Second Sunday in Advent
The Parables of Christmas
The United Church of Gainesville – December 6, 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.
Join us at the first ever UCG Drive-Through Christmas pageant from 10am-10:45am in the east parking lot!
Welcome, Prayers, and Lighting of the Second Advent Candle
Welcome – Rev. Talia Raymond
Prayers of the People – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
The Lighting of the Candle of Peace – Heidi, Taylor, Lucy,
and Joseph Stein
Time with Children – I am Peace, A Book of Mindfulness by Susan Verde, art by Peter H. Reynolds.
Kids and parents, please join us for the second week of our “Virtual Christmas Craft Fair!”
A Poem by Taylor Williams
Dearest Child, music by Zach Neece, words by Larry Reimer, from UCG’s Lessons and Carols Service, 2005
A Poem by Peggy Mixon
Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming, Offered by Mary Caraher, Sue Hartman, and Susan Kirkland
Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem, by Dr. Maya Angelou, read by Rev. Andy Bachmann
Reflection on Peace, Rev. Talia Raymond
O Come, O Come Emmanuel:
O Come, O Wisdom from on high,
and order all things far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show,
and help us in that way to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!
Here are the UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week.
Happy Birthday!
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Beverly |
Holt |
12/06 |
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Patti |
Williams |
12/06 |
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Colt |
Brewer |
12/07 |
|
Aoife |
Boisseau |
12/07 |
|
Jonathan |
Gitzendanner |
12/08 |
|
Travis |
Harris |
12/08 |
|
Patt |
Shille |
12/09 |
|
Mitchell |
Jim |
12/10 |
|
Boone |
Vogel |
12/10 |
|
Ann |
Gill |
12/11 |
|
Taylor |
Howard |
12/11 |
|
Henry |
Kaufman |
12/11 |
|
Tim |
Martin |
12/11 |
|
Julian |
Hill |
12/12 |
Sunday Schedule
No Sunday Seminar today! Join us at the first ever UCG Drive-Through Christmas pageant from 10am-10:45am in the east parking lot!
Please also join us at 12:30pm for Congregational Coffee Hour – Talia 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. Meeting ID: 875 0792 2974 Passcode: 1624
Important Announcements
Advent Devotional Book – Make your way through Advent guided by the voices of our community. Pick up a hard copy in the basket in the Courtyard at church, get one in the mail (email shannas@ucgainesville.org), or check our FB page at noon for each day’s reading. Download a PDF at www.bit.ly/UCG20AdventBook
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Small Group Registration ends TODAY. 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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Christmas Eve Worship Dec 24 • Times to be determined. We’ll definitely live stream; we may be outside in person, too. We want our rejoicing to be safe. We need your input! Please follow the link to complete a survey to help us know how best to support your household’s celebration of this holy night. www.bit.ly/WouldUCGCome
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The Compassion in Action Committee is soliciting requests for Christmas Mini-Grants in support of people or causes that are in need of financial assistance during the Holiday season. These small grants of $50 to $150 typically go to local individuals and families who have been identified by church members. Click here to submit your request. The deadline for requests is Dec. 7.
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Rawlings Christmas Angel Gift Market – 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!
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.
Please note: do not come to the session if you have answered yes to any of the following questions on December 12:
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In past 5 days, have you or anyone in your household had a fever, cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, fatigue, body aches, headache, sore throat, runny nose, vomiting, or diarrhea?
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In past 14 days have you been in close contact with someone known to have COVID-19 or displaying coronavirus symptoms?
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Have you tested positive for COVID-19 and not yet received medical clearance to return to public activities?
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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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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.