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To access the pre-recorded service, please visit our website at www.umcw.org/sermons
February 21, 2021
First Sunday in Lent
Order of Worship
BOLD indicates congregational SPEAKING participation
Gathering as the Body of Christ

Welcome and Sharing of Announcements

Call to Worship
Liturgist: Jesus calls us
People: to praise and prayer, to song and silence; Jesus calls us to worship.
Liturgist: Jesus calls us
People: to hearing and healing, to service and solidarity; Jesus calls us to love.
Liturgist: Jesus calls us
People: to advocacy and action, to protest and provision;
Jesus calls us to justice.
Liturgist: Let us heed the call of Christ.
People: Let us worship together with joy.

Opening Prayer
Lord, as we gather together today, we leave the ways of the world and all of its distractions behind. We seek only to worship you in spirit and in truth, letting nothing come between us. We want only to be enriched by your wisdom, your strength, your ways, and your love. Bless all who have come to seek you, on this your holy day. Amen. 

Opening Hymn
I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
TFWS #2129

Pastoral Prayer and Lord’s Prayer 

Prayer Response
“Live in Charity (Ubi Caritas)”
FWS # 2179
sung two times
Live in charity and steadfast love;
Live in charity, God will dwell with you.  

Scripture Reading
John 2:13-22
The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Liturgist: The word of God for the people of God.
People: Thanks be to God.

Message
"Discovering the Rebel Jesus" 
Pastor Seok-Hwan

Message in Music
Man of Sorrows
by Philipp Bliss
Adult Choir (singing from our homes)*  

Offertory Prayer 
God of the wilderness, we give these offerings in gratitude, rejoicing in the abundance of your gifts to us. We give these offerings in faith, trusting that you will provide for our needs. We give these offerings in hope, knowing you can use them to spread your love in this world. And with these offerings, we give ourselves; may we live with generous hearts, with open hands. Amen.
By Rev. Joanna Harader, from SpaciousFaith.com

Closing Hymn
“O Jesus, I Have Promised”
UMH #339

The Blessing and Sending Forth
Whatever wilderness the Spirit has brought you to:
walk in boldness, as a beloved child of God
walk in peace, under the shelter of the Most High
walk in faith, knowing Christ walks with you. Amen.
By Rev. Joanna Harader, from SpaciousFaith.com


*Adult Choir Singers
Marge Barnett
Jane Beatty
Mark Beatty
Morgan Bott
Beth Fowler
Bella Guilmartin
Larry Guilmartin
Claire Hall
Scott Hall
Mark Johnson
Sharon Lipp
Ken Muzykewicz
Louise Provan
Marilyn Seymour

Online Servers
Liturgist: Nancy Burns
Video: Bill Kruger
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.”

Our Openness Statement
“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.”
Please click here for “A Statement of Our Openness”.
Join us for Coffee Time via Zoom!

Sunday, February 21, 2021
11:00 am to Noon


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and then enter this Password: UMCW10

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Meeting ID: 814 9177 5728
Password: UMCW10