Worship Bulletin – March 16, 2025

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

WELCOME TO OLDTOWN
North Attleborough, MA — March 16, 2025

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. Here in Oldtown, we are all about being curious, so don’t be afraid to ask questions, and please join us for fellowship after worship!
Finally, as a way of honoring our time together and truly loving our neighbor, we ask that you please silence your phone or, better yet, turn it off, allowing yourself to be truly present in worship.

PRELUDE

GATHERING MUSIC

WELCOME / WORSHIP WAYS

TIME OF CENTERING (C#433)
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.

CALL TO WORSHIP
Come as you are
If you have deep faith or your faith has run dry.
Come as you are
If you know every scripture by heart or none at all.
Come as you are
If you live your faith through good works, or you kneel at God’s feet with lots of questions.
Come as you are.
This is God’s House and all are welcome here!

A CALL TO LET GO

PRAYER OF LETTING GO
God of Grace, we long to do the “right” thing. We long to make the “right” choice. We long to stand on the “right” side of the dividing line. In our earnestness, we sometimes miss the sacred right in front of us. In our earnestness, we sometimes miss opportunities to show love. Show us how to hold our heart’s desire for perfection loosely. Show us how to lead with grace and love over anything else. For even more than our desire to be right, we desire to be close to you. Show us the way. Amen.

WORDS OF ASSURANCE

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

Blair Hamilton
Born: August 28, 2024
Baptized: March 16, 2025
Parents: Joseph & Kelsey Hamilton
Godparents: Shannon Riley & Michael Hamilton

GATHERING
The gospels tell us that “People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them…
All: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

PROMISES (by the parents)
Do you desire to have Blair baptized into the faith and family of Jesus Christ so that she may explore the dynamics of God, who created and loves her?
Parents:  We do. 

Will you encourage Blair to live out her faith in response to the gospel, and to receive the freedom of new life in Christ?
Parents:  We will, with the help of God.

Will you teach her the stories of our faith so that she may be led into a relationship with Jesus?
Parents:  We will, with the help of God.

Do you promise by the grace of God, to be Christ’s disciples, to follow in the way of our Savior, to be in right relationship with God, others and yourself, to show love and justice, and to share the work and word of Jesus Christ as best as you are able?
Parents: We do, with the help of God.

Will you covenant to bring Blair into the life of the Christian community to worship, to hear the story of the roots of our faith, and to be in relationship with other believers as you all grow together and celebrate the Spirit’s presence?
Parents:  We will, with the help of God.

PROMISE OF ASSURANCE (by the Godparents)
Recognizing that many people touch the lives of children, do you covenant to give your time and yourselves to Blair, providing her with further opportunities to explore her growing experience of God and self?  
Godparents:  We promise, with the help of God.

Do you covenant to love Blair unconditionally, supporting her, and helping her see the limitless possibilities of life in the Spirit?  
Godparents:  We promise our love and support.

CONGREGATIONAL ASSENT
Jesus Christ calls us to make disciples of all nations and to offer them the gift of grace in baptism. Do you as a congregation and as family and friends, promise your love, support, and care to Blair as she lives and grows in Christ?
All: We promise our love, support, and care.

Will you support these parents and Godparents in their efforts to guide Blair in the way of the gospel and to faithful service in Christ’s church?
All: We will, relying on God’s grace.

PRAYER OF BAPTISM

ACT OF BAPTISM

PRAYER FOR THE BAPTIZED

PRESENTATION OF GIFTS

⇑ HYMN C#75–”I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry”

TIME OF SHARING (C#433)
We share each other’s woes, each other’s burdens bear.
And often, for each other flows a sympathetic tear.

STORYTIME: “The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be” by Joanna Gaines

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 10:38-42 (NT 87)

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.

SERMON: “In-Between Faith and Works”

PREPARING OURSELVES FOR PRAYER (C#433)
Before our God we come and pour our ardent prayers.
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares.

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

OFFERING OUR THANKS
GIFT OF MUSIC
⇑ DOXOLOGY (C#151)
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

LOVE OF CHURCH

⇑ SENDING HYMN–”Ministry and Presence” (PHYSICAL INSERT)

⇑ BENEDICTION

⇑ BENEDICTION RESPONSE (C#433)
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.

When we are called to part, it gives us inward pain,
But we shall still be joined in heart and hope to meet again.

POSTLUDE

*** Our worship has ended; let our service begin! ***

The Oldtown Message
March 9, 2025

OLDTOWN CALENDAR
Sun March 16: Household Huddle 9:15am
~ Worship 10am w/Baptism
Wed March 19: Coffee Connection 10am-noon
~ Food, Faith & Fun 6pm
Sat March 22: Second Serving Thrift Shop 9am-noon
~ Come and Sing 2pm
Sun March 23: Household Huddle 9:15am
~ 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

Edi & John, Lynn, Tim, Mark, Cyndy, Joan, Justine & Nolan, the Miranda & K family, Jan & Kylie, Steven, Tegan, Dana, Ken, Lynne, Kaye, Karen, Samantha, Robin, Donna, Winnie, Carl, Gabby, Marilyn, Michael, Sue C., Laura, Ann, John, Jim, Paul, Daniel, Nancy, Paul L, Muriel, Stacey, Jake, Jared, Michelle.
To add a name to the list, email Pastor Kelly at PastorKelly@Oldtownucc.org, text 508-695-1713, or drop a note in the offering plate.

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 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 52 people in worship, and our total giving to the church for the week was $4,280.80, which is $2,857.72 more than expected.
• So far, this year’s congregational giving has been $3,300 more than expected. We’ve done a good job of catching up from our snow days. Keep up the great work!!

This week, the United Church of Christ’s national setting officially recognized our church as an open and affirming church! The welcome statement we adopted at our annual meeting shows our faith in a God who loves and welcomes all people, regardless of who they are or where they are on life’s journey. And now, the works begin as we journey together to live out that statement in our lives, our community, and our world!

“There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus”
   ~ Galatians 3:28 (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