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In-Person, Sunday Morning at 9:30 am

or

Online Recorded Worship Service

January 26, 2025

To access, please visit our website

at www.umcw.org/sermons

Order of Worship

Third Sunday after the Epiphany

BOLD indicates congregational SPEAKING participation

GATHERING AS THE BODY OF CHRIST


Prelude

  "The Voice of God Is Calling"

 UMH #436


Welcome and Sharing of Announcements


A Time to Make Connections


Meditation Time


Introit

 “Amazing Grace” 

Bell Choir

arr. Sandra Eithun


Call to Worship

Liturgist: Children of God, we gather to worship, to sing and proclaim with joy the good works God is doing in our midst.

People: We gather to worship, as is our custom.

Liturgist:  We also gather today to pray for our families, our community, and our world. To name the challenges that press in around us, to lament the suffering in our world, to declare our trust in God in the midst of hardship.

People: We gather to worship, as is our custom.

Liturgist: We, like those in Nazareth, gather to hear and receive the Word of God proclaimed among us. To encounter the life-giving message of God’s love redeems us to be bearers of love and freedom in this world.

People: We gather to worship, as is our custom.

Liturgist: Children of God, listen. Pay attention. Ready your hearts. God is here. Jesus has come among us. The Spirit brings the Word to life in our midst. Are you ready?

People: We gather to worship, as is our custom. Thanks be to God! Amen.

(Resource comes from umcdiscipleship.org)  


Opening Prayer

God of Wisdom, we have come to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to what he would teach us. With the heaven above and the earth below, we rejoice in the good news he brings: succor to the poor, release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and freedom for the oppressed. Reveal the mystery of your precepts, that we might hear the music of the heavens - the whisper of the land and roar of the seas, the prayer of the caterpillar and song of the flea. Speak to us through the fullness of creation, we pray. Amen. 

  (Resource comes from The Abingdon Worship Annual 2025


Opening Hymn

“Come, Christians, Join to Sing”  

UMH #158


Message in Music

"Make Me an Instrument of Thy Peace"

Bell Choir

arr. Kevin McChesney


Children's Time

 Pastor Jinyong Choi


Joys and Concerns


Lord's Prayer


Prayer Response

  “Jesus, Name above All Names” 

 TFWS #2071 (1 time)   

     based on Matthew 1:23 & Philippians 2:9


ATTENTION TO THE WORD OF GOD

*Scripture Readings

 Luke 4:14-21


14 Then Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding region. 15 He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:


18  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

    because he has anointed me

        to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives

    and recovery of sight to the blind,

        to set free those who are oppressed,

19  to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”


20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”        (NRSV) 


Liturgist: The word of God for the people of God.

People: Thanks be to God.  


Message

“When Jesus Returns Home” 

Pastor Jinyong Choi

WE RESPOND


Offertory Hymn

"Take Time to Be Holy"

UMH #395


*Doxology

UMH #94


*Offertory Prayer

Faithful God, who calls us to follow and empowers us by your Spirit, we bring these gifts to you in gratitude and hope. May they be used to proclaim good news, set the oppressed free, and bring sight to the blind. Transform our offerings into acts of love and justice that reflect the mission of Jesus in this world. In his holy name, we pray. Amen. (Resource comes from umcdiscipleship.org)


*Closing Hymn

   “Forth in Thy Name, O Lord” 

UMH #438


*The Blessing and Sending Forth 

In one Spirit, we perceive the glory of God proclaimed in the heavens above. 

Spirit, make us one. 

In one faith, we have been nurtured through the precepts of the living Lord. 

Christ, make us one. 

In one great love, we have been saved. 

God, make us one. 

Go with the blessing of God, that all might be one. 

Amen. 


Benediction Response

“God Be with You til We Meet Again”

Bell Choir

by arr. Cathy Moklebust


Postlude

 "Variation on Duke Street"   

  James Boeringer

In-Person Services:


Usher/Greeter: Nancy Keelan

Organist: Matt Cron

Sound: Joe Solodiuk

Liturgist: Bev Welsh

Projection: Sharon Lipp


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”.

www.umcw.org

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