Little Falls United Methodist Church

 

Sunday Worship Service

 

January 18, 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, January 18, 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 January 18, 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 January 18, 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 – Thank you, Linda Timms, for providing Altar Flowers in Honor of Jason Timms. 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! 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 - Our annual Super Bowl Sunday Chili and Sub Sale is coming up! Please place your pre-orders by Sunday, February 1, 2025. You can submit the order form to Paul, Beth, or Allison, or call the church office at (973-256-0993). Order forms are available on the table in the narthex. The pick-up is available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 8, 2026.

 

• 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!

 

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

 

• 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.

 

• 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.

 

• Children’s Pajamas Collection – Bethany Hope circle are collecting New Pajamas for the Children (infants to kid to Teens) at Oasis (Paterson NJ). Let’s help the children have sweet dreams in a warm pair of pajamas! Due date is Sunday February 1st. Please contact Melissa for questions or details.

 

• 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: On this new morning, we hear the voice of Jesus asking us: "What are you looking for?" 

People: We are looking for hope. We are looking for truth. We are looking for a place to belong. 

Leader: Like the disciples, we ask the Savior: "Teacher, where do you stay?" 

People: We want to live where justice dwells. We want to abide where mercy flows.

Leader: Jesus answers us simply: "Come and see." 

All: We come to see, we come to follow, and we come to stay. Let us worship God!

 

†Praise Song                    Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me

(by Johnny Robinson, Rich Thompson, and Michael Farren)

 

1. What gift of grace is Jesus, my Redeemer

There is no more for Heaven now to give

He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom

My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace

 

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus

For my life is wholly bound to His

Oh, how strange and divine, I can sing, "All is mine"

Yet not I, but through Christ in me

 

2. The night is dark, but I am not forsaken

For by my side, the Savior, He will stay

I labor on in weakness and rejoicing

For in my need, His power is displayed

 

To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me

Through the deepest valley, He will lead

Oh, the night has been won, and I shall overcome

Yet not I, but through Christ in me

 

3. No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven

The future's sure, the price, it has been paid

For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon

And He was raised to overthrow the grave

 

To this I hold, my sin has been defeated

Jesus, now and ever is my plea

Oh, the chains are released, I can sing, "I am free"

Yet not I, but through Christ in me

 

4. With every breath, I long to follow Jesus

For He has said that He will bring me home

And day by day, I know He will renew me

Until I stand with joy before the throne

 

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus

All the glory evermore to Him

When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat

"Yet not I, but through Christ in me"

 

Children’s Time    

 

Hymn of Prayer                                 As the Deer                                TFWS 2025

 

As the deer pants for the water
So my soul longs after you
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship you
You alone are my Strength, my Shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship you

 

Pausing for Silent Prayer and Confession

 

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

Gracious God, we come to you as we are, responding to Jesus’ invitation to “come and see.” We choose to stay with you, trusting your love and grace. We thank you for the joys in our lives and for the ways we have seen your Kingdom among us. We bring before you our concerns, lifting those who are sick, grieving, lonely, or burdened. Surround them with your healing, comfort, and peace. As we begin this new year, help us to stay with Christ, to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you. Use us to share your love with the world. We offer all our prayers to you, in the name of Jesus Christ. 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                                            Micah 6:6-8

  6 “With what shall I come before the Lord
   and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
   with calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
   with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
   the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good,
   and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice and to love kindness
   and to walk humbly with your God?

 

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

 

†Gospel Lesson                                 John 1:35-42

35 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and as he watched Jesus walk by he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). 42 He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

 

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

All: Thanks be to God.

 

Message                             Come and Stay                        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 God’s covenant with us through God’s covenant with Abraham. As God chose Abraham to have the covenant to bless him, God chose us to have God’s covenant with us through our baptism. God’s covenant is God’s grace for us because through the covenant, God promises us God’s abundant blessings. God’s covenant is God’s grace for us because God never breaks God’s life-death oath even when we fail to follow God. Rather, God never gives us up and leads us into God’s ways over again. Church Family, we reminded ourselves of God’s grace through God’s covenant in the covenant renewal service last Sunday. Let us keep reminding ourselves throughout the new year that we are God’s beloved children and God’s grace is with us all the time.

 

We are in the third Sunday in the new year as we have the new year. What do you feel? Are you excited for the new year? What makes you excited for the new year? What do you expect for the new year? Do you have an exciting thing you anticipate in the new year about any New Year’s resolutions, any goals, any wishes, or any hope? You will be excited for the new year if you have anything great and wonderful that you anticipate. Or without any foundation, you just feel like you’re excited for the new year as kids usually do. On the other side, you would not feel anything for the new year. You would not feel an excitement for the new year because you would feel every day is the same thing and every year is the same year. I’m still young, but I feel numb for the new year as I get older one year by one year. This morning, I want to encourage you and me to be excited for the new year because I found the reason that we should be excited for the new year through the teaching of the Bible.

