Trinity Shenandoah PA UCC

06/08/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1B3gfYtjTB/

Most people think cable television was invented in a corporate boardroom somewhere in New York or California. 📺

It wasn't. It was invented on a rooftop in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, in 1948.

The town sits in a valley in Schuylkill County, surrounded by mountains that blocked over-the-air television signals completely. Residents could buy a TV set, but they couldn't receive a picture. A local appliance store owner named John Walson got tired of watching his inventory sit unsold. So he ran a cable from an antenna he built on a nearby mountain, down into his store, and then out to his customers' homes.

What's interesting is that nobody called it "cable television" yet. Walson just called it a solution to a problem. He charged a small installation fee and a monthly rate. Within months, hundreds of Mahanoy City homes had a clear picture for the first time.

Here's where it gets complicated: the cable industry has spent decades arguing over who actually invented it. Walson's claim is contested, and the history is genuinely murky. But what isn't murky is this: a coal town in the Pennsylvania mountains was wiring homes for television before most of the country had even seen a set.

The mountains that isolated Mahanoy City forced someone to think differently. Did you know this is where it started? 🏔️

06/08/2026

A message especially for Gen Z, and all who are searching.

Hey, come on in and grab a seat. Seriously, kick your shoes off, get comfortable, and let’s just talk for a minute—not like a formal sermon or a lecture, but just two people sharing a quiet moment on the couch.

I know how loud the world is right now, especially for you. Between trying to figure out your career, paying rent, navigating relationships, and just figuring out who you are, it is a lot to carry. We’re more connected digitally than any generation in history, yet if we’re being completely honest, it’s so easy to feel totally isolated and overwhelmed. If you've looked at religion or church in the past and felt pushed away by the politics or the rules, I get it. I really do. But tonight, I want to strip all that away and look at what Christianity and a faith community are actually meant to be: a safe harbor for your soul.

When you look at why connecting to Jesus and a church family matters for your life right now, it honestly comes down to three deeply personal things.

First, it’s about finding a place where you can finally drop the act and just breathe. Think about how much energy you spend every day performing—curating the perfect image on social media or trying to look like you have it all together for work or school. It’s exhausting. We all desperately need a space where we can be vulnerable, because you can’t truly feel loved until you are truly known. A healthy church is a family where you can show up broken, stressed out, or carrying a heavy loss, and have people wrap their arms around you and say, "We’ve got you. You don’t have to pretend here." It’s a real-life support network that shows up with meals, prayers, and open hearts when your world gets rocky.

Second, it gives you a steady anchor when the world feels chaotic. Every single day, a million different voices tell you who you’re supposed to be and promise that your worth is tied to your paycheck, your relationship status, or your achievements. It’s so easy to lose your footing. Christianity steps in and whispers a beautiful, unchanging truth: you are deeply loved by God just as you are, and your worth is already settled. Being part of a church grounds you in timeless values like grace, forgiveness, and integrity. Trying to navigate life's moral twists and turns by yourself is lonely, but walking that path with a community keeps you steady.

Finally, it connects you to a purpose that fills up the empty spaces inside. There is a specific kind of weariness that comes from just trying to survive the daily grind. Deep down, you were made for more than just paying bills and getting by; you were made to experience God’s love and pour it back out into the world. A church takes our small, individual lives and weaves them into something massive and beautiful. It gives you a way to feed the hungry, help the hurting, and be a part of God's ongoing work to heal a broken world.

Look, you’re never going to find a perfect church, because they’re full of imperfect people just like you and me. But Jesus never intended for you to walk through this life alone. He invites us into a family. No matter what your story is, where you've been, or what you're carrying, please know this: there is a seat at the table with your name on it, and you are so incredibly welcome here.

06/07/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18sF2ek1TT/

06/06/2026

Pastor Ray's message this week is entitled "Awake from the Sidelines" and has a Scripture Focus on Matthew 9:9–13, 18–26. It asks us, do we hide away in our church to stay safe? Or do we step into the messy, broken parts of the world, trusting Jesus to heal people through us.
We encourage all those who are able to join us in joyful worship, 9:00 AM each Sunday morning, at 111 West Lloyd Street, Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. We may be small, but the Spirit moves in our church.
You will find below, a complete copy of this week's service, a copy of this week's bulletin, and Pastor Ray's message.

You will also find a six day devotional created to help you in your faith journey and better understand this week's Scripture message.

