United Church of Gainesville
“Game Plan”
Sunday, October 15, 2023 – 10:00 a.m.
Our live stream begins at 10:00 a.m. Click here to join.
~ Troy Bolton
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS — Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghanPRELUDE — “We’re All in This Together” by Matthew Gerrard and Robbie Nevil. Offered by Aiyana Duerksen-Raymond, Talia Raymond, and Shay Smith.
CALL TO WORSHIP – Gary Kirkland
Come!
Come into the place where God listens!
Where you need no money, no status, no fine clothes!
Come as you are
Broken, whole
Sick, well
Satisfied or with deep needs
Come to sing
Come to cry
Come to hear
Come to see
Come and be ready or
Come to be made ready
We are here
God is here too
~ from “Liturgies from Below,” edited by Cláudio Carvaeles
OPENING HYMN — “Enter, Rejoice, and Come In”
TIME WITH CHILDREN — offered by UCG Moderator-Elect Lindsey Telg
PRAYER
BIRTHDAYS
INTERLUDE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE — Rev Talia Raymond
RESPONSIVE SONG — “They’ll Know We’re God’s People by Our Love” — Phillip Herr-Klepacki, piano
We are one in the spirit, we are one in the Lord (2x)
And we pray that all unity will one day be restored,
And they’ll know we’re God’s people by our love, by our love (2x)
We will walk with each other, we will walk side by side (2x)
We will guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride
And they’ll know we’re God’s people by our love, by our love (2x)
NEW MEMBER INTRODUCTIONS
Sharon Conley
Vicki Davis
Stacy Dreher
Michelle Nall
Ryan Nall
Alan Paisley
Josephine Przepoira
Paul Pritchard
Pam Williams
- Something I am seeking at UCG
- A talent or strength that I bring to this church
- One thing I’d like you to know about me
WELCOME OF NEW MEMBERS — UCG Moderator Jeremy Archer
READING OF THE COMPACT
PRAYER FOR NEW MEMBERS and a SHARED BLESSING
RESPONSE — “They’ll Know We’re God’s People by Our Love”
We will work with each other; we will work side by side (x2)
And we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride.
And they’ll know we’re God’s people by our love, by our love (2x)
And they’ll know we’re God’s people by our love, by our love (2x)
READING – Psalm 133:1
How very good and pleasant it is
when kindred live together in unity!
OFFERTORY – “Heart” by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross – presented by Sluggo, Lefty, Sparky, and the Bench Warming Bennies
You gotta have heart.
Miles and miles and miles of heart.
Oh, it’s fine to be a genius of course.
But keep that old horse before the cart.
First, you’ve gotta have heart.
Your gifts today support the Neighbors in Need special offering of the United Church of Christ. You can also give online: https://bit.ly/ucgplate choosing Neighbors in Need in the drop-down menu.
SCRIPTURES — Acts 2: 43-47
Awe came upon everyone because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
SERMON — “We’re All in This Together” — Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
CLOSING SONG — “Servant Song”
Neighbor, let me be your servant
Let me be as grace to you
Pray that I may have the grace
To let you be my servant, too
We are pilgrims on a journey
We are neighbors on the road
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load
I will hold the grace light for you
In the night-time of your fear
I will hold my hand out to you
Speak the peace you long to hear
I will weep when you are weeping
When you laugh I’ll laugh with you
I will share your joy and sorrow
Till we’ve seen this journey through
BENEDICTION — Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
“ALLELUIA”
POSTLUDE
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Ty |
Robertson |
10/15 |
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Jhett |
Hill |
10/16 |
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Ella |
Johnson |
10/16 |
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Scott |
DeMouey |
10/16 |
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Abby |
Land |
10/18 |
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Lola |
Yousey |
10/18 |
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Caryss |
Baldwin |
10/19 |
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Ben |
Murphy |
10/20 |
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Skylar |
Tudeen |
10/20 |
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Lesley |
LeBaron |
10/21 |
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Noah |
Robertson |
10/21 |
Today at UCG
Welcoming New Members – Fall Congregational Meeting
9:00 a.m. Lively Arts Committee – Library and Zoom
10:00 a.m. Worship – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
10:15 a.m. United Tribes – Education Wing
11:00 a.m. Fellowship and Beverages – Courtyard
New Members Reception – Reimer Hall
11:30 a.m. Fall Congregational Meeting — Sanctuary
5:30 p.m. YU/MST Second Sundays – Sanctuary
7:00 p.m. Climate Justice Movie Night – Reimer Hall
No Sunday Seminar this week. Join us at the fall congregational meeting at 11:30 a.m. after the new members’ reception.
Join us for our Fall congregational meeting today at 11:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary and on Zoom. We will discuss and vote on the Transition Team’s proposal and the 2024 challenge budget, as well as kick off the 2024 enlistment campaign.
