United Church of Gainesville
Sunday, April 14, 2024 
Self Guided Worship Service

WELCOME 

Welcome to this at-home, self-guided service! The theme of the day is, like at Retreat, “Renew.” May these prayers, readings, questions and musical selections inspire your own sense of renewal!

PRELUDE –   Come Away With Me by Norah Jones

A love song, but an invitation too — to find a place of rest, of comfort, of love.

PRAYER – Breath Prayer from Black Liturgies by Cole Arthur Riley

INHALE: I deserve more than exhaustion.
EXHALE: I return home to myself.

INHALE: May I rest,
EXHALE: that I might dream.

INHALE: I’ve given enough.
EXHALE: I choose rest.

INVITATIONAL MUSIC – Come and Find the Quiet Center, lyrics by Shirley Erena Murray, arrangment to B.F. White, and harmony by Ronald A Nelson

HEBREW BIBLE READINGS – Genesis 2:1-3 and Lamentations 3:22-23

Genesis 2:1-3
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that they had done, and they rested on the seventh day from all the work that they had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that they had done in creation.

Lamentations 3: 22-23
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
God’s  mercies never come to an end;
They are new every morning;
Great is your faithfulness.

TIME FOR CHILDREN – Big Momma Makes the World by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, read by Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan

I have shared this story before — it’s one of my favorite tellings of the creation story. There’s a lot to love, but what I wanted to point out today is how busy Big Momma is.

Do you know any busy people?
Are you a busy person?
Do you like being busy, or does it sometimes tire you out?

Everyone is different in how much activity and work they like to, or get to, have in their lives. And that’s one thing that’s important in this story: after being so busy, Big Momma takes a rest. In the Bible story where God makes all that is, God works and works and then, when they’re done, rests. Folks for whom this story is important, especially Jewish and Christian folx, call that day when God rests a “sabbath.” A special day of rest and renewal.

Did you know we practice the sabbath at UCG?  

We have the sabbath on Sundays — a time for our souls to rest in our community, to find renewal, a making new, of our hope and our joy and our love for one another and the world and God.

Sometimes, when we’ve been working for a long time, we need a longer break.

Are you looking forward to summer vacation?
What do you like to do on vacation?

In our church, we know times of rest and renewal are important, and so our ministers sometimes take sabbaticals . . . That word sounds like sabbath, right? It’s a time away from work, to rest and have our souls renewed. I (Pastor Bromleigh) am going on a sabbatical this summer — just after Mother’s Day and back for Gathering of the Waters. And during that time, I have some plans to rest up and renew my soul so I can come back and keep being your minister with renewed energy! During this time, UCG is going to do some special renewing activities too — hearing from guest speakers, telling stories, and being the community together.

I hope you find rest and renewal this Sunday, wherever you are, and join in our congregational rest and renewal this summer!

— Pastor Bromleigh

READING –  “Sabbaths – 1985, V” by Wendell Berry

How long does it take to make the woods?
As long as it takes to make the world.
The woods is present as the world is, the presence
of all its past, and of all its time to come.
It is always finished, it is always being made, the act
of its making forever greater than the act of its destruction.
It is a part of eternity, for its end and beginning
belong to the end and beginning of all things,
the beginning lost in the end, the end in the beginning.
What is the way to the woods, how do you go there?
By climbing up through the six days’ field,
kept in all the body’s years, the body’s
sorrow, weariness, and joy. By passing through
the narrow gate on the far side of that field
where the pasture grass of the body’s life gives way
to the high, original standing of the trees.
By coming into the shadow, the shadow
of the grace of the strait way’s ending,
the shadow of the mercy of light.
Why must the gate be narrow?
Because you cannot pass beyond it burdened.
To come in among these trees you must leave behind
the six days’ world, all of it, all of its plans and hopes.
You must come without weapon or tool, alone,
expecting nothing, remembering nothing,
into the ease of sight, the brotherhood [and sisterhood!] of eye and leaf.

MUSIC FOR REFLECTION – “The Rite of Spring” by Igor Stravinsky, as performed and animated in Disney’s 1940 film Fantasia. This 20-minute piece depicts the beginnings of earth and life upon it, going through the extinction of the dinosaurs. One fascinating thing to remember is that when this was produced, humanity had not yet been to space and the mass extinction of the dinosaurs was a great mystery.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Where do you go to find rest for your body?
For your soul?

What makes it hard to find rest?
Do you have ways you can set those things aside?
Others with whom you can share responsibilities?