Take Jesus’ light into your week and look for ways to serve Him in everyone you meet.
Be Blessed

Prelude-The light of Christ enters our worship
TODAY WE WILL BE USING THE
“WORSHIP and REJOICE” HYMNAL
All who are able please rise.
*Opening Hymn – Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus - #442

Let us Pray,
Holy Father, Help us to seek You every day, to acknowledge that we need Your wisdom and guidance, and help us to return to the path and walk with You.
In the name of Christ, who is our companion on this journey of faith, we pray. AMEN.

Let’s recognize and praise God for his wonderful presence among us.!
#131
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place,
I can feel His mighty power and His grace.
I can hear the brush of angel's wings
I see glory on each face;
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.

Let us now come to worship, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.
*Call to Worship
Leader: Jesus calls to us from the margins, from the places we prefer to ignore.
People: He sits at tables with the outcasts and the outsiders.
Leader: He tells us: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice."
People: Lord, cure us of our love for empty rituals.
Leader: Let us worship the One who disrupts our comfort to bring true healing.
People: May our hearts be broken open by His grace today.
AMEN.
Face the people

*Call to Confession
Leader: We like to keep things safe and clean, but Jesus constantly steps right into the world's messes. He invites the outsiders and heals the broken. Let’s be honest together about the walls we build to keep people out, and the times we choose our own comfort over His radical mercy.
Let us begin now with a moment of quiet, personal confession. (Pause)
Face the altar

*Prayer of Confession
ALL: Holy God, we confess that we prefer a safe religion. We build walls around our holiness, keeping the 'unclean' and the 'sinners' at a distance. We judge who is worthy of Your table and who is not. Forgive us for choosing easy sacrifices over difficult mercy. Forgive us for fearing the messiness of other people's pain and grief. Break our self-righteousness, Great Physician, and heal our hardened hearts.
Amen.

*Kyrie (Sung)
M: Lord have mercy upon us.
C: Lord Have mercy upon us.
M: Christ have mercy upon us.
C: Christ Have mercy upon us.
M: Lord have mercy upon us.
C: Lord Have mercy upon us.
Face the people

*Assurance of Pardon
Even though we are a stubborn people, still God absolutely loves and forgives us. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
Hallelujah!
M: Praise ye the Lord.
C: The Lord’s Name be praised.

*Praise Hymn (The Gloria)
Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks for thy great glory.
O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.
O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ,
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
that takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Thou that takest away the sins of the world,
receive our prayer.
Thou that sittest on the right hand of God the Father,
have mercy upon us.
For thou only are holy, thou only are the Lord,
O Christ, with the Holy Ghost are most high in the glory of God the Father.
Amen
Face the people

*Collect
(Let us pray together this morning’s Collect)
ALL: God of mercy, you do not hide from the mess of this world. Forgive us for staying safe on the sidelines while others hurt. Wake us up. Give us the courage to expand our tables, welcome the outcast, and step directly into the broken places. Make us your hands and feet, trusting your powerful love to bring new life to our community. Amen.
Please be seated

Psalm 33:1-12
Romans 4:13-25
*Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26;
ENGAGING THE WORD

The spirit of Romans 4:13-25 is unshakable trust in God’s promises.
Paul wrote this to early churches divided over whether non-Jewish believers had to follow Jewish religious laws to be saved. By using Abraham as an example, Paul proves that God accepts us through faith alone, not our perfect performance.
Today, this means we can stop trying to earn God's love. When life feels hopeless, we can rest knowing that the same God who raised Jesus from the dead keeps His promises to us.
Romans 4:13-25
Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless. For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)
So, the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.
Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.
Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.
This ends the epistle lesson

The spirit of today’s Gospel lesson from Matthew, is radical mercy.
Written to a community divided over religious rules, Matthew shows Jesus shattering social walls by eating with outcasts and touching the "unclean.
"Today, it means Jesus wants our compassion, not empty rituals. We must get off the sidelines and actively welcome the broken.
All those who are able please rise (motion)
To hear the reading, of the good news, of our Lord Jesus Christ, from the Gospel of Matthew chapter 9:verses 9 thru13, and 18 thru 26;.
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.
Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum.”
When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt before him. “My daughter has just died,” he said, “but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand on her.”
So Jesus and his disciples got up and went with him. Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe, for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.”
Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment.
When Jesus arrived at the official’s home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. “Get out!” he told them. “The girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at him. After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside.
This is the word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.

