Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
September 13, 2020
Order of Worship
FOR PRECAUTIONS, PLEASE NO SINGING at the in-person service

*stand with your heart or with your posture
BOLD indicates congregational SPEAKING participation
Streams of Living Water 1:
Compassionate Life-Social Justice

Gathering as the Body of Christ

Prelude
(in-person service only)

Welcome and Sharing of Announcements

*Call to Worship  
Liturgist: All things bright and beautiful, 
People: God created for our enjoyment.
Liturgist: All things wrenching and hard, 
People: God holds with tender care.
Liturgist: You and I, neighbors and strangers, friends and enemies,
People: God loves without condition. 
Liturgist: So let us worship God.

*Opening Prayer
We thank you, O God, for the gift of this day. For this beautiful space, for the warm hearts that greet us. We thank you, O God, for the ability to come together to worship. For songs and prayers that sustain us not only in this hour, but in the days that unfold. We thank you, O God, for the blessings in our lives and in our world. May we lift our voices in thanks, even as we worship You. Amen.

Opening Hymn
“Into My Heart”
TFWS #2160  

Pastoral Prayer and Lord’s Prayer 

Prayer Response
“All I Need Is You”
TFWS #2080

Scripture Readings

Matthew 25: 37-40;  
37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ 

Acts 2:44-45
43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
NRSV

Message
"Streams of Living Water 1: Compassionate Life-Social Justice"
Pastor Seok-Hwan

Message in Music
“Processional Alleluia”
by C. Harry Causey
Bell Choir and Adult Choir, September 8, 2019
(online service only)           
 
*Offertory Prayer 
With your love, O God, help us to love your world. With your nourishment, help us feed your world. With your guidance, help us care for your world, all of its people, and all of its creatures. With these gifts, bring new life where it is needed most. Amen.
(Abingdon Worship Annual)

Closing Hymn
“Jesus Calls Us”
UMH #398 (vss 1,3,5)

The Blessing and Sending Forth 

May God bless you with a restless discomfort
about easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships,
so that you may seek truth boldly and love deep within your heart.

May God bless you with holy anger
at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people.

May God bless you with the gift of tears
to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish,
so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.

May God bless you with enough foolishness
to believe that you really can make a difference in this world,
so that you are able, with God’s grace, to do what others claim cannot be done. Amen.
The Traditional Fransiscan Blessing

In-Person Servers
Organist: Matt Cron
Usher: Roy Higgins
Greeter: Sharon Lipp
Liturgist: Jill Lohmeier

Online Servers
Liturgist: Pete Seymour

To access our online worship service, please visit our website at www.umcw.org/sermons
(The service has been pre-recorded.)
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Our Mission Statement
“God calls us to be disciples of Jesus, building community through service and fellowship and sharing the love of Christ with all.”

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“The United Methodist Church of Westford is an open and welcoming community of Christian Faith. Without any exceptions, we welcome anyone who seeks to love and to serve God.”
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