A few weeks ago, I preached on “everything, everywhere all at once” in our series on Lamentations, in that sense of the relentless piling up of stressors in our world. Of there never being quite enough time or energy, with things coming at us from all directions. Time marches on.

But Wendell Berry captures the glory — the sense of overwhelm that is also somehow a good feeling — of Kairos, of God’s time, eternity as he writes of the forest:

The woods is present as the world is, the presence
of all its past, and of all its time to come.
It is always finished, it is always being made.
Practicing Sabbath — in the woods or in your own home — can put a moment’s pause on the overwhelm of life. Reflecting on what you have done — who you have loved and cared for, ways you have bettered the world by your mere presence — can bring a sense of peace that in turn renews us for whatever comes next. The practice of Sabbath renewal also connects us to the divine — to the eternal God who is in and through and beyond both time and us.

What Sabbath practices do you have?
Are there any you’d like to try on?

BENEDICTION – from Black Liturgies

So may you fall in love again and again with the beautiful. And may that enchantment keep you from the captivity of despair and usher you into dreaming. In your beholding, may you become a faithful protector of every person and piece of creation, including the earth that trembles beneath your feet. Go in peace, to pay attention. May it be so.

Your gifts support all facets of the UCG community. You can also give online: bit.ly/ucgplate.

Announcements

No Sunday seminar due to retreat. Looking ahead, next Sunday, April 21 seminar is “Environmental Conservation: The Adventures of the Golden Lion Tamarin.” A story of hope, survival and resurgence by Christine Engels.Small Group- Building Church and Community Through Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion next Sunday, April 21 at 9 a.m. in Reimer Hall or via Zoom. Dr. Rik Stevenson has already offered a sermon and two popular seminars at United Church of Gainesville. We will continue the series with these two shorter pre-service talks on black history as background to current events. Zoom Meeting ID: 844 6650 8587 Passcode: 1624

Art in the Library – Check out the art display for April titled “Through Line: Work” by Diane Farris and Charlie Williams. Join the artists for a reception on Sunday, April 21 at 11:15 a.m.

Racial Justice Committee will be selling the new Black History Matters t-shirts after services on Sundays, April 21 and 28. There are many upcoming events in May and June for a strong showing from UCG members to wear these beautiful shirts. We are cooperating with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Alachua County Community Remembrance Project (ACCRP) to get the message out to Gainesville.

UCG Supper Club – The last supper club of the year will take place on Saturday, May 18 at Jim and Lisa McElwee-White’s home on Kanapaha Prairie. Rather than being assigned a recipe, you will be assigned a category (appetizer, salad, side or dessert) and can bring whatever you wish. We also request that you bring your place settings and your own beverage so we only need to collect money to reimburse Jim for the meat he will barbecue (no charge for vegetarians). Please contact Anne Casella or Kimberly McCollough if you would like to participate. The deadline to sign up is Sunday, May 5.

UCG member and Creation Care Climate Justice committee chair, Jim Harper, was recently featured in an article published in the Florida Alligator about religious communities using faith to inspire climate action. Read the article here.

Save the Date and Call for Artwork! Our Annual Noodles and Doodles Fundraiser is coming on April 28th at 5:30 p.m.! This Art Sale and Pasta Dinner Fundraiser supports our Youth United as they prepare for their summer Work Tour. This year, they are headed to Ft. Meyers to work with Echo Global Farm to learn about sustainable farming practices and their impact on global hunger. If you have artwork that you have made or that you would simply like to re-home, we are accepting donations!  Please leave it in the office for Talia by Wednesday, April 24th.  We appreciate your support of this fun event and of our youth!

Next Sunday, April 21

9:00 a.m.               SG: Building Church & Community Through DE&I
Youth Choir 
9:45 a.m.               Childcare
10:00 a.m.              Worship
                               Friendship Group
10:15 a.m.              United Tribes
                               Confirmation Class 
11:00 a.m.               Fellowship and Beverages
Young Adult Lunch 
11:15 a.m.               Youth Groups
Art in the Library Reception
                                Lively Arts Committee
11:30 a.m.               Sunday Seminar

---

Looking Ahead

UCG 101 – Tuesday, April 16, 5:30 p.m. – For those considering church membership, a time to learn about the church and connect with other members over light refreshments.

Welcoming New Members – Sunday, April 28, 10 a.m. 

Camp UCG summer camp July 22 – 26 – Information and registration at bit.ly/campUCG2024.