Worship Program - 12/28/25
- Pastor Gary
- Dec 28, 2025
- 5 min read
Welcome to Worship!
We’re so glad you’re here today as we gather during this season to prepare our hearts for the arrival of Christ. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or have been part of our church family for years, we pray this time of worship encourages you and reminds you that God meets us right where we are.
Today we conclude our Advent series, Breakthrough, exploring the places where God broke through at Christmas. This week we journey to Bethlehem—a hard place marked by inconvenience, exhaustion, and unmet expectations. Through the story of Mary and Joseph, we’re reminded that God doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. He breaks into our chaos, disappointment, and weakness to bring real hope.
Advent invites us not to bail out when life gets hard, but to stay present—trusting that God is at work even when we can’t see it.
We invite you to take part in the life of our church as we grow together in faith by:
Gathering in worship and fellowship
Growing in God’s Word and spiritual practices
Serving one another and our community
Thank you for being here today. If you have any questions or would like to get connected, I’d love to hear from you. You can reach me at 410-639-2144 or use the question cards in the pew.
May this season help you remain faithful in the hard place and experience the breakthrough God brings.
In Christ,
Pastor Gary
Order of Worship
Advent Reading | |
Welcome | |
Prayer of Adoration | |
Opening Worship | |
Prayer of Confession | |
Prayer of Intercession | |
Message | Breakthrough Where No One’s Looking Luke 2:8-20; Matthew 2:1–12 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
201 Joy To the World
203 Go Tell It On the Mountain
208 We Three Kings
Sermon Outline
Breakthrough Where No One’s Looking
Luke 2:8-20; Matthew 2:1-12
Where God Breaks Through
God breaks through where no one’s looking socially.
Luke 2:8–12, 1 Samuel 16:11–13, Psalm 113:7–8
God doesn’t wait for people to be important—He makes people important by meeting them.
God breaks through where no one’s looking geographically.
Matthew 2:1–12, Isaiah 60:1–6, Psalm 67
No place is too far and no person is too distant for God to move.
God breaks through ordinary routines with extraordinary mission.
Luke 2:15–17, Matt 2:9–12, Acts 1:8, Isa 52:7, 2 Cor 5:17–20
Breakthrough is never meant to stop with us—it sends us.
Bottom Line:
God breaks through where no one’s looking—and sends those He finds.
Closing Prayer:
Meet us where we are—in ordinary days, quiet routines, and places where no one is looking. When we feel unseen, uncertain, or far away, remind us that You are near and at work. Open our eyes to where You are breaking through, and give us courage to respond. Send us with Your love into our homes, our community, and our everyday conversations. We trust You to use what feels small for Your great purposes. Amen
TAKE IT HOME:
Luke 2:8–12 — God Sees the Overlooked
What stands out to you about God choosing shepherds to hear the good news first? Where in your life do you feel unnoticed, overlooked, or taken for granted? How might God be reminding you that He sees you and is present right where you are?
Matthew 2:1–12 — God Meets Us on the Journey
The wise men were far from home and still searching when God gave them light to follow. Where do you feel far off, uncertain, or still figuring things out in your faith? What step of obedience might God be inviting you to take as you follow the light you’ve been given?
Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:17–20 — Sent From the Ordinary
Both the shepherds and the wise men moved after encountering God. Where is your everyday life—home, family, work, neighborhood—an opportunity to reflect Christ? Who might God be sending you to this week, and what would it look like to respond with faith and courage?
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
Joe Holliday
JJ Foote
Pam & Tom Glenn
Lisa Stottlemyer
Edna Cox
Don & Shirley Spagnolo
Rick & Mary Etta Reedy
Elmer & Marsha Gustafson
Susan Medley
Janie Comegys
David Black
Sam Kuma
Grant Stoop
Sherrie Jacobs
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 Calling: Jesus, send us into the week ahead with courage and obedience. Help us respond when You call, and use our ordinary lives for Your extraordinary purposes. Acts 1:8
Monday – Our Community: Lord, help us see Rock Hall the way You see it. Open our eyes to the people and places others overlook, and use us to bring hope and kindness into everyday encounters. Matthew 9:36
Tuesday – Our Holiness: Holy Spirit, form us through faithfulness in the ordinary. Shape our habits, attitudes, and choices so our lives reflect Your holiness and love. Romans 12:1–2
Wednesday – Our Family: God, be present in our homes this week. Give us patience, grace, and understanding as we care for one another and grow together in love. Colossians 3:12–14
Thursday – Christians Around the World: Lord, strengthen believers in places that feel hidden or forgotten. Encourage them to trust that You see their faithfulness and are at work even when the world is not watching. Isaiah 41:10
Friday – Our Nation: God, guide our nation with wisdom and humility. Turn our hearts toward what is right, and help us live as people of peace, truth, and compassion. Proverbs 21:3
Saturday – Our Worship: Jesus, meet us where we are as we gather to worship. Break through distractions and draw our attention to Your presence, so our praise is shaped by wonder and gratitude. Luke 2:9–10
This week’s events:
Tuesday:
10:00 am - Bible Study Group @RHCCC
Thursday:
Happy New Year!
Covenant 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
