Online Worship

For a large print edition, click here

University UMC
May 25, 2025

Sixth Sunday of Easter
“The Cup of Freedom”

Weekly Focus “Freedom to Heal”

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

Pastor: Good morning! Happy Memorial Day weekend! I am Pastor Alicia Wood. Welcome to University Church!

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.

Today I will be leading worship with Jayne Humbert, our musician, Connie Myers. Let us begin by singing “America the Beautiful.”

Opening Song “America the Beautiful” UMH #696

O beautiful for spacious skies,
for amber waves of grain,
for purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
from sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife,
who more than self their country loved
and mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine,
till all success be nobleness,
and every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years,
thine alabaster cities gleam undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law.

Introduction

Leader: As we enter a sacred time together this morning, there are many ways we can be in need of healing. Aches and pains can reside in our spirits. Today, we are proclaiming a word of hope and restoration. The Easter season is a time when we release our hold on repeating patterns and behaviors that keep us from wellness.

The River of the Water of Life at the center of God’s kin-dom is for healing. The water is there already waiting for us, just as Jesus is there for the man by the Sheep Gate. The question is, “do we want to be well?” To heal is to claim the freedom to let go of that which festers within us and reach out for the healing waters. I invite you to rise in body and/or spirit and let us sing together!

Opening Prayer

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

God of Freedom, our souls rejoice
because you have poured out your healing balm on our lives.
Mend the broken places of our lives
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!

Hymn “Standing in the Need of Prayer” UMH #352

Leader: Please remain standing as we sing “Standing in the Need of Prayer.”

It’s me (it’s me), it’s me, O Lord,
standing in the need of prayer.
It’s me (it’s me), it’s me, O Lord,
standing in the need of prayer.

Not my brother, not my sister, but it’s me, O lord,
standing in the need of prayer.
Not my brother, not my sister, but it’s me, O Lord,
standing in the need of prayer.

It’s me (it’s me), it’s me, O Lord,
standing in the need of prayer.
It’s me (it’s me), it’s me, O Lord,
standing in the need of prayer.

Not the preacher, not the deacon, but it’s me, O lord,
standing in the need of prayer.
Not the preacher, not the deacon, but it’s me, O Lord,
standing in the need of prayer.

It’s me (it’s me), it’s me, O Lord,
standing in the need of prayer.
It’s me (it’s me), it’s me, O Lord,
standing in the need of prayer.

Not my father, not my mother, but it’s me, O lord,
standing in the need of prayer.
Not my father, not my mother, but it’s me, O Lord,
standing in the need of prayer.

It’s me (it’s me), it’s me, O Lord,
standing in the need of prayer.
It’s me (it’s me), it’s me, O Lord,
standing in the need of prayer.

The Children’s Time

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

Scripture Readings 

Leader: Our reading today comes from the Gospel of John 5: 1-9.

After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. In these lay many ill, blind, lame, and paralyzed people. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”

The ill man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am making my way someone else steps down ahead of me.” Jesus said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk.” At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk. Now that day was a Sabbath.

Leader: This is the word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.

Message

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.”

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

Pastor: 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 are suffering from chronic pain and illness. We pray that all are free to seek restoration and wholeness. We give you thanks, O God, for the strength and resilience you give us to bind up our wounds and stitch together a new story. Help us to take refuge in you and find rest in your healing embrace.

This week we pray for…. 

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

Pastor: 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.

Offering

Leader: Sunday worship is just fuel for the soul for the week of ahead. Here are a few ways to get involved in the life of the church and community.

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)

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: God of all gifts, of all bounty,
of every tree and plant and every fruit and vegetable.
Everything we have comes from you.
We give you thanks for this abundance.
We pray that what we give might
be used as a balm to heal the nations,
to restore your love-grounded peace among all creation.
Amen.

Closing Hymn “Because He Lives” UMH #364

Leader: Let us remain standing to sing together “Because He Lives.”

God sent his son, they called him Jesus;
he came to love, heal and forgive;
he lived and died to buy my pardon,
an empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Because he lives, I can face tomorrow,
because he lives, all fear is gone;
because I know he holds the future,
and life is worth the living, just because he lives!

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
and feel the pride and joy he gives;
but greater still the calm assurance,
this child can face uncertain days because he lives!

Because he lives, I can face tomorrow,
because he lives, all fear is gone;
because I know he holds the future,
and life is worth the living, just because He lives!

And then one day, I’ll cross the river;
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain;
And then as death gives way to victory,
I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know he reigns!

Because he lives, I can face tomorrow,
because he lives, all fear is gone;
because I know he holds the future,
and life is worth the living,
just because he lives!

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

All: 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!

Pastor: 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