17 February 2026 – Chapel – Drew Theo Chapel

Gathering Music

This is the Day
Music: Les Garrett, OneLicense #A-729109

This is the day, this is the day
that the Lord hath made, that the Lord hath made
Let us rejoice, let us rejoice
And be glad in it, and be glad in it.
This is the day that the Lord hath made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day, this is the day
That the Lord hath made.

Call to Worship

Daeun Hong

Adapted from Eugene Peterson, The Message, Psalm 100

Rise, shine, and praise God!
Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into God’s presence.
Know this: God is God. We are God’s creations.
We’re God’s people, God’s well-tended sheep.
We enter this place giving thanks.
Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
Thank God. Praise God.
For God is sheer beauty,
all-generous in love,
loyal always and ever.
Let us worship God with joy!

Opening Song

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
Author: Henry Van Dyke (1907), Tune: HYMN TO JOY

Joyful, joyful, we adore thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
hearts unfold like flowers before thee,
opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
drive the dark of doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness,
fill us with the light of day!
All thy works with joy surround thee,
earth and heaven reflect thy rays,
stars and angels sing around thee,
center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
flowery meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird and flowing fountain,
call us to rejoice in thee.
Thou art giving and forgiving,
ever blessing, ever blest,
wellspring of the joy of living,
ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou Creator, Christ our brother,
all who live in love are thine;
teach us how to love each other,
lift us to the joy divine.
Mortals, join the mighty chorus
which the morning stars began;
love divine is reigning o’er us,
binding all within its span.
Ever singing, march we onward,
victors in the midst of strife;
joyful music leads us sunward,
in the triumph song of life.

Poem

“Poem For Lent,” 1966, by Madeleine L’Engle

Virginie Ilunga

It is my Lent to break my Lent,
To eat when I would fast,
To know when slender strength is spent,
Take shelter from the blast
When I would run with wind and rain,
To sleep when I would watch.
It is my Lent to smile at pain
But not ignore its touch.

It is my Lent to listen well
When I would be alone,
To talk when I would rather dwell
In silence, turn from none
Who call on me, to try to see
That what is truly meant
Is not my choice. If Christ’s I’d be
It’s thus I’ll keep my Lent.

Scripture Reading

Matthew 15:29-38

Salia Kamara

Departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, Jesus went along the Sea of Galilee, and after going up on the mountain, He was sitting there.
And large crowds came to Him bringing with them those who were limping, had impaired limbs, were blind, or were unable to speak, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet; and He healed them. So the crowd was astonished as they saw those who were unable to speak talking, those with impaired limbs restored, those who were limping walking around, and those who were blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.

Now Jesus called His disciples to Him and said,
“I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.”
The disciples said to Him, “Where would we get so many loaves in this desolate place to satisfy such a large crowd?”
And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” And He directed the people to sit down on the ground; and He took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks, He broke them and started giving them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, seven large baskets full. And those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.

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