* Those who are able, please stand.
Welcome Linda Thompson
Welcome to our morning worship at First Presbyterian Church of Edenton. We are grateful for this sacred space and give thanks that you have found your way here this Lord’s Day. Today is the 1st Sunday after Christmas, and the last Sunday in this calendar year of 2025. Let us open our hearts to the Spirit and worship God with joy.
Announcements
Visitors, please fill out the connection card in the pew so we can send you a note.
Opening Prayer Linda Thompson
Gather us together, Holy One, as we seek your presence. Still our busy minds, open our hearts, that we may ready ourselves for the leading of your Spirit. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Prelude Christopher Bunch
*Call to Worship (Unison)
Creator God, as I begin this day, open my eyes, my ears, all my senses to the beauty around me. Help me to see how mountains and trees rise up in praise of you. Help me to hear how the birds of the air, the whales in the deep, and the wild animals on the ground sing your praises. Help me to join another, or many others, in praise of your glory not only today, but even forever. Amen!
*Hymn All Things Bright and Beautiful #20
Prayer for New Beginnings (Unison)
Creator God, even as the heavenly host sang of your glory in the night skies over Bethlehem; even as the star shone in the heavens, and sheep and cattle gathered in that light, so we gather, young and old together, to recount all that you have done for us in mercy and steadfast love. No tyrant’s threat or deadly act can destroy the dreams and visions you have placed within us, for you have drawn us close. With all creation, we praise you and exalt your name forever and ever. Amen.
*Passing of the Peace
We celebrate this season of Christmas the birth of the prince of peace. As we approach the beginnings of a new year, may we turn towards the way of Peace as we follow the Christ child, gifted to the world that God so loves.
The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
*Congregational Response In My Life #468 v.1,4
In my life, Lord, be glorified; be glorified.
In my life, Lord, be glorified today,
In your world, Lord, be glorified; be glorified.
In your world, Lord, be glorified today.
Prayer for Illumination Linda Thompson
Holy One, your Word comes to us: Jesus Christ, Immanuel. Holy Word, you cross every border meant to shut you out Holy Wisdom, speak to us in the word read and proclaimed. Hearing, may we dream your dreams and faithfully follow wherever you lead. In your triune name we pray. Amen.
Old Testament Reading Psalm 148 Linda Thompson
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host! Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed. Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds! Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and women alike, old and young together! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven. He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the Lord!
Word in Music Christopher Bunch
Gospel Reading Mark 4: 26-34 Rev. Jeff Sockwell
He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.” He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.
Sermon Rev. Jeff Sockwell
*Hymn God of Great and God of Small #20
*Affirmation of Faith (Unison) a portion of the Declaration of Faith
Jesus broadened the definition of neighbor to include those ordinarily despised and excluded. His life in behalf of others led to persecution and death. He commanded his disciples to live the same way. We believe Christ gives us and demands of us lives that recognize all people in all cultures as our neighbors on this planet. Christ teaches us to go beyond legal requirements in serving and helping our neighbor, to treat our neighbor's needs as our own, to care passionately for the other's good, to share what we have.
It is part of our discipline to live in simplicity, avoiding greed and luxury that threaten our neighbor's survival. We are obligated to speak the truth in love, to listen with patience and openness, to love our enemies, to accept the risk and pain which love involves.
Prayers of the People / Lord’s Prayer
You call us to this work of planting and tending to your wonderful creation. As we enter into a new calendar year, grant us the tenacity, the strength, the endurance to scatter your seeds of love with wild abandon. May we be willing to seek new paths to follow, may our community be blessed with the wildness of your Spirit as we journey faithfully into the future you would desire for us. We pray in the name of the One who showed us the way of love, and taught us to pray saying…
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, the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Invitation to the Offering
All creation teems with the abundance of God’s provision: mountains and hills, fruit trees and cedars, creeping things and flying birds! Our own lives bear witness to the abundance of God’s love and mercy, for God has lifted us up and carried us in our need. In joyful praise, we offer to God a portion of all we have received.
Offering
Offertory
*Doxology #606
Prayer of Dedication
In this gifting season, O God, we are grateful for the gift of your dear Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Receive, we pray, these offerings we bring. May they be used in the service of your grace and truth dwelling among us. In Christ’s holy name we pray. Amen.
*Hymn For the Beauty of the Earth #14
*Blessing
May God the Creator, Christ the Savior, and the Holy Spirit, our Advocate, guard your going out and your coming in; and be your strength and help in every time of need.
Postlude Christopher Bunch