 Fruitland First and Vino Nuevo United Methodist Churches World Communion Sunday October 4, 2026 Rev. Jorge Rodruiguez, assisted by Rev. Letha Essinger and Rev. Efren Garza Prelude: “Children’s Medley,” Arranged by Marilyn Ham Welcome and Announcements: Revs. Letha and Jorge Welcome to Fruitland United Methodist Church. Today we join Christians around the world in celebrating World Communion Sunday. We come from different nations, cultures, languages, and traditions, but we gather around one Table, because we belong to one Christ. *Call to Worship Inspired by Exodus 20 Letha Leader: God has called us out of bondage and into freedom. People: God is forming us into a people of grace. Leader: We are called to love God and to honor one another. People: We are called to live as a community of justice, compassion, and peace. Leader: We come from different places and carry different stories. People: But God gathers us as one people. Leader: Come, let us worship the God who sets us free and teaches us how to live together. All: We come with grateful hearts. Let us worship God! *Sharing of the Peace of Christ “Peace be with you.” “And also with you.” *Opening Hymn: “Kum Ba Yah My Lord/Mora en Mi Señor” UMH 494 Opening Prayer Pastor Jorge God of every nation and every people, you have called us from many places and gathered us into one family. Teach us to see one another through the eyes of Christ. Break down the walls that divide us, free us from prejudice and pride, and make us a community where everyone can experience your grace. As Christians around the world worship today, remind us that we belong to one another because we belong to you. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. First Scripture Reading: Matthew/Mateo 21:33–46 Pew Bible 1533 Rev. Letha and Rev. Efren Garza Time With Young Christians: “There Is Always Room” Pastor Jorge Please write your prayer concerns and celebrations on the notepads provided. These will be collected. Community Expressions Pastor Jorge and Letha Sing: “Holy, Holy, Holy” TFWS 2007 Prayers of Thanksgiving and Celebration Prayers for Healing and Wholeness Prayers for our Community and our World Let us pray. *Hymn: “ We are One in Christ Jesus/Somos Uno en Cristo” TFWS 2229 Invitation to Generosity Pastor Jorge As God has freely given to us, we are invited to give so that Christ’s love may reach beyond these walls and into our community and our world. Offertory: “Oh, How He Loves You and Me” By Richard Smallwood *Doxology: “ Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” UMH 95 Prayer of Dedication: Generous God, receive these gifts and use them to bring hope, healing, justice, and love to our neighbors near and far. Amen. Second Scripture Reading: Philippians/Filipenses 3:4b–14 Pew Bible 1828 Rev. Letha & Rev. Efren Garza Hymn: “Sing Of Colors/De Colores” Lyrics printed on blue insert. Sermon: “WHAT DO WE NEED TO LEAVE BEHIND SO THAT WE MAY SIT TOGETHER AT THE SAME TABLE?” Rev. Jorge Rodriguez ¿QUÉ TENDRÍAMOS QUE DEJAR ATRÁS PARA SENTARNOS JUNTOS EN LA MISMA MESA? Día de la Comunión Mundial / World Communion Sunday Hay mesas donde sabemos exactamente dónde sentarnos. Llegamos, buscamos nuestro lugar, nossentamos junto a las personas que conocemos, junto a quienes hablan como nosotros, piensancomo nosotros y quizás hasta creen como nosotros. Y nos sentimos cómodos. Pero hoycelebramos el Día de la Comunión Mundial. Y la mesa de Jesús no es una mesa de comodidad. Esuna mesa de gracia. There are tables where we know exactly where to sit. We arrive, find our place, and sit beside people we know, people who speak like us, think like us, and perhaps even believe like us. And we feel comfortable. But today we celebrate World Communion Sunday. And the table of Jesus is not a table of comfort. It is a table of grace. Y por eso quisiera hacer una pregunta esta mañana: ¿Qué tendríamos que dejar atrás parapoder sentarnos juntos en la misma mesa? Tal vez tendríamos que dejar atrás algunosprejuicios. Tal vez algunas heridas. Tal vez el orgullo. Tal vez esa necesidad que tenemos detener siempre la razón. Tal vez tendríamos que dejar atrás las etiquetas que ponemos sobre otras personas. Porque cuando llegamos a la mesa de Cristo, no llegamos porque tenemos razón. Llegamos porque necesitamos gracia. And so I want to ask a question this morning: What would we have to leave behind in order to sit together at the same table? Perhaps we would have to leave behind some prejudices. Perhaps some wounds. Perhaps our pride. Perhaps our need to always be right. Perhaps we would have to leave behind the labels we place on other people. Because when we come to Christ’s table, we do not come because we are right. We come because we need grace. Pablo nos recuerda que la vida cristiana tiene que ver con aprender a vivir con la mente y elcorazón de Cristo. No solamente creer en Jesús. No solamente cantar acerca de Jesús. Nosolamente venir a la iglesia. Sino aprender a mirar a los demás como Jesús los mira. Y eso cambia la manera en que nos sentamos a la mesa. Paul reminds us that the Christian life is about learning to live with the mind and heart of Christ. Not simply believing in Jesus. Not simply singing about Jesus. Not simply coming to church. But learning to see others the way Jesus sees them. And that changes the way we sit at the table. Porque Jesús no preguntó primero: ¿De dónde vienes? ¿Cuál es tu nacionalidad? ¿Qué idioma hablas? ¿Cuánto dinero tienes? ¿Eres conservador o liberal? ¿Tienes tus papeles en orden? ¿Eresdigno de estar aquí? Jesús simplemente dijo: “Vengan.” Because Jesus did not first ask: Where do you come from? What is your nationality? What language do you speak? How much money do you have? Are you conservative or liberal? Are your papers in order? Are you worthy of being here? Jesus simply said: “Come.” Y quizás ese sea uno de los grandes desafíos de la iglesia de nuestro tiempo. Hemos aprendido muy bien a construir mesas para los nuestros. Pero Jesús continúa ampliando la mesa. Nosotros ponemos fronteras. Jesús pone una silla más. Nosotros levantamos paredes. Jesús abre una puerta. Nosotros preguntamos: “¿Pertenece esta persona aquí?” Y Jesús responde: “Hay lugar.” Perhaps that is one of the great challenges facing the church in our time. We have become very good at building tables for our own people. But Jesus keeps making the table larger. We create borders. Jesus adds another chair. We build walls. Jesus opens a door. We ask: “Does this person belong here?” And Jesus answers: “There is room.” Hoy, alrededor del mundo, millones de cristianos se acercan a la mesa. En África. En Asia. En América Latina. En Europa. En pequeñas iglesias rurales. En grandes catedrales. En comunidades donde se habla inglés. En comunidades donde se habla español. En lugares donde los cristianos pueden adorar libremente y en lugares donde hacerlo cuesta mucho. Y aunque somos diferentes, comemos del mismo pan y compartimos de la misma copa. Today, around the world, millions of Christians are coming to the table. In Africa. In Asia. In Latin America. In Europe. In small rural churches. In great cathedrals. In communities where English is spoken. In communities where Spanish is spoken. In places where Christians can worship freely and in places where doing so comes at a great cost. And although we are different, we eat from the same bread and share the same cup. Eso significa que la mesa de Cristo es más grande que nuestras diferencias. Más grande que nuestras fronteras. Más grande que nuestras denominaciones. Más grande que nuestros desacuerdos. Y quizás incluso más grande que nuestra imaginación. That means Christ’s table is bigger than our differences. Bigger than our borders. Bigger than our denominations. Bigger than our disagreements. And perhaps even bigger than our imagination. Pero para sentarnos juntos, tenemos que dejar algunas cosas atrás. No podemos traer a la mesa nuestro odio y esperar reconciliación. No podemos traer nuestros prejuicios y esperar comunidad. No podemos traer nuestra superioridad y esperar fraternidad. No podemos seguir diciendo: “Esta mesa es mía.” Porque la mesa nunca fue nuestra. La mesa pertenece a Cristo. But in order to sit together, we have to leave some things behind. We cannot bring hatred to the table and expect reconciliation. We cannot bring prejudice and expect community. We cannot bring superiority and expect fellowship. We cannot keep saying: “This table belongs to me.” Because the table was never ours. The table belongs to Christ. Y aquí está la buena noticia. Jesús no espera que lleguemos perfectos a la mesa. Llegamos heridos. Llegamos cansados. Llegamos con preguntas. Llegamos con nuestros errores. Llegamos cargando cosas que todavía no sabemos cómo soltar. Pero llegamos. Y allí encontramos pan. Encontramos una copa. Encontramos gracia. Y encontramos a Cristo diciendo: “Hay un lugar para ti.” And here is the good news. Jesus does not expect us to arrive at the table perfect. We came wounded. We come tired. We come with questions. We come with our mistakes. We come carrying things we still do not know how to let go. But we come. And there we find bread. We find a cup. We find grace. And we find Christ saying: “There is a place for you.” Pero hay algo más. Jesús no solamente nos invita a encontrar nuestro lugar. Jesús nos llama a hacer lugar para alguien más. Quizás para alguien que no piensa como nosotros. Quizás para alguien que no habla nuestro idioma. Quizás para un inmigrante. Para una persona sola. Para alguien que ha sido rechazado. Para alguien que piensa que Dios ya no tiene lugar para él o para ella. But there is something more. Jesus does not simply invite us to find our own place. Jesus calls us to make room for someone else. Perhaps for someone who does not think like us. Perhaps for someone who does not speak our language. Perhaps for an immigrant. For someone who is lonely. For someone who has been rejected. For someone who believes that God no longer has a place for him or for her. Por eso, cuando dentro de unos momentos nos acerquemos a esta mesa, quisiera que nos hagamos nuevamente la pregunta: ¿Qué tengo que dejar atrás para sentarme aquí? Mi orgullo. Mi resentimiento. Mis prejuicios. Mi necesidad de tener siempre la razón. Mi miedo a quien es diferente. Tal vez hay algo que necesitamos dejar a los pies de Cristo antes de extender nuestras manos para recibir el pan. So when, in a few moments, we come to this table, I want to ask ourselves the question again: What do I need to leave behind in order to sit here? My pride. My resentment. My prejudices. My need to always be right. My fear of those who are different. Perhaps there is something we need to leave at the feet of Christ before we extend our hands to receive the bread. Porque este pan nos recuerda algo profundamente sencillo: Nos necesitamos unos a otros. Y esta copa nos recuerda algo todavía más profundo: Todos necesitamos la misma gracia. Because this bread reminds us of something profoundly simple: We need one another. And this cupreminds us of something even deeper: We all need the same grace. Entonces, Iglesia, hagamos espacio. Movamos nuestras sillas. Abramos nuestros corazones. Dejemos atrás aquello que nos divide. Porque Cristo ya ha preparado la mesa. El pan está listo. La copa está lista. La gracia está disponible. Y todavía hay una silla vacía. Hay lugar para alguien más. So, Church, let us make room. Let us move our chairs. Let us open our hearts. Let us leave behind what divides us. Because Christ has already prepared the table. The bread is ready. The cup is ready. Grace is available. And there is still an empty chair. There is room for someone else. Amen Prayer of Confession: Before we come to Christ’s Table, let us bring before God whatever keeps us from making room for one another. All: Merciful God, we confess that sometimes we build walls where you call us to build bridges. We hold on to prejudice, resentment, pride, and our need to be right. We divide the world into “us” and “them,” forgetting that we all come to your Table by grace. Forgive us. Help us leave behind whatever separates us from you and from one another. Open our hearts. Make room within us for our neighbors. And make us one in Christ. Amen. Words of Assurance: Hear the good news: Christ’s grace is greater than the walls we build. In Jesus Christ we are forgiven, reconciled, and invited again to the Table. Thanks be to God. Amen. WORLD COMMUNION-- INVITATION TO THE TABLE Christ our Lord invites to his Table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another. Today this Table connects us with Christians throughout the world. Different languages. Different cultures. Different nations. One bread. One cup. One Christ. One Table. And there is room for one more. THE GREAT THANKSGIVING A Brief Bilingual Celebration Revs. Letha & Efren Pastor: The Lord be with you. El Señor sea con ustedes. People: And also with you. Y también contigo. Pastor: Lift up your hearts. Elevemos nuestros corazones. People: We lift them up to the Lord. Los elevamos al Señor. Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. Demos gracias al Señor nuestro Dios. People: It is right to give our thanks and praise. Es digno darle gracias y alabanza. Holy God, you created one human family and called us to live in love, with you and with one another. When we turned away, you continued to call us home. And in Jesus Christ, you showed us a love that crosses every boundary and makes room at the Table. On the night in which Jesus gave himself for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” “Tomen y coman; este es mi cuerpo, entregado por ustedes. Hagan esto en memoria de mí.” When the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples and said: “Drink from this, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many.” “Beban de esta copa todos ustedes. Esta es mi sangre del nuevo pacto, derramada por ustedes y por muchos.” Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts of bread and cup. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ— one in love, one in grace, one in mission. Amen. BREAKING THE BREAD Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body. The bread which we break is a sharing in the body of Christ. THE CUP The cup over which we give thanks is a sharing in the blood of Christ. SHARING THE BREAD AND CUP Hymn: “Let Us Offer to the Father” TFWS #2262 Prayer After Communion Rev. Jorge Rodriguez God of every nation and every people, thank you for meeting us at this Table. Send us into the world to make room for others, to tear down walls, to build bridges, and to live as people of reconciliation and grace. May the unity we have experienced at this Table become visible in the way we live. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. *Closing Hymn: “We Are Marching in The Light Of God/ Caminando Siyahamba” TFWS 2235-b Benediction Go from this place remembering: The Table is not ours. The Table belongs to Christ. So go into the world. Make room. Pull up another chair. Welcome the stranger. Love your neighbor. And wherever someone wonders whether there is a place for them, may our lives proclaim, “There is room for one more.” Go in the grace and peace of Jesus Christ. Amen Please remain seated. Postlude: “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” by J.S. Bach
