Welcome to Worship
Sunday, March 13, 2022- 9:15am
Lent: Broken Heroes
Join us here for a live-stream beginning at 9:15am
“Regrets? I’ve had a few.” – Frank Sinatra
What is the last big risk you took? What was the first?
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION- Rev. Andy Bachmann
PRELUDE- “Tales from the Loop” by Philip Glass and Paul Leonard-Morgan. Offered by Phillip Herr-Klepacki.
INVOCATION – From Ralph Waldo Emerson, from a letter to his daughter, offered by Mary Nutter
Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities
no doubt crept in;
Forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day;
Begin it well and serenely
And with too high a spirit
To be cumbered with
your old nonsense.
This day is all that is
good and fair.
It is too dear,
with its hopes and invitations,
To waste a moment on yesterday.
OPENING SONG – “Gather Us In”
Here in this place, new light is streaming, now is the darkness vanished away;
See in this place our fears and our dreamings, brought here to you in the light of this day.
Gather us in, the lost and forsaken, gather us in, the blind and the lame; call to us now and we shall awaken, we shall arise at the sound of our name.
Not in the dark of buildings confining, not in some heaven light-years away–
Here in this place, the new light is shining, now is the kin-dom, and now is the day.
Gather us in and hold us forever, gather us in and make us your own;
Gather us in, all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bones.
RESPONSIVE PRAYER – adapted from the Naomi Shihab Nye poem, “Kindness” Led by Jim Harper
Leader: Before you know what kindness is
People: You must lose things,
Leader: feel the future dissolve in a moment
People: like salt in a weakened broth.
Leader: What you hold in your hand, what you counted and carefully saved,
People: all this must go so you know
Leader: how desolate the landscape can be between the regions of kindness.
People: Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness
Leader: before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
People: you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
Leader: You must speak to it till your voice catches the thread of all sorrows
People: and you see the size of the cloth.
All: Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore.
SPECIAL MUSIC – “Chicago” by Sufjan Stevens, adapted by the Staves, offered by Salina Briseno Kiker and Katy Lemie
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN- Rev. Andy Bachmann
BIRTHDAYS
The Remembrance Quilt Project, with Dawn Beachy
SUNG RESPONSE- “Humble Thyself”
SCRIPTURE
1 Corinthians 13:12-13, “Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.”
SERMON- “Faith, Hope, and Love in Times of Desperation”- Rev. Andy Bachmann
PRAYER CONCERNS-Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
SUNG RESPONSE- Gather Us In, verse 2.
We are the young, our lives are a mystery, we are the old who yearn for your face;
We have been sung throughout all of history, called to be light to the whole human race.
Gather us in, the rich and the haughty, gather us in, the proud and the strong;
Give us a heart so meek and so lowly, give us the courage to enter the song.
BENEDICTION
SUNG RESPONSE- The Peace of the Earth
The peace of the earth be with you, the peace of the heavens too;
The peace of the rivers be with you, the peace of the oceans too.
Deep peace falling over you,
God’s peace growing in you.
POSTLUDE – “Amazing Love” by Graham Hendrick
Here are the UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week!
Happy Birthday!
|
Anne |
Bonneville |
03/13 |
|
Coleen |
DeGroff |
03/14 |
|
Jean |
Epling |
03/14 |
|
Joan |
Rothrock |
03/14 |
|
Tom |
Williams |
03/14 |
|
Sue |
Hartman |
03/16 |
|
Dorothy |
Stroman |
03/16 |
|
Mira |
Lemstrom |
03/17 |
|
Tom |
Rothrock |
03/17 |
|
Elise |
Telg |
03/17 |
|
Marthe |
Walters |
03/17 |
|
Candice |
King |
03/18 |
Announcements
Today at UCG
9am -12:15pm Childcare
9:15 & 11:15M Worship Service
9:30am United Tribes
10:15am All-Church Retreat Registration
Fellowship & Beverages
10:30am Adult Seminar
Confirmation Class – Youth Room
4:00pm All Church Jam & Peoples Picnic @ Parker Park (YU & MST will join)
ONA – via Zoom
6:00pm Sacred Sound Symphony – Sanctuary
Lenten Devotional Booklet – with daily readings to guide you through your Lenten journey, are available in the Courtyard this morning. Click here for an electronic copy.
