A strange and unusual hurricane season Here we are midway through September and feeling grateful that we have been spared any severe storms for this hurricane season. The tropics are just starting to look active, and at this writing (September 13) there is our first notable Atlantic “blob” heading for the Caribbean islands. Good thoughts…
DetailsJoin us this month as we gather for these great opportunities! Oct 9 – 5:30-7pm – MST and YU: *Spooky* Second Sundays Halloween Carnival. Prep and Pumpkin Painting Party! 4:30, meal preparers arrive. Oct 16 – 7 am – MST meets to clean up the parking lot from football parking. *Youth Attend Congregational Meeting*…
DetailsI joined UCG in 1990. Some people go to several churches to find somewhere that feels right. My experience was a little different. I decided to start with the church of my youth which was the Christian Science Church. It turned out to be just as uncomfortable and confusing to me as it was when…
DetailsDuring October, the UCG Sunday Seminar Committee will host an inspiring collection of Sunday Seminars: They will be available live in Reimer Hall or on Zoom at 10:30am. Meeting ID: 829 6457 0385, Passcode: 1624. Please join us! 10/2 & 10/9 – Seminars are canceled on these dates due to Hurricane Ian. 10/16 – Fall Congregational…
DetailsIt’s that time of year again…we are gathering writings and visual art for the 2022 Advent devotional booklet! You can contribute one of your favorite writings (poems, sermon excerpts, songs and hymns, etc.!) or an original piece of your own. Please submit all writings as an attached word document or straight to the body of…
DetailsLooking forward to October, we will again support the Gainesville Area AIDS Project (GAAP) and their TREE program (The Replenishment of Everyday Essentials). Help us support our income challenged neighbors living with HIV/AIDS. Many essential items cannot be purchased through SNAP. Items needed are: toilet paper, bleach tablets, toothpaste, laundry detergent (30 loads), disposable razors,…
DetailsOver the course of a week in August the north playground was regraded and new drainage installed. Then a group of dedicated volunteers spent a Saturday morning cleaning and reinstalling the play equipment. Many thanks to all that helped!
There was an excitement in the air last Sunday at our Gathering of the Waters ceremony. The symbolic regathering of our community after our summers away was inspiring. I love our ritual, where we pour a little part of what we have found in our time of separation, and season our sacred waters with the…
DetailsThe work of the Compensation Task Force (CTF) was initiated by Rev. Shelly Wilson. She recognized that compensation is approximately 72% of the UCG budget and non-discretionary expenses like utilities and liability insurance equal another 23% for a total of almost 95% of the entire budget. She noted that recent rates of increase in salary…
DetailsJoin us in our discernment as we consider whether the United Church of Gainesville should become a Creation Justice Church. This eight month process will help us to clarify and unify our vision for UCG. The designation to become a Creation Justice congregation is a title bestowed by our denomination to those congregations that have…
DetailsAugust was a very busy time for the Board of Business. We have completed most of the roofing project and are awaiting the reroofing of the flat portion of the roof. Our roofer has informed us that 5 days without rain are needed to completely finish the project. The Building and Grounds Subcommittee has made…
DetailsUCG’s Compassion in Action Committee is sponsoring the Food 4 Kids program at Rawlings Elementary School again this year. For children whose families are struggling to feed their kids, this program sends home reusable bags of food each weekend during the school year. Last year we saw a huge uptick in participation in our program,…
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