 

In today’s story, there is a dialogue between Jesus and the two disciples. The conversation happens after John the Baptist told them about Jesus, when they watched Jesus saying, “ Look, here is the lamb of God.” John said that twice in different times and in different places. When they came to Jesus, Jesus asked, “What are you looking for?” The question is like, “How can I help you? Why do you come to me?” They asked, “Where do you stay?” This question literally means where Jesus stays. However, that is not all; it’s also based on their situation. They came to Jesus because they heard from John the Baptist that Jesus is the Messiah who God sent to them to save them. They are Jews who have been waiting for the Savior, so they came to Jesus. The question, “Where do you stay?” can be interpreted as “What world do you live?” “What world can you provide us to live?” or “What world can you lead us to go?” As people of a subdued country, they are oppressed, discriminated against, abused, and neglected. They would be used to their situation and tried to survive there because they have been in that situation for a long time. However, the suffering situation is still suffering for them. Then, the question, “Where do you stay?” can be interpreted as, “In your world, in your kingdom, can we be free from the sufferings that we have now?” They are asking if Jesus can save them fully, if Jesus can change their lives, and if Jesus can change their world into the new world where they don’t experience pain anymore.

 

Church family, if Jesus asks you, “What are you looking for from me in the new year?” what would you like to say? What wish, what goal, or what hope would you like to say to Jesus? How about health, good relationships, work, justice, or peace? What world are you looking for in the new year?

 

To the disciples’ question, Jesus didn’t give them a direct answer such as where he stays, what he can provide, or what world he can give them. Rather Jesus says, “Come and See.” That means, “Rather than hearing from me, come and see it by yourselves.” Jesus invites them to see what Jesus can provide them and what world Jesus can give them because Jesus can provide the best life and the best world. Jesus says to us too, “come and see,” “Come and see what I can give you,” “Come to my world and see my world.” Jesus invites us to come to Jesus’ world and see his world. His world is the world of love, the world of grace, the world of peace, the world of justice, the world of compassion, the world of generosity, the world of freedom, the world of peace. Jesus’ world is the kingdom of God. Jesus invites us to the Kingdom of God.

 

When Jesus says, “come and see,” disciples come and see where he is staying and they remain with him that day. Church family, I want us to come to Jesus’ world, the kingdom of God, and stay there with Jesus in the new year where we see love, grace, justice, peace, compassion, and freedom. This is why we can be excited for the new year. Jesus will show us Jesus’ world where we see God’s love and every blessing.

 

How can we come to Jesus’ world and stay in the kingdom of God? Coming to and staying in Jesus’ world is being with Jesus and sharing his vision and work. Being with Jesus and sharing his vision is working with Jesus on the kingdom of God. What did Jesus show us through his life ministry? He proclaimed the Gospel and the kingdom of God. He cared for the needy by feeding people, healing people, saving people from evil spirits, and showing people God’s love and grace. Jesus worked to transform the world into the kingdom of God through his life. Staying with Jesus is working with Jesus on transforming the world into the kingdom of God through our life ministry of practicing God’s love and grace as Jesus did.

 

We have been in the church visioning process since last fall. During this time, I have also considered what vision we need and pursue. We want to love and care for church family and people in our local community. We want to invite people and worship together and do ministry together. We want to see our growth in Spirit and in number. We want to gather all our hearts together and work together through the vision. I am still considering it now; however, till now, I get to the words, ‘the kingdom of God.’ I believe the words, “the Kingdom of God” includes all our wish, hope, and want, for our church as the kingdom of God has love, grace, care, help, justice, peace, compassion, etc. As church, the body of Christ, we want to make our church as the kingdom of God where all people experience God’s love and every blessing. We want to transform the world in the kingdom of God so that all people experience true love, care, and justice. By participating in God’s ministry through the church ministry, and our private ministry—whether we are an elected officer, a Sunday school teacher, or just a neighbor helping a neighbor—we are stepping into Jesus' world. We are "staying" with Him. By working with Jesus on the kingdom of God, we stay with Jesus in Jesus’ world. By staying with Jesus and working with Jesus, we will see Jesus’ world more clearly and deeply and that will be a great joy for us. The new year is a mystery box of God’s kingdom. We don’t know what is in the box yet, but we know it is a great thing for us so that we can be excited for that.

 

Church family, I hope we come to Jesus’ world, and stay with Jesus, and work with Jesus on the kingdom of God for the people in the world. We will open the mystery boxes for the new year one by one as Jesus shows us the kingdom of God in our lives. So, Church Family, my hope for us is simple: Let us answer the invitation. Let us Come, let us See, and let us Stay. Let us work with Jesus to open these "mystery boxes" of grace throughout the year, transforming our world into the Kingdom of God. Amen

 

Gratitude and Prayer for the Church Officials

 

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: Gracious God, we thank you for all that you have given us. As we bring our tithes and offerings, we offer ourselves to you as well. Help us to stay with Jesus and to trust your Kingdom. Use these gifts to do justice, love kindness, and share your love with the world. Bless what we give and how we live, that through our church your Kingdom may be made visible. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

Called to the World

 

†Closing Hymn                        Here I am, Lord                                          UMH 593

 

1.  I, the Lord of sea and sky,
   I have heard my people cry.
   All who dwell in deepest sin
   My hand will save.
   I who made the stars of night,
   I will make their darkness bright.
   Who will bear my light to them?
    

[Refrain]
Here I am Lord. Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

 

1. I, the Lord of snow and rain,
   I have borne my people’s pain.
   I have wept for love of them.
   They turn away.
   I will break their hearts of stone,
   Give them hearts for love alone.
   I will speak my word to them,
   Whom shall I send? [Refrain]

 

1. I, the Lord of wind and flame,
   I will tend the poor and lame.
   I will set a feast for them.
   My hand will save.
   Finest bread I will provide
   Till their hearts be satisfied.
   I will give my life to them.
   Whom shall I send? [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.