World Communion Sunday October 4, 2026

Fruitland First and Vino Nuevo United Methodist Churches
World Communion Sunday
October 4, 2026
Rev. Jorge Rodruiguez, assisted by Rev. Letha Essinger and Rev. Efren Garza

Prelude: “Children’s Medley,” Arranged by Marilyn Ham

Welcome and Announcements: Revs. Letha and Jorge
Welcome to Fruitland United Methodist Church.
Today we join Christians around the world in celebrating World Communion Sunday. We
come from different nations, cultures, languages, and traditions, but we gather around
one Table, because we belong to one Christ.

*Call to Worship Inspired by Exodus 20 Letha
Leader: God has called us out of bondage and into freedom.
People: God is forming us into a people of grace.
Leader: We are called to love God and to honor one another.
People: We are called to live as a community of justice, compassion, and peace.
Leader: We come from different places and carry different stories.
People: But God gathers us as one people.
Leader: Come, let us worship the God who sets us free and teaches us how to live
together.
All: We come with grateful hearts. Let us worship God!

*Sharing of the Peace of Christ “Peace be with you.” “And also with you.”

*Opening Hymn: “Kum Ba Yah My Lord/Mora en Mi Señor” UMH 494

Opening Prayer Pastor Jorge
God of every nation and every people, you have called us from many places and
gathered us into one family. Teach us to see one another through the eyes of Christ.
Break down the walls that divide us, free us from prejudice and pride, and make us a community where everyone can experience your grace. As Christians around the world worship today, remind us that we belong to one another because we belong to you. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

First Scripture Reading: Matthew/Mateo 21:33–46 Pew Bible 1533 Rev. Letha and Rev. Efren Garza

Time With Young Christians: “There Is Always Room” Pastor Jorge
Please write your prayer concerns and celebrations on the notepads provided. These
will be collected.

Community Expressions Pastor Jorge and Letha
      Sing: “Holy, Holy, Holy” TFWS 2007
      Prayers of Thanksgiving and Celebration
      Prayers for Healing and Wholeness
      Prayers for our Community and our World Let us pray.

*Hymn: “ We are One in Christ Jesus/Somos Uno en Cristo” TFWS 2229

Invitation to Generosity Pastor Jorge
As God has freely given to us, we are invited to give so that Christ’s love may reach
beyond these walls and into our community and our world.
Offertory: “Oh, How He Loves You and Me” By Richard Smallwood
*Doxology: “ Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” UMH 95
Prayer of Dedication: Generous God, receive these gifts and use them to bring
hope, healing, justice, and love to our neighbors near and far. Amen.

Second Scripture Reading: Philippians/Filipenses 3:4b–14 Pew Bible 1828
Rev. Letha & Rev. Efren Garza

Hymn: “Sing Of Colors/De Colores” Lyrics printed on blue insert.

Sermon: “WHAT DO WE NEED TO LEAVE BEHIND SO THAT WE MAY SIT
TOGETHER AT THE SAME TABLE?” Rev. Jorge Rodriguez
¿QUÉ TENDRÍAMOS QUE DEJAR ATRÁS PARA SENTARNOS JUNTOS EN LA MISMA MESA?
Día de la Comunión Mundial / World Communion Sunday

Hay mesas donde sabemos exactamente dónde sentarnos. Llegamos, buscamos nuestro lugar, nossentamos junto a las personas que conocemos, junto a quienes hablan como nosotros, piensancomo nosotros y quizás hasta creen como nosotros. Y nos sentimos cómodos. Pero hoycelebramos el Día de la Comunión Mundial. Y la mesa de Jesús no es una mesa de comodidad. Esuna mesa de gracia.
​
There are tables where we know exactly where to sit. We arrive, find our place, and sit beside people we know, people who speak like us, think like us, and perhaps even believe like us. And we feel comfortable. But today we celebrate World Communion Sunday. And the table of Jesus is not a table of comfort. It is a table of grace.

Y por eso quisiera hacer una pregunta esta mañana: ¿Qué tendríamos que dejar atrás parapoder sentarnos juntos en la misma mesa? Tal vez tendríamos que dejar atrás algunosprejuicios. Tal vez algunas heridas. Tal vez el orgullo. Tal vez esa necesidad que tenemos detener siempre la razón. Tal vez tendríamos que dejar atrás las etiquetas que ponemos sobre otras personas. Porque cuando llegamos a la mesa de Cristo, no llegamos porque tenemos razón. Llegamos porque necesitamos gracia.

And so I want to ask a question this morning: What would we have to leave behind in order to sit together at the same table? Perhaps we would have to leave behind some prejudices. Perhaps some wounds. Perhaps our pride. Perhaps our need to always be right. Perhaps we would have to leave behind the labels we place on other people. Because when we come to Christ’s table, we do not come because we are right. We come because we need grace.

