In-Person Sunday Morning at 9:30 am
or
Pre-Recorded Worship Service

July 31, 2022
To access, please visit our website at www.umcw.org/sermons
Order of Worship
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
BOLD indicates congregational SPEAKING participation
GATHERING AS THE BODY OF CHRIST

Prelude
"Light of the World"
  TFWS #2204

Welcome and Sharing of Announcements
Doug Keele

A Time to Make Connections
Doug Keele
(in-person service only)
Introit
 “This is My Father’s World"
by Babcock and Sheppard  
Pamela Goody and Brian Ryder
(in-person service only)
*Call to Worship
Liturgist: God loves us with a steadfast love.
People: Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!
Liturgist: God loves us so much he gave us his Son.
People: Let us believe and have eternal life!
Liturgist: God loves us with a great love, rich in mercy.
People: Let us have faith to receive this grace!
Liturgist: Give thanks to the Lord, for God is good. 
*Opening Prayer  
Gracious and glorious Lord, we come, as did Nicodemus, with questions on our hearts and in our lives. We come hoping someone can help us find answers and healing. But we are also hardened with doubts about self, others, and even you. Grant us healing and openness to your spirit that we may be better servants of your Word, your Will, and your Way. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. AMEN.  
  
*Opening Hymn 
 ”Just as I Am, Without One Plea”
UMH #357 (vs. 1, 3, & 6)
 
Children’s Time     
Pastoral Prayer and Lord's Prayer
Douglas Keele

Prayer Response
"Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying"
 TFWS #2193
ATTENTION TO THE WORD OF GOD
Scripture Reading: John 3:1-21
3 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with that person.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”[b] 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11 “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen, yet you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Those who believe in him are not condemned, but those who do not believe are condemned already because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.
Liturgist: The word of God for the people of God.
People: Thanks be to God.  
Message
Living Out God's Kingdom in the Present"
Douglas Keele
Message in Music
“Amazing Grace”
Early American Melody
Pamela & Bruce Goody
Offering
"Breathe on Me, Breath of God"
UMH # 420

Doxology
UMH # 95

*Offertory Prayer
Doug Keele
Generous and life-giving God, take our hearts and set them on fire. Take our lives and transform them. Take our church and resurrect it with your life-giving Spirit. Take our gifts and use them for the fulfillment of your vision of peace and unity. Amen. 
*Closing Hymn
 “Pass it On"
UMH #572 

Benediction Song
 “Aria”
by G. B. Pergolese
Pamela & Bruce Goody
(in-person service only)

     Blessing and Sending Forth

  Postlude
Lord, You Are My Life, the Ground on which I Stand
arr. Gert van Hoef
Online Service

Liturgist: Jill Lohmeier
Video: Mark Beatty
In-Person Services

Liturgist: Jill Lohmeier
Projection: Sharon Lipp
Sound: Valarie Wilder
Organist: Matt Cron
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”.