R E F L E C T I O N S

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Doris Bates
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1 R E F L E C T I O N S It all comes back to Genesis 1:26: Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. We were made for God's beauty, and all beauty is God's beauty. When we see or hear or taste or smell one of the created reflections of God's beauty, we love it; and it creates wonder within us. Then we become junkies. A single rush of wonder is fantastic, but we quickly want more of it. We take pictures to possess the moment and share the wonder with friends. The sight of beauty makes us want to touch or taste. This is why children lick strange things and 'Do Not Touch' signs clutter botanical gardens and museums. Steve DeWitt False gods patiently endure the existence of other false gods. Dagon can stand with Bel, and Bel with Ashtaroth; how should stone, and wood, and silver, be moved to indignation; but because God is the only living and true God, Dagon must fall before His ark; Bel must be broken, and Ashtaroth must be consumed with fire. Charles Spurgeon When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, Repent (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance. Martin Luther, First of 95 Theses The faith that is unto salvation is a penitent faith, and the repentance that is unto life is a believing repentance. John Murray

2 RIVERWOOD PRESBY TERIAN CHURCH T U S C A L O O S A, A L A B A M A J a n u a r y 21, :00 Ser vice Rev. J ef f Pa te, Pa stor Third Sunday after the Epiphany Leaders In Worship: Assisting Elder Jimmy Hopper Dr. Linda Graham, piano WELCOME & PRELUDE Amazing Grace Covenant Kids Choir Program all communication devices to be in silent mode. Thank you. Please use this time for prayer and meditation as we prepare to go before the living God in worship. CALL TO WORSHIP: based on Psalm 139 Pastor: Come and worship the Lord, your God, who created all things. He formed my inward parts. He knitted me together in my mother's womb. Pastor: Come and praise the One who created you in His image. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are His works. Pastor: Come and give thanks to the Almighty God who gave you life. In His book were written the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. Pastor: Come, and worship. P R A I S E HYMN OF PRAISE: 125 Let All Things Now Living PRAYER OF PRAISE AND 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen. 2

3 C O N F E S S I O N SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 139:1-6, O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise 3 up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are 4 acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you 5 6 know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such 23 knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Search me, O God, and 24 know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! CORPORATE CONFESSION OF SIN: Gracious Father, the God of life, teach us to truly respect and love all the lives you create. Forgive us for our lack of concern and love for those who are yet unborn, who are born with impairments, who are rejected by their parents. Teach us to open our hearts and our homes to all your children. Forgive us when we are negligent and uncaring for those who are elderly, for those who are forgotten in nursing homes, or those who cannot afford medical care, who suffer from a careless society. Teach us to open our hearts, to open our homes and churches, to visit the lonely, to bring your love into their lives on this earth. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen. SILENT REFLECTION AND CONFESSION WORDS OF ASSURANCE & PEACE OF GOD: based on Romans 1:17-18 & 2 Corinthians 5:21 Pastor: The gospel, of which the apostle Paul was not ashamed, is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. In it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, The righteous shall live by faith. For our sake, God made Christ to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we become the righteousness of God. Pastor: The peace of Christ be with you all. And also with you. HYMN: In Christ Alone (lyrics on page 6) 3

4 C O M M I T M E N T OFFERTORY PRAYER OFFERTORY Speak, O Lord Getty & Townend, arr. Larson Presentation of tithes & offerings DOXOLOGY (Hymnal, page 731) AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: The Apostles Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. RESPONSE: 735 Gloria Patri PRAYER OF INTERCESSION HYMN: 330 Holy Ghost, Dispel Our Sadness 4

5 P R E A C H I N G O F T H E W O R D SCRIPTURE: Luke 19: He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He 3 was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of 4 the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a 5 sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today. 6 7 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, 8 He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of 9 anything, I restore it fourfold. And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, 10 since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. SERMON: What Are You Doing Here? Rev. Jeff Pate HYMN: 469 How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place st. 1-4 C O M M U N I O N THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD S SUPPER Riverwood Presbyterian uses wine in the celebration of Holy Communion. If you would prefer non-alcoholic grape juice, please take a cup from the inner circle of the tray. RESPONSIVE READING: Pastor: Pastor: Pastor: Pastor: Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right for us to give thanks and praise. With joy we praise you, gracious God, for you created heaven and earth, made us in your image, and kept covenant with us even when we fell into sin. We give you thanks for Jesus Christ, our Lord, who by his life, death, and resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. Therefore we join our voices with all the saints and angels and the whole creation to proclaim the glory of your name. Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. HYMN: 469 How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place st. 5,6 BENEDICTION ANNOUNCEMENTS DISMISSING HYMN: 263 Lift High the Cross v. 4 5

