Preparing for the Lord's Day
This past week Virginia Governor, Ralph Northam, began unveiling his plan for reopening Virginia from the lockdown. We were overjoyed to see that worshipping communities have been given the green light to hold live worship services once the Commonwealth enters phase one of the reopening plan. Now, as you would expect, there are many precautions that we must take to ensure the health and safety of our congregation and our community in this time. And it is the intention of the staff and pastors of Rivermont to do all in our power to ensure that our congregation can worship in a healthful environment. Pastor Ron’s earlier communication outlines in more detail how we will transition back to live worship and early next week you can expect another communication giving specific instructions for how we will enter phase one in accordance with the Commonwealth’s guidelines.
There has been many hours spent praying and planning for this moment. There has been a myriad of decisions all which have been made with the best of intentions. Now will come the time for you to make a prayerful decision, “When will I return to physical worship services at Rivermont?” We know that there is no one size fits all answer to this question. As such, we will continue to provide an online option for worship for those who are not yet ready or able to come to the physical building.
In our Psalm for this week we are presented with the profound truth that the Lord is presently reigning over all the earth. He is sovereignly in control of all things. This truth has direct impact on the way that we deal with and react to such situations as the current pandemic. For we can be driven by fear or ignorance to poor decisions. However, when we trust that Christ is the reigning Lord of all we can face such situations with faith and wisdom. To be prepared for the sermon take time this week to read and to meditate upon Psalm 47, Deuteronomy 7: 1-11, Micah 4:1-4, Matthew 28:18, Mark 1:14-15, Ephesians 1:20-23, and Revelation 21:1-8
As we gather in our homes to worship the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit this Lord’s day, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Hymn of Praise “Amazing Grace”, the Acclamation of Praise “Before the Throne of God Above” and the Hymn of Response “Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah.” Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear God’s Word, to receive it in faith, to love and treasure it in our hearts, and to practice it in our lives that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him!
Sermon Information:
Text: Psalm 47
Title: The Reigning Lord
Outline:
- To Worship the Reigning Lord We Must Believe the Lord Reigned in the Past
- To Worship the Reigning Lord We Must Believe the Lord Reigns Presently
- To Worship the Reigning Lord We Must Believe the Lord Reigns Eternally
PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES (for your prayers and ongoing expressions of love)
PRAYING GOD'S HEALING MERCIES AND CHRIST'S PEACE FOR: Greg Alty, Sophia Boyers, Claire Dodd, Andrew Shaddock, and Ryan Webb.
PRAYING FOR OUR MISSIONARIES: Knowing that the nations will praise You, ask God to strengthen our Gospel witness and the witness of our missionaries at home and abroad. Pray that God will sustain love, hope, and power in our Savior and King. And in blessing Christ’s Church with strength, unity, and boldness; pray that many come to the saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
PRAYING FOR OUR NATION: Pray God’s blessing for our nation, our president, his cabinet, the members of Congress and the judiciary; the many who serve this nation for the sake of democracy and freedom. Pray for wisdom and strength for our government leaders and medical community as they labor to bring an end to the coronavirus. Pray for an end to the coronavirus pandemic, comfort all who suffer from its effects, as well as wisdom and unity for reopening.