United Church of Gainesville

The Work of the People

Sunday, March 5, 2023 – 9:15 am

Our live stream begins at 9:15am. Click here to join.

“Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison”
(Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us)

WELCOME – Rev. Talia Raymond

 

PRELUDE – Phillip Herr-Klepacki

SCRIPTURE READING – The 23rd Psalm from the Hebrew Bible and as reimagined by Bobby McFerrin, Read by Carlos and Diego Frenock

OPENING SONG – “Like a Mother Who Has Borne Us” #583 in the black UCC Hymnal

TIME WITH THE CHILDREN – Rev. Talia Raymond
BIRTHDAYS
INTERLUDE 

READING – FROM TRAVELING MERCIES, written by Anne Lamott, Read by Jenny Hill     

SPECIAL MUSIC AND OFFERTORY- “Mercy” by Dave Matthews Band. Offered by Andy Bachmann and Eric Nelson, cello.

Your gifts support all facets of the UCG community. You can also give online: bit.ly/ucgplate

Don’t give up
I know you can see
All the world and the mess that we’re making
Can’t give up
And hope God will intercede
Come on back
Imagine that we could get it together
Stand up for what we need to be
Cause crying won’t save or feed a hungry child
Can’t lay down and hope a miracle will save us
So lift up your eyes
Lift up your heart

Chorus: Singing mercy will we overcome this
Oh one by one could we turn it around
Maybe carry on just a little bit longer
And I try to give you what you need

Me and you and you and you
Just want to be free yeah
But you see all the world is just as we’ve made it
And until we got a new world
Got to say that love is not a whisper or a weakness
No! Love is strong
So we got to get together yeah
Gotta get gotta get gotta get
Til there is no reason
To fight

PASTORAL PRAYER – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan

SUNG RESPONSE: “Bless the Lord” -#89 in the grey UCG Songbook
Phillip will play the Taize chant once; then we will sing it together twice

SERMON “Kyrie Eleison”- Rev. Talia Raymond

FINAL SONG- “Great is Your Faithfulness” #423 in the black UCC Hymnal

BENEDICTION

ALLELUIA

 

 Here are our UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week!

Happy Birthday!

John Lybas 03/05
Gabriel Thompson 03/05
Doug Whalen 03/05
Cherie Stabler Anderson 03/06
Michael Tudeen 03/06
Heather Hall Frenchman 03/07
Lisa McElwee-White 03/07
Barbara Kelleher 03/07
Ella Bittikoffer 03/08
Margee Rymal 03/08
Mary-Ellen Cross 03/10
Shawn Larson 03/11
Cathy Persons 03/11
Rebecca Vincent 03/11

Announcements

Many thanks to Diana Tonnessen for the bulletin cover art and to Diana, Susan James, and Andy Bachmann for creating the banners at the front of the Sanctuary.
Today at UCG
9:00am                                     Childcare
9:15am & 11:15am                  Worship – “Kyrie” – Rev. Talia Raymond
9:30am                                    United Tribes Time
10:15am                                   Fellowship & Beverages
                                                 YU & MST
                                                 Art in the Library Reception 
10:30am                                  Sunday Seminar 
12:30pm                                   Young Adult Lunch
                                                 Board of Membership 
2:00pm                                     OWL Session*
7:00pm                                     Climate Movie Night*Pre-registered Group

Food First Sunday is Today – Please place your donations in the cart in the Courtyard. If you forgot or prefer, you can donate here.

Lenten Booklets for Daily Reading – These special and beautiful booklets feature original artwork, music, photos, and writings by UCG members. Special thanks to Taylor Williams and Lisa Goldstein for their hard work compiling and creating these booklets and to all those who contributed their original work. Available for pick up or online.

Sunday Seminar – Join us for a presentation from John Nix, a fifth-generation black farmer here in Florida. He is an avid environmentalist and vocal supporter of generational farming and farmland retention. He will offer a fascinating perspective we all should hear. In Reimer Hall or on Zoom. Click here to join meeting. Meeting ID: 829 6457 0385 Passcode: 1624

Climate Movie Night TONIGHT at 7:00 pm in Reimer Hall– “Nature’s Best Hope: A Proactive Approach to Earth Stewardship” – Many bird species are approaching extinction. We’ll watch a video presentation by Dr. Doug Tallamy. We’ll discuss how we can do our part to help save nature in our own yards! Bring your own drink; we’ll provide the popcorn!

Parents’ Night Out is Friday, March 10 at 5:30pm – Children, infants through 5th grade are invited for a night of pizza and fun. $15 for the first child, $10 for each additional child. RSVP by Wed., March 8 to juliac@ucgainesville.org.

Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 12. Set your clocks ahead one hour the night before!

