FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
WELCOME TO OLDTOWN
North Attleborough, MA — March 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
PRELUDE
GATHERING MUSIC
WELCOME / WORSHIP WAYS
TIME OF CENTERING
Beautiful, beautiful, Jesus makes beautiful,
Jesus makes beautiful, life of my life.
Tenderly, touching me, making my eyes to see,
Jesus makes beautiful, life of my life.
OPENING PRAYER
| What things do you need to let go of to be fully present today? |
CALL TO WORSHIP
How blessed we are that God forgives us and loves us!
For all those times when we have fallen short of what God would have us be, we have been forgiven.
God is always making us new.
Let us joyfully accept the newness of life which God offers to us.
Come, let us worship and be thankful.
Let us open our hearts to the peace and joy of God.
HONEST QUESTIONS
TIME OF REFLECTION
| Are you unrealistically hard on yourself? Where might you need to learn to accept grace in your life? |
COMPASSIONATE RESPONSE
SHARE
⇑ HYMN C#464—”God of Grace and God of Glory”
TIME OF SHARING
Open our eyes, Lord; we want to see Jesus.
To reach out and touch Him and say that we love Him.
Open our ears, Lord, and help us to listen.
Open our eyes, Lord; we want to see Jesus.
SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 15:11b-32 (Oldtown Bible: NT 92)
REFLECT
SERMON – “Accepting Grace”
PREPARING OURSELVES FOR PRAYER
In moments like these, I sing out a song. I sing out a love song to Jesus. In moments like these, I lift up my hands. I lift up my hands to the Lord. Singing, “I love You, Lord.” Singing, “I love You, Lord.” Singing, “I love You, Lord. I love You.”
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 LOVE OF CHURCH
⇑ SENDING HYMN C#546—”Amazing Grace”
⇑ BENEDICTION
⇑ BENEDICTION RESPONSE (C#434)
God be with you ’til we meet again.
Loving counsel, guide, uphold you,
With a shepherd’s care enfold you,
God be with you ’til we meet again.
‘Til we meet, ’til we meet,
‘Til we meet at Jesus’ feet,
‘Til we meet, ’til we meet,
God be with you ’til we meet again.
POSTLUDE
*** Our worship has ended; let our service begin! ***
The Oldtown Message
March 19, 2023
OLDTOWN CALENDAR
Sun Mar 19: Household Huddle 9am
~ Worship 10am
Tue Mar 21: Hands On: Food, Faith, and Fun! “Quesadillas and Communion” 6pm
Wed Mar 22: Coffee Connection 10am-noon
~ Music Ministry Meeting 7pm
Sat Mar 25: Come & Sing – Oldtown Singers Music Rehearsal 2pm
Sun Mar 26: Household Huddle 9am
~ Worship 10am
Wed Mar 29: Coffee Connection 10am-noon
Sun Apr 2: Household Huddle 9am
~ Worship 10am–PALM SUNDAY worship w/Communion
~ Deacons meeting after worship
Wed Apr 5: Coffee Connection 10am-noon
Thu Apr 6: MAUNDY THURSDAY worship w/Communion 7pm
Fri Apr 7: GOOD FRIDAY worship 7pm
Sun Apr 9: NO HOUSEHOLD HUDDLE
~ Worship 10am–EASTER 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
Alice, Janice, Jeanne, Franke, Geddy, Wayne, June, Lynne, Celine, Stacey, Al, Bob R, Edi, John, Katie, Lydia, Ben, Doug, Stephen, Kim, Beth, John, Perilene, Sheryl, Rose & Bill, Joanne, Michelle, Gloria, Tom, Mark, Patti M., Marion, Gordon C., Skip, Phoebe, Elizabeth, John, Jim, Barbara, James
Prayer requests can be placed in the offering plate, entered through our church website using our online prayer request form, or emailed to Pastor Kelly at PastorKelly@oldtownucc.org
DO YOU LIKE TO SING?
Come join us on Saturday, March 25th, at 2:00 pm in the sanctuary to sing and practice a few new hymns. We will be practicing a few new songs for our “Oldtown Singers” to share in worship, but you don’t need to perform if you come…
Just “Come & Sing!”
QUESADILLAS & COMMUNION
In February, we had so much fun at our Pancake Supper and Bible Trivia Night that we are going to try a few more nights of “Hands-on Food, Faith, and Fun!” These events are open to ALL AGES, and ALL ARE WELCOME!
Join us on March 21 at 6pm. This month we will be learning more about Communion. What is it? What does it mean? Why do we do it? And what did Jesus teach us about it? This is a free event, but we are asking everyone to sign up just so we know how much food to buy. There is a sign-up sheet in Maxcy Hall, or you can email PastorKelly@oldtownucc.org
STEWARDSHIP CORNER
Weekly Giving
- Last week, our total offering to the church was $3,135.16, which is $1,880.44 more than expected.
- Our congregational giving so far this year is $3,850 more than we expected. Keep up the great work!!
Thanks to an extremely generous gift received last week, we are doing very well with our congregational giving this year. Remember that we always do our best to put your gifts of time, talent, and treasure to their best use in supporting the mission and ministry of the church. Gifts can be directed for specific purposes or simply to add to our overall mission. We thank everyone who gives, no matter in what way or what size!
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
~ Colossians 3:16-17 (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
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Learn more about our denomination: www.ucc.org