FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
WELCOME TO OLDTOWN
North Attleborough, MA—January 22, 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
PRELUDE
GATHERING MUSIC
WELCOME and 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
To the fisherman, Jesus said:
Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.
To the tax collector, Jesus said:
Follow me.
To the rich man, Jesus said:
Go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, then come, follow me.
To you and me, Jesus says:
Come and follow me!
OPENING PRAYER
RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS
Paul Cunningham, Edi Diaz, Daniel Kennedy, Bob Marshall,
Helen Marshall, Joe Marshall, Sandi Pardi, Lynn Ross, Tara Santsaver
WELCOME
QUESTION ABOUT PARTICIPATION
Paul, Edi, Daniel, Bob, Helen, Joe, Sandi, Lynn & Tara, as members of the Oldtown Church, do you promise to participate in the life and mission of this family of God’s people, sharing regularly in the worship of God and enlisting in the work of this local church as it serves this community and the world?
New Members: I promise with the help of God
A READING FROM Ephesians 2:19-22
A PRAYER FOR OUR COMMUNITY
WELCOME AND RECEPTION
Let us, the members of the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ of North Attleborough, express our welcome and affirm our mutual ministry in Christ:
Paul, Edi, Daniel, Bob, Helen, Joe, Sandi, Lynn & Tara, we welcome you with joy into the common life of this church. We promise you our friendship and prayers as we share the hopes and labors of the church of Jesus Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit may we continue to grow together in God’s knowledge and love and do our best to live out our faith in the world, sharing the love of Jesus with others.
GREETING OF CHRISTIAN LOVE
PRESENTATION OF GIFTS
SHARE
⇑ HYMN C#337—”Jesus Calls Us O’er the Tumult”
⇑ 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: Matthew 4:12-22 (Oldtown Bible: OT 830)
REFLECT
SERMON – “INVITED to Follow”
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
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#344—”I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”
⇑ 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! ***
The Oldtown Message
January 22, 2023
OLDTOWN CALENDAR
Sun Jan 22: Household Huddle 9am
~ Worship 10am, New Members Sunday
~ OLDTOWN ANNUAL MEETING after worship
Wed Jan 25: Coffee Connection 10am-noon
Sun Jan 29: Household Huddle 9am
~ Worship 10am, Undie Sunday
Wed Feb 1: Coffee Connection 10am-noon
Sun Feb 5: Household Huddle 9am
~ Worship 10am, Communion Sunday
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, Carolyn, Janice, Jeanne, Franke, Geddy, Wayne, June, Lynne, Celine, Perilene, Stacey, Alex, Al, Bob R, Edi, Juliette, John, Katie, Lydia, Ben, Doug, Stephen, Kim, Beth, John
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
ANNUAL MEETING TODAY AFTER WORSHIP
Today after worship, we will be having our Annual Meeting. All are welcome to attend, but only Oldtown members have an official vote. During the meeting, we will be sharing annual reports and voting on the budget and nominating slate for the coming year.
STEWARDSHIP CORNER
Weekly Giving
- Last week, our total offering to the church was $579.14, which is $675.58 less than expected for the week.
- So far this year, our congregational giving is $2,400 more than we expected. Keep up the GREAT work!!
As we convene our annual meeting today, let us give a great round of thanks to all of those who served on our church committee over the past year. The church committee meets monthly to discuss the business of the church, review the church’s finances, and address other issues brought before the committee. Meetings are open to all from our church family who would like to attend.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
~ Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“For we are God’s coworkers, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.”
~ 1 Corinthians 3:9 (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