First Presbyterian Church of Villa Rica

Order for the Worship of God
SUNDAY, May 2nd, 2021, 11 AM

At Church and Online
(Live Stream and Online Bulletin)

8:30 AM Worship Service Cancelled UFN
9:30 AM Gathering Grounds Cancelled UFN (In Fellowship Hall —coffee, donuts)

Nursery 10 AM to 12 PM
10 AM Sunday School for all ages
11 AM Worship Services (Masks required on campus until seated, social distancing relaxed, or watch via Live Stream Online)

GATHERING OF GOD’S PEOPLE
“Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.” – Deuteronomy 4:10

PRELUDE
(As we prepare our hearts for worship let us quiet our hearts and our cell phones.)

GUEST PREACHER
We welcome  Mike Delozier to the pulpit this week and next. Pastor Myers will be back on May 2nd.

Online Bulletin

Sermon:  “Our Attitude”

Direct YouTube Link

Bulletin/Order of Worship

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP
INVOCATION

(All Scripture references are from the English Standard Version, ESV, unless otherwise noted.)

Worship through Hymn of Thanksgiving

” And Can It Be That I Should Gain” (Page 455)

Verse 1
And can it be that I should gain
an int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died he for me, who caused his pain?
For me, who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Chorus
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Verse 2
‘Tis myst’ry all! Th’Immortal dies:
who can explore his strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
to sound the depths of love divine.
‘Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
let angel minds inquire no more.
(Chorus)
Verse 3
He left his Father’s throne above
(so free, so infinite his grace!),
humbled himself (so great his love!)
and bled for all his chosen race!
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free,
for, O my God, it found out me!
(Chorus)
Verse 4
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray;
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
my chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
(Chorus)
Verse 5
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in him, is mine!
Alive in him, my living Head,
and clothed in righteousness divine,
bold I approach th’eternal throne,
and claim the crown, through Christ, my own.
(Chorus)

Worship Through Confessional Reading

Worship Through Songs of Praise:

“Lamb of God“

Verse 1
Your only Son no sin to hide
But You have sent Him from Your side
To walk upon this guilty sod
And to become the Lamb of God
Chorus
Oh Lamb of God sweet Lamb of God
I love the holy Lamb of God
Oh wash me in His precious blood
My Jesus Christ the Lamb of God
Verse 2
Your gift of love they crucified
They laughed and scorned Him as He died
The humble King they named a fraud
And sacrificed the Lamb of God
(Chorus)
Verse 3
I was so lost I should have died
But You have brought me to Your side
To be led by Your staff and rod
And to be called a lamb of God
(Chorus – 2x)

“The Wonderful Cross“

Verse 1
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride
Verse 2
See from His head His hands His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown
Chorus
O the wonderful cross
O the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die and find
That I may truly live
O the wonderful cross
O the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace
Draw near and bless Your name
Verse 3
Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing so divine
Demands my soul my life my all
(Chorus)
(Verse 1)

INFANT BAPTISM

Isla Grace Campbell
Daughter of Charlie and Tiffany Campbell

Children Released to Children’s Church

Pastoral Prayer

Worship through Exposition of God’s Word: Rev. Wilson Smith

Sermon: “Our Attitude”

Romans 12

A Living Sacrifice
​¹ I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Gifts of Grace
³ For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. ⁴ For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ⁶ Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; ⁷ if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸ the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Marks of the True Christian
⁹ Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ¹⁰ Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹ Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. ¹² Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ¹³ Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. ¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ¹⁹ Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ²⁰ To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

565.  “All for Jesus!”

Verse 1
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my being’s ransomed pow’rs:
all my thoughts and words and doings,
all my days and all my hours.
Verse 2
Let my hands perform his bidding,
let my feet run in his ways;
let my eyes see Jesus only,
let my lips speak forth his praise.
Verse 3
Worldlings prize their gems of beauty,
cling to gilded toys of dust,
boast of wealth and fame and pleasure;
only Jesus will I trust.
Verse 4
Since my eyes were fixed on Jesus,
I’ve lost sight of all beside;
so enchained my spirit’s vision,
looking at the Crucified.
Verse 5
O what wonder! how amazing!
Jesus, glorious King of kings,
deigns to call me his beloved,
lets me rest beneath His wings.

Benediction

Doxology: Hymn #731

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heav’ly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Worship Through Tithes and Offerings

THIS WEEK AND UPCOMING EVENTS

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GATHERING GROUNDS (Cancelled UFA)

Please join us in the fellowship hall Sunday mornings from 9:30-10:00 am for coffee and donuts.

SMALL GROUPS TODAY:

Whittle/Dickinson Group is meeting at 5:00 pm outside at the Dickinson’s home. Bring a dish to share.

