Little Falls United Methodist Church

 

Sunday Worship Service

 

February 8, 2026 - 10 am

 

 

139 Main Street, Little Falls, NJ 07424

Office Phone: (973) 256-0993

Website: www.LittleFallsUMC.org

Email: Info@LittleFallsUMC.org

 

We are “A Welcoming Community of Faith, Hope,

Mission and Outreach Sharing Christ’s Love”

Our Mission is “Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World”

 

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God,

to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God,

which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1)

 

 

Called to Praise

 

⭻Prepare your heart and body for Worship

 

Greeting & Announcements
 

• We have ‘In-Person’ & ‘Online Worship’ on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at 10am.

 

• You can join our Online Worship via YouTube or Facebook. Type “Little Falls United Methodist Church” in the search window on YouTube or Facebook. Please use the link below to join in Online Worship. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lfumc

 

• Ash Wednesday Service – We will have Ash Wednesday Service at 7 pm on February 18, 2026. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. Let us worship together considering the meaning of Jesus’ death and sacrifice for us.  

 

• Gratitude and Prayer for the church officials on February 15, 2026 – We will express our gratitude to those who completed their service and pray for those who continue to serve and those who newly start serving as the church officials at Sunday Worship on February 15, 2026.

 

• Prayer Concerns & Joys – If you would like to share your concerns and joys with the congregation, please email Pastor Jin (jkim@littlefallsumc.org) or complete the online form, www.littlefallsumc.org/prayer.

 

• Altar Flowers – If you would like to offer the altar flowers, please contact Janet (973) 896-8936 or ladyteddy@aol.com. 

 

• Fellowship Time after Worship – Thank You, Beth Billig, for hosting Coffee Hour! Also, thank you, Ken Griffine, for Ice Cream for the Coffee Hour! Let us enjoy a good fellowship time every Sunday after Worship. Please help us with hosting the coffee hour. The Sign-up board is on the table in the Narthex. Please contact Cheryle or Kathy F. if you have any questions about the coffee hour.

 

• Super Bowl Sunday Chili & Sub Sale – The pick-up is available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 8, 2026. Thank Paul, Beth, and Allison for organizing and cooking, and all who help and participate in the fundraising event.

 

• Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner – Shrove Tuesday Pancake dinner will be held from 5:30 to 7 pm on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Join us our pancake dinner and let us have a wonderful fellowship. Please invite your family, friends, and neighbors to the event! We encourage those who joining the Dinner, to bring non-perishable food for our Food Pantry Ministry!

 

• Bishop's Day at 7 pm on February 12 at Galilee UMC, Englewood - Our District will host Bishop's Day at 7 pm on February 12, 2026, at Galilee UMC, Englewood. This event is for all clergy and laity in our district, the Meadowlands District. All are invited. Please join Bishop's day and take this meaningful opportunity to meet Bishop Moore-KoiKoi.

 

• Treasured Memories –The next meeting will be held at 7 pm on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. “Treasured Memories” is a grief group for those who have lost their loved ones. The ongoing meeting gathers every 2nd Wednesday of the month in Lee Lounge at 7 pm. Contact Allison for details (973) 800-4152.

 

• Young Adult & Family Gathering – Young Adult and Family Gathering will be held on Sunday, March 8, 2026, from Noon to 1:30pm.

 

• 2025-2026 Kids & Youths for Christ - ‘Kids & Youths For Christ’ is a fun Thursday night program for children (K-12th). We will have Christian education and fun activities such as games, crafts, cooking, biking, movies, mini sports, service projects, etc. The program will be held every first and third Thursday from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. The first day is September 18, 2025, and the last day will be June 4, 2026. This program is free of charge and open to all students. Everyone is welcome. Sign up now at the church website and spread the word to your neighbors!

 

• Online Donation – Online donation is available now. Please visit the church website and click ‘Donation.’ The link is https://www.littlefallsumc.org/donation.  Your financial support and generosity are greatly appreciated and essential for our church ministry and mission. Please consider sending your tithes and offerings to Little Falls UMC (139 Main St. Little Falls, NJ 07424). You can send your offerings and tithes to the church every week. Or you can send offerings and tithes for a month with a check. Thanks again for your generosity!

 

• Shoprite Gift Card – To purchase a Shoprite gift card, contact Pete (973) 595-5765 or detroit50@aol.com.

