Prelude: Sussex Carol (Trinity Hymnal 227, v.1-2,4) arr. Mark Hayes
Suzannah Waddington, soprano

Announcements Kelci Rose, Director of Christian Education & Women's Ministries (11am)

Living Church Frank Harder, ruling elder

Call to Worship

Doxology Old Hundredth

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heav’nly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

Father of mercies, please listen to us while we confess before you how unworthy we have been of all your goodness; for we are a sinful generation, even as our fathers were. We have sinned times without number, and even those of us who are your people, and have been born into your house, we have even more than others to mourn over our sin, for you have made us more sensible of it, and we have sinned against greater light, which we do sorrowfully confess. Our sins of pride, of unbelief, of hasty judgment of your providence, our neglect of searching into your mind in the Word, our neglect of possessing your mind in our daily life, our transgressions and our shortcomings make against us a great list of accusations. Forgive us, we pray, and grant us mercy for the sake of your dear Son, our Savior. Amen.

The Gospel’s Assurance of Pardon: Titus 3:4–7

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Invocation

Hymn 222: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks Winchester Old

Responsive Reading: Psalm 101 (pew Bible p. 501)

Gloria Patri Meineke

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen.

Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into ­­heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayer of Intercession (concluding with The Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Hymn 201: O Little Town of Bethlehem St. Louis

Offering Prayer Norman Carter, ruling elder (9am)
Brock Garrigan (11am)

(Give online at tenth.org/give or mail checks to: 1701 Delancey Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103)

Offertory: Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming (Trinity Hymnal 221, v.1-2,4) arr. Mark Hayes

Suzannah Waddington, soprano

Scripture Reading: John 1:1-18 (pew Bible p. 886)

Sermon: St. John’s Unparalleled Christmas Dr. Peter Lillback

Hymn 218: Angels from the Realms of Glory Regent Square

Benediction

Postlude: Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella arr. Keith Chapman

Serving today:
9am platform: Dr. Enrique Leal, Norman Carter
11am platform: Rev. Josiah Vanderveen, Brock Garrigan
Organist: Rev. Colin Howland

This morning we welcome Rev. Dr. Peter Lillback, a Teaching Elder in the PCA, and currently serving as president and professor of historical theology and church history at Westminster Theological Seminary.