Rgpc Sermons

Audio from YouTube video: https://youtu.be/zdLwFB-OX98 What are you hoping for today?  The end of the pandemic?  World peace? A new job?  A cure for cancer?  We all have things that we hope for - and some of our hopes will be realized, but some not. So as we wait in anticipation and expectation for our hopes to come to pass, rest assured you can place your hopes in Jesus Christ, God incarnate, now.  Because after this, what ever your "this" may be, God is still the one in whom all of our hopes are realized.   We acknowledge we do not own the rights to "The Hope of Christmas" by Matthew West   CCLI #1636329

Audio from YouTube video: https://youtu.be/J4xjdgClKqk Bulletin: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ud20oo3zwjsay11/Nov%2029%20bulletin.pdf?dl=0

Audio from YouTube video: https://youtu.be/9akjxM1Q-LE Thanksgiving For What? It's Thanksgiving Week 2020 - what are you thankful for?  Is there something inside of you that simply wants to say "thankful for what?"  That is understandable.  This week's Break Away & Worship spends some time looking at Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus and how he writes encouraging words to help them remain strong in the faith.  And it's through these encouraging words that we can be reminded that God is bigger than any struggle we may be facing, and once we recognize that, we can begin to be reminded of all those things for which we can be thankful. We recognize we do not own the rights to "All I Can Do (Thank You)" by Mikeschair

Audio from YouTube video: https://youtu.be/iyXIb_ShFPQ Thanksgiving and Christ the King

Audio from YouTube video: https://youtu.be/guo_jOrZ1FM A Call to Communion

Audio from YouTube video: https://youtu.be/EapW794M_Mo Brokenness It's no secret that we all are becoming more and more weary with each passing day in the midst of this pandemic.  And the cracks in our lives are starting to show more and more - our brokenness is becoming more and more apparent.  Others might not see your cracks, or where you are feeling broken inside, but Jesus does - and he invites you to cast your cares and worries in his direction - to place your brokenness at his feet and let him heal you from the inside out.

Audio from YouTube video: https://youtu.be/E6BpIdrk7OI In this week's Break Away & Worship we take a moment to reflect on how we all have been called to be peacemakers and kind to one another.   Like the Christian recording artist Josh Wilson sings, "Why does kindness seem revolutionary? When did we let hate get so ordinary?"  So let's get revolutionary and continue to be kind to one another, especially when we realize we will never look into the eyes of someone God does not love. May we each reflect on the many ways in which we can bring about Christ's peace into this hurting world.

Audio from YouTube video: https://youtu.be/FUNOZEGn6_4 Since 2014, RGPC has been a Military and First Responder Caring Congregation.  In other words, as a congregation devoted to Jesus Christ and his model of servant leadership, we, too, wish to "Serve Those Who Serve."  The main thrust of this ministry is to provide physical, emotional and spiritual support for military veterans and active duty, first responders and their families.  In this worship service, we give thanks to God for this ministry and for all those who have served and continue to serve.

Audio from YouTube video: https://youtu.be/15rrUBOLP3U A MEMORIAL SERVICE IN CELEBRATION OF THE LIVES OF THOSE WE LOVE All Saints Sunday gives us the opportunity to worship God and give thanks to him for the lives of all those who have come before us, but now rest from their labors.  We are truly grateful for the impact on God's kingdom that these souls have and now rejoice that we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses.  Thanks be to God!

Audio from YouTube video: https://youtu.be/Rds38yEzWTU As American citizens, we have the blessing to participate in our country's electoral process.  But it is not easy.  And the responsibility is enormous.  Scripture reminds us that we are all unrighteous sinners and we have been charged with the task to vote for an unrighteous sinner.  As Christians, then, it is our responsibility to prayerfully seek God and his will for our vote – and then, be kind and respectful and peacemakers when all is said and done, regardless of the results.  We own streaming rights to "November" as purchased through The Skit Guys.  We acknowledge that we do not own the rights to "See A Victory" by Elevation Worship.

Audio from YouTube video: https://youtu.be/-rZ7Tm-WX0Y Reformation Sunday: Because We've Always Done It That Way Did you know there is a theory called the "Emergent Church" that theorizes the church resets itself every 500 years?  In 2017, we celebrated the 500th anniversary of the Reformation - and now, here we are in 2020, just over 500 years later and the church is clearly in the midst of deep change.  Even though the look and feel of worship as we know it has drastically changed, one thing has not, the goodness and sovereignty of God and the love and grace of Jesus Christ!

