WELCOME TO FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF COVINGTON

If you would like information about membership or the programs, mission, and fellowship of the church, speak to the

pastor as you leave or call the church office. Telephone: 770-786-7321; Fax: 770-786-6596

Staff E-mail Addresses: Pastor, Billy Wade: wbwade75@gmail.com

Dan Walden: djwalden@mac.com

Church Office/Peni Kehoe: penihaug@gmail.com Website: www.fpccov.org

Mailing Address: 1169 Clark Street, SW Covington, Georgia 30014

You may listen to recent sermons by visiting our website (www.fpccov.org) and clicking on “Media.”

Eighteenth Sunday

after Pentecost

October 8, 2017

Order of Worship

GATHERING AROUND THE WORD

PRELUDE Praise to the Lord, the Almighty David Cherwien Our Father Who Art in Heaven J. S. Bach

INTROIT Love Divine, All Loves Excelling HYFRYDOL Ambassador and Sanctuary Choirs

CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 107:1-3 Give thanks to the Lord, for God is good; God’s steadfast love endures for ever! Let the redeemed say so, whom God has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

HYMN 624 TOULON I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art

(The original French text, sometimes attributed to John Calvin, seems to be a Protestant reworking of a Roman Catholic hymn, not a typical practice for him. Yet this text and tune (adapted from GENEVAN 124) clearly date from the early years of the Reformed tradition.)

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION based on Psalm 130 Out of the depths we cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear our voices. Let your ears be attentive to the voice of our supplications. We have spoken when we should have been silent. We have been silent when we should have spoken. We have not forgiven as we have been forgiven. We have ignored people in need. We have focused on our own desires. We have felt alienated from you and others. Good Lord, hear us, and help us. If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.

CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE DETROIT

Hymn 444, stanza 1 “Forgive our sins as we forgive,” you taught us, Lord, to pray, but you alone can grant us grace to live the words we say.

THANKS TO THOSE SERVING US TODAY

October

John McCarthy

Sound Engineer: Ken Walker

William B. Wade, Jr. Pastor Dan Walden Director of Youth and Children’s Ministry Peni Kehoe Secretary-Treasurer Jim Patrick Interim Choir Director

Alice Walker CAGO, AAGO Organist/Ambassador Choir Shaun and Aubrey Evans Nursery Kara Sugg Director of the Early Learning Center

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH STAFF

MEMBERS OF SESSION

Class of 2017 Adriane Ivey

Michael Thompson Danny Vining

Jean Wolverton Jake McCarthy

Koen Ardis

Class of 2018 Gary Boteler Billy Fortson

Scarlett McCurry Stephanie Scarborough

Tom Stillerman

Class of 2019 Carter Gibson John McCarthy Teresa McCurry

Cheryl Meichsner Miriam Wheeler

Sunday, October 8 9:00 Handbell Choir 9:30 Children’s Choir 10:00 Sunday School 11:00 Worship Service Congregational Meeting 12:00 Session Meeting

Tuesday, October 10 4:00 Exercise Class

Wednesday, October 4 6:45 Sanctuary Choir

Thursday, October 5 10:30 Ambassador Choir

Sunday, October 15 9:00 Handbell Choir 9:30 Children’s Choir 10:00 Sunday School 11:00 Worship Service 12:00 Presbyterian Homes Luncheon

This Week at FPC

The Food Pantry is now open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 - 11:30. Donations of any non-perishable food items are welcome.

October suggested donations are: oatmeal, grits, boxed cereals

Baby Love Sunday today! This our pro-gram to collect diapers and wipes, or dona-tions toward them, to give to local organiza-tions which distribute them to parents in need. Place diapers in the cradle in the nar-thex. Donations should be designated to “Baby Love”.

Ongoing Activities in the Life

of the Church

There will be a Congregational Meeting today at the end of the worship service for the purpose of hearing a report from the Nomi-nating Committee and electing elders to serve on the Session for the Class of 2020. The nominees that will be presented by the committee are: Doug Bolton, Stan Hall, Cindy Moon, Bob Tabb, Michael Thompson, Koen Ardis (youth) and Sophia Hawley (youth).

The October Session Meeting will be today immediately following the worship service and Congregational Meeting. Reservations for Presbyterian Homes Luncheon on Sunday, October 15, need to be emailed or called into the church office by to-morrow, October 9. All are invited so don’t be left out. A complimen-tary and delicious meal will be served. We will be hearing about the new Presbyterian Homes facility that is planned for Athens.

Community Food Pantry The Food Pantry is looking for some volunteers to help on Tuesdays. The Pantry has been open on Wednesdays and Fridays, but now needs to open one more day in order to qualify for food from the Atlanta Community Food Bank. The Food Pantry is a ministry birthed by this congregation and housed for over 20 years in our building. Bernice Bailey is the Di-rector. Please talk with Bernice (770-786-3048) or call the church office if you can help (770-786-7321).

