Evening Worship Service

Prelude: Sometimes a Light Surprises Craig Courtney

Sharon Neff, soprano

Sometimes a light surprises the Christian while he sings; it is the Lord who rises with healing in His wings: when comforts are declining, He grants the soul again a season of clear shining, to cheer it after rain. In holy contemplation we sweetly then pursue the theme of God’s salvation and find it ever new; set free from present sorrow, we cheerfully can say, let the unknown tomorrow bring with it what it may. It can bring with it nothing but He will bear us through: Who gives the lilies clothing will clothe His people too: beneath the spreading heavens no creature but is fed; and He who feeds the ravens will give His children bread. Though vine nor fig tree neither their wanted fruit should bear, though all the fields should wither, nor flocks nor herds be there; yet, God the same abiding, His praise shall tune my voice; for, while in Him confiding, I cannot but rejoice.

Call to Worship

Invocation

Hymn 172: Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder All Saints Old

Prayer of Confession

Righteous Father, if you would mark iniquities, how could we stand before you? Even as we open our mouths to praise you, we realize our tongues are a restless evil, a deadly poison, full of unrighteousness. Our very words often reveal the truth of what is inside us; we are proud sinners, unmerciful, unkind, and ungracious towards others, promoting ourselves. We lament how our words damage relationships, divide your Church, and defame your great name before a watching world. Lord, have mercy upon us, and grant that the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts would be increasingly pleasing in your sight, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

The Gospel’s Assurance of Pardon: 1 John 1:8–9

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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: Leviticus 1:1–4 (pew Bible, p.81)

Hymn: Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery Matt Boswell/Matt Papa/Michael Bleecker

Confession of Faith: Westminster Shorter Catechism, question 36

Question: What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?
Answer: The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end.

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: St. Francis’ Prayer Margaret Bonds
Sharon Neff, soprano

Lord, make me an instrument of thy Peace, where these is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master grant that I may not seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we gain eternal life.

Sermon: Offered on Our Behalf Grant Gregory

Hymn 253: There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood Fountain

Benediction

Postlude: Psalm XIX Benedetto Marcello

Serving this evening:
Rev. John, platform
Colin Howland, organist