Join us for a Good Friday Gathering of Songs and Readings, Friday April 7, 2023 at 6:00 pm on the grounds of the Pottsville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. We will gather outside around the bonfire for food, fellowship, and a time of songs and readings to observe Good Friday. Bring your favorite finger food or dessert. Click here to get the Readings and Hymns. We look forward to seeing you.
Category Archives: News and Prayer Requests
Who Is This?
Singing our favorite Christmas Carols is an important part of celebrating the incarnation of our Savior. But the season also affords us an opportunity to “sing a new song” as we consider the great truths of our Redeemer the “Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continues to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, forever.”
This Lord’s Day we will be singing a new hymn from Sovereign Grace Music entitled “Who Is This?” I encourage you to meditate on its words and listen as we prepare to sing it together in worship this week.
Who is This?
Words and Music, David Zimmer, Nathan Stiff, Sovereign Grace Music, CCL# 11359088
1 Who is this, divine and tender, hailing from eternal shores?
Once arrayed in highest splendor, now in poverty adorned
He is Jesus, God made mortal, Word in flesh, the Light of Life
From a throne room to a stable, hope is born this holy night
2 Who is this of might and meekness, given all authority?
With a word He stills the tempest, at His touch the blind can see
He is Jesus our Messiah, long awaited, long proclaimed
Sing “Hosanna in the highest!” Christ the King has come to reign
3 Who is this reviled and stricken broken on a cursed tree?
Son of God by God forsaken, drenched in our iniquity
He is Jesus slain for sinners, laden with our guilt and grief
All our praise to Him we render for His wounds have won our peace
4 Who is this entombed in darkness, cast into the bitter depths?
He whom grave nor Hell could harness rose and tore the sting from death
He is Jesus, God triumphant, risen to the Father’s side
All will bow in awe and reverence at the name of Jesus Christ.
Mississippi Valley Presbytery
The Pottsville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church is honored to host the Fall 2022 Meeting of the Mississippi Valley Presbytery (ARP), October 3-4, 2022. To find us, click here.
Registration begins at 4:00 pm on Monday, October 3, 2022 and dinner will be served in the Fellowship Hall at 6:00 pm. We will have plenty of space and plenty of food planned, so please plan to bring your families.
The complete schedule is as follows:
Monday, October 3, 2022
- 4:00 – 6:00 pm, Committee Meetings/Registration
- 6:00 – 6:45 pm, Dinner in the Fellowship Hall
- 6:45 – 7:00 pm, Psalm Sing in the Sanctuary
- 7:00 – 8:00 pm, Opening Worship Service
- 8:15 – 9:30 pm, Opening Session of the Presbytery
Tuesday, October 4, 2022
- 8:00 – 8: 45 am, Morning Worship
- 9:00 – 10:00 am, Presbytery Business
- 10:00 – 11:00 am, Committee Meetings
- 11:00 – Noon, Presbytery Business
- 12:45 – 1:00 pm, Prayer Meeting
- 1:00 – 3:00 pm, Presbytery Business
The opening worship service on Monday, October 3, 2022 will be available by livestream. You can view the livestream on Facebook Live @PottsvilleARP or YouTube. If you want to join us in person, get directions here or contact us for more info.
Western Arkansas is beautiful in the fall and there is an abundance of hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and camping available. If you would like more information on these opportunities or have questions about the fall meeting of the Presbytery please contact us.
Good Friday Gathering
Join us for a Good Friday Gathering of Songs and Readings, Friday April 15, 2022 at 6:00 pm on the grounds of the Pottsville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. We will gather outside around the bonfire for food, fellowship, and a time of songs and readings to observe Good Friday. Bring your favorite Mediterranean food or dessert. Click here to get the Readings and Hymns. We look forward to seeing you.
Thou Who Wast Rich
This week we will sing again and old hymn in a new setting from Arkansas native, Treva Blomquist. Reflect on the beauty of these lyrics and take time to listen to the recording below as you prepare to gather in worship this Lord’s Day.
Thou Who Was Rich
Words Frank Houghton, Music: Treva Blomquist, CCL# 11359088
Thou who was rich beyond all splendor,
All for love’s sake became poor
Throne surrendered, for a manger,
Sapphire paved courts, for a stable floor
Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for loves sake became man
Stooping so low, but sinners raising,
Heavenward by Thine eternal plan
Thou who art Love beyond all telling,
Savior, we crown You the King
Emmanuel within us dwelling,
Make us into what You’d have us be
Thou who art Love beyond all telling,
Nothing in my hands I bring
All that I am, I ask, be melting,
Make me into what You’d have me be
King of Love
This Lord’s Day we will be learning an new hymn, “King of Love.” This is an old hymn paraphrase of Psalm 23, with a new arrangment by the group, ‘I Am They.’ Take time to listen to this hymn as you prepare for the Lord’s Day.
