Evening Worship Service

Prelude: Prelude in F Minor, BWV 534 Johann Sebastian Bach

Call to Worship

Invocation

Hymn 32: Great Is Thy Faithfulness Faithfulness

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: Colossians 1:19–20

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

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: Ruth 1:6–22 (pew Bible, p.222)

6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. 7 So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.
8 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, 13 would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.” 14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”

18 And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more. 19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” 20 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?” 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

Sermon: Seeking Redemption in Bethlehem Rev. Jonas Stava

Hymn 524: Thy Works, Not Mine, O Christ Darwall

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: Adeste Fideles Jeanne Demessieux

Question of Preparation: Westminster Shorter Catechism, question 91

Question: How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation?
Answer: The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in them, or in him that doth administer them; but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working of His Spirit in them that by faith receive them.

Sacrament of the Lord's Supper

The Sursum Corda (Lift up your hearts)

The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
Lift up your hearts!
We lift them up to the Lord!
Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.
It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
It is right and good and a joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks unto You, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God. Therefore, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Your glorious Name; evermore praising You, and saying:

“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.”

Words of Institution

Distribution of the Elements

Scripture will be read while the communion kits are distributed. Please use this time for personal prayer and thanksgiving. We will all partake the bread and cup together at the direction of the minister. Please remember to fill out a goldenrod Communion Participation slip and kindly place it in one of the oak boxes on your way out.

Proclamation of the Mystery of our Faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again!

Hymn 420: At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing St. George's, Windsor

Benediction

Postlude: Fugue in F Minor, BWV 534 Johann Sebastian Bach

Serving this evening:
Rev. Carroll Wynne, platform
Aaron Patterson, organist