FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
WELCOME TO OLDTOWN
North Attleborough, MA — March 5, 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 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
PRELUDE
GATHERING MUSIC
WELCOME / WORSHIP WAYS
TIME OF CENTERING
Beautiful, beautiful, Jesus makes beautiful,
Jesus makes beautiful, life of my life.
Tenderly, touching me, making my eyes to see,
Jesus makes beautiful, life of my life.
OPENING PRAYER
| What things do you need to let go of to be fully present today? |
CALL TO WORSHIP
Happy are we
When we learn to let go and trust in God.
Happy are we
When our pain is held in the arms of love.
Happy are we
When our delight comes from beyond ourselves.
HONEST QUESTIONS
TIME OF REFLECTION
| What if we let go of the need for all things and all people to be “just so” and instead learned to dance with the unfolding of that which is not ours to control? |
COMPASSIONATE RESPONSE
SHARE
⇑ HYMN C#489—”Bless Now, Oh God, the Journey”
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.
SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 13:31-35 (Oldtown Bible: NT 93)
REFLECT
SERMON – “Learning to Let Go”
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
CELEBRATION OF COMMUNION
Song of Preparation
The Sacred Story
The Invitation
The Blessing of the Elements
Sharing of the Bread & Cup
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Gracious God, we thank you for this meal and for all of the ways you nourish us. Grow in us that we may nourish others. Sustain us as we press toward the goal of your call in Christ Jesus. Amen.
FOR LOVE OF CHURCH
⇑ SENDING HYMN C#585—”What a Friend We Have in Jesus”
⇑ 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
March 5, 2023
OLDTOWN CALENDAR
Sun Mar 5: Household Huddle 9am
~ Worship 10am
~ Ministry meetings after worship: Deacons, Flowers
Wed Mar 8: Coffee Connection 10am-noon
Sun Mar 12: Household Huddle 9am
~ Worship 10am
Wed Mar 15: Coffee Connection 10am-noon
~ Church Committee Meeting 7pm
Sat Mar 18: Pet Clinic 11am-noon
~ Come & Sing – Oldtown Singers Music Rehearsal 2pm
Sun Mar 19: Household Huddle 9am
~ 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 R, Edi, John, Katie, Lydia, Ben, Doug, Stephen, Kim, Beth, John, Sheryl, Rose & Bill, Joanne, Michelle, Gloria, Tom, Mark, Patti M., Marion, Gordon C., Skip, Phoebe, Debbie P.
Prayer requests can be placed in the offering plate, entered through our church website using our online prayer request form, or emailed Pastor Kelly at PastorKelly@oldtownucc.org
THANK YOU!
Thank you to everyone that worked on last night’s Corned Beef Supper! It takes us all working together to make the Oldtown Church the amazing place that it is.
STEWARDSHIP CORNER
Weekly Giving
- Last week, our total offering to the church was $1,027.84, which is $226.88 less than expected.
- Our congregational giving so far this year is $1,300 more than we expected. keep up the great work!!
Our Oldtown Deacons provide copies of The Upper Room, a daily devotional magazine, free of charge on the table just outside the sanctuary. Every day, the Upper Room includes a scripture and a thought-provoking reading related to the scripture. It’s a great way to maintain a connection to God’s Word and an easy way of getting into the habit of spending a few minutes with Jesus every day.
I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. Deal bountifully with your servant, so that I may live and observe your word. Open my eyes, so that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
~ Psalms 119:15-18 (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
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Learn more about our denomination: www.ucc.org