 

• LFUMC FOOD PANTRY ITEMS NEEDED - Many families depend on the Food Pantry on a regular basis. The Pantry needs the following non-perishable items; canned vegetables, peanut butter, jelly, adult/children’s cereal, pasta & sauce, instant potatoes/rice, tuna, chicken, sardines, fruit, apple sauce, juice, and granola bars.

 

• SOCKS FOR SOULS - Do your feet get cold? Please help Unity Circle to provide new or gently used socks to the homeless. There is a constant need. Please drop off your socks in the large white sock in the Narthex. 

 

• Ongoing Collection - UMW collects postmarked stamp and can pull tabs. Items are donated to different charities and organizations.

 

 

†Call to Worship

Leader: Come, people of God, blessed by Jesus and called into the Kingdom of God.

People: We come remembering that the Kingdom of God is ours.

Leader: We are blessed not because our lives are perfect, but because God knows our struggles and walks with us.

People: We are grateful for God’s love, grace, and presence among us.

Leader: Jesus calls us salt of the earth and light of the world, inviting us to live as citizens of God’s Kingdom.

People: Help us to live out our faith, not only with our actions, but with our hearts and minds.

Leader: Let our worship shape our lives, so that God’s love, justice, compassion, and peace may shine through us.

All: We come to worship God, ready to live as citizens of the Kingdom of God. Amen.

 

†Praise Song                    King Of Kings

1. In the darkness we were waiting
Without hope, without light
'Til from Heaven You came running
There was mercy in Your eyes
To fulfill the law and prophets
To a virgin came the word
From a throne of endless glory
To a cradle in the dirt

 

[Chorus]

Praise the Father, praise the Son
Praise the Spirit, three in one
God of glory, Majesty
Praise forever to the King of Kings

 

2. To reveal the kingdom coming
And to reconcile the lost
To redeem the whole creation
You did not despise the cross
For even in your suffering
You saw to the other side
Knowing this was our salvation
Jesus for our sake you died [Chorus]

 

3. And the morning that You rose
All of Heaven held its breath
'Til that stone was moved for good
For the Lamb had conquered death
And the dead rose from their tombs
And the angels stood in awe
For the souls of all who'd come
To the Father are restored

 

4. And the church of Christ was born
Then the Spirit lit the flame
Now this gospel truth of old
Shall not kneel, shall not faint
By His blood and in His name
In His freedom I am free
For the love of Jesus Christ
Who has resurrected me [Chorus]

 

Children’s Time                                                                                by Ken Griffin

 

Hymn of Prayer                                 This Is My Father’s World                    UMH 144 

 

1. This is my Father's world, 

and to my listening ears 

all nature sings, and round me rings 

the music of the spheres. 

This is my Father's world: 

I rest me in the thought 

of rocks and trees, of skies and seas; 

his hand the wonders wrought. 

 

2. This is my Father's world, 

the birds their carols raise, 

the morning light, the lily white, 

declare their maker's praise. 

This is my Father's world: 

he shines in all that's fair; 

in the rustling grass I hear him pass; 

he speaks to me everywhere. 

 

3. This is my Father's world. 

O let me ne'er forget 

that though the wrong seems oft so strong, 

God is the ruler yet. 

This is my Father's world: 

why should my heart be sad? 

The Lord is King; let the heavens ring! 

God reigns; let the earth be glad! 

 

Pausing for Silent Prayer and Confession

 

Prayers of the People (Response: God, in Your Mercy, hear our prayers.)

Gracious God, we bring before you our joys and our concerns, the celebrations that lift our hearts and the burdens that weigh us down. We thank you for the signs of your Kingdom among us—moments of love, healing, reconciliation, and hope. We also place into your care those who are hurting, those who are anxious, grieving, lonely, or weary. Hold us in your grace, guide us by your Spirit, and help us to live each day as citizens of your Kingdom, trusting in your love and sharing it with others. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

 

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. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

 

Called to the Word

Prayer for Illumination 

 

Leader: Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that, as the Scriptures are read and your Word proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. 

All: Amen

 

OT Lesson                                            Isaiah 58:1-12

1  Shout out; do not hold back!
   Lift up your voice like a trumpet!
Announce to my people their rebellion,
   to the house of Jacob their sins.
2 Yet day after day they seek me
   and delight to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness
   and did not forsake the ordinance of their God;
they ask of me righteous judgments;
   they want God on their side.
3 “Why do we fast, but you do not see?
   Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?”
Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day
   and oppress all your workers.
4 You fast only to quarrel and to fight
   and to strike with a wicked fist.
Such fasting as you do today
   will not make your voice heard on high.
5 Is such the fast that I choose,
   a day to humble oneself?
Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush
   and to lie in sackcloth and ashes?
Will you call this a fast,
   a day acceptable to the Lord?

