United Church of Gainesville
Sunday, May 19, 2024 – 10 a.m.
Children’s Sabbath and Graduate Sunday
Our livestream begins here at 10 a.m.
“I encourage you to live with life. Be courageous, adventurous. Give us a tomorrow, more than we deserve. The horizon leans forward, offering you space to place new steps of change.” – Maya Angelou
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS - Eliot Mathis and Olivia Mickle
UCG Story Corps
PRELUDE – “Trumpet Voluntary” by Jeremiah Clarke, offered by Carl Carter, Ewan Johnson, Brian Martin, and David Martin, trumpets
OPENING PRAYER – led by our K-1st and 2nd-3rd grade United Tribes classes
OPENING SONG – “Here We Are” #27, UCG Songbook, Rev. Andy Bachmann, guitar
Chorus:
Here we are, all together
As we sing our song joyfully.
Here we are, joined together
As we pray we will always be.
Join we now as friends, and celebrate
The community we share, all as one.
Keep the fire burning, kindle it with care,
And we’ll all join in and sing:
(Chorus)
Glorify the Lord with all your voices,
Show Him we’re sincere by all our deeds.
Shout the joys of freedom everywhere,
And we’ll all join in and sing:
(Chorus)
Happy now are those who do their best
To free the troubled world from all its pain.
Let us join with them to free the troubled world
As we all join in and sing:
(Chorus)
Let us make the world an Alleluia
Let us make the world a better place.
Keep a smile handy, lend a helping hand
Let us all join in and sing:
(Chorus)
BLESSING OF FAREWELL FOR THE MICKLE FAMILY
TIME WITH GRANDPARENTS – “Extra Yarn” by Mac Barnett and illustrator Jon Klassen, read by Vivienne Larson and Emi Maxwell
BIRTHDAYS – Ana White
PRESENTATION OF BIBLES
FIFTH GRADE BLESSING
INTERLUDE – Phillip Herr-Klepacki
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Rev. Talia Raymond
SPECIAL MUSIC AND OFFERTORY – “I Have A Dream” by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, offered by our Youth Choir
Your gifts support all facets of the UCG community. You can also give online: bit.ly/ucgplate
REFLECTIONS FROM OUR GRADUATES
Cadien Archer
Carl Carter
Ewan Johnson
Brian Martin
SPECIAL MUSIC – “Il Silenzio,” offered by Carl Carter and Ewan Johnson, trumpets, accompanied by Phillip Herr-Klepacki, piano
David Martin
Sofi White
Evelyn Ragsdale
SENIOR SLIDESHOW
A PARTING BLESSING FOR OUR GRADUATING SENIORS
CLOSING SONG – “Go, My Children, with My Blessing” #82, UCC Hymnal
BENEDICTION
ALLELUIA
POSTLUDE
Congratulations to our 2024 Graduates
Cadien Archer is graduating from Gainesville High School and will be attending the University of Vermont in fall to study chemistry. She is excited to live in a cold climate with snow and fall colors. She will miss Florida but is excited to move on to a new stage of her life.
Carl Carter is graduating from Gainesville High School and plans to go to Santa Fe College and study business and eventually culinary arts.
Madeline Cox is graduating from P.K. Yonge and going to Santa Fe College for her first two years. She then plans to transfer to Warren Wilson College to then finish off college and gain a degree in Expressive Arts Therapy.
Aaron Gitzendanner
Ewan Johnson is graduating from Gainesville High School.
Elliot (Simini) Kiker is graduating from Loften High School’s Graphic Arts Design magnet program. He plans to attend Santa Fe College in the fall.
Brian Martin is graduating from Gainesville High School and going to Santa Fe College before transferring to UF to study forestry.
David Martin is graduating from Gainesville High School and will be attending Santa Fe College in the fall.
Evelyn Ragsdale is graduating from Gainesville High School and will be attending the University of South Florida in the fall.
Ben Stapleton finished high school with a GED last August and immediately enrolled in the Automotive Technologies program at Santa Fe College.
Sofi White is graduating from the IB Program at Eastside High School and will be attending Duke University in the fall.
