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sunday March 29, 2026

3/29/2026

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Fruitland United Methodist Church
March 29, 2026

*(Please stand if you are comfortably able.)

*Processional:
Processional Start at Fruitland Park at 9:00am Hosana, Hosana, Hosana TFW 2109

Prelude: “Ride on, Ride on in Majesty!” St. Drostane tune arranged by John Dykes
Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship.
Welcome and Announcements Pastor Jorge

*Opening Prayer Holly K.
Today, we join Jesus in the final ascent to Jerusalem, knowing the depths we will descend on our journey through Holy Week.
Open the gates of righteousness, that we may come worship God!
We join the disciples in declaring that Jesus, riding on a donkey, is our Ruler, the One who will bring peace and salvation for all.
Open the gates of peace, that we may come worship God!
We join with the bystanders who questioned and wondered who this Jesus really is, who feared the consequences of angering the powers that be.
Open the gates of truth, that we may come worship God!
The journey through Holy Week brings us face-to-face with the stark reality of sin and God’s faithfulness to save.
Open the gates of salvation, that we may come worship God whose steadfast love never
fails!

*Sharing the Peace of Christ.

*Opening Hymn: “This is the Day” UMH 658

Scripture Reading: Psalm 118 14-29 UMH 839 Holly K.

Time with Young Christians Pastor Jorge
Please write prayer concerns and celebrations on yellow notepads, to be collected.

Community Expressions Pastor Jorge & Holly
     Sing: “Holy, Holy, Holy” TFWS 2007
     Thanksgiving and Celebration
     Prayers for Healing and Wholeness
     Our Community and World
Let us pray.
Lord’s Prayer: Our Father and Mother, who art in heaven, hallowed be
thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive
those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver
us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and glory forever.
Amen.


*Congregational Song “Bless the Lord, My Soul” TTFWS 2013

Invitation to Generosity Rev. Jorge R.
     Offertory: “In Remembrance of Me” by Ragan Courtney and Buryl Red
*Doxology: Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow UMH 94

Scripture Reading: Luke 19:28-40 Holly K.

*Congregational Song “ Glory to God” TFWS 2033

Sermon: “Who Is This King Who Comes?” Pastor Jorge Rodriguez
Luke 19:28–40

There are days that feel ordinary, and then there are days when something in the
air tells you that this is not like any other day.

Jerusalem woke up that morning with that feeling. At first, it was just a whisper.
Someone said, “He’s near.” Another replied, “Who?” And then the name began
to move through the streets like wind: “Jesus... Jesus of Nazareth... the one who
heals... the one who speaks with authority...”

Suddenly, the city began to stir.

Imagine the scene: dust rising from the road, people stepping out of their
homes, children running ahead, laughing, not fully understanding but sensing
that something important is happening. And then they see Him.

But something feels different.

Because this is not how kings arrive.

There is no war horse, no shining armor, no soldiers clearing the way. Instead,
there is a donkey—a simple, ordinary donkey—and on it, Jesus.

Some in the crowd look at each other, confused. Others begin to shout anyway:
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

It is not a battle cry. It is a pilgrim song. A worship song.

Among the crowd, there are many faces. A child runs ahead, smiling without
fear. A man stands with his arms crossed, wondering, “Could this really be the
one?” A woman holds onto hope, thinking, “If he healed others, maybe he can
heal my life too.” And others are simply watching, curious and unsure.

Where would we be in that crowd?

Running with joy? Watching from a distance? Or blending in, saying the words
without really knowing why?

Jesus keeps moving forward—slowly and peacefully. Without saying a word, He
is already declaring what His kingdom looks like: not built on fear, not enforced
by violence, not defended by swords, but carried in humility.

Some in the crowd must have felt disappointed. They were hoping for a strong
leader, a powerful revolution, a king who would overthrow Rome. Instead, they
see a man on a donkey.

And that tension still exists today.

Because we also want a certain kind of king who solves our problems quickly,
who takes our side, who defeats our enemies. But Jesus comes differently. He
comes not to destroy, but to transform. Not to dominate, but to love.

The noise grows louder. Voices everywhere: cloaks on the ground, branches in
the air. “Blessed is the king!”

It sounds beautiful. But Jesus knows how quickly voices can change. Some of
these same voices, in just a few days, will shout, “Crucify him!”

Not everyone in the crowd understands. Some are there out of excitement,
others out of curiosity, others out of hope.

But perhaps there is a woman who truly believes. She does not shout the
loudest, but in her heart she whispers, “This is the one.” Perhaps there is a child
looking at Jesus with wonder, seeing something real that others are missing.

Why do we follow Jesus?

Is it habit? Tradition? Need? Or is it trust?

