 Fruitland United Methodist Church March 8, 2026 *(Please stand if you are comfortably able.) Prelude: “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah,” by William Williams and John Hughes Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship. Welcome and Announcements Pastor Jorge and Letha E. Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ. Today we gather as people who thirst for God. In a world full of noise and division, God invites us again to listen. *Call to Worship Letha E. Come, let us sing to the Lord. Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come into God’s presence with thanksgiving. Let us make a joyful noise with songs of praise. For the Lord is a great God. The maker of heaven and earth. Today, if you hear God’s voice May we not harden our hearts. Come, let us worship the Lord our God. Let us worship with open hearts. *Sharing the Peace of Christ. *Opening Hymn: “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” UMH 400 Scripture Reading : Psalm 95 Letha E. Leader: The Word of God for the people of God. People: Thanks be to God. Time with Young Christians Jorge R. Please write prayer concerns and celebrations on yellow notepads, to be collected. Community Expressions Pastor Jorge & Letha E. Sing: “Holy, Holy, Holy” TFWS 2007 Thanksgiving and Celebration Prayers for Healing and Wholeness Our Community and World Let us pray. *Hymn: “Father, I Adore You” TFWS 2038 Scripture Reading: Exodus 17:1-7 Letha E. Leader: The Word of God for the people of God. People: Thanks be to God. Invitation to Generosity Pastor Jorge Offertory: “I love you Lord” by Laurie Klein *Doxology: “Praise God from whom all blessings flow . . .” UMH 95 All that we have is a gift from God. Let us offer our gifts with grateful hearts. Gospel Reading: John 4:5-42 Letha E. Leader: The Word of God for the people of God. People: Thanks be to God. *Hymn “You Who Are Thirsty” TFWS 2132 Sermon: “If Today You Hear His Voice” Rev. Jorge R. John 4:5–45 Psalm 95 There are places where people no longer speak to each other. Neighborhoods where invisible lines divide. Countries where borders become wounds. Families where an unfinished conversation becomes a heavy silence. Sometimes there are no gunshots. But there is distance. And distance can wound the human spirit just as deeply. In the Gospel of John, Jesus walks into one of those places. The text says: “He had to pass through Samaria.” It was not the shortest road. It was a decision. Because peace rarely begins by avoiding conflict. Peace begins when someone is willing to walk into difficult spaces with a different heart. For generations Jews and Samaritans avoided each other. Their history was long, bitter, religious, and political. And in that tense territory Jesus stops at a well. He is tired. He is thirsty. He sits down. Then a Samaritan woman arrives. And Jesus breaks the silence with a simple request: “Give me a drink.” It sounds like an ordinary sentence. But in that moment, it was revolutionary. A Jewish man speaking to a Samaritan woman. A rabbi crossing a social boundary. A religious teacher speaking to someone whose life had been marked by questions and wounds. Peace sometimes begins with something very small: “Give me a drink.” Not accusation. Notjudgment. Just a request that recognizes the dignity of the other. Psalm 95 gives a warning: “If today you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” The woman could have hardened her heart. She could have answered with sarcasm, with resentment, with the weight of centuries of conflict. But she doesn’t walk away. Instead, she keeps listening. She listens when Jesus speaks about living water. She listens when the conversation touches her personal story. She listens when Jesus speaks about worshiping God in spirit and in truth. Hardness of heart is a choice. Openness is also a choice. Wars begin when hearts stop listening. Peace begins when someone decides to listen again. The Samaritan woman was not perfect. Her story was complicated. Many people in her town probably judged her. But after meeting Jesus, the Gospel tells us something beautiful: “Then the woman left her water jar.” That jar represented her daily routine, her burden, her need. But she had encountered living water. And she runs back to the town and says: “Come, see a man who told me everything I have ever done.” She does not preach a theological lecture. She simply tells her story. And many believed because of her testimony. Peace is not only built by presidents or powerful leaders. Peace often begins with ordinary people whose hearts have been changed. Psalm 95 repeats the invitation: “If today you hear his voice...” Today. Not tomorrow. Not when everything is clear. Today. Jesus still walks through Samaria. He still crosses cultural boundaries. He still sits beside the wells of our lives. And he still speaks. The real question is not whether God speaks. The real question is whether we are willing to listen without hardening our