May 4, 2025 Good vs. Evil: May the force be with You

The Christian Healing Network dba Mission Medical Center was established in 2004 by a group of church leaders who noticed a lack in available health services for people that were uninsured. MMC operates with only 2 full time employees, 3 part time employees, and over 65 active and extremely loyal volunteers, 24 of which are healthcare providers who regularly see patients. Last year, we saw nearly 600 patients and provided $192,000 in free medical visits.

Our primary care clinic is our busiest clinic and is open Monday through Thursday from 9am to 4pm. We offer hour-long appointment times so our providers can spend time getting to know the patient, adequately treat their concerns, and offer spiritual care services as needed and/or requested. Through our primary care program, we offer free laboratory testing to our patients through our partnerships with Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp. We work with Colorado Springs Imaging to obtain x-rays and CTs when we need them for our patients. We have a small in-house lab and can run a few tests right in the office, including hemoglobin a1c, glucose, and UA testing.

MMC also has a fully operational dental clinic with 7 volunteer dentists, 4 dental assistants and a dental hygienist. We have dental x-ray machines, including a panoramic x-ray machine. We perform deep cleanings, fillings, extractions, and extensive oral hygiene education. Lastly, MMC has a Spiritual Care Center staffed with volunteer chaplains. We believe faith and medicine working together improves the lives of patients.

May 4, 2025 9:30 am Worship Service

Gathering

Prelude
Down to the River to Pray
Cynthia Hibbetts

Welcome
Rev. David Petty

Crossing the Threshold

Call to Worship
CLM Twinkle Gordon

Leader: Today's call to worship is a little silly and that's ok. Since today is May 4th, some people call it "Star Wars Day"...get it?...May the forth... be with you...Anyway. The stories of Star Wars might have something to teach us about good and evil as we continue our series on Church 101. So let us stand and be called into a time of worship.

Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: May the Force of the Spirit of God be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Today, we gather not in a galaxy far, far away…
People: But right here, where God’s presence is strong and the love of Christ is present.
Leader: We come not as well practiced Jedi, but as children of God,
People: We seek hope, justice, peace, and we share the light of Christ.
Leader: Let the dark side be cast out!
People: We walk in the light of Christ!
Leader: This is the day that the Lord has made.
People: We shall rejoice and be glad in it!

*Opening Hymn
Hymn of Promise
UMH #707
 
1. In the bulb
there is a flower;
in the seed, an apple tree;
in cocoons,
a hidden promise:
butterflies will soon be free!
 
In the cold
and snow of winter
there’s a spring
that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.
 
2. There’s a song
in every silence,
seeking word and melody;
there’s a dawn
in every darkness,
bringing hope to you and me.
 
From the past
will come the future;
what it holds,
a mystery,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.
 
3. In the end
is our beginning;
in our time, infinity;
in our doubt
there is believing;
in our life, eternity.
 
In our death,
a resurrection;
at the last, a victory,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.

*Greet Your Neighbor – Passing the Peace of Christ

Mystery Box

Scripture Reading
John 21:1-19
CLM Twinkle Gordon

After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.  Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he had taken it off, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.

When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread.  Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them, and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Prayer Song
Goodness is Stronger than Evil
TFWS #2219
 
Goodness is stronger
than evil;
love is stronger
than hate;
 
light is stronger
than darkness;
life is stronger
than death.
 
(Oh,) Victory is ours,
(victory is ours,)
victory is ours
(victory is ours)
through him who loved
(through him who loved)
us.
 
(Oh,) Victory is ours,
(victory is ours,)
victory is ours
(victory is ours)
through him who loved
(through him who loved)
us.
 
Prayer, Silent Prayer, The Lord’s Prayer
CLM Twinkle Gordon
The Lord’s Prayer
      
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

Prayer Song
Goodness is Stronger than Evil
TFWS #2219
 
Goodness is stronger
than evil;
love is stronger
than hate;
 
light is stronger
than darkness;
life is stronger
than death.
 
(Oh,) Victory is ours,
(victory is ours,)
victory is ours
(victory is ours)
through him who loved
(through him who loved)
us.
 
(Oh,) Victory is ours,
(victory is ours,)
victory is ours
(victory is ours)
through him who loved
(through him who loved)
us.

Giving Back

Invitation to Offering
CLM Twinkle Gordon

Offertory
Sanctuary Choir

Prayer of Thanksgiving
Rev. David Petty

Doxology
Praise God from Who All Blessings Flow
UMH #94

Praise God, from whom
all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures
here below: Alleluia! Alleluia!
 
Praise God, the source
of all our gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ,
whose power uplifts!
 
Praise the Spirit,
Holy Spirit!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!

Scripture Reading
Acts 9:1-20
CLM Twinkle Gordon

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight and neither ate nor drank.

Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
 
For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

Prayer for Illumination
Leader: May the words of my mouth,
People: and the meditations of all of our hearts
All: be acceptable in your sight, O Lord our rock and our redeemer.
Psalm 19:14

Message
Good vs. Evil: May the force be with You
Rev. David Petty
 
Communion
Rev. David Petty

Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts. The pastor may lift hands and keep them raised.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Leader: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth. You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life.

When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast. You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God, brought us to a land flowing with milk and honey, and set before us the way of life. And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
 
People: 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.

Leader: Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit. By your great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of your Son from the dead and to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. Once we were no people, but now we are your people, declaring your wonderful deeds in Christ, who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.

When the Lord Jesus ascended, he promised to be with us always, in the power of your Word and Holy Spirit. On the night in which he gave himself up 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."

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 for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." On the day you raised him from the dead he was recognized by his disciples in the breaking of the bread, and in the power of your Holy Spirit your Church has continued in the breaking of the bread and the sharing of the cup. 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.
 
People: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Leader: 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. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes and we feast at his heavenly banquet. Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever.

All: Amen.

*Closing Hymn
Let There Be Peace On Earth
UMH #431
Let there be peace on earth,
and let it begin with me;
let there be peace on earth,
the peace that was
meant to be.
 
With God our creator,
children all are we.
Let us walk
with each other
in perfect harmony.
 
Let peace begin with me;
let this be
the moment now.
With every step I take,
let this be
my solemn vow:
 
to take each moment
and live each moment
in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth,
and let it begin with me.
 
*Benediction
Rev. David Petty
 
Postlude
On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand
Cynthia Hibbetts