FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
WELCOME TO OLDTOWN
North Attleborough, MA — April 23, 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 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
The road was sandy.
Our feet were tired.
We talked about many things.
We just wanted to get home.
We missed Jesus.
We were scared.
We hoped it was true.
We did not know what to believe.
We did not notice the face of the one who walked beside us.
But we knew in our hearts something special was happening.
SHARE
⇑ HYMN C#585—”Open My Eyes That I May See”
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.
STORYBOOK: I Know In My Heart by Holt Webb
SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 24:13-35 (Oldtown Bible: NT 109)
REFLECT
SERMON – “Celebrating: Sacred Inner Wisdom”
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#557—”Just A Closer Walk With Thee”
⇑ 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
April 23, 2023
OLDTOWN CALENDAR
Sun Apr 23: Household Huddle 9am
~ Worship 10am
Wed Apr 26: Coffee Connection 10am-noon
~ Church Committee 7pm
Thu Apr 27: Church Movie Night – “The Shack” – 6:30pm
Sat Apr 29: Attleboro Historic Preservation Society Presents – 1774: Attleboro Solemn League and Covenant by Dr. Samuel A. Forman
Sun Apr 30: Household Huddle 9am
~ Worship 10am
Wed May 3: Coffee Connection 10am-noon
Sat May 6: Spring Craft Fair 10am-3pm
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, Mel & Ben, Jean W., Bonnie, Lynn
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
This Thursday, April 27, we will be celebrating the return of Oldtown Movie Night, as we gather in Maxcy Hall at 6:30 to view “The Shack.” It’s the story of one man’s encounter with the Holy Trinity. At the start of the story, his belief has faltered, but through his experiences at “The Shack,” he meets all three persons of the trinity and learns valuable lessons about life, grief, and God’s love for us all. The film is a great way to help us understand one of the most challenging topics in our faith: how God is three-in-one and how we can relate to God in all three aspects. But its overarching message is one that shouldn’t be hard for us to grasp: God’s unconditional love for us all.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.
~ Psalms 23:1-3 (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