THE GLORIA PATRI – Sung,
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, it is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.
*THE CREED
Let’s unite with the church in all times and places, declaring what we believe, using the ancient words of the Apostles Creed.

ALL: I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heavens and earth:
And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried;
he descended into hell, the third day he rose again from the dead, he ascended into heaven, and sittest on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. AMEN. 5/2022
Please be seated

PASTORAL PRAYER
P: The Lord be with You.
C: And also, with you.
P: Let us pray

Lord, the bright joy of your resurrection sometimes feels far away. Long before Abraham saw your promises fulfilled, you asked him to live among foreigners and share your blessings. Now, you ask that same faith of us. Wake us up from the sidelines of life! We admit we have slipped back into our old, comfortable ways. Forgive us for choosing easy sacrifices over difficult mercy, and for keeping our tables empty of the people who need you most. Turn us around, Lord! Give us the bold faith to place ourselves alongside the poor, the excluded, and the broken. Help us to be your hands and feet out in the open. Teach us to share our plenty with those in need, your contagious healing with the sick, and true friendship with the outcast. Build us up to stand against injustice and bring your peace into conflict.
As we pray for others, remind us that we also need your mercy and direction. You are our firm foundation when our own strength is gone. We pray for the healing and comfort of those we love, especially all on our prayer list and…..
Barry, Tod, John Locke., Deann,

And now Lord, we pray silently for those concerns only we know, and hold in the depth of our heart. (PAUSE)
Abba Father, Help us to put our complete trust in you, so we can faithfully serve you for all of our days. We pray for those serving in the armed forces of this great nation, by land, on the sea and in the air, including our Johnny, and all warriors, that they may beat their swords into plowshares. Bless all First Responders, firefighters, police, and medical personnel. We pray for our friends and neighbors.
In Jesus name, AMEN

PRAYER RESPONSE
ALL: Hear our prayer O Lord, hear our prayer O Lord, hear our prayer oh Lord, and grant us thy peace. Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS

GIVING of GIFTS and Offertory (offering)
Our offering isn't a mere religious duty; it is a tangible way to share his contagious love with a hurting world. Jesus chose mercy over rigid rules, opening his table to everyone.

RESPONSE
ALL: We give thee but thine own, what e're the gift May be, all that we have is Thine alone, a trust O Lord from Thee.

OFFERING PRAYER
Calling God, you spoke to Abram and set him on a journey, not with full clarity, but with full trust. You promised blessing—and with it, purpose. We come now as your people, also journeying by faith, offering these gifts not for our greatness, but so that your promise might be fulfilled through us: to bless the world. Use these offerings to build relationships, to mend the broken, and to draw all families of the earth toward your heart. May our giving reflect our trust, and may our trust lead us to go where you send, step by step, stage by stage, into your future.
Amen.
Please be seated

HYMN of REFLECTION – Jesus Calls Us o’er the Tumult - #345
THE MEDITATION
Message Title: Awake from the Sidelines
Scripture Focus: Matthew 9:9–13, 18–26
Please pray with me:
Lord, soften our hearts today. Help us not to close our ears or rush to judgment when Your truth challenges us. Remove the anger that blinds us and show us Your grace instead. May we see that no one is beyond Your reach, and may Your Word transform us.
AMEN

Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord!

