Prelude: The Work of Christmas Dan Forrest

Timothy Renner, baritone

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

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men; we acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, which we have from time to time committed by thought, word, and deed against your divine majesty, provoking most justly your wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent and are heartily sorry for our misdoings; they are grievous unto us. Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father, for your Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake; forgive us all that is past, and grant that hereafter we may serve and please you in newness of life, to the honor and glory of your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Gospel’s Assurance of Pardon: Galatians 4:4–5

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Invocation

Hymn 246: Man of Sorrows! What a Name Hallelujah! What A Savior

Man of Sorrows! what a name for the Son of God, who came
ruined sinners to reclaim: Hallelujah! what a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned he stood,
sealed my pardon with his blood: Hallelujah! what a Savior!

Guilty, vile, and helpless, we; spotless Lamb of God was he;
full atonement! can it be? Hallelujah! what a Savior!

Lifted up was he to die, “It is finished!” was his cry:
now in heav’n exalted high: Hallelujah! what a Savior!

When he comes, our glorious King, all his ransomed home to bring,
then anew this song we’ll sing: Hallelujah! what a Savior!

Responsive Reading: Psalm 122

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!
Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together,
to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
There thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you!
Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!”
For my brothers and companions' sake I will say, “Peace be within you!”
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.

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.

Announcements

Commissioning of Deaconesses (11am)

Jennifer Choi, Northern Tier
Sue Jean Choi, Northern Tier

Susan Elzey, New Jersey
Natalie Garner, Western Suburbs

Sarah Haile, Metropolitan

Barbara Kasper, Brandywine

Susanna Paul, Brandywine

Signe Spragins, Western Suburbs


Psalm 32 Resignation

What blessedness belongs to him who truly is forgiv'n,
for whom transgressions have been cleared, and covered is his sin.
How blessed is the one the Lord accuses not of sin,
the man without deceit and guile, whose heart is pure within.

I languished, silent in my guilt; my days were filled with groans.
Your hand on me pressed day and night, and heat dried up my bones.
My trespasses to you I owned, hide not my wickedness;
I said, "I will before the Lord transgressions now confess."

You pardoned my iniquity and took my guilt away;
and therefore while you may be found, let godly people pray.
The gush of torrents will not harm; you hide me, give me peace.
You keep me safe, surrounding me with songs of my release.

The sorrows of the wicked man in number shall abound,
but those who trust in God the Lord, his mercy will surround.
Be glad, you righteous, shout for joy, and give the Lord your praise!
With upright hearts, O saints of God, your joyful songs upraise!

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: The Sands of Time Are Sinking arr. Erik D. Hanson

Timothy Renner, baritone

Scripture Reading: Revelation 2:1–7

1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Sermon: First Works First Dr. Liam Goligher

Hymn 598: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah Cwm Rhondda

Guide me, O thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty; hold me with thy pow’rful hand;
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more,
feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain, whence the healing stream doth flow;
let the fire and cloudy pillar lead me all my journey through;
strong Deliv’rer, strong Deliv’rer, be thou still my strength and shield,
be thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan, bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell’s Destruction, land me safe on Canaan’s side;
songs of praises, songs of praises I will ever give to thee,
I will ever give to thee.

Benediction

Postlude

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

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway

CCLI# 248685