 Fruitland United Methodist Church Christmas Carol Worship Sunday, December 28, 2025 Prelude: “Joy to the World” Welcome & Announcements Rev. Jorge Rodríguez *Call to Worship Leader: The Light of Christ still shines among us. People: The darkness has not overcome it. Leader: We come singing the story of God-with-us. People: Our hearts rejoice in the good news of great joy. All: Let us worship God, whose love was born among us. *Opening Carol: “O Come, All Ye Faithful” UMH 234 *Prayer of Invocation: Pastor Jorge Loving God, we thank you for the gift of Christmas—for light in the darkness, hope in the midst of weariness, and joy that cannot be taken away. As we sing these familiar carols, renew our faith and remind us that Christ is still born among us today. Amen. First Scripture: Isaiah 9:2, 6–7 *Carol: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” UMH 240 Second Scripture: Luke 2:1–7 *Carol: “Away in a Manger” UMH 217 Third Scripture: Luke 2:8–14 *Carol: “The First Noel” UMH 245 Short Reflection: Still Singing Christmas Rev. Jorge Rodriguez Christmas Day has passed, but the song has not ended. The decorations may come down, schedules return to normal, yet the story we sing today still echoes among us. We keep singing because the world still needs the message of Christmas. God chose nearness over distance, vulnerability over power, a manger over a throne. Christ is not only born then, but still born now-- in acts of kindness, in quiet faithfulness, in love that shows up when joy feels fragile. As we continue to sing, may the song of Christmas shape our living, so that wherever we go, others may hear good news of great joy. Amen. *Carol of Response: “What Child is This?” UMH 219 Invitation to Generosity Pastor Jorge Offertory: “He Shall Feed His Flock” from The Messiah by George F. Handel Offertory Carol: “In the Bleak Midwinter” UMH 221 Prayer of Dedication: All: God of generous love, receive these gifts as signs of our gratitude. May they share the light of Christ with a world still longing for hope. Amen. *Closing Carol: “GoTell It On The Mountain” UMH 251 *Benediction Go into the world still singing-- singing of light, hope, and peace. Carry the song of Christmas in your hearts, for Christ is born, and Christ is with us still. Amen. Postlude: “Sheep May Safely Graze” by Johann Sebastian Bach
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 Fruitland United Methodist Church
Christmas Eve December 24, 2025  Fruitland United Methodist Church December 21, 2025 *(Please stand if you are comfortably able.) Prelude: “Angel Suite by Philip Keveren” Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship. Welcome and Announcements *Call to Worship Letha Essinger In the midst of uncertainty, God speaks a word of promise. We come to listen and to trust. In the middle of interrupted plans, God offers presence. We come to receive God’s love. A child is promised, a sign is given. Emmanuel – God is with us! Let us worship the God who comes near. *Sharing the peace of Christ. *Sing: “Song of Hope” TFWS 2186 We Light the Fourth Candle of Advent: The Candle of Love. Reader 1: Today, we light the fourth candle of Advent, the candle of love. Love that comes not as power, but as presence. Love that enters our broken plans and makes all things new. Reader 2: The prophet Isaiah spoke of a sign of hope: A child born to remind us that God does not abandon God’s people. * God of love, as this candle burns, light our hearts with your presence. Help us to trust your promises and to welcome Emmanuel into our lives. Amen Scripture: Isaiah 7: 10-16 Letha Essinger Time With Young Christians – Pastor Jorge (Please write prayer concerns and celebrations on yellow notepads, to be collected.) Time of Community Expressions Hymn: “Holy, Holy, Holy” TFWS 2007 Thanksgiving and Celebration Prayers for Healing and Wholeness, Our Community and the World And now, let us pray in the way Jesus taught us to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name . . . Invitation to Generosity – Pastor Jorge Offertory “Venite Adoremus” *Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow . . . UMH 95 Scripture Reading: Matthew 1: 18-25 *Hymn: “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” UMH 240 Sermon: “Joseph and the Plans God Rewrites” Pastor Jorge Matthew 1:18–25 Joseph had a plan. It wasn’t a complicated or ambitious plan. It was a simple, honest one—the kind most good people have: to marry Mary, to build a family, to work with his hands, to live with dignity. Everything was already in motion. Agreements had been made, expectations were set, the future seemed more or less clear. The plan was signed, sealed, and underway. And then, the plan fell apart. Matthew tells it with a sentence that sounds almost cold, but must have struck