercession | |
Message | Blessed at the Beginning Matthew 5:1-4 Pastor Gary Priddy |
Next Steps | |
What you can do for a “next step” of faith. | |
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.
Songs for Worship
Wesley Chapel 148 Praise Him! Praise Him! 140 I’d Rather Have Jesus 151 How Sweet The Name of Jesus Sounds | Rock Hall Church No Longer Slaves Revelation Song Graves into Gardens Amazing Grace |
Sermon Outline
Blessed at the Beginning
Matthew 5:1-4
What Jesus Says About the Blessed Life:
Who Is Speaking — Why It Matters
Heb 1:1–3, Matt 7:28–29, John 6:68–69, Deut 18:18–19
What Does It Mean to Be BLESSED
Psalm 1:1–3, Psalm 16:11, Rom 14:17, Eph 1:3
The Beginning of Everything: Poverty of Spirit
Isa 66:2, Luke 18:13–14, Rom 3:10–12, 2 Cor 12:9
Christianity begins with spiritual bankruptcy, not spiritual potential.
The Right Response: Mourning
2 Cor 7:10, Psalm 51:3–4, Joel 2:12–13, Rom 7:24–25
Godly sorrow turns us up to God not into ourselves.
The Promise: Kingdom and Comfort
Isa 61:1–3, John 14:16–18, Rom 8:1, Rev 21:3–4
Jesus never exposes need without attaching grace.
Bottom Line:
The blessed life doesn’t begin when we get it together—it begins when we finally admit
we don’t have it together.
Closing Prayer:
Gracious Lord, I admit my need for You. I bring You my weakness, my sin, and my sorrow. Teach me to depend on Your grace, to mourn what separates me from You, and to receive the comfort You promise. Shape my heart by Your Spirit and lead me to live humbly, faithfully, and joyfully in Your kingdom. Amen.
This Week's Announcements:
Daily Devotional Reading:
Wake-Up Call provides a daily encouragement to shake off the slumber of our busy lives and turn our eyes toward Jesus. Each morning our community gathers around a Scripture, a reflection, a prayer, and a few short questions, inviting us to reorient our lives around the love of Jesus who transforms our hearts, homes, churches, and cities.
SIGN UP HERE: https://seedbed.com/wakeupcall
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
Our nation’s leaders
Healing of our nation
People battling addictions
Single parents and their kids
Pastor Gary and family
Dickie & Bettie Porter
Hubbard & Sharon Kendall
Joan & Mike Melvin
Joanne Carson
Audra Ashley
Emelia Pohl
Diane McIntyre
Elma (Sis) Myers
Wilkins Hubbard
Lisa Standridge
Joe Holliday
JJ Foote
Pam & Tom Glenn
Lisa Stottlemyer
Edna Cox
Don & Shirley Spagnolo
Rick & Mary Etta Reedy
Elmer & Marsha Gustafson
Susan Medley
David Black
Sam Kuma
Grant Stoops
Sherrie Jacobs
Alice Dulin
Janet Edwards
Rich Harris
Jean Chance
Active Military & their families including:
Trevion Hopkins
Kyle Schauber
Brock Willey
Makenzie Williams
Steve McCarthy
Geoffrey Andersen
Jonathan Conner
Dante Spagnolo
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 Witness: Jesus, help us live the blessed life You describe—humble, repentant, and hopeful—so others may see Your grace and be drawn to You. Matthew 5:16
Monday – Our Humility: Lord, free us from pride and self-reliance. Teach us to depend fully on You, trusting Your grace more than our strength or experience. James 4:6
Tuesday – Our Repentance: Merciful God, give us hearts that grieve sin and turn quickly toward You. Lead us in true repentance that brings life, freedom, and renewal. 2 Cor 7:10
Wednesday – Our Comfort: Holy Spirit, comfort us as we bring our brokenness to You. Restore joy, assure us of grace, and remind us we belong to Your kingdom. John 14:16
Thursday – Our Fellowship: Lord, shape our church into a humble and gracious family. Help us walk together with patience, honesty, and love that reflects Christ. Romans 12:10
Friday – Christians Around the World: Faithful God, strengthen believers who suffer for Your name. Comfort those who mourn and renew their hope in the promise of Your kingdom. Matthew 5:4
Saturday – Our Worship: Jesus, we come needy and expectant. Meet us as we worship. Shape our hearts through Your Word and lead us to offer You humble praise and joyful obedience. Matthew 5:3
This week’s events:
Tuesday:
10:00 am - Bible Study Group @ RHCCC
Wednesday:
3:30 - 6:00 pm - RSK @ RHCCC
6:30 pm - Youth Group @ RHCCC
Thursday:
7:00 pm - Praise Band practice @ RHC
Sunday
9:30 am - Worship Celebration @ WC
11:00 am - Worship Celebration @ RHC
WC - Wesley Chapel
RHC - Rock Hall Church
RHCCC - Rock Hall Church Community Center
