FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
WELCOME TO OLDTOWN
North Attleborough, MA — September 17, 2023
Celebration & Praise
The more you learn to praise and celebrate,
the more you find to praise and celebrate.
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
GATHERING MUSIC
WELCOME
WORSHIP WAYS
TIME OF CENTERING
Gathered here in the mystery of the hour,
Gathered here in one strong body,
Gathered here in the struggle and the power,
Spirit, draw near.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Praise the Lord!
With all our hearts, we will praise God’s holy name!
Praise the Lord,
All the earth – everyone, everywhere!
Praise the Lord!
Let us praise God together!
OPENING PRAYER
SHARE
⇑ HYMN C#56—”For the Beauty of the Earth” (verses 1, 2, & 5)
TIME OF SHARING (C#323)
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: 2 Samuel 6:14-19 (Oldtown Bible: OT 348)
REFLECT
SERMON – “Celebration and Praise”
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
FOR LOVE OF CHURCH
⇑ SENDING HYMN C#2—”Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” (verses 1, 2, & 4)
⇑ BENEDICTION
⇑ BENEDICTION RESPONSE (C#434)
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 the 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! ***
The Oldtown Message
September 17, 2023
OLDTOWN CALENDAR
Sun Sept 17: Worship 10am
Wed Sept 20: Coffee Connection 10am-noon
~ Wondering About the WORD 6pm
~ Church committee meeting 7pm
Sat Sept 23: CANCELED: Pot Roast Supper
Sun Sept 24: 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, Edi, John, Katie, Lydia, Ben, Doug, Stephen, Kim, Beth, Perilene, Sheryl, Joanne, Michelle, Gloria, Tom, Mark, Patti, Marion, Gordon C., Skip, Phoebe, Jim, Barbara, James, Jean, 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, Nikki, Rhonda, Shawn, Nicholas, Mel, Matt, Peter, Jayne, Steve, Daniel, Sam, Jill, Shirley, Algernon, Shurbelle, Indie, Lynn, Alan & Paula, Denise, Patrick, Scott J, Hailey, Carole, Duane H., Kevin, and all of our first responders.
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
PRAYERS FOR THE COMING WEEK
MORNING
Loving God, I don’t know who or what will cross my path today. But I do know that You are my rock and my fortress. Help me to see the good in things and to embrace each moment as I share Your love with others. Amen.
EVENING
Thank you, God, for the beauty of this day. As I take time to rest tonight, let my heart be filled with the warmth of your love so that I may wake again tomorrow to serve you joyfully. Amen
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 58 in worship on Sunday, and our total giving to the church for the week was $1,747.16, which is $492.44 more than expected.
- So far, this year’s congregational giving is $6,300 more than we expected. Keep up the great work!!
Thanks to those who helped with our cleanup effort following the flooding damage earlier this week. A HUGE thank you to Ed for all the hard work he’s done starting while the rain was still falling on Monday and through this weekend and beyond. If you are interested in helping out with the work of keeping our beloved church building and schoolhouse in good working order, please see Ed or Pastor Kelly to see where and how you can help.
Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other, but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help.
~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (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