In-Person, Sunday Morning at 9:30 am

or

Recorded Worship Service



Third Sunday of Easter

April 19, 2026

To access, please visit our website at www.umcw.org/sermons

"Awakened Hearts, Transformed Lives"

Order of Worship


BOLD indicates congregational SPEAKING participation

GATHERING AS THE BODY OF CHRIST


Prelude

"We Meet You, O Christ"

UMH #257 


Welcome


A Time to Make Connections


Meditation Time


Call to Worship


Liturgist:  On the road to Emmaus, two disciples walked in sadness and uncertainty.

People:  Yet the risen Christ drew near and walked with them.

Liturgist: Even when they could not recognize him, he did not leave their side.

People: Even when we feel lost and unsure of the way, Christ walks with us still.

Liturgist: Their hearts began to burn before their eyes were opened.

People:  Awaken our hearts, O God, to your presence among us.

Liturgist: In the breaking of bread, their lives were changed.

People: Open our eyes, O Christ, that we may see you here.

All: Let us worship God, who meets us on the way and transforms our lives with grace.


Opening Prayer


Gracious and risen Christ, you come to us on the roads of our lives – when we are weary, when we are uncertain, when hope feels far away. We confess that like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we often fail to recognize your presence among us. Our hearts are weighed down with worry, grief, and disappointment, and we struggle to see what new thing you are doing. Yet you walk with us still. You listen to us, you speak to us, and you open the Scriptures to us again. Awaken our hearts this day. Open our eyes to your presence in our midst. And transform our lives by your grace, that we may recognize you in word, in table, and in one another. In the name of the risen Christ we pray. Amen.



Opening Hymn

        “In the Garden”    

UMH #314


Message in Music

  “Bought with a Price” 

Adult Choir

by Natalie Sleeth

based on 1 Corinthians 6:20 & Micah 6:8


Young Disciples' Time

Pastor Jinyong Choi


Joys and Concerns


Lord's Prayer


Prayer Response

"He Is Lord"

UMH #177


ATTENTION TO THE WORD OF GOD


Scripture Readings: Luke 24:13-35


 13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad.[b] 18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19 He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth,[c] who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.[d] Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23 and when they did not find his body there they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” 25 Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah[e] should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.


28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29 But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us[f] while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem, and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread. (NRSV)


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

People: Thanks be to God.  


Message

   “Awakened Hearts, Transformed Lives”

  Pastor Jinyong Choi

We Respond

 

Offertory

     “Open My Eyes, That I May See” 

UMH #454


Doxology

 UMH #94

 

*Offertory Prayer

God of the journey and Lord of the table, we offer these gifts in gratitude for your presence with us along the way. As you walked with the disciples and opened their eyes in the breaking of the bread, open our hearts to trust you with all that we have and all that we are. Take what we bring – our resources, our time, our lives – and use them for your transforming work in the world. May these offerings become signs of your risen life among us – bringing hope where there is despair, and light where there is shadow. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.



Closing Hymn

             “He Lives”      

   UMH #310


The Blessing and Sending Forth 

Pastor: As the disciples’ hearts burned on the road to Emmaus,  may your hearts be awakened to Christ’s presence with you.

People: We go with hearts open to God’s presence among us.

Pastor: As their eyes were opened in the breaking of the bread, may your eyes be opened to see Christ in your daily life.

People: We go to recognize Christ in word, in table, and in neighbor.

Pastor: As they turned back toward Jerusalem, their lives transformed, may your lives also be shaped by resurrection hope.

People: We go as witnesses to the risen Christ at work in the world.

Pastor: Go now in peace, courage, and hope, for Christ walks with you on every road you travel.

All: Thanks be to God. Amen.


Benediction Response

“Shalom to You”        

by Elise S. Eslinger

Adult Choir


Postlude

  "Allegro in D major" 

  George Frideric Handel


In-Person Services


Liturgist: Mark Beatty

Usher/Greeter: Nancy Keelan

Projection : Carolyn Elmore

Organist: Matt Cron

Sound: Jodie Kruger

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”.

www.umcw.org

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