hearts. The Samaritan woman rebuilt a bridge. She returned to her community carrying a message that invited people to come together. And today the church is called to do the same. In a world where fear grows easily and differences become excuses for conflict, Jesus shows another way: to sit, to listen, to speak truth with grace, and to announce hope. Working for peace does not mean ignoring injustice. It means confronting injustice without allowing hatred to rule our hearts. Perhaps today we are like the Samaritan woman: thirsty, full of questions, carrying our own stories. Or perhaps we are like the town: tired, skeptical, used to division. But the Psalm says: “If today you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” Jesus is still at the well. He is still asking for water. And he is still offering living water. May we not harden our hearts. May we leave behind the jar of prejudice. And may we, like that Samaritan woman, run to share the good news: “I have met the one who can transform my story.” And from that encounter, may we live and work for peace. Amen. Prayer of Confession: Merciful God, you are the source of living water, yet we often come to you with hardened hearts. We doubt when we should trust and forget the ways you have cared for us. Forgive us, Lord. Break the hardness within us and open our hearts to your grace. Let your living water renew our lives. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Closing Hymn: “Sent Out In Jesus Name” TFWS 2184 Benediction: Go into the world with open hearts. Listen for the voice of God. Receive the living water of Christ. And be people who build bridges of peace. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. *Song of Blessing: “Halle, Halle, Halleluja,” TFWS 2026 Postlude: “Rescue the Perishing” by Fanny Crosby Rev. Jorge Rodriguez [email protected]
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 Fruitland United Methodist Church March 1, 2026 *(Please stand if you are comfortably able.) Prelude: “To God be the Glory,” by William Doane Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship. Welcome and Announcements Pastor Jorge and Liturgist Misson Moment by Mary Odom *Call to Worship Liturgist There are questions that come at night. And there is a God who meets us there. God calls us to places we cannot yet see. And promises to walk with us. The Spirit blows where it will. We open our hearts to be born again. All: We come to worship the God of promise, love, and new beginnings. *Sharing the Peace of Christ. *Opening Hymn: “Be Thou My Vision” UMH 451 Scripture Reading I: Psalm 121 (Read Responsively) UMH 844 Reader: The Word of God for the people of God. People: Thanks be to God. Time with Young Christians Leslie Ward Please write prayer concerns and celebrations on yellow notepads, to be collected. Community Expressions Pastor Jorge & Liturgist Sing: “Holy, Holy, Holy” TFWS 2007 Thanksgiving and Celebration Prayers for Healing and Wholeness Our Community and World Let us pray. *Hymn: “In His Time” TFWS 2203 Scripture Reading II: Genesis 12:1-4 (Read Responsively) UMH 844 Invitation to Generosity Pastor Jorge Offertory: “If you could Hie to Kolob” English tune arranged by Ralph Vaughn Williams *Doxology: “Praise God from whom all blessings flow . . .” UMH 95 Scripture Reading III: John 3:1-17 (Read Responsively) UMH 844 *Hymn: “Give Thanks” TFWS 2033 Sermon: “At the Doorway: Like Abraham, Like Nicodemus” Rev. Jorge Rodriguez There are questions that come at night. Not always because it is dark outside, but because something is dark inside. Nicodemus went out at night. We do not know exactly what he wanted to ask. We do not know what he had prepared in his mind. Maybe an argument. Maybe a trap. Maybe an elegant conversation between teachers. But Jesus did not allow him to set the agenda. Nicodemus begins with religious courtesy: “Rabbi, we know that you have come from God...”And before he finishes his introduction, Jesus interrupts him: “You must be born again.” It was not the question Nicodemus had asked. But it was the question his soul needed. In the Book of Genesis 12, God says to Abram: “Go... to the land that I will show you.” He does not show him the map. He does not hand him the itinerary. He does not give him GPS coordinates. Only a promise, and Abram went. That is all the text says: “So Abram went.” Without guarantees, without a signed contract. without knowing how the story would end. He went. In the Gospel of John 3, Nicodemus is also standing at a doorway. He does not have to leave his land. He has to leave his system. He wants to understand. He wants to control the Spirit. He wants the formula. “How can a man be born when he is old?” He wants the method. He wants the procedure. He wants to know what work must be done. But Jesus offers him a gift, not a task. And in the middle of confusion, in the middle of the night, in the middle of misunderstanding, the brightest promise appears: “For God so loved the world...” “Por eso Dios