Update on Ray Meeks

On Tuesday, I visited Ray Meeks at Madison Correctional Institution after quite a long absence. It seems that after having visited Ray since 1981 I had to re-file for volunteer status as a pastoral visitor. This meant getting a background check including going to Florida State Prison at Raiford to get fingerprinted. Then I had…

Details

CIA news – March 2023

Eat Local, Grow Hope Global:  Impact Food Scarcity and Justice  Join other UCGers to help ensure food security for our community by shopping at area farmers markets.  Supportive markets are open at Grove Street Market on Mondays and GNV Market on Thursdays, plus  Saturday mornings at Haile Farmers Market. Look for the Eat Local Grow…

Details

Youth News – March 2023

Our Annual Noodles and Doodles Fundraiser is Coming on March 26! – This Art Sale and Pasta Dinner Fundraiser supports our Youth United as they prepare for their summer Work Tour. This year, they are headed to West Virginia to work alongside Appalachia Service Project to assist homeowners with projects that will benefit their health…

Details

Kairos – March 2023

“We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.”  “The Servant Song” is one of our UCG favorite hymns for all occasions. The message is simple. Help others and have the grace to let others help us too. We are here to bear witness to each other’s lives, to show up,…

Details

Sunday Seminars – March 2023

The UCG Sunday Seminar Committee is proud to announce a line-up of seminars we are certain you will enjoy. Seminars are in-person and on Zoom – Sundays at 10:30 am. Meeting ID: 829 6457 0385 Passcode: 1624   3/5 Join us for a presentation from John Nix, a fifth-generation black farmer here in Florida. He is an avid…

Details

Board of Business- March 2023

We did it! Thanks to the wonderful generosity of all of our UCG members, we received $820,337 in total 2023 pledges, enough to craft a balanced budget for this year. This year’s budget will allow us to address some inequity in salaries for some of our staff and ministers, maintain the salary for a third…

Details

Clergy Corner – February 2023

January was a big month for us as a community. Individually, many of us were passing a variety of viruses around our homes. As a community, we began with the news of Andy’s retirement from congregational ministry at the end of April and finished with a very full Sunday morning, welcoming new members, gathering at…

Details

A Note from Andy

Friends, with the announcement of my retirement from the ministry, I have been overwhelmed by your outpouring of love. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.  These remaining three months will be rich and bittersweet for me. It’s been the highest honor of my life to serve as your pastor, and there will be…

Details

Lenten Opportunities This Month

Walk the Labyrinth  In the Sanctuary February 20-22, 8:30am – 4:00pm- UCG’s large canvas labyrinth and finger labyrinths will be available for those who wish to engage in this ancient practice of walking contemplation.    Lenten Booklets for Daily Reading These special and beautiful booklets feature original artwork, music, photos, and writings by UCG members.…

Details

Vinery Update – February 2023

Dear friends,  It was my distinct pleasure to travel with Judy Parsons and Lucy Stein (now a college freshman!) to Clemson University earlier this week for a conference hosted by The Vinery. The Vinery, you’ll recall, is the Lilly funded project which brings together cohorts of congregations in close proximity to colleges and universities, and…

Details

Sunday Seminars – February 2023

The UCG Sunday Seminar Committee is proud to announce a line-up of seminars we are certain you will enjoy. Seminars are in-person and on Zoom – Sundays at 10:30 am. Meeting ID: 829 6457 0385 Passcode: 1624 February 5- “What IS a Chaplain?” Join us as chaplain, and UCG member, Ellen Ribe will talk about…

Details

United Tribes – February 2023

New way to connect! If you would like to stay updated with pictures, announcements, and discussions about United Tribes and other Children’s Programming via Facebook, we invite you to join this United Tribes Families Private Facebook group.  For safety, only parents of registered United Tribes children will be admitted to the group. We have a…

Details