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God calls us to be disciples of Jesus, building community through
service and fellowship and sharing the love of Christ with all.

“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.” Learn More

In Matthew 5, Jesus does something unexpected. He sits on a hillside and speaks— not to the powerful or the successful, but to ordinary people carrying real burdens. And what he says overturns the world’s idea of blessing. Jesus does not declare the strong or the put-together as blessed. Instead, he names blessing in places we usually avoid: poverty of spirit, mourning, meekness, hunger for justice, mercy, peacemaking — even persecution. The Beatitudes are not commands or spiritual achievements; they are an announcement— good news spoken into real life. Jesus names where God is already at work. He tells the truth that blessing often appears not when life looks impressive, but when it is exposed, tender, and vulnerable.

Jesus meets people exactly where they are. He calls “blessed” those who know their need, those who grieve, those who refuse to dominate, and those who choose mercy in a harsh world. In other words, Jesus finds blessing in places we often label as weakness or failure. The kingdom of heaven belongs not to those who have climbed their way up, but to those who know they cannot do it alone.

The Beatitudes do not deny suffering; they face it honestly. And they proclaim that God is already present there— bringing comfort, shaping mercy, and forming a new way of life. Jesus does not promise an easy road, but he does promise that we are not abandoned on it.

This Sunday, Jesus invites us to look again— to notice how God’s blessing keeps showing up in unlikely places, and to trust that real, abundant life meets us when we are willing to receive it.

Matthew 5:1-12

Pastor Jinyong

February 1, 2026

Special Music by the Praise Band

Join us in-person Sunday at 9:30 am or online later in the day.

“Souper” Bowl

On February 8 after worship service you can purchase an assortment of soup, stews, or chili packaged in individual containers to take and eat at home for $10 for 32 oz container. The money raised will support our Mission Shares.