amo al mundo” That is not a formula. It is a gift. Si es un regalo. Here is the tension. We want to make our way into the kingdom. We want to earn our place; we want to do something that secures the result. Nicodemus wanted to do. Abram simply believed. Paul will later say that Abraham is the example. Not because he worked harder. Not because he obeyed perfectly. But because he trusted. Believing is not work. It is a direction. It is stepping out when God says “Go,” even if we do not know where. It is accepting being born again even if we do not understand how. Jesus could have said to Nicodemus: Now you are Abraham. You are standing at the doorway of a new life.” You do not have to climb back into the womb. You must release control; you do not have to produce the Spirit. You must let the Spirit blow, you do not have to earn God’s love, you must receive it. The same God who called Abram is the God who calls into existence things that do not exist. He calls hope where there is fear, He calls faith where there is doubt. He calls it “there is” where there is exclusion, He calls life where there seemed to be death. We are no longer defined by flesh. We are not defined by the law, we are not defined by performance, we are defined by the Spirit. We are family not by blood, but by promise. Each of us lives at that moment. A moment when God says: “Go.” A moment when Christ says: “Be born.” And we want to ask: “How?” “Where?” “With what guarantees?” But faith does not begin with answers. It begins with trust. Abraham walked. Nicodemus listened. And we are standing at the same doorway. We move forward in the journey of our lives guided by this promise: The promise of presence. The promise of acceptance. The promise of grace. We do not work to enter. We walk because we have already been loved. We are not born again by effort. We are reborn because God loved first. And when God says “Go” ... even if it is night... we go. Amen. *Affirmation of Faith (Responsive) Do you trust the God who calls you to go? We trust, even when we do not see the whole way. Do you believe in the Spirit who gives new birth? We believe, even when we do not understand how. Do you receive the love God has already given? We receive it with gratitude and faith. Invitation to the Table: Christ invites to this table not those who have it all figured out, not those who have earned their place, but those who trust the promise. Like Abraham, we come in faith. Like Nicodemus, we come with questions. Like children, we come ready to receive. The Great Thanksgiving (Brief Form): The Lord be with you. And also, with you. Lift up your hearts. We liftthem up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. Words of Institution: On the night in which he gave himself for us, Jesus took bread...broke it... and said, “This is my body...” He took the cup... “This is my blood of the new covenant...” Prayer of Consecration: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and cup. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world people of promise, people of new birth, people who walk in trust. Amen Father’s Prayer: Sharing of the Elements (Music during distribution) “One Bread, One Body” UMH 620 Prayer After Communion : Gracious God, you have fed us not because we earned it but because you loved us first. Send us now into the world as people who walk in faith, who trust the promise, who receive the gift. Amen. *Closing Hymn: “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” Benediction: You stand at a doorway. God says, “Go.” You may not see the map. You may not understand the how. But you are already loved. You are already called. You are already made new. Go in trust. Go in grace. Go even if it is night. Amen Postlude: “Lead on O King Eternal,” by Ernest Shurtleff and Henry Stuart Rev. Jorge Rodriguez [email protected]  Fruitland United Methodist Church February 22, 2026 *(Please stand if you are comfortably able.) Prelude: “Finlandia” by Jean Sibelius Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship. Welcome and Announcements Holly K. & Jorge R. *Call to Worship Holly K. Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven. Blessed are those whose sin the Lord does not count against them. When we kept silent, our bones wasted away. But when we confessed, God forgave us. In the wilderness, Christ was tempted yet remained faithful. In our weakness, God is our strength. Let us worship the Lord, our refuge and our Redeemer. *Sharing the Peace of Christ. *Opening Hymn: “You Are My Hiding Place” TFWS 2055 Scripture: Psalm 32 UMH 766 (Read responsively) Holly K. Time With Young Christians Pastor Jorge Please write prayer concerns and celebrations on yellow notes, to be collected. Community Expressions Jorge & Holly K. Sing: “Holy, Holy, Holy” TFWS 2007 Thanksgiving and Celebration Prayers for Healing and Wholeness Our Community and World Let Us Pray The Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name . . .” *Hymn: Amazing Grace! How Sweet