THE LORD’S DAY�e Twenty-Seventh Day of December, Two �ousand Twenty

MORNING WORSHIPEight-thirty and Eleven O’Clock

�e Reverend Dr. David T. A. Strain — Senior Minister�e Reverend Mr. William E. Dempsey — Minister of Congregational Care

APPROACHING GOD’S THRONE�e Greetings and Announcements (8:25 and 10:55 a.m.)

�e Prelude — “What Child Is �is?”..................................................Walter PelzNancy Bateman, Cello; Bonnie Brown, Violin

�e Introit — “Who Is on the Lord’s Side?”.............................. Carradog Robers

�e Call to Worship

�e Hymn No. 699 — “Like a River Glorious” 1. Like a river glorious is God’s perfect peace, over all victorious in its bright increase; perfect, yet it �oweth fuller ev’ry day, perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way. Refrain: Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest, �nding, as he promised, perfect peace and rest. 2. Hidden in the hollow of his blessed hand, never foe can follow, never traitor stand; not a surge of worry, not a shade of care, not a blast of hurry, touch the spirit there.

Refrain

3. Ev’ry joy or trial falleth from above, traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love. We may trust him fully all for us to do; they who trust him wholly �nd him wholly true.

Refrain

SEEKING GOD’S FACE �e Prayer of Adoration

�e Corporate Prayer of Confession — Psalm 51:1-4, 6, 9-11 Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be justi�ed in your words and blameless in Your judgment.

Behold, You delight in truth in the inward being, and You teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.

�e Assurance of Pardon

�e O�ering

�e Anthem — “�e Old Hundredth Psalm Tune”......... R. Vaughan Williams Choir and Congregation: 1. All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice; Him serve with fear, His praise forthtell. Come ye before Him and rejoice. Choir and Congregation: 2. �e Lord ye know is God indeed; without our aid He did us make; We are His folk, He doth us feed, and for His sheep He doth us take. Choir and Congregation: 3. O enter then His gates with praise, approach with joy His courts unto; praise, laud, and bless His name always, for it is seemly so to do. Choir Alone: 4. For why? �e Lord our God is good, His mercy is forever sure; His truth at all times �rmly stood, and shall from age to age endure. Choir and Congregation: 5. To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the God whom heaven and earth adore. From men and from the angel host be praise and glory evermore. Amen.

�e Hymn No. 32 — “Great Is �y Faithfulness” 1. Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father; there is no shadow of turning with thee; thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not; as thou hast been thou forever wilt be. Refrain: Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see: all I have needed thy hand hath provided - Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! 2. Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, sun, moon, and stars in their courses above, join with all nature in manifold witness to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

Refrain 3. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide, strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Refrain

�e Pastoral Prayer

HEARING GOD’S VOICE�e Reading of Holy Scripture — Colossians 1:9-14

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be �lled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has quali�ed you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

�e Sermon — How to Pray for 2021.......................................................Dr. Strain

�e Hymn No. 30 (Stzs. 1, 2, 3, and 7) — “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past” 1. Our God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home: 2. Under the shadow of your throne your saints have dwelt secure; su�cient is your arm alone, and our defense is sure. 3. Before the hills in order stood, or earth received her frame, from everlasting you are God, to endless years the same. 7. Our God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come: O be our guard while troubles last, and our eternal home.

�e Benediction

�e Postlude — “All Glory, Laud and Honor”.................................. Arr. Wassan

THE LORD’S DAY�e Twenty-Seventh Day of December, Two �ousand Twenty

MORNING WORSHIPEight-thirty and Eleven O’Clock

�e Reverend Dr. David T. A. Strain — Senior Minister�e Reverend Mr. William E. Dempsey — Minister of Congregational Care

APPROACHING GOD’S THRONE�e Greetings and Announcements (8:25 and 10:55 a.m.)

�e Prelude — “What Child Is �is?”..................................................Walter PelzNancy Bateman, Cello; Bonnie Brown, Violin

�e Introit — “Who Is on the Lord’s Side?”.............................. Carradog Robers

�e Call to Worship

�e Hymn No. 699 — “Like a River Glorious” 1. Like a river glorious is God’s perfect peace, over all victorious in its bright increase; perfect, yet it �oweth fuller ev’ry day, perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way. Refrain: Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest, �nding, as he promised, perfect peace and rest. 2. Hidden in the hollow of his blessed hand, never foe can follow, never traitor stand; not a surge of worry, not a shade of care, not a blast of hurry, touch the spirit there.

Refrain

3. Ev’ry joy or trial falleth from above, traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love. We may trust him fully all for us to do; they who trust him wholly �nd him wholly true.

Refrain

SEEKING GOD’S FACE �e Prayer of Adoration

�e Corporate Prayer of Confession — Psalm 51:1-4, 6, 9-11 Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be justi�ed in your words and blameless in Your judgment.