Pablo nos recuerda que la vida cristiana tiene que ver con aprender a vivir con la mente y elcorazón de Cristo. No solamente creer en Jesús. No solamente cantar acerca de Jesús. Nosolamente venir a la iglesia. Sino aprender a mirar a los demás como Jesús los mira. Y eso cambia la manera en que nos sentamos a la mesa.

Paul reminds us that the Christian life is about learning to live with the mind and heart of Christ. Not simply believing in Jesus. Not simply singing about Jesus. Not simply coming to church. But learning to see others the way Jesus sees them. And that changes the way we sit at the table.

Porque Jesús no preguntó primero: ¿De dónde vienes? ¿Cuál es tu nacionalidad? ¿Qué idioma hablas? ¿Cuánto dinero tienes? ¿Eres conservador o liberal? ¿Tienes tus papeles en orden? ¿Eresdigno de estar aquí? Jesús simplemente dijo: “Vengan.”

Because Jesus did not first ask: Where do you come from? What is your nationality? What language do you speak? How much money do you have? Are you conservative or liberal? Are your papers in order? Are you worthy of being here? Jesus simply said: “Come.”

Y quizás ese sea uno de los grandes desafíos de la iglesia de nuestro tiempo. Hemos aprendido muy bien a construir mesas para los nuestros. Pero Jesús continúa ampliando la mesa. Nosotros ponemos fronteras. Jesús pone una silla más. Nosotros levantamos paredes. Jesús abre una puerta. Nosotros preguntamos: “¿Pertenece esta persona aquí?” Y Jesús responde: “Hay lugar.”

Perhaps that is one of the great challenges facing the church in our time. We have become very good at building tables for our own people. But Jesus keeps making the table larger. We create borders. Jesus adds another chair. We build walls. Jesus opens a door. We ask: “Does this person belong here?” And Jesus answers: “There is room.”

Hoy, alrededor del mundo, millones de cristianos se acercan a la mesa. En África. En Asia. En América Latina. En Europa. En pequeñas iglesias rurales. En grandes catedrales. En comunidades donde se habla inglés. En comunidades donde se habla español. En lugares donde los cristianos pueden adorar libremente y en lugares donde hacerlo cuesta mucho. Y aunque somos diferentes, comemos del mismo pan y compartimos de la misma copa.

Today, around the world, millions of Christians are coming to the table. In Africa. In Asia. In Latin America. In Europe. In small rural churches. In great cathedrals. In communities where English is spoken. In communities where Spanish is spoken. In places where Christians can worship freely and in places where doing so comes at a great cost. And although we are different, we eat from the same bread and share the same cup.

Eso significa que la mesa de Cristo es más grande que nuestras diferencias. Más grande que nuestras fronteras. Más grande que nuestras denominaciones. Más grande que nuestros desacuerdos. Y quizás incluso más grande que nuestra imaginación.

That means Christ’s table is bigger than our differences. Bigger than our borders. Bigger than our denominations. Bigger than our disagreements. And perhaps even bigger than our imagination.

Pero para sentarnos juntos, tenemos que dejar algunas cosas atrás. No podemos traer a la mesa nuestro odio y esperar reconciliación. No podemos traer nuestros prejuicios y esperar comunidad. No podemos traer nuestra superioridad y esperar fraternidad. No podemos seguir diciendo: “Esta mesa es mía.” Porque la mesa nunca fue nuestra. La mesa pertenece a Cristo.

But in order to sit together, we have to leave some things behind. We cannot bring hatred to the table and expect reconciliation. We cannot bring prejudice and expect community. We cannot bring superiority and expect fellowship. We cannot keep saying: “This table belongs to me.” Because the table was never ours. The table belongs to Christ.

Y aquí está la buena noticia. Jesús no espera que lleguemos perfectos a la mesa. Llegamos heridos. Llegamos cansados. Llegamos con preguntas. Llegamos con nuestros errores. Llegamos cargando cosas que todavía no sabemos cómo soltar. Pero llegamos. Y allí encontramos pan. Encontramos una copa. Encontramos gracia. Y encontramos a Cristo diciendo: “Hay un lugar para ti.”

And here is the good news. Jesus does not expect us to arrive at the table perfect. We came wounded. We come tired. We come with questions. We come with our mistakes. We come carrying things we still do not know how to let go. But we come. And there we find bread. We find a cup. We find grace. And we find Christ saying: “There is a place for you.”

Pero hay algo más. Jesús no solamente nos invita a encontrar nuestro lugar. Jesús nos llama a hacer lugar para alguien más. Quizás para alguien que no piensa como nosotros. Quizás para alguien que no habla nuestro idioma. Quizás para un inmigrante. Para una persona sola. Para alguien que ha sido rechazado. Para alguien que piensa que Dios ya no tiene lugar para él o para ella.

