FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
WELCOME TO OLDTOWN
North Attleborough, MA — February 25, 2024
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
⇑ OPENING HYMN C#595—”Be Thou My Vision” (verses 1, 2, & 4)
CALL TO WORSHIP
Who are we?
We are disciples, followers of Jesus.
How do we live out our faith?
With fairness and dignity.
How shall we treat our neighbor?
With compassion and love.
Come, let us worship God.
Yes! Let us worship God together!
PRAYER FOR LETTING GO
Loving God, we want to believe. Help us in our disbelief. We yearn to follow faithfully. Forgive our hesitant, stumbling steps. Hold us by the hand and guide us with your love, that we might answer your call, trust in your promises, and walk in your ways all the days of our lives. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
⇑ HYMN OF PRAISE
Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers,
Nor trials in the present, nor any trials to come,
Neither height, nor depth, nor all of creation
Can ever separate us from the love of God
Poured out in Christ Jesus our Lord.
SHARE
SHARING TIME
Change my heart, O God. Make it ever true.
Change my heart, O God. May I be like you.
You are the Potter. I am the clay;
Mold me and make me. This is what I pray.
Change my heart, O God. Make it ever true;
Change my heart, O God. May I be like you.
SCRIPTURE LESSON: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 (Oldtown Bible: OT 15)
REFLECT
SERMON–”Let It Go!”
REMEMBERING OUR BAPTISM
PREPARING FOR PRAYER (C#259)
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me,
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.
Break me, Melt me, mold me, fill 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
OFFERING OUR THANKS
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 THE CHURCH
⇑ SENDING HYMN W#287—”I Surrender All” (verses 1-3)
⇑ BENEDICTION
⇑ BENEDICTION RESPONSE
God be with you till we meet again,
Loving counsels guide, uphold you,
With a shepherd’s care enfold you:
God be with you till we meet again.
Till we meet, till we meet, till we meet at Jesus’ feet,
Till we meet, till we meet, God be with you till we meet again.
POSTLUDE
*** Our worship has ended; let our service begin! ***
The Oldtown Message
February 25, 2024
OLDTOWN CALENDAR
Sun Feb 25: Household Huddle 9am
~ Worship 10am
~ Oldtown Singers rehearsal after worship
Tue Feb 27: Lenten Spirituality Series 7pm
Wed Feb 28: Coffee Connection 10-12noon
Sun Mar 3: Household Huddle 9am
~ Worship w/Communion 10am
~ Oldtown Singers rehearsal after worship
~ Deacons meeting after worship
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
Edmond, Sarah, Edi, Nancy, Teagan, Dan, Ann, David, Judy, Sherri, Roxanne, Lynne, Louis, Nick, Frank, Catherine, Ben, Jim & Marcia, Brianna, Duane, Samuel, Jill, Tammy, Bob, Cyndy, Christi, Marianne, Hailey, Don, Claudia, Megan, Melissa, Mike & Lori, and Dolores.
To add a name to the list, email Pastor Kelly at PastorKelly@Oldtownucc.org or drop a note in the offering plate.
LENTEN SPIRITUALITY SERIES
During the Season of Lent, we offer weekly interactive evening sessions to experience different Spiritual Practices. Each evening will be an individual experience, so you can attend all four or pick and choose as you please. All sessions will be held from 7-8:30 pm.
Tuesday, February 27th – Lectio Divina
Tuesday, March 5th – Mandala Meditation
Tuesday, March 12th – Walking the Labyrinth
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, we welcomed 53 people in worship and a beautiful baptism ceremony, and our total giving to the church for the week was $980.43, which is $404.19 less than expected for the week.
- So far, this year’s congregational giving is $1,200 more than we expected. Keep up the great work!!
We are pleased that Deanne Bellinger has volunteered to be our Vice Moderator for this year. There are still open positions for a delegate to the Southern New England Conference, UCC, and up to three “At Large” members of the church committee. “At Large” church committee members must be members of the church and have a vote at church committee meetings. If you would like to volunteer for one of these open positions, please see Pastor Kelly or Jim Fennell.
Little children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him
~ 1 John 3:18-19 (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