 Fruitland United Methodist Church April 19, 2026 *(Please stand if you are comfortably able.) Prelude: “Arioso” by G.F. Handel Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship. Welcome and Announcements Call to Worship Liturgist There are days . . . And then, there is “that” day. Days that pass without leaving a mark . . . And days that change everything. When hope feels lost . . . Christ walks beside us. When our hearts are weary . . . Christ speaks and restores us. When we do not recognize Him . . . He is still near. Stay with us, Lord. Walk with us. Speak to us. Set our hearts on fire again. Amen *Sharing the Peace of Christ. *Opening Hymn: “Shine, Jesus, Shine” TFWS 2173 *Scripture: Psalm 34: 1-10 Read responsively. Liturgist Time with Young Christians Pastor Jorge 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 be thy name . . . Scripture: 1 Peter 1:17-23 Liturgist *Sing: “They’ll Know We Are Christians” TFWS 2223 Invitation to Generosity Pastor Jorge Offertory: “My Jesus, I Love Thee” by Adoriram Gordon *Doxology: UMH 95 Gospel Reading: Luke 24: 13-35 Liturgist The Word of God for the people of God People: Thanks be to God *Sing: “When the Poor Ones” UMH 434 Sermon: “THAT SAME DAY” Rev. Jorge Rodriguez Matthew 24:13-35 There are days... and then there is that day. Days that pass without leaving a mark and days that change everything. Jesus reminds us: “the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:13) But no one tells us how hard it is to endure when your world is falling apart. That same day... two disciples were walking to Emmaus. They were not famous. Not leaders. Not the inner circle. They were almost unknown. They were... like us. And why them? Why didn’t Jesus appear first to the strong, the certain, the unshakable? Because the Lord is not looking for great names, He is looking for weary hearts. They were on the road to Emmaus. But why Emmaus? Maybe because it was far from Jerusalem. Far from the pain. Far from the cross. Maybe they were running away. Because when hope breaks, we don’t run forward, we drift away. They had seen too much: betrayal, suffering, death. The end of everything they believed in. And they said it plainly: “We had hoped...” Not we hope. But we had hoped. For them, faith had become past tense. And yet... the sun rose. Against all logic. Against every feeling. The sun rose just as it rises over our darkest moments. And with that sunrise came rumors: an empty tomb, angels, voices speaking of life. Too much to believe. Too much to ignore. So they walked on confused, overwhelmed, suspended between grief and something they dared not yet call hope. Then... Jesus came near. Not with power. Not with spectacle. Just walking beside them. That is how God often comes quietly, yet changing everything. “What are you discussing?” He asked. And the question hurt. Because when we speak our pain, we feel it all over again. They answered like a confession of broken faith: “About Jesus... mighty in deeds... crucified... and we had hoped...” How many of us could say the same? “I had hoped in that relationship...” “I had hoped in that dream...” “I had hoped in God...” But Jesus did not leave them there. He spoke. He explained. He reminded them of the story they thought they knew, from beginning to end. He showed them that suffering was not the end, but the way. That the cross was not defeat, but fulfillment. That the worst day... was actually the turning point of everything. And as they walked, something happened. Not around them, within them. Their hearts began to burn. They didn’t understand everything. But they felt something awakening. Hope... returning quietly. When they reached Emmaus, they urged Him: “Stay with us.” Because Jesus never forces His way in. He waits to be invited. They opened the door, and He entered. He sat at the table. He took the bread. He broke it. And in that moment... everything became clear. They recognized Him. And just as suddenly, He was gone. Because now they no longer needed to see Him with their eyes. They knew Him in their hearts. “Were not our hearts burning within us?” Yes burning with truth, burning with hope, burning with life again. Because death did not have the final word. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matthew 24:35) And then they did something unexpected: they ran back. In the dark. Without fear. Because when you truly encounter Christ you cannot stay where you are. And what about us? We also walk roads to Emmaus roads of doubt, of disappointment, of “we had hoped.” But we are not alone. Because Jesus still walks beside us, even when we do not recognize Him. He still speaks. Still explains. Still breaks bread. Still sets hearts on fire. Why those two disciples? Because they are all of us the weary, the confused, the searching. Us. And this is the good news: Maybe today... is that same day for you. The day when everything seemed lost but was only just beginning. Amen. *Prayer of Confession: Lord, we confess . . . that sometimes, we walk away, instead of trusting; That we say, “we had hoped,” instead of “we still hope.” We confess that we do not always recognize You when You walk beside us. *Prayer of Confession, continued: Forgive us. Open our eyes. Set our hearts on fire again. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Moment of silence. Assurance of forgiveness: Christ is risen. Christ walks with us. We are forgiven. *Sing: “Sent Out in Jesus’ Name” TFWS 2184 *Benediction Pastor Jorge Go now . . . back into your roads, your homes, your lives. But do not go the same way you came. Because Christ has walked with you. Christ has spoken to you. Christ has set your heart on fire. And maybe . . . today . . .is “that same day.” Amen. *Song of Blessing: “Go Now in Peace” UMH 665 Postlude: “Victory in Jesus” arranged by E.M. Bartlett Rev. Jorge Rodriguez [email protected]
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