First Presbyterian Church of Villa Rica
Order for the Worship of God
SUNDAY, December 27th, 2020
At Church and Online
(Live Stream and Online Bulletin)
8:30 AM Worship Services (In Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall (Masks Required); and via Live Stream Online)
9:30 AM Gathering Grounds (In Fellowship Hall —coffee, donuts)
10 AM Sunday School for all ages CANCELLED TODAY DUE TO CCPV CONCERNS
11 AM Worship Services (In Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall, and 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.)
Online Bulletin
We are thankful to welcome back to the pulpit Rev. Dr. Wilson Smith as he preaches for Dec. 27 and Jan. 3. Dr. Smith was our Teaching Elder from fall
of 2016 to December of 2018.
Sermon: “The Christian’s Priority“
8:30AM Worship 1: Direct YouTube Link
11 AM Worship 2: 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
“O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” (#164)
1 O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer’s praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace.
2 My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread through all the earth abroad
the honors of thy name.
3 Jesus, the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease;
’tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’tis life and health and peace.
4 He breaks the pow’r of reigning sin,
he sets the pris’ner free;
his blood can make the foulest clean,
his blood availed for me.
5 He speaks and, list’ning to his voice,
new life the dead receive;
the mournful, broken hearts rejoice;
the humble poor believe.
6 Hear him, ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb,
your loosen’d tongues employ;
ye blind, behold your Savior come;
and leap, ye lame, for joy.
Worship Through Songs of Praise:
As The Deer
Verse 1
As the deer pants for the water So my soul longs after You
You alone are my heart’s desire And I long to worship You
Chorus
You alone are my strength my shield To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship You
Verse 2
I want You more than gold or silver Only You can satisfy
You alone are the real joy giver And the apple of my eye
Chorus
Verse 3
You’re my friend and You are my brother
Even though You are a King
I love You more than any other So much more than anything
Chorus
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
Verse 1
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I’m found
Was blind but now I see
Verse 2
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
Chorus
My chains are gone I’ve been set free
My God my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love amazing grace
Verse 3
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures
Verse 4
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine
Children Church Dismissal (11 AM service, only)
Worship through Exposition of God’s Word: Rev. Wilson Smith
Sermon: “The Christian’s Priority“
Haggai Chapter 1: The Command to Rebuild the Temple
1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest: 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” 3 Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.
7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord. 9 You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. 11 And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”
The People Obey the Lord
12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord. 13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord‘s message, “I am with you, declares the Lord.” 14 And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God, 15 on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.
Worship through Hymn of Commitment:
Romans 6:19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
585. Take My Life and Let It Be
Verse 1
Take my life, and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in ceaseless praise,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Verse 2
Take my hands, and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.
Verse 3
Take my voice, and let me sing,
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.
Verse 4
Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use
ev’ry pow’r as thou shalt choose,
ev’ry pow’r as thou shalt choose.
Verse 5
Take my will, and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.
Verse 6
Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take my self, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee,
ever, only, all for thee.
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
Click or Scan Me To Give, or place tithe in box at back table in sanctuary.
THIS WEEK AND UPCOMING EVENTS
GATHERING GROUNDS
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 will resume January 3rd.
Mitchell/Forlaw Group will resume January 3rd.
CHRISTMAS DECORATION CLEANUP
Many hands make light work. Join WIC in taking down and cleaning up the Christmas decorations on January 9th, 2021.
WIC BABY GIFT 
Matt and Ariel Whittle are expecting their newest addition very soon! We’d like to bless them with a gift card.
Contributions will be collected through the end of November and can be given to Donna Lisenby or Judi East. Gifts can also be labeled/designated for the Whittle’s gift card and put in the offering box.
HYMN SINGING / CAROLING AFTER CHURCH
On pause for the Christmas Holiday Season. We will resume in January.
Postlude
(Please Stand As Able)
This Week in Our Church Life
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.
HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS
Meeting online through zoom on Wednesdays, resumes at 6:30pm on January 6th. Be on the lookout for the email with the link.
WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY
Wednesdays at 10am, the women s’ Bible study will resume in the fellowship hall after the holidays.
