Worship Bulletin – February 19, 2023

Worship Bulletin – February 19, 2023

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

WELCOME TO OLDTOWN
North Attleborough, MA—February 19, 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 the nursery, 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

BREATHE

PRELUDE

GATHERING MUSIC

WELCOME

WORSHIP WAYS

TIME OF CENTERING
Gathered here in the mystery of the hour
Gathered here in one strong body
Gathered here in the struggle and the power
Spirit, draw near.

CALL TO WORSHIP
We come to celebrate!
We celebrate God’s love for us.
We come to celebrate!
We celebrate those we have loved and lost.
We come to celebrate!
We celebrate the love we have for God, as we worship God together.

OPENING PRAYER

SHARE

⇑ HYMN C#66—”Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” (verses 1, 2, & 4)

TIME OF SHARING
Open our eyes, Lord. We want to see Jesus,
To reach out and touch Him, and tell Him we love Him.
Open our ears, Lord, and help us to listen.
Open our eyes, Lord. We want to see Jesus.

SCRIPTURE READING: John 6:1-14 (Oldtown Bible: NT 118)


Reflect

REFLECT

SERMON – “SURPRISED By Faith”

PREPARING OURSELVES FOR PRAYER
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.

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

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 THE LOVE OF THE CHURCH

⇑ SENDING HYMN C#586—”Open My Eyes That I May See”

BENEDICTION

BENEDICTION RESPONSE
Sent forth by God’s blessing, our true faith confessing,
The people of God from this dwelling take leave.
The service is ended. O now be extended
the fruits of our worship in all who believe.
The seed of the teaching, receptive hearts reaching,
Shall blossom in action for God and for all.
God’s grace did invite us, and love shall unite us,
to work for God’s realm and to answer the call.

POSTLUDE

*** Our worship has ended; let our service begin! ***


PushpinsThe Oldtown Message
February 19, 2023

OLDTOWN CALENDAR
Sun Feb 19: Household Huddle 9am
  ~ Worship 10am
Tue Feb 21: Pancake Supper / Bible Jeopardy 6pm
Wed Feb 22: Coffee Connection 10am-noon
  ~ Ash Wednesday Service 7pm
Sun Feb 26: Household Huddle 9am
  ~ Worship 10am
Wed Mar 1: Coffee Connection 10am-noon
Sun Mar 5: Household Huddle 9am
  ~ Ministry meetings after worship: Deacons, Flowers
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

Take some time this week to listen for God’s voice. Thank God for the good things in your life, and ask God to help you hold the things that worry you. As always, please pray for those on our prayer list:
Alice, Janice, Jeanne, Franke, Geddy, Wayne, June, Lynne, Celine, Perilene, Stacey, Alex, Al, Bob R, Edi, John, Katie, Lydia, Ben, Doug, Stephen, Kim, Beth, John, Sheryl, Rose & Bill, Joanne, Michelle, Gloria, Tom, Mark, Patti M., Gordon C., Skip, and the family and friends of Carolyn Delgado
Prayer requests can be placed in the offering plate, entered through our church website using our online prayer request form, or emailed Pastor Kelly at PastorKelly@oldtownucc.org


DISASTER RELIEF FOR TURKEY & SYRIA

Today we will take a special offering for UCC Disaster Relief to help our brothers and sisters in Turkey and Syria after the horrific earthquake two weeks ago. Any donations given in the manila envelopes found in your pews will go to UCC Disaster Relief. If you are writing a check, please make it out to “The First Congregational Church” and write “UCC Disaster Relief” in the memo. If giving online, include “UCC Disaster Relief” in the Note/memo field. Thank you in advance for your generosity.


EMAIL LIST

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. You can hand her your email address or email it to her at PastorKelly@OldtownUCC.org


STEWARDSHIP CORNER

Weekly Giving

  • Last week, our total offering to the church was $1,630.16, which is $375.44 more than expected.
  • Our congregational giving so far this year is $2,000 more than we expected. Thanks to all for your incredible generosity in supporting the church’s mission!!

Our Corned Beef supper is right around the corner on Saturday, March 4. As is tradition, we’re looking for help with food prep the night before, Friday, March 3, and throughout the day on Saturday to prep, serve our guests, and clean up. Meals are provided for all volunteers after our guests have left. If you can volunteer to help, see Jim Fennell or Ed Clavette, or sign up to help online at https://www.oldtownucc.org/signup

“Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous, and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”
~ Matthew 10:40-42 (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