ELKO, GA (Day 2).  We attended church today at the Perry Presbyterian Church (PCA) in downtown Perry.  For a small town, there were many large imposing church buildings clustered together toward the center of town.  This was an imposing brick church building built in the 1990s, about twenty years into the life of the new denomination.  It is well kept inside and outside, with a two-story educational building.  The sanctuary has a balcony.  The narthex has private ancillary rooms for prayer or counseling.  Very traditional design and very pretty.

Throughout our visit we were greeted warmly by everyone, especially the senior pastor's wife, who talked enthusiastically to us through the social hour and following Sunday school.  There is much potential here.

The worship service began at 9:30 am, followed by a social coffee and donuts time, leading into the Sunday school hour.  The worship service began with a duet of young ladies accompanied by an excellent pianist playing a grand piano.  Then two young men on the left, and five young ladies on the right, joined in, the men playing guitars.  No hymnals were provided, but the hymns mostly were from the traditional hymnal set to modern tunes.  The words were printed in the bulletin rather than projected onto the wall as done in too many churches now.  The first hymn, "Holy, Holy, Holy," was sung to its tradtional tune, while others were set to tunes we had never heard before.  The voices that could be heard were mostly very young; participation from older adults was not enthusiastic, lending a rather quiet drab tone to the service.

The sermon was delivered by their Assistant Pastor (not an associate pastor).  The service overall reminded me of a Southern Baptist church service.  Very informal.  The sermon aimed low and hit its target.  Very basic points were presented as grand epiphanies, hands waving, voice raised.  I wish the congregation could be given more.

Sunday school was taught by a young man the senior pastor was apparently grooming for leadership.  We were on chapter 10 of the Westminster Confession, and the teacher was glued to his notes from a book by John Gerstner.  Any question was addressed with nervous reference to his notes.  This was a work in progress.  Overall a pleasant experience, but the senior pastor has his work cut out for him.

It is encouraging that a good positive effort is in place here in central Georgia.  We have visited so many discouraging churches in our travels.  This one is headed in the right direction, and I would not want to appear to be a discouragement.