The United Church of Gainesville – April 18, 2021
Emerge
This morning our worship service will live-stream at 9:00am. It is available for viewing at anytime after this. Please click here to begin.
PRELUDE MUSIC – Phillip Herr-Klepacki
WELCOME, RINGING THE BELL, and LIGHTING THE CANDLE
CALL TO WORSHIP – Chinook Psalter
One: The garden is rich with diversity, with plants of a hundred families.
ALL: In the space between the trees, with all the colours and fragrances.
One: Basil, Mint, and Lavender,
ALL: Great Mystery keep my remembrance pure,
One: Raspberry, Apple, Rose,
ALL: Great Mystery fill my heart with love,
One: Dill, Anise, Tansy,
ALL: Holy winds blow in me.
One: Rhododendron, Zinnia,
ALL: May my prayer be beautiful.
One: May my remembrance, O Great Mystery, be as incense to thee in the sacred grove of eternity,
ALL: As I smell and remember the ancient forests of earth.
HYMN – “For the Beauty of the Earth” – with Carl Carter, Ewan Johnson, Xander Kiker, Douglas Maurer, trumpet and Mariam Sow, guitar
For the beauty of the earth,
for the splendor of the skies,
for the love, which from our birth
over and around us lies.
Refrain:
God of all, to you we raise
this, our hymn of grateful praise.
For the wonder of each hour
of the day and of the night,
hill and vale and tree and flower,
sun and moon and stars of light, [Refrain ]
For the joy of human love,
brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth, and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild, [Refrain]
For the good that love inspires,
for a world where none exclude,
for a faith that never tires,
and for every heart renewed, [Refrain]
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Rev. Andy Bachmann
SPECIAL MUSIC – “Morning Glow” from the musical, Pippin, music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz – Offered by Phillip Herr-Klepacki
READING – “Hope” is the thing with feathers by Emily Dickinson, Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –
I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.
SCRIPTURE – Hebrews 11:1-3
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
SERMON – “The Parable of the Blank Canvas” Rev. Talia Raymond
HYMN – “Spirit of Gentleness”
Refrain:
Spirit, Spirit of gentleness, blow through the wilderness calling and free,
Spirit, Spirit of restlessness, stir me from placidness, wind, wind on the sea.
You moved on the waters, you called to the deep,
then you coaxed up the mountains from the valleys of sleep;
and over the eons you called to each thing:
“Awake from your slumbers and rise on your wings.” [Refrain]
You swept through the desert, you stung with the sand,
and you goaded your people with a law and a land;
when they were confounded by their idols and lies,
then you spoke through your prophets to open their eyes. [Refrain]
You sang in a stable, you cried from a hill,
then you whispered in silence when the whole world was still;
and down in the city you called once again,
when you blew through your people on the rush of the wind. [Refrain]
You call from tomorrow, you break ancient schemes.
From the bondage of sorrow the captives dream dreams;
our women see visions, our men clear their eyes.
With bold new decisions your people arise. [Refrain]
BENEDICTION
ALLELUIA
Happy Birthday!
|
Hannah |
Norton |
04/18 |
|
Christine |
Denny |
04/19 |
|
Leslie Wade |
McLendon |
04/19 |
|
Shartel |
McVoy |
04/19 |
|
Valerie |
Aslakson-Jennings |
04/20 |
|
Pamela |
Barry |
04/20 |
|
Maxwell |
Burger |
04/20 |
|
Ian |
Ragsdale |
04/20 |
|
Alyssa |
Collins |
04/22 |
|
Jill |
Ragsdale |
04/22 |
|
Melissa |
Varady |
04/22 |
|
Beth |
Dovell |
04/23 |
|
Ann |
Pursell |
04/23 |
|
Sally |
Chesrown |
04/23 |
|
Teresa |
Donaldson Thomas |
04/24 |
|
Elizabeth |
Hall-Rodgers |
04/24 |
|
Emily |
Monda Poe |
04/24 |
|
Hattie |
Hammond |
04/24 |
Sunday Seminar
Sunday Seminar at 10am – Safe Affordable Housing for Gainesville – Most UCG folk are aware that a lack of safe and affordable housing is a major national and Gainesville issue. This seminar will focus on good news you may not know and on positive opportunities for a varied range of personal engagement in addressing the problem. We will hear from several organizations with which UCG is already involved and that are constructively involved in this area of need. Hosted by Tony Miller. Join here. Meeting ID: 829 6457 0385, Passcode: 1624
No Congregational Coffee Hour this week.
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Announcements
PPP Listening Sessions This Week – Make sure you check out the UCG informational video about the PPP and then plan to join us for one of two Zoom listening sessions: Today at 1pm or this Tuesday at 6pm. See Zoom information below.
- Listening Session on Sunday, Apr 18 at 01:00 PM –Join Here – Meeting ID: 810 1118 7439 Passcode: 1624
- Listening Session on Tuesday, April 20 at 06:00 PM Join Here Meeting ID: 872 6262 4405 Passcode: 1624
Please Support our Family Promise Bed Race Team This Year – DIEGO and CARLOS FRENOCK, two stellar UCG young men, will be creating UCG themed Pinewood Derby Cars to race in this years version of the Bed Race! Have no fear! They are both seasoned veterans of the Pinewood track, and are proud to represent us as we race on to support Family Promise! The race will take place on Saturday, May 1st, so it is up to us to raise funds to support them between now and then. Simply click on this link and show your support for Family Promise. Thank you for your support!
Art in the Library: Reflections in Rust –Heidi Stein shares her tiny shrinys made with found objects housed in sardine cans and other small tins. The works depict survival during COVID times and escapism. Click here to view the virtual tour video or take a socially distanced in-person tour on Sunday morning when attending worship.
The Board of Business making a second call for contributions to the Corona Contingency Fund. Last Spring, UCG established the Corona Contingency Fund, where folks could contribute their initial federal stimulus check to help those in need. Since then, $5000 has been collected and used to help folks maintain access to safe housing, to repair cars needed to get to work, to cover unexpected medical and dental expenses, including for children, and to purchase devices to help folks remain connected to the church community over the internet. Donations can be made by check mailed to the UCG office, attention: Catherine Cake, or online here, by selecting Corona Contingency Fund from the drop-down menu. Thank you for your generous donations!
The next survey is here! As part of our Three Year Plan, we have committed to periodically checking in with each other to assess how well church programs are meeting our needs for spiritual nurture, connection, and accessibility. Please respond to the survey today! It should take less than 10 minutes for most.
Greeters for UCG’s Upcoming Services – Are you available to smile lovingly from behind your mask and greet UCG members with your best elbow bump? We need your help extending throughout the month of May. Click here for more information or email Lisa Goldstein or call (352) 378-3500. Thank you for your help with this important job!
Please help keep our church finances healthy while you stay healthy! Please consider donating online. To GIVE, click here to make a one-time donation to UCG -or- to set up a recurring donation schedule via your bank account or credit card. Our budgeted (anticipated) amount of Plate Income for 2021 is $36,000, so we rely on the weekly passing of the plate. Here is a video on how to use Shelby Giving. Thank you for your support!
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Please note: While the Church Office remains closed due to Covid-19, we are still available by phone or email from 9am – 4pm, Monday – Friday.