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 www.tabletalkmagazine.com. You can also begin a free subscription through the website.
Today’s Additional Resources
Westminster Confession of Faith:
Chapter 14
Saving Faith
2. By this faith a Christian believes whatever is revealed in the word to be the true, authentic,
authoritative statement of God himself. By this faith the believer also acts according to what particular
passages in the word say. By faith the believer humbly submits to and obeys God’s various commands.
He trembles at God’s awesome threats, and eagerly embraces his promises about this life and the life to
come. But the chief actions of saving faith are accepting, receiving, and resting on Christ alone for
justification, sanctification, and eternal life, in the power of the covenant of grace.
Chapter 16
Good Works
2. These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruit and evidence of a true
and living faith. By them believers show their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance of salvation,
edify their brothers in the Lord, and become ornaments of all those who profess the gospel. Good
works in believers silence the criticism of the enemies of the gospel. They also glorify God by showing
that believers are the workmanship and creation of Jesus Christ, because their aim is that holiness of
living which leads to eternal life.
Special Announcement
Dear Believers of First Pres. Villa Rica,
After almost six months of suspending in-person Sunday morning activities with the exception of Worship, we are excited to announce the resumption of both infant and toddler nurseries beginning September 20th (both services), and the resumption of all Sunday morning activities beginning October 4th. Both morning Worship services will be maintained, with a shift in start time of both services to accommodate Sunday School (for all ages) and fellowship time. Children’s Church will also be offered during both services.
We make this decision following our nation’s efforts to return to normalcy but not with disregard to the continued threat COVID-19 is to us. Please know that procedures will be in place to ensure the safety and health of all.
New schedule as of Sunday, October 4th:
0830-0930 Worship 1 (Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall, Masks Required, plus online live-stream)
0930-1000 Break / Fellowship
1000-1045 Sunday School
1045-1100 Break
1100-1200 Worship 2 (Sanctuary & Fellowship Hall, plus online live-stream)
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. Special thanks to Jeannie Forlaw for her work in her new role as Children’s Ministry Director and for the coordination of both the Children’s Education and Worship Committees in putting together our resumption plan.
May we continue to labor together in love for the sake of the gospel and God’s kingdom,
The Session
COVID PROTOCOLS: In an effort to anticipate the needs as to the activities of the church in these times of uncertainty regarding COVID and the weather, there will be some changes upcoming in Worship location and virus protocols. We have cooler weather approaching that will necessitate moving the Parking Lot Worship Service indoors, and we have some additional information for sanitation procedures for Worship Services, Sunday Schools, Nursery, and Children’s Church. The Parking Lot Worship Service will move indoors to the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall starting on Sunday, October 25th. This service will utilize strict COVID protocols to protect those with high concerns respecting the virus. Masks and social distancing will be required at all times for this 8:30 worship. See below for additional requirements and procedures. The updated schedule as of Sunday, October 4th is, as follows:
8:30-9:30 Worship One (Sanctuary & Fellowship Hall – Masks Required, also Live-streamed)
Nursery Provided
9:30-10:00 Gathering Grounds: Break/Fellowship
10:00-10:45 Sunday School (Adult and Children)
10:45-11:00 Break
11:00-12:00 Worship Two (Sanctuary & Fellowship Hall, plus live-stream)
Children’s Church (Large Classroom)
Nursery Provided
COVID Protocols for Worship One (8:30-9:30):
–Masks are mandatory at all times including while singing. This applies to the Sanctuary and the Fellowship Hall. Pastor Tom will not wear a mask while preaching at the pulpit.
–Social distancing will be maintained at all times.
–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.
–Ushers will seat people as they arrive and direct as they exit. The Sanctuary aisles will have directional arrows for one-way traffic. Worshipers will be seated from the front of the church to the back and will exit the church from the back to the front.
-Anyone that does not have a mask will be given 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 optional and social distance 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 optional. Social distancing for seating is mandatory.
-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 optional.
-Social distancing is required for seating
-Give respect to those choosing to wear a mask.
-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. 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 occasion.
Prayerfully, The Session
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.
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.