Behold, You delight in truth in the inward being, and You teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.

�e Assurance of Pardon

�e O�ering

�e Anthem — “�e Old Hundredth Psalm Tune”......... R. Vaughan Williams Choir and Congregation: 1. All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice; Him serve with fear, His praise forthtell. Come ye before Him and rejoice. Choir and Congregation: 2. �e Lord ye know is God indeed; without our aid He did us make; We are His folk, He doth us feed, and for His sheep He doth us take. Choir and Congregation: 3. O enter then His gates with praise, approach with joy His courts unto; praise, laud, and bless His name always, for it is seemly so to do. Choir Alone: 4. For why? �e Lord our God is good, His mercy is forever sure; His truth at all times �rmly stood, and shall from age to age endure. Choir and Congregation: 5. To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the God whom heaven and earth adore. From men and from the angel host be praise and glory evermore. Amen.

�e Hymn No. 32 — “Great Is �y Faithfulness” 1. Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father; there is no shadow of turning with thee; thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not; as thou hast been thou forever wilt be. Refrain: Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see: all I have needed thy hand hath provided - Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! 2. Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, sun, moon, and stars in their courses above, join with all nature in manifold witness to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

Refrain 3. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide, strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Refrain

�e Pastoral Prayer

HEARING GOD’S VOICE�e Reading of Holy Scripture — Colossians 1:9-14

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be �lled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has quali�ed you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

�e Sermon — How to Pray for 2021.......................................................Dr. Strain

�e Hymn No. 30 (Stzs. 1, 2, 3, and 7) — “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past” 1. Our God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home: 2. Under the shadow of your throne your saints have dwelt secure; su�cient is your arm alone, and our defense is sure. 3. Before the hills in order stood, or earth received her frame, from everlasting you are God, to endless years the same. 7. Our God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come: O be our guard while troubles last, and our eternal home.

�e Benediction

�e Postlude — “All Glory, Laud and Honor”.................................. Arr. Wassan

THE LORD’S DAY�e Twenty-Seventh Day of December, Two �ousand Twenty

MORNING WORSHIPEight-thirty and Eleven O’Clock

�e Reverend Dr. David T. A. Strain — Senior Minister�e Reverend Mr. William E. Dempsey — Minister of Congregational Care

APPROACHING GOD’S THRONE�e Greetings and Announcements (8:25 and 10:55 a.m.)

�e Prelude — “What Child Is �is?”..................................................Walter PelzNancy Bateman, Cello; Bonnie Brown, Violin

�e Introit — “Who Is on the Lord’s Side?”.............................. Carradog Robers

�e Call to Worship

�e Hymn No. 699 — “Like a River Glorious” 1. Like a river glorious is God’s perfect peace, over all victorious in its bright increase; perfect, yet it �oweth fuller ev’ry day, perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way. Refrain: Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest, �nding, as he promised, perfect peace and rest. 2. Hidden in the hollow of his blessed hand, never foe can follow, never traitor stand; not a surge of worry, not a shade of care, not a blast of hurry, touch the spirit there.

Refrain

3. Ev’ry joy or trial falleth from above, traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love. We may trust him fully all for us to do; they who trust him wholly �nd him wholly true.

Refrain

SEEKING GOD’S FACE �e Prayer of Adoration

�e Corporate Prayer of Confession — Psalm 51:1-4, 6, 9-11 Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be justi�ed in your words and blameless in Your judgment.

Behold, You delight in truth in the inward being, and You teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.

�e Assurance of Pardon

�e O�ering

�e Anthem — “�e Old Hundredth Psalm Tune”......... R. Vaughan Williams Choir and Congregation: 1. All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice; Him serve with fear, His praise forthtell. Come ye before Him and rejoice. Choir and Congregation: 2. �e Lord ye know is God indeed; without our aid He did us make; We are His folk, He doth us feed, and for His sheep He doth us take. Choir and Congregation: 3. O enter then His gates with praise, approach with joy His courts unto; praise, laud, and bless His name always, for it is seemly so to do. Choir Alone: 4. For why? �e Lord our God is good, His mercy is forever sure; His truth at all times �rmly stood, and shall from age to age endure. Choir and Congregation: 5. To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the God whom heaven and earth adore. From men and from the angel host be praise and glory evermore. Amen.

�e Hymn No. 32 — “Great Is �y Faithfulness” 1. Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father; there is no shadow of turning with thee; thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not; as thou hast been thou forever wilt be. Refrain: Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see: all I have needed thy hand hath provided - Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! 2. Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, sun, moon, and stars in their courses above, join with all nature in manifold witness to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

Refrain 3. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide, strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Refrain

�e Pastoral Prayer

HEARING GOD’S VOICE�e Reading of Holy Scripture — Colossians 1:9-14

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be �lled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has quali�ed you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

�e Sermon — How to Pray for 2021.......................................................Dr. Strain

�e Hymn No. 30 (Stzs. 1, 2, 3, and 7) — “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past” 1. Our God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home: 2. Under the shadow of your throne your saints have dwelt secure; su�cient is your arm alone, and our defense is sure. 3. Before the hills in order stood, or earth received her frame, from everlasting you are God, to endless years the same. 7. Our God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come: O be our guard while troubles last, and our eternal home.

