This Sunday, we’ll have new members and special music and an invitation to reflection from our new congregational life group. We’ll have the briefest of sermons (to make space for all the other good things), and we will be reminded of the call to “Hold fast.”
It will be good to be together, in person or online. Join us.
United Church of Gainesville
Sunday, November 10, 2024 – 10 a.m.
New Member Sunday
Our livestream begins here at 10 a.m.
There’s only ever been one answer, and that’s it.” – Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
AN INVITATION FROM OUR ENLISTMENT TEAM – Shawn Larson
PRELUDE – “Shadowland” by Hans Zimmer, Lebo M., Mark Mancina, and Claudette Sierra – offered by Elena Frenock and friends, vocals, Phillip Herr-Klepacki, piano
Translated from Zulu, Fatshe leso lea halalela means
“the land of our ancestors is holy.”
CALL TO WORSHIP
ONE: Friends, so many in our nation are hurting.
ALL: We are grieving a future that now seems lost to us.
ONE: We are weary, unsure if we have it in us to make the journey of heart and spirit that lies ahead.
ALL: We are tempted to stay in bed. To close our eyes.
ONE: But we are also moved by the love of our neighbors, by the needs of our communities, by the cries of our people, our children.
ALL: So guide us on the road ahead, we pray.
ONE: Sustain us as we seek the holy, the just, the loving, the true.
ALL: Help us to remember you, to return to you and to your vision of the flourishing of all creation.
ONE: Guide us with prayer. Guide us with love. Guide us with courage.
All: Amen.
OPENING SONG – “They’ll Know We’re God’s People by Our Love” verses 1-2
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord.
We are one in the Spirit we are one in the Lord.
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored.
Chorus:
And they’ll know we’re God’s people By our love, by our love,
Yes, they’ll know we’re God’s people by our love.
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand.
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand. And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land. Chorus
TIME WITH CHILDREN AND BIRTHDAYS
NEW MEMBER INTRODUCTIONS
Susan Browder
David Dale
Michael Dixon
Marilyn Murray
Something I am seeking at United Church of Gainesville
A talent or strength that I bring to this church
One thing I would like you to know about me
WELCOME OF NEW MEMBERS – Lindsey Telg, United Church of Gainesville Moderator
READING OF THE COMPACT
“We join as a spiritual community in this compact:
To worship God, however known,
To welcome into our church those of differing
understanding and theological opinion,
To learn from our religious heritage, yet to
grow by seeking new dimensions of truth.
To follow, even imperfectly, the way of Jesus
in personal involvement with each other,
And, strengthened by this bond, to act in
Christian concern for the welfare of all people.”
PRAYER FOR NEW MEMBERS AND A SHARED BLESSINGINTERLUDE – “They’ll Know We’re God’s People by Our Love” verses 3-4
Chorus:
And they’ll know we’re God’s people
By our love, by our love,
Yes, they’ll know we’re God’s people by our love.
We will work with each other, we will work side by side.
We will work with each other, we will work side by side.
And we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride.
Chorus
All praise the Creator, from whom all things come,
And all praise to Christ Jesus, who guides us on,
And all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one.
Chorus
AN INVITATION – offered by Ezra Stone
Ezra Stone will share briefly about the work of the Congregational Life Team and invite reflection on how we live out our church compact.
MEDITATIVE MUSIC – offered by Phillip Herr-Klepacki, Director of Music Ministry
SCRIPTURE – 1 Thessalonians 5:14-25
We urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.
May the God of peace sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and that God will do this.
SPECIAL MUSIC AND OFFERING – “Make Them Hear You” by Stephen Flaherty, Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens – offered by Rev. Talia Raymond, vocals, and Phillip Herr-Klepacki, piano
Your gifts support all facets of the UCG community. You can also give online: bit.ly/ucgplate.
SERMON – “Hold Fast” – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
CLOSING HYMN – “Hammer Song”
If I had a hammer, I’d hammer in the morning I’d hammer in the evening, all over this land.
I’d hammer out danger, I’d hammer out warning, I’d hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters, all over this land.
If I had a bell, I’d ring it in the morning,
I’d ring it in the evening, all over this land.
I’d ring out danger, I’d ring out warning,
I’d ring out love between my brothers and my sisters, all over this land.
If I had a song, I’d sing it in the morning,
I’d sing it in the evening, all over this land.
I’d sing out danger, I’d sing out warning,
I’d sing out love between my brothers and my sisters, all over this land.
Well, I got a hammer and I got a bell,
And I got a song to sing all over this land.
It’s the hammer of justice, It’s the bell of freedom, It’s the song about love between my brothers and my sisters, all over this land.