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 Fruitland United Methodist Church September 20, 2026 *(Please stand if you are comfortably able.) Prelude: “Down by the Riverside” a traditional African-American spiritual. Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship. Welcome and Announcements *Call to Worship Leader: We come to remember the wonderful works of God. People: We will tell the coming generations of God’s faithfulness. Leader: We come with different stories, experiences, and perspectives. People: Yet, we are one in Christ, called to love and serve together. Leader: Let us open our hearts and set our minds on Christ. People: May the mind of Christ shape the way we love, serve, and live. All: Let us worship God! *Passing of The Peace *Opening Hymn: “Wonderful Words of Life” UMH 600 Pastoral Prayer: Gracious God, you have gathered us as one people, even in all our differences. Quiet the voices that distract us and turn our hearts toward you. Give us the humility of Christ, teach us to love one another, and shape our lives so that others may see Jesus in us. Amen First Scripture :Psalm78:1-4,9-20,32B-38 Liturgist UMH 799 Time With Young Christians Community Expressions Pastor Jorge & Liturgist *Hymn: “Holy, Holy, Holy/ Santo, Santo, Santo” TFWS 2007 Thanksgiving and Celebration. Prayers for healing and wholeness. Prayers for our community and the world. Let us pray. The Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father, who art in heaven...” Invitation to Generosity Pastor Jorge As Christ gave himself in love, we are invited to live generously. Through our gifts, our service, and our lives, we participate in what God is doing in our community and in the world. Offertory: “Day by Day,” by Oscar Ahnfelt *Doxology: “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow . . .” UMH 95 *Prayer of Dedication: Pastor Jorge Generous God, receive these gifts and receive our lives. Use them to bring hope, compassion, healing, and love to our neighbors. May all that we give and all that we do reflect the mind of Christ. Amen. Second Scripture Reading: Philippians 2: 1-13 Liturgist The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. Hymn: “Jesu, Jesu” UMH 432 Sermon: WITH OUR MINDS SET ON CHRIST Rev. Jorge Rodgriguez Philippians 2:1–13; Psalm 78 Some time ago, I heard the story of a father who drove his young daughter to school every morning. It was one of those routines we do almost without thinking. They got up, had breakfast, found the backpack, rushed around because they were almost always running late, and got into the car. Just before the little girl opened the door to go into school, her father always said the same words: “Remember who you are.” At first, the girl did not really understand. “What do you mean, remember who I am? I know who I am!” But her father kept saying it every morning: “Remember who you are.” One day she finally asked him, “Dad, why do you always tell me that?” And he answered, “Because out there, there will be people who will try to tell you who you are. There will be people who will tell you how much you are worth. There will be people who will try to decide whether you are good enough. There will be moments when you will have to choose between following everyone else and doing what is right. So before you listen to all those voices, I want you to remember who you are.” I think all of us need to hear something like that every morning. Because from the moment we open our eyes, there are voices trying to occupy our minds: our phones, the news, our worries, the bills, family problems, work, the things someone said about us, and the things we wish we could say to someone else. And some mornings, before our feet even touch the floor, we are already arguing with somebody in our heads. That is why I love that old spiritual: “Woke up this morning with my mind stayed on Jesus.” What a different way to begin the day. Not with my mind focused on my problems. Not with my mind focused on the person who hurt me. Not with my mind focused on proving that I am right. Not with my mind focused on my fears. With my mind stayed on Jesus. And that is exactly what Paul is saying in Philippians. What is interesting is that Paul writes these words from prison. He is not sitting comfortably somewhere, drinking coffee and writing inspirational thoughts. He is imprisoned. His future is uncertain. And yet, in the middle of his own struggle, he is thinking about the church. He is thinking about the community. He is thinking about us. And he says: “Be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” But we need to understand something. Paul is not saying, “Everybody has to think exactly the same way.” Thank God, because that would be impossible. We are different. We have different stories. We come from different families. We have different experiences. We see some things differently. And those differences do not necessarily destroy the church. Many times, they enrich it. Christian unity does not mean uniformity. Paul is talking about something much deeper. He is saying: Even when we think differently, we can love in the same way. Even when we have different opinions, we can walk toward the same Christ. Even when we do not agree about everything, we can decide that our relationship is more important than our need to win. Then Paul shows us the way: “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” That is the heart of this passage. The question is not simply, “What do I think?” The question is, “Am I learning to think like Christ?” Paul tells us that the mind of Christ begins with something our culture does not always celebrate: humility. Christ had power, but he did not use his power to make himself greater. Christ had authority, but he did not use his authority to dominate. Christ could have demanded, but he chose to serve. Christ could have placed himself above everyone else, but instead, he came down. He became a servant. He gave himself. He loved. So having the mind of Christ means learning to say: I do not need to win every argument. I do not need to have the last word. I do not need everything to be done my way. I do not need to prove that I am more important than you. Because when Christ occupies my mind, my ego no longer needs to occupy the center. Imagine for a moment what would happen if we lived this way. Imagine our families, our marriages, our churches, our workplaces, our communities. Imagine a world where, before speaking, we asked: Does this look like Christ? Before responding: Does this look like Christ? Before judging someone: Does this look like Christ? Before using our power: Does this look like Christ? Maybe that is why we need to begin every morning saying: “Woke up this morning with my mind stayed on Jesus.” Because the mind of Christ changes the way we see other people. Where others see a stranger, Christ sees a neighbor. Where others see a burden, Christ sees a person. Where others see someone who does not belong, Christ opens the table. Where others build walls, Christ looks for paths toward reconciliation. Where the world asks, “What can I gain?” Christ asks, “Whom can I serve?” That is what it means to have the mind of Christ. It does not mean that we think the same about everything. It means that we love from the same place. It means that love has the final word over prejudice, that generosity has the final word over selfishness, that service has the final word over power, and that grace has the final word over condemnation. And here Psalm 78 reminds us of something beautiful. The psalmist says that we will tell the coming generations “the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.” In other words, this way of living must be passed on. Our children, our grandchildren, the children of our church, the next generation—they are watching. Perhaps they will not remember all our sermons. Perhaps they will not remember all our meetings. Perhaps they will not remember all our decisions. But they will remember how we treated people. They will remember whether our church opened its doors or closed them. They will remember whether we showed compassion. They will remember whether we shared. They will remember whether we stood with the vulnerable. They will remember whether, when someone fell, we judged them or reached out a hand to lift them up. Because faith is not only taught with words. Faith is passed on through the way we live. And Paul ends this passage with extraordinary words: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” That means we are not alone, simply trying to turn ourselves into better people. God is working in us. When you want to forgive even though it still hurts, God is working. When you decide to listen instead of attacking, God is working. When you share with someone in need, God is working. When you welcome someone others reject, God is working. When you choose to serve instead of seeking recognition, God is working. Perhaps one day we will reach the point when we will no longer have to stop and ask, “What would Jesus do?” Because the answer will begin to rise naturally from within us: love, serve, forgive, share, listen, stand with the vulnerable, give hope. Not because someone forces us, but because the mind of Christ is becoming our way of life. So tomorrow morning, before the phone, before the news, before remembering the problem, before beginning that argument that still exists only in our head, perhaps we can stop for a few seconds, put our feet on the floor, take a breath, and say: “Lord, today I want to have your mind.” And then remember those words: “Woke up this morning with my mind stayed on Jesus.” Because when our minds are stayed on Christ, we may not all think alike, but we can love with the same love. We may not walk exactly the same way, but we can walk toward the same Kingdom. We may be different, but we can share the same purpose. And when that happens, the church becomes more than a place where we talk about Jesus. It becomes a community where people can see Jesus. Amen. “Let the same mind be in you that was in Jesus Christ.” –Phillippians 2:5 Prayer of Confession Pastor: Let us pray. People: Merciful God, we confess that too often our minds are fixed on ourselves, rather than on Christ. We want to be right. We want to have the last word. We hold tightly to our opinions, our pride, and our own way. Forgive us when we fail to listen, when we judge too quickly, when we place ourselves above others, and when we forget that Christ calls us to humility, compassion and service. Give us the mind of Christ. Teach us to love when it is difficult, to forgive when we have been hurt, to welcome those who feel rejected, and to serve without seeking recognition. May our lives reflect Jesus, so that others may see his love through us. Amen Assurance of Pardon Pastor: Hear the good news. God is at work within us, giving us both the desire and the strength to live according to God’s loving purpose. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven, renewed, and called again to walk in love. People: Thanks be to God. Amen. *Hymn of Response: “Give Thanks” TFWS 2036 Benediction: Go into this week with your mind on Jesus. When you disagree, choose love. When you have power, choose service. When someone is hurting, choose compassion. When you meet someone who feels they do not belong, make room at the table. And may the mind of Christ become more and more our way of living, so that the church may be more than a place where people hear about Jesus-- May we become a community where people can see Jesus. Go in the grace and peace of God. Amen. Song of Blessing: “We are Marching in the Light of God” TFWS 2235b Postlude: “To God be the Glory,” by William Doane Pastor Jorge Rodriguez [email protected]  Fruitland United Methodist Church September 20, 2026 *(Please stand if you are comfortably able.) Prelude: Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship. Welcome and Announcements Pastor Jorge & Leona W. Call to Worship Leader: Teach us, O God, to count our days. People: That we may gain a wise heart. Leader: Fill us with your steadfast love. People: That we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Leader: Let your favor rest upon us. People: And prosper the work of our hands. Leader: Let us live our lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. People: Together, let us worship God! *Passing of The Peace *Opening Hymn: “Lord I Lift Your Name On High” TFWS 2088 Pastoral Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for the gift of another day and for the life you have entrusted to us. Teach us to number our days with wisdom. Be near to those who are suffering, those who are afraid, those who are lonely, and those who have lost hope. Help us use the life you have given us to love, forgive, serve, welcome, and walk beside others. May our lives reflect your grace and your love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. First Scripture Reading: Psalm 90:12-17 Liturgist Time With Young Christians Community Expressions Pastor Jorge & Leona *Hymn: “Holy, Holy, Holy/ Santo, Santo, Santo” TFWS 2007 Thanksgiving and Celebration. Prayers for healing and wholeness. Prayers for our community and the world. Let us pray. The Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father, who art in heaven...” Invitation to Generosity Pastor Jorge Everything we have-our time, our abilities, our resources, and our very lives- is a gift from God. Our giving is not a payment for God’s grace. Grace cannot be purchased. We give because we have already received. Let us give with gratitude and use what God has placed in our hands to bring hope and love to others. Offertory: *Doxology: “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow . . .” UMH 95 *Prayer of Dedication: God of grace, receive these gifts and use them to bring hope, healing, welcome, and love to our community. Help us use all that you have given us for the good of others and for your kingdom. Amen. Second Scripture Reading: Philippians 1:21-30 Liturgist The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. Hymn: “Lord You Have Come to the Lakeshore” UMH 344 Sermon: Have I Lived A Worthy Life? Rev. Jorge Rodgriguez Philippians 1:21–30 There is a scene at the end of a movie that I have never been able to forget. The movie is Saving Private Ryan. The story takes place during World War II. A mother has four sons serving in the armed forces. And then the news begins to arrive—the kind of news no mother should ever have to receive. One of her sons has died. Then another. And then another. Three sons killed in the war.But there is still one left. James Ryan. He is somewhere in Europe, in the middle of the war. And when military leaders discover what has happened, they make an extraordinary decision: Ryan must be found. He must be taken out of the battle. He must be sent home to his mother. They cannot allow this woman to lose her last remaining son.So they send a small group of soldiers under the command of Captain John Miller. The mission sounds simple: Find Ryan. Save him. Bring him home.But in war, nothing is simple. To save Ryan, these men have to cross enemy territory. They have to expose themselves to enemy fire. They have to fight. And along the way, some of them die. Finally, they find Ryan. But something unexpected happens. Ryan does not want to leave. He is defending a bridge with his fellow soldiers, and he feels that he cannot abandon them. They are his brothers now, too. So Captain Miller and his men stay, and they fight alongside them. The battle is terrible, and eventually Miller is mortally wounded.Ryan comes to him. The man who came to save him is dying in front of him. Miller looks at him, calls Ryan closer, and with only a few words says: “Earn this.” Make this worth it. And then the movie does something extraordinary. Suddenly, decades have passed. We no longer see the young soldier. Now we see an old man walking slowly through a military cemetery. It is Ryan. He has a wife. He has children. He has grandchildren. He has lived an entire lifetime. But it seems that through all those years, he has carried those words with him: “Earn this.” Finally, he comes to a grave—the grave of Captain Miller, the man who died so that he could live. Ryan looks at the grave. Then he looks at his wife and asks her a question that he has probably carried within himself his entire life: “Tell me I’ve led a good life. Tell me I’m a good man.” In other words: Tell me that the life I have lived has been worthy of what others did for me. And perhaps, just perhaps, that question can help us hear the words of Paul: “Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Let us not forget where Paul is when he writes these words. Paul is in prison. He is not writing from the comfort of his home. He is not sitting behind a desk talking theoretically about suffering. He is imprisoned by the empire, and he does not know for certain what will happen to him. That is why he says, “For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.” Paul is thinking about life. He is thinking about death. He is thinking about what remains to be done. And what is remarkable is that, at that moment, Paul is not thinking only about himself. He could say, “I have done enough. I have preached. I have traveled. I have planted churches. I have suffered. I have been beaten. I have been persecuted. Now I am going to worry only about myself.” No one could blame him. But Paul looks at his life and says: I can still serve. I can still encourage. I can still walk alongside others. I can still strengthen someone. I can still help build community. For Paul, the question is not simply, “How much longer can I live?” The question is, “What am I going to live for with the time I still have?” And those are completely different questions. Perhaps we should ask ourselves that question too. Not only: How many years do I have left? But: What am I going to do with the years I have left? Not only: How much do I have? But: What am I going to do with what I have? Not only: What have I accomplished? But: Whom have I helped to stand again? Then Paul says: “Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” We could hear those words in the wrong way. We might think Paul is saying, “Earn God’s love. Prove that you deserve the cross. Prove that you are good enough.” But that is not the gospel. Here the story of Ryan and our Christian story take different paths. Ryan hears: “Earn this.” But Jesus never looks at us from the cross and says: “Earn this.” Because we could not. We could never repay the cross. We could never purchase grace. We could never earn the love of God. Grace is grace precisely because it cannot be earned. Jesus does not say, “Prove that you deserve my love.” Jesus says: “I love you.” Christ loved us first. So we do not live in a worthy manner in order to receive grace. We live in a worthy manner because we have already received grace. And that difference changes everything. The Christian question is not: How can I repay God? The question is: What am I going to do with the life God has given me? What am I going to do with this grace? What am I going to do with this love? What am I going to do with another morning, another opportunity, another person God places in my path? Paul continues: “Standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel.” A life worthy of the gospel is not simply an individually good life. It is a life shared with others. Paul speaks about being together, walking together, serving together, striving together. Perhaps that is another powerful image from the movie. Ryan did not survive alone. Someone went looking for him. Someone crossed dangerous territory for him. Someone was willing to go where he was. And perhaps that is also a beautiful image of the church. The church is not simply a place where we wait for people to come to us. The church is a community that goes out looking. Looking for the one who is alone, the one who is afraid, the one who is wounded, the one who has lost hope, the immigrant who feels they do not belong, the poor person who feels invisible, the person who believes that God has forgotten them. And when we find them, we do not first ask: “Do they deserve it?” Because God never asked that question about us. We simply say: “Your life has value. We will walk with you.” When Paul says, “live in a manner worthy,” he uses a word connected to public and civic life: politeuesthe—live as citizens. That means our faith does not end when worship ends. Our faith walks out through those doors. Our faith enters our homes. It enters our workplaces. It enters our relationships. It enters our community. And it also enters the way we participate in society. I am not talking about political parties. I am not talking about candidates. I am talking about the gospel. Because if we follow Jesus, that must affect the way we see the poor, the stranger, the vulnerable, the person who thinks differently from us, the person who is afraid, and the person who has no power. If our faith never changes the way we treat people, if it never changes our priorities, if it never changes the way we use our voice, our money, our power, and our time, then we have to ask ourselves: Is the gospel really transforming our lives? At the end of Saving Private Ryan, an old man stands before a grave. His family is behind him. An entire lifetime has passed. And that man asks a question: “Tell me I’ve led a good life.” Perhaps someday we too will look back. And we will see the years, the opportunities, the people, the mistakes, the times we loved, the times we could have loved and did not, the people who helped us, and the people God placed in our path. And perhaps the question will not be: “Did I live a life good enough to deserve God’s love?” No. Because grace was never something we could earn.....The question will be different: What did I do with the grace I received? Did I love? Did I forgive? Did I serve? Did I share? Did I defend the vulnerable? Did I walk with the one who was alone? Did I draw near to the person everyone else avoided? Did I build bridges? Did I help someone discover that their life had value too? Because in the end, brothers and sisters, perhaps a life worthy of the gospel is not necessarily an extraordinary life. Perhaps it is simply a life in which someone can say: Because you lived, I was not alone. Because you lived, someone had food. Because you lived, someone was welcomed. Because you lived, someone found forgiveness. Because you lived, someone recovered hope. Because you lived, someone was able to see a little bit of Jesus. Captain Miller looked at Ryan and said: “Earn this.” Paul tells us something different: “Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Do not earn grace. Live it. Do not try to repay the love of God. Share it. Do not waste your life wondering whether you are worthy enough. Use your life to show someone else that they too are loved by God. And perhaps when we reach the end of the road, we will not need to ask: “Was I good enough?” Perhaps our prayer can simply be: Lord, you gave me this life. You gave me your grace. You gave me your love. I hope I used them well. “Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Amen. Affirmation: Leader: We have received a grace we could never earn. People: We will live that grace. Leader: We have received a love we could never repay. People: We will share that love. Leader: God has given us life. People: We will use our lives to serve, welcome, forgive, and love. All: With God’s help, we will live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. *Closing Hymn: “Here I Am, Lord” UMH 593 Blessing: Go into the world with gratitude for the life God has given you. Do not spend your life trying to earn grace. Live it. Do not try to repay the love of God. Share it. Walk beside the lonely. Welcome the stranger. Stand with the vulnerable. Love generously. Serve faithfully. And as the psalmist prayed: “Teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.” May we use those days well. And when we look back upon the life God has given us, may our prayer be: Lord, you gave me this life. You gave me your grace. You gave me your love. I hope I used them well. Go in the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Song of Blessing: “Halle, Halle, Hallelujah” TFWS 2026 Postlude: Pastor Jorge Rodriguez [email protected]  Fruitland United Methodist Church September 13, 2026 *(Please stand if you are comfortably able.) Prelude: “El Shaddai” by Michael Card & John Thompson Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship. Welcome and Announcements Pastor Jorge & Jay W. Call to Worship Jay W. Leader: God makes a way where there seems to be no way. People: God leads us from fear into freedom. Leader: God meets us with mercy greater than our failures. People: And calls us to share that mercy with others. Leader: We come as people who have received grace. People: Teach us to live with grace, to forgive, and to seek peace. All: Let us worship God together! *Passing of The Peace Jay W. *Opening Hymn: “Let’s Sing Unto The Lord” UMH 149 Pastoral Prayer: God of mercy, you know our hearts and our relationships. You know where there is hurt, anger, division, and disappointment. Give us courage to seek reconciliation, wisdom to establish healthy boundaries and grace to forgive. Be with those who are suffering, those carrying heavy burdens, and those longing for freedom and hope. Teach us not only to receive your grace, but to share it. