FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
WELCOME TO OLDTOWN
North Attleborough, MA — May 21, 2023
Celebrating God’s Amazing Story
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 MUSIC
WELCOME
WORSHIP WAYS
TIME OF CENTERING
Allelu, allelu, allelu, alleluia! Praise ye the Lord!
Allelu, allelu, allelu, alleluia! Praise ye the Lord!
Praise ye the Lord! Alleluia!
Praise ye the Lord! Alleluia!
Praise ye the Lord! Alleluia! Praise ye the Lord!
OPENING PRAYER
CALL TO WORSHIP
Praise the Lord!
With all our hearts, we will praise God’s holy name!
Praise the Lord!
We will never forget the good things God has done for us.
Praise the Lord!
All the earth – everyone, everywhere!
Praise the Lord!
Let us praise God together!
SHARE
⇑ HYMN C#480—”I Love to Tell the Story”
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: Acts 1:6-11 (Oldtown Bible: NT 143)
REFLECT
SERMON – “We Have an Amazing Story to Tell”
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#330—”Alleluia! Hear God’s Story”
⇑ 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
May 21, 2023
OLDTOWN CALENDAR
Sun May 21: Worship 10am
~ Luncheon after worship
Tue May 23: School Tours
Wed May 24: Coffee Connection 10am-noon
~ Music Ministry meeting 7pm
Thu May 25: School Tours
Sun May 28: Worship 10am
Tue May 30: School Tours
Wed May 31: Coffee Connection 10am-noon
Thu June 1: School Tours
Sat June 3: Come and Sing 2-3pm
Sun June 4: Worship 10am
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, Jean W., Bonnie, Lynn, Cyndy, Maryam, Meena’s “growing young minds,” Karen, Jane, Marcia, Erica, Christina, Stephanie, the family of Vera Fleetwood.
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
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 plate 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, our total giving to the church was $1,526.50, which is $271.78 more than expected.
- So far, this year’s congregational giving is $4,800 more than we expected. Keep up the great work!!
Monthly Finances for April
- Our fundraising for April was $50 less than expected for the month. April was a good month, keeping up with the budget, but we still have work to do to bring our fundraising up to budget for the year. Let us know if you can help us with new ideas or existing fundraisers.
- Thanks to some generous gifts during Lent, our total income in April was almost $1,700 more than expected!
- Our expenses in April were $900 less than expected.
- For the year, our total income is $2,000 more than our total expenses! Let’s keep this momentum going!!!
Thanks to everyone who helped with the turkey supper. Though the number of attendees sitting down to join us for a communal meal was lower than in years past, as we thought it might be, a good time was had by guests and helpers alike. Schedules are busier, and habits and preferences have changed on this side of our pandemic experience. More folks are interested in picking up takeout meals these days, and smaller numbers with gathering together for a meal. We still need your help to continue fundraising by serving our community with good food and great fellowship. Stay tuned for our requests and find where you can help!
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being!
~ 2 Corinthians 5:17 (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
Subscribe to our Friday Email Updates
Learn more about our denomination: www.ucc.org