Jesus continues moving forward—toward Jerusalem, toward the cross, toward
everything this moment will become.

When the Pharisees say, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples,” Jesus responds, “If
they keep silent, the stones will cry out.”

This moment cannot be stopped. This King cannot be ignored.

And now the procession is not just in Jerusalem. It is here—in our lives, in our
homes, in our hearts. Jesus still comes, not forcing, not demanding, but inviting.
Today, like that crowd, we must choose.

Will we just watch? Will we repeat the words? Or will we truly receive this King?

Where are you in this procession?

Among the curious? The uncertain? Distracted? Or among those who say, “Lord,
I may not understand everything, but I trust you”?

Because this King who comes does not come to take power—He comes to give
life.

And the invitation is still open: to walk with Him, to trust Him, to follow Him--
even when He rides a donkey, and not a war horse.


*Prayer of Commitment:
In the middle of the celebrations – shouted Hosannas, the excitement of the gathered
crowd, the palm branches lifted high – there remains this simple truth: you come in
love to set us free, and you pay a very high price. May we commit ourselves to
following in your Way of Love, not only on days of celebration and thanksgiving,
but through the difficult days as well. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen.


​*Congregational Song: “King of Kings” TFWS 2075

*Benediction:
Friends,
Go forth humbly to serve the God whose love endures forever.
Go forth in the name of the Christ who entered Jerusalem on a
lowly donkey.
Go forth in the strength of the Holy Spirit that calls us to rejoice in
this very day God has made.
God’s love endures forever.

*Song of Blessing: “Sent Out in Jesus Name” TFWS 2184

Postlude: “All Glory, Laud and Honor St. Theodulph tune, arranged by Lani Smith

For those who wish to use online giving:
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Rev. Jorge Rodriguez [email protected]
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sunday march 22, 2026

3/19/2026

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Fruitland United Methodist Church
March 22, 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

*Call to Worship Leona W.
Out of the depths we cry to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our voices.
When our hearts are heavy and hope seems far away,
We wait for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning.
God does not abandon us in the depths.
With the Lord there is mercy and abundant redemption.
Come, let us worship the One who calls us from death to life.
We come to worship God.
*Sharing the Peace of Christ.

*Opening Hymn: “Shine, Jesus Shine” TFWS 2173

Scripture Reading :Psalm 130 (Read responsively.) UMH 848 Leona W.

Time with Young Christians Pastor Jorge
Please write prayer concerns and celebrations on yellow notepads, to be collected.

Community Expressions Pastor Jorge & Leona
     Sing: “Holy, Holy, Holy” TFWS 2007
     Thanksgiving and Celebration
     Prayers for Healing and Wholeness
     Our Community and World
     Let us pray.
Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by they name...”

*Hymn: “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” UMH 474

Invitation to Generosity Rev. Jorge R.
Offertory: “In the Garden” by Austen Miles
*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 11:1-45 Leona W.

Leader: The Word of God for the people of God.
People: Thanks be to God.

*Hymn: “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High” TFWS 2088

Sermon: “Out of the Depths... Remove the Stone” Rev. Jorge R.
There are moments in life when words rise from the deepest places of the soul. They
are not elegant words. They are not carefully prepared speeches. They are cries.

Psalm 130 begins with one of those cries: “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.” It
does not say from peace. It does not say from comfort. It says from the depths.

The Bible calls this psalm one of the “Songs of Ascents,” songs that the people sang
as they went up to Jerusalem to encounter God. It is interesting: the song begins
below, in the depths, but the movement of the psalm is upward. Because faith often
begins this way: at the bottom of the well.

Our Depths:
All of us know the depths: the depths of fear, the depths of exhaustion of the soul, the
depths of guilt, the depths of injustice, the depths of a world filled with noise,
violence, and division. There are personal depths: illness, loneliness, grief, questions
that have no answers.

But there are also collective depths: the depths of a society that forgets the poor, the
depths of communities where some are treated as strangers, the depths of systems
that turn people into scapegoats—people who are blamed, rejected, ignored.

And yet the psalm teaches us something profound: even from there we can pray.
Even from there we can cry out. Even from there we can hope. The psalmist says: “I
wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.”

Biblical hope does not begin when everything is fine. Hope begins when we are in the
depths and still call upon God.

A Sealed Tomb:
In the Gospel of John, we find another story that also begins in the depths. Lazarus
has died. The house is filled with grief. The sisters are weeping. The community is
mourning.

And when Jesus arrives, Lazarus has already been in the tomb for four days. For
the people of that time, that meant everything was finished: no hope, no possibility,
no return. Death seemed final. How many times do we feel the same? When a
relationship breaks. When a community becomes divided. When injustice seems too
strong. When we feel that something is dead and cannot live again. But then Jesus
comes to the tomb and gives a strange command.