Every week, we come to church. We sit in the same chairs. We feel safe and happy. But outside this building, real life keeps moving. Many people are hurting, lonely, and facing big problems.
It is easy to use the church as a hiding place. We look at the world’s problems and shake our heads. We say a quick prayer, but we stay safe on the sidelines. We just watch the world pass by.
Today's Bible story tells us to wake up. Jesus did not come to start a club for perfect people. He came to rescue people. He wants us to stop watching and start moving. He wants us to act as His hands and feet in a hurting world. Following Jesus means we must get involved in people's messy lives.
Our story starts at a tax collector’s booth. Long ago, people hated Jewish tax collectors. They viewed them as traitors. These men worked for the enemy government and stole money from their own neighbors. Nobody liked them. They were banned from the church. Yet, Jesus walks right up to this man, Matthew, and says, "Follow me. "Matthew gets up. He leaves his old life behind. Then, he throws a big dinner party.
The Bible says that "many tax collectors and sinners" came to eat with Jesus. The religious leaders are shocked. They stand outside and judge. They ask, "Why does your teacher eat with bad people?
"This brings a tough question to our own church. Look around this room today. Who is sitting here? More importantly, who is missing? Too often, our churches look like private clubs. We fill seats with people who look like us and act like us. We create a comfortable bubble. But, think about this: Jesus preferred hanging out with outcasts and sinners’ over strictly religious people. Are we sure Jesus is even sitting with us today?
If our church only feels welcoming to people who have perfect lives, Jesus would skip our table. Jesus did not care about pleasing the religious bosses. He spent His time with people who knew they needed help. Jesus tells the leaders: "Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do." He also says, "I want mercy, not sacrifices. "God does not care about our perfect church rules if we do not show love to others. A church that keeps out hurting people, is a church that is fast asleep.
After the dinner party, Jesus meets two more people who were pushed away by society. First, a father asks Jesus to heal his dying daughter. On the way there, a woman who has been bleeding for twelve years sneaks through the crowd.
In those days, religious laws said this bleeding woman was "unclean." Anyone she touched also became unclean. For twelve years, she was completely alone. No one touched her. She could not go to church. She thinks, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." She reaches out and touches the edge of Jesus' coat. Instantly, she is cured. Jesus does not get angry at her for breaking the rules. He looks at her kindly and says, "Your faith has healed you.
"Right after this, Jesus goes to the father's house. The young girl has died. Touching a dead body was against the religious rules. But Jesus walks right in. He takes the dead girl by the hand, and she stands up alive.
This shows us something amazing about Jesus. Back then, people thought bad luck and sickness were catching—like a cold. If you touched something bad, you became bad. Because they were afraid, religious people stayed away from sick people and outcasts. They isolated themselves to stay clean. But Jesus flips the rules upside down. When the bleeding woman touches Jesus, her sickness does not make Him dirty. Instead, His goodness rubs off on her and heals her. When Jesus touches the dead girl, death does not win. Instead, His life fills her body and brings her back to life. Jesus shows us that true goodness is powerful. It changes every bad thing it touches.
This is a huge challenge for us. Do we hide away in our church to stay safe? Or do we step into the messy, broken parts of the world, trusting Jesus to heal people through us? To often, churches act out of fear. We worry the world will ruin our reputation. So, we build walls and stay on the sidelines. But a faith that needs to hide to survive is not real faith. True faith rolls up its sleeves and steps right into the mess.
Church, it is time to wake up. We cannot just sit here and listen to these stories. We have to live them. We are called to be the real, physical body of Jesus in our town today. Jesus is no longer here in a human body. That means our hands must touch the broken. Our feet must go to the places where people are crying. Our voices must speak love to the lonely.
Being Jesus’ hands and feet means we stop watching from the sidelines. It means we get involved. We must stop ignoring the homeless person on the street. We need to learn their name. We must open our doors to people fighting addiction, hurting families, and people in crisis. We must do this even if it messes up our schedules or our building.
We must destroy the invisible walls that make outsiders feel unwelcome here. We must step into the pain around us. We must trust that Jesus will work through us. We do not do this in our own strength. We do it with the life-changing power of God. When you sit with someone who is sad, you bring Jesus' comfort. When you welcome someone whom society rejects, you give them a seat at Jesus’ table.
The world is moving fast. The needs around us are huge. We can no longer afford to be a church that sleeps. We cannot keep our tables empty of struggling people. We cannot keep our hands empty of service. Let’s stop looking for a safe, easy religion. Let’s open our doors wide. Let’s make our tables bigger. Let’s jump headfirst into helping our community. Wake up! Get off the sidelines. Go out into the world as the living, breathing body of Jesus Christ. Trust that His love is bigger than any problem you will ever face. Bring the hurting to the Great Physician. Welcome the outsider to the feast, and watch God bring new life to this world.
And all God's people said,
AMEN.

Service of HOLY COMMUNION
Invitation From top step in front of alter
L: Friends, the Scriptures tell a beautiful story: on the first day of the week, Jesus rose from the grave. He didn’t stay hidden; He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, and later that same day, He sat down at a table with two disciples. It was in the simple, sacred act of breaking bread together that they finally recognized Him.
Today, we celebrate this same joy through the Feast of the Body of Christ. This isn't just a local gathering; it’s a global homecoming. People from every corner of the earth—of all ages and backgrounds—travel to join this one holy table.
This Communion is open to everyone who confesses Jesus as Savior. If you long to feel His presence and want to walk alongside this community of faith, you are welcome here.