KING OF LOVE
Word and Music: Adam Palmer, Jonathan Smith, Matthew Hein, Stephanie Kulla, Stuart Garrard
© 2013 All Essential Music, CCL# 11359088
1 The King of Love my Shepherd is
Whose goodness faileth never
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever, And He is mine forever
2 Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth
And where the verdant pastures grow
With food celestial feedeth
Chorus
Never failing Ruler of my heart
Everlasting Lover of my soul
On the mountain high or in the valley low
The King of Love my Shepherd is
The King of Love my Shepherd is
3 Lost and foolish off I strayed
But yet in love He sought me
And on His shoulder gently laid
And home rejoicing brought me
4 In death’s dark veil I fear no ill
With Thee dear Lord beside me
Thy rod and staff my comfort still
Thy cross before to guide me. [Chorus]
5 And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never
Good Shepherd may I sing Your praise
Within Your house forever, Within Your house forever
Christ Our Hope in Life and Death
This Lord’s Day we will be singing this new hymn from Getty Music as we gather for worship. Based on Question 1 of the Heidelberg Catechism, this hymn celebrates the great truths of our faith. Take time to listen to Christ Our Hope in Life and Death as we prepare to sing it together on the Lord’s Day.
Christ Our Hope in Life and Death
Words and Music by Keith Getty, Matt Boswell, Jordan Kauflin, Matt Merker, Matt Papa. CCL# 11359088
What is our hope in life and death?
Christ alone, Christ alone.
What is our only confidence?
That our souls to Him belong.
Who holds our days within His hand?
What comes, apart from His command?
And what will keep us to the end?
The love of Christ, in which we stand.
[Chorus] O sing hallelujah! Our hope springs eternal;
O sing hallelujah! Now and ever we confess
Christ our hope in life and death.
What truth can calm the troubled soul?
God is good, God is good.
Where is His grace and goodness known?
In our great Redeemer’s blood.
Who holds our faith when fears arise?
Who stands above the stormy trial?
Who sends the waves that bring us nigh
Unto the shore, the rock of Christ? [Chorus]
Unto the grave, what shall we sing?
“Christ, He lives; Christ, He lives!”
And what reward will heaven bring?
Everlasting life with Him.
There we will rise to meet the Lord,
Then sin and death will be destroyed,
And we will feast in endless joy,
When Christ is ours forevermore. [Chorus]
Pensive, Doubting, Fearful Heart
This Lord’s Day we will be singing this new hymn from Red Mountain Music as we gather for worship. This old text from John Newton has been set to a new tune. Take time to listen to Pensive, Doubting, Fearful Heart as we prepare to sing it together on the Lord’s Day.
Pensive, Doubting, Fearful Heart
Words: John Newton, Music: Wendell Kimbrough, © 2005 Red Mountain Music, CCL# 11359088
Pensive, doubting, fearful heart, hear what Christ the Savior says;
Every word should joy impart, change thy mourning into praise.
Yes, He speaks and speaks to thee, may He help thee to believe;
Then thou presently will see, thou has little cause to grieve.
Fear thou not, nor be ashamed; all thy sorrows soon shall end,
I, who heaven and earth have framed, am thy Husband and thy Friend;
I the High and Holy One, Israel’s God, by all adored,
As thy Savior will be known, thy Redeemer and thy Lord.
For a moment I withdrew, and thy heart was filled with pain;
But my mercies I’ll renew; thou shall soon rejoice again;
Though I seem to hide my face, very soon my wrath shall cease;
‘Tis but for a moment’s space, ending in eternal peace.
Though afflicted, tempest tossed, comfortless awhile thou art,
Do not think thou can be lost, thou art graven on my heart;
All thy wastes I will repair; thou shalt be rebuilt anew;
And in thee it shall appear what the God of love can do.
Good Friday Gathering
Join us for a Good Friday Gathering of Songs and Readings, Friday April 2, 2021 at 6:00 pm on the grounds of the Pottsville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. We will gather outside around the bonfire for food, fellowship, and a time of songs and readings to observe Good Friday. Bring your favorite Mediterranean food or dessert. Click here to get the Readings and Hymns. We look forward to seeing you.
We Will Feast!
This Lord’s Day we will be learning an new hymn, “We Will Feast in the House of Zion” from Sandra McCracken’s Psalms project. Take time to listen to this hymn as you prepare for the Lord’s Day.
We Will Feast in the House of Zion
Words & Music: Sandra McCracken and Joshua Moore, © 2015 Drink Your Tea (ASCAP) / Joshmooreownsthis Music (ASCAP)CCL# 11359088
Chorus
We will feast in the house of Zion
We will sing with our hearts restored
He has done great things, we will say together
We will feast and weep no more
We will not be burned by the fire
He is the LORD our God
We are not consumed, by the flood
Upheld, protected, gathered up (Chorus)
In the dark of night, before the dawn
My soul, be not afraid
For the promised morning, oh how long?
Oh God of Jacob, be my strength (Chorus)
Every vow we’ve broken and betrayed
You are the Faithful one
And from the garden to the grave
Bind us together, bring shalom. (Chorus)
Pottsville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church 