Jesus says: “Remove the stone.”
It is curious. Jesus could have performed the
miracle without help. He could have moved the stone with a word. But he does not.

Jesus invites the community to participate. “Remove the stone.” It is as if he were
saying: I will bring life. But you must open the way. And Martha responds with a very
human objection: “Lord... by now there is a bad odor.” In other words: “It is too late.”
Jesus insists. Remove the stone.

The Stones of Our Time:
The question of the Gospel is not only historical. It is deeply present. What stones
block life today? What stones prevent people from hearing God’s invitation? What
stones keep people trapped in the tomb? Perhaps they are stones of fear. Perhaps
they are stones of prejudice. Perhaps they are stones of religious legalism that
forget mercy.

Stones that prevent us from building community. Stones that make us forget that our
neighbor is the image of God. Stones that prevent us from seeing Christ in those who
suffer, in the forgotten, in the ignored. Because the Gospel reminds us of something
radical: those who suffer, the marginalized, the discarded of the world are the
face of Christ for us.
And as long as those stones remain, the tomb stays closed.

When the Stone Moves:
But when the stone moves, something new happens. Jesus cries out: “Lazarus,
come out!” And the one who had been dead comes out—still wrapped in burial
cloths, still marked by the tomb, but alive. Then Jesus gives another command to the
community: “Unbind him and let him go.” Because the life that God gives is not simply
survival. It is liberation.

A Call to the Church:
The Gospel leaves us with a powerful question: If Jesus is still calling people to life,
what stones must the church remove today? -Stones that block grace. -Stones that
block forgiveness. Stones that block reconciliation.

Stones that block the possibility of a community where everyone has a place.

Because the Kingdom of God is not built on sealed tombs. It is built when someone
has the courage to hear Christ saying:

Remove the stone of fear. Remove the stone of hatred. Remove the stone of prejudice.
Remove the stone of indifference.

From the Depths to Life:
Psalm 130 begins by saying: “Out of the depths I cry to you.” But it does not end there.
It ends in hope: “For with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is abundant
redemption.” That is the movement of faith: From the depths... to hope. From the
tomb... to life. From the stone... to resurrection.

Conclusion:
Today Christ still says to his people: Remove the stone. Remove what blocks
life. Remove what blocks grace. Remove what prevents the children of God from
living with dignity. Because when the stone moves, the voice of Christ is heard.
And when the voice of Christ is heard, the dead begin to walk. And then the
church discovers its true mission: to be a community that helps others come
out of the depths into life. Amen.


*Prayer of Confession:
Let us come before God in humility and confession.
Merciful God, we confess that many times we live as if the stones of
fear, prejudice, and indifference were stronger than your life-giving
power. We confess that we sometimes close our heart to those who
suffer. We ignore the cries of those who live in the depths. We fail to
recognize Christ in the forgotten and the marginalized.
Forgive us, O Lord.

Remove the stones that block compassion in our lives. Remove the
stones that keep us from building community. Remove the stones that
prevent us from loving our neighbor. Call us again from the tombs of
fear and indifference. Unbind us from what holds us captive. Through
your grace, make us people who bring life, hope, and mercy to the
world. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen

Words of Assurance:
Hear the good news:
“With the Lord there is mercy, and with him is abundant redemption.”
(Psalm 130)
In Jesus Christ, God calls us out of the tomb and into life.
People: Thanks be to God. Amen.

*Closing Hymn: “Halle, Halle, Hallelujah” TFWS 2026

Benediction: Go now in peace. When you find yourself in the
depths, remember: God hears your cry. When you encounter
stones that block life, remember Christ’s command: “Remove
the Stone.” Go and help bring life where there is despair, hope
where there is darkness, and love where there is fear. In the name
of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

*Song of Blessing: “We Are Marching in the Light of God,” TFWS 2235-b

Postlude: “Blessed Assurance” by Fanny Crosby and Phoebe Knapp

Rev. Jorge Rodriguez [email protected]
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sunday March15, 2026

3/15/2026

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Fruitland United Methodist Church
March 15, 2026

*(Please stand if you are comfortably able.)

Prelude: “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing,” by Charles Wesley and Carl Glaser

Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship.
Welcome and Announcements Pastor Jorge
Welcome to worship at Fruitland United Methodist Church. During this season of Lent
we are walking together through a series called “Come and See.” Lent is a time to
return, to open our hearts again to God, and to rediscover the light of Christ in our lives.
Today we are reminded that Christ comes to open our eyes and lead us from darkness
into light.

*Call to Worship Liturgist
Come and see what God has done.
God opens our eyes to the light of grace.
When we walk through dark valleys, God is with us.
The Lord is our shepherd; we shall not want.
Christ calls us out of blindness into new life.
We come to worship the One who gives us sight.
All: Let us worship God with grateful hearts.