P: God be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them up to God.
P: Let us give thanks to God Host High
People: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Facing Alter
L: Eternal God, Creator of everything from the vast heavens to the earth beneath our feet, we thank you. You are the source of every breath we take and the life within every living creature. We are deeply grateful for the countless gifts found in your creation. It is humbling to know you fashioned us in your own image. Even when we wander or forget how much we need you, you are quick to forgive and steady in your care, never letting us go.
We find our greatest joy in Jesus Christ, your Son. He was born of Mary, becoming fully human to share in our daily lives—experiencing every high and low, every laugh and tear. We hold a sacred space in our hearts to remember His sacrifice on the cross, and we celebrate with loud voices His victory over death. Through Him, you have given us the Church, a beloved community where we belong.
As we look ahead, we wait with hope for the day Christ returns to make all things right. Until then, we find our strength in the Holy Spirit’s constant presence among us. We honor the faithful men and women throughout history who stood for justice. Alongside every prophet, martyr, and saint, we join our voices to glorify you.

*Sanctus
ALL: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth; Heaven and earth are full, are full of the majesty of thy glory, Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna, in the highest. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest!

P: Jesus offered the Passover bread to the disciples, the ones he gathered from the shoreline, the ones who watched him still the waters, the ones who stood on the deck of the boat as it crossed the Sea of Galilee. He blessed it, broke it, and shared it, saying, “Do this and remember that this is what makes us one. This is what makes us whole.” He took the cup, blessed it, shared it and said, “Do this and remember God’s everlasting promise to love us into new life over and over again.”
By eating this bread and drinking this cup we proclaim Christ’s death, and celebrate Christ’s resurrection, and Christ’s coming again.
C: Amen, Come, Christ Jesus.

uncover the elements place cover aside.
Facing Congregation reaching over elements

*The Consecration
P: Merciful God, we humbly implore you to sanctify this bread and this cup, and to bless all of us gathered here, through the outpouring of your Holy Spirit.
By this sacred meal, unite us into the Body of Christ, Your Church, Your people called to serve, that we may become salt, light, and leaven, diligently working for the fulfillment of Your holy will throughout the entire world. AMEN.
ALL: Be present with us as we share this meal, and throughout all our lives, that we may know you as the Holy One, who with Christ and the Holy Spirit, lives forever. Amen.

P: Let us pray as Christ our Savior has taught us.

*THE LORDS PRAYER
ALL: 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 debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver Us from Evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

*DOXOLOGY (SUNG)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him all creatures here below.
Praise him above ye heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. AMEN
People Standing.

Pastor Face the People.
The Distribution
Breaking bread and pouring wine

Over the Elements, while taking the bread and breaking it:
The bread which we break is the communion of the body of Christ.

While pouring the wine and raising the cup:
The cup of blessing which we bless is the communion of the body of Christ.

Call to the supper, Facing the Congregation:
The Gifts of God for the people of God.
Come for all things are now ready.
Please be seated

Sharing the Elements
If the elements are consumed together in the pews. The leader will say the following after all are served.

Communion Hymn - Break now the bread of life #321
v. 1, distribution of bread
With the bread:
Pastor: This is the body of Christ, the living bread. Take and eat in remembrance of him.

Communion Hymn - Break now the bread of life #321
v. 2, distribution of the wine

With the wine:
Pastor: This is the blood of Christ, the saving cup. Take and drink in remembrance of him.
P: *Those who are able please rise in body or spirit

*The Blessing
May the Communion of the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, keep and preserve you, each one, in body, soul, and spirit, unto everlasting life. Amen.

*The Great Thanksgiving (standing)
Facing Alter
ALL: We give thanks, Almighty God, that you have
refreshed us at your table by granting us the presence of your
Son, Jesus Christ. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one
another; and send us into the world in courage and peace, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ our Savior.

*BENEDICTION
Go to the places God sends you.
Bless the people Christ calls you to bless.
Strengthen the faith of the hopeless and despairing.
Go with God’s blessings.
Making the sign of the cross in the air
In the name of the Father…. AMEN.

*HYMN OF PARTING – Lead On, O King Eternal - #508

The Light of Christ goes into the world taken from the Christ candle. The Christ Candle remains lit until all have departed the sanctuary.

*COMMISSION
Take the light of Christ with you into the world. Go and serve the Lord.

Today’s Prayer Partners from our Schuylkill Association, of the Keystone Conference, of the United Church of Christ
Schuylkill Association Spring Mtg.