We are thankful for our Children’s Ministry Staff
Julia Crawford – Director of Children’s Ministries
Rhonda Baxter – United Tribes K-1st Lead Teacher
Lucy Stein – United Tribes 2nd – 3rd Lead Teacher
Fiona Hammond – United Tribes 4th – 5th Lead Teacher
Mira Lemstrom – United Tribes 4th – 5th Lead Teacher
Shay Smith – Director of Infant and Toddler Care
And our wonderful Childcare Aides:
- Justin Blakely
- Aaron Gitzendanner
- Will Hartley
- Eliza McGinnis
- Mae Jewell McGinnis
- Maggie Nelson
- Finn Peck
- Olivia Sandberg
- Donald Stowell
- Isa Ward
Here are our UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week!
|
Tyson |
Denny |
05/19 |
|
Abram |
Hill |
05/20 |
|
Riley |
Kershner |
05/21 |
|
Oliver |
Nall |
05/22 |
|
Michael |
Horseman |
05/25 |
Today at UCG
10 a.m. Worship Service
10:15 a.m. United Tribes
11 a.m. Fellowship, Beverages, and Cake
Friendship Group
11:15 a.m. Story Corps recording
11:30 a.m. Spring Congregational Meeting
5 p.m. Middle and High Schoolers Party Story Corps Kick-Off – Tell YOUR UCG Story! This summer’s UCG activity inspired by NPR’s Story Corp is here and you can be a part of it. We will be recording stories of your seminal experiences at UCG. See the sign-up sheet and sample questions at the Story Cycle in the courtyard.
Call to the spring congregational meeting this morning at 11:30 a.m. Please plan to attend this important meeting in the life of the church, in the Sanctuary and on Zoom (Meeting ID: 893 7203 0705 Passcode: 798302).
Middle and High Schoolers! Meet at Bragging Rights arcade for our end of the year party today from 5 – 8 p.m. Pizza and lemonade provided, as well as unlimited game play. Cost: $20.
Summer of Congregational Renewal – The Congregation-Ministry Review Board and the Renewal Subcommittee have spent the past several months preparing for the sabbatical of Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan. They have put together a series of speakers, events, and activities: picnics and ice cream, guest preachers and spiritual exploration, and more.
Racial Justice will be selling the new Black History Matters t-shirts after the service in the courtyard. There are many upcoming events this month and in June for a strong showing from UCG members to wear these beautiful shirts.
Remembrance Project – The Alachua County Community Remembrance Project (ACCRP) welcomes all to the opening of a new exhibit in the lobby of the Alachua County Commission Building on Saturday, June 1, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Between 1882 and 1930 Florida had the highest rate of lynchings per capita. This exhibit tells the truth about our history, and the legacy it created of racial inequity we continue to struggle with today. Music will be offered by Gospel Meets Jazz and food from Germains and Rastafar-Ice will be available. Our Racial Justice Committee, a partner on this event, invites you to join us as we begin this work of truth and reconciliation.
Leadership Summit – Sunday, June 9 from 5-8 p.m. in Reimer Hall. Typically, this event is for incoming Board and Committee Chairs to help them get acquainted with their new roles and to vision together for the year ahead. This year we would like to invite anyone interested! Our theme is “Every Member is a Leader.” We will spend time in fellowship through a potluck, learn more about how our church is governed, consider strategies for communication in times of conflict, and share our needs as a church community. Childcare will be available. Please let us know by Wednesday, June 5. Sign up here.
LifeSouth Blood Drive next Sunday, May 26. There is an emergency need for all blood types. Please give the gift of life.
9:45 a.m. Childcare
SG: Puzzler Exchange
10 a.m. Worship Service – Board of Parish Ministry
10:15 a.m. Activity Time
11 a.m. Fellowship and Beverages
11:30 a.m. Sunday Seminar
Pardon Our Dust! – Seminar Room A is under construction! Get ready for a “Reveal” in mid -June.
Board of Parish Ministry Service with Bill Hutchinson and the Vets for Peace – Sunday, May 26.
Camp UCG summer camp July 22-26 – Information and registration at bit.ly/campUCG2024.
