March 22, 2026

For more than 80 years, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has alleviated the suffering of individuals, families and communities affected by both natural and humanmade disaster.

UMCOR journeys with communities throughout a disaster’s cycle. It focuses on disasters that overwhelm a local community’s ability to respond, such as storms and flooding, earthquakes, fires, volcanoes, war and civil unrest.

Through a strong network of worldwide partners, UMCOR quickly assesses needs in the wake of disaster. UMCOR comes alongside communities at their invitation and encourages their involvement in and ownership of their recovery. UMCOR works collaboratively with local partners to connect survivors to the help they need to rebuild their lives.

From initial relief efforts such as distributing food, water, clothing and hygiene items, to long-term recovery projects like home repair, case management, psychosocial support and restoring livelihoods, UMCOR’s partners select beneficiaries based on need and vulnerability as opposed to other categories such as gender, race or religion.

In 2024 and 2025, UMCOR provided US relief with the Northwest and Los Angeles wild fires, hurricanes Helene, Ernesto, Debby, and Beryl, as well as flood and tornado recovery in Missouri and North Georgia. UMCOR has additionally provided disaster relief in the Philippians and Africa.

UMCOR’s ministry would not be possible without the support of others who give generously of their time and resources. Donations to UMCOR allow them to respond quickly and effectively to disasters as they arise. Your gifts this month will help underwrite UMCOR’s administrative and operating costs. This offering allows UMCOR to use 100% of all funds given to humanitarian response and recovery efforts directly to communities in need.

Together, we can alleviate the suffering of those affected by disaster, bringing hope and healing to communities worldwide.

February's mission was Tessa. In March we will have a "Hands on Mission” putting together children's Comfort Kits.

Often, the children spend hours sitting in a hospital, police station, courtroom or come into Tessa with nothing. These kits will offer them things to do during these long waiting times. The kits cost $5 each and will include mini-coloring books, crayons, a squishy toy, mini-playdough, a finger puppet and a mini-story book.

If you would like to donate to buy "Comfort Kits" please include the words Comfort Kit in the memo line of your check, on your envelope or designate the account for your online giving.

Thank You in advance for your generosity in giving
these kids a touch of normalcy in their lives.

“The Free Way”
Week Five
WE GATHER
Meeting One Another on The Way
 
Prelude
Cynthia Hibbetts
 
Welcome
Rev. David Petty
 
Preparing Together
Threshold Moment
 
“A Wilderness Wandering People”
 
Leader: Our worship series leads us along the path of our faith journey in a way that leads to new life in Jesus Christ, the message of Easter that we move towards. New paths are possible through freedom in Christ. And these ways can be made plain before us if we have eyes to see. Yes, we will strain against adversity–such is life. We don’t reach Easter until we’ve been through the agony of Holy Week that will soon be upon us. But new paths are always possible. New horizons are ours through relationship with God and with each other. There will be both stumbling blocks and stepping stones along the way. But God is our rock and our redeemer–God is with us in our every step.
 
[sung]
We are a wilderness wandering people
on a journey of the soul.
May we find our destination
in our longing to be whole.
Our Holy God is calling to us.
With Jesus by our side
may compassion be our compass;
may the Spirit be our guide,
on The Way,
on The Way,
on The Way.
 
 
Prayer for the Path
CLM Twinkle Gordon
 
God our Rock,
be with us on The Way.
At times we are not sure how we will
carry the burdens of grief and disappointment
that accumulate in life.
We come asking for help
in lightening the load
so that we can be free to move in new directions.
Help us to help each other as Jesus asks us to do.
Amen.
 
Opening Hymn
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
UMH #349
WORDS: Helen H. Lemmel, 1922
© 1922, renewed 1950 Singspiration Music

Turn your eyes
upon Jesus,
look full in His
wonderful face, (wonderful face,)
 
and the things of earth
will grow strangely dim
in the light of His
glory and grace.