like lightning: “Mary was found to be with child.” This was not a small setback. It was not a misunderstanding that could easily be explained. It was a dead end. Something impossible to make sense of. Joseph’s Plan A simply no longer worked. So, like all of us when life derails our plans, Joseph sat down to think about Plan B. We are not told how he found out. Maybe Mary told him, her voice trembling. Maybe it was the whispers of the village—the rumors that always arrive before the truth. Maybe someone came to him with those words no one ever wants to hear: “I hate to be the one to tell you, but...” We don’t know. What we do know is that Joseph knew—and he had to decide. Matthew says Joseph was a righteous man. And here lies the dilemma. Because righteousness, according to the law, required exposure, accusation, public shame. The law protected Joseph’s name but destroyed Mary’s life. Legal righteousness demanded punishment; the righteousness of the heart demanded mercy. And Joseph chose the harder path: not to shame her. Plan B was to dismiss her quietly. To break the engagement without explanation. To protect her as much as he could. To lose everything without making noise. It was not the ideal plan, but it was the only one that seemed possible. Having made his decision, Joseph went to sleep carrying a burden no one should have to carry alone. And then, God dreamed with Joseph. An angel appeared in his dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid.” Do not be afraid to stay when everything tells you to run. Do not be afraid to love when love seems unreasonable. Do not be afraid to trust when you do not understand. In that dream, God did not offer easy explanations, but a deep invitation: to take part in something greater than all his plans. The child to be born was not a mistake or a scandal, but God with us. This was Plan C, which was actually God’s true Plan A. Joseph would still marry, still raise a family, still work with wood. Everything would look the same... and yet nothing would be the same. Because now Joseph knew that his life was woven into the redemption of the world. When Joseph woke up, he obeyed. Not because he understood everything, but because he trusted. Not because fear disappeared, but because love was stronger. And here is the good news for us today: God still interrupts plans. God still speaks in the middle of exhaustion. God still invites us into a faithfulness that is not comfortable, but deeply human. The angels are still singing. Still proclaiming that God is near. But too often we are busy making lists, searching for the perfect gift, planning the perfect Christmas—while quietly dismissing Christ. The angel is still saying to us today: “You do not have to make this Christmas special. It already is. God is already here.” There is only one thing left to do: to pause, to listen, and to dare to trust the God who rewrites our plans to give us life. *Prayer of Confession: Loving God, we confess that we often resist your interruptions. We cling to our plans and fear the unknown. Forgive us when we fail to trust your presence. Open our hearts to receive Emmanuel, and teach us to live with love and courage. Amen *Words of Assurance: Hear the good news: God is with us. God forgives, restores, and invites us into new life. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. Glory to God. Amen. Sing: “The King of Glory Comes” TFWS 2091 Pastoral Benediction: Go forth into the world in love. Trust the God who walks with you. Carry the light of Emmanuel – God with us – today and always. Amen *Song of Blessing: “We are Marching in the Light of God” TFWS 2235 Postlude: “Joy to the World”  Fruitland United Methodist Church December 14, 2025 *(Please stand if you are comfortably able.) Prelude: “The First Noel/ O Come, O Come Emmanuel” Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship. Welcome and Announcements *Call to Worship Holly Kerfoot The desert and the parched land will be glad. The dry place will bloom like a garden! Strengthen the weak hands, steady the trembling knees. For God is coming and brings salvation! Let us celebrate with joy, for the Lord is near. *Sharing the peace of Christ. We Light the Third Candle of Advent: The Candle of Joy. Reading: Today, we light the third candle of Advent – the pink candle, the Candle of Joy. In a world where weariness and worry often abound, we remember that God brings renewal, song, and new life. ( 3 candles are lit.) Lord, may Your joy bloom within us. May Your light fill us, and may we shine that light to others. Amen *Sing: “Give Thanks” TFWS 2036 Scripture: Isaiah 35: 1-10 Holly Kerfoot Time With Young Christians – Pastor Jorge (Please write prayer concerns and celebrations on yellow notepads, to be collected.) Time of Community