In-Person, Sunday Morning at 9:30 am

or

Recorded Worship Service



April 27, 2025

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

"Can the Dead Truly Save the Living?"

Order of Worship

Second Sunday of Easter

BOLD indicates congregational SPEAKING participation

GATHERING AS THE BODY OF CHRIST


Prelude

"He Rose"

 UMH #316


Welcome and Sharing of Announcements


A Time to Make Connections


Meditation Time


Introit

 "Come Christians Join to Sing"

arr. Lloyd Larson

Bell Choir


Call to Worship


Liturgist: In the rising of the morning sun, the Holy speaks:

People: You are my children. Shine!

Liturgist: In the greening of the Earth and blooming of creation, the Holy speaks:

People:  You are my children. Grow!  

Liturgist: In the mountains reaching toward the sky, the Holy speaks:

All: You are my children. Stand with strength!    

Liturgist: In the darkness of the winter days, the Holy speaks:

People: You are my children. Trust!  

Liturgist: In the presence of the skies that float above us and the assurance of the Earth beneath us

And with the calm of the Spirit within us, the Holy speaks:

People: You are my children. Live!

(Resource comes from Abingdon Worship Annual 2025) 



Opening Prayer


God of mystery and miracles, breathe your peace upon us. Reveal your presence, as we look for you each day. Strengthen our faith and our trust, as we pray for miracles for one another and for all of your creation. Amen.

(Resource comes from Abingdon Worship Annual 2025) 



Opening Hymn

    “God of the Sparrow God of the Whale”   

UMH #122


Message in Music

“In the Shadow of Your Wings”

arr. Karen Buckwalter

Bell Choir


Children's Time

Pastor Jinyong Choi


Joys and Concerns


Pastoral Prayer and Lord's Prayer


Prayer Response

He Is Lord”

UMH#177

ATTENTION TO THE WORD OF GOD


Scripture Readings:  John 20:19-31


19When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 24But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”



26A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” 30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. (NRSV) 


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

People: Thanks be to God.  


Message

    “Can the Dead Truly Save the Living” 

  Pastor Jinyong Choi

We Respond

 

Offertory

    “Now the Green Blade Riseth”          

UMH #311


Doxology

 UMH #94

 

*Offertory Prayer

God, from you comes every bounty. Every sacrifice of life that sustains ours is the sacrifice of your beloved. As we return a small part of the bounty you have blessed us with, we pray that it will be used to forge stronger connections among all creation until the whole world is redeemed by your love. In your Holy name, Amen. (Resource comes from umdisciple.org)


Closing Hymn

   “Fairest Lord Jesus”      

UMH#189


The Blessing and Sending Forth 

May we go from this place to embody God’s love of all creation.

May we rise like those with wings.

May we know the lightness of those that swim.

May we have the courage of the four-leggeds.

And may the Holy be embodied in all our comings and goings, this day and every day.

Go in peace to love and serve our God.

Amen. 


Postlude

O filii et filiae [O Sons and Daughters UMH #317]       

    Alexandré Guilmant



In-Person Services


Liturgist: Nancy Keelan

Usher/Greeter: Gayle and Paul Lazar

Projection: Sharon Lipp

Organist: Matt Cron

Sound: Joe Solodiuk








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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