�e Benediction

�e Postlude — “All Glory, Laud and Honor”.................................. Arr. Wassan

WELCOMEWe welcome all to this service of worship. If you are a Christian visiting with us today, we greet you in the name of our common Lord. If you are not a believer, we greet you as a friend and trust that you will sense the warmth and genuineness of our reception. We invite everyone here to participate with our congregation as we sing, pray, and give attention to God’s Word.

VISITORSWelcome to First Presbyterian Church! We are so glad you are here. You can text fpcjwelcome to 955-77 to learn more about how to get connected to the life of our church.

�e Prayer of Confession is a response to our singing of the hymn in this morning’s worship service. It is only by re�ecting upon the true nature of God and adoring His faithfulness to us, that we are able to truly contemplate upon the depth, extent, and magnitude of our sin. �e Prayer of Confession is made so that we confess our sin and experience true repentance by re�ecting upon God’s goodness even in our times of straying. �us, it is through this time of corporate prayer, patterned a�er the New Testament church, that we are ready to continue in our corporate worship of God. Why do we have corporate prayer? In preaching on the pilgrimage of the Chris-tian in this life, the eighteenth century pastor-theologian from New England, Jonathan Edwards said, “To go to heaven fully to enjoy God, is in�nitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here.” �e time of corporate worship and particularly prayer is its closest semblance on earth since we gather with the saints of God to worship and delight ourselves in God. What is a prayer of confession? �e minister leads us in a Prayer of Confession to remove any human barrier that might come in the way of our blessing from God. We remind ourselves of who we are both in ourselves and in God. We remind ourselves that though we are His sheep, we are like lost sheep. During this time, the minister leads us in confessing the times we have desired the things of this world that are in opposition to the things of God. May we, in joining the minister with heartfelt agreement, confess and repent of the times we have le� undone those things we ought to have done, and have done those things which we ought not to have done. Let us join our hearts in prayer in order that the Spirit of Christ may bring conviction for impenitent hearts, encouragement to weary souls, knit us together in a bond of fellowship and praise, and bring us into an intimate com-munion with our Savior. Let us pray with the goal to enjoy ourselves in bring-ing honor and glory due His name.

GUIDE TO THE MORNING SERVICE

II THESSALONIANS 3:1 — “Finally, brethren, pray for us….”Virginia – Serving with International Xchange Organization in Asia. For more information, please contact the Mission Department.Center for Pregnancy Choices – CPC is supported though FPC Mission to Jackson. �is ministry seeks to minister to women who are at risk for abortion as well as to the needs of their unborn children.

STEWARDSHIP 2021As we prepare for the 2021 budget year, it is important that each member of our congregation support the work and worship of First Presbyterian Church. If you have not turned in your 2021 commitment card, you may place it in the o�ering plate during today’s worship services. You may also pledge online by visiting our church app and click on “Giving,” then “Pledge.” To date, we have received 300 commitments for a total of $3,631,245.

YEAR-END GIVING REMINDERSIf you are planning to donate stock to First Presbyterian Church before the end of the year 2020, please notify Lee J. Webb in the Business O�ce via email at leejw@fpcjackson.org. In order for year-end church contributions to be deducted on your 2020 tax return, they must be received at First Presbyterian Church on or before December 31, 2020. �e Business O�ce will be open from 8:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m. that day. If you mail your contribution, the envelope must be postmarked no later than December 31, 2020. Security will be posted on the south side of the church (Pinehurst Street) to receive any contributions that may be dropped o� a�er hours on December 31, 2020. You may give electronically until midnight, December 31, 2020, either through our church website or our church app with just one click on “Giving.” All gi�s received or postmarked a�er December 31, 2020, will apply to your 2021 Contribution Statement.

A N NO U NC E M E N T S

Sunday, December 27, 2020 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Morning Worship.............................................. Sanctuary 6:00 p.m. Winter Grace Service........................................ Sanctuary Wednesday, December 30, 2020 No Midweek Activities Sunday, January 3, 2020 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Morning Worship.............................................. Sanctuary 6:00 p.m. Evening Worship............................................... Sanctuary

FPC THIS WEEK

WINTER GRACEA Service of Comfort and Hope

A worship service of lament, comfort, and encouragement for those who are struggling with grief, brokenness, or loss during a season of celebration and for those who are walking alongside them.

Tonight — 6:00 p.m.