The Sound UMC #378 Scripture Reading: Romans 5:12-19 Holly K. Invitation to Generosity Rev Jorge R Offertory: “It’s Me, It’s Me O Lord” African-American spiritual *Doxology: “Praise God from whom all blessings flow . . .” UMH 95 Dedication Prayer: All we have is gift. All we give is gratitude. Gospel Reading: Matthew 4:1-11 Holly K. *Hymn: “Lord, I Lift Your Name On High” TFWS 2088 Sermon: “When the Soul Is Silent.... And When the Devil Whispers” Rev. Jorge R. Psalm 32 | Matthew 4:1–11 There is a kind of silence that makes the soul sick. The psalmist writes, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away.” This is not the silence of peace. It is the silence of hidden guilt. The silence of pretending. The silence of carrying something too heavy for the heart. Many of us know that silence. We smile on the outside, but inside something aches. Psalm 32 reminds us that freedom begins with honesty. When David confessed, he discovered grace: “You forgave the guilt of my sin.” Confession is not humiliation. It is liberation. Matthew 4 takes us into another kind of silence — the wilderness. Jesus is alone. Hungry. Weak. And in that quiet place, a voice whispers: “If you are the Son of God...” Temptation always questions identity. It whispers doubt before it offers shortcuts. Turn stones into bread. Prove yourself. Take power the easy way. Bread. Prestige. Power. Jesus refuses to negotiate who He is. He answers with trust in God’s Word. In the wilderness, Jesus chooses faithfulness. Here is the good news for us: Most of us live somewhere between Psalm 32 and Matthew 4. Sometimes we resist. Sometimes we fall. But grace meets us in both places. When we are tempted, God strengthens us. When we fail, God forgives us. Temptation says, “Hide.” The Spirit says, “Return.” And the blessing is not for the perfect. It is for the forgiven. Today we are invited to ask: Where am I staying silent? Which voice am I listening to? The silence of guilt drains the soul. Confession restores it. The whisper of temptation divides the heart. The Word of God anchors it. We are not defined by our temptation. We are not defined by our failure. We are defined by grace. Rejoice in the Lord. There is forgiveness. There is strength. There is hope. Amen. *Prayer of Confession: Merciful God, When we remain silent about our sin, our hearts grow heavy. Forgive us when we hide. Forgive us when we justify. Forgive us when we doubt who we are in You. In moments of temptation, we do not always stand firm. Restore us through Your mercy. Remind us that we are Your children. Free us through Your grace. (Silent Prayer) Words of Assurance Pastor Jorge R. Hear the good news: Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven. In Jesus Christ, We are forgiven, restored, and strengthened. Thanks be to God! Amen. Closing Hymn: “Grace Alone” TFWS 2162 Benediction: Go into the wilderness knowing you are not alone. When temptation whispers, remember who you are. When guilt weighs heavy, remember there is grace. May the God who forgives, the Christ who strengthens, and the Spirit who sustains go with you this week. Amen. Postlude: Lord, Dismiss us with Thy Blessing by John Fawcett Pastor Jorge Rodriguez [email protected]  Fruitland United Methodist Church February 15, 2026 *(Please stand if you are comfortably able.) Prelude: “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” by J.S. Bach Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship. Welcome and Announcements Leona W. & Jorge R. *Call to Worship Leona Whitcomb The Lord calls us from the heights of the mountain. We come to listen to the voice of God. God declares, “You are my beloved Son.” We recognize Christ as Lord of our lives. God says, “Listen to him.” We open our ears, our hearts, and our will. Let us come to worship the God who reveals divine glory And sends us into the world in love. Amen *Sharing the Peace of Christ. *Opening Hymn: “Shine, Jesus, Shine” TFWS 2173 Scripture: Psalm 2 Leona W. Time With Young Christians Pastor Jorge Please write prayer concerns and celebrations on yellow notes, to be collected. Community Expressions Jorge & Leona W. Sing: “Holy, Holy, Holy” TFWS 2007 Thanksgiving and Celebration Prayers for Healing and Wholeness Our Community and World Let Us Pray The Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name . . .” Scripture Reading: Exodus 24:12-18 Hymn: How Great Is Our God TFWS #3003 Invitation to Generosity Rev Jorge R Offertory: “Open the eyes of my heart” by Paul Baloche *Doxology: “Praise God from whom all blessings flow . . .” UMH 95 Gospel Reading: Matthew 17: 1-9 Leona W. *Hymn: “Here I Am, Lord” UMH 593 Sermon: “Listen to Him: When God Speaks from the Mountain” Rev. Jorge R. Mathew 17 1-9 There are moments in life when we wish time could stand still— moments so clear, so bright, so full of meaning that we think, “I wish this could last forever.” Here in Fruitland, we know those moments well. Sometimes they come quietly: a sunrise over the fields, a conversation around the church kitchen table, a prayer whispered during a long workday, or a Sunday morning when the hymns sound stronger and hope feels closer. Peter knows that feeling. