sunday august 31, 2025

Fruitland United Methodist Church
Tune in on your car radio 98.1FM
August 24, 2025

*(Please stand if you are comfortably able.)
Prelude: “For the Beauty of the Earth” arranged by Philip Keveran

Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship.
Welcome and Announcements- Pastor Letha

*Call to Worship- Liturgist
Lord God, servanthood is not easy for us. We are attracted to the
illusions of power and rank. We are seduced by wealth and
privilege. We are accustomed to success and surrounded by our
accomplishments. The towel and the basin of servanthood, the
stooping of ministry, the listening gentleness and openness of the
serving spirit are so alien to much of our society and to us.
Teach us to love. Teach us to serve. Teach us gentle strength
and warm authority. Teach us how to bind up the brokenness.
Teach us to be stewards of our powers, custodians of our
communities. Teach us the sheer, exploding joy of service.

*Hymn – “Make me a Servant” TFWS 2176

*Sharing the Peace of Christ
      Scripture Reading – Psalm 90 – Liturgist UMH 809
      Hymn- “Together We Serve” TFWS 2175

Storytime with Children

Time of Community Expressions – Pastor Letha and Holly
     Hymn: “Holy, Holy, Holy” TFWS 2007
     Thanksgiving and Celebration
     Prayers for Healing and Wholeness
     Our Community and World
And now, we pray in the way Jesus taught us to pray, “Our father . . .”

                Invitation to Generosity- Pastor Letha
                Offertory: “Softly and Tenderly” by Charles Callahan
*Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow . . . UMH 95 

Scripture Reading: Luke 14: 1-14

Message: “The Gold Standard” Pastor Letha

*Prayer of Confession
Creating God, in love you moved over the waters of chaos and
separated sea from dry land. And yet, we cling tightly to rigid
boundaries of our own making. You claim us in the waters of
baptism and declare us dead to sin and alive in Christ. But,
too often, we deny that call, conforming ourselves to the
whims of culture. At Pentecost, you released your wild and
transforming spirit to flow through church and world. But we
want to tame that wildness, channeling your spirit through
banks of ordered safety. Transform us, we pray. Soften the
unyielding edges of our hearts. Loosen our grip on “the way
it’s always been,” and prepare us for the joy of “the way it still can be.” Amen

Assurance of Pardon: Friends, hear this good news. Jesus Christ
is our Ark! His power is unequaled, His grace is unrestrained, His
strength is steadfast, and His embrace is sufficient to carry all
that we are and hope to be. Friends, believe the good news! In
Jesus Christ we are forgiven!

*Hymn: “The Gift of Love” UMH 408

*Pastoral Benediction:
According to the riches of God’s glory:
Be strengthened within by the Holy Spirit.
Be rooted deeply in the love of Christ.
Be filled with all the fullness of God,
With the love that surpasses all understanding.

*Song of Blessing: “Halle, Halle, Halleluja” TFWS 2026

Postlude: “Make Me a Servant, by Kelly Willard

Rev. Jorge Rodriguez [email protected]