Words and music by Lee Hays and Pete Seeger
BENEDICTION – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
ALLELUIA
POSTLUDE
Here are our UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week:
Janie Stancyck
Deon Winchester
Jackie Trudeau
RJ Barton
Dawn Beachy
November 13
Autumn Leora Frenchman
Lance Gravlee
Avril Kiker
Jaylina Farberow
November 14
Joyce Orr
Vicki Davis
November 16
Star Bradbury
****************ANNOUNCEMENTS******************
Today at UCG
New Member Sunday
9:45 a.m. Childcare
10 a.m. Worship Service – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
10:15 a.m. Kids United
11 a.m. Fellowship and Beverages
11:15 a.m. Board of Membership
11:30 a.m. United Church of Gainesville Art Show
Lessons and Carols Rehearsal
Youth United
Middle School Together
1 p.m. Open and Affirming Sunday Social – offsite
2 p.m. OWL Program
6 p.m. Sacred Sound Symphony
Soul Food Enlistment Update: As of Thursday, November 7, we have received 146 pledges totaling $522,079, more than halfway to our goal of $850,000. Thanks to everyone who has pledged! We are over $40,000 behind where we were at this point in last year’s campaign, but we are closing the gap. It is critical that all UCG families / pledging units submit a pledge card so that Board of Business can plan for next year’s budget. Even if your pantry is bare this year and you are able to pledge zero dollars at this time, we would like you to submit a pledge card by Thanksgiving so we know where we stand for next year. To pledge, you can visit the web portal at https://bit.ly/UCGpledge2025, turn in a physical pledge card, or email Catherine Cake at catherinec@ucgainesville.org.United Church of Gainesville Blood Drive is today – Please give the gift of life. The Bloodmobile will be at the east parking lot from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
The annual United Church Gainesville Art Show is today, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Members and friends will display their creative works: painting, sculpture, clay, fabric art, 3D, and more. Some of the pieces will be for sale with 20% of the proceeds going to the Food4Kids Program. It will be a fun gathering for all!
Meet the Interim Minister Search Committee – Members of the search committee want to chat with you and get your feedback! Meet us at a table in the courtyard for informal conversation. If you don’t have time to chat this morning, feel free to answer our 2-question survey online.
Join United Church of Gainesville’s Open and Affirming Committee at our “Open and Affirming Sunday Social” today at 1 p.m. – We will be catching the UF/Alabama Volleyball game at the O’Connell Center. This event is family friendly! Look for Brandon wearing one of our Better Together shirts (black t-shirt with our logo in color.) General Admission Tickets are $7 and can be purchased online.
Compassion in Action’s annual Rawlings Elementary Christmas Gift Market has moved up to November 21 due to the new 12-month school schedule that Rawlings is following. Look for the Christmas Angel Tree with holiday gift options today or through SignUpGenius: https://bit.ly/CIAangel24 Please bring gift donations no later than Friday, November 15. If you prefer, make a cash donation and we’ll shop for you! Thank you for your support of this popular annual project. We also need volunteers to host the Gift Market. Please sign up using this link: https://bit.ly/gmteer24.
Church on the Prairie
2 p.m. Lessons and Carols Rehearsal
Our Annual Church and Potluck Picnic on the Prairie – Sunday, November 17 at 10 a.m. at Prairie Creek Lodge, 7204 SE County Road 234, Gainesville (about 25 minutes travel time from the church.) If it rains, we will meet at the church! This is one of our most popular events of the year and we can’t wait to share it with you. Bring outdoor chairs/blankets, a potluck dish to share, and utensils (no foods for grilling), sunscreen, and bug spray (just in case). Water and lemonade will be provided. We’ll have the Hogtown Pickers, holy communion, and activities for children. Join us!
The United Church of Gainesville Supper Club is a great way to meet members and share a meal and fellowship. We meet in groups of 8-10 in the homes of participants. Recipes are provided so that each group shares the same menu. Attendees who work will be assigned easy or make-ahead recipes. The next Supper Club of the fall will be Friday November 22 at 7 p.m. and will feature a vegetarian menu. Please contact Anne Casella or Kimberly McCollough 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 today, November 10.
Mark Your Calendar for this Year’s Children’s Advent Craft Fair – This year’s theme is holiday-focused activities that spark interest in our youth and foster intergenerational relationships within our church community. The craft fair will take place on Saturday, December 7, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. in Reimer Hall. Cost is $10 per family as a suggested donation, look in future communications to sign up. Calling all Crafters: if you are interested in sharing a favorite holiday craft, please email Kathryn Rabb by November 20.
Friendship group has been rescheduled – we will meet Sunday, November 24 at 10 a.m. in the west wing. We’ll be doing musical things – singing and trying out the chimes.
Christmas Mini-Grants – The Compassion in Action Committee is soliciting requests for Christmas Mini-Grants in support of people or causes in need of financial assistance during the holiday season. These small grants of $50 to $150 go to local individuals, families, and non-profit organizations known by our congregation members. Forms are available in the church office or online. The deadline for requests is Wednesday, November 27.
Mark Your Calendars for Flamy Grant in Concert at UCG – Award-winning and Billboard-charting artist Flamy Grant, a shame-slaying, hip-swaying, singing-songwriting drag queen from western North Carolina will have a concert at United Church of Gainesville on December 3 at 8 p.m., tickets are $20 and available online. A powerhouse vocalist and intrepid songwriter who blends country, folk, gospel, and roots music, Flamy delivers a theatrical, therapeutic, and wholly original storytelling experience, all shared through the evocative art of drag.
