FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
WELCOME TO OLDTOWN
North Attleborough, MA—October 3, 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
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#480 “I Love to Tell the Story”
⇑ SHARING TIME
| Where did you experience joy in the last 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.
SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 13:10-17, NRSV (Oldtown Bible: NT 16)
| What stood out for you in today’s reading? What questions did it raise? |
REFLECT
SERMON–”Stories and Sacraments”
| What words, phrases, or thoughts do you want to remember? |
REMEMBERING THE SACRED STORY
SONG OF PREPARATION—C#393 “One Bread, One Body”
SHARING OF THE SACRED STORY
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 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#464 “God of Grace and God of Glory”
⇑ 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!
The Oldtown Message
October 3, 2021
OLDTOWN CALENDAR
Sun October 3: In-Person Worship 10am
Tue October 5: CE Meeting
Sun October 10: In-Person Worship 10am
Have something you’d like added to the events calendar? Email calendar@oldtownucc.org with all the information and we’ll get it posted.
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 have decided to require mask-wearing 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, but we will not be having a time of indoor fellowship. We thank you for your patience and for your prayerful consideration of others.
MASK UPDATE
Our Church Committee voted to make a small change to our church mask policy. Moving forward, masks are now mandatory at all times inside the church building. Thank you for your cooperation.
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.
IN NEED OF OUR PRAYERS
Sue & Steve, Matthew, Kaya, Will, David, Ginger D., Doreen, Lucy, Gordon C., Dawn, Sam, Kevin, Kris, Rich
If you would like to add a name to our prayer list, please talk with Pastor Kelly, fill out a prayer card or note and drop it in the offering basket, or use our online prayer request form.
| STEWARDSHIP CORNER | |
|---|---|
| Offering last week: | $892.63 $421.79 less than budget |
| Offering 2021 to date: | $450 less 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 |
As baptized Christians, we are all part of God’s story. As we worship here in Oldtown, we are also part of the 318-plus-year story of the First Congregational Church of North Attleboro. Would you like to help tell the story of Oldtown to our community and to the world? Send us an email at stewardship@oldtownucc.org and tell YOUR story of how you came to Oldtown, what worshiping at Oldtown means to you, or the importance of faith in your life. We’d love to share stories like these on the bulletin board in church and on our website.
“I will tell of Your name to my brothers and sisters; in the midst of the congregation, I will praise You.”
~ Psalms 22:22 (NRSV)
First Congregational Church, UCC of North Attleborough
(Oldtown Church)
Church Phone: 508-695-1713
Pastor Kelly’s email: PastorKelly@oldtownucc.org
Church Email: Church@oldtownucc.org
Website: www.oldtownucc.org