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G R A C E C O M M U N I T Y
Presbyterian Church, PCA ORDER FOR THE WORSHIP OF GOD
February 16, 2020 10:30 AM
Reflection:
“Festus’ decision to keep Paul at Caesarea was part of God’s invincible
plan to bring Paul to Rome. To bring relief and honor to his servants our
God controls even a king’s insomnia (Esther 6). Since ‘the king’s heart
is…in the hand of the Lord,’ who directs it wherever he pleases (Proverbs
21:1), why do we worry?” Dennis Johnson
Prelude
Welcome
——————WORSHIP IN PRAISE——————
Silent Preparation
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below,
Praise Him above ye heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Amen.
Call to Worship..........................................................................1 Timothy 3
ALL: Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.
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Hymn of Praise…………………….......…………….Arise, My Soul, Arise
Prayer of Adoration
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Hymn of Preparation……………............................…Rock of Ages (#500)
——————WORSHIP IN CONFESSION AND PARDON——————
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession Words of Comfort and Promise................................................Hebrews 10 When Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at
the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be
made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all
time those who are being sanctified.
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Hymn of Response……………………………………..…..In Christ Alone
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Confession of Faith…………………...From the Heidelberg Catechism* Ruling Elder, Brian Nelson
Elder: What does it mean to eat the crucified body and drink the shed
blood of Christ?
People: It means not only to embrace with a believing heart all the
sufferings and death of Christ, and thereby to obtain the
forgiveness of sins and life eternal; but moreover, also, to be
so united more and more to His sacred body by the Holy
Spirit, who dwells both in Christ and in us, that, although He
is in heaven and we on earth, we are nevertheless flesh of His
flesh and bone of His bone, and live and are governed forever
by one Spirit, as members of the same body are governed by
one soul.
The Heidelberg Catechism was written in Heidelberg, Germany at the request of Elector Frederick III, ruler of the most influential German province, the Palatinate, from 1559 to 1576. This pious Christian prince commissioned Zacharius Ursinus, twenty-eight years of age and professor of theology at the Heidelberg University, and Caspar Olevianus, twenty-six years old and Frederick's court preacher, to prepare a catechism for instructing the youth and for guiding pastors and teachers. The Catechism was soon divided into fifty-two sections, so that a section of the Catechism could be explained to the churches each Sunday of the year. The National Synods of the sixteenth century adopted it as one of the Three Forms of Unity, requiring office-bearers to subscribe to it and ministers to explain it to the churches. These requirements were strongly emphasized by the great Synod of Dort in 1618-19. The Heidelberg Catechism has been translated into many languages and is one of the most influential and generally accepted of the several catechisms of Reformation times.
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——————WORSHIP AND THE MEANS OF GRACE——————
The First Reading of God’s Word……………………...1 Samuel 19:1-18
p 242
The Second Reading of God’s Word………………………...Acts 25:1-12
p 934
Reader: This is the Word of God.
People: Amen!
Prayer of Consecration
We offer an optional Children’s Church for children 4 years old through 1st
grade. If you choose to have your children participate, you may dismiss them for
CC as we sing the hymn printed below. Please know we welcome and encourage
your children to remain with you during the sermon. However, in CC they will be
hearing from the same text that the sermon is based upon, so you may discuss the
message as a family after church if you wish to do so.
Hymn of Preparation……….....…….Break Thou the Bread of Life (#146)
Hearing from God’s Word…………………………………..Acts 25:1-12
Rev. Kyle Oliphint Paul Appeals to Caesar
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THE CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
Please see instructions on the inside back cover of your bulletin
Use the quotes below to help focus your heart and mind on this celebration:
“In all your course, walk with God and follow Christ as a little, poor, helpless child, taking
hold of Christ’s hand, keeping your eye on the mark of the wounds on his hands and side,
whence came the blood that cleanses you from sin and hides your nakedness under the skirt of
the white shining robe of his righteousness.” Jonathan Edwards
“The majesty of God’s forgiveness is lost entirely when we lose what has to be forgiven.
What has to be forgiven is not just what we do but who we are, not just our sinning but
our sinfulness, not just our choices but what we have chosen in place of God. . . . When we
miss the biblical teaching, we also miss the nature of God’s grace in all its height and
depth. In biblical faith it is God’s grace through Christ that does for us what we cannot
do for ourselves.” David Wells
“Justification is a presently experienced reality, assuming union with Christ by faith, which
anticipates the final day of judgment. The verdict of this final-day court has already been
announced, although ensuing history continues. Justification is an end-time event in which the
believer stands already, as if in an anticipative sense. Those united to Christ are justified from
all guilt — past, present, and future. God’s final justifying action awaits the end of history,
though the verdict is already known, and celebrated daily in Christian preaching and worship.
Justification on the last day consists of a declaration of righteousness, and an actual admission
into glory. There are not two justifications, one by God and another confirmed by our
obedience, nor one that occurs with faith, and a final justification that occurs at the end time
dependent on our works. There is only one justification, and that is the one that occurs on the
cross.” Thomas Oden
“One moment’s believing, close contact with the cross will do more to break the heart for
sin, deepen the conviction of its exceeding sinfulness, and disenthrall the soul from all its
bondage and its fears, bringing it into a sense of pardon and acceptance and assured
hope, than a lifetime of the most rigid legal duties that ever riveted their iron chain upon
the soul.” Octavius Winslow
“The first care of every Christian ought to be, to lay aside all reliance on works, and strengthen
his faith alone more and more, and by it grow in the knowledge, not of works, but of Christ
Jesus, who has suffered and risen again for him.” Martin Luther
“Everything is necessary that He sends. Nothing can be necessary that He withholds.”