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray Amen. First Reading: Exodus 14:19-31 Liturgist Reader: The Word of God for the people of God People: Thanks be to God. Time With Young Christians Pastor Jorge Community Expressions Pastor Jorge & Jay W. *Hymn: “Holy, Holy, Holy/ Santo, Santo, Santo” TFWS 2007 Thanksgiving and Celebration. Prayers for healing and wholeness. Prayers for our community and the world. Let us pray. The Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father, who art in heaven...” Invitation to Generosity Pastor Jorge God has given to us with generosity and grace. As we bring our gifts today, may our generosity become part of God’s work of mercy, hope, and restoration in our community and in the world. Offertory: “Wade in the Water” African American Spiritual *Doxology: “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow . . .” UMH 95 *Prayer of Dedication: God of grace, receive these gifts and use them to bring hope, healing, and mercy to others. May our giving reflect the generosity we have received from you. In Christ’s name. Amen. Hymn: “Grace Alone” TFWS 2162 Second Reading: Matthew 18:21-35 Liturgist Sermon: When Forgiveness No Longer Works Rev. Jorge Rodgriguez Matthew 18:21–35 Last Sunday we talked about conversations. Those conversations we have over and over again... but only in our heads. While we are driving. While we are trying to sleep. While we are doing something else. We think about what we are going to say. We prepare our arguments. We defend our position. And, interestingly enough... in those imaginary conversations... we almost always win. But Jesus told us: Go. Talk to the person. Listen. Seek reconciliation. Do not just talk about the person. Talk with the person. Do everything you can to restore the relationship. And apparently Peter was listening. Because when Jesus finishes speaking, Peter steps forward. And I can almost imagine him feeling pretty good about himself. “Lord, how many times do I have to forgive someone who sins against me? As many as seven times?” Seven times! Peter probably thought he was being extraordinarily generous. Maybe he expected Jesus to say: “Peter, calm down. Don't overdo it. Four times is enough.” But Jesus does not slow him down. Jesus accelerates. “Seven? No. Seventy-seven times.” Or, depending on the translation: seventy times seven. But Jesus is not giving Peter a math problem. He is not saying: “Peter, get yourself a notebook.” One. Two. Three. Seventy-six. Seventy-seven... That's it! No more grace! No. Jesus is saying: Stop counting. Because forgiveness is not bookkeeping. Grace does not keep accounts. Mercy does not save receipts. Jesus is saying: Begin with forgiveness. Lead with grace. And that sounds beautiful... until we have to live it. Because grace is wonderful when we receive it. Mercy is beautiful when we need it. Forgiveness is wonderful when we are the ones who need to be forgiven. But when someone hurts us... when someone disappoints us... when someone talks about us... when someone makes the same mistake again... then grace becomes much more complicated. And we begin to wonder: Does this really still work? I heard a story about a pastor who preached on the Sermon on the Mount. After worship, a church member came up to him, visibly upset. “Pastor, where did you get all that progressive nonsense?” The pastor looked at him calmly and said: “From Jesus.” And the man responded: “Well, that doesn't work anymore!” Think about that. “Blessed are the peacemakers.” That doesn't work anymore. “Blessed are the meek.” That doesn't work anymore. “Love your enemies.” That doesn't work anymore. “Forgive seventy-seven times.” That doesn't work anymore. And maybe that is one of the hardest questions the church needs to ask today: Do we still believe that the way of Jesus works? Or have we decided that Jesus works very well... on Sunday morning... inside the church... while we are singing... while we are praying... but not on Monday morning? Jesus answers Peter by telling a story. There was a man who owed ten thousand talents. An absurd amount of money. One talent could represent roughly twenty years of a worker's wages. So we are talking about something like... two hundred thousand years of work. Two hundred thousand years! That is not simply a debt. That is an impossibility. He could work his entire life. His children could work their entire lives. His grandchildren could work their entire lives. Generation... after generation... after generation...and the debt would still be there. But the man falls to his knees and says: “Have patience with me... and I will pay you everything.” Really? How? How much patience do you need? Two hundred thousand years? And then something extraordinary happens. The master looks at the man. He sees his desperation. He sees a debt that he knows this man will never be able to pay.And he has compassion. He does not give him another twenty years. He does not refinance the debt. He does not lower the interest rate. He does not put him on a new payment plan. He forgives it. All of it. The debt disappears. Imagine that man walking out of the room. Imagine how he could finally breathe. Imagine walking away after discovering that the burden you could never remove from your shoulders... is no longer there. You would expect him to walk differently. To see people differently. To treat people differently. You would expect... grace received to become grace given. But then he meets another man. And this man owes him one hundred denarii. That is not an insignificant amount. It represents about one hundred days of work. It is a real debt. And I want to stop here. Because this matters. Jesus is not saying that our wounds do not matter. Pain matters. Injustice matters. What people do to us matters. Forgiveness does not mean pretending that nothing happened. Forgiveness does not mean returning to an abusive relationship. Forgiveness does not mean allowing someone to continue hurting us. Sometimes we need boundaries. Sometimes we need distance. Sometimes safety must come before restoration. But this man has just received unimaginable mercy. So we expect him to look at his fellow servant and say: “I know what that feels like.” “I owed something too.” “I was desperate too.” “I needed mercy too.” But he doesn't. He grabs him. And says: “Pay me what you owe me!” And when the man cannot pay... he throws him into prison. And there is the tragedy of this story: He received grace... but he did not allow grace to transform him. He wanted mercy for himself... and justice for everybody else. He wanted God to close his account... while he kept everybody else's account open. And here... the parable stops talking only about that man. And it begins talking about us. Because we can do exactly the same thing. We love singing about grace. We love preaching about grace. We love receiving grace. But when it comes to other people... we become accountants. We remember what they said. We remember what they did. We remember when they did it. We remember how many times they did it. And sometimes... we even charge interest. Jesus says: Stop counting. Because the Kingdom of God cannot be built by people who receive grace... but refuse to give it. And maybe our world says: Forgiveness doesn't work anymore. Mercy doesn't work anymore. Peacemaking doesn't work anymore. Loving your enemy doesn't work anymore. The way of Jesus doesn't work anymore. But then we have to decide something. Are we going to change the gospel to accommodate the world? Or are we going to allow the gospel to change the way we live in the world? Because if the gospel no longer works in our world... maybe the gospel is not what needs to change. Maybe the world needs to change. And maybe... we need to change first. Because this is not only about our personal disagreements. It is about the kind of community we are building. What do we do with people carrying debts that seem impossible? What do we do with families trapped in poverty generation after generation? What do we do with people pushed to the margins because of their accent... the color of their skin... their country of origin... or simply because they do not have enough? Do we simply say: “I'll pray for you”? Or do we allow compassion... to move our feet too? Jesus calls us to build a different kind of community. A community where dignity matters more than status. Where people matter more than systems. Where mercy is not considered weakness. Where forgiveness is not considered foolishness. And where we still believe... that reconciliation is possible. Last Sunday Jesus taught us how to begin the difficult conversation. Today Peter asks: “And how long do we keep trying?” And Jesus answers: Longer than you expected. More times than you counted. With more grace than seems reasonable. Not because the hurt doesn't matter. Not because justice doesn't matter. Not because boundaries don't matter. But because... grace has already found us. We are that servant walking out of the room. We are the ones who have received a mercy we could never purchase. So maybe the wrong question is: “Lord, how many times do I have to forgive?” Maybe the question is: “What kind of person am I becoming because God has forgiven me?” Church... the world may say: Forgiveness doesn't work anymore. Mercy doesn't work anymore. The way of Jesus doesn't work anymore. But our response is not to abandon the gospel. Our calling is to live it. Again. And again. And again. Seventy-seven times. Seventy times seven. Until one day... we finally stop counting. Because we have not been called to keep score. We have been called to lead with grace. And maybe... just maybe... when a church begins to live that way... the world begins to discover that the way of Jesus still works. Amen. Affirmation: Jorge R. Leader: We believe that grace still works. People: We will lead with grace Leader: We believe that mercy is not weakness. People: We will practice mercy. Leader: We believe that forgiveness can break the cycle of anger and resentment. People: We will stop keeping score. Leader: We believe that the way of Jesus still works. All: And with God’s help, we will live it. Amen. *Closing Hymn: “Freely, Freely” UMH 389 Blessing: Go into the world as people who have received grace. When the world tells you that forgiveness no longer works, live forgiveness. When the world tells you that mercy is weakness, show mercy. When reconciliation seems impossible, keep walking in the way of Jesus. Do not keep score. Do not count. Lead with grace. And may the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the presence of the Holy Spirit be with you today and always. Amen. Song Of Blessing: “ Go Now in Peace” UMH #665 Postlude: “Make me a Channel of your Peace” Pastor Jorge Rodriguez [email protected]  Fruitland United Methodist Church September 6, 2026 Holy Communion Sunday *(Please stand if you are comfortably able.) Prelude: Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship. Welcome and Announcements Letha E. & Pastor Jorge Call to Worship- Based on Psalm Leader: Come, people of God, for Christ calls us together. People: We come seeking grace, healing, and peace. Leader: When relationships are broken, God calls us toward reconciliation People: When forgiveness is difficult, God gives us grace. Leader: We come to worship the God who restores and makes all things new. All: Let us worship God! *Passing of The Peace Letha E. *Opening Hymn: “Song of Hope” TFWS 2186 Pastoral Prayer: God of grace, you know our joys, our pain, and the relationships that need healing. Give us courage to speak with love, humility to listen, and grace to forgive. We pray for those facing conflict, loneliness, or broken relationships. Make us instruments of your peace and companions to those who need us. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. First Reading: Romans 13:8-14 (Pew Bible pg.1765) Letha E. Time With Young Christians/Blessing Of The Backpacks Community Expressions Pastor Jorge & Letha E. *Hymn: “Holy, Holy, Holy/ Santo, Santo, Santo” TFWS 2007 Thanksgiving and Celebration. Prayers for healing and wholeness. Prayers for our community and the world. Let us pray. The Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father, who art in heaven...” Invitation to Generosity Pastor Jorge Offertory: *Doxology: “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow . . .” UMH 95 *Prayer of Dedication: God of grace, receive these gifts and use them to bring healing where there is brokenness, hope where there is despair, and peace where there is conflict. Amen. Gospel Reading: Matthew 18:15-22 (Pew Bible 1527) Letha E. Hymn: “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” TFWS 2171 Sermon: BEFORE WE COME TO THE TABLE Rev. Jorge Rodgriguez Matthew 18:15–22 There are conversations we rehearse many times... but never actually have. We have them in our minds. While we are driving. While we are lying in bed trying to sleep. While we are doing something else. We imagine what we would say. We explain our side. We defend ourselves. We remember what happened. And, interestingly enough, in those imaginary conversations... we almost always win. But then we see the person... and sometimes we say nothing. Or instead of talking with the person, we begin talking about the person. And that is where conflict can begin to grow. Now, I want to be very careful this morning. I am not preaching this sermon because I think you need to hear it. Maybe I am preaching it because I need to hear it. And perhaps we all know someone who needs to hear this word. We have friends. Neighbors. Coworkers. People in our families. People we love who are going through difficult situations. A marriage under great pressure. A disagreement between parents and children. Brothers or sisters who are no longer speaking to each other. Problems at work. A friendship that has been broken. Sometimes we sit with these people and listen to their stories, and we wish we knew what to say. We want to help. We want to fix things. But sometimes we simply do not know how. And perhaps this morning Jesus gives us something we can carry with us. Not a magic formula that will make every conflict disappear. But a different way to walk through conflict. Jesus says: “If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone.” Notice what Jesus does not say. He does not say: “Tell everyone what happened.” He does not say: “Find five people who agree with you.” He does not say: “Make sure everyone knows that you are right.” Jesus simply says: Go. Talk to the person. Listen. Speak honestly. That takes courage. Because sometimes it is easier to build a wall than to build a bridge. It is easier to walk away. It is easier to find someone who will tell us: “You are right.” But Jesus is not primarily interested in helping us win arguments. Jesus wants