Little Falls United Methodist Church

 

Sunday Worship Service

 

September 27, 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, September 27, 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

 

• 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, Sere Stevens, for providing the Altar Flowers in Celebration of her Birthday! If you would like to offer the altar flowers, please contact Janet (973) 896-8936 or ladyteddy@aol.com. 

 

• Fellowship Time after Worship – 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.

 

• Prepackaged Snack Drive – UMW is collecting prepacked snacks (ex. chips, cookies, crackers, applesauce, etc.) for the Oasis aftercare program during September. Oasis doesn’t accept granola bars. The last day of the drive is September 27th, 2026.

 

• Church Yard Sale – We will hold Church Yard Sale on Friday, October 9th, from 12pm to 6pm and Saturday, October 10th from 9am to 3 pm. We will accept items starting Sunday, September. 27th, 2026. Please contact Melissa or Allison for any questions or details.

 

• Baked Potato Dinner – We will have Baked Potato Dinner on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 5:30 pm to 7 pm. Join us and invite your family, friends, and neighbors. Tickets: Adults - $20, and Kids (12 and under) - $10. For tickets, please contact Lorraine at ICL23@yahoo.com or call the church office at (973) 256-0993.

 

• Treasured Memories – The next meeting will be held at 7 pm on Wednesday, October 14, 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. Join us! All are Welcome!

 

• 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.

 

† Passing The Peace

 

†Call to Worship

Leader:  Sometimes life feels like a long waiting room, and we wonder when our time will come. 

Congregation: We bring our delayed hopes and our unanswered prayers before the Lord today.

Leader: The Lord says, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways." 

Congregation: We trust that God’s perfect time and higher ways are always best for us.

Leader: In the silence of our waiting, God is maturing our faith. And when the blessing comes, it is God who provides.

Congregation: It is not by our own power, but by God's grace! We point to God and give Him all the glory.

Leader: Come, let us worship the Lord who is faithful in every season! 

All: Let us praise God together, trusting in His perfect time! Amen.

 

†Praise Song                    How Great Thou Art                      UMH 77 

 

1 O Lord my God! when I in awesome wonder 
consider all the *worlds thy hand have made, 
I see the stars, I hear the *rolling thunder, 
thy power throughout the universe displayed. 

 

[Refrain]
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee; 
how great thou art, how great thou art! 
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee; 
how great thou art, how great thou art! 

 

2 When through the woods and forest glades I wander, 
and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees; 
when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur 
and hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze; [Refrain]

 

3 And when I think that God, his Son not sparing, 
sent him to die, I scarce can take it in; 
that on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, 
he bled and died to take away my sin; [Refrain]

 

4 When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation 
and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart. 
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
and there proclaim, my God, how great thou art! [Refrain]

 

Children’s Time                                                                              

 

Hymn of Prayer              What a Friends We Have in Jesus              UMH 526

 

1. What a friend we have in Jesus, 
all our sins and griefs to bear! 
What a privilege to carry 
everything to God in prayer! 
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear, 
all because we do not carry 
everything to God in prayer. 

 

2. Have we trials and temptations? 
Is there trouble anywhere? 
We should never be discouraged; 
take it to the Lord in prayer. 
Can we find a friend so faithful 
who will all our sorrows share? 
Jesus knows our every weakness; 
take it to the Lord in prayer. 

 

3. Are we weak and heavy laden, 
cumbered with a load of care? 
Precious Savior, still our refuge; 
take it to the Lord in prayer. 
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? 
Take it to the Lord in prayer! 
In his arms he'll take and shield thee; 
thou wilt find a solace there.

 

Pausing for Silent Prayer and Confession

 

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

Gracious and loving God, we thank you for being with us in every season of our lives. We bring before you our joys and our concerns, trusting that you hear every prayer and know every need. We give you thanks for the blessings, opportunities, and moments of joy you have given us. We also pray for those who are waiting—for healing, for answers, for opportunities, for reconciliation, or for a new beginning. When we become discouraged because our prayers seem unanswered, help us to remember that you have not forgotten us. Give us faith to trust your timing and courage to wait in your presence. While we wait, shape our hearts, strengthen our faith, and help us to grow closer to you. Be with those who are facing illness, loss, loneliness, financial difficulties, family concerns, or uncertainty. Give them your peace, strength, and hope. Help us to trust that your ways are higher than our ways and that you are always working in our lives. We lift all our joys and concerns to you, trusting in your love and grace. In the name of Jesus Christ, 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 Lessons                                          Genesis 41:1-16

1 After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, 2 and there came up out of the Nile seven sleek and fat cows, and they grazed in the reed grass. 3 Then seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. 4 The ugly and thin cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. And Pharaoh awoke. 5 Then he fell asleep and dreamed a second time; seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. 6 Then seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them. 7 The thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. Pharaoh awoke, and it was a dream. 8 In the morning his spirit was troubled, so he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.