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain. He doesn’t explain much. Jesus often walks first and explains later. On that mountain something happens that none of them expect. Jesus changes. His face shines. His clothes become dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appear—the Law and the Prophets, the whole story of God’s people standing with Jesus. Peter, being Peter, doesn’t know what to say, but he says something: “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will make three shelters.” It’s an honest and human response. It sounds like us sometimes: “This feels safe. This is familiar. Let’s stay right here.” In a community like Fruitland, that makes sense. We value stability, relationships, tradition, and taking care of one another. But then the most important moment comes. A cloud covers them, and a voice speaks—not Peter’s, not Moses’, not Elijah’s, but God’s: “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.” Psalm 2 had said it long before: “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.” God is not offering advice; God is revealing identity. Jesus is not just a teacher, not just a prophet, not just a powerful spiritual experience. He is God’s beloved Son. And God does not say, “Admire him,” or “Build something permanent here,” or “Stay on the mountain.” God says something far more demanding: “Listen to him.” Listening is harder than watching. Watching keeps us comfortable; listening calls us to respond. The story does not end on the mountain. It ends on the way down. They do not stay. They return to the crowds, the questions, and the needs of the world. Church is a safe place—but it is also a sending place. The voice from the cloud is still clear: “Listen to him.” May God give us ears to listen, hearts ready to obey, and feet willing to walk wherever Jesus leads. Amen. Prayer of Confession: God of light and glory, we confess that many times we prefer to speak rather than listen, to build shelters rather than follow Jesus, and to remain comfortable on the mountain instead of descending into the valley of human pain. Forgive us when we ignore your voice and fail to listen to your Son. Turn us back to you, so that we may be transformed and sent in love. Amen. Words of Assurance...... Pastor Jorge R. Hear the good news: The voice that spoke from the cloud is still speaking today with grace. In Christ we are forgiven, restored, and called to walk in God’s light. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. People: Thanks be to God! Amen. Closing Hymn: “ Sent Out In Jesus’ Name” TFWS 2184 Pastoral Benediction: Brothers and sisters, you have seen the glory of Christ, you have heard the voice of God. Now come down from the mountain to listen to Jesus in the cries of the world and to follow him faithfully. Go in peace. Amen. Song of Blessing: We Are Marching in The Light Of God Postlude: O How He Loves You And Me by Kurt Kaiser Pastor Jorge Rodriguez [email protected]  Fruitland United Methodist Church February 8, 2026 *(Please stand if you are comfortably able.) Prelude: “Down by the Riverside,” an African-American spiritual. Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship. Welcome and Announcements Chase *Call to Worship Letha Beloved, what worship does God desire of us? To do justice, love kindness, and live humbly with God. In our life together as the body of Christ, what worship does God desire of us? To do justice, love kindness, and live humbly with God. When we share the good news with all creation, what worship does God desire of us? To do justice, love kindness, and live humbly with God. Come, let us worship God with justice, kindness, and humility! We come to worship God with our voices and our lives. Thanks be to God! Amen. *Opening Hymn: “Marching to Zion” UMH 733 *Sharing the Peace of Christ. Scripture: Psalms 112: 1-10 Read responsively with Letha UMH 833 Time with Young Christians Please write prayer concerns and celebrations on yellow notepads, to be collected. Community Expressions Chase and Letha Sing: “Holy, Holy, Holy” TFWS 2007 Thanksgiving and Celebration Prayers for Healing and Wholeness Our Community and World Let us pray. “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name . . .” *Hymn: “They’ll Know We Are Christians” TFWS 2223 Invitation to Generosity Offertory: “Be Thou My Vision,” arranged by Ellen Foncannon *Doxology: “Praise God from whom all blessings flow . . .” UMH 95 Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2: 1-16 Letha Matthew 5: 13-20 Chase *Hymn: “My Hope is Built” UMH 368 Sermon: “Wisdom of the Elders” Chase Van Weerdhuizen *Unison Prayer All Heavenly Father, You have called us to be the salt that preserves goodness and the light that shines in the darkness. Help us to live in such a way that our words bring healing, our actions reflect Your truth, and our presence points others toward Your love. Lord Jesus, You fulfilled the Law perfectly, showing us that true righteousness flows from a heart surrendered to God. Teach us to walk in Your ways—not out of duty alone, but out of deep devotion. Let our lives be a testimony that honors You in both the smallest choices and the greatest challenges. Holy Spirit, strengthen us to stand firm in faith, to shine brightly even when the world grows dim, and to season every moment with grace. May our lives glorify the Father, so that others may see and be drawn to His kingdom. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. *Song of Blessing: “Sanctuary” 2 times. TFWS 2164 Benediction: Chase Postlude: “We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations” by H. Ernest Nichol  Fruitland United Methodist Church February 1, 2026 *(Please stand if you are comfortably able.) Prelude: “Softly and Tenderly,” arranged by Charles Callahan Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship. Welcome and Announcements Pastor Jorge and Reece *Call to Worship Reece God has shown us what is good. We seek to live a faith that does justice. God calls us to love mercy. We choose compassion as a way of life. God invites us to walk humbly with Him. We respond with our lives. Amen. *Sharing the Peace of Christ. Opening Hymn: “Song of Hope” TFWS 2186 Scripture Reading I: Micah 6:6-8 Time with Young Christians Rev. Jorge Rodgriguez Please write prayer concerns and celebrations on yellow notepads, to be collected. Community Expressions Pastor Jorge & Reece Sing: “Holy, Holy, Holy” TFWS 2007 Thanksgiving and Celebration Prayers for Healing and Wholeness Our Community and World Let us pray. *Hymn: “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” TFWS 2223 Invitation to Generosity Pastor Jorge Offertory: “The Old Rugged Cross,” by George Bennard *Doxology: “Praise God from whom all blessings flow . . .” UMH 95 Scripture Reading II: Matthew 5:1-12 – The Beatitudes *Hymn: “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” TFWS 2171 Sermon: “God’s Proposal” Rev. Jorge Rodriguez Some years ago, I heard the story of a student who prepared intensely for a final exam. He read every book, memorized facts, and reviewed concepts. He arrived confident, certain he was ready. When he received the exam, he read it… and fell silent. The questions were not about memorization. They were not asking what he knew, but how he would live what he knew. It was not an exam of information. It was an exam of coherence. Something similar often happens in our faith. We assume God evaluates us by what we offer, by what we say, by how religious we appear. So, we prepare ourselves with rituals, words, and offerings. But again and again, God changes the question. God does not ask us: —How much did you give? —How many prayers did you repeat? God asks something deeper: —Were you just? —Were you merciful? —Did you walk humbly with me? We live in a world with a broken order. A world where justice does not reach everyone, where the poor and vulnerable carry the heaviest burdens, and where those who raise their voices for human dignity are often questioned or persecuted. In the midst of this reality, an unavoidable question arises: What does God expect from us today? 1.God’s proposal according to Micah In the time of the prophet Micah, the people knew how to be religious. They knew how to offer sacrifices and follow rituals. When God confronts them, their response is immediate: —What more do you want us to do? —More offerings? —Greater sacrifices? But God answers with disarming clarity: “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” God is not looking for more religion. God is looking for coherent lives. To do justice means refusing to be indifferent in the face of injustice. To love mercy means choosing compassion as a way of life. To walk humbly with God means recognizing our dependence on God’s guidance. This is God’s proposal: a faith that is lived, not merely spoken. 2. Jesus reaffirms the proposal from the mountain Centuries later, Jesus goes up a mountain and proclaims the Beatitudes. He does not speak of power or religious success. He speaks of the Kingdom of God. Jesus calls blessed: the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the peacemakers, and even those persecuted for the sake of righteousness. Here we see three clear axes: 1. Living with humility 2. Working for justice and peace 3. Accepting the cost of discipleship Jesus does not promise an easy path, but he does promise a meaningful one. 3. One voice, then and now Micah and Jesus are saying the same thing, in different words. Micah says: do justice → Jesus says: blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Micah says: love mercy → Jesus says: blessed are the merciful. Micah says: walk humbly → Jesus says: blessed are the poor in spirit. God’s proposal has not changed. 