Audio from YouTube video: https://youtu.be/oOqiIDuA2OY Did you know that vines that produce the best grapes are vines that have to struggle while they grow?  Any good vinter will tell you that they purposely grow their vineyards in places that are less than ideal in order to produce the best tasting fruit.  Similarly, we struggle in our own lives, as well, yet through our trials and difficulties, God will produce some amazing fruit on the other side.  In this Break Away & Worship, we invite you to give God thanks for the struggles and trials in your life, even when it is difficult to do so, because you know he will do amazing things through your pain.

Audio from YouTube video: https://youtu.be/d1sWAU5voIo Celebration Sunday, The Building Fund Join us in this worship service as we celebrate the blessing of our church building - God's House - and how it serves as a place of joy and comfort, as well as operating as a Mission Station - a physical structure used to build up the Body of Christ by making disciples so that we may "Go, therefore...."  This is also our final week of our Stewardship Campaign, and fittingly so, this week is dedicated to the RGPC Building Fund.  We give thanks to God, this day and all days, for his provision! Click for Online Pledge Card (On app, click website above)

Audio from YouTube video: https://youtu.be/ZMeqPv4zfAY The Joy of Giving Did you know that giving was an act of worship?  Spend some time in this Break Away & Worship to reflect on the ways in which you can trust God, not only with your life, but with your financial giving, as well.  Prayerfully consider how your financial donations will bless "the least of these," and in so doing, watch how God will bless you, as well.  "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it." ~ Malachi 3:10 Click Here for Online Pledge Form

Audio from YouTube video: https://youtu.be/WZxR1EZsDzI RGPC Mission Station at Work: Caring for Our Community With the Hands and Feet of Christ We welcome you to this week's worship service and invite you into this space to have an encounter with Christ.  The message from this service will examine a passage from the Gospel according to Matthew where Jesus tells his disciples that anytime they did something for "the least of these" they were also doing something for him.  Jesus challenges each and everyone one of us to encounter him by taking care of those in our midst who need it most - those who need to be fed, clothed, comforted and set free.

Audio from YouTube video: https://youtu.be/pgqZGzAelfE "Come Away With Me" In this week's Break Away & Worship we take you from the shores of Lake Michigan to the shores of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus has invited you into his boat to come away for a while.  In the Gospel according to Mark, Chapter 6, Jesus and his disciples have been kept very busy - so busy, in fact, that they didn't even have time to eat.  So Jesus said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while."  Jesus is inviting you to do the same thing - to set aside all those things are still clamoring after your attention and rest at his feet.  Once rested, you will be ready to take on the next task that comes your way.

Audio from YouTube video: https://youtu.be/LvMTHkMXf0E Join us today as we celebrate World Communion Sunday with our brothers and sisters in Christ from all over the world.  This Sunday, especially we are reminded that everyone is welcome at Christ's table, and no one will be turned away from his love and grace!  So we will gather together and give thanks!

Audio from YouTube video: https://youtu.be/jC-7cIE7Oww This Path You're On As cliché as it may be, life is indeed a journey and we all have our own path to take.  And though we do not know where the road of life may lead from one day to the next, we can be assured that Jesus is traveling right along with us.  For this worship moment, Pastor Kate takes us backpacking through Isle Royale National Park and discusses the story of the disciples on the Road to Emmaus after Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.  Come break away and worship with us!

Audio from YouTube video: https://youtu.be/H4UxuOuYEA0 Today's worship service recognizes two wonderful events in the life of the church! First of all, we are celebrating the ordination and installation of our elders and deacons - members of our church who have boldly said "yes" to being leaders of this congregation in such unprecedented times. It is also the kick-off to our 2021 Stewardship Campaign entitled "RGPC Cares: Encountering Christ for a Better Tomorrow."  You are being invited to continue in your discipleship of Christ by recognizing that you are God's workmanship and have been created for good works by partnering with him in his ministry and mission to the world. Prelude - "Morning Has Broken" arr. Dale Wood (text hymn #664) Offertory - "God Whose Giving Knows No Ending" arr. Jeff Bennett (text hymn #716) Postlude - "We Are an Offering" arr. Mark Hayes (text hymn #710) We recognize we do not own the rights to "The Final Game" by Jerry Goldsmith CCLI#1636329

Audio from YouTube video: https://youtu.be/whJJHo3cWEQ Hardwired for Hope Hope is a familiar feeling and we all have a sense of it. We hope this pandemic will soon be over. We hope our kids have promising futures. We hope for a job offer. We hope for a relationship. When you’re in the midst of adversity, you hope for a quick end or conclusion.  Hope is a familiar feeling to us all.  However, nothing is sure in this life, and we can hope all we want for specific things and certain outcomes but it still may not be enough. Yet God invites us into a relationship that is sure and true - a relationship in which we can place our hope and our trust. This Break Away & Worship time gives space to consider where it is we place our hope, and invites you to place your hope in Jesus Christ.