Mitchell/Forlaw Group meeting at 5:30 pm at the church in the Fellowship Hall.

VBS

Calling all Olympians! Join us as we go the distance with Joshua, the great champion of the Bible who points us to Jesus!
July 11-15 from 6-8 pm
If you are interested in volunteering, please email churchoffice@fpcvr.com or contact Jeannie.

ELECTIONS

The Session is calling a congregational meeting immediately following the worship service on Sunday, May 16, 2021. The purpose is to affirm the following men eligible for the following offices;

For the office of Deacon: Mr. Charlie Campbell
For the office of Elder: Mr. Cliff Dickinson and Mr.Tim Eckstein

(Please Stand As Able)

This Week in Our Church Life

HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS
Wednesdays at 7 PM, Watch for an email with the link or call the church office for info.

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY
Wednesdays at 10am, PRECEPT BIBLE STUDY
A 16 week Precept Bible study on the book of Acts
began Wednesday, Feb 3 at 10 am.
Anyone interested may call Debby Morgan at
678-463-7368 for details on how to order a study book.

Other Resources

Kingdom Outreach:  See our Missions and Outreach Page

 What is Happening this Week, this Month?  Visit our This Week page.

A YEAR IN TABLETALK
You are invited to join us in reading through Tabletalk devotions for the year of 2021. January’s edition will be available by the offering box in the Sanctuary. You can purchase a subscription by calling 1-800-435-4343 or by visiting the Table Talk website. You can also begin a free subscription through the website.

Continue to pray and encourage one another.1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

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Secondary Resources
(The Bible itself being the only Living, Infallible, Sufficient, and Authoritative rule of faith and practice.)

Westminster Confession of Faith CHAPTER XIII
Of Sanctification

I. They who are effectually called and regenerated, having a new heart and a new spirit created in them, are further sanctified, really and personally, through the virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection, by his Word and Spirit dwelling in them: the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified; and they more and more quickened and strengthened, in all saving graces, to the practice of true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

II. This sanctification is throughout in the whole man, yet imperfect in this life: there abideth still some remnants of corruption in every part, whence ariseth a continual and irreconcilable war, the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.

III. In which war, although the remaining corruption for a time may much prevail, yet, through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part doth overcome: and so the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Belgic Confession of Faith
Article 24:  The Sanctification of Sinners

We believe that this true faith, produced in us by the hearing of God’s Word and by the work of the Holy Spirit, regenerates us and makes us new creatures, causing us to live a new life and freeing us from the slavery of sin. Therefore, far from making people cold toward living in a pious and holy way, this justifying faith, quite to the contrary, so works within them that apart from it they will never do a thing out of love for God but only out of love for themselves and fear of being condemned. So then, it is impossible for this holy faith to be unfruitful in a human being, seeing that we do not speak of an empty faith but of what Scripture calls “faith working through love,” which moves people to do by themselves the works that God has commanded in the Word.

These works, proceeding from the good root of faith, are good and acceptable to God, since they are all sanctified by God’s grace. Yet they do not count toward our justification— for by faith in Christ we are justified, even before we do good works. Otherwise they could not be good, any more than the fruit of a tree could be good if the tree is not good in the first place. So then, we do good works, but not for merit— for what would we merit? Rather, we are
indebted to God for the good works we do, and not God to us, since God “is at work in [us], enabling [us] both to will and to work for his good pleasure” — thus keeping in mind what is written: “When you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done.’“

Yet we do not wish to deny that God rewards good works— but it is by grace that God crowns these gifts. Moreover, although we do good works we do not base our salvation on them; for we cannot do any work that is not defiled by our flesh and also worthy of punishment. And even if we could point to one, memory of a single sin is enough for God to reject that work. So we would always be in doubt, tossed back and forth without any certainty, and our poor consciences would be tormented constantly if they did not rest on the merit of the suffering and death of our Savior.

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Special Announcement

Dear Believers of First Pres. Villa Rica,
For the 11 AM service, masks are encouraged at the 11 AM service until seated, physical distancing is also encouraged.

 Sunday Schedule:

0830-0930 Worship 1 CANCELLED UFN
0930-1000 Break / Fellowship CANCELLED UFN
1000-1045 Sunday School
1045-1100 Break
1100-1200 Worship 2 (Sanctuary & Fellowship Hall), , plus online live-stream: Masks encouraged indoors until seated, physical distancing is also encouraged.

We thank the Lord for His faithfulness to us and for His hand of protection. Thank you for your support, encouragement and love for each other during these challenging times.