6 Is not this the fast that I choose:
   to loose the bonds of injustice,
   to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
   and to break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
   and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them
   and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
   and your healing shall spring up quickly;
your vindicator shall go before you;
   the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
   you shall cry for help, and he will say, “Here I am.”

If you remove the yoke from among you,
   the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,
10 if you offer your food to the hungry
   and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
then your light shall rise in the darkness
   and your gloom be like the noonday.
11 The Lord will guide you continually
   and satisfy your needs in parched places
   and make your bones strong,
and you shall be like a watered garden,
   like a spring of water
   whose waters never fail.
12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
   you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
   the restorer of streets to live in.

 

This ends the OT Lesson. 
Let us turn to the Gospel Lesson. Please stand, if able.

 

†Gospel Lesson                                 Matthew 5:13-20

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

 

This is the word of God for the people of God. 

All: Thanks be to God.

 

Message                    Embody the Kingdom of God              Rev. Jin Kook Kim

 

Good morning, Church Family! I hope you had a blessed week in God’s love and grace last week. Last Sunday, we considered the first part of Jesus’ preaching on the mountain. To the crowds who have their own life issues, Jesus said, “You are blessed for the Kingdom of God is yours.” Likewise, Jesus says to us that we are blessed. We are blessed because God, who loves us, knows our life issues. We are blessed because God gives us the Kingdom of God where our life issues no longer define us or rule over us. We are blessed because God has already started God’s work for us. We are blessed because through our life and ministry, we can proclaim to the people in the world that they are blessed for the Kingdom of God is theirs. Let us remember that we are blessed for God who loves us and cares for us and who is with us all the time. Let us live out our blessed life that God gives us in our daily life, every day.

 

Through the first part of Jesus’ preaching on the mountain, Jesus proclaims that we are the citizens of the Kingdom of God. Then, Jesus talks about how to live as the citizens of the Kingdom of God through the next part of his preaching on the mountain.

 

In the first part of today’s Gospel lesson, Jesus says that you are the salt of the earth. Don’t lose the taste in the world. You are the light of the world. Shine your light to the people in the world so that they may see your good works and give glory to God. This means God has given us the identity as the children of God and the citizens of the Kingdom of God, so live out our lives as the children of God. If we don’t live out our identity as God’s children, it is like having a fully loaded gift card in our pocket but never buying anything with it. Or, it is like having a paid gym membership but never actually going to work out. The access is there. The privilege is ours. But we have to step inside and use it. Church family, Jesus wants us to live out God’s children and the citizens of the Kingdom of God as God has given us God’s Kingdom already.

 

Then, what would be living out our lives as the citizens of God’s Kingdom? What would be keeping the taste of salt and shining light to the people in the world? God’s Kingdom is where we experience God’s love, grace, peace, justice, compassion, and generosity. Keeping saltiness and shining light mean doing good works as Jesus said by doing good works, let people see it and give glory to God. And doing good works is practicing God’s love, grace, peace, justice, compassion, and generosity. In other words, doing good works is following God’s law which is God’s word. And through the second part of today’s scripture, Jesus teaches us to do good works not only with our bodies but with our souls and minds, knowing God’s intention for each word of God.

 

We can see what that means in the next verses in Matthew chapter 5 and chapter six and seven. In chapter 5, Jesus talks about many subjects including murder, retaliation, and enemy. God’s words for these are these: don’t murder, don’t pay back, such as eye to eye, and tooth to tooth, and don’t hate your enemy. People want to hurt others due to their anger when they got hurt from others. People want to pay back to others for others harming them. People hate their enemy because they are hated. In fact, having a heart of anger, retaliation, and hatred are natural. Feeling those emotions and impulsions are natural but how to handle them is our choice. God wants us to follow God’s path rather than hurt and hate people. As citizens of the Kingdom of God, we can follow God’s words by choosing not to hurt or hate others. However, our saltiness and shining light to others will happen when we choose to forgive them and love them.