Neighbors in Need this Morning – Neighbors in Need (NIN) is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion in the United States. This year, the focus of the denomination’s campaign is environmental justice and the ways we are called to steward our world’s resources and life. Thank you for your support of this important offering.
The lost and found table will be in the courtyard for the next two Sundays. Please take a look to see if anything belongs to you. Any items not claimed will be donated.
Climate Justice Movie Night this evening at 7:00 p.m. Join us in Reimer Hall to watch “Tomorrow,” a positive look at things folks are doing in communities around the world to fight climate change! We’ll have Connie Caldwell’s famous popcorn, and you can BYOB (bring your own beverage)! Hosted by Connie Caldwell and Jackie Davis. All are welcome!
Today is the deadline to register for the Men’s Retreat “Masking and Unmasking: Living into Our Authentic Selves,” November 3-5 at Camp Weed in Live Oak, Florida. The cost per person is $155, which includes two nights of lodging in shared rooms, all meals from Saturday breakfast through Sunday breakfast, and all programming. Scholarships are available if the cost is a barrier. Click here to register.
Calling All Artists! Exhibit your creations at our annual UCG Art Show on Sunday, November 12. You can sell your work, just show it, or both. Applications are available online at https://bit.ly/artsapp23 or in the foyer.
We will continue with a single 10 a.m. service through January 2024. A preliminary report will be presented at today’s congregational meeting, and a decision on the worship schedule will be made at the January 28, 2024 congregational meeting.
Advent Book Submissions – We are gathering writings and visual art for the 2023 Advent devotional booklet. This year’s theme is “All I Want . . . (for Christmas.)” You can contribute one of your favorite writings (poems, sermon excerpts, songs, hymns, etc.) or an original piece of your own. Please submit all writings as an attached Word document or straight into the body of your email, for easy editing. We also accept visual art submitted in JPG format. Send submissions to gutsandglorygnv@gmail.com. The deadline for submissions is Friday, November 10. Thank you for contributing!
Pride Activities at UCG:
- The UCG Pride church service is at 10 a.m. on Sunday, October 22.
- The Pride seminar is at 11:15 a.m. that day.
- The Pride brunch is after the seminar. Please bring side dishes and desserts to share. Sign up in the courtyard this morning.
Please bring suggested donations for the Gainesville Area AIDS Project and their TREE program (The Replenishment of Everyday Essentials) during church services on Sunday, October 22. Items include toilet paper, bleach tablets, toothpaste, laundry detergent, disposable razors, shaving cream, shampoo, deodorant, household cleaners, dish soap, sponges, and feminine products (pads & liners are preferred to tampons). Drop early donations during the week of October 15 in Seminar A, Monday -Friday 9 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
UCG member Bonnye Greene passed away on September 28 at the age of 90. A Celebration of Bonnye’s life will be held on Saturday, October 21 at noon in the Chapel at Haven Hospice 4200 N.W. 90th Blvd., with Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan and Chaplain Allison Blay.
Next Sunday, October 22
PRIDE Sunday!
10:00 a.m. Worship – Rev. Talia Raymond
Friendship Group
10:15 a.m. United Tribes
11:00 a.m. Fellowship and Beverages
Puzzler Exchange
11:15 a.m. Sunday Seminar
YU / MST
12:00 p.m. Pride Brunch
All-Board Kickoff — Come one, come all! If you are a member of a board, committee, or task force at UCG, you are invited to our annual All-Board Kickoff on Sunday, October 29th, 12:30-2:00 p.m. in Reimer Hall. We will enjoy a potluck lunch together (sign up at https://bit.ly/PLabko23), learn more about how to work effectively within UCG’s organizational structure and share our hopes and dreams for our church community. Hope to see you there!
The next Supper Club of the fall will be Friday, November 17 at 7 p.m. and features a Greek-themed menu with a pasta entrée that contains ground beef. We meet in groups of 8-10 in the homes of participants. Recipes are provided so that each group shares the same menu. Working people will be assigned easy or make-ahead recipes. Please contact Anne Casella (annecasella@gmail.com, 352-256-5960) or Kimberly McCollough (kmccollough224@gmail.com, 352-378-8371) if you would like to participate. If you are able to host one of the groups, please let them know. The deadline to sign up is Sunday, November 5.
The levels of COVID-19 virus in Alachua County’s wastewater samples are decreasing. There is no new data on the county’s number of new cases and the test positivity rate. People over age 65 and people with compromised immunity are encouraged to get one of the updated mRNA vaccines that are now available in local pharmacies. Free at-home rapid antigen test kits are now available by contacting covidtest.gov. The kits are typically sent out in 7-12 days.
In the Sanctuary N-95 or KN-95 masks are strongly encouraged for people at risk for serious illness from COVID, for people who live with someone at increased risk, and for people who have any respiratory tract symptoms. KN-95 masks are available in the foyer.