John Newton
“On Christ, and what he has done, my soul hangs for time and eternity. And if your soul also
hangs there, it will be saved as surely as mine shall be. And if you are lost trusting in Christ, I
will be lost with you and will go to hell with you. I must do so, for I have nothing else to rely
upon but the fact that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, lived, died, was buried, rose again, went to
heaven, and still lives and pleads for sinners at the right hand of God.” Charles Spurgeon
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Communion Hymns
Just As I Am (#501) – Charlotte Elliot/William Bradbury
1. Just as I am, without one plea,
But that thy blood was shed for me,
And that thou bidst me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
2. Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To thee whose blood can cleanse each
spot, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
3. Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
4. Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
5. Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
6. Just as I am, thy love unknown
Hath broken every barrier down;
Now, to be thine, yea thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Jesus Cast a Look on Me – John Berridge/Matthew Perryman Jones
1. Jesus cast a look on me,
Give me sweet simplicity.
Make me poor and keep me low,
Seeking only Thee to know.
2. All that feeds my busy pride,
Cast it evermore aside.
Bid my will to Thine submit,
Lay me humbly at Thy feet.
3. Make me like a little child,
Of my strength and wisdom spoiled,
Seeing only in Thy light,
Walking only in Thy might.
4. Leaning on Thy loving breast,
Where a weary soul can rest,
Feeling well the peace of God,
Flowing from His precious blood.
5. In this posture let me live,
And hosannas daily give.
In this temper let me die,
And hosannas ever cry.
Jesus I Am Resting, Resting – Jean S. Pigott/David Hampton
1. Jesus I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power
Thou hast made me whole.
Refrain: Jesus I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy Loving Heart.
2. Oh how great Thy loving kindness,
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O, how marvelous Thy goodness
Lavished all on me!
Yes I rest in Thee, beloved
Know what wealth of grace is Thine
Know Thy certainty of promise,
And have made it mine. Refrain
3. Simply trusting thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold thee as thou art,
And thy love, so pure, so changeless,
Satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longing,
Meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings;
Thine is love indeed! Refrain
4. Ever lift Thy face upon me
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting ‘neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth’s dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father’s glory,
Sunshine of my Father’s face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting,
Fill me with Thy grace. Refrain
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——————WORSHIP IN GRATITUDE——————
Offertory......................................................................Like a River GloriousLike a river glorious is God's perfect peace,
Over all victorious in its bright increase:
Perfect, yet still flowing fuller every day;
Perfect, yet still growing deeper all the way.
Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest,
Finding, as he promised, perfect peace and rest.
Hidden in the hollow of his mighty hand,
Where no harm can follow, in his strength we stand.
We may trust him fully all for us to do;
Those who trust him wholly find him wholly true.
Closing Hymn…............………………..We Will Feast in the House f Zion
Benediction
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We are providing these monthly financial updates in order to keep you
updated with your generosity in 2020.
January: $43,062.65
Various Bible Reading Plans are available on our website.
Go to gcpcfw.org and click on the Bible Reading Plans page and choose
one that best suits you and your family.
Your Weekly Devotions: We provide you a small, printed booklet as
your bulletin with the hope that you will use it in your devotional time in
the week ahead. Consider reviewing the passages used in various parts of
our service, reading the context and studying the intent. Choose a
different hymn to sing or meditate on daily. Review the passage the
sermon was based on alongside the notes you took. Read next week’s
passage (below) that the sermon will be based on as a way of preparation.
Remember that we try to provide you access to the upcoming bulletin by
mid-week to enhance your preparation for next week.
Allow this morning’s service to catapult you into a week where God
continues to feed you His truths from our corporate worship service and
access next week’s service to help you prepare for our upcoming
corporate worship service.
Next Week’s Passage:
• Preaching: Acts 25:1-12
Nursery Volunteers (please arrive by 10:15)
• Today: James and Kristen McClure
• Next week: Kevin and Dana Milyo
▪ 3/1: John and Kris Mooney
▪ 3/8: Morris and Mary Ann Neel
▪ 3/15: Brian and Anne Nelson
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
Student Ministries of Grace:
• Roots Discipleship Ministry: our covenant ministry to our students continues this
Wednesday, February 18th.
Guys of Grace:
• Men’s Bible study continues this Wednesday, February 18th. For more information
please contact Sean Henry at [email protected] or 678-438-5720.
• Save the date for a Guys of Grace retreat April 24-25. More details and sign-ups to
come soon, but for now we hope you'll mark your calendars and plan to join us!
Ladies of Grace:
• The Ladies of Grace spring Bible study will begin THIS WEEK! Tuesday, Feb.
17, 10am, and Wednesday, Feb. 18, 7 pm. We will be studying I Peter. Please see
or message Tracy Carter, Michelle Shrewsberry, or Diane Armitage TODAY and
let them know whether you’ll be attending the morning or evening session. We
need a headcount to order books.
Missions of Grace:
• Please note that the trip dates for next year’s Reynosa Missions Trip July 25-31,
2020. More details to come soon! Please contact John Rohde at
[email protected] if you have any questions about the trip.
Financial Peace University Class
• Our deacons are offering the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University Class lead
and taught by Jerry Hames. Class start date will be February 18th. Classes will be
Tuesday evenings at 7:30 pm at the church. Send an email to
[email protected] if interested.
Youth and Family Position Filled!
• Members of GCPC received a letter in late January announcing that Andrew
Sarnicki has accepted GCPC’s offer to serve our church in ministering to our youth
and families. The letter also described God's goodness in superintending a thorough
process that moved quicker than we had hoped or expected. Andrew and his family
plan to move to our area by mid-March. Please join us in thanking God for His
faithfulness in providing this man and his family to our church so quickly, and
please pray for the Sarnickis as they make this transition. Watch this space for more
information as their arrival draws near.