9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my faults today. 10 Once Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard. 11 We dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own meaning. 12 A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each according to his dream. 13 As he interpreted to us, so it turned out; I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.”

14 Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was hurriedly brought out of the dungeon. When he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not I; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

 

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

 

†Gospel Lesson                                 John 11:1-7, 17-27

1 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather, it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5 Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, 6 after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again,

 

17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother.20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”

 

 

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

All: Thanks be to God.

 

Message                   In The Waiting Room 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. God gives us grace and mercy each day, each season so we have a lot of reasons to praise God. I hope all of us recognized God’s blessing for us each day and praise God always.

 

We are considering God’s will for us through Joseph’s story. Last Sunday, we learned that we are called to care for others in the middle of our struggles, and help others using what we have, as Joseph cared for the officers of the king in the prison and helped them using his gift that God gave him, which was the ability of interpretation of the dream. He interpreted their dreams and the dreams told them that the chief cup bearer would be restored to his position in three days. Joseph believed that truly because the interpretation came from God, so he asked the chief cupbearer to remember him and say to the king about him when he was restored. However, he didn’t remember him nor did he talk to the king about him when he was restored.

 

Today’s passage of the scripture begins with these words, can we read the verse together? “After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile” (Genesis 41:1). The words are “After two whole years.” The chief cupbearer totally forgot Joseph for two full years although he was graced by him when he spent the darkest, the most fearful time of waiting for the king’s decision for his life. Joseph would not understand why he was not rescued right after the cupbearer was restored. At first, he would wait for the good news from the cupbearer for the first days or weeks. That would not be a short time for him to wait. Especially, he would think it was the exact time that God achieves God’s vision in his life as Joseph was ready for that. However, nothing happened for two full years. Can you imagine how much he was disappointed?

 

Mary and Martha were in such a situation too. When Lazarus was very sick, they sent a message to Jesus to come to them to heal him. However, Jesus didn’t come to them right after he heard of it. He stayed two more days there and left to come to them. When Jesus came to them, Lazarus had already died. When Jesus came to Martha, she told Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Also, Mary told him the same words. As they saw Jesus healed many people, they thought Jesus could heal their brother if he was with them. In their sight, the golden time passed already when Jesus came to them. Can you imagine how much they were disappointed?

 

We too experience those times. We believe we are ready for something for our lives such as a good job, a promotion, a good opportunity, etc. but nothing happens and we don’t get the chance that we wish or want or prepare for. How about the unanswered prayer? What would we feel when we don’t see anything after we pray for something for a long time? We may not understand God’s timing as we think our timing is the best timing in our perspective. How much are we disappointed? What should we do?

 

Joseph waited. In fact, he couldn’t do anything in prison except waiting. Although there is not any description about the two years, I believe that his attitude to live the true prosperity didn’t change because he lived before the face of God. He would keep doing his work faithfully in the prison as he cared for the officers in his hard situation.

 

Church family, we can learn from Joseph that what we should do when nothing happens in our lives although it is the best time in our sight. It is a wait. It is not a mere wait. It is a wait in God’s presence. It is a wait for God’s time. It is a wait in faith in God. Waiting is totally different from giving up. We don’t wait for something if we think the best time is passed and there is no chance that something happens. Waiting for something means we have hope and there is a chance that something happens. When we have faith in God, we can wait for God’s time. When we believe that God’s time comes, we can wait.

 

Faith enables us to wait. What faith? Let us read the scripture together. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

 

God said this to the Israelites through the prophet Isaiah when they were in exile. They wanted to be saved and restore their nation soon as they were in exile for a long time, 40 to 50 years. They lost hope for the restoration of the country due to the longtime of exile. It’s like their golden time passed already.  However, God said, “My thoughts are higher than yours, and my ways are higher than yours.” Church family, do you believe that God’s thought, God’s way, and God’s time are the best for you? Or do you want to insist to God that your time, your way, and your thought are the best? I believe God’s thought, way, and time are the best for me although they are different from mine as I have learned that in my life. I hope and pray that you have the faith that God’s thought, time, and way are always best for you.

 

Like Joseph, we also face a time for us to wait for something and that is the only one that we can do. Then let us wait. Let us wait for God’s time in God’s presence. Until God’s time comes, let us wait for God’s time in faith in God, trusting God has a plan for us and God will achieve God’s will for us.

 

Joseph was waiting for God’s time for two whole years. And finally, God’s time came. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt had two dreams. The first dream was this: there came up seven sleek and fat cows and grazed grass. Then, seven ugly, thin cows came up and ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. The second dream was this: seven plump and good ears of grain were growing on one stalk.  Then seven thin and blighted ears sprouted after them. The thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. Pharaoh thought the dreams were saying something important, but no one could interpret them, so he was troubled. Then, the chief cupbearer remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh about Joseph. Pharaoh sent for Joseph so he could come out of the prison and stand before Pharaoh.