Announcements/Greeting Each Other

Mystery Box

Discovering Ourselves on The Way
 
First Reading
Isaiah 43: 16-19
CLM Twinkle Gordon

Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
 
Second Reading
Philippians 3: 12-14
CLM Twinkle Gordon

Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

Sermon
The Free Way
Rev. David Petty

WE RESPOND
Opening to the Holy on The Way
 
Prayers for Getting Out of Our Own Way
 
Leader: Let us pause along the way to turn towards the Holy One, the One whose way is freedom from fear. We come with our honesty about just how difficult it is to trust the path, trust our instincts, trust our inner compass. And we remember that God meets us even here.
 
O God,
There are times
when I feel hopeless and afraid.
I become confused and unsure
as to how to face the next moment.
What difference does my life make
in the midst of such a vast universe?
Sometimes the thought of my own death
stirs up feelings of doubt and uncertainty.
I feel as though I am on a treadmill,
rather than moving toward a destination.
Worst of all, in the midst of my anxiety,
I become impatient and angry with those
who mean the most to me.
If it is possible,
let that cup pass from me,
but if not…
Amen.

“Stillness”
 
[sung]
Meet me in the stillness, Lord
Be the air I breathe
Meet me in the stillness, Lord
Free me to receive
 
 
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Today, inspired by the ritual action of pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago, we will bring our rocks forward to place at the foot of the cross, offering gratitude for the presence of Christ on our journeys and the gift of relieving our burdens. You may want to think of a specific burden that you would like to lay down at this moment or it could simply be a sense of tiredness or fear or anxiety. I invite you to come when you are ready

Time for Contemplation
 
Hear this: You are already free because Jesus makes it so.
Whether or not you know it, believe it, or feel it quite yet,
your burden is shared by Jesus,
who is gentle and humble of heart.
You are forgiven and freed,
especially when your way needs the relief of less weight.
May it be so.

[sung]
Meet me in the stillness, Lord
Be the air I breathe
Meet me in the stillness, Lord
Free me to receive
 
Praying for Others Along the Way

Leader: We continue our prayers with intercessions for those whose journeys are difficult in this moment…

The Prayer of Jesus

Our Father
who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy Name;
 
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth
as it is in heaven.
 
Give us this day
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 the Glory forever.
Amen

WE GO FORTH
Continuing with Jesus on The Way

Invitation to Offering
CLM Twinkle Gordon

Offering
Sanctuary Choir
 
Closing Hymn
My Hope Is Built
UMH #368
WORDS: Edward Mote, 1834
 
1. My hope is built
on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood
and righteousness.
 
I dare not trust
the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean
on Jesus’ name.
 
Refrain
On Christ the solid
rock I stand,
all other ground
is sinking sand;
all other ground
is sinking sand.
 
2. When darkness veils
his lovely face,
I rest on his
unchanging grace.
 
In every high
and stormy gale,
my anchor holds
within the veil.
 
Refrain
On Christ the solid
rock I stand,
all other ground
is sinking sand;
all other ground
is sinking sand.
 
3. His oath, his covenant,
his blood
support me in
the whelming flood.
 
When all around
my soul gives way,
he then is all
my hope and stay.
 
Refrain
On Christ the solid
rock I stand,
all other ground
is sinking sand;
all other ground
is sinking sand.
 
4. When he shall come
with trumpet sound,
O may I then
in him be found!
 
Dressed in his
righteousness alone,
faultless to stand
before the throne!
 
Refrain
On Christ the solid
rock I stand,
all other ground
is sinking sand;
all other ground
is sinking sand.
 
Benediction
 
Our blessing, or “benediction,” for this season is a call and response form.
Your response is:
 “We will follow on The Way.”
“We will follow on The Way.”
 
The Creator God filled you with breath,
inviting you to this journey called Life.
We will follow on The Way.

Jesus, our Guide, showed us what it means
to make a new way with Love.
We will follow on The Way.

The Spirit gives us strength to move forward
with Courage and Compassion for all we meet.
We will follow on The Way.

May this week be filled with opportunities to choose
to let go of those things that no longer serve you,
and be on the lookout for ways to encourage the same in those you meet.
May it be so. Amen.
“Buen Camino!”

Postlude
Cynthia Hibbetts