Worship Services August 20, 2017 8:30 and 11 a.m. 6:30 p.m.
Welcome To Our Guests, We especially welcome you today! More information about our church is available on our website at firstpresaugusta.org. You can also visit our welcome desk in the Welcome Center, located directly behind the sanctuary Spiritual Care If you would like to speak to someone about what it means to know Jesus Christ or you have any spiritual need or question, please use one of the prayer cards in the pew rack to contact one of our pastors. Our church elders are also available to speak with you. An Elder and his wife will be standing next to the pastor following the service to talk or pray with you. Children s Check-in We are committed to the highest level of protection possible for the children placed in our care on Sundays and at all church events. For this reason, we require parents of newborns through fifth grade children to check in their children before they go to the nursery, Sunday School, Catechism, Children s Church or any other children s activity. Kiosks are available in the Narthex and in the Children s Lobby. The process is quick and easy, and volunteers are available to assist you. Children s Worship We offer a specially designed program for children in pre-k through fourth grade during the morning services. Leaders will escort children from the sanctuary to their classrooms during the hymn of preparation. Parents are welcome to accompany them to observe where to pick them up after the service. Children in pre-k through second grade remain in their classrooms until they are picked up by a parent. Nursery Nurseries are provided for infants and toddlers during the worship services and Sunday School. We provide a Mother/Infant Room (room 160) located in the Ebenezer Building behind the sanctuary, and the Geneva Room is designated as a cry room for parents with fussy children. Both rooms are equipped with live video feed of the worship services. Ushers are available to direct you. Additional Seating Please see Ushers for additional overflow seating Flowers The sanctuary flowers are given today to the glory of God in loving memory of Doug Mitchell by his family. As stewards of God s resources, we try not to print an excess of bulletins. We invite you to bring this bulletin with you when you return for the evening service.
The Morning Services Theme: Not For Ourselves but For Others The Prelude Come, Christians, Join to Sing... arr. Mary McDonald *Welcome and Announcements... Dr. Mike Phillips The Meditation Be Still, My Soul... Jean Sibelius, arr. Sally DeFord Amy Patton, solo Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side; With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain. Leave to thy God to order and provide; In every change, he faithful will remain. Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend, Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end! Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on, When we shall be forever with the Lord; When disappointment, grief and fear are gone, Sorrow forgot, love s purest joys restored. Be still my soul: when change and tears are past, All safe and blessed, we shall meet at last! Words: Katharina von Schlegel Music: Jean Sibelius (from Finlandia) arr. Sally DeFord 2011 Sally DeFord The Call to Worship...Psalm 100 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. The Lord be with you. And with your spirit. Let us worship God! * Ushers may seat worshipers at this time. Indicates the congregation standing. 3
* The Hymn of Praise Hallelujah! Thine the Glory...Thine the Glory (All Verses) William P. Mackey, 1863, 1867 St. 1 added and refrain alternate: Henry J. Kuiper, 1929 John J. Husband, 1760-1825 The Invocation (Please lift hands) 4
The Confession of Faith... The Apostles Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into hell.* The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic** church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. *suffered separation from God **universal *Gloria Patri...Greatorex The New Testament Lesson...John 10:11-18, 27-29 page 1666 in the pew Bible The Response The grass withers and the flowers fall, But the Word of our God stands forever. 5