 

Again, it was the perfect time for Joseph because he had a chance to stand before Pharaoh. If the cup bearer told Pharaoh about Joseph right after his position was restored, Joseph would be freed from the prison but couldn’t have a chance to stand before Pharaoh which was the turning point of his life and the beginning point of achieving God’s vision.

 

When Joseph stood before Pharaoh, Pharaoh expressed his trouble for the dreams and asked, “Can you interpret a dream?” Joseph said this. Let us read this together: “Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not I; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” (Genesis 41:16). Can you see Joseph’s answer and the change of his attitude?  He said, “It is Not I, but God will give you an answer.” He pointed God rather than himself. It is his gift that is the ability to interpret a dream, but he knew where it came. It came from God and he humbly let the king know. It was a great chance for him to show his ability and get the credit for himself after a wait of two full year. However, he chose to glorify God pointing out the interpretation comes from God.

 

Church family, the world says to us that we must let people know ourselves, our work, achievement, and ability and engrave our name all the places, at work, in a group or community, and in the world. However, we know where we come from, where our gifts and talents come from, and where our resources come from. it is God. God gave us all of them. Thus, like Joseph, we have to point God and glorify God always. Church family, let us remind ourselves of the origin of ourselves, our gifts and talents, and our resources so let us be humble and point God to glorify God for all our good work always.

 

Think about how much Joseph has changed. Remember the young Joseph we met in Chapter 37. Joseph seems to have been immature and perhaps too confident about his dreams. Excited about his future, he proudly shared his dreams with his brothers, almost as if saying, 'Look at me, I am going to rule over you!' He had the dream, but he lacked the character. He had the gifting, but not the maturity.

 

And look at what it cost him. That youthful pride and the brothers' jealousy sent him down a painful, heartbreaking path—betrayed, sold into slavery, thrown into an unjust prison, and then forgotten for two full years in the dark. Yet, God used every single one of those painful, silent, waiting years to shape him. The fire of affliction burned away his self-reliance. The dark, lonely prison stripped away his pride. When he finally stood before Pharaoh—the most powerful ruler in the world, with the golden opportunity to boast about his extraordinary talent—the proud, boastful young dreamer was gone. In his place stood a mature, humble man of God who declared, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer."

 

Church family, this is what the waiting room of God does to us. When we face our own 'two years' of waiting, when life breaks our plans and humbles our pride, God is doing a deep work in our souls. He is shifting our focus from 'Look at what I can do' to 'Look at what God has done.' Our maturity is forged in the silence of waiting.

 

Church family, as we close today, I want to leave you with two practical applications for our daily lives:

 

First, trust and wait for God's perfect time. Let us believe that God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours. Trust that God will faithfully fulfill God’s will in your life. As we wait with this faith, God will mature us, and we will grow. How can we practice this? When you face a frustrating delay or an unanswered prayer this week, pause and pray a simple prayer of surrender: "Lord, my time is in Your hands. I trust Your higher plan."

 

Second, remember that everything we have comes from God. Let us always remain humble, point to God, and give God all the glory for our gifts, resources, and achievements. How can we practice this? This week, when you succeed at work, finish a hard task, or receive a compliment, don't just take the credit. Practice saying out loud, "Thank God. God gave me the strength and the opportunity," just as Joseph did before Pharaoh.

 

Church family, Church family, perhaps you are waiting for something today. Maybe you have been waiting for weeks, months, or even years. Do not think that your waiting means that God has forgotten you. God's timing is perfect, and God’s ways are always best. Let us trust God, let us wait in God presence, and let us live lives that point everything back to God’s glory. 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: Gracious Provider, we bring these gifts before You today, acknowledging that everything we have—every resource, every talent, and every opportunity—comes directly from Your hand. In a world that tells us to build our own kingdoms and rush our own timelines, we choose to surrender our lives to Your higher ways. Use these offerings to bless those in our community and around the world who are in their own waiting rooms. Multiply these gifts to do Your work, and give us the faith to trust Your perfect timing, the patience to wait in Your presence, and the humility to always point back to Your glory. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

 

Called to the World

 

†Closing Hymn               Blessed Assurance                           UMH 369 

 

1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! 
O what a foretaste of glory divine! 
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, 
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood. 
 

[Refrain]
This is my story, this is my song, 
praising my Savior all the day long; 
this is my story, this is my song, 
praising my Savior all the day long. 

 

2. Perfect submission, perfect delight, 
visions of rapture now burst on my sight; 
angels descending bring from above 
echoes of mercy, whispers of love. [Refrain]

 

3. Perfect submission, all is at rest; 
I in my Savior am happy and blest, 
watching and waiting, looking above, 
filled with his goodness, lost in his 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.