First Presbyterian Church of Darby

12/28/2025

Declaration
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the authority of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church of Darby is dissolved.

12/28/2025

Thanksgiving for the Ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Darby

Eternal God, whom the highest heavens cannot contain, much less a building made by human hands, hear as we pray:
We praise you, O God.
For the Church universal, of which the building of the Darby church has been a symbol.
We praise you, O God.
For all the saints who, in times past and present, have formed a congregation of your people and have met in that place to offer their prayers and praise to you,
We praise you, O God.
For those who have been made your children by adoption and grace, who in that place were cleansed of sin, buried with Christ in the waters of baptism, and raised to new and eternal life,
We praise you, O God.
For your presence whenever your word has been proclaimed and your sacramental gifts of bread and wine received,
We praise you, O God.
For your blessing upon each of your children, welcomed and nurtured there,
We praise you, O God.
For all who came to ask our blessing in marriage, seeking to love with your love,
We praise you, O God.
For faithful stewards who have lived for others, serving you by loving neighbors,
We praise you, O God.
For all who, having lived this life in faith, were commended to your loving care and now live eternally with you,
We praise you, O God.
For the knowledge that your church and your ministry among us will continue today, tomorrow, and forever,
We praise you, O God.
All thanks and praise to you, O God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

12/28/2025

Sermon: “A Time To Leave”

The Old Testament Lesson Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

A Time for Everything
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Isaiah 63: 7-9
Praise and Prayer
7 I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us—yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses. 8 He said, “Surely they are my people, children who will be true to me”; and so he became their Savior. 9 In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them.[a] In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

The New Testament Lesson Matthew 2: 13-23
The Escape to Egypt
13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”[a] 16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: 18 “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”[b]

The Return to Nazareth
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” 21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

12/26/2025

WE PRAISE OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST FOR 171 YEARS OF MINISTRY.

12/14/2025

Church will be via Zoom only today

11/29/2025

11/08/2025

A CONGREGATIONAL MEETING WILL BE HELD
DECEMBER 7, 2025
12 PM

09/30/2025

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. ~ Isaiah 40:31

09/29/2025

So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. ~ Hebrews 13:6-9

09/27/2025

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies--in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. ~ 1 Peter 4:10-11

09/26/2025

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. ~ James 1:17