FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
WELCOME TO OLDTOWN
North Attleborough, MA—November 21, 2021
Ministers: ALL of our Members and Friends
Pastor & Teacher: The Rev. Kelly Thibeault
Pianist: Ellen Kingman
Welcome to the Oldtown Church!
Whoever you are, and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are always welcome here. Because we are a faith community that values all ages and stages, and those who are vaccinated and unvaccinated, all people vaccinated or unvaccinated MUST wear a mask while in the church building. Presenters may remove their masks while presenting, but otherwise, masks must remain on. We thank you for your patience and cooperation.
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
GATHERING MUSIC
WELCOME / TODAY’S WORSHIP WAYS
| What surprised you about the opening of today’s worship? |
OPENING PRAYER
SHARE
⇑ HYMN—C#276 “We Gather Together”
⇑ SHARING TIME
| What is your favorite thing to eat on Thanksgiving? |
PREPARING OUR HEARTS FOR SCRIPTURE
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: Deuteronomy 8:7-18, NRSV (Oldtown Bible: OT 207)
(Underline or circle any words or phrases that jump out to you)
For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with flowing streams, with springs and underground waters welling up in valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land where you may eat bread without scarcity, where you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron and from whose hills you may mine copper. You shall eat your fill and bless the LORD your God for the good land that he has given you.
Deuteronomy 8:7-18 (NRSV)
Take care that you do not forget the LORD your God, by failing to keep his commandments, his ordinances, and his statutes, which I am commanding you today. When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied, then do not exalt yourself, forgetting the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, an arid wasteland with poisonous snakes and scorpions. He made water flow for you from flint rock and fed you in the wilderness with manna that your ancestors did not know, to humble you and to test you, and in the end to do you good. Do not say to yourself, “My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.” But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors, as he is doing today.
| What stood out for you in today’s reading? What questions did it raise? |
REFLECT
SERMON: “Light & Grace”
| What complaints do you have or what makes you unhappy? |
| Remember where you were and what you were doing last Thanksgiving |
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.”
| What special prayers do you hold in your heart? |
PASTORAL PRAYER 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
GIFT OF SONG
THANK
OFFERING OUR THANKS
| What is something that you are thankful for today? |
⇑ 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 THANKSGIVING
THE WORK OF THE CHURCH
⇑ SENDING HYMN—#C715 “Now Thank We All Our God”
⇑ BENEDICTION
⇑ BENEDICTION RESPONSE
Sent forth by God’s blessing, our true faith confessing,
The people of God from this dwelling take leave.
The service is ended. O now be extended
The fruits of our worship in all who believe.
The seed of our teaching, receptive hearts reaching,
Shall blossom in action for God and for all.
God’s grace did invite us, and love shall unite us
To work for God’s realm and to answer the call.
POSTLUDE
** Our worship has ended. Let our service begin! **
Please join us outside for fellowship time and enjoy some fresh air following worship!
The Oldtown Message
November 21, 2021
OLDTOWN CALENDAR
Sun November 14: In-Person Worship 10am
~ Thanksgiving Sunday/Pledge Sunday
Sun November 28: In-Person Worship 10am
~ Hanging of the Greens
Wed December 1: Missions Coat Drive Ends
Thu December 2: Savers Delivery
Sat December 4: Pet Vaccination Clinic 11am-noon
Check our Online Calendar for even more church events!! Have something you’d like added to the calendar? Email calendar@oldtownucc.org with all the information and we’ll get it posted.
Next Sunday, as the season of Advent begins, we will be sharing in the Hanging of the Greens during worship. As we decorate, we will learn about and celebrate the symbolism of our decorations and why we hang them in our sanctuary. What a wonderful way to prepare our hearts for the season with hope!
WELCOME BACK TO IN-PERSON WORSHIP
As we become more comfortable gathering together to worship, we remind everyone to continue to be gentle with each other. In the interest of keeping everyone safe, including the children and immuno-compromised within our church family, we are requiring that masks be worn at all times when in the church building. While we recognize that there are differing opinions on the need for masks, we require mask-wearing at all times while indoors at the church for the safety and comfort of everyone. We have also decided there will be gathering outside on the south lawn or in the parking lot after worship for fellowship, weather-permitting. We thank you for your patience and for your prayerful consideration of others.
DO YOU NEED TO CONTACT THE CHURCH?
As we return to the building and step into new ways of being the church, we are trying to set safe and healthy boundaries for everyone. Moving forward, if you need to contact Pastor Kelly or the church for church business, we ask that you use the church phone number, 508-695-1713. We have a new phone system in place in hopes of streamlining our communication. If Pastor Kelly cannot answer at the time of your call, leave a message and she will get back to you as soon as she can.
| STEWARDSHIP CORNER | |
|---|---|
| Offering last week: | $1,201.45 $112.97 less than budget |
| Offering 2021 to date: | $150 more than budget |
| To-Date as of End of October (83% of year) | |
| Fund Raising: | $11,535.16 (76.9% of annual budget) |
| Total Budgeted Income: | $75,060.04 (83.2% of annual budget) |
| Total Budgeted Expenses: | $76,123.57 (73.3% of annual budget) |
| Non-Budgeted Income: | $11,454.47 |
| Non Budgeted Expenses: | $11,238.04 |
| Total Shortfall for 2021: | $847.10 |
Please take some time this week and give thoughtful consideration to your Oldtown pledge for next year. It is not just something to help us plan our financial budget for the upcoming year. Use it as an occasion to reflect upon the things that mean the most to you at Oldtown, the things that get you excited that the church does, or the things that you wish the church did or did more of. Whatever the passion is that lights the fire that burns in your heart at Oldtown, we encourage you to name it on your pledge form and commit to engaging with it throughout the year, asking your fellow Oldtowners to help and promising to help them ignite their passions as well.
“If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.”
~ James 2:15-17 (NRSV)
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