FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
WELCOME TO OLDTOWN
North Attleborough, MA — August 20, 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
God is good!
For God teaches us to serve others.
God is good!
For God protects us in times of trouble.
God is good!
For God loves us unconditionally.
God is good!
Let us give thanks as we worship God together.
SHARE
⇑ HYMN C#66—”Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”
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: 1 Kings 19:9b-12 (Oldtown Bible: OT 404)
REFLECT
SERMON – “The Mysteriousness of Moose”
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#452—”Here I Am, Lord”
⇑ 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 flowers on our altar were given in loving memory of Deborah Pierce on the first anniversary of her passing, by her sister Gloria.
The Oldtown Message
August 20, 2023
OLDTOWN CALENDAR
Sun Aug 20: Worship 10am
Wed Aug 23: Coffee Connection 10am-noon
Sun Aug 27: Worship 10am
Wed Aug 30: Coffee Connection 10am-noon
Sun Sept 3: 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, 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, Algernon, Shurbelle, Indie, Lynn, Alan & Paula, Denise, Patrick, Scott J, Hailey, the family and friends of David Fesik, and the family and friends of Albert Sears.
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
MISSION COLLECTION
Our final summer collection is LUNCH BOX SNACKS!! We will be collecting:
cookies, pretzels, crackers (no peanuts, please!)
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 50 in worship on Sunday, and our total giving to the church for the week was $1,570.21, which is $315.49 more than expected.
- So far, this year’s congregational giving is $5,600 more than we expected. Keep up the great work!!
Monthly Finances for July
- Our fundraising for July was $1,401.40 less than expected for the month. Traditionally, fundraising slows down in the summer, but we look forward to working together to get things moving again in September and beyond!
- Our total income in July was $250 more than expected, a great result during the traditional “summer slowdown!”
- Our total expenses in July were $500 less than expected.
- For the year, our total income is $3,300 more than our total expenses!
Thanks so much to everyone for your continued generosity. Your gifts continue to support the work and mission of the church. As you continue to share your time, talent, and treasure, know that it is appreciated not just by our church but by all those we reach out to with support, comfort, and a place where all are welcome and can feel that they truly belong to a community of fellow believers and caring friends.
And the crowds asked him [John], “What, then, should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none, and whoever has food must do likewise.”
~ Luke 3:10-11 (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