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 Exodus 17, the Israelites arrive at Rephidim, but there is no water. Their thirst turns into frustration, and their frustration turns into a quarrel with Moses. They ask, “Is the Lord among us or not?” Moses cries out to God, and God provides water from the rock. But the story does not end simply with the miracle of water. It ends with a name: Massah and Meribah, remembering the place where the people quarreled with and tested God. The Israelites had already experienced God's faithfulness, yet in a difficult moment, they forgot and doubted. We can do the same. We may know God's grace and still wonder where God is when life becomes difficult.

What is interesting is that the Israelites did not erase this moment from their story. They remembered it. Faith does not mean that we never doubt, never complain, or never make mistakes. Faith also means being willing to remember honestly, learn from our mistakes, and grow through them. Massah and Meribah became places of memory - reminders not only of the people's failure, but also of God's presence. Our difficult places can become part of our spiritual memory, too. We can remember where we struggled, where we failed, and where we wondered, “Is the Lord among us?” And we can also remember where God met us there.

The wilderness was still the wilderness. The people were still thirsty. But God was still among them. So the question is not only, “Is the Lord among us?” but also, “Where have we seen God among us before?” This Sunday, as we remember, may we learn from where we have been, grow in faith, and trust that even in the dry places, God is still among us.

  Exodus 17:1-7

 September 27, 2026

Pastor Jinyong

Special Music
 Adult Choir

Join us in-person every Sunday at 9:30 am or online. 

On October 4, we will celebrate World Communion Sunday. We invite you to wear clothing that represents your culture or heritage, so that together we can celebrate the beautiful diversity of God's people and the ways Christ unites us across nations, languages, and traditions.