Evening Worship Service

Prelude: Fugue in B Major, Well Tempered Clavier, vol. 2 Johann Sebastian Bach

Norman Carter, piano

Call to Worship

Invocation

Hymn 16: Come, Let Us Sing unto the Lord (stanzas 1–4) Duke Street

Come, let us sing unto the Lord
new songs of praise with sweet accord;
for wonders great by him are done,
his hand and arm have vict’ry won.

The great salvation of our God
is seen through all the earth abroad;
before the heathen’s wond’ring sight
he has revealed his truth and right.

He called to mind his truth and grace
in promise made to Israel’s race;
and unto earth’s remotest bound
glad tidings of salvation sound.

All lands, to God lift up your voice;
sing praise to him, with shouts rejoice;
with voice of joy and loud acclaim
let all unite and praise his name.

Prayer of Confession

O Lord our God, no day of our lives passes that does not prove us guilty in your sight. Even our best efforts are as filthy rags before you. We ask you to forgive our sin because he who knew no sin was made to be sin for us; that in Christ we might be fully pardoned and restored. Grant that, by resting in his righteousness alone, we may hereafter walk in newness of life, and run with endurance the race that is set before us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Gospel’s Assurance of Pardon: 1 John 4:9

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.

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: Matthew 14:1–21

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus, 2 and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 3 For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. 6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, 7 so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” 9 And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. 10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus. 13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Hymn: Before the Throne of God Above Before The Throne

Before the throne of God above, I have a strong and perfect plea,
a great High Priest whose name is Love, who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on his hands, my name is written on his heart.
I know that while in heav’n he stands, no tongue can bid me thence depart,
no tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within,
upward I look and see him there, who made an end to all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died, my sinful soul is counted free;
for God, the just, is satisfied to look on him and pardon me,
to look on him and pardon me.

Behold him there, the risen Lamb, my perfect, spotless righteousness,
the great unchangeable I Am, the King of glory and of grace!
One with himself I cannot die. My soul is purchased by his blood!
My life is hid with Christ on high, with Christ, my Savior and my God,
with Christ, my Savior and my God.

Confession of Faith: Westminster Shorter Catechism, question 27

Question: Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist?
Answer: Christ’s humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross; in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time.

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: Write Your Blessed Name K. Lee Scott

Chamber Choir; Norman Carter, piano

Write your blessed name, O Lord, upon my heart, there to remain so indelibly engraved that no prosperity, that no adversity shall ever move me from your love. Be to me a strong tower of defense, a comforter in tribulation, a deliverer in distress, and a faithful Guide to the courts of heaven through the many temptations and dangers of this life. O Jesu, my only Savior!

Sermon: Bring Bad News to Jesus Rev. Gavin Lymberopoulos

Hymn 424: Shepherd of Souls, Refresh and Bless St. Agnes

Shepherd of souls, refresh and bless your chosen pilgrim flock
with manna in the wilderness, with water from the rock.

Hungry and thirsty, faint and weak, as you when here below,
our souls the joys celestial seek which from thy sorrows flow.

We would not live by bread alone, but by that Word of grace,
in strength of which we travel on to our abiding place.

Be known to us in breaking bread, but do not then depart;
Savior, abide with us, and spread your table in our heart.

There sup with us in love divine; your body and your blood,
that living bread, that heav’nly wine, be our immortal food.

Benediction

Postlude: Sonata in A Major: Maestoso Felix Mendelssohn

Serving this evening:
George McFarland, platform
Colin Howland, organist