FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
WELCOME TO OLDTOWN
North Attleborough, MA—March 20, 2022
Ministers: ALL of our Members and Friends
Pastor & Teacher: The Rev. Kelly Thibeault
Pianist: Ellen Kingman
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
GATHERING MUSIC
WELCOME AND 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.
WORSHIP WAYS
CALL TO WORSHIP
We have come to listen to God
Who calls us to work together.
We have come to praise God
Who loves us and forgives us.
We have come to worship God
Who encourages us to love and forgive others.
OPENING PRAYER
SHARE
⇑ HYMN C#585—”What a Friend We Have in Jesus”
⇑ 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.
STORYTIME: I’m Sticking With You by Smriti Prasadam-Halls
SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 5:17-26, NRSV (Oldtown Bible: NT 76)
REFLECT
| What stood out for you in today’s reading? What questions did it raise? |
SERMON—”Friendship & Forgiveness”
| Who has said something or done something in the past that has hurt your feelings? |
| Like Jesus, how might you offer forgiveness and healing? |
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
WORK OF THE CHURCH
⇑ SENDING HYMN—C#453 “Called as Partners in Christ’s Service”
⇑ BENEDICTION
⇑ BENEDICTION RESPONSE
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord.
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored:
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
POSTLUDE
The Oldtown Message
March 20, 2022
OLDTOWN CALENDAR
Sun March 20: In-Person Worship 10am
Wed March 23: Coffee Connection 10am-12noon
Sat March 26: Pet Clinic 11am-12noon
Sun March 27: In-Person Worship 10am
~ New Members Sunday
Wed March 30: Coffee Connection 10am-12noon
Sun April 3: In-Person Worship 10am
~ Communion Sunday
Wed March 30: Coffee Connection 10am-12noon
Sun April 10: In-Person Worship 10am
~ Palm Sunday
Wed April 13: Coffee Connection 10am-12noon
Thu April 14: Maundy Thursday Worship 7pm
Fri April 15: Good Friday Worship 7pm
Sun April 17: In-Person Worship 10am
Be sure to 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.
ARE YOU READY FOR A CHALLENGE?
As an Out of the Box project, for the next four weeks, our Missions Ministry is challenging us to collect enough non-perishable food items to stack up and reach the top of our steeple! That is 70.5 feet!! (We estimate that to be about 146 cans.) Each week, we will measure the height of the donations and report on our progress. Baskets will be at the front of the sanctuary for donations. We hope you’ll join us in this challenge as we work together to feed the hungry in our community.
SPRING FLING CRAFT FAIR
Calling all crafters!! We are looking for craft items and plants to sell at our Spring Fling Craft Fair on April 30th. Mother’s Day items would be great too! Questions about the Spring Fling? Please see Kris Collins or Deanne Bellinger.
OLDTOWN PRAYER LIST
Sue & Steve, Gordon C., Kaya, Kyle, Joan M, Cindi B., Nora, Joni, Carolyn D., Ed, Dawn, Sam and Nicole, Lucy Elizabeth, Mark, EB, Max D., Lynne, Carol, Kathy, Michelle, Peggy, Ruby, Kathleen Z, Doug, Ray. The leaders and military of all countries, the people of Ukraine and Russia, and all those in harm’s way.
(If you would like to add a name to our prayer list, drop a note in the offering plate, user our online prayer request form, or email Pastor Kelly at PastorKelly@oldtownucc.org)
| STEWARDSHIP CORNER | |
|---|---|
| Offering last week: | $1,834.82 $382.90 more than budget |
| Offering 2022 to date: | $1,800 less than budget |
| To-Date as of End of February (17% of year) | |
| Fund Raising: | $46.00 (0.3% of annual budget) |
| Total Budgeted Income: | $11,572.40 (11.7% of annual budget) |
| Total Budgeted Expenses: | $15,951.17 (14.3% of annual budget) |
| Non-Budgeted Income: | $285.04 |
| Non Budgeted Expenses: | $360.96 |
| Total Shortfall for 2022: | $4,454.69 |
We have a little “Stewardship Good News/Not-So-Good News” this week. The good news is that thanks to generous continued giving to our Building Fund, we are able to use $3,000 from the building fund to repay part of the remaining $10,000 we borrowed from our investments to pay for our schoolhouse floor replacement project a few years ago. The “not-so-good” news is that we are struggling a little to keep up with our budget so far this year, with only $46 in fundraising so far and our giving being low as we recover from our pause of in-person worship at the beginning of the year. If you have ideas that can help or questions that we can answer, reach out to us at stewardship@oldtownucc.org.
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken”
~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NRSV)
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