FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, UCC
WELCOME TO OLDTOWN
North Attleborough, MA • April 26, 2026
“Your soul is a garden that needs tending. Water it with kindness, nourish it with love, and let it bask in the sunlight of joy. Take time each day to weed out negative thoughts, plant seeds of hope, and cultivate inner peace. Life is a journey; take each step with patience and compassion for yourself.”
Ministers: ALL of our Members and Friends
Pastor & Teacher: The Rev. Kelly Thibeault
Welcome to the Oldtown Church!
We are so glad that you have chosen to worship with us today. We invite you to join in on the bold print in the bulletin and to stand as you are able any time you see a ⇑. The restrooms are out the back door of the sanctuary to the right, as is a little space in case your little one needs a walkabout. Here in Oldtown, we are all about being curious, so don’t be afraid to ask questions, and please join us for fellowship with coffee and refreshments after worship!
Finally, as a way of honoring our time together and truly loving our neighbor, we ask that you please silence your phone or, better yet, turn it off, allowing yourself to be truly present in worship.
PRELUDE
GATHERING MUSIC
WELCOME / WORSHIP WAYS
A TIME FOR LETTING GO
OPENING PRAYER
CALL TO WORSHIP
A time set apart,
A time to come together;
A space filled with silence
A space filled with song;
Hearts seeking solace,
Hearts overflowing with joy:
This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us worship God.
⇑ HYMN C#556–“Be Still My Soul”
TIME OF SHARING (C#53)
Morning has broken like the first morning,
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing, fresh from the Word!
SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 23:25-26 (NT 31)
SERMON: “Tending to Your Own Garden”
PREPARING OURSELVES FOR PRAYER
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
CHORAL RESPONSE
OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS
GIFT OF MUSIC
⇑ DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise God, all creatures here below.
Praise God above, Ye heavenly host.
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost! Amen.
⇑ PRAYER OF DEDICATION
LOVE OF CHURCH
⇑ SENDING HYMN C#227–”In The Garden”
⇑ BENEDICTION
⇑ BENEDICTION RESPONSE (C#434)
God be with you ’til we meet again.
Loving counsel, guide, uphold you.
With a shepherd’s care enfold you.
God be with you ’til we meet again.
‘Til we meet, ’til we meet,
‘Til we meet at Jesus’ feet.
‘Til we meet, ’til we meet,
God be with you ’til we meet again.
POSTLUDE
*** Our worship has ended; let our service begin! ***
The Oldtown Message
April 26, 2026
OLDTOWN CALENDAR
Sun, April 26: Household Huddle 9am
~ Worship 10a w/Communion
~ Church committee meeting following worship
Wed, April 29: Second Serving Thrift Shop 9am-noon
~ Coffee Connection 10am-12noon
~ Oldtown PEACE Project 6:30-8pm
Sat, May 2: Second Serving Thrift Shop 9am-noon
Sun, May 3: Household Huddle 9am
~ Worship 10a w/Communion
Check our Online Calendar for even more Oldtown, denominational, and local events, free webinars, and other resources!! Have something you’d like added to the calendar? Email calendar@oldtownucc.org with all the information, and we’ll get it posted.
OLDTOWN PRAYER LIST
Jim, Meghan, Tom, Gene, Brad, John, Tony, Russell, Jessica, Kathleen, Lugi, Buddy, Lynne, Bill, Dawn, David, Edie, Edi, Autumn, Logan, Dana, Lynn, Al, Roxanne, Perilene, Jayne, Lydia, Joe, Daniel, Andy, Megan, Rusty, Bill, Alaina, Ben, Sue, Nancy, Rose, John, Donna, Deane, Matthew, Barbara, Peter, Peter Jr., Christine & Daniel, Kristin, Cassie, Dave Mo, Laurie, Chris, Joyce, the Newell family, Diane.
To add a name to the list, email Pastor Kelly at PastorKelly@Oldtownucc.org, text 508-695-1713, or drop a note in the offering plate.
OLDTOWN UPDATE EMAIL
Do you get our Friday Email, aka “The Oldtown Update”? Our Oldtown Update is like a weekly newsletter that lets everyone know what is going on in Oldtown. If you do not receive it and would like to, drop a note in the offering with your email address or let Pastor Kelly know. Subscribe to our Friday Email Updates online, or let Pastor Kelly know your email address.
BUILDING FUND
We are blessed to have a beautiful, safe, and dry sanctuary to worship in every Sunday as we are reminded week after week of God’s unconditional love for us. We may not always think about it, but sometimes our church building needs a little extra love, too. This spring, our church will be getting a new roof and some new windows down in the vestry! We can have this work done thanks to a few very generous donors; however, we will be using all of our Building Fund to do so. If you are able and would like to donate to the Building Fund, you can do so via the manila envelopes in your pew, by check with “Building Fund” in the memo, or online at https://www.oldtownucc.org/giving with “Building Fund” selected as the fund. Thank you in advance for your generosity!
Wednesday nights from 6:30-8pm
Sometimes the world feels too heavy, we feel alone, or we struggle with what we hear and see around us. During the season of Lent, we will be gathering on Wednesday nights to provide a safe space to build relationships, talk, listen, and support one another. We will be reflecting on themes of empathy, action, resiliency, community, and the importance of sharing not our judgments and opinions, but an overarching sense of love and peace.
We may not always walk the same road or see the world through the same lens, but we can still choose to love and support one another, bringing a sense of peace to the world.
STEWARDSHIP CORNER
Weekly Giving
- Last week, we welcomed 54 people in worship, and our total giving to the church for the week was $1,062.89, which is $437.11 less than expected.
- Our congregational giving so far this year is $1,100 more than expected. Keep up the great work!
We are often hesitant to open up to others, preferring to hide our problems and struggles behind a facade of what we feel is “normal” or “expected” of us. When we choose to internalize the things that are bothering us and causing us pain, “putting on a good face” for the rest of the world, those things that are damaging us only grow and fester, causing more internal damage. All the while, the false picture we present to the world that everything is “fine” prevents us from making the honest connections we need for healing to take place. It’s OK if we’re not OK. Cultivating honest, vulnerability-based relationships allows for true healing to begin – both inside and out.
Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.
~ James 5:16 (NRSVUE)
First Congregational Church, UCC of North Attleborough
(Oldtown Church)
675 Old Post Road, North Attleborough, MA 02760
508-695-1713
Pastor Kelly’s email: PastorKelly@oldtownucc.org
Church Email: church@oldtownucc.org
Website: www.oldtownucc.org
YouTube: www.youtube.com/oldtownucc
Facebook: www.facebook.com/oldtownucc
Subscribe to our Friday Email Updates
Learn more about our denomination: www.ucc.org
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