Worship Bulletin – October 24, 2021

Worship Bulletin – October 24, 2021

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

WELCOME TO OLDTOWN
North Attleborough, MA—October 24, 2021

Ministers: ALL of our Members and Friends
Pastor & Teacher: The Rev. Kelly Thibeault
Pianist: Ellen Kingman

Welcome to the Oldtown Church!
Whoever you are, and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are always welcome here. Because we are a faith community that values all ages and stages, and those who are vaccinated and unvaccinated, all people vaccinated or unvaccinated MUST wear a mask while in the church building. Presenters may remove their masks while presenting, but otherwise, masks must remain on. We thank you for your patience and cooperation.

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

BREATHE

GATHERING MUSIC

WELCOME / TODAY’S WORSHIP WAYS

What things do you need to let go of to be fully present today?


OPENING PRAYER


SHARE

⇑ HYMN—C#16 “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”

⇑ SHARING TIME

What is something you worked to change in yourself or in the world this past week?


PREPARING OUR HEARTS FOR SCRIPTURE
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.

STORYTIME: “Be You” by Peter H. Reynolds

What did you hear about in the story? What is your favorite way to be you?


SCRIPTURE READING: Psalms 139:1-14, NRSV (Oldtown Bible: OT 710)
(Underline or circle any words or phrases that jump out to you)

O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it. Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you. For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.

Psalms 132:1-14 (NRSV)
What stood out for you in today’s reading?
What questions did it raise?



Reflect

REFLECT

SERMON

What words best describe you?


What is your heart song or what song makes you feel the most like you?


What gifts do you share with the world simply by being you?


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.”

What special prayers do you hold in your heart?


Our Oldtown Prayer List: Sue & Steve, Matthew, Kaya, Will, David, Ginger D., Doreen, Lucy, Gordon C., Dawn, Sam, Kevin, Ed, Rick, Mark, John, Joan, the Gaudette family

PASTORAL PRAYER 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

GIFT OF SONG


Thank

THANK

OFFERING OUR THANKS

What is something that you are thankful for today?


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 THANKSGIVING

THE WORK OF THE CHURCH

SENDING HYMN—C#477 “Pass It On”

BENEDICTION

BENEDICTION RESPONSE
Sent forth by God’s blessing, our true faith confessing,
The people of God from this dwelling take leave.
The service is ended. O now be extended
The fruits of our worship in all who believe.
The seed of our teaching, receptive hearts reaching,
Shall blossom in action for God and for all.
God’s grace did invite us, and love shall unite us
To work for God’s realm and to answer the call.

POSTLUDE

** Our worship has ended. Let our service begin! **
Please join us outside for fellowship on the south lawn following worship!


PushpinsThe Oldtown Message
October 24, 2021

OLDTOWN CALENDAR
Sun October 24: In-Person Worship 10am
Sat October 30: Pet Vaccination Clinic 11-12noon
Sun October 31: In-Person Worship 10am
   ~ Undie Sunday – socks, hats, mittens, gloves
   ~ Express Yourself Mask Opportunity
Sun November 7: In-Person Worship 10am
   ~ All Saints Sunday – honoring loved ones we have lost since the pandemic began
Check our Online Calendar for even more church events!! Have something you’d like added to the calendar? Email calendar@oldtownucc.org with all the information and we’ll get it posted.

UNDIE SUNDAY – October 31
This month, because the cold weather is coming, we are collecting socks, hats, mittens, and gloves to give to the needy in our area.

HALLOWEEN SUNDAY – October 31
On Halloween Sunday we will be celebrating with some “holy play.” Though we know that it is important to be ourselves, sometimes it is fun to pretend that we are someone or something else. If you have a Halloween costume and would like to wear it to worship next week, you are more than welcome to! We just ask that you make them fun, but not too scary.

WELCOME BACK TO IN-PERSON WORSHIP
As we ease back into gathering together to worship, we remind everyone to be gentle with each other. In the interest of keeping everyone safe, including the children and immuno-compromised within our church family, we are requiring that masks be worn at all times when in the church building. While we recognize that there are differing opinions on the need for masks, we require mask-wearing at all times while indoors at the church for the safety and comfort of everyone. We have also decided there will be no gathering in Maxcy Hall for fellowship following worship. Everyone is welcome to gather outside on the south lawn or in the parking lot, weather-permitting, but we will not be having a time of indoor fellowship. We thank you for your patience and for your prayerful consideration of others.

DO YOU NEED TO CONTACT THE CHURCH?
As we return to the building and step into new ways of being the church, we are trying to set safe and healthy boundaries for everyone. Moving forward, if you need to contact Pastor Kelly or the church for church business, we ask that you use the church phone number, 508-695-1713. We have a new phone system in place in hopes of streamlining our communication. If Pastor Kelly cannot answer at the time of your call, leave a message and she will get back to you as soon as she can.

STEWARDSHIP CORNER
Offering last week: $1,135.95
$178.47 less than budget
Offering 2021 to date: $1,050 more than budget
To-Date as of End of August (67% of year)
Fund Raising: $7,970.76 (53.1% of annual budget)
Total Budgeted Income: $58,229.58 (64.5% of annual budget)
Total Budgeted Expenses: $57,882.52 (55.7% of annual budget)
Non-Budgeted Income: $11,081.81
Non Budgeted Expenses: $10,975.57
Total Surplus for 2021: $453.30

The Bible tells us to love our neighbor, but do we really KNOW our neighbor? The pandemic time has prevented us from making and keeping connections with others, but search your soul and ask yourself if you had been making an effort to connect with your neighbors and others even in “the before time.” It’s not possible to love someone if you don’t know who they are and what their life, their experience is like. Take time to learn about people as individuals, not as stereotypes or in the way common culture portrays them. Only by doing so are we able to walk the faith that Jesus tells us to walk.

“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
~ Micah 6:8 (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