4. God’s proposal for today Today, God does not ask for greater religious sacrifices. God asks for an embodied faith. A faith that: defends human dignity, works for justice, practices mercy, builds peace, and if suffering comes for doing what is right, embraces it with dignity and hope. This is not a comfortable faith. It is a courageous faith. Conclusion The question is no longer what God requires of us. That is clear. The question is whether we are willing to accept God’s proposal. Not a faith of words, but a faith of life. Not a comfortable faith, but a faithful one. May we say today, as a community: Lord, we accept your proposal. And we will walk with you, whatever the cost. Amen. *Prayer of Confession: We confess that too often we have chosen a comfortable faith instead of a faithful one. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us in your ways. Words of Assurance: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and made new. Thanks be to God. (A brief silence to reflect on God’s call to justice, mercy, and humility.) The Great Thanksgiving The Lord be with you. And also, with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. Pastor continues with blessing the elements... The Lord’s Prayer : “Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name . . .” Sharing the bread and the cup. All are welcome at Christ’s table. During Communion: “Let Us Offer to the Father” TFWS 2262 Prayer Following Communion: Gracious God, we thank you for this holy meal. Strengthen us to live your proposal in the world—doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with you. Amen. Benediction: Go to live a faith that does justice, loves mercy, and walks humbly with God. God in peace . Amen. * Song Of Blessing: “ Halle, Halle, Hallelujah” TFWS 2026 Postlude: “For All the Saints,” by Ralph Vaughn Williams Pastor Jorge Rodriguez [email protected]  Fruitland United Methodist Church January 25, 2026 *(Please stand if you are comfortably able.) Prelude Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship. Welcome and Announcements Rev. Letha E. & Jay W. *Call to Worship Hymn: “Jesus Calls Us” UMH398 Leader: Let your lives witness to Christ’s love. Jay W. People: And may our words bring reconciliation. Leader: Let your thoughts be of peace. People: And our touch bring healing. Leader: Let your actions count for justice, People: And may our faith be a sign of hope. Leader: Let our time of worship here and now be a true blessing for us all and restore joy and praise to our lives. Sharing the Peace of Christ. *Opening Hymn: “Surely the Presence” UMH 328 Scripture: Psalm 27 UMH 758 – 759 Read responsively. Jay W. Time With Young Christians Pastor Letha Please write prayer concerns and celebrations on yellow notes, to be collected. Community Expressions Letha E. & Jay W. Sing: “Holy, Holy, Holy” TFWS 2007 Thanksgiving and Celebration Prayers for Healing and Wholeness Our Community and World Let us pray. The Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name . . .” Hymn: “Spirit Song” UMH 349 Invitation to Generosity Rev. Letha E. Offertory: Doxology: UMH 95 Gospel Reading: Matthew 4:12-23 Jay W. *Hymn: “O Master Let Me Walk With Thee” UMH 430 Sermon: “Gone Fishing” Pastor Letha Meditation Hymn: “A Modern Affirmation” UMH 885 *Closing Hymn: “I Love to Tell the Story” UMH 156 Pastoral Benediction: Postlude:  Fruitland United Methodist Church January 18, 2026 *(Please stand if you are comfortably able.) Prelude: “Great is Thy Faithfulness” by Willian Runyan Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship. Welcome and Announcements Chase V. & Jorge R. *Call to Worship Chase V. I waited patiently for the Lord, and God heard my cry. God lifted me out of the deep pit and set my feet upon solid rock. God put a new song in our mouths, a hymn of praise. We trust in the Lord and come to do God’s will. We come to worship you with all that we are. Amen. *Sharing the Peace of Christ. Opening Hymn: “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High” TFWS 2088 Scripture: Isaiah 49:1-7 Chase V. Time With Young Christians Rev. Jorge Rodriguez V. Please write prayer concerns and celebrations on yellow notes, to be collected. Community Expressions Jorge & Chase V. Sing: “Holy, Holy, Holy” TFWS 2007 Thanksgiving and Celebration Prayers for Healing and Wholeness Our Community and World Let us pray. The Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name . . .” Invitation to Generosity Rev Jorge R. Offertory: “I was there to hear your borning cry” by John Ylvisaker *Doxology: “Praise God from whom all blessings flow . . .” UMH 95 Gospel Reading: John 1:29-42 Chase V. *Hymn: “Here I am, Lord” UMH 593 Sermon: “Come and See” Meditation Hymn: “Jesu, Jesu” UMH 432 Prayer of Confession God of grace, we confess that many times we are present but we do not truly see. You pass before us, and we remain distracted and hurried. We hear your invitation, but we hesitate to draw near and choose instead to remain on the shore. Forgive us when we fail to recognize your presence