Welcome to Sunday Worship
The United Church of Gainesville – June 21, 2020
If you would like to watch the service as a playlist, please click here and you will be directed to our YouTube page. If you prefer, you may click on the individual links below at your own pace.
Welcome, Prayers of the People, and Special Music – Shelby Hall
Pastoral Prayer – written and read by Daniel Webster
God of Shalom, You have called forth a marvelous world of abundance, a place where there is enough for everyone’s need . . . but not, perhaps, enough for everyone’s greed. God of Shalom, on this day we pray for peace. Not some shallow understanding of peace as simply the absence of conflict, but the presence of those things which make conflict no longer seem so automatic. We pray for the kind of peace that is enough for all. Enough food. Enough work. Enough healthcare. Enough meaning. Enough justice. Enough dignity. For where there is enough, shalom is possible. This peace must be made, though. This sharing of abundance so that there is enough does not come easily to some. And so we know that peace, this Shalom, must be made. Energize our bodies and spirits to do this holy work that emanates from your dream and desire for the world. Sync our dreams to yours that we might truly understand our peacemaking call. Remind us that “peace, like war, must be waged.” Remind us that where there is brokenness, there may be hope for healing, and afterwards there might be strength in the broken places. O God, of Shalom, teach us to be makers of peace. With our words. With our prayers. With our actions. This is our desire. This is our prayer. This is our commitment. Let it be so. AMEN.
Special Music- “High Above the Earth”, composed by Zach Neece, words by Vince Amlin. Performed by Tané Dekrey and Brian Stevens.
Time with Children – “The Three Questions” by Jon J Muth, based on a story by Leo Tolstoy
Join us for Children’s Activity Time!
Scripture Reading, Sermon, and Closing Hymn
Scripture – from Genesis 21:8-21 (Common English Bible) read by Judy Parsons
Sermon – “No place,” by Shelby Hall
Closing Hymn – De Colores (#402 The New Century Hymnal) – Traditional Mexican Folk and Protest Song
De colores, de colores se visten los campos en la primavera. De colores, de colores son los pajaritos que vienen de afuera. De colores, de colores es el arco iris que vemos salir. Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores me gustan a mí,
Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores me gustan a mí.
Sing of colors, sing of colors that over the hills in profusion are springing.
Sing of colors, of the birds that fly outside my window their canticles singing.
Sing of colors, in the rainbow’s bright colors God’s promise of hope we recall.
Sing of colors that make up the earth and give thanks to the God that created us all,
Sing of colors that make up the earth and give thanks to the God that created us all.
Sing, rejoicing! Every creature that breathes raise a song to the God of creation.
Sing, rejoicing! Sing to God who so earnestly cares, who has offered salvation.
Sing the good news! Sing the love of the savior reflecting the colors of all.
Many colors that shine from God’s face, many colors that tell us God’s love to recall,
Many colors that shine from God’s face, many colors that tell us God’s love to recall.
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Here are the UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week.
Happy Birthday!
Ellen Ribe 06/20
Linda Galloway 06/22
Avery Hill 06/22
Anne Taylor 06/22
Tiffany Fisher 06/23
Joseph Stein 06/23
Talia Becker 06/24
Megan Culligan 06/24
Josiah Angelini-Stone 06/25
Jesse Kaufman 06/25
Tina Kercheval 06/26
Marianne Schmink 06/26
Jess Archer 06/27
Caroline Hartley 06/27
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Sunday Seminar at 11:15am – Holy Zoom: A Sacred Meeting of Minds & Souls – Shelby Hall will be available on our Zoom account to talk and share. She’ll be prepared to talk about the online worship experience, but with no set agenda other than hoping to see your faces and have a chance to touch base. Join here.
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If you are a regular supporter through our collected offering, please consider making your donation now. Our budgeted (anticipated) amount of Plate Income for 2020 is $40,000, so we rely on the weekly passing of the plate. To GIVE, click here to make a one-time donation to UCG -or- to set up a recurring donation via your bank account or credit card: https://www.shelbygiving.com/App/Giving/ucg Thank you for your support.
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Ray Meeks’ Birthday – This is Ray Meeks’ fourth birthday since being released from death row. He is now at the Wakulla Correctional Institution. Every year we receive contributions for Ray at Christmas and in June for his birthday. Please Send checks made out to UCG with a memo Ray Meeks, or donate online here. Ray loves to get letters. If you write to him address it to Douglas Raymond Meeks #046346, 110 Melaleuca Drive, Crawfordville, FL 32327.It is very important that his name and inmate number be exactly as shown.Thanks for your continued care and prayers for Ray over the years. You have blessed him beyond words.
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Please note: While the Church Office remains closed, we are still available by phone or email from 9am – 4pm, Monday – Friday.