May we continue to labor together in love for the sake of the gospel and God’s kingdom,
The Session

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COVID PROTOCOLS:  The updated schedule is, as follows, cancelled services in light grey:

8:30-9:30            Cancelled UFN: Worship One (Sanctuary & Fellowship Hall – Masks Required, also Live-streamed)

9:30-10:00          Cancelled UFN: Gathering Grounds: Break/Fellowship

10:00-10:45       Sunday School (Adult and Children) Nursery Provided

10:45-11:00       Break

11:00-12:00       Worship Two (Sanctuary & Fellowship Hall, plus live-stream, Mask encouraged until seated)

Children’s Church (Large Classroom)

Nursery Provided

COVID Protocols for Worship One (8:30-9:30):  CANCELLED UFN

–Masks are encouraged until seated.  This applies to the Sanctuary and the Fellowship Hall.  Pastor Tom will not wear a mask while preaching at the pulpit.

–Physical distancing is encouraged.

–A sanitizing station with masks will be provided at the lower entrance, at the front door entrance, and the entrance into the Fellowship Hall.  There will also be spray sanitizer and hand sanitizer available at these locations.

–Anyone that does not have a mask will be offered one.

–At the conclusion of this service the pews and cushions will be sprayed with sanitizer.  The Fellowship Hall will also be sanitized.

–The CDC recommends masks for children above the age of two years.

COVID Protocols for Break/Fellowship (9:30-10:00):

–Masks are encouraged and physical distancing is recommended.  For those that are wearing a mask, know that they are wearing it for a reason, and give them extra respect in regards to distance protocols.

COVID Protocols for Adult Sunday School (10:00-10:45):

-The adult SS will meet in the Fellowship Hall.

-Masks are encouraged until seated.  Seating is arranged for physical distancing.

-Immediately following SS the tables and chairs will be sanitized.

COVID Protocols for Children’s Sunday School and Children’s Church:

-Masks are optional.

-Children’s masks and hand sanitizers will be available and use encouraged.

-Each child will have their own labeled supply box containing crayons, etc., that will be sanitized after each use.

-Tables and chairs will be cleaned between uses.

COVID Protocols for the Nursery:

-Nursery toys and surfaces will be sanitized with antibacterial wipes and spray and allowed to dry between services.

-At the end of the second service toys will be immersed in food-grade sanitizer and surfaces wiped and sprayed.

 COVID Protocols for Worship Two (11:00-12:00)

-Masks are encouraged indoors until seated.

-Physical distancing is encouraged.

-Ushers will not be required for seating or exit.

We pray for an end to this virus, but until then, we must make the best of a difficult situation.  We understand that all these different rules may be hard to keep up with, but we endeavor to provide as many options as possible so that most can attend a Worship Service.  The safety of the congregation is paramount, and the ability to have a choice on the level of protocols is necessary.  Those at the upper end of risk from this virus are encouraged to utilize the live stream option in the safety of your homes until you receive your vaccine.  If you or your child have flu-like symptoms or a fever, please stay home.

We thank you for your prayers, for the willingness you have shown to be diligent in worship, and for your support of FPCVR during this unprecedented pandemic.

Prayerfully, The Session

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Westminster Confession of Faith in Modern English Chapter 11 – Justification

1. Those whom God effectually calls he also freely justifies. He does not pour righteousness into them but pardons their sins and looks on them and accepts them as if they were righteous—not because of anything worked in them or done by them, but for Christ’s sake alone. He does not consider their faith itself, the act of believing, as their righteousness or any other obedient response to the gospel on their part. Rather, he imputes to them the obedience and judicial satisfaction earned by Christ. For their part, they receive and rest on Christ and his righteousness by faith (and this faith is not their own but is itself a gift of God).
2. Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the only means of justification. In the person justified, however, it is always accompanied by all the other saving graces and is not a dead faith, but works by love.
3. By his obedience and death Christ completely discharged the debt of all those who are so justified, and he made the correct, real, and full satisfaction to his Father’s justice on their behalf. Since Christ was voluntarily given by the Father for them, and since his obedience and satisfaction were accepted in their place and not for anything in them, their justification is the result only of his free grace—so that both the perfect justice and the rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners.
4. God did, from all eternity, decree to justify all the elect,l and Christ did, in the fullness of time, die for their sins, and rise again for their justification:  nevertheless, they are not justified, until the Holy Spirit doth, in due time, actually apply Christ unto them.
5. God doth continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified; and, although they can never fall from the state of justification,p yet they may, by their sins, fall under God’s fatherly displeasure, and not have the light of his countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.
6. The justification of believers under the Old Testament was in all these respects identical with the justification of believers under the New Testament.

Shorter Catechism Q&A 33
Q: What is justification?
A: Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.