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University UMC
May 4, 2025

Third Sunday of Easter
“The Cup of Freedom”

Weekly Focus “Freedom to Follow”

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

Leader: Good morning! I am Barbara Fought. It is wonderful to be worshipping with all of you here in person and online. Welcome!

We open our service with the acknowledgment that our church sits on the ancestral land of the Onondaga Nation. It is with gratitude that we pay respect for their many generations of care and protection of our shared environment.

At University Church, we embrace diversity in all its forms—across faith traditions, racial and gender identity, age, ability, and other differences. We are a member of the Reconciling Movement of the United Methodist Church, which means you are welcome here no matter who you are or whom you love.

We also welcome you no matter where you might be on your own spiritual journey. Whether you consider yourself a seeker, a questioner, or believer—or all three, we are glad to have you continue your faith journey with us.

Please fill out the attendance slip in your bulletin, share your prayer request on the back to be collected during the prayer song, and feel free to bring your children to explore the activity table. We will have Sunday School today following the Children’s Time.

Pastor Alicia ends her mission trip today in Arizona. Please keep her in your prayers. Let us also keep in our prayers, Abbie. She graduates next weekend! This is her last Sunday with us. (for now. LOL. She is always welcome back.) We will have a reception to thank her for her music ministry with us after worship today.

So, I will be leading worship with our guest preacher, Rev. Dr. BJ Norrix, Aimee, our musical director, Abbie, our musician, the UUMC Choir, and Ann, one of our Sunday School teachers.

Introduction 

 

Leader: We are in the season of Easter, which is not just one day, but a whole “week of weeks” in which we celebrate new life and liberation. We have the freedom to follow Jesus out of the grave and into a new day, to walk in his footsteps and to be his hands and feet in the world.

Jesus used common examples like “tend my sheep,” “feed my lambs,” and “cast your nets on the other side” to call the disciples to follow in his footsteps–inviting all to a life of freedom. And like Saul, whose eyes were opened to the freedom to follow the ways of Jesus, this Sunday’s scriptures invite us to leave aside our hesitations and claim our discipleship. I invite you to rise in body and/or spirit and let us sing together!

Hymn: “My Life Flows On (How can I Keep From Singing)” FWS#2212 verse 2 and refrain

Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear that mesic ringing.
It finds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?

No storm can shake my inmost calm
while to that Rock I’m clinging.
Since love is Lord of heaven and earth,
how can I keep from singing?

Opening Prayer

Leader: Please rise in body or spirit to join in our opening prayer.

God of Freedom, we follow with faith
because you showed us the way.
Lead us forward into your future
so that all may know freedom in you.
We come to you in this moment,
cups running over with thanksgiving.
Amen!

Leader: Peace be with you!
All: And also with you.

Leader: I invite you to pass the Peace of Christ here and those worshiping remotely, we are glad you are on the journey with us!

Opening Hymn “The Summons” TFWS #2130

Leader: Please remain standing as we sing

Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown, will you let my Name be known,
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean, and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?

Will you love the ‘You’ you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?

Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In your company I’ll go where your love and footsteps show,
thus I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me?

 

The Children’s Time Led by Ann Owens

Leader: Please be seated. Children, please come forward for Children’s Time?

Anthem

Scripture Readings

Leader: Our gospel reading today is John 21: 1-19.

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
Leader: This is the word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.

Message Rev. Dr. BJ Norrix

Call to Prayer “God of freedom, God of justice” (TUNE Picardy)

Leader: Please remain seated. Let us settle into our seats as we enter our time of prayer. Please pass your prayer requests to the ushers as they come down the two center aisles. Let us remain seated and sing “God of Freedom, God of Justice.” We’ll be singing this until Pentecost. So, if you don’t pick it up today, you will by then.

God of freedom, God of justice,
You whose love is strong as death,
You who saw the dark of prison,
You who knew the price of faith—
Touch our world of sad oppression
With Your Spirit’s healing breath.
Time of Prayer

Barbara Fought:
Let us pray for all those who are not free:

We pray for those who know the prison of poverty of body, mind, and spirit–lack of basic needs, lack of rest and calm, lack of loving care. Help us, O God, tend to the most vulnerable in our midst.

We pray for those who know the prison of fear–fear of losing financial security, physical safety, and emotional wellbeing. Help us, O God, tend to the most vulnerable in our midst.

We pray for those who know the prison of war and political unrest. May world leaders be moved by compassion and may they learn to love peace. Help us, O God, tend to the most vulnerable in our midst.

We pray for those who face restrictions to their freedom to heed your calling, or who are afraid to follow where you lead. We give you thanks, O God, for the pathway that Jesus provided when he moved through this world with love, grace, and hope for all people. Help us to tread in his footsteps by boldly proclaiming our commitment to care and compassion for others.

This week we pray for…. 

Barbara: God, in your mercy.
People: Hear our prayers.

Leader: Let us take a moment for silent prayer.

Silent Prayer

Leader: Amen…Let us pray the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray using whatever words or language that brings you closest to God.

Lord’s Prayer

All: Creator God, who are in heaven, blessed be your name.
Your Kin-dom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the Kin-dom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Communion
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise….

….
And so,
with your people on earth
and all the company of heaven
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

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.

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ….

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.
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here….

Through your Son Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church,
all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father,
now and forever. Amen.

Offering

Leader: Today is a day of new beginnings. Maybe today is the day you feel called to participate in the life of the church in a new way. Here are a few ways to get involved.

Please stay for Abbie’s celebration today following worship

Please check out the bulletin for more ways to live out your faith. If you would like to help with any of these opportunities, please email the church office.

Our church’s mission is, “Feeding God’s People: Body, Mind and Spirit.” We do this with a multitude of volunteers through our outreach ministry, the Seeking Justice Team, education, prayer, music and worship.

Please place your attendance slip and/or your donation in the offering plate as ushers pass it to you. You may also give through our website, using the Venmo QR code in your bulletin, or continue to mail your check. Thank you for your generosity–and for all you do to support University Church.

Offertory

Doxology (Tune Old 100th, no. 621 UMH)

We give you thanks, O God of life,
for freedom, justice, mercy, grace
These treasured gifts we know
become our hope for living life in Christ.
Amen.

Prayer of Dedication

Leader: Please join me in the unison prayer of dedication.

All: Gracious God,
We are grateful for the reminder that when we follow Jesus we are called to feed your sheep. We pray our gifts today, tomorrow and always may feed your sheep in body, mind and spirit. Amen.

Closing Hymn “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” TFWS 2129 (piano)

Leader: Let us remain standing to sing together “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.”

I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus,
no turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me,
The world behind me, the cross before me,
The world behind me, the cross before me,
no turning back, no turning back.

Though none go with me, still I will follow
Though none go with me, still I will follow
Though none go with me, still I will follow
no turning back, no turning back.

Closing

Leader: Thank you to all who bring worship together each week from the hymn sing team, the bulletin printing, the sanctuary cleaning, the choir rehearsing, the PowerPoint creating and the greeting on Sunday. And thank you for being with us today, whether on-site or on-line, as well as those who are streaming at another time. We are grateful to be a part of your spiritual journey. We hope to see you again next week.

Benediction

Rev BJ:
The Divine One has blessed us with the cup of Life.
The Divine One has blessed us with the cup of Goodness.
The Divine One has blessed us with the cup of Freedom.
Drink deeply!

And may our Holy God who gave us life,
Jesus who showed us goodness,
and the Spirit that is our source of freedom
be with you now and evermore! Amen!
Postlude