FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, UCC
WELCOME TO OLDTOWN
North Attleborough, MA • December 14, 2025
Making Room for Joy
Recognizing moments of happiness and celebration in daily life.
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 snacks 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 OF CENTERING
No room, only a manger of hay,
No room, He is a stranger today,
No room, here in His world turned away,
No room, no room, (no room.) 2x
A TIME FOR MAKING ROOM / OPENING PRAYER
CALL TO WORSHIP
Praise the Lord!
With hearts of joy, we will praise God’s holy name!
Praise the Lord!
We will never forget the good things God has done.
Praise the Lord,
All the earth – everyone, everywhere!
Praise the Lord!
Let us praise God together!
⇑ HYMN C#170–”How Great Our Joy”
TIME OF SHARING
God rest ye merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay;
For Jesus Christ, our Savior, was born on Christmas Day;
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r when we were gone astray:
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH
Joy to the world!
Let us ring our bells.
Let us share the good news.
Let us light the Candle of Joy.
SET MARY & JOSEPH IN THE STABLE
SUNG RESPONSE (to the tune of Away in a Manger, C#147)
His mother, dear Mary, looks down as He sleeps.
Her Yes to the angel, a promise she keeps.
She treasures this moment, her heart full of joy.
She’s holding God’s Son, her sweet baby boy.
SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 1:39-49 (NT 69)
SERMON: “Sounds of Joy”
PREPARING OURSELVES FOR PRAYER (C#144, verse 4)
O Little Town of Bethlehem, descend on us we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.
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 (C#151, verse 5)
Then entered in those wise men three,
Full reverently upon their knee,
And offered there, in his presence,
Their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel.
⇑ PRAYER OF DEDICATION
LOVE OF THE CHURCH
⇑ SENDING HYMN C#143–”Joy to the World”
⇑ BENEDICTION
⇑ BENEDICTION RESPONSE (C#445)
Go in peace, and the peace of God be with you this day.
Go in peace, and the peace of God be with you always.
Celebrate and share the joy! Celebrate new life!
Go in peace, and the peace of God be with you always.
POSTLUDE
*** Our worship has ended; let our service begin! ***
The Oldtown Message
December 14, 2025
OLDTOWN CALENDAR
Sun December 14: Household Huddle 9am
~ Worship 10am (Communion)
~ Church committee meeting following worship
~ “Angels in the Light” grieving parents service 6:30pm
Wed December 17: Second Serving Thrift Shop 9am-noon
~ Coffee Connection 10am-noon
Sat December 20: Second Serving Thrift Shop 9am-noon
~ Pet Vaccination Clinic 10am-noon
Sun December 21: Household Huddle 9am
~ Worship 10am
Wed December 24: NO COFFEE CONNECTION
~ Christmas Eve Service 7pm
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
Edi, Lynn, Tim, Mark, Cyndy, Joan, Justine & Nolan, Dana, Miranda & K family, Jan & Kylie, Steven, Tegan, Ken, Lynne, Kaye, Karen, Samantha, Robin, Donna, Winnie, Carl, Michael, Sue C., Laura, Jim, Daniel, Nancy, Muriel, Michelle, Joe, Bob, Gloria, Barry, Magda, Erik, Hailey & Bryce, Al, Denise, Rhonda, Jake, Cindi, Henry, Roxanne, Val, Myrtle, Deane, Rusty, Gianna, Kelsey & Nick, Bill, Autumn, Judy, Kayla, Edie, Renee, Perilene, Newell Family, Paul, Diane, Carol, John, Liesel, Robert, Joey, Matthew, Buddy, Cherrie, Jayne, Uncle Bill, the Gird Family, Walter, Kathleen, Celeste, Logan, Holly, Katie, Emily, Kerry, Barbara & family, the Riley family.
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.
ADVENT PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD
Morning Prayer – Loving God, help me to remember that you created this day, and I am called to rejoice and be glad in it! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Evening Prayer – Gracious God, for all of the joy that I experienced today, I give you thanks. Bless me with a good night’s sleep so that I can wake up to share your joy with others tomorrow. 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 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, our total giving to the church was $2,058.28, which is $635.20 more than expected.
- So far, this year’s congregational giving has been $5,400 more than expected. Keep up the great work!!
The Bible tells us that Joy is more than just happiness. While happiness is fleeting and often a result of our circumstances and surroundings, joy is an enduring inner state, a gift of the Holy Spirit, freely given from God and experienced through finding purpose, fellowship, love, and walking with others in truth. Joy is one of the greatest gifts we receive from God, and one of the greatest we can share with others.
…and again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the gentiles; in him the gentiles shall hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
~ Romans 15:12-13 (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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