FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
WELCOME TO OLDTOWN
North Attleborough, MA — January 7, 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 SONG
WELCOME / WORSHIP WAYS
CENTERING TIME
God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay.
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r when we were gone astray.
Oh tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy.
Oh tidings of comfort and joy.
A MOMENT TO LET GO / OPENING PRAYER
CALL TO WORSHIP
Arise, shine, for your light has come.
A new year is born, fresh and clean.
Arise, shine, for your light has come
On every path we take, no matter where we go.
Arise, shine, for your light has come.
Our light has come. Let us praise God together!
SHARE
⇑ HYMN C#173—”As With Gladness”
TIME OF SHARING (C#134)
Emmanuel, Emmanuel,
His name is called, Emmanuel.
God with us, revealed to us,
His name is called, Emmanuel
SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 2:1-12 (Oldtown Bible: NT 2)
REFLECT
SERMON: “Look & See”
PREPARING OURSELVES FOR PRAYER
O holy Child of Bethlehem, reveal to us thy Way
Of justice, peace, and healing Grace. Be born in us today.
We are the Christmas angels. Help us glad tidings tell.
O walk with us, shine forth through us, each one, 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
THANK
OFFERING OUR THANKS
GIFT OF MUSIC
⇑ DOXOLOGY (C#151)
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 THANKSGIVING
SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION
Song of Preparation
Invitation
Communion Prayer
Words of Institution
Blessing of the Elements
Sharing of the Bread and Cup
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Gracious God, we give you thanks for satisfying our hungry hearts with this meal. Send us out into the world to reveal your love, as we do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you. Amen
FOR LOVE OF THE CHURCH
⇑ BENEDICTION
⇑ BENEDICTION RESPONSE (C#434)
God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay.
Remember, Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r when we were gone astray.
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy.
Oh. tidings of comfort and joy.
POSTLUDE
*** Our worship has ended; let our service begin! ***
The Oldtown Message
January 7, 2024
OLDTOWN CALENDAR
Sun Jan 7: NO HOUSEHOLD HUDDLE
~ Worship 10am
Wed Jan 10: Coffee Connection 10am-noon
~ Church Committee 7pm
Sun Jan 14: Household Huddle 9am
~ Worship 10am
Sun Jan 21: Household Huddle 9am
~ Worship 10am – Welcoming New Members
~ ANNUAL MEETING following 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, Cindi, Dan, Ann, David, Judy, Sherri, Roxanne, Lynne, Louis, Nick, Frank, Catherine, Ben, Marcia, Brianna..
To add a name to the list, email Pastor Kelly at PastorKelly@Oldtownucc.org or drop a note in the offering plate.
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
- On December 24, we welcomed 86 people in our Candlelight Christmas Eve worship, and our total giving to the church for the week was $1,086.43, which is $168.29 less than expected.
- Our total giving to the church for the week of December 31 was $1,215.14, which is $39.58 less than expected.
- Our congregational giving for 2023 was $12,800 more than we expected. Thank you so much for your incredible support and generosity!
Thanks to several extremely generous gifts last year, our congregational giving greatly exceeded what we had budgeted for the year! Oldtown continues to be a wonderful place where caring people gather to worship, reach out to those in need in our community, and further the Kingdom of God. Let’s carry that enthusiasm throughout the coming year as we continue to work together as one.
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.
~ Malachi 3:10 (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