FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
WELCOME TO OLDTOWN
North Attleborough, MA — December 23, 2018
Ministers: ALL of our Members and Friends
Pastor & Teacher: The Rev. Kelly Thibeault
Pastoral Intern: Amie McCarthy
Pianist: Suzanne Sheppard
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 the nursery in case your little one needs a walkabout. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and please join us for coffee and refreshments after worship!
Please remember to mute your devices during worship.
BREATHE
PRELUDE
INTROIT — “Emmanuel, Emmanuel”
WELCOME / TIME OF CENTERING
CALL TO WORSHIP
Let us sing!
For there is a star in the sky.
Let us sing!
For there is a baby in the manger.
Let us sing!
For we are given the gift of hope.
Let us sing!
For Christmas Sunday has come!
INVOCATION
SILENT NIGHT
Silent night, holy night.
Wondrous star, lend thy light.
With the angels, let us sing
“Alleluia” to our King.
Christ the Savior is born.
Christ the Savior is born.
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH
We continue this season of waiting by lighting the fourth candle, anticipating the light of the star that shone over Bethlehem.
God of our future, we open ourselves to hear your call today—the call to keep hope alive no matter the troubles we face. Help us to never lose hope and to offer hope to all around us, making our lives, our families, our communities, and the world around us a better place.
Fill us with your peace and light, make the world so calm and bright. Amen.
SHARE
*HYMN—C#155 “Angels We Have Heard On High”
*SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus,
To reach out and touch Him and say that we love Him.
Open our ears, Lord, and help us to listen.
Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus.
SCRIPTURE—Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV)
REFLECT
SERMON
PREPARING OURSELVES FOR PRAYER
In moments like these, I sing out a song,
I sing out a love song to Jesus.
In moments like these, I lift up my hands.
I lift up my hands to the Lord.
Singing, “I love you, Lord.”
Singing, “I love you, Lord.”
Singing, “I love you, Lord. I love you.”
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—”The Secret of Christmas”
*THE DOXOLOGY (Old Hundredth)
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
TIME OF ANNOUNCEMENTS
*SENDING HYMN: C#164—”Good Christian Friends, Rejoice”
*BENEDICTION
*BENEDICTION RESPONSE
Carry your candle, run to the darkness.
Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn.
Hold out your candle for all to see it.
Take your candle, go light your world.
Take your candle, go light your world.
POSTLUDE
Our worship has ended… Let our service begin!
Please join us for coffee and fellowship in Maxcy Hall following worship!
The Oldtown Message
OLDTOWN CALENDAR
Today: Household Huddle 9am
– Worship 10am
Dec 24: Candlelit Christmas Eve Service 7pm
Dec 25: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
– NO OFFICE HOURS
Dec 27: NO OFFICE HOURS
Dec 30: NO HOUSEHOLD HUDDLE
– Worship 10am
IN NEED OF OUR PRAYERS
Mark, Ed, Sue, Steve, Kerri, Cindy, Gordon, Kristen, Susan, Fran, Maryam, Meena, Marjon, Brooks, Hannah, Steven, Joseph, Jane, Perilene, the Brauneis & Scott Family.
If you would like to add a name to our prayer list, please fill out a prayer card and drop it in the offering plate, or use our online prayer request form.
PLEDGE AND PROMISE CARDS
If you didn’t get a chance to fill out a Pledge and Promise card for 2019, it’s not too late! Forms can be found where you get your bulletin and dropped in the offering plate. Our pledges and promises help the church to plan for next year’s budget.
NEW MEMBERS
We will be having a New Member Sunday on January 13th. If you would like to learn more about what it means to be a member of the church or are interested in joining, please talk with Pastor Kelly or one of your Deacons before January 6th.
UCC MEMBERSHIP DUES
Because of our polity and the way that our denomination works, we do not receive financial support from our denomination. On the contrary, we give money to support our denomination. Each year our church pays about $20 per member, which amounts to about $2,400. If you are a member in Oldtown and would like to pay your own membership dues, or would like to help defray the cost of this expense, please feel free put $20 in one of the pew envelops and mark it “Membership Dues” or write a check and write “Membership Dues” on the memo line.
| STEWARDSHIP CORNER | ||||
| Offering last week: | $1,529.77 $164.39 more than budget |
|||
| Offering to date: | $150 more than budget | |||
| Fund Raising (end of November): |
$1,100 less than budget | |||
| Total Budgeted Income (end of November): |
$750 more than budget | |||
| Total Budgeted Expense (end of November): |
$4,000 less than budget | |||
| YEARLY PROGRESS AS OF NOVEMBER | ||||
| Congregational Giving | $63,500 | of | $71,000 | |
| Fundraising | $21,200 | of | $23,500 | |
| Other Budgeted Income | $11,100 | of | $11,450 | |
| Total Budgeted Income | $95,800 | of | $105,950 | |
| Total Budgeted Expense | $95,600 | of | $110,455 | |
| Non-budgeted Inc – Exp | – $60 | |||
| CURRENT | $140 GAIN | |||
Did You Know?
Don’t forget to join us on Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24 at 7pm for our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. We will be sharing lessons and carols of the season, and lighting candles in prayer as we await, and celebrate, the birth of our Savior.
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.”
~ Titus 2:11 (NIV)
First Congregational Church, UCC of North Attleborough
(Oldtown Church)
Church Phone: 508-695-1713 — Pastor Kelly’s cell phone: 508-294-9767
Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday, 10 am – 2 pm
Pastor Kelly’s email: PastorKelly@oldtownucc.org
Church Email: Church@oldtownucc.org
Website: www.oldtownucc.org