United Church of Gainesville
Sunday, January 12, 2025 – 10 a.m.
“Intersections”
Our livestream begins here at 10 a.m.
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS – Rev. Talia Raymond
PRELUDE – Phillip Herr-Klepacki
CALL TO WORSHIP – from enfleshed
One: Liberating God, you set us free to live a life ripe with the fruits of the Spirit.
ALL: Not fear, but love, joy, and peace.
One: Not exploitation, but patience, kindness, and goodness.
ALL: Not knee-jerk reactions, but faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
One: With the Spirit as our guide,
ALL: we nurture the Ways of Life.
OPENING SONG – “Simple Gifts” #63 in the UCG Songbook
‘Tis a gift to be simple, ‘Tis a gift to be free,
‘Tis a gift to come down where you ought to be.
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
‘Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we shan’t be ashamed.
To turn, turn will be our delight,
‘Til by turning, turning, we come ‘round right.
‘Tis the gift to be gentle, ‘tis the gift to be kind,
‘Tis the gift to love and leave the rest behind;
And when we find a center in a simple life,
Twill be the end of our fear and strife.
When true simplicity is gained to bow
and to bend we shan’t be ashamed.
To turn, turn will be our delight.
Til by turning, turning we come round right.
‘Tis the gift to be humble, ‘tis the gift when we care,
‘Tis the gift that God has given us to share;
And when we help another soul in need,
‘Twill be a joy of grace indeed!
When true simplicity is gained,
to bow and to bend we shan’t be ashamed.
To turn, turn will be our delight, til by turning,turning
we come round right.
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Til by turning, turning we come ‘round right.
Verse 2 & 3 by Larry Reimer
TIME WITH CHILDREN AND BIRTHDAYS – Rev. Talia Raymond
SPECIAL MUSIC AND OFFERING – Phillip Herr-Klepacki, piano
Your gifts support all facets of the UCG community. You can also give online: bit.ly/ucgplate.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Rev. Talia Raymond
MEDITATIVE MUSIC – Offered by Cindy Martin, flute
SCRIPTURE – Galatians 5:22-23 and 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Paraphrased from The Message and New Living Translations – Jane Emmeree
INTERACTIVE REFLECTION – “Values in Action” – Ezra Stone, Chair of Congregational Life Committee
READING – From “Mutual Aid” by Dean Spade — Jeremy Archer
“We have to become people who care about ourselves as a part of the greater whole. It means moving from materialist self-love, which is often very self-critical (“I will be okay and deserve love when I look right, when others approve of me, or when I am famous”), and towards a deep belief that everyone, including ourselves, deserves dignity, belonging, and safety just because we are alive. It means cultivating a desire to be beautifully, exquisitely ordinary, just like everyone else. Rather than a fantasy of being rich and famous…we cultivate a fantasy of everyone having what they need and being able to creatively express the beauty of our lives.”
HYMN – “Peace Like a River” #478 UCC Hymnal
BENEDICTION – Rev. Talia Raymond
ALLELUIA
Mary Jay M.
Irma R.
Madeline C.
Lauren M.
Emily A.
January 14
Wilson B.
January 15
Karen A.
John D.
January 16
Catherine B.
Shi B.
Iyonv N.
January 17
Lucas B.
Vivian G.
January 18
Katie W.
****************ANNOUNCEMENTS******************
Today at UCG
Congregational Care Sunday
9:45 a.m. Childcare
10 a.m. Worship Service
10:15 a.m. Kids United
11 a.m. Fellowship and Beverages
Campus Keepers Sound Room Decluttering
11:15 a.m. Women’s Retreat Registration
Common Threaders
11:30 a.m. Sunday Seminar
Youth United and Middle School Together
3 p.m. Dances of Universal Peace
6 p.m. Open and Affirming Sunday Social
Sacred Sound Symphony
Want to know what’s going on at United Church of Gainesville this month? Click here for our January 2025 newsletter.