Seeking Director of Music to develop Christian music programs for all age groups. This part-time position reports to the Senior Pastor, and works alongside the Organist and Worship Team. Bachelor’s degree in music required (Master’s preferred). To re-quest full job description or submit cover letter and resume, please email Personnel Team at info@fpccov.org. If you know of some-one who might fit this description, please pass on this information.

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS Romans 7:24-25 Who will deliver us from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE NETTLETON

Hymn 475, stanza 3 O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be! Let that grace now, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; here’s my heart; O take and seal it; seal it for thy courts above.

THE PASSING OF THE PEACE The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.

PROCLAIMING THE WORD

ANTHEM O Sing Unto the Lord (Psalm 96) Ward/Sorenson

Ambassador and Sanctuary Choirs

O sing unto the Lord a new song, sing unto the Lord, all the earth! Oh let us sing unto the Lord our God! Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all people. Proclaim His salvation day by day. The Lord is great and greatly to be praised. He is above all other gods! Praise the Lord with a new Hallelujah; praise Him with a new Amen. O sing unto the Lord! O sing unto our God!

THE WORD FOR CHILDREN All the children are invited to come forward for the Word for Children. Afterward, children kindergarten and younger may go to children’s activities downstairs.

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Living God, help us so to hear your holy Word that we may truly understand; that understanding, we may believe, and believing, we may follow in all faithfulness and obedience, seeking your honor and glory in all that we do; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READINGS Romans 3:21-26; 5:6-11

SERMON William B. Wade, Jr. Grace Can Be So Hard to Get

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

HYMN 649 (stanzas 1-3) AMAZING GRACE Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Apostles’ Creed p. 35 in front of hymnal

CONCERNS AND CELEBRATIONS

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

THE LORD’S PRAYER p. 35 in front of hymnal

THE OFFERING OF SUBSTANCE AND LIFE

OFFERTORY The King of Love My Shepherd Is Robin Milford

CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE PLEADING SAVIOR Hymn 717 For the life that you have given, for the love in Christ made known, with these fruits of time and labor, with these gifts that are your own: here we offer, Lord, our praises; heart and mind and strength we bring; give us grace to love and serve you, living what we pray and sing.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION God of grace, send us from this place where have been loved, equipped and empowered by your Holy Spirit, into this community and the world so needful of the Good News. Give us eyes to see and voices to witness, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. Amen.

BEARING AND FOLLOWING THE WORD

INTO THE WORLD

HYMN 649 (stanzas 4-5) AMAZING GRACE Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

POSTLUDE Carillon - Sortie Henri Mulet

Please stand if you are able.

Worship Notes

Please enter the sanctuary in a spirit of reverence as we prepare to worship God. Remember to turn on your cell phones when you leave. Recordings of Sunday sermons can be accessed on the church website: www.fpccov.org.

†Katherine Bouchillon-heart problems

(friend of Maxine Blankenship)

†George Stamps-Riverside

†Jenifer Vegas-extensive digestive

surgery on September 25 (niece of Sherri Bolton)

†Pat Harper-heart surgery, home

†Rick Gunter-with his children

†Matthew Howell-home, recovering from

motorcycle accident,

†Adriane Ivey-home

†David Cooper-lung removed, Cobb

Wellstar, ICU (father of Rebecca Bates)

†Becky Ramsey-auto accident, back

injury

†Krissy Jones-treatment for infection

†Anderson Krieger-chemotherapy

†Louise Strickland-cancer

†Carol Capell-home, recovering from

back surgery

†Heaven Stephenson-healthy pregnancy

†Donald Vining-recovering from back

surgery (brother of Danny Vining)

†Charlie Ann Cooley-chemotherapy

& radiation (great-niece of Sallie Paschal)

†Jeanette Davis-kidney failure

(mother of Maria Davis)

†Carol Baynes-cancer (friend of

Phyllis Yoder)

†Robin McKeown-cancer (friend of

Phyllis Yoder)

†Ron Swatty-heart problems,

brother-in-law of Charles Ardis)

†Mitchell Jessup -cancer (father of

Nick Jessup)

†Sophia Hawley-Cystic Fibrosis

†John Fish-cancer (Bryson Wade’s

uncle)

†Roger Gossage-awaiting transplant

Assisted Living/Nursing Homes:

†Bill Taylor-Bentley Assisted Living,

Jefferson, GA

†Russ Cole-Rockdale Healthcare

†Jeanne Cannon-St. Simon’s Island, GA

†J. L. Johnson -Dogwood Forest

Alpharetta, GA

Riverside

†Martha Borders

†Betty Goins

Merryvale

†Guy McGiboney

†Betty Robinson

†Louise White

†Alice Gadilhe

†Hughie Hudson

Home

†Jan Coulon

†Debi (Dee) Selin

Peace Corps Volunteer

†Pattie Lanford stationed in Zambia

Hospital Visitor: Beth & Danny Vining

In Our Thoughts and Prayers