Richmond Hill Presbyterian Church Welcomes You

whether you are worshiping here with us in person or online

we pray that you feel God’s presence and experience God’s Blessing

“... leading still proceeding, guide us to the perfect light.”

Austin Andersen, thank you for sharing this great picture!

RHPC Officer Nominating Committee continues to seek Ruling Elders to lead Richmond Hill. In this time of transition and new direction, please consider your gifts and how best to serve God. Uncertain if you are Ruling Elder capable?  Do not be!  The Holy Spirit gives each of us gifts and skills to use in many types of ministry. Imagination and persistence are some of the key gifts needed.

Ruling Elders: defined in the Book of Order: “As there were in Old Testament times elders for the government of the people, so the New Testament church provided persons with particular gifts to share in discernment of God’s Spirit and governance of God’s people.  Accordingly, congregations should elect persons of wisdom and maturity of faith, having demonstrated skills in leadership and being compassionate in spirit. Ruling elders are so named not because they “lord it over” the congregation (Matt. 20:25), but because they are chosen by the congregation to discern and measure its fidelity to the Word of God, and to strengthen and nurture its faith and life. Ruling elders, together with teaching elders, exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a congregation as well as the whole church, including ecumenical relationships. (Book of Order, G-2.0301)

Chiming of the Hour

Welcome and Announcements     

• The congregational meeting previously scheduled for January 24 has been postponed.  No date has been set at this time.
• Thought for the Week: "[A God-thing is] when something happens in your life, and you look at it and can't explain how or why it happened, but you know there's a reason for it. You know that God is doing something in your life, and it changes you. There's no other way to explain it except to see it as a God thing."  Robin Jones Gunn

Prelude                      “An Appalachian Meditation”

We Gather as People of God

*Call to Worship (Psalm 62)

One:    For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.  The Lord God alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. Trust in the Lord God at all times, O people.                         Selah

Pour out your heart and kneel before the Throne of Heaven. God is a refuge for us.

All:     For God alone my soul waits in silence; from the Son of God comes our salvation. Christ alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall never be shaken.

One:    Those of low estate are but a breath, those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.             Selah

Put no confidence in extortion and set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.  

All:     For God alone my soul waits in silence; from the Son of God comes our salvation. Christ alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall never be shaken.

One:    Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord.      Selah    

The Lord be with you                     All:  And also with you.

One:    Let us greet one another with peace as we begin our worship time.

* Hymn #26 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

1    A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing;
Our helper He amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe – 
His craft and pow’r are great, And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

2    Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing,
Were not the right Man on our side, The man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He – 
Lord Sabaoth His Name, From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

3    And though this world, with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph thru us.
The prince of darkness grim, We tremble not for him – 
His rage we can endure, For lo, his doom is sure:
One little word shall fell him.

4    That word above all earthly pow’rs, No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours Thru Him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go, This mortal life also – 
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still:
His kingdom is forever.                        Amen.

* Congregational Confession

One:    Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, maker of all things, judge of all people, we acknowledge and confess:

All:     The grievous sins and wickedness which we have so often committed by thought, word and deed.

One:    We have worked against your divine majesty, provoking most justly your anger and indignation against us.

All:     We earnestly repent and are deeply sorry for our wrongdoings; the memory of them weighs us down, the burden of them is too great for us to bear.

One:    Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful Father, for your Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake.

All:     Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful Father, for your Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake.

One:    Forgive us all that is past; and grant that from this time onwards we may always serve and please you in newness of life.

All:     May we live to give honor and glory of your name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

One:    God, the Father of mercies, has reconciled the world to himself through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ, not counting our trespasses against us, but sending his Holy Spirit to shed abroad his love among us.     By the ministry of reconciliation entrusted by Christ to his Church, receive his pardon and peace to stand before him in his strength alone, this day and evermore.  Amen.

#623 Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: 
as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, 
world without end.  Amen, Amen.

The Word of God is made known to us

Prayer for Illumination: God of goodness and light, as you created the world by your Word and Spirit, breathe new life into us this day; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Speak to us Lord for your servants are listening:

Reading Mark 1. 9-13

One:  The Gospel of the Lord                      All:  Praise to you, Lord Christ!

Message:                   “Beloved One”                     Dr. Belles

Affirmation of Faith: Apostles Creed

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

We offer our selves; fears, joys, and personal lives to the Lord

Concerns and Celebrations and Prayers of the People

We are called to offer of ourselves, our gifts of time, service, money, and support. We are invited to spend time with the Lord in prayer, expressing our deepest desires for others and ourselves. We bring these petitions because the Lord loves us, like a mother hen who gathers the chicks under her wings in times of rain or peril.

One:    Lord, in your mercy:           All: hear our prayer.

One:    Guide us, O God, by your Holy Spirit, that all our prayers and all our lives
may serve your will and show your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Who taught us to pray together…

The Lord’s Prayer

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; and 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. 

 Offering: Let us dedicate the gifts of our lives to the one and only Lord our God.

The offering plate is located in the sanctuary entryway.

Secure online giving: http://rhpchurch.com/give 

Mail your tithes and offerings to

Richmond Hill Presbyterian Church

12965 GA Highway 144

Richmond Hill, GA 31324

Offertory:

*Prayer of Dedication: 

We praise and thank you, Lord God for the majesty of your work, the wisdom of your word, and the generosity of your grace. Open us up that the gifts of our lives bear witness to your goodness and mercy, your faithfulness and justice, and your steadfast love for all. Amen

*  Doxology # 625

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures here below;

Praise God above, ye heav'nly host;

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  Amen.

*Hymn #379 Take My Life and Let It Be

1    Take my life and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days – 
Let them flow in ceaseless praise, Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

2    Take my hands and let them move At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee, Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3    Take my voice and let me sing Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee, Filled with messages from Thee.

4    Take my silver and my gold – Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect and use
Ev'ry pow'r as Thou shalt choose, Ev'ry pow'r as Thou shalt choose.

5    Take my will and make it Thine – It shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart - it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne, It shall be Thy royal throne.

6    Take my love – my Lord, I pour At Thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself – and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee, Ever, only, all for Thee.

Sending:

One:    Beloved Children of God, you have received the gift of the Holy Spirit, the grace of Jesus Christ, and the Blessing of the Lord forever. Alleluia!

At the doors of this church, at the doors of our homes, we are called to take and testify to all we have received.

All:     We will take and testify to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the grace of Jesus Christ, and the Blessing of the Lord forever. Alleluia!

One:    As Jesus called the first disciples, so you and I are called this and every day: Follow me. Amen!

Postlude