The Personal Confession of Sin The Corporate Confession of Sin Merciful God, we confess to you now that we have sinned in our relationships with our church family, with our neighbors, in the public square, and in our homes: Surely we have offended you in our dealings with one another. We have not displayed the Christ-like love we have received from our Savior. We look out for our own interests and have withheld love and affection from others. We have violated trust, been dishonest and failed to keep our word. We have not respected others; we use people instead of serving them. We have not forgiven one another as we have been forgiven and our hearts are full of bitterness. We are irritable, angry and demeaning in our speech. We are quick to find fault, but slow to admit our failings. Our gossip and hatred is akin to murder. When confronted, we excuse ourselves, blame others or minimize our sin. We have not clothed ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We have not submitted to one another out of reverence for Christ. Father, forgive us. Send the Holy Spirit to us, that he may give us power to live as by your mercy, you have called us to live. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Assurance of Pardoning Grace...Isaiah 40:1-2 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord s hand double for all her sins. The Pastoral Prayer and The Lord s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. Indicates the congregation standing. Please kneel if able to do so. 6
**The Offering (Please take a moment to sign the attendance register.) The Offertory How Beautiful... Twila Paris Amy Patton, solo How beautiful the hands that served The wine and the bread and the sons of the earth. How beautiful the feet that walked The long, dusty roads and the hill to the cross. How beautiful is the body of Christ! And as he laid down his life, We offer this sacrifice: That we will live just as he died, Willing to pay the price! How beautiful the radiant bride Who waits for her Groom with his light in her eyes. How beautiful when humble hearts give The fruit of pure lives so that others may live. How beautiful is the body of Christ! How beautiful the feet that bring The sound of good news and the love of the King. How beautiful the hands that serve The wine and the bread and the sons of the earth. How beautiful is the body of Christ! Words and Music: Twila Paris 1990 Ariose Music * The Peace The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you. Children in pre-k through fourth grade exit for Catechism classes at this time. **Online giving is available at firstpresaugusta.org. 7
* The Hymn of Preparation Come People of the Risen King...Getty (All Verses) 1. 2. 3. Keith Getty, Stuart Townend 2007 Thankyou Music 8
The New.Testament Lesson... 1 Peter 5:1-10 page 1892 in the pew Bible The Response This is the Word of God, Thanks be to you, O God. Sermon Grace to Embrace God...Rev. Mike Hearon Not for Ourselves 2017 1. Environment of Grace a. Leaders b. Message 2. Enemies of Grace a. Pride b. Fear c. The Devil 3. Grace to Embrace God a. God s Character b. God s Favor The Silent Prayers of God s People Sermons are available on the church website at firstpresaugusta.org/resources/sermons. 9
Grace Centered Discipleship Identity (My acceptance is based on what Christ has done for me God is for me) 1. Grace transforms a demanding person into a grateful worshiper. What is keeping me from worshiping? 2. What do my goals tell me about my identity? 3. What do my hopes tell me about my identity? (joys and expectations /frustrations and disappointments) 4. What do my habits tell me about my hopes? Friendship (I belong to God because he has brought me into his family God is with me) 1. Grace takes lonely people and gives them friendship with God. What keeps me from going deeper in my communion and intimacy with God? 2. What conditions do I place on my friendships? On God? On others? 3. Do my friends feel they can be honest with me? Am I able to be honest with them? 4. What effort do I make to gain insight and counsel from those who are godly, who are experts and who know me well? 5. Who are the mentors in my life? Am I seeking godly guidance in the major decisions of my life? Significance (God invites me to join him in his redemptive mission God will guide me) 1. Grace takes self-absorbed people and turns them into servants. What is God calling me to do in places where I see brokenness and need? 2. What place does studying and being taught God s Word play in my everyday life? 3. Am I allowing an eternal perspective to shape my decisions? 4. How am I battling the temptations of the material/virtual world to express Anxiety GOSPEL CENTERED LIVING Fear the coming of the Kingdom of God? Peace Love Humility Hope Pride Despair 10