Please, Keep the following Children of God in your prayers:
Warren Roberts, Joan Roberts, Donald Wolfgang, Rita Merwine. Mary Lou D, Sue B, Pat R, Sue and Jack S, Tod, Ed & Deb M, Arlan & Ellen, Deann, Toni and Ben, Carisa R., Mike R., Ella C, Anthony S, Joe and Andrea P., Debbie P, Eddy M., Jane T., Julie Z., John L., George S, Frank and Dorothy, Stewart S., Axel & Bonita.


Psalm 33:1-12
1 Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord;
it is fitting for the pure to praise him.
2 Praise the Lord with melodies on the lyre;
make music for him on the ten-stringed harp.
3 Sing a new song of praise to him;
play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.
4 For the word of the Lord holds true,
and we can trust everything he does.
5 He loves whatever is just and good;
the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.

6 The Lord merely spoke,
and the heavens were created.
He breathed the word,
and all the stars were born.
7 He assigned the sea its boundaries
and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs.
8 Let the whole world fear the Lord,
and let everyone stand in awe of him.
9 For when he spoke, the world began!
It appeared at his command.

10 The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations
and thwarts all their schemes.
11 But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever;
his intentions can never be shaken.

12 What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord,
whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.

This resource is a 6-day daily devotional guide designed for you to use at home during the week. It bridges the gap between listening to a Sunday sermon and living our faith from Monday through Saturday.

Day 1: Get Off the Sidelines
• Read: Matthew 9:9
• Reflection: Matthew was sitting at his work booth, just watching life pass by. Jesus walked up and changed everything with two words: “Follow me.” Matthew had to choose to stay on the sidelines or change his life. Following Jesus means we cannot just watch. We have to get up, leave our comfort zones, and move.
• Daily Action: Find one area in your life where you are just watching instead of helping. Step in and help today.
• Prayer: Jesus, help me get off the sidelines and follow you into action today. Amen.

Day 2: The Empty Chair
• Read: Matthew 9:10-11
• Reflection: Jesus filled His dinner table with outcasts and outsiders. The religious leaders were shocked because they liked their private, perfect club. Jesus shows us that His table has room for everyone, especially hurting people. If we only hang out with people who are just like us, we are missing the people Jesus looks for.
• Daily Action: Think about your friends or your church seats. Who is missing? Reach out to someone outside your usual group today.
• Prayer: Lord, open my heart and my table to people who are different from me. Amen.

Day 3: Mercy Over Rules
• Read: Matthew 9:12-13
• Reflection: Jesus told His critics, "I want mercy, not sacrifices." The religious leaders cared more about perfect rules than helping people. Jesus reminds us that God cares far more about how we treat hurting people than how religious we look. True faith is about showing love, not judging others.
• Daily Action: Choose kindness over being right today. Show extra patience to someone who is struggling.
• Prayer: God, help me love people more than I love being right or following rules. Amen.

Day 4: Changing What We Touch
• Read: Matthew 9:20-22
• Reflection: A woman who had been sick and alone for twelve years touched Jesus' clothes. The old rules said her sickness would make Jesus dirty. Instead, His goodness rubbed off on her and healed her. Jesus shows us that true goodness is powerful. We do not need to hide from the mess of the world.
• Daily Action: Do not avoid a messy or difficult situation today out of fear. Trust that God can use you to bring peace.
• Prayer: Jesus, give me the courage to step into messy situations to help others. Amen.

Day 5: Bringing Life to Dead Places
• Read: Matthew 9:23-26
• Reflection: Jesus walked into a house filled with crying people, took a dead girl by the hand, and brought her back to life. Everyone else thought it was too late and gave up hope. But Jesus saw an opportunity to bring new life. No situation you face is too far gone for His touch.
• Daily Action: Think of a problem that feels completely hopeless. Pray for it and look for one small way to bring hope to it today.
• Prayer: Lord, bring your life and hope into the places in my world that feel dead. Amen.

Day 6: Hands and Feet
• Read: Matthew 9:9, 22, 25
• Reflection: In all these stories, Jesus used His physical body to change lives. He sat at tables, let people touch Him, and held a child's hand. Today, Jesus is not here in a human body—we are His body now. Our hands must touch the hurting, and our feet must go to the lonely. It is time to wake up and serve.
• Daily Action: Do one concrete, physical act of service today to be Jesus' hands and feet for someone else.
• Prayer: Jesus, use my hands, my feet, and my life to love the world today. Amen.