*Sharing the Peace of Christ.
*Opening Hymn: “You Are My Hiding Place” TFWS 2055

Scripture Reading : Psalm 23 (Read responsively.) UMH 754

Time with Young Christians Jorge R.
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.
Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by they name...”

*Hymn: “Open Our Eyes” TFWS 2086

Invitation to Generosity Rev. Jorge R.
     Offertory: “The Lord is my Shephard” by Jesse Irvine
     *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 9:1-41
Leader: The Word of God for the people of God.
People: Thanks be to God.

*Hymn “Open My Eyes, That I May See” UMH 454

Sermon: “Come and See: When God Opens Our Eyes” Rev. Jorge R.
John 9:1–41

Our Lenten series this year has been an invitation: “Come and see.” Lent is a
season of returning—returning to God and rediscovering our own hearts in the
light of God’s grace.

In today’s Gospel we encounter a man who had never seen the light. He was
blind from birth. Imagine living your entire life in darkness—never seeing the
face of your mother, never seeing the colors of the sky, never witnessing the
beauty of the sunrise.

When Jesus and his disciples saw this man, the disciples asked a question that
sounds very religious: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was
born blind?” Their question reflects something very common in human thinking:
the desire to explain suffering by blaming someone.

But Jesus changes the focus. He says, “Neither this man nor his parents
sinned... this happened so that the works of God might be revealed.” Instead of
searching for blame, Jesus brings hope and transformation.

Jesus makes mud, places it on the man’s eyes, and tells him to go wash in the
pool of Siloam. The man obeys. He washes. And suddenly, for the first time in
his life, he sees.

It is a miracle.

Yet the surprising part of the story is not the miracle itself. The surprising part is
how people react to it.

The neighbors begin to argue: “Isn’t this the man who used to beg?” Some
believe it is him; others say it cannot be. The man simply keeps saying, “I am the
one.”

When God transforms a life, people sometimes struggle to believe it. Society
often becomes comfortable seeing someone in suffering, and when that person
changes, grows, or is restored, it can make others uncomfortable.

The man is brought before the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day. Instead
of celebrating the miracle, they focus on something else: Jesus performed this
healing on the Sabbath.

They begin questioning the man: “How did he open your eyes?” The man
answers simply, “He put mud on my eyes, I washed, and now I see.”

But some of the Pharisees insist that Jesus cannot be from God because he
broke the Sabbath rules. In that moment we see a tragic irony: a man who was blind can
now see, but those who claim spiritual authority cannot recognize the work of
God in front of them.

The man eventually responds with one of the most powerful testimonies in the
Gospel: “One thing I do know: I was blind, but now I see.”

He does not offer a theological argument. He simply shares his experience.
Sometimes the experience of God’s grace speaks louder than religious debate.
In the end, the religious leaders expel the man from the community. But Jesus
seeks him out once again. When Jesus finds him and asks if he believes, the man
responds with faith and worship.

Jesus then says something profound:
“I came into this world so that those who do not see may see, and those who
think they see may become blind.”

This story is not only about a man who was physically blind. It is also about
spiritual vision.

At times we may find ourselves like the blind man—needing God to open our
eyes. But at other times we may resemble the Pharisees—people who know
religion but fail to see what God is doing.

Lent invites us to look again. To see differently. To open our hearts to the
transforming work of God.
​
Jesus continues to walk among us.
He continues to notice those others overlook.
He continues to touch lives and open eyes.
The question for each of us is simple:
Do we want to see?
Because when God opens the eyes of the soul, life is never the same again.
Amen.


*Prayer of Confession:
Merciful God, you are the light of the world, yet we confess that we often choose darkness.
We become comfortable with what we already know.
We cling to our opinions and fail to see the new work you are doing among us.
Forgive us when our hearts are closed.
Forgive us when our religion becomes more about rules than about compassion.
Forgive us when we fail to rejoice in the healing and transformation of others.
Open our eyes, Lord.
Help us to see your grace at work in our lives and in the world.
Through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
Hear the good news:
Christ comes into the world so that those who do not see may see. In Jesus Christ we are forgiven, renewed, and called into the light.
Thanks be to God.

*Closing Hymn: “Amazing Grace” UMH 378

Benediction: Go now in peace. May the Lord who is our
Shepherd guide your steps. May Christ open your eyes to the light
of grace. And may the Holy Spirit lead you in faith, hope, and love.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Amen.

*Song of Blessing: “Go Now in Peace,” UMH 665

Postlude: “Jesus Walked this Lonesome Valley” American folk song

Rev. Jorge Rodriguez [email protected]
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sunday March 8, 2026

3/8/2026

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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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