us to restore relationships. That is why the text says: “If they listen to you, you have regained that one.” You have not won an argument. You have regained a brother. You have regained a sister. You have restored a relationship. Of course, reconciliation does not mean pretending that nothing happened. It does not mean accepting abuse. It does not mean remaining in dangerous situations. Sometimes love requires boundaries. Sometimes healing requires distance. But even then, Jesus teaches us that hatred does not have to have the final word. And perhaps this is exactly what we can offer to those people we know who are struggling right now. Not: “This is how you can win.” Not: “This is how you can prove that the other person is wrong.” But perhaps: “Let me walk with you.” “Let me pray with you.” “Let us see if there is still a bridge we can build.” Because sometimes the greatest gift we can give someone who is going through conflict is not an answer. It is a companion. Someone who reminds them: You do not have to go through this alone. Then Peter asks Jesus: “Lord, how often should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times?” And Jesus answers: “Not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” In other words: Stop counting. Because forgiveness is not a mathematical formula. Forgiveness is a way of living. It is learning, little by little, to live in what we might call: a context of reconciliation. A place where grace is always possible. Where another conversation is possible. Where another attempt is possible. Where perhaps another bridge can still be built. And perhaps that is exactly why this Gospel comes to us before we come to the Table. Because look at this Table. We do not come because we have everything figured out. We do not come because all our relationships are perfect. We do not come because we have never hurt anyone. And we certainly do not come because we have always known how to forgive. We come because we need grace. And perhaps today we can bring someone with us to the Table. Not physically. But in our hearts. Think for a moment about someone you know who is struggling. Someone facing conflict in their family. Someone having difficulties at work. Someone whose marriage is going through a difficult time. Someone who has lost a friendship. Someone who simply does not know what the next step should be. Bring that person with you in prayer. And perhaps you can say: “Lord, show me how I can help.” “Show me how I can listen.” “Show me how I can be an instrument of reconciliation.” Because sometimes God answers someone’s prayer... by sending a person willing to walk beside them. And then we come to the Table. Remembering that the one who was hurt needs grace. The one who caused the hurt needs grace. The one who is trying to forgive needs grace. The one who cannot forgive yet needs grace. And the one who is trying to help... needs grace too. And perhaps that is me. Perhaps that is you. Perhaps that is all of us. Because Christ’s Table is not a reward for those who have learned to live perfectly together. It is the place where imperfect people receive the grace they need... to try again. Another conversation. Another attempt. Another bridge. Another act of forgiveness. Another possibility for reconciliation. So today, before we come to the Table, let us remember: We may not be able to resolve every conflict. We may not be able to repair every relationship. We may not have the right words for every friend who comes to us hurting. But we can walk beside them. We can listen. We can pray. We can point toward another way of living. The way of Jesus. The way that does not ask: “How can I defeat the other person?” But instead asks: “Is there still a way to regain my brother? Is there still a way to regain my sister?” And then we come together to this Table. Trusting not simply in our ability to make reconciliation possible, but trusting in the One who calls us, who walks with us, who forgives us, and who continues building bridges when we thought there was no way across. Christ is here. Grace is here. And there is still a place at the Table. Amen. Prayer of Confession: Leader: Merciful God, we confess that we have not always loved you with our whole heart. We have not always loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have sometimes held onto anger, avoided difficult conversations, and struggled to forgive. People: Forgive us, Lord. Heal our hearts and teach us the way of reconciliation. Leader: Hear the good news: Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. This proves God’s love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. People: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. All: Glory to God. Amen. Invitation: Jorge R. Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent oftheir sin, and who seek to live in peace with one another. We come not because we are perfect. We come because we need grace. The Great Thanksgiving Insert Letha E. The Lord’s Prayer Jorge R. *Sharing The Bread And Cup Letha E. *Hymn: “One Bread One Body” UMH 620 Prayer After Communion: Gracious God, thank you for meeting us at this Table. Having received your grace, send us into the world to listen, to forgive, to build bridges, and to walk beside those who are hurting. Make us instruments of your reconciliation and peace. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. *Closing Hymn: “We are Marching in The Light of God” TFWS 2335 Blessing: Go into the world as people of grace. Where there is conflict, be instruments of peace. Where there is brokenness, build bridges. Where someone is hurting, walk beside them. And when forgiveness is difficult, remember the grace you have received at this Table. Christ goes with you. Grace goes with you. Go in peace. Amen. Postlude: Pastor Jorge Rodriguez [email protected]  Fruitland United Methodist Church August 30, 2026 *(Please stand if you are comfortably able.) Prelude: A Gospel Prelude by Charles Callahan Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship. Welcome and Announcements Holly K. & Pastor Jorge Call to Worship- Based on Psalm Leader: Let love be genuine. Hold fast to what is good. People: We come to worship the God who teaches us to love. Leader: Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, preserve in prayer. People: We come trusting in God’s presence and grace. Leader: Do Not Be Overcome By Evil. People: But overcome evil with good. Leader: Come, let us worship God together. All: We come to follow Jesus. Amen. *Opening Hymn: “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” UMC 57 *Passing The Peace Of Christ First Reading: Romans 12:9-21(Pew Bible pg. 1764) Liturgist Time With Young Christians/Blessing Of The Backpacks At this time, we invite all children and young people returning to school, along with teachers and everyone involved in our schools, to come forward for a special back-to-school blessing. Prayer of Blessing: Loving God, bless our children and young people as they begin another school year. Bless their backpacks, their classrooms, their teachers, and their friends. Give them curiosity to learn, courage when they are afraid, and kindness toward others. Bless our teachers and all who work in our schools. Give them patience, wisdom, strength, and joy. And every morning, when our children put their backpacks on their shoulders, remind them that they do not carry them alone. God goes with them. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. *Hymn: “Jesus Loves Me” UMH 191 Community Expressions Pastor Jorge & Holly K. *Hymn: “Holy, Holy, Holy/ Santo, Santo, Santo” TFWS 2007 Thanksgiving and Celebration. Prayers for healing and wholeness. Prayers for our community and the world. Let us pray. The Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father, who art in heaven…” Invitation to Generosity Pastor Jorge Offertory: “Arioso” by G. F. Handel *Doxology: “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow . . .” UMH 95 *Prayer of Dedication: God has blessed us in many ways. As an expression of gratitude, we offer our gifts, our lives, and our service for the work of God’s Kingdom. Second Reading: Matthew 16:21-28 (Pew Bible 1524) Liturgist Hymn: “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus ” TFWS 2129 Sermon: DO NOT BE OVERCOME BY EVIL Rev. Jorge Rodgriguez Texts: Romans 12:9–21; Matthew 16:21–28 There are things we carry with us every day. A few days ago, as I was thinking about the beginning of another school year, I thought about backpacks. Children are going back to school. Some are excited. Others are nervous. Some are entering a new school, meeting a new teacher, walking into a new classroom for the first time. And every morning they will put a backpack on their shoulders. Inside that backpack there will be pencils, notebooks, crayons, books, lunch, maybe a computer. But the truth is that our children carry much more than what we can see. They carry dreams. They carry fears. They carry questions. They carry the expectations of their families. They carry friendships. Sometimes they carry loneliness. Sometimes they carry worries that we, as adults, do not even realize they have. And perhaps that backpack is a good image for all of us. Because we are all carrying something. Today Jesus says something that sounds very different from the message we normally hear from our world: “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Take up your cross. Carry it. Follow me. But what does that mean? Because sometimes Christians have misunderstood these words. Taking up the cross does not mean that God wants us to suffer. It does not mean accepting abuse. It does not mean remaining silent in the face of injustice. Jesus is talking about something much deeper. Jesus is talking about the cost of living according to the Kingdom of God. PETER DID NOT WANT THAT KIND OF MESSIAH The story begins with Jesus telling his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem. He will suffer. He will be rejected. He will be killed. And Peter cannot accept it. Remember what had happened just before this. Jesus asked: “Who do you say that I am?” And Peter gave the right answer: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Excellent! Peter passed the theology exam. But now comes the practical exam. Because it is one thing to know who Jesus is... and another thing entirely to understand how Jesus chooses to live. Peter imagined a Messiah with power. A Messiah who would defeat his enemies. A Messiah who would take control. A Messiah who would win. But Jesus begins to talk about sacrifice. Service. Suffering. A cross. And Peter, in other words, says to him: “No, Jesus. That cannot be the way.” And Jesus responds: “Get behind me.” It is as if Jesus were saying: Peter, you want to show me another way. But you are the one who must follow me. And perhaps this is still one of the great temptations of Christianity. We want Jesus to follow us. To bless our ideas. To bless our politics. To bless our plans. To bless our side. But Jesus continues to say: “Follow me.” WHAT DOES TAKING UP THE CROSS LOOK LIKE? And this is where Romans 12 becomes so powerful. Because Paul shows us what taking up the cross looks like in everyday life. He begins with these words: “Let love be genuine.” Not fake love. Not convenient love. Not love only for those who think like us. Genuine love. And then Paul becomes very practical: “Love one another.” “Contribute to the needs of the saints.” “Practice hospitality.” “Bless those who persecute you.” “Rejoice with those who rejoice.” “Weep with those who weep.” “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.” And finally, he gives us one of the most challenging sentences in the New Testament: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Notice what Paul does not say. He does not say that evil does not exist. He does not say that injustice does not exist. He does not ask us to close our eyes. Paul knew the violence of the Roman Empire. He knew persecution. He knew suffering. But he tells us: Do not allow the evil around you to become the evil that lives inside you. That is different. Because there is always a danger that while we are fighting against hatred... we begin to hate. While we are fighting against cruelty... we become cruel. While we resist those who dehumanize others... we begin to dehumanize our enemies as well. And suddenly, the evil we were fighting against has overcome us. Not because we stopped fighting... but because we began using the same weapons. Paul says: “Do not be overcome by evil.” THE BACKPACK And this brings me back to the backpack. In many churches there is a beautiful tradition at the beginning of the school year: the Blessing of the Backpacks. Children, young people, teachers, and those who work in our schools bring their backpacks, and the congregation prays for them as they begin a new school year. I love that image. Imagine a child opening a backpack. We can put pencils inside. We can put notebooks inside. We can put books inside. But imagine if we could also put other things inside. Kindness. Put some kindness in there. Courage. Put courage in that backpack. Compassion. Put compassion in there. Patience. We will probably need plenty of that! And then: Love. Put love in that backpack. Because our children are not going back to school simply to learn math, science, history, or reading. They are entering a place where they will encounter other human beings. Someone in their classroom may feel lonely. Someone may be afraid. Someone may speak another language. Someone may be new. Someone may eat lunch alone. Someone may be bullied or rejected. Someone may desperately need a friend. And perhaps one of the most important blessings we can give our children as they begin this school year is to tell them: You have been blessed so that you can be a blessing. OUR BACK-TO-SCHOOL BLESSING So today we especially remember our children and young