Reminder to check the Lost and Found table outside of the Sanctuary today and next Sunday, January 12. All items left unclaimed will be donated locally.
Sunday Seminar – Congregational Life Seminar in Reimer Hall and on Zoom at 11:30 a.m. As members of UCG, we seek to connect, be part of a community, and support one another. How do we resolve conflicts and stay in right relationship with one another when problems arise? Come join in some brief activities, meet other members, and learn how covenants can be collaboratively created to foster a loving and productive church community environment. Zoom Meeting: 829 6457 0385 Passcode: 1624 Click here for Zoom meeting.
Small Groups Submissions begin TODAY! If there is a particular topic or place that you would like to explore, a book you want to discuss, or a skill or hobby you’d like to share, consider submitting a small group at https://bit.ly/SGWinter25. The deadline for submissions is January 19.
The annual Women’s Overnight 2025 is on January 30 – February 2. Registration is extended to Wednesday, January 15th! Our extravagantly planned weekend includes sessions at UCG on Friday (day) for anyone not available to get away, as well as the weekend at Camp Weed in Live Oak (you’re welcome to join us for all). Registration and information will be in the library after the service today and during church office hours on January 14 – 15. Register online here!
Black History Matters T-shirt Sale! – The UCG Racial Justice Committee will be selling their Black History Matters shirts in the courtyard today and on Sundays, January 19, February 2 and 9. Cost is $20 payable by cash, check, or credit card payments accepted in the front office. Or you can pay online at bit.ly/ucgplate and select Racial Justice from the fund drop down panel.
Join UCG’s Open & Affirming Committee at our next Open & Affirming Sunday Social. Come get to know members of UCG in a fun and inclusive environment, hosted by ONA. We meet up on the Second Sunday of the month in the evening. The next Sunday Social will be on January 12 at 4 p.m. We will be painting pottery at Corks & Colors! Afterwards, anyone who is interested can gather for a bite to eat at Mi Apa.
Next Sunday, January 19
MLK Weekend and Racial Justice Sunday
9:45 a.m. Childcare
10 a.m. Worship Service – Pamela Marshall-Koons
Friendship Group
10:15 a.m. Kids United
11 a.m. Fellowship and Beverages
11:15 a.m. Board of Membership
Lively Arts Committee
11:30 a.m. Sunday Seminar
Middle School Together (Youth United on Mystery Trip)
On this Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, we welcome Pamela Marshall- Koons, who will present the one-woman show, “Voices of Courage.” Fannie Lou Hamer’s voice of courage from the cotton fields of Mississippi to the halls of our nation’s capital made her a fearless fighter and a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement. Come, learn, and be captivated by a piece of American history you may have not been taught in school.
King National Holiday Parade and March is on Monday, January 20, meet at noon at the bicycle racks on the SE corner of Bo Diddley Plaza to march from the plaza to the MLK Center at Citizens Field. There is a free shuttle bus provided back to the plaza. Make sure to wear your UCG Black History Matters t-shirt.
Our first Church Council meeting of 2025 will be on Wednesday, January 22 from 7 – 8:30 p.m. in Reimer Hall. Our primary task this month is to receive and vote on the Board of Business’ final 2025 budget which is then presented for a congregational vote at our winter congregational meeting (February 9). All are welcome to join us in Reimer Hall or to listen via Zoom. Meeting ID: 835 7905 5656 Passcode: 236502
Racial Justice Committee are collaborating with the Alachua County Community Remembrance Project (ACCRP) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) on a series of lectures about black history in Alachua County, The Other Book: Black History in Alachua County. Each lecture will be held in a different location to contribute to experiential learning. The second lecture will be on Saturday, February 8 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Haile Homestead. For more information, click here.
The next Supper Club will be Saturday, February 15 at 6:30 p.m. and will feature a chicken entree. We meet in groups of 8-10. Recipes are provided so that each group shares the same menu. Please RSVP to 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 Sunday, February 2.