But there is something more. Jesus does not simply invite us to find our own place. Jesus calls us to make room for someone else. Perhaps for someone who does not think like us. Perhaps for someone who does not speak our language. Perhaps for an immigrant. For someone who is lonely. For someone who has been rejected. For someone who believes that God no longer has a place for him or for her.

Por eso, cuando dentro de unos momentos nos acerquemos a esta mesa, quisiera que nos hagamos nuevamente la pregunta: ¿Qué tengo que dejar atrás para sentarme aquí? Mi orgullo. Mi resentimiento. Mis prejuicios. Mi necesidad de tener siempre la razón. Mi miedo a quien es diferente. Tal vez hay algo que necesitamos dejar a los pies de Cristo antes de extender nuestras manos para recibir el pan.

So when, in a few moments, we come to this table, I want to ask ourselves the question again: What do I need to leave behind in order to sit here? My pride. My resentment. My prejudices. My need to always be right. My fear of those who are different. Perhaps there is something we need to leave at the feet of Christ before we extend our hands to receive the bread.

Porque este pan nos recuerda algo profundamente sencillo: Nos necesitamos unos a otros. Y esta copa nos recuerda algo todavía más profundo: Todos necesitamos la misma gracia.

Because this bread reminds us of something profoundly simple: We need one another. And this cupreminds us of something even deeper: We all need the same grace.

Entonces, Iglesia, hagamos espacio. Movamos nuestras sillas. Abramos nuestros corazones. Dejemos atrás aquello que nos divide. Porque Cristo ya ha preparado la mesa. El pan está listo. La copa está lista. La gracia está disponible. Y todavía hay una silla vacía. Hay lugar para alguien más. 

So, Church, let us make room. Let us move our chairs. Let us open our hearts. Let us leave behind what divides us. Because Christ has already prepared the table. The bread is ready. The cup is ready. Grace is available. And there is still an empty chair. There is room for someone else. Amen
​
Prayer of Confession: Before we come to Christ’s Table, let us bring before God
whatever keeps us from making room for one another.
All: Merciful God, we confess that sometimes we build walls where you call us to
build bridges. We hold on to prejudice, resentment, pride, and our need to be right.
We divide the world into “us” and “them,” forgetting that we all come to your Table
by grace. Forgive us. Help us leave behind whatever separates us from you and from one another.
Open our hearts.
Make room within us for our neighbors.
And make us one in Christ. Amen.

Words of Assurance:
Hear the good news:
Christ’s grace is greater than the walls we build.
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven, reconciled, and invited again to the Table.
Thanks be to God. Amen.

WORLD COMMUNION-- INVITATION TO THE TABLE
Christ our Lord invites to his Table all who love him, who earnestly repent of
their sin and seek to live in peace with one another.
Today this Table connects us with Christians throughout the world.
Different languages. Different cultures. Different nations.
One bread. One cup. One Christ. One Table.
And there is room for one more.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
A Brief Bilingual Celebration Revs. Letha & Efren
Pastor: The Lord be with you. El Señor sea con ustedes.
People: And also with you. Y también contigo.
Pastor: Lift up your hearts. Elevemos nuestros corazones.
People: We lift them up to the Lord. Los elevamos al Señor.
Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. Demos gracias al Señor nuestro Dios.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise. Es digno darle gracias y alabanza.

Holy God, you created one human family and called us to live in love, with you and with one another. When we turned away, you continued to call us home.
And in Jesus Christ, you showed us a love that crosses every boundary and makes room at the Table.

On the night in which Jesus gave himself for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples and said:
“Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

“Tomen y coman; este es mi cuerpo, entregado por ustedes. Hagan esto en memoria de mí.”
When the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples and said:
“Drink from this, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many.” “Beban de esta copa todos ustedes. Esta es mi sangre del nuevo pacto, derramada por ustedes y por muchos.”

Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts of bread and cup. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ— one in love, one in grace, one in mission. Amen.

BREAKING THE BREAD
Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body.
The bread which we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.

THE CUP
The cup over which we give thanks is a sharing in the blood of Christ.

SHARING THE BREAD AND CUP

Hymn: “Let Us Offer to the Father” TFWS #2262

Prayer After Communion Rev. Jorge Rodriguez
God of every nation and every people, thank you for meeting us at
this Table. Send us into the world to make room for others, to tear
down walls, to build bridges, and to live as people of reconciliation
and grace. May the unity we have experienced at this Table
become visible in the way we live. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

*Closing Hymn: “We Are Marching in The Light Of God/ Caminando Siyahamba” TFWS 2235-b

Benediction
Go from this place remembering:
The Table is not ours.
The Table belongs to Christ.
So go into the world.
Make room.
Pull up another chair.
Welcome the stranger.
Love your neighbor.
And wherever someone wonders whether there is a place for them, may
our lives proclaim,
“There is room for one more.”
Go in the grace and peace of Jesus Christ.
Amen Please remain seated.

Postlude: “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” by J.S. Bach