 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]
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 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] |