Welcome to Worship
Textual Triptych
The United Church of Gainesville – November 22, 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.
“Hard times ain’t gonna rule my mind no more.” – Gillian Welch
Welcome, Call to Worship, and Special Music
Welcome- Andy Bachmann
Call to Worship – from Common Prayer shared by Talia Raymond
Composer of Creation, create in us a new rhythm of life
Composed of hours that sustain rather than stress,
Of days that deliver rather than destroy,
Of time that tickles rather than tackles.
Leader of Liberation, by the rhythm of your truth, set us free
From the bondage and baggage that break us,
From the Pharaohs and fellows who fail us,
From the plans and pursuits that prey upon us.
Ringleader of Resurrection, may we be raised into the rhythm of your new life,
Dead to deceitful labors,
Dead to fleeting friend requests,
Dead to the empty peace of our accomplishments.
To our packed-full minds, we bid, “Peace!”
To our over-caffeinated consciences, we say, “Cease!”
To our suffocating selves, Holy One, grant release.
Musical Interlude – “All Good Things,” from the musical, Godspell. Offered by Hannah Norton, Cindy Martin, and Tane’ DeKrey
Click here to enjoy Time with Children and United Tribes Worship – Offered by Kathryn Seagle and Jeremy Archer
Join us for United Tribes Activity Time at 10am!
Prayers, Scripture, Special Music, and Sermon
Prayers and Scripture- Bromleigh McCleneghan
Isaiah 65:21-25- They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity; for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord— and their descendants as well. Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent—its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the Lord.
Special Music, “Hard Times” by Gillian Welch, offered by Ricky Kendall
Sermon- “Living Through the Last Verse” by Andy Bachmann
Benediction
Alleluia
Here are the UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week.
Happy Birthday!
| Jeremy | Archer | 11/22 |
| David | Rixx | 11/23 |
| Cory | Wise | 11/23 |
| Jackie | Davis | 11/27 |
| Laura | Line | 11/27 |
| Jim | Harper | 11/27 |
Sunday Schedule
Sunday Seminar, November 22 at 11:15am – Jackie Davis and the historian Sherry Dupree, will speak on the Alachua Co. Community Remembrance Project (ACCRP)/ Remembering Victims of Racial Violence. The ACCRP is a local community group working in partnership with Equal Justice Initiative from Montgomery, AL to remember and honor the victims of racial violence from the Jim Crow era in Alachua County, and to recognize the legacy that it has left in persistent racial disparities. Jackie Davis will talk briefly about ACCRP; and Sherry Dupree will talk about the history of racial violence in Florida. Click here to join. Meeting ID: 829 6457 0385 Passcode: 1624
Please also join us at 12:30pm for Congregational Coffee Hour – Andy will be available on our Zoom account to talk and share. He’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. Meeting ID: 875 0792 2974 Passcode: 1624
UCG Young Adults Sunday Lunch Group at 12pm – Join here . Passcode: UCG
Important Announcements
The survey is here! As part of our newly-adopted Three-Year-Plan, we have committed to periodically checking in with each other to assess how well church programs are meeting our needs for spiritual nurture, connection, and accessibility. Please respond to the survey today! It should take less than 10 minutes for most. Thanks!
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The Children’s Christmas Pageant is on! Please sign-up here to take part in this year’s first UCG Drive-Through Pageant on December 6th! Each scene will be set up around the parking lot in order so folks who drive through can experience the Christmas Story. Please pay attention to the grade levels, we don’t want you to miss your year to be that character. There are two spots available for each speaking part (4th and 5th graders) so that they can take turns.
We ask that the cast arrive at 9:30 for a talk-through and to get in costume. The Drive-Through will begin at 10am and last until 10:45. Adults, if you can help set the scenes at 8:30, and break down after, we will appreciate the help!
**Masks are required for all, social distancing will be in place, and we will be outside only**
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Small Group Registration continues through Sunday, December 7. We currently have over 20 various offerings and invite you to join! Click here to see the offerings and register. If you need help with Zoom, contact Jeff Shapiro, and we can arrange practice sessions and/or phone conversations about your participation in Zoom-space.
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Rawlings Christmas Angel Gift Market
Thank you so much for donating to the Rawlings gift market. This is a highly anticipated event at Rawlings and parents have been asking for the past month if it is going to happen again this year. In a time of financial hardship, this event is more important than ever. Please use the link to Sign-up Genius here to indicate which gifts you will purchase. Please drop them off unwrapped at UCG in the parking lot on December 6 or 13 between 10 and 12 or in Seminar B on Monday, Wednesday or Friday between 10 and 2 the weeks of November 29 or December 6. It would be very helpful if you could include a cloth shopping bag or sturdy paper bag with handles (like those from Trader Joe’s) that parents can use for shopping. Blessings to you for being a Christmas Angel!
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The All Church Band Christmas Sing – A – Long will happen. The musicians only will gather on SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 10:00 AM IN THE COURTYARD AT UCG to record the music, which will be part of the December 20th Worship Service.
Here’s How:
- Pick up music at UCG beginning December 1. It will be on a card table next to the office by the water fountain in a bin of some sort. Sign the sheet indicating you have picked up music and are going to play.
- Show up on December 12 at 10:00 am. Have a mask for yourself, and if possible, one for your instrument. If you don’t have an instrument mask, wrap a cloth around the bell and secure it with a rubber band. We will have a few extra trumpet masks.
- Bring a music stand if you have one.
- We will gather in the courtyard 6 feet apart, perhaps in two rows, also 6 feet apart.
- We’ll do one practice.
- Then we’ll do a take, performing it so Holden Martin can record it to be used at the December 20 service.
Let Larry know if you’re playing – reimer.larry@ucgainesville.org. Or just show up.
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Fanciful stories! Personal stories! Epic stories! Scary stories! Wisdom stories! Your stories! Zoom with us on Tuesday, November 24 for an hour of storytelling beginning at 7:00 pm. Hosted by Drew Willard. Join here! Meeting ID: 810 6321 1871 Passcode: FALLSG
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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.