FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
WELCOME TO OLDTOWN
North Attleborough, MA — August 13, 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
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
OPENING PRAYER
CALL TO WORSHIP
We are blessed when we stay the course,
Walking steadily on the road revealed by God.
We are blessed when we follow God’s directions.
Striving to experience God in our midst.
We don’t go off on our own;
We walk straight along the road that God has set.
God gives us strength for the journey
And for that, we gather to give God thanks and praise.
SHARE
⇑ HYMN C#633—”Lead On, O Cloud of Presence”
TIME OF SHARING (C#323)
Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life;
Let them more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life.
Words of life and beauty teach me faith and duty;
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.
SCRIPTURE READING: Exodus 13:17-22 (Oldtown Bible: OT 75)
REFLECT
SERMON – “Community Campfire”
PREPARING OURSELVES FOR PRAYER (C#306)
Hear our prayer, O Lord. Hear our prayer, O Lord.
Incline Thine ear to us, and grant us Thy peace.
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#458—”Ours the Journey”
⇑ 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
August 13, 2023
OLDTOWN CALENDAR
Sun Aug 13: Worship 10am
~ Church fair meeting after worship
Tue Aug 15: Food, Faith and Fun – S’mores, Psalms, and Songs 6pm
~ We’ll be out in the back parking lot. Please bring a chair if you can.
Wed Aug 16: Coffee Connection 10am-noon
Thu Aug 17: Music Ministry Meeting 7pm
Sat Aug 19: Pet Vaccination Clinic 11am-noon
Sun Aug 20: 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, Edi, John, Katie, Lydia, Ben, Doug, Stephen, Kim, Beth, John, Perilene, Sheryl, Rose & Bill, Joanne, Michelle, Gloria, Tom, Mark, Patti, Marion, Gordon C., Skip, Phoebe, John, Jim, Barbara, James, Jean, Lynn, Cyndy, Maryam, Meena’s “growing young minds,” Karen, Marcia, Erica, Christina, Stephanie, Heather, Michelle, Richie, Brandon, Joe, Shane, Deborah, Nicole, Jasper, Armand, Dave, Carolyn, Bill, Ed, Doug G., Connie E., Britt, James & Aurora, Peter, Keli, Nadine, Roxanne, Rich, Tom, June, Nikki, Rhonda, Shawn, Nicholas, Mel, Matt, Peter, Jayne, Steve, Daniel, Sam, Jill, Shirley, Indie, Shurbelle, Algernon, the family and friends of Joan Murphy.
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
FOOD, FAITH, & FUN
S’MORES, PSALMS, & SONGS
August 15th @ 6pm
We’ll be meeting in the back parking lot for a campfire.
Please bring a chair if you have one.
(Program is weather permitting)
MISSION COLLECTION
Next week is CEREAL WEEK!! We will be collecting:
hot or cold cereal, cereal bars
Looking ahead:
Aug 27 – Lunch Box Snack Week – cookies, pretzels, crackers
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, we welcomed 45 in worship on Sunday, and our total giving to the church for the week was $1,093.78, which is $160.94 less than expected.
- So far, this year’s congregational giving is $5,600 more than we expected. Keep up the great work!!
There’s something about a fire that draws us in, opens us up, and connects us to others, and it’s been that way since the dawn of time. Jesus used the campfire for many intimate conversations with followers and disciples, and after He rose, He built a fire on the beach and shared breakfast with His friends. Come gather around the campfire with us on Tuesday night at 6pm as we continue the tradition of sharing fellowship, singing songs, and telling stories with friends.
There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight and see why the bush is not burned up.” When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”
~ Exodus 3:2-5 (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