The Hymn of Response We Are God s People... Symphony (Verses 1, 2, 4) Bryan Jeffery Leech, 1976 From Johannes Brahms, Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, 1876 The Benediction (Please lift hands) (Please be seated following the benediction) The Postlude Toccata...Girolamo Frescobaldi Dr. John L. Wilson, Director of Music and Arts, organ 11
The Evening Service Theme: The Glorious Gospel Jazz Prelude For the Cause The Shorter Catechism, Question 42: Q. What is the essence of the ten commandments? A. The essence of the ten commandments is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind, and to love everyone else as we love ourselves. Call to Worship and Invocation...Dr. Mike Phillips 12
Song O Worship the King Mike Murphy, Assistant Director of Music and Arts 13
Responsive Reading... Psalm 96 page 819 in the Trinity Hymnal Song For the Cause 14
Song Here I Am to Worship Testimony...Fall Bible Studies 15
Evening Prayers Offering Offertory O Word of God Incarnate...How, Murphy O Word of God incarnate, O Wisdom from on high, O Truth unchanged, unchanging, O Light of our dark sky; We praise thee for the radiance That from the hallowed page, A lantern to our footsteps, Shines on from age to age. The church from her dear Master Received the gift divine, And still that light she lifteth O er all the earth to shine. It is the golden casket, Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture Of Christ, the living Word. For he who has called you is faithful; Tis he who will keep you until the end. Store up his Word in the depths of your heart And his Word will save you, His Word will change you, His Word will glorify him. His Word will save you, It will change you, It will glorify the Lord. O make thy church, dear Savior, A lamp of purest gold, To bear before the nations Thy true light, as of old; O teach thy wandering pilgrims By this their path to trace, Till, clouds and darkness ended, They see thee face to face. Words by William How, 1867 Music by Mike Murphy 2017 MikeMurphySound 16
Song Spirit of God 17
Sermon Freedom Applied...Mr. John Farmer Galatians 6:1-10 page 1816 in the pew Bible 1. Freed to Set Free 2. Freed to See Clearly 3. Freed to Invest 18
Song Son of God, Eternal Savior The Benediction (Please lift hands) CCLI License Number 425646 19
Adult Sunday School Classes A guide to navigating our campus is available in the Welcome Center, and ushers are available to help direct newcomers and guests. Class Class Description Location College In college or of college age Room 211 MCO Health care students Murphy Hall Young Professionals For those in their 20s and 30s, single or married Baker House Young Married Young married couples Harmony Hall Student Families Parents of elementary high school students Letchford Hall Cornerstone Parents of college students and older St. Andrew s Hall Covenanters Empty-Nesters Room 114 Trinity Those with grandchildren and older Eve Room Greeters These elders are greeting you during the month of March: 8:30 a.m. David Whitcomb, Robert Campbell, Skip Wiggins, Stan Smith, Jeff Westergreen, Jerry Miller 11 a.m. Jim Scarborough, Sean Lynch, Byron Morris, Matt Aitken, Ron Jeffcoat, Gerald Killian 6:30 p.m. David Whitcomb, Robert Campbell, Skip Wiggins, Stan Smith, Jeff Westergreen, Jim Grayson Elders Matt Aitken Downtown Parish Billy English Pleasant Home Parish* Steve Lutz Belair Parish Ron Skenes Belair Parish* John Barrett Masters Parish* Jim Grayson Brynwood Parish Dale Martin Westminster Parish* Bruce Van Peursem River Parish Gene Betts Lake Forest Parish* David Haburchak Savannah Rapids Parish Bill McCartney Forest Hills Parish* Mike Watts Savannah Rapids Parish* Dan Boone Downtown Parish Mike Harris National Parish* Jerry Miller Wheeler Parish Jeremy Wells Lake Forest Parish Sylvester Brown Grovetown Parish* Ed Hartmann Wheeler Parish* Byron Morris River Parish* Jeff Westergreen Wheeler Parish Robert Campbell Wheeler Parish Steve Hubbard Downtown Parish* Ashley Paulk Wheeler Parish David Whitcomb Martintown Parish* Jim Carroll Stevens Creek Parish* Ron Jeffcoat Lakeside Parish* Allen Pelletier River Parish Skip Wiggins Brynwood Parish* Cliff Eckles Savannah Rapids Parish Gerald Killian Palmetto Parish* Jim Scarbrough Brynwood Parish Matt Willis Evans Parish* * Parish Elder All active officers are listed at firstpresaugusta.org/officers. 510.2648