Evening Worship Service

Prelude: Trio on Come, Savior of the Nations, BWV 660 Johann Sebastian Bach

Call to Worship

Invocation

Hymn 229: Gentle Mary Laid Her Child Tempus Adest Floridum

Gentle Mary laid her child lowly in a manger;
there he lay, the Undefiled, but no more a stranger.
Such a babe in such a place, can he be the Savior?
Ask the saved of all the race who have found his favor.

Angels sang about his birth, wise men sought and found him;
heaven’s star shone brightly forth, glory all around him.
Shepherds saw the wondrous sight, heard the angels singing;
all the plains were lit that night, all the hills were ringing.

Gentle Mary laid her child lowly in a manger;
he is still the Undefiled, but no more a stranger.
Son of God of humble birth, beautiful the story;
praise his name in all the earth, hail the King of glory!

Prayer of Confession

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we confess before your holy majesty we are sinful by nature, transgressing without ceasing your commandments, in our desires, thoughts, and actions, both by what we have done and not done. We have no goodness in ourselves to plead before you, no works, no hope except in your sovereign mercy. Our hearts are restless, may we find our rest in you, our great Savior. We look to Christ, and to him alone for our salvation. We bless you that the chastisement which brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Amen.

The Gospel’s Assurance of Pardon: Colossians 1:19–20

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Doxology Tallis’ Canon

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.

Prayer of Illumination

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:1–11

1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 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. 3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 6 A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. 9 Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” 10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.

Sermon: Breathe Again Rev. Carroll Wynne

Hymn 223: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks Christmas

While shepherds watched their flocks by night, all seated on the ground,
the angel of the Lord came down, and glory shone around, and glory shone around.

“Fear not,” said he — for mighty dread had seized their troubled mind —
“glad tidings of great joy I bring to you and all mankind, to you and all mankind.

“To you, in David’s town this day, is born of David’s line,
the Savior, who is Christ the Lord, and this shall be the sign, and this shall be the sign:

“The heav’nly babe you there shall find to human view displayed,
all meanly wrapped in swathing bands, and in a manger laid, and in a manger laid.”

Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith appeared a shining throng
of angels praising God, who thus addressed their joyful song, addressed their joyful song:

“All glory be to God on high, and to the earth be peace:
good will henceforth, from heav’n to men, begin and never cease, begin and never cease!”

Offering Prayer

(In person offerings may be made via the oak boxes. Give online at tenth.org/give or mail checks to: 1701 Delancey Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103)

Offertory: Comfort, Comfort John Ferguson

Chamber Choir

“Comfort, comfort ye my people, tell of peace!” so says our God. Comfort those who sit in darkness mourning under sorrow’s load. To God’s people now proclaim that God’s pardon waits for them! Tell them that their war is over; God will reign in peace forever! For the herald’s voice is crying in the desert far and near, calling us to true repentance, since the Kingdom now is here. Oh that warning cry obey! Now prepare for God a way! Let the valleys rise to meet him, and the hills bow down to greet him! Straight shall be what long was crooked, and the rougher places plain! Let your hearts be true and humble, as befits his holy reign! For the glory of the Lord now o’er earth is shed abroad, and all flesh shall see the token that God’s Word is never broken.

Question of Preparation: Westminster Shorter Catechism, question 33

Question: What is justification?
Answer: Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardons all our sins, and accepts us as righteous in his sight only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

Words of Institution

Partaking of the Elements

Proclamation of the Mystery of our Faith: Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again!

Hymn 203: Hark! the Herald Angels Sing Mendelssohn

Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King;
peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies;
with th’angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Refrain
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King.”

Christ, by highest heav’n adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold him come, offspring of the Virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail th’incarnate Deity,
pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. (Refrain)

Hail, the heav’n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings, ris’n with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die,
born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth. (Refrain)

Benediction

Postlude

Serving this evening:
Jared Cochrum, platform
Aaron Patterson, organist

Sermon Notes