100 Year Celebration

On this Reformation Sunday, we celebrate God’s faithfulness to Rivermont Presbyterian Church and the 100 years we have worshiped in our current sanctuary at 2424 Rivermont Avenue. Our story stretches back to 1881, when the congregation was first organized as Third Presbyterian Church. In 1897 we built our first sanctuary at Rivermont and Cabell Street, becoming Rivermont Avenue Presbyterian Church. In 1922, we purchased the “Oak Tree Lot,” the site of this sanctuary, which was completed in 1925. Since then, generations of God’s people have gathered here to worship, serve, and grow in faith.
We are especially blessed this Sunday to have all of our living former pastors with us: Pastor Emeritus Lowell Sykes; former Senior Pastors Clay Smith and John Mabray; former Co-Pastor Wayne Meredith; and former Associate and Assistant Pastors Ron Cox, Mike Palombo, and Chris Deneen—along with our current pastoral staff: Associate Pastors Shane Whelan and Brett Eubank and Senior Pastor David Weber. Their presence is a reminder of God’s faithfulness through the years and the legacy of faithful leadership in our midst.
As we gather in worship, let us give thanks for God’s steadfast love, rejoice in His faithfulness to every generation, and commit ourselves anew to serving Him with joy and devotion in the years to come.
On this Reformation Sunday, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Processional Hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”, the Acclamation of Praise “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less”, and the Hymn of Response “Forever More.” This week we will also celebrate the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. As we receive the elements of the bread and the cup, we look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ. For as we physically receive the signs of the Lord’s body and blood, spiritually we feed upon him and all his benefits.

A Liturgical Note:

As you will notice this Sunday the paraments have changed from green to red, indicating our celebration of Reformation Sunday. The Reformation was sparked when Martin Luther, a German Monk, nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the church door in Wittenburg on October 31, 1517. This document outlined his objections to the Roman Catholic practice of selling indulgences. However, this one act of protest lead to a broad movement to reform the Church according to God’s Word alone. As Presbyterians we trace our theological heritage to the great themes of the Reformation: Salvation by Grace Alone; Through Faith Alone; By Christ Alone; According to the Word of God Alone; All to the Glory of God Alone.

Sermon Outline:

“Jesus Christ and Him Crucified”
1 Corinthians 2:1-2

I. The backdrop of 1 Corinthians
a. Human wisdom & power / foolishness& weakness of God
b. No human boasting

II. Jesus Christ and him crucified reveals three things:
a. The horribleness of sin
b. The helplessness of sinners
c. Our only hope

III. Jesus Christ and him crucified
a. Our righteousness
b. Our help
c. Our living hope

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