in the simple and the ordinary. Teach us to see, give us the courage to draw near, and the grace to remain with you. Amen. Closing Hymn: “We Are Marching” TFWS 2235 b Pastoral Benediction: Go in peace, with open eyes and willing hearts. As you hear the invitation of Jesus, respond with trust: “Come and see.” Amen. Postlude: Just as I am by William Bradbury Pastor Jorge Rodriguez [email protected]  Fruitland United Methodist Church January 11, 2026 *(Please stand if you are comfortably able.) Prelude: “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” by Charles Welsey and Carl Glaser Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship. Welcome and Announcements Holly K. & Jorge R. *Call to Worship Holly Kerfoot The voice of the Lord is over the waters. The God of glory thunders; the Lord is over mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful and full of majesty. The Lord gives strength to the people; the Lord blesses the people with peace. *Sharing the Peace of Christ. Opening Hymn: “Down to the River to Pray” Scripture: Psalm 29 Holly K Time With Young Christians Pastor Jorge Please write prayer concerns and celebrations on yellow notes, to be collected. Community Expressions Jorge & Holly K Sing: “Holy, Holy, Holy” TFWS 2007 Thanksgiving and Celebration Prayers for Healing and Wholeness Our Community and World Let us pray. The Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name . . .” Invitation to Generosity Rev Jorge R Offertory: “Breath on Me, Breath of God” by Obert Jackson *Doxology: “Praise God from whom all blessings flow . . .” UMH 95 Gospel Reading: Matthew 3:13-17 Holly K *Hymn: “Baptized in Water” TFWS 2248 Sermon: “Come on in – the water’s fine” The Apostles’ Creed: I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. Closing Hymn: “I have Decided to Follow Jesus” TFWS 2129 Pastoral Benediction: Go forth as God’s beloved people. You are not alone. You are part of Christ’s body. Go in peace,strengthened by the Spirit, and live as servants of God’s justice and love. Postlude: I’ve just come from the Fountain African-American spiritual Pastor Jorge Rodriguez [email protected]  Fruitland United Methodist Church January 4, 2026 *(Please stand if you are comfortably able.) Prelude: “My Tribute!” by Andre Crouch Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship. Welcome and Announcements Pastor Jorge and Jay *Call to Worship Jay Whitcomb Arise, shine, for your light has come. The glory of the Lord has risen upon us. Nations shall come to the light and kings to the brightness of dawn. We come to worship Christ, the light of the world. Let us worship God. Amen. *Sharing the Peace of Christ. Opening Hymn: “Shine, Jesus, Shine” TFWS 2173 Scripture: Isaiah 60: 1-6 - Reese Garcia The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. Time with Young Christians: Pastor Jorge Please write prayer concerns and celebrations on yellow notepads, to be collected. Community Expressions Jay and Pastor Jorge Sing: “Holy, Holy, Holy” TFWS 2007 Thanksgiving and Celebration Prayers for Healing and Wholeness Our Community and World Let us pray. Invitation to Generosity Pastor Jorge Offertory: “How Great is Our God” by Chris Tomlin *Doxology: “Praise God from whom all blessings flow . . .” UMH 95 Gospel Reading: Matthew 2:1-12 Reese Garcia *Hymn: “We Three Kings” UMH 254 Message: The Light That Keeps on Shining Pastor Jorge Confession and Pardon: Christ is the light of the world, yet we confess that at times, we choose darkness. Let us confess our sin before God. Merciful God, we confess that we have not always walked in your light. We have failed to love our neighbors, ignored your call to unity, and turned away from your truth. Forgive us. Renew us. And lead us back into the light of Christ. Amen (A moment of silence.) Hear the good news. The light shines in the darkness, and darkness has not overcome it. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. The Great Thanksgiving The Lord be with you. And also, with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. Pastor continues with blessing of the bread and the cup. The Lord’s Prayer : “Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name . . .” Sharing the bread and the cup. All are welcome at Christ’s table. During Communion: “One Bread, One Body” UMH 620 Three Kings Procession: “He is Born, the Holy Child” Sunday School Kids The joy of sharing is a gift we all have. It serves as a reminder that beauty and kindness are still present in the world, and that we all can bring kindness into the lives of others. So let us fully embrace this gift and never miss an opportunity to provide for another’s safety, happiness, or comfort. Closing Hymn: “Go Tell it on the Mountain” UMH 251 Pastoral Benediction: Go forth in peace. Walk in the light of Christ. Share the good news with joy. And may the blessing of God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – be with you now and always. Amen. Postlude: “Go Tell It On the Mountain” |