Common Threaders will meet at 10:15am on Sunday, March 12. Please bring any type of stitching, knitting, etc.., or just join us for some coffee and conversation.  Everyone is welcome, you do not need to have signed up for the small group.

Save the Date! Our Annual Noodles and Doodles Fundraiser is Coming on March 26! This Art Sale and Pasta Dinner Fundraiser supports our Youth United as they prepare for their summer Work Tour. This year, they are headed to West Virginia to work alongside Appalachia Service Project to assist homeowners with projects that will benefit their health and safety. If you have artwork that you have made or that you would simply like to re-home, we are accepting donations!  Please leave it in the office for Talia by Wednesday, March 22.  We appreciate your support of this fun event and of our youth!

BCYF is working on a United Tribes Directory! It will have the family’s picture beside the family’s contact information. If you have not completed a registration form, or need to update your information in Shelby Next, email juliac@ucgainesville.org.

A new way to connect with United Tribes! Stay updated about United Tribes and other Children’s Programming via Facebook, join the United Tribes Families Facebook page at bit.ly/TribesFB. Only parents of registered United Tribes children will be admitted to the group. We ask that any pictures including children that are not your own not be taken from the page and shared on social media accounts. Thanks!

Last chance to sign up for Tally Rally! Join ONA Committee, as we plan to attend Lobby Days, sponsored by Equality Florida, on March 13-14. Please register at bit.ly/talral23.

Next Sunday, March 12
9:00am                      Childcare
9:15am & 11:15am    Worship – “Gloria” – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
9:30am                     United Tribes Time
10:15am                     Fellowship & Beverages
                                  Entr’acte
                                  Art in the Library Reception
10:30am                   Sunday Seminar    
12:00pm                    Croquet Spring: Wander Thru the Wickets* 
3:00pm                      Theatre of Memory Museum*
4:00pm                      Dances of Universal Peace
7:00pm                      Sacred Sound Symphony*Pre-registered Group                                  

Interactive Lenten Art – The Lively Arts Committee has designed stained glass-like art hangings that are along the sides of the Sanctuary. Each bears the focus word for each Sunday in Lent. We need your help to add color and bring them to life! Each Sunday, a question will appear in the bulletin that relates to the theme of the day. As you depart the Sanctuary, you will see a table with pens, markers, and colored paper. We invite you to respond to the question of the day by writing a word, phrase, or drawing on a piece of colored paper. The papers will be added to the week’s artwork colorfully representing “The Work of the People.” When have you experienced mercy?


Spring Small Groups Participant Opportunities!
Contact the front office if you are interested in joining any of these small groups.

Lenten Small Groups with Rev. Bromleigh:

Lenten Lectio Divina/Lectio Vita Thursdays, February 23 – March 30, 7:00-8:00p.m. on Zoom. Join in this practice of the devotional reading of both Scriptures and news stories, to hear what the voice of the divine might speak into your heart. Meeting ID: 827 3925 3374 Passcode: 1624

How to Begin When Your World Is Ending – March 21 and April 18, 7:00-8:00p.m. on Zoom. Read and discuss the newest, wonderful book by the Rev. Molly Baskette (a pastor in the UCC). Meeting ID: 875 8140 3722 Passcode: 1624

Dances of Universal Peace are led & (taught) with Musical Instruction with Vocal accompaniment from participants, Joyful & Inspired from all cultures & Spiritual attunement & Inspiration. The group meets on the 2nd Sunday of each month at 4pm in the West Wing led by Nurallah Briseno.

The Community Weatherization Coalition (CWC) is a local non-profit that UCG members helped to found, and several UCG members serve as active volunteers. During CWC’s three-part Spring Energy Coach training, you’ll learn how you can save local families money on their utility expenses and empowering residents with dozens of conservation tips. If you are interested in joining other UCG volunteers, contact the front office. First training meeting is Wednesday, March 22 at 5:30pm.

Writing Your Own Peace Together – Do you have a lot to say? Do you have a lot of feelings? Observations? Memories? Dreams? And (God forbids) opinions to share? If you are one of those with a lot of any of that, come join Christine Engels and others, we will have a nice space on a Saturday afternoon to sit down and write.  And maybe, just maybe, we can talk about writing and enjoy other writing topics. The group will meet on Saturday, March 25th from 3-4 pm in UCG’s Room 9. Join us for a ‘writing’ (or jolly) good time.

March 3 COVID Update – According to the CDC, Alachua County residents once again have a high risk of seri-ous illness from COVID-19. The County is back in the Orange Zone, after just one week in the Yellow Zone. Although new case numbers are decreasing, hospital ad-missions are again rising. Masks are again required for everyone in the Sanctuary.