The United Church of Gainesville – September 20, 2020

If you would like to watch the service as a playlist, please click here and you will be directed to our YouTube page. If you prefer, you may click on the individual links below at your own pace.

Welcome, Prayers, and Musical Response

Welcome – Rev. Talia Raymond

Time of Prayer –  Rev. Andy Bachmann

Prayer Response – Ubi Caritas, Tane DeKrey, piano, Jackie Davis, bass, and Mary Fukuyama, flute
Ubi caritas et amor, Ubi caritas Deus ibi est

Time with Children – We are Family by Patrica Hegarty, Illustrated by Ryan Wheatcroft. Shared by Johan and Brandon Telg, with special appearance by Spencer Telg

Welcome to United Tribes Worship!

Join us at United Tribes Activity Time at 10am!

Reading, Sermon, and Photo Reflection

Reading –  from In One Era & Out the Other, by Sam Levenson – Read by Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan

“For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge you’ll never walk alone.
…We leave you a tradition with a future.
The tender loving care of human beings will never become obsolete.
People even more than things have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed and redeemed and redeemed.
Never throw out anybody.
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands: one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.
Your “good old days” are still ahead of you, may you have many of them.”

Sermon – “Transitions and Traditions,” Rev. Talia Raymond

Jeremiah 29:11-14:  For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

Photo Reflections of UCG Traditions, set to I’ve Got Peace Like a River
I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a river in my soul. ( x2 ) 
…Joy like a fountain …Love like an ocean

 

Here are the UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week.
Happy Birthday!

Allan	March	09/20
Melvin	Smith-Lopez	09/20
Barbara	Beynon	09/21
Anni	Maxwell	09/21
Marc	Smith	09/21
Stella	Bachmann	09/22
David	Dick	09/22
Suzi	Kaufman	09/23
Cheryl	Poe	09/23
Luke	Engels	09/24
Jane	Day	09/25
Tennyson	Coates	09/26

 

Sunday Seminars Today!

Sunday Seminar, September 20, at 11:15AM – “Zoomified Meet and Greet” session with Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan. We’ll start the seminar with any pre-emailed questions and then open it up for more discussion. Please join us in this first of several planned opportunities to meet our new minister! Join here! If the link does not work, you can enter this Meeting ID:829 6457 0385.

Sunday Seminar, September 20, at 12:30pm – Congregational Coffee Hour – Talia Raymond will be available on our Zoom account to talk and share. She’ll be prepared to talk about the online worship experience, but with no set agenda other than hoping to see your faces and have a chance to touch base. Join here.

 

Important Announcements

TODAY! Young Adults Sunday Lunch Group –UCG Young Adult Group is kicking off our fall virtual lunch meetings this morning, September 20th, and each Sunday this fall. Are you a UCG young adult? Older than high school, younger than 30ish? Grab your lunch (optional) and join the UCG YA group for a meal, making connections, and for discussions on various topics. We will start off with welcoming new folks to the group and discussing “Spiritual Practices that help with stress.” Call Judy Parsons 352-213-6516 if you have any questions or need more information. Join here at Noon.

Do you serve on a board or committee? If so, we’re excited to see you at All-Board Kickoff on Sunday, September 27th from 4pm – 6pm. Although we aren’t able to gather in person this year, Council Exec has plans to flex our Zoom muscles and deliver an engaging virtual event! Register today. Questions? Contact Rebecca Beachy.

Small Groups Registration is Underway – Small Groups are alive and well! We currently have 18 offerings for various groups, ranging from sports and pastimes such as surfing, drumming, uke-playing, and book-reading to serious discussions with COVID-19 survivors about the state of our current knowledge and ramifications of surviving the disease. Registration runs September 6 – 20 and you can click here to register. Groups will likely take place in the virtual space of Zoom meetings. We invite all to join. HOWEVER.. are you lacking in Zoom knowledge, skills, equipment, or courage? You can find help and solace at UCG. Just contact Jeff Shapiro, and we can arrange practice sessions and/or phone conversations about your participation in Zoom-space.

Share Your Story! We will be celebrating PRIDE Sunday on October 18! One element that makes our Pride service so meaningful are the personal stories shared by our members. This year’s theme is: “History of Pride.” Would you be willing to share your story of your history of Pride? This can be about your own life story as a member of the LGBTQQIA+ community or as a friend or family member that has been on a journey with our community. It can be about an experience at a live Pride festival, your story of finding Pride in yourself or a loved one, or something else that this theme brings to mind for you. If you would be willing to share a 2-5 minute reflection/story, please email Talia. We will most likely still be virtual, and you are welcome to submit your own video, or we will coordinate a time for you to record in the Sanctuary. Thank you for sharing your story, your history of Pride with your UCG family.

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If you are a regular supporter through our collected offering, please consider making your donation now.  Our budgeted (anticipated) amount of Plate Income for 2020 is $40,000, so we rely on the weekly passing of the plate. To GIVE, click here to make a one-time donation to UCG -or- to set up a recurring donation via your bank account or credit card click here.  Thank you for your support.

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Please note: While the Church Office remains closed, we are still available by phone or email from 9am – 4pm, Monday – Friday.