Although the official first day of summer is a little less than a month away, in our part of the world, the heat and the activity of summer is already upon us. We have celebrated milestones in the lives of our young people with Children’s Sabbath, Confirmation, and Graduation Sunday. We have blessed beloved UCG families and friends who are moving away from us in miles, but not in love. We sent Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan into a time of sacred rest and renewal. Soon, 28 of us will set off on another meaningful Work Tour experience and 30+ children will meet delightful critters at CAMP UCG.

This summer, we will all have the opportunity to renew our spirits on Sunday mornings with a special summer theme, “Spirituality, However Known.” As you may have heard, Rev. Bromleigh secured a grant from the Lilly Endowment to fund her sabbatical. This is a gift to us, not only to ensure Bromleigh’s time to reflect and rejuvenate, but because it secured funds for UCG to have a time of renewal and reflection as well. Thanks to this grant funding, and the work of a brilliant committee, we have an exciting summer of activities and guest preachers prepared for us. Our theme is supported by the following ideas that have guided our planning and preparation: Value, Meaning, Transcendence, Becoming, and Connecting. I invite you to read more about these concepts on the flyer by clicking here.

We will hear preaching from those well-known and beloved to us including Rik Stevenson, Pradeep Kumar, Rev. Sandy Reimer, Rev. Larry Reimer, and our youth Work Tour participants. We will also welcome new faces and some long absent from our pulpit including Imam Ismaeel Malik, Lama Lasong, Rabbi David Kaiman, and from the FL Conference of the United Church of Christ, Rev. LaTrell Harrison. We are excited about welcoming many perspectives and voices into our Sanctuary during this diverse preaching series.

There are also many invitations to be in community with one another. After the worship services, join us for engaging programming. Through art, conversation, reading, seminars, picnics, and ice cream socials, we hope that you will find the time to create and renew the spirit of connection and love between us as a family of faith; and don’t forget to record your UCG story for our Story Corps collection! Thank you again to our Congregational Renewal Committee members: Helda Montero, Dick Elkins, Pam Smith, Anne Casella, Jackie Davis, Steffi Wohlgemuth, and RD Bonnaghan with support from the ministers and moderators, Jeremy Archer and Lindsey Telg.

See you at UCG for our Summer of Congregational Renewal as we celebrate “Spirituality, However Known!”

Rev. Talia Raymond