6 I N C H R I S T A L O N E 1. In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song; This Cornerstone, this solid Ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease! My Comforter, my All in All, here in the love of Christ I stand. 2. In Christ alone! - who took on flesh, fullness of God in helpless babe. This gift of love and righteousness, scorned by the ones He came to save: Till on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied - For every sin on Him was laid; here in the death of Christ I live. 3. There in the ground His body lay, light of the world by darkness slain: Then bursting forth in glorious day up from the grave He rose again! And as He stands in victory sin's curse has lost its grip on me, For I am His and He is mine - bought with the precious blood of Christ. 4. No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me; From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand: Till He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I'll stand. T O D A Y A T R I V E R W O O D Everyone is invited to return to the sanctuary this evening at 5:00pm for a time of evening worship. Covenant Kids Club meets tonight at 4:30pm. Youth groups meet tonight (see detailed announcements on the following page). Jan. 21 Jan. 28 Feb. 4 SUNDAY EVENING SCHEDULE Covenant Kids Club / Jr. & Sr. High Youth / Evening Worship Covenant Kids Club / Jr. & Sr. High Youth / Choir Rehearsal Covenant Kids Club / Jr. & Sr. High Youth / Evening Worship CONGREGATIONAL MEETING There will be a congregational meeting in the sanctuary following morning worship today. During this meeting, the church's budget for 2018 will be presented along with a new policy for the Riverwood Children's ministry. Members are encouraged to attend and visitors are welcome CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS Your detailed 2017 contribution statements are located in the foyer. Please pick up your envelope today. All remaining statements will be placed in the mail. 6

7 JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP (grades 6-8) will meet this afternoon from 4:30 to 6:10 in the Barn. Come and join us for Animal, Pharaoh-Pharaoh, and BIBLE Lesson 4. Then stick around for some great food from China No 1 courtesy of the Zhengs. #Hope2SeeYOUthere! SENIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP SENIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP (grades 9-12) will meet tonight from 5:40 to 7:45 in the Barn. We've got a new game, some incredible singing, a message from the Gospel of John, and food from China No 1 (courtesy of the Zheng family) - you don't want to miss this! HAPPY BIRTHDAYS January 21 Addie Crawford January 21 Gracen Miller January 22 Sumlin Pate January 22 Robert Thornton January 25 Eli Moss January 25 Tim Skaar January 27 David Jackson A N N O U N C E M E N T S WARRIOR PRESBYTERY WOMEN S MINISTRIES ANNUAL MEETING Ladies, please join women from throughout our presbytery this Saturday, January 27, for the Annual Meeting at Trinity Presbyterian Church. Registration begins at 9:00am, and lunch and childcare are provided. Lori Sealy will speak on "Suffering and the Savior." If you plan to attend please RSVP to the church office by this Tuesday, January 23, and also indicate if you will need childcare. ATTENTION YOUTH - CURRENTLY IN GRADES 8-12 RYM High School Florida #1 - SIGNUP is happening NOW! That's right, if you are a rising 9th grader, a graduated senior, or somewhere in between when summer 2018 arrives - then YOU need to make a $100 non-refundable deposit by Tuesday, January 30th (Get a $100 check payable to RPC to our church secretary) so you can join us on this trip from July 2nd - 6th to Laguna Beach Christian Retreat in Panama City Beach, Florida! Total cost will be $375. For more information go to: rymonline.org and click the appropriate links. DON'T DELAY - SIGNUP TODAY! MARK YOUR CALENDARS Sunday, February 4: Combined Sunday School - Benevolence Team Update Saturday, February 10, 2:00pm: Women s Valentine s Day Tea 7

8 S U N D A Y S C H O O L At Riverwood Presbyterian Church we have Sunday School at 9:45am for all age groups. MEETING DOWNSTAIRS: Nursery: Multi-Staffed 2-3 year olds: Janalie Graham & Joanie Norris 4-5 year olds: Debbie Jones MEETING UPSTAIRS: Grades 1-3: Monica Urban Grades 4-6: Ginny Nippert MEETING IN THE BARN: Youth Class led by Jeff Pate MEETING IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL: Adult Class MEETING IN THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING: Adult Class Disability and the Gospel led by Gene Martin M I N I S T R I E S O F S E R V I C E NURSERY VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE: January 21: Caleigh Henson / Joanie Norris / Laura Silvashy & Olivia Staggs / Darla Cook January 28: Kristina Patridge / Lorrie Pate / Heather & Ceilidh Crawford / Bob DeWitt JANUARY DEACON SCHEDULE: Head Deacons: Chris Locklear Clean Up: Bruce DeHaan F I N A N C I A L R E P O R T : Operating Income: $436, Operating Expense*: $428, Net Income: $7, Designated gifts: $72, Building loan balance: $976, *Includes the minimum monthly building loan payment

We do not want, as the newspapers say, a church that will move with the world. We want a church that will move the world. G. K.

We do not want, as the newspapers say, a church that will move with the world. We want a church that will move the world. G. K. REFLECTIONS The catholic or universal church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the Head thereof; and is the