Evening Worship Service

Prelude: Come, Savior of the Nations, BWV 661 Johann Sebastian Bach

Call to Worship

Invocation

Hymn 227: On Christmas Night All Christians Sing Sussex Carol

On Christmas night all Christians sing, to hear the news the angels bring;
on Christmas night all Christians sing, to hear the news the angels bring:
news of great joy, news of great mirth, news of our merciful King’s birth.

Then why should we on earth be sad, since our Redeemer made us glad:
then why should we on earth be sad, since our Redeemer made us glad:
when from our sin he set us free, all for to gain our liberty.

When sin departs before Your grace, then life and health come in its place;
when sin departs before Your grace, then life and health come in its place;
angels and men with joy may sing, all for to see the new-born King.

All out of darkness we have light which made the angels sing this night;
all out of darkness we have light which made the angels sing this night:
“Glory to God and peace to men, now and forevermore. Amen.”

Prayer of Confession

Our gracious Father, you sent your Son to die and rise to new life in order that death might be destroyed and that we might live a new life. Yet we have often chosen our own way rather than your way. We have rebelled against you in thought, word and deed. In doing so, we have grieved you, hurt others, and damaged ourselves. Forgive our sin for Jesus’ sake, and grant that we may walk in the ways of love and holiness to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

The Gospel’s Assurance of Pardon: Psalm 103: 8, 10–12

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

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 1:18–25

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,
25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Hymn 216: Infant Holy, Infant Lowly W Zlobie Lezy

Infant holy, infant lowly, for his bed a cattle stall;
oxen lowing, little knowing Christ, the babe, is Lord of all.
Swift are winging angels singing, noels ringing, tidings bringing:
Christ the babe is Lord of all. Christ the babe is Lord of all!

Flocks were sleeping: shepherds keeping vigil till the morning new
saw the glory, heard the story, tidings of a gospel true.
Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, praises voicing, greet the morrow:
Christ the babe was born for you. Christ the babe was born for you.

Confession of Faith: Westminster Shorter Catechism, question 34

Question: What is adoption?
Answer: Adoption is as act of God’s free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God.

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: In the Bleak Midwinter Harold Darke

Chamber Choir; Timothy Gonzalez, soloist

Sermon: Disruptive Good News Rev. Greg Hobaugh

Hymn 199: See, amid the Winter’s Snow (stanzas 1–2, 5–6) See Amid

See, amid the winter’s snow, born for us on earth below,
see the tender Lamb appears, promised from eternal years.

Refrain
Hail, thou ever-blessed morn! Hail, redemption’s happy dawn!
Sing through all Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Lo, within a manger lies he who built the starry skies:
he who, throned in height sublime, sits amid the cherubim. (Refrain)

Sacred infant, all divine, what a tender love was thine,
thus to come from highest bliss down to such a world as this! (Refrain)

Teach, O teach us, holy child, by thy face so meek and mild,
teach us to resemble thee, in thy sweet humility. (Refrain)

Benediction

Postlude

Serving this evening:
Rev. John, platform
Aaron Patterson, organist

Sermon Notes