FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, UCC
WELCOME TO OLDTOWN
North Attleborough, MA • July 26, 2026
“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.”
~ Calvin Coolidge
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 whenever 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. Here in Oldtown, we are all about being curious, so don’t be afraid to ask questions, and please join us for fellowship with coffee and refreshments after worship!
Finally, as a way of honoring our time together and truly loving our neighbor, we ask that you please silence your phone or, better yet, turn it off, so you can be truly present in worship.
PRELUDE
GATHERING MUSIC
WELCOME / WORSHIP WAYS
A TIME FOR LETTING GO / OPENING PRAYER
CALL TO WORSHIP
For unto us a child is born,
Unto us a son is given
Authority rests upon his shoulders,
And he is named,
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
⇑ HYMN C#148–“O Come, All Ye Faithful”
TIME OF SHARING (C#119)
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 2:1-12 (NT 71)
SERMON: “The Sacred Stories We Tell Ourselves”
PREPARING OURSELVES FOR PRAYER (C#144)
O Little Town of Bethlehem, descend on us we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels; the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord 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
OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS
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 DEDICATION
FOR LOVE OF CHURCH
⇑ SENDING HYMN C#143–”Joy to the World”
⇑ BENEDICTION
⇑ BENEDICTION RESPONSE (C#167)
Go tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills, and everywhere.
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.
POSTLUDE
*** Our worship has ended; let our service begin! ***
The Oldtown Message
July 26, 2026
OLDTOWN CALENDAR
Sun, July 26: Household Huddle 9am
~ Worship 10am
~ “Let’s Talk About the Fair” meeting after worship
Wed, July 29: Second Serving Thrift Shop 9am-noon
~ Coffee Connection 10am-12noon
~ Peace Project 6:30pm
Sat, August 1: Second Serving Thrift Shop 9am-noon
Sun, August 2: NO HOUSEHOLD HUDDLE
~ Member-Led Worship 10am – Sharing faith stories
Check our Online Calendar for even more events. 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
Jim, Meghan, Tom, Gene, Brad, John, Tony, Russell, Jessica, Kathleen, Lugi, Buddy, Lynne, Bill, Dawn, David, Edie, Edi, Autumn, Logan, Dana, Lynn, Al, Roxanne, Perilene, Jayne, Lydia, Joe, Daniel, Andy, Megan, Rusty, Bill, Alaina, Ben, Nancy, Rose, John, Donna, Deane, Matthew, Peter, Christine & Daniel, Kristin, Cassie, Laurie, Chris, Joyce, David, Melanie, Dan, Wendy, Joan, Edmond, Cyndy, Susan, Jennie.
Prayer requests can be added using our online Prayer Request form, by emailing Pastor Kelly at PastorKelly@Oldtownucc.org, texting 508-695-1713, or dropping a note in the offering plate.
OLDTOWN UPDATE EMAIL
Do you get our Friday Email, aka “The Oldtown Update”? Our Oldtown Update is a weekly reminder of what’s happening 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 48 people to worship, and our total giving to the church for the week was $1,109.19, which is $390.81 less than expected.
- Our congregational giving so far this year is $1,600 more than expected. Keep up the good work!
God’s story is a great narrative of creation, rescue, and restoration. We are not just readers or spectators; we are central characters to the entire story, from beginning to end. What role do you play in God’s story? What role do God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit play in your story? Know that, even when you feel lost or defeated, God knows the path you’re walking and walks with you, giving you strength. God never abandons you, and God has overcome the world. The story does have a happy ending.
These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. […] No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.
~ 1 Corinthians 10:11,13 (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
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