FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
WELCOME TO OLDTOWN
North Attleborough, MA — August 20, 2023
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. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and please join us for fellowship after worship!
Please remember to mute your devices during worship.
BREATHE
PRELUDE
GATHERING MUSIC
WELCOME
WORSHIP WAYS
TIME OF CENTERING
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
OPENING PRAYER
CALL TO WORSHIP
Happy are we
When we are greeted with open arms.
Happy are we
When our mistakes and missteps are forgiven.
Happy are we
When we are loved, even if we are not lovable.
Happy are we
When we learn to accept and receive God’s grace.
SHARE
⇑ HYMN C#97—”Fairest Lord Jesus”
TIME OF SHARING (C#323)
Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life;
Let them more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life.
Words of life and beauty teach me faith and duty;
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.
SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 12:32-40 (Oldtown Bible: NT 91)
REFLECT
SERMON – “Prepared and Ready”
PREPARING OURSELVES FOR PRAYER (C#306)
Hear our prayer, O Lord. Hear our prayer, O Lord.
Incline Thine ear to us, and grant us Thy peace.
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
THANK
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
FOR LOVE OF CHURCH
⇑ SENDING HYMN C#558—”Like a Shepherd Lead Us”
⇑ 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
August 27, 2023
OLDTOWN CALENDAR
Sun Aug 27: Worship 10am
Wed Aug 30: Coffee Connection 10am-noon
Sat Sept 2: Come and Sing 2pm
Sun Sept 3: Worship 10am
~ Deacons Meeting after worship
Wed Sept 6: Coffee Connection 10am-noon
Sun Sept 10: Worship 10am
Wed Sept 13: Coffee Connection 10am-noon
Sat Sept 16: Pet Vaccination Clinic 11am-noon
Sun Sept 17: Household Huddle BEGINS! 9am
~ Worship 10am
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
Alice, Janice, Jeanne, Franke, Geddy, Wayne, June, Lynne, Celine, Stacey, Al, Bob, Edi, John, Katie, Lydia, Ben, Doug, Stephen, Kim, Beth, John, Perilene, Sheryl, Rose & Bill, Joanne, Michelle, Gloria, Tom, Mark, Patti, Marion, Gordon C., Skip, Phoebe, John, Jim, Barbara, James, Jean, Lynn, Cyndy, Maryam, Karen, Marcia, Erica, Christina, Stephanie, Heather, Michelle, Richie, Brandon, Joe, Shane, Deborah, Nicole, Jasper, Armand, Dave, Carolyn, Bill, Ed, Doug G., Connie E., Britt, James & Aurora, Peter, Keli, Nadine, Roxanne, Rich, Tom, June, Nikki, Rhonda, Shawn, Nicholas, Mel, Matt, Peter, Jayne, Steve, Daniel, Sam, Jill, Shirley, Algernon, Shurbelle, Indie, Lynn, Alan & Paula, Denise, Patrick, Scott J, Hailey, Carole.
Prayer requests can be placed in the offering plate, entered through our church website using our online prayer request form, or emailed to Pastor Kelly at PastorKelly@oldtownucc.org
PRAYERS FOR THE COMING WEEK
MORNING
In this new day, O God, make me watchful for all that you are doing in the world; keep me faithful, that I might live out my faith in all things; and help me to love my neighbor, whoever my neighbor might be. Amen.
EVENING
Here at the end of the day, O God, help me to entrust my cares to you. Grant me grace for my failings and rest for my weary soul, that I may be strengthened to do that which you call me to do. Now give me a good night of rest so that I may share your love when the new day dawns. Amen.
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 plate with your email address or let Pastor Kelly know. Subscribe to our Friday Email Updates online or let Pastor Kelly know your email address.
STEWARDSHIP CORNER
Weekly Giving
- Last week, we welcomed 64 in worship on Sunday, and our total giving to the church for the week was $1,387.78, which is $133.06 more than expected.
- So far, this year’s congregational giving is $6,000 more than we expected. Keep up the great work!!
While our church activities, meetings, and fundraisers may have slowed down for the summer, it is wonderful to see that the energy of folks in worship continues to be high and growing every week. We are blessed to have had several new join us over the summer, and they’ve jumped right in, made new friends, and are already getting involved with our ministries and events at Oldtown.
Let mutual affection continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.
~ Hebrews 13:1-2 (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