 

I want to share with you a story that I read from the Upper Room. I couldn’t find the original text, but let me share the story as I remember it. A woman struggled with someone at her workplace. She had been deeply hurt by colleagues — the comments were cutting, the actions were unfair, and every day she walked into work feeling the wound like a heavy weight. At first, she wanted nothing more than to avoid the colleague and let resentment build. But she prayed for the situation and asked for God’s help. She was reminded of Jesus’ words of forgiveness. She prayed for them every day and intentionally tried to look for one good thing about them each day.  By doing that, she could not be captured by resentment, and the relationship started getting better little by little. The efforts for forgiveness and practicing forgiveness with her heart and soul were the ways that she shone the light to the people in the world, and the shining light brought peace to her workplace, and to her heart and life too. By doing that, she lived out her life as the citizen of the kingdom of God, and she allowed God’s Kingdom to be present in her workplace.

 

Church family, think about Jesus’ story of the prodigal son. The prodigal son hurts his father by asking for his inheritance and leaving his father’s home. However, when the son comes back, the father forgives him, welcomes him, holds him in his arms, recovers his status as a son, and hosts a party. The father’s actions are very contrasting to his brother’s attitude, who didn’t like his brother for his wrongdoing and his father’s unfair treatment. I think The older brother represents our human instinct: he wanted fairness; he held a grudge. But the Father represents the Kingdom: He chose forgiveness. He chose to celebrate restoration rather than demand retribution. However, Jesus shows the father’s forgiveness to us so that he lets us see God’s forgiveness, love, and grace for us and invites us to be like God in our lives. Church family, let us choose love, grace, forgiveness, peace, justice, mercy, generosity, and all God’s characteristics and values by practicing them. That is good works we can shine as the citizens of the Kingdom of God, to the people in the world.

 

When we consider good works, shining light to the people, we usually think of our actions for or toward people. That is a part of it. Another important part of it is making a deeper relationship with God through spiritual disciplines. In chapter 6, Jesus talks about praying and fasting. Israel has set prayer time and fast time. Jesus teaches us to make our time for praying and fasting an authentic time for being with God. It is self-care for us that enables and enriches our good works for others. How can we have the heart of forgiveness? The heart comes from God when we are with God and have an authentic time with God. Through being with God, we can learn and we are encouraged to practice God’s characteristics. Praying and fasting is not to show others. Those are spiritual disciplines that we can get closer to God and inspired by God to be like God. As I shared the story, the woman was inspired by God to forgive her colleagues and make efforts to do so. As parents care for their kids well when they are healthy in body and mind, we shine light to others when we are healthy in spirit by having good and deep relationships with God.

 

Narda, who shared her story in the Upper Room last Friday, says, “Our devotional time is indispensable for our spiritual health and is a way for us to cultivate a strong relationship with God. Time with God creates an oasis of healing, freedom, comfort, and strength. It is where we feel loved, affirmed, and more prepared to withstand moments of adversity and temptation. Alone with God, we can connect with our Creator in a way that we cannot in public. Our prayer life is deepened when we go to God just as we are.”  Worship, Bible study, and daily devotional help us to cultivate a strong relationship with God through learning God’s word. This is also a part of good works and living out our lives as the citizens of the Kingdom of God. 

 

Church family, we are citizens of God as God has given us God’s kingdom. Let us take the privilege and practice it. Let’s shine light to the people through our good works so that all people see it and glorify God. Through it all, we can live out our lives as citizens of the kingdom of God and we can transform the world into the kingdom of God. Let’s embody the Kingdom of God. Amen.

 

Called to Share

Response to Our Generous God 

 

 †Doxology                  Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow             UMH 95

 

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!

 

†Prayer of Dedication

All: Generous God, all that we have and all that we are come from you. We thank you for the blessing of your Kingdom and for calling us to live as your people. Receive these gifts we offer today. Use them to shine your light, to bring love, justice, compassion, and hope to our community and to the world. May our giving be an act of gratitude and a sign of our faithfulness as citizens of your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

 

Called to the World

 

†Closing Hymn                                 We Are Called                          TFWS 2172

 

1. Come! live in the light! 
Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord! 
We are called to be light for the kingdom, 
to live in the freedom of the city of God! 
 
[Refrain] 

We are called to act with justice. 
We are called to love tenderly. 
We are called to serve one another, to walk humbly with God. 
 
2. Come! Open your heart! 
Show your mercy to all those in fear! 
We are called to be hope for the hopeless, 
so all hatred and blindness will be no more! [Refrain] 
 
3. Sing! Sing a new song! 
Sing of that great day when all will be one! 
God will reign and we'll walk with each other as sisters 
and brothers united in love! [Refrain] 

 

†Benediction                                                                            Rev. Jin Kook Kim

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you.  Amen.