September 12, 2021
Pre-Recorded Worship Service
To access, please visit our website at www.umcw.org/sermons
Order of Worship
Online Service
BOLD indicates congregational SPEAKING participation
* stand with your heart or with your posture
GATHERING AS THE BODY OF CHRIST

Welcome and Sharing of Announcements

Introit
"Fairest Lord Jesus"
Bell Choir
arr. Linda Lamb

*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: For all these things we give thanks. Let us worship God.


*Opening Prayer
Eternal God, whose signature we see, if we dare to look, in the creation of the universe, help us this hour to look and to listen for Your handwriting and Your voice in this place, among these people. Connect our temporary praise to Your timeless rhythms, Your ageless melodies, Your everlasting joyful noise. Guide us now to focus upon You, knowing that in You, our distractions become new possibilities for action. Breathe life into our singing, our praying, our speaking, our listening, our touching, that all these activities might become more than they are. In our worship we reach out to You, O God, knowing that You have already enfolded us in Your arms. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
(My Redeemer Lives website. http://www.myredeemerlives.com/prayers.html)

Opening Hymn
"Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee"
UMH #89 (vs 1&3)

Pastoral Prayer and Lord's Prayer

Prayer Response
 “For the Beauty of the Earth”
UMH #92 (vs. 1&5)

ATTENTION TO THE WORD OF GOD
Liturgist:
Scripture Readings
 Acts 2:37-47

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers,[i] what should we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” 40 And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 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[j] to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home[k] and ate their food with glad and generous[l] 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.

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

Message
Life Together:
The New Community
 Pastor Seok-Hwan

We Respond

Doxology
"Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow"
UMH # 95

*Offertory Prayer
In this world: kingdom living. In our mouths: kingdom praises. In our hearts: kingdom goals. In our hands: kingdom gifts. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven! Amen.
(Carol Penner, and posted on Leading in Worship.

Closing Hymn
  "Blest Be the Tie That Binds" 
UMH #557 (vs. 1,3 & 4)

The Blessing and Sending Forth (Acts 2:44)
May God be with us as we seek to be a community
May God help us to face and grow through conflict rather than pretend by being nice
May we look at each other through soft eyes and truly respect each other as human beings
May God help us let go of control and the need to fix one another
May God grant us the gift of an extraordinary love that flows from the heart of God that covers a multitude of wrongs. 
(Anna, http://www.freshworship.org/)


Online Service
Video: Bill Kruger
Liturgist: Nancy Burns

Bell Choir
Jane Beatty
Andrea Carey
Matt Cron
Dorothy Dwyer
Bella Guilmartin
Bill Kruger
Jodie Kruger
Jane Mazzucotelli
Joanna Nees
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”.