United Tribes will explore what Palm Sunday and Easter are about.
Sunday Seminar at 10:30am – Kairos Ministry – Who are the thoughtful folks are who set up our care cards every Sunday, inviting us to send an encouraging word or message of love to members in need? How does our church of 600 people still find a way to provide personal care and thoughtful concern for one another? Ever received a casserole from the church or wondered how you might be able to share your casserole with others? Come learn about our ministry of care through the Kairos Committee. Join us in Reimer Hall or on YouTube
Retreat Registration TODAY in the Library! Please plan to attend our All-Church Retreat – April 1-3 at Warren Willis Camp near Fruitland Park, FL. Things will be a bit different this year, but we promise a simple weekend of family-friendly fun, relaxation, and fellowship! Our theme is “Simply Retreat” Registration Dates: Today, 10:15am-12:30pm in the Courtyard; Weekdays, through Friday, March 18, 9am to 4:30pm in the church office; Deadline for all registration is 4:30pm on Friday, March 18. **And all participants must be fully vaccinated to the fullest extent possible, and a negative PCR, not rapid, test within 72 hours prior to beginning are required. Click here for more information.
People’s Picnic Today! And be sure to join us at Parker (formerly J.J.Finley) Park, for an evening of relaxation and fun for The People’s Picnic from 4-6:30. Bring your own food, and don’t forget to bring your instrument if you want to join the All Church Jam from 4-5!
The Return of the UCG Rummage Sale – March 18-19, 7:00am-3:00pm -Let us help you with your spring cleaning, while you help us raise funds for the Summer Youth Work Tour! We will continue collecting items through Thursday, March 17 in the West Wing. If you need pick-up services, please contact taliar@ucgainesville.org. The kids are traveling to Chicago to study structural injustice and systems of poverty. Join us in supporting them in this important opportunity.
UCC Ukraine Relief Fund- The United Church of Christ is appealing for support for refugees, elderly and other vulnerable people who are displaced within Ukraine and unable to leave. As a member of the ACT Alliance, UCC support is being targeted to people most in need through humanitarian relief partners.Gifts made to UCC Ukraine Relief Fund will provide shelter, food, and other care to war refugees and internally displaced people. You can submit your support via check to UCG (notate Ukraine Relief in the memo line) or click here to give directly. Thank you for your support.
Grushers Needed! We are in need of more Grusher volunteers (aka greeter/ushers) at both services this spring. No experience necessary. Come 15 minutes early and basically be a welcoming presence for our friends and families returning to UCG after the long pandemic-related pause. Email denalidar@gmail.com for information or to help!
Thursday Taizé – 6:35 – 7:10pm – Join us for a contemplative service every Thursday during Lent, where we will sing Taizé chants, pray, and hear the words of Scripture. Bring the kids for Children’s Lenten Series: God is Still With Us –from 6:30-7:15pm, Room 9. Join Talia, Keri, and special guests for a special Lenten Series for kids.
The Compassion in Action Committee “To Replenish Everyday Essentials (TREE)” project for people living with HIV- Sunday, March 27. Early donations the week of March 20th accepted in Seminar B, from 9am-4:30pm. Requested items: toilet paper, bleach tablets, toothbrushes & toothpaste, laundry detergent (30 loads), disposable razors, shaving cream/gel, shampoo & conditioner, deodorant, soap bars, household cleaners, dish soap, and feminine products (pads and liners.) THANK YOU for your support of Gainesville area residents living in poverty with HIV.
Did You Know? Did you know that an anonymous donor from UCG contributed the entire cost of building a Habitat for Humanity home in the Duval neighborhood? This past week, Andy participated in the blessing of the home, now completed, for Cheryl and her daughter, Kennetha. It was a beautiful day, and our hearts are filled with gratitude. Good things are being done by amazing UCGer’s all around us! Thank you!
Next Sunday, March 20
9am -12:15pm Childcare
9:15 & 11:15M Worship Service
9:30am United Tribes
10:15am Fellowship & Beverages
10:30am Adult Seminar
11:15am Friendship Group
12:15pm Young Adult Lunch
March 12 COVID-19 Update