Evening Worship Service

Prelude: Wachet Auf! (Trinity Hymnal 317) Johann Sebastian Bach

Call to Worship

Invocation

Hymn 198: Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates! Truro

Text: Georg Weissel, based on Psalm 24 (1642)

Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates! Behold, the King of glory waits;
the King of kings is drawing near, the Savior of the world is here.

A helper just he comes to thee, his chariot is humility,
his kingly crown is holiness, his scepter, pity in distress.

O blest the land, the city blest, where Christ the Ruler is confessed!
O happy hearts and happy homes to whom this King in triumph comes!

Fling wide the portals of your heart; make it a temple, set apart
from earthly use for heav’n’s employ, adorned with prayer and love and joy.

Redeemer, come! I open wide my heart to thee; here, Lord, abide!
Let me thy inner presence feel; thy grace and love in me reveal.

So come, my Sovereign, enter in! Let new and nobler life begin!
Thy Holy Spirit, guide us on, until the glorious crown be won.

Prayer of Confession

O God, our great Redeemer and Savior, too often have we looked to our own works rather than trusting in the finished work of Christ. It is hard for us to admit that our sin permeates every thought and action. We continue to presume upon your grace by thinking you must love us because of something you see in us. Forgive us for the times we behave like the Pharisee, who boasted in his own righteousness, and belittled the one who came to you for mercy. Make us to know our sin, and be merciful to us, according to your grace freely given to us through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

The Gospel’s Assurance of Pardon: Colossians 1:13–14

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Doxology 733 Lasst Uns Erfreuen

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

Prayer of Illumination

Scripture Reading: Genesis 4:1–26 (pew Bible, p. 3)

Hymn 201: O Little Town of Bethlehem St. Louis

Text: Phillips Brooks (1868)

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie;
above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by:
yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;
the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary; and gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond’ring love.
O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth!
And praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth.

How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heav’n.
No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in.

O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.

Confession of Faith: Westminster Shorter Catechism, question 14

Question: What is sin?
Answer: Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law 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: Comfort, Comfort John Ferguson

Chamber Choir

“Comfort, comfort ye My people, tell of peace!” so says our God. Comfort those who sit in darkness mourning under sorrow’s load. To God’s people now proclaim that God’s pardon waits for them! Tell them that their war is over; God will reign in peace forever! For the herald’s voice is crying in the desert far and near, calling us to true repentance, since the Kingdom now is here. Oh that warning cry obey! Now prepare for God a way! Let the valleys rise to meet Him, and the hills bow down to greet Him! Straight shall be what long was crooked, and the rougher places plain! Let your hearts be true and humble, as befits His holy reign! For the glory of the Lord now o’er earth is shed abroad, and all flesh shall see the token that God’s Word is never broken.

Sermon: The Beginning of Hope Grant Gregory

Hymn 229: Gentle Mary Laid Her Child Tempus Adest Floridum

Text: Joseph Simpson Cook (1919)

Gentle Mary laid her child lowly in a manger;
there he lay, the Undefiled, but no more a stranger.
Such a babe in such a place, can he be the Savior?
Ask the saved of all the race who have found his favor.

Angels sang about his birth, wise men sought and found him;
heaven’s star shone brightly forth, glory all around him.
Shepherds saw the wondrous sight, heard the angels singing;
all the plains were lit that night, all the hills were ringing.

Gentle Mary laid her child lowly in a manger;
he is still the Undefiled, but no more a stranger.
Son of God of humble birth, beautiful the story;
praise his name in all the earth, hail the King of glory!

Benediction

Postlude: March on "Lift Up Your Heads" Alexandre Guilmant

Serving this evening:
Rev. Carroll Wynne, platform
Colin Howland, organist