Expressions Hymn: “Holy, Holy, Holy” TFWS 2007 Thanksgiving and Celebration Prayers for Healing and Wholeness, Our Community and the World And now, let us pray in the way Jesus taught us to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name . . . Invitation to Generosity – Pastor Offertory “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly” *Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow . . . UMH 95 Scripture Reading: Matthew 11:2-11 Holly K. Pew Bible p. 1512 Hymn: “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” UMH 89 Sermon: “When the Desert Begins to Bloom” Pastor Jorge Isaiah 35:1-10 | Luke 1:46-55 Today is the Third Sunday of Advent; a different Sunday, a special one. We notice it in the pink candle, the candle of joy, a color that seems to whisper: “Don’t forget to smile while you wait.” In the middle of busy schedules, shopping lists, work, exhaustion and worries, this Sunday stands in our path and gently says: Rejoice! But a real question arises: How do we rejoice when life often feels more like a desert than a garden? 1. Isaiah speaks to the weary Isaiah 35 paints a surprising scene: “The desert and the parched land will be glad... it will blossom like the crocus.” “Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way. Say to those with fearful hearts: ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come...’ ” Isaiah speaks to a broken people, exiled, tired, a people with more tears than strength. And yet his message is not one of despair but of life in the desert, homecoming for the lost, songs for the sorrowful. The prophet doesn’t deny reality. He transforms it with hope. He looks at dry land and declares flowers. He looks at difficult paths and announces: God is coming. This is Advent: Waiting with joy for what we cannot yet see, but know is coming. 2. Mary responds to the promise... with a song Centuries later, a humble young woman from Nazareth hears the voice of God—and she sings. “My soul magnifies the Lord... He has done great things... He lifts the lowly... He fills the hungry with good things...” Mary does not sing from comfort. She sings from faith. From a difficult place-- young, poor, pregnant, vulnerable-- yet she sings as if the world has already changed. Her song is hope in motion, faith with a melody. Isaiah sees flowers; Mary sings victory. Together they remind us that Christian joy is not denial of reality, but faith that transforms reality. 3. And what about us? Where do we need God to bloom? Maybe someone here today feels tired. Someone is waiting for a miracle, a word of peace, a restored relationship, an answer long prayed for. To that heart the Scripture says today: Do not fear. Strengthen your hands. The Lord is coming. Look around you: In every reconciliation, in every act of kindness, in every smile shared, in every small sprout of hope — God is already blooming. Joy doesn’t always arrive like fireworks. Sometimes it comes like a seed, like a small pink candle, like a quiet song carried in the heart of a believing young woman. Conclusion Today we light the pink candle to remember: The prophet’s promise is still alive. Mary’s song still echoes. Christ is near and that is reason for joy. Advent does not ask us to deny the desert; it invites us to look until we see the garden. It does not ask us to wait in silence; it invites us to sing with Mary, trusting in the God who: • lifts up the humble, • restores the weary, • and opens pathways where none exist. So today we proclaim with faith: Rejoice! God is coming. The desert will bloom. And we will sing with Mary: “My soul rejoices in God my Savior.” Amen. Rev. Jorge Rodriguez [email protected] *AFFIRMATION OF FAITH We believe in God, who brings life where there seems to be none. We believe in Christ, a light that never goes out. We believe in the Holy Spirit, who renews, strengthens, and fills us with joy. Amen. Sing: “The Summons” verses 1 and 2 TFWS 2130 Pastoral Benediction: May the God who makes the desert bloom strengthen your hands. May Christ, who is coming, fill you with joy and hope. May the Holy Spirit guide you today and always. Go in peace and with joy. Amen. *Song of Blessing: “Go Now in Peace” UMH 665 Postlude: “In Dulci Jubilo,” a German carol, arranged by Richard Walters. ******************************************************************************** Wednesday, Dec. 17, 7-7:30 PM Blue Christmas If the holidays are difficult for you, we offer a quiet, peaceful service of reflection and comfort. You are not alone. Sunday, Dec. 21, 5 PM Las Posadas A beautiful Advent tradition which re-enacts the journey of Mary and Joseph searching for a place for Jesus to be born. One group represents the holy couple knocking on doors, while others respond from inside. This simple act invites us to open our hearts, practice hospitality, and make room for Christ in our lives. The evening will conclude with snacks and a pinata.  