Dear Friends, We find ourselves in transition here at UCG. Whether this feels like we are “once again” or “still” in transition may depend upon your individual perspective. As a congregation, we have been having some important and difficult conversations …
Continue readingDear UCG, Between the election results and the knowledge that my time as your minister is drawing to a close, I am feeling a bit more melancholy than usual this time of year. There’s so much that is unknown – …
Continue readingNovember is here and with it comes a season of merriment, gratitude, and introspection. I invite everyone to submit materials to the advent devotional booklet and to participate in the many events that we have coming up in November and …
Continue readingHappy November, UCG! As we enter the season of gratitude, I first want to say that I could not be more thankful for the opportunity to join Shanna and Ligia as a full-time staff member. I’ve been a member of …
Continue readingDear friends, November is here! UCG had a spiritual filled summer and then we kissed the last days of summer goodbye and welcomed the fall season with small group registrations, powerful pride events, climate and creation events, banned books month, …
Continue readingAs you know, the Pathfinder Committee spent this summer examining our church life and structure, and discerning recommendations for moving forward as a congregation. Their final report produced a comprehensive list of recommended actions. The Church Council subsequently approved these …
Continue readingThe Racial Justice Committee invites you to join us at the Monteocha Historical Marker Unveiling Ceremony. Moses Smith, a victim of racial terror will be remembered. The Alachua County City Remembrance Project and Equal Justice Initiative have inspired this project. …
Continue readingNovember Moderator’s Minute (2024) Hello friends! The weather is finally turning a bit cooler. I’m taking advantage of the Fall weather that seems to regularly occur now – at least between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. – …
Continue readingDear UCG, You have likely heard this news already, as it has trickled through congregational meetings and Board of Business reports, but the church leadership and I have had to complete several steps before making it “official.” So now, belatedly …
Continue readingDear UCG, The first thing I ever bought from UCG was a “Black Lives Matter” sign from our Racial Justice Committee, in the fall of 2020. Our Pride service that year was online only, but the afternoon featured a drive-through …
Continue readingDear friends, As the last months of the year start to creep ever closer, I want to remind everyone that my position here is changing. However, I’m always happy to assist or point you to the right person for any …
Continue readingFrom the Board of Business – October 2024 Well, a lot has changed since I wrote my last article for the newsletter. The Board of Business had a first draft of our 2025 budget, and all was looking good. However, …
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