people who are going back to school. But we also remember the teachers. The school staff. The bus drivers. The counselors. Those who clean and care for the buildings. The administrators. The parents and grandparents who prepare their children each morning to begin the day. We bless them all. May God give our students curiosity to learn. Courage when they are afraid. Wisdom when they have to make decisions. Friends when they feel alone. Compassion when they encounter someone who is hurting. And courage to stand beside someone who is being mistreated. Before they leave for school and put their backpacks on their shoulders, remind your children that they do not carry them alone. Remind them that God goes with them. Into the classroom. Into the cafeteria. Onto the playground. On the school bus. In the difficult moments. And also in the wonderful moments. Tell them before they leave home: “You are not going alone. God goes with you.” BUT THIS BLESSING IS ALSO FOR US Because perhaps we adults also need to bring our invisible backpacks before God. What are you carrying today? Anger? Fear? Disappointment? Pain? Resentment? Worry about your family? Worry about our country? Worry about the future? Jesus does not promise us an empty backpack. He says: “Take up your cross and follow me.” But Jesus teaches us how to carry it. Carry it with love. Carry it with compassion. Carry it with courage. Carry it without allowing hatred to determine what kind of person you will become. Because the greatest victory of evil is not simply hurting us. The greatest victory of evil happens when it convinces us to become the very thing we are fighting against. That is why Paul says: “Do not be overcome by evil.” OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD Church, this is our calling. When the world says: Hate your enemy... Jesus says: Love. When the world says: Get revenge... Paul says: Do not repay evil for evil. When the world says: Protect only your own... The Gospel says: Practice hospitality. When the world tells us to ignore the suffering of others... Paul says: “Weep with those who weep.” And when the world tells us that kindness is weakness... the Gospel points us toward a cross. Because on that cross the world saw defeat. But God was doing something completely different. The world used hatred. Jesus responded with love. The world used violence. Jesus responded with forgiveness. The world used death. And God responded with resurrection. So tomorrow morning, when our children put their backpacks on their shoulders, may they remember: You have been blessed. But you have also been sent. Sent to love. Sent to welcome. Sent to stand up for the one who is alone. Sent to practice kindness. Sent to become a blessing. And when we leave this church today, perhaps we can also imagine that we are carrying our own invisible backpacks on our shoulders. And inside them we carry the words of Paul: “Let love be genuine.” “Practice hospitality.” “Weep with those who weep.” “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.” And above all: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” That is our backpack. That is our cross. That is our calling. And Jesus continues walking ahead of us, saying: “Follow me.” Amen. AFFIRMATION: Leader: When the world tells us to hate, People: We will choose love. Leader: When the world tells us to seek revenge, People: We will choose forgiveness. Leader: When the world tells us to care only for ourselves, People: We will practice hospitality. Leader: When we encounter those who are hurting, People: We will weep with those who weep. Leader: And when we encounter evil, All: We will not be overcome by evil, but we will overcome evil with good. *Closing Hymn: “The Summons” TFWS 2130 Pastoral Blessing: Go into this new week knowing that God goes with you. To our children and young people returning to school: You do not go alone. God goes with you. To our teachers and everyone who works in our schools: You do not serve alone. God goes with you. Go in the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. *Song of Blessing: “Sent Out in Jesus’ Name” TFWS 2184 Postlude: “How Great is our God ” by Chris Tomlin  Fruitland United Methodist Church August 23, 2026 *(Please stand if you are comfortably able.) Prelude: “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” by John Hughes Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship. Welcome and Announcements Leona & Jorge Call to Worship- Based on Psalm 124 Leona W. Leader: If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, People: Where would we be? Leader: When the waters threatened to overwhelm us, when fear surrounded us, and when the powers of this world seemed too strong, People: The Lord was on our side Leader: The snare has been broken, and we have escaped, People: Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Leader: We do not gather because we are powerful. We gather because God is faithful. People: We will trust in the Lord, whose love is stronger than fear and whose power brings freedom and life. Leader: Come, People of God, let us worship the Lord! All: Thanks be to God! Amen. *Passing The Peace Of Christ *Opening Hymn: Morning has Broken UMC 145 1st Scripture Reading: Exodus 18:2 -10 (Pew Bible pg. 115) Leona W. Time with Children and Youth: Pastor Jorge Community Expressions Pastor Jorge & Leona *Hymn: “Holy, Holy, Holy/ Santo, Santo, Santo” TFWS 2007 Thanksgiving and Celebration. Prayers for healing and wholeness. Prayers for our community and the world. Let us pray. The Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father, who art in heaven...” Invitation to Generosity Pastor Jorge Offertory: “Prayer from Hansel and Gretel” by Engelbert Humperdinck *Doxology: “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow . . .” UMH 95 *Prayer of Dedication: God of life and liberation, receive these gifts and use them to bring hope, justice, and life. May our giving reflect our trust in the power of your love. In Christ’s name. Amen. Gospel Reading: Matthew 16:13-20 (Pew Bible pg. 15-24) Leona W. Hymn: “You Are My Hiding Place” TFWS 2055 Sermon: “WHEN POWER IS AFRAID” Rev. Jorge Rodgriguez Exodus 1:8–2:10; Matthew 16:13–20 There is a phrase at the beginning of the book of Exodus that seems like nothing more than a historical detail: “Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.” He did not know Joseph. He did not know his story. He did not remember that this foreigner had helped save Egypt during the famine. He simply looked at the Hebrews and saw a threat. They were different. They were foreigners. And Pharaoh was afraid. That is one of the great ironies of this story: the most powerful man in Egypt was afraid of the people who had no power. He had an army. He had laws. He had authority. And yet, he was afraid. And when power begins to rule through fear, it always needs someone to blame. First came suspicion. Then oppression. Then violence. And finally came that terrible command: “Every son that is born, throw him into the river.” Imagine that. Fear became policy. Prejudice became law. And violence became everyone’s responsibility. But there was something Pharaoh did not understand: not everyone was willing to obey. Two women appear in the story. Two midwives: Shiphrah and Puah. And there is something remarkable here. Exodus does not tell us Pharaoh’s name. The most powerful man in the empire remains anonymous. But we know the names of two midwives: Shiphrah and Puah. Perhaps because God writes history differently. Empires remember kings. God remembers those who protect life. Pharaoh ordered them to kill the Hebrew boys. But they did not obey. Scripture says:“The midwives feared God.” They had decided that Pharaoh was not the highest authority in their lives. And when they had to choose between the power that produced death and the God who gives life... they chose life. So Pharaoh changed his strategy: “Throw them into the river.” The Nile was the source of life for Egypt. And Pharaoh wanted to turn the river of life into a river of death. But a mother placed her child in a small basket in that very river. Miriam stood watching. And then Pharaoh’s daughter found the basket. She opened it. The baby cried. And Scripture says: “She had compassion on him.” An entire empire built on fear... and one woman responded with compassion. Pharaoh said, “Let him die.” She said, “Let him live.” And suddenly Shiphrah, Puah, Moses’ mother, Miriam, and Pharaoh’s daughter formed a small conspiracy for life. Pharaoh had soldiers. They had compassion. Pharaoh had decrees. They had courage. Pharaoh had power. They knew who they were. And in the end... who won? The child who was supposed to die grew up in Pharaoh’sown household. The river that was supposed to become his grave became the path to his salvation. And one day that child would stand before power and say: “Let my people go.” And then we come to the Gospel. Jesus asks his disciples: “Who do people say that I am?” They give different answers. But Jesus is not taking an opinion poll. He looks directly at them: “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answers: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And then something beautiful happens. Peter tells Jesus who Jesus is... and Jesus tells Peter who Peter is: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” When we discover who Christ is... we begin to discover who we are. Our identity does not come from Pharaoh. It does not come from empires. It does not come from those who decide who has value and who does not. Our identity comes from Christ.And Jesus says: “The gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” The church is not called to hide in fear. The church is called to move toward the places where death seems to have the upper hand and bring life. Where there is fear, bring hope. Where there is hatred, bring love. Where someone is rejected, make room. Where the foreigner is treated as a threat, recognize a brother, a sister. That is what Shiphrah and Puah did. That is what Miriam did. That is what Pharaoh’s daughter did. That is what Jesus did. And that is what the church is called to do. Sometimes we think power means the ability to control, to command, to dominate, to decide who gets in and who stays out. But Jesus shows us another kind of power: the power to serve, the power to love, the power to protect, the power to say “no” to death and “yes” to life. And then Jesus gives us the keys to the Kingdom. Perhaps we have made a mistake when we think we were given the keys to close doors. Maybe Jesus gave us the keys to open them. To open doors for those who have been rejected, for those who are afraid, for those searching for hope, for those who need to hear: “There is a place for you.” Jesus is still asking us: “Who do you say that I am?” And our answer cannot remain only in words. We can say, “You are the Christ.” “You are the Son of the living God.” “You are our Lord.” But the world has every right to ask: “And what difference does that make in the way you live?” Perhaps evangelism does not begin simply by telling people who Jesus is. It begins by showing people who Jesus is. When someone is hungry and we give them something to eat. When someone is afraid and we walk beside them. When a foreigner is treated as a threat and we call them brother or sister. When someone is rejected and we open the door. When a life is floating in the river... and we reach out our hand. Then perhaps someone will ask, “Why do you do this?” And we can answer: “Because I know someone.” “I know Jesus.” And because we know who Jesus is, we also know who we are. We are his people. We are his church. We are a community called to choose life. Pharaoh thought he had the power. But history remembers the midwives. Pharaoh wanted to turn the river into death. But God caused a basket to float upon its waters. Pharaoh wanted to kill a child. But that child became a liberator. Fear may have soldiers. Fear may have decrees. Fear may have palaces. But fear will never have the last word. The last word belongs to the God of life.And when the world asks, “Who defended the foreigner?” “Who opened the door?”“Who stayed when everyone else walked away?” Perhaps someone will say, “It was the church.” But I hope that, looking a little deeper, they will say: “No... I think it was Christ.” Christ living in us. Christ loving through us. Christ reaching out his hands through us. Christ still rescuing lives by the river. Because when we know who Jesus is, we know who we are. And when we know who we are... we no longer have to live in fear of Pharaoh. Amen. ~~~ Affirmation of Faith: We believe in God, whose power is not built on fear, violence, or domination. We believe in Jesus Christ, who asks us, “Who do you say that I am?” and calls us to follow him with courage and faith. We believe in the Holy Spirit, who gives strength to ordinary people to resist fear, speak truth, protect life, and work for justice. We believe that the powers of this world do not have the final word. We believe that Christ is building his church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. Therefore, we will not live in fear. We will trust in God, stand with the vulnerable, and proclaim with our lives that Jesus Christ is Lord. Amen. *Closing Hymn: “Lord You Have Come to The Lakeshore” UMH 344 *Benediction: Go with courage. Protect life. Speak truth. Love your neighbor. Stand with those who are vulnerable. And may the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit be with you today and always. *Song of Blessing: “We Are Marching in the Light of God” Postlude: “Onward Christian Soldiers” by Arthur Sullivan Pastor Jorge Rodriguez [email protected]  Fruitland United Methodist Church August 16, 2026 *(Please stand if you are comfortably able.) Prelude: “Andante Religioso” by Francis Thore Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship. Welcome and Announcements Leslie & Pastor Jorge Call to Worship Liturgist Leader: How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! People: We come together as one family in the presence of God. Leader: God’s grace is like oil poured out, flowing abundantly. People: God’s grace surrounds us and brings us together. Leader: God’s blessing is like dew falling upon thirsty ground. People: May God’s grace fall upon us and flow through us to others. Leader: Come, let us worship the God whose grace knows no boundaries. All: We worship together with grateful hearts. Amen. *Passing The Peace Of Christ The peace of Christ be you. And also with you. *Opening Hymn: “Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart.” TFWS 2036 Pastoral Prayer : Gracious and loving God, We come before you as your people, bringing our joys, our concerns, our hopes, and our burdens. Thank you for gathering us into a community where we do not have to walk alone. Pour your grace upon those who are tired. Bring healing to those who are suffering. Comfort those who are grieving. Give courage to those who are afraid. Bring hope to those who feel discouraged. And teach us to become instruments of your grace. May the grace we receive from you flow through our lives into our families, our neighbors, our community, and especially toward those who feel forgotten or excluded. Make us a church where everyone can experience your welcome and your love. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. 1st Scripture Reading: Psalm 133 (read responsively) UMH 850 Liturgist Time with Children and Youth: Pastor Jorge Community Expressions Pastor Jorge & Leslie *Hymn: “Holy, Holy, Holy/ Santo, Santo, Santo” TFWS 2007 Thanksgiving and Celebration. Prayers for healing and wholeness. Prayers for our community and the world. Let us pray. The Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father, who art in heaven...” Invitation to Generosity Pastor Jorge God has poured grace generously into our lives. Our offering is one way we allow that generosity to continue flowing through us into the lives of others. Let us give with grateful and generous hearts. Offertory: “Let’s Enjoy God Together” by Tedd Smith *Doxology: “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow . . .” UMH 95 *Prayer of Dedication: Gracious God, everything we have comes from you. Receive these gifts and use them to bring hope, healing, welcome, and love to our community and beyond. May your grace continue to flow through everything we give and everything we do. Gospel Reading: Matthew 15:21-28 Liturgist Hymn: “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” TFWS 2223 Sermon: “The Grace That Pours Out” Rev. Jorde Rodriguez Texts: Psalm 133; Matthew 15:21–28 There are places where you step outside in the morning and find a thick fog. It is not raining. But you begin to walk, and after a few minutes, you realize that your hair is damp, there are tiny drops of water on your clothes, and your face is wet. We never saw the rain fall. We do not know exactly when it happened. We simply walked through the fog...and ended up covered with water. Sometimes I think that is what the grace of God is like.There are moments when grace comes in extraordinary ways. But many times, grace simply begins to cover us. A prayer. A conversation. Someone who listens to us. A hand that holds us. A church that welcomes us. A family that stays by our side. And almost without realizing it, grace has been poured out upon us. Psalm 133 begins by saying: “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” And then the psalmist gives us a wonderful image. He says that this unity is like oil poured upon the head of Aaron. But the oil does not remain there. It runs down his head. It flows down his beard. It reaches his garments. The blessing moves. It cannot be contained. And I think that is a beautiful image of what it means to be the church. There is a grace that we experience personally. But there is also a grace that we discover only when we are together. When someone prays for us when we no longer have words to pray. When someone sits beside us in the middle of our pain. When we celebrate together. When we cry together. When someone says to us: “You are not alone. I am here.” That is grace too. That is why the psalmist says: “How good and pleasant it is!” Because when the people of God live together, something begins to pour out. But the psalm continues. Now the image changes from oil to dew: “It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion.” Mount Hermon was far away from Zion. That dew could not literally travel all that distance. But the image is beautiful. It is as though the psalmist were saying: The blessing can reach farther than we imagine. It can cross distances. It can overcome boundaries. It can cross borders. And centuries later, Jesus would discover precisely that. One day Jesus went into the region of Tyre and Sidon. And there a woman appeared. Matthew makes sure that we know who she was: a Canaanite woman. She was not Jewish. She was a foreigner. She was one of those people whom many considered to be on the outside. But she had a daughter who was suffering. And that mother began to cry out: “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!” At first, Jesus was silent. And the disciples said: “Send her away.” What a scene. A woman looking for mercy...and the disciples wanting her to leave. A woman looking for grace...and a community saying: “You do not belong here.” But she does not leave. She keeps coming closer. She keeps believing. She keeps asking for mercy. Until finally Jesus says to her: “Woman, great is your faith.” And her daughter was healed. Grace had been poured out once again. But this time, it had crossed a boundary. It had reached a foreign woman. Someone others considered to be on the outside. John M. G. Barclay, in his study of grace, helps us understand something important: God’s grace does not depend on the prior worth of the person who receives it. God does not begin by asking: “Does this person deserve it?” “Does this person belong?” “Is this person one of us?” Grace begins with God. And perhaps that is exactly what this Canaanite woman helps us to see. Others could see her as a foreigner. The disciples could see her as an outsider. But the grace of God could not be contained by those categories. Grace poured out upon her. And when grace pours out, our old boundaries begin to lose their power. Grace does not first find worthy people and then decide to love them. God’s grace reaches people and creates something new. That woman who seemed to be on the outside ends up hearing Jesus say: “Woman, great is your faith.” And suddenly, the image of Psalm 133 becomes even more powerful. The oil begins on Aaron’s head...but it keeps flowing down. The dew begins on Hermon...but the psalmist imagines it reaching all the way to Zion. And the grace that many thought belonged only to Israel...now reaches a Canaanite woman. Grace keeps flowing. And here there is an important word for us as the church. We must be careful not to become like those disciples. People who are close to Jesus...but want to decide who is allowed to come close to Jesus. People who have received grace...but want to decide who else deserves to receive it. Because we are not the owners of grace. We are people upon whom grace has been poured out. And our task is not to stop it. Our task is to let it keep flowing. Imagine a church known for that. A church where someone could say: “When I go there, I find grace.” Not perfection. Grace. A church where someone can arrive tired and find rest. Arrive wounded and find care. Arrive alone and find family. Arrive with questions and find people willing to walk beside them. Arrive being different...and discover that there is still a place at the table. That is what happens when grace pours out. It begins here...but it does not end here. It flows toward our families. Toward our neighbors. Toward our community. Toward the stranger. Toward those whom others have left outside. Brothers and sisters, perhaps today we have come here like someone walking into a morning covered with fog. We come with our joys. With our worries. With our wounds. With our questions. But we are here. Together. We pray together. We sing together. We listen to one another. We walk beside one another. And perhaps when we leave this place, we will discover that something has happened.Like that person who walked through the fog and ended up covered with water, we too can leave this place covered with grace. But not to keep it for ourselves. We carry it with us. Because the oil keeps flowing down. The dew keeps falling. The Canaanite woman reminds us that the grace of God can cross the boundaries we create. And the church continues to be called to be a place where grace is not stored away, but where grace pours out. Upon us. Among us. And through us, to reach others. Amen. Prayer of Affirmation: Gracious God, Thank you for the grace you continually pour into our lives. Teach us not to keep that grace for ourselves. Help us become a people through whom your love continues to flow. Where there is loneliness, make us companions. Where there is rejection, make us welcoming. Where there are divisions, make us builders of community. Where people have been pushed aside, help us make room at the table. May we never forget that we are not the owners of your grace. We are people upon whom grace has been poured out. Now send us to share that grace with others. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. *Closing Hymn: “Amazing Grace” UMC 378 *Benediction: Brothers and sisters, We have gathered together. We have prayed together. We have listened together. And once again, God’s grace has been poured out upon us. Now go into the world. Let that grace flow into your homes, into your families, into your neighborhoods, and into the lives of those who feel they are on the outside. Remember: We are not the owners of grace. We are people upon whom grace has been poured out. So go in peace, go in love, and let the grace of God continue to flow through you.. AMEN *Song of Blessing: “Everything We Do is for the Glory of God” Postlude: “Under His Wings” by Ira Sankey Pastor Jorge Rodriguez [email protected]  Fruitland United Methodist Church August 9, 2026 *(Please stand if you are comfortably able.) Prelude: “My Life Flows On” Welcoming the Light of Christ Jorge & Roxie T. Welcome and Announcements Jorge R. Call to Worship Roxie T. Leader: When the winds of life rise against us, God remains faithful. People: We place our trust in the One who walks upon the waters. Leader: When fear overwhelms our hearts, Christ calls us by name. People: We will not be afraid, for the Lord is with us. Leader: Come and worship the God who is greater than every storm. People: We come with faith, hope, and grateful hearts. Let us worship God! *Sharing the Peace of Christ Roxie T. *Opening Hymn: “How Great Thou Art” UMH 77 Opening Prayer: Gracious God, When the winds of life become strong and the waves seem too high, remind us that You are never far away. Teach us to trust You when we cannot see clearly. Strengthen our faith when fear begins to take over. Open our hearts to hear Your voice saying, “Take heart. It is I. Do not be Afraid.” May this time of worship renew our courage and deepen our confidence in Jesus Christ, who is Lord over every storm. In His holy name we pray. Amen. First Scripture Reading: Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45 UMH 828 Roxie T. Story Time with Young Christians: Pastor Jorge Community Expressions Jorge & Roxie Hymn: “Holy, Holy, Holy/ Santo, Santo, Santo” TFWS 2007 Thanksgiving and Celebration. Prayers for healing and wholeness. Prayers for our community and the world. Let us pray. The Lord’s Prayer: Roxie T. “Our Father, who art in heaven...” Invitation to Generosity Pastor Jorge God has faithfully provided for us through every season of life. As an expression of our gratitude and trust, let us return to God our tithes and offerings, believing that God will use them to bring hope, healing, and the love of Christ to our community and beyond. Offertory: “Just as I am,” by William Bradbury *Doxology: “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow . . .” UMH 95 *Prayer of Dedication: Generous God, Receive these gifts as signs of our gratitude and trust. Use them to strengthen Your Church, serve our neighbors, and proclaim the Good News that Jesus is Lord over every storm. In Christ’s name. Amen. Gospel Reading: Matthew 14:22-23 Liturgist Hymn: “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High” TFWS 2088 Sermon: “When the Wind Is Roaring, Remember Who Is Walking on the Water” Texts: Matthew 14:22–33; Psalm 105:1–6, 16–22, 45b, Rev. Jorge Rodriguez Introduction There are moments in life when everything seems to be under control. And then the wind changes. A phone call. A diagnosis. A piece of news. A loss. A conflict. An unexpected decision. And what once seemed like a peaceful lake becomes a storm. You do not have to live in Galilee to know what a storm feels like. We have all been through one. Some of us are living in one today. Today's Gospel begins in a very surprising way. Jesus sends the disciples across the lake without Him. That already makes us uncomfortable because many of us assume that following Christ means we will never face storms. But today's Gospel teaches exactly the opposite. The disciples obeyed, and precisely because they obeyed, they found themselves struggling against the wind. I. Obedience Does Not Keep Us from Storms Matthew tells us that Jesus made the disciples get into the boat. They were not running away from God. They were not being disobedient. They were not living in sin. They were exactly where Jesus had told them to be. And yet the wind was against them. Sometimes we ask, "If I am doing God's will, why is this happening to me?" The Bible answers: Faith does not remove the storms. Faith changes the way we go through them. Many of us know that experience. We have served God. We have prayed. We have loved. And still cancer came. Unemployment came. Division came. Fear came. The storm does not necessarily mean God is absent. Sometimes it means exactly the opposite. It means God is preparing a revelation. II. While We Are Rowing... God Is Already at Work This is where Psalm 105 sheds light on the Gospel. The psalmist says, "Remember the wonderful works that He has done." Then he tells a story. He does not begin with Moses. He begins with Joseph. Joseph was sold into slavery. He was betrayed. He was imprisoned. It looked as though God had disappeared. But the psalmist makes a remarkable statement. He says, "He sent a man before them—Joseph." What an extraordinary way to read history! Joseph's brothers thought they were selling him. But God was already sending him. Joseph thought he had been forgotten. But God was preparing him. Egypt thought it had gained a slave. But God was shaping a deliverer. What looked like a tragedy was actually God's strategy. And while the disciples struggle against the waves, Jesus is already walking toward them. They do not know it yet. But He is already on His way. III. Remembering Changes the Way We See the Storm Psalm 105 repeats one command over and over: Remember. Remember His wonders. Remember His miracles. Remember His faithfulness. Why is this so important? Because fear has a very short memory. When the storm comes, we forget everything God has done before. We forget the doors He opened. We forget the prayers He answered. We forget the people He sent into our lives. We forget the times He carried us through. That is why Israel sang. They sang to remember. They sang so they would not forget. They sang to keep hope alive. As Methodists, we understand this well. John Wesley organized the movement. But Charles Wesley gave it its voice. Thousands of hymns. Thousands of songs. Because theology is also learned by singing. Many people may forget a sermon, but they remember a hymn for the rest of their lives. We sing because remembering strengthens faith. IV. Peter Steps Out of the Boat Then Peter appears. Always impulsive. Always sincere. Always willing to try. "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You." Jesus answers with one simple word: "Come." Peter steps out of the boat. And something impossible happens. He walks on the water. But then he does what we so often do. He pays more attention to the wind than to Jesus. And he begins to sink. Not because the wind became stronger, but because he changed the direction of his gaze. How often do we do the same? We look more at the news than at God's promises. We focus more on the problem than on the Savior. We pay more attention to fear than to hope. And before long, we begin to sink inside. V. Christ's Hand Reaches Us Before the Bottom Does There is a beautiful detail in this story. Peter begins to sink, but he never reaches the bottom because before he reaches the bottom, Jesus reaches him. That is the Gospel. It does not promise that we will never fall. It promises that we will never fall alone. It does not say we will never doubt. It says Christ will always stretch out His hand. Perhaps that is exactly what someone here needs to hear today. No matter how far fear has advanced, Christ's hand is always quicker than our fall. VI. God Is Still Sending "Josephs" The psalm reminds us that God is still at work, not only through spectacular miracles, but through ordinary people. Joseph was one of them. Here is one of the most beautiful truths of the Kingdom. God is still sending "Josephs." Ordinary people. Neighbors. Teachers. Doctors. Firefighters. Parents. Pastors. Friends. People who arrive just when it seems all hope is gone. And perhaps God wants to send you. Maybe you are the Joseph someone else needs. Maybe you are the word of hope. The phone call. The visit. The embrace. The prayer. The act of justice. The gesture of compassion. More often than we realize, we become God's quiet instruments, like the seed planted in the ground, like the yeast working through the dough, like the salt that preserves life and gives flavor. Conclusion The story ends in a remarkable way. When Jesus gets into the boat, the wind stops. But notice something. The greatest miracle was not simply that the storm ended. The greatest miracle was that the disciples finally understood who was with them. Then they declared, "Truly You are the Son of God." Perhaps that should become our prayer today. We are not asking for a life without storms. We are asking for a memory that remembers God's faithfulness. We are asking for a faith that keeps singing when the wind is still blowing. We are asking for eyes that recognize Christ walking on the water before the dawn breaks. And we are asking for willing hands to become instruments of God's Kingdom, just as Joseph was, bringing hope where others see only scarcity. So when the wind begins to rise again, remember. Remember the wonderful things God has done. Remember the times He carried you. Remember that He is already walking across the very waters that frighten you today. And when you cannot sing because your tears will not allow it, let the Church sing for you. Because the people of God have always survived by remembering, and they have always remembered by singing. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Prayer of Response: Lord Jesus, There are times when we are overwhelmed by fear. There are moments when we see only the wind and forget Your presence. Today we choose to trust You again. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on You. Strengthen us when our faith is weak. Reach out Your hand whenever we begin to sink. And remind us that no storm is greater than Your love. In Your holy name we pray. Amen. Closing Hymn: “Here I Am, Lord” UMH 593 *Pastoral Benediction: Go into the world trusting not in the strength of your own hands, but in the presence of Christ who walks with you through every storm. When fear comes, remember His voice. When the wind rises, remember His promise. And may the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with you now and always. Amen. *Song of Blessing: “Halle, Halle, Hallelujah” TFWS 2026 Postlude: “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” Pastor Jorge Rodriguez [email protected]  Fruitland United Methodist Church August 2, 2026 *(Please stand if you are comfortably able.) Communion Sunday Prelude: Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship. Welcome and Announcements Jorge R. Call to Worship Liturgist Leader: We come seeking the face of God. People: We come to worship the One who is always present. Leader: God hears the prayers of those who call upon Him. People: God walks with us through every step of life’s journey. Leader: Christ invites us to His table of grace and mercy. All: Let us worship the Lord with joyful and thankful hearts! *Sharing the Peace of Christ *Opening Hymn: “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” UMH 140 Opening Prayer: Faithful and gracious God, You know us completely and yet You welcome us into Your presence. Open our eyes to recognize Your face in our worship, in Your Word, in this holy meal, and in one another. Strengthen our faith, guide our steps, and fill our hearts with Your peace through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. First Reading: Psalm 17:1-7, 15 (read responsively) UMH 749 Liturgist Time with Young Christians: Pastor Jorge Community Expressions Jorge & Liturgist Hymn: “Holy, Holy, Holy/ Santo, Santo, Santo” TFWS 2007 Thanksgiving and Celebration. Prayers for healing and wholeness. Prayers for our community and the world. Let us pray. Invitation to Generosity Pastor Jorge As God has freely given us every good gift, let us respond with grateful hearts through our tithes and offerings, trusting that God will use them to bring hope and healing to the world. Offertory: *Doxology: “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow . . .” UMH 95 *Prayer of Dedication: Gracious God, receive these gifts as signs of our gratitude and trust. Use them to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, to serve our neighbors, and to build Your Kingdom of justice, mercy, and peace. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen. Second Reading: Genesis 32:22-31 (Pew bible 51) Liturgist Hymn: “Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying” TFWS 2193 Sermon: “Seeking the Face of God” Psalm 17:1-5, 15 Rev. Jorge R. Introduction There is a question that has accompanied believers for centuries: Can we really see the face of God? The Bible seems to give two different answers. In Exodus, God tells Moses, “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” Yet the psalmist confidently declares, “As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness.” How can both be true? The answer is deeper than simply seeing with our physical eyes. The psalm invites us to learn to recognize the presence of God in our daily lives. When we begin to recognize His presence, everything changes. We Seek God While We Are on the Journey Many people believe they will seek God when life settles down—when they have more time, when their problems are solved, or when they finally have peace. David teaches us something different. Psalm 17 was written in the middle of hardship. David was surrounded by enemies, facing uncertainty, and yet he continued to pray, trust, and seek God. He did not wait for life to become easy before turning to the Lord. The same is true for us. Faith is not something we postpone until life is perfect. We seek God in the middle of our struggles, trusting that He walks with us every step of the way. God Works Through People Who Keep Moving Someone once asked me how they could discover God's will for their life. My answer was simple: Keep moving . God often guides us while we are moving forward. It is much easier to steer a boat that is already sailing than one that is sitting still in the harbor. The psalmist says, “My steps have held fast to your paths.” He does not claim to have lived a perfect life. Instead, he testifies that he continued walking with God. Sometimes we hesitate because we want complete certainty before taking the next step. But God frequently reveals His direction one step at a time. As we walk faithfully, He continues to guide us. Seeing the Face of God in Our Relationships One of the most beautiful surprises in Psalm 17 is that it speaks about very ordinary parts of life—our lips, our eyes, our hearts, our feet, and our ears. The psalm reminds us that our search for God is lived out through the ordinary actions of everyday life. The psalmist declares, “I shall behold your face in righteousness.” Biblical righteousness is not simply about following rules. It is about living faithfully in our relationships—with God, with our families, with our neighbors, and with those around us. Jesus taught the same truth when He said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Every act of kindness, every word of forgiveness, every expression of compassion becomes an opportunity to encounter Christ. The Lord's Table Opens Our Eyes Today we gather around the Lord's Table. We come seeking the face of God. We do not expect to see Him through a spectacular vision. Instead, we meet Him through simple and holy gifts: bread, the cup, and the fellowship of His people. The disciples on the road to Emmaus walked with Jesus without recognizing Him. It was only when He broke the bread that their eyes were opened. Holy Communion continues to do the same for us today. As we receive the bread and the cup, Christ opens our eyes to His presence, strengthens our faith, forgives our sins, and sends us back into the world to serve Him. Conclusion The psalm ends with these beautiful words: "When I awake, I shall be satisfied with beholding your likeness." Every new day is an invitation to recognize God's presence all around us—in our families, our neighbors, our workplaces, our communities, and especially among those who need our love and compassion. As we come to the Lord's Table today, may our eyes be opened once again. May we recognize the face of Christ in this gathered community. May we leave this place ready to recognize Him wherever He sends us. For to behold the face of God is to discover Christ alive among His people. Thanks be to God. Amen. Prayer of Confession: Merciful God, We confess that we have not loved You with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done Your will, we have broken Your law, we have rebelled against Your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Words of Assurance: Hear the good news: Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; that proves God’s love toward us. People: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven! All: Glory to God. Amen. Invitation to Holy Communion: Christ our Lord invites to His table all who love Him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another. Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another. The Great Thanksgiving The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven... Sharing the Bread and Cup Prayer After Communion: Eternal God, we give You thanks for this holy mystery in which You have given Yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of Your Spirit, seeking Your face in every person we meet and serving Christ with joyful hearts. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Closing Hymn: “Be Though My Vision” UMH 451 *Benediction: Go now in peace, seeking the face of God in every moment, serving Christ in every neighbor, and walking faithfully wherever the Holy Spirit leads you. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always. Amen. *Song of Blessing: “We are Marching in the Light of God” Postlude: Pastor Jorge Rodriguez [email protected] |