Fruitland United Methodist Church December 7, 2025 *(Please stand if you are comfortably able.) Prelude: “Pat-a-Pan!” by Bernard de la Monnoye Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship. Welcome and Announcements *Call to Worship Second Sunday of Advent In these Advent days, the Lord calls us to prepare for His coming. We come seeking light in the midst of darkness. John the Baptist invites us to turn our hearts back to God. We long to walk toward the promise of the Kingdom. Come, Lord Jesus! Light our path and guide our way. *Sharing the peace of Christ. We Light the Second Candle of Advent: The Candle of Peace. Prayer: God of Peace, as we light this candle, shine your gentle light into our restless hearts. Where there is division, bring reconciliation; where there is worry, bring calm; where there is fear, bring courage; where there is hurt, bring healing. Make us instruments of your peace-- in our homes, our church, our community, and our world. Guide our steps so that we may prepare the way of the Lord with acts of justice, kindness, and hope. Amen. *Sing: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” UMH 211 Scripture: Psalm 72: 1-7, 18-19 Chase Van Weerdhuizen Time With Young Christians – Pastor Jorge (Please write prayer concerns and celebrations on yellow notepads, to be collected.) Time of Community Expressions Hymn: “Holy, Holy, Holy” TFWS 2007 Thanksgiving and Celebration Prayers for Healing and Wholeness, Our Community and the World Invitation to Generosity – Pastor Offertory “O Rest in the Lord” from The Messiah by G.F. Handel *Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow . . . UMH 95 Scripture Reading: Matthew 3: 1-11 Pew Bible p. 1499 Sermon: “The Turn That Changes the Story” Pastor Jorge Matthew 3: 1-11 By the second week of Advent, we already feel inside the story. The first week always surprises us: the call to prepare comes, and we realize we are not ready. We’ve been caught in our own routines and concerns. But this week, we begin to find our rhythm again, to walk toward the promise. And right then, John the Baptist appears. With his strong voice from the wilderness, he says: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” We often hear “repent” as a scolding. But John is not inviting us into guilt—he’s inviting us to live a different story. To turn aside from the same old path and step into a new one. It is as if he were saying: “What you long for is close. Turn, and come see what God is doing.” The crowds understood this. They ran to the river for baptism, confessing their desire for a different life. But when the Pharisees and Sadducees approached for the same baptism, John stopped them and said something crucial: “Bear fruit worthy of repentance.” In other words: it is not enough to step into the water. It is not enough to say we want to change. The new story must be visible in our lives. True repentance shows up in how we treat others, in the choices we make, in the justice we seek. And that is Advent for us today. A reminder that there is more to come: more light, more hope, more kingdom. And as we wait, we show—with our fruits—that we want to be part of that story: through acts of justice, peace, hospitality, and compassion. We may not feel fully ready. But every small fruit is a step toward the Kingdom that is already drawing near. This is the turn that changes our story. This is the Advent way. Amen. *Prayer of Confession: Merciful God, your Word calls us to straighten our paths and turn our hearts toward you. We confess that we have not always borne fruit worthy of repentance. Forgive what we have been, transform what we are, and guide us toward the new story you offer in Christ. Amen. In Christ, we find forgiveness, grace, and a new beginning. Thanks be to God. Amen. Hymn: “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” TFWS 2171 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! And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving; As a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith. Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the Body and Blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the Body of Christ, redeemed by His blood. In this Advent season, straighten our paths, renew our hope, and guide us in your peace. Amen. (Pastor blesses the bread and the cup.) The Lord’s Prayer The Table is Served “One Bread, One Body” UMH 620 Pastoral Benediction: May the God of Peace prepare your path, may Christ meet you with grace, and may the Holy Spirit lead you with hope into the coming days. Amen *Sing: “Halle, Halle, Hallelujah” TFWS 2026 Postlude: “A Christmas Meditation” by Roy Nolte |