Prelude: The People that Walked in Darkness, from Messiah George Frideric Handel

Timothy Renner, baritone

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

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

We praise you, O God of light, that in you there is no darkness at all. Illumine our lives with your Word of truth, that we might know ourselves and see our great need for you. Father, we confess before you and in the presence of one another those things which you alone can see; the chambers of our hearts where we keep our secret past, the part of us which nurtures sinful desire, the pride that shields us from being really honest with you and with one another. We are afraid to be seen as we really are, and yet, O God, you know us through and through. We are your children; help us to walk as children of the light, following your Word which is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Amen.

The Gospel’s Assurance of Pardon: Romans 5:6–8

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Invocation

Hymn 194: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Veni Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.

Refrain
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, thou Lord of might, who to thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
in ancient times didst give the law in cloud and majesty and awe. (Refrain)

O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free thine own from Satan's tyranny;
from depths of hell thy people save, and give them vict'ry o'er the grave. (Refrain)

O come, thou Dayspring from on high, and cheer us by thy drawing nigh;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadows put to flight. (Refrain)

O come, thou Key of David, come and open wide our heav'nly home;
make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery. (Refrain)

Responsive Reading: Psalm 119:113–128

I hate the double-minded, but I love your law.
You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.
Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.
Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope!
Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually!
You spurn all who go astray from your statutes, for their cunning is in vain.
All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross, therefore I love your testimonies.
My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments.
I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors.
Give your servant a pledge of good; let not the insolent oppress me.
My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.
Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes.
I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!
It is time for the Lord to act, for your law has been broken.
Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold.
Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way.

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.

Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who, for us and our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered death and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life; who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spake by the prophets. And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. 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.

Announcements

Hymn 207: Good Christian Men, Rejoice In Dulci Jubilo

Good Christian men, rejoice, with heart and soul and voice;
give ye heed to what we say: Jesus Christ is born today;
earth and heav'n before him bow, and he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today! Christ is born today!

Good Christian men, rejoice, with heart and soul and voice;
now ye hear of endless bliss: Jesus Christ was born for this!
He hath opened heaven's door, and man is blessed evermore.
Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this!

Good Christian men, rejoice, with heart and soul and voice;
now ye need not fear the grave: Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all to gain his everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!

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: Watchman, Tell Us of the Night arr. John Ness Beck

Timothy Renner, baritone

Watchman, tell us of the night, what its signs and promise are. Travelers, o'er yon mountain height, see that glory-beaming star! Watchman, does its beauteous ray any joy or hope foretell? Travelers, yes; it brings the day, promised day of Israel. Watchman, tell us of the night; higher yet that star ascends. Travelers, blessedness and light, peace and truth its course portends, watchman, will its beams alone gild the spot that gave them birth? Travelers, ages are its own; See! It bursts o'er all the earth. Watchman, tell us of the night, for the morning seems to dawn. Travelers, darkness takes its flight, doubt and terror are withdrawn. Watchman, let thy wanderings cease; hie thee to thy quiet home. Travelers, lo! the Prince of Peace, Lo! the Son of God is come!

Scripture Reading: Revelation 1:9–20

9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. 12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Sermon: The Lord's Day Dr. Liam Goligher

Hymn 193: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Picardy

Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly-minded, for with blessing in his hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth, our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary, as of old on earth he stood;
Lord of lords, in human vesture, in the body and the blood,
he will give to all the faithful his own self for heav'nly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven spreads its vanguard on the way,
as the Light of light descendeth from the realms of endless day,
that the pow'rs of hell may vanish as the darkness clears away.

At his feet the six-winged seraph; cherubim, with sleepless eye,
veil their faces to the presence, as with ceaseless voice they cry,
"Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, Lord Most High!"

Benediction

Postlude: Personent Hodie Rebecca Groom te Velde

Serving today:
George McFarland, 9:00am platform
Dr. Enrique Leal, 11:00am platform
Colin Howland, organist

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. May not copy or download more than 500 consecutive verses of the ESV Bible or more than one half of any book of the ESV Bible.

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