The United Church of Gainesville – July 25, 2021Little Words/Big Ideas
This morning our worship service will live-stream at 10:00am. It is available for viewing at anytime after this. Please click here to begin.If the live-stream link is not active or working for you, you can find our service at our YouTube page here.
Our greatest truths are but half-truths. Think not to settle down forever in any truth; rather use it as a tent in which to pass a summer night, but build no house of it, or it will become your tomb. When you first become aware of its insufficiency, and see some counter-truth looming in the distance, then weep not; instead rejoice: it is the Lord’s voice saying, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’”
~ Arthur James 1st Earl Balfour
WELCOME and Announcements – Larry Reimer
RINGING THE BELL
PRELUDE – “Ashokan Farewell” Jay Unger
Cindy Martin – Flute; Phillip Herr Klepacki piano
CALL TO WORSHIP – From “Yes World,” by Mary Jean Irion – Anna Heineman
Leader: Sometimes I wondered if I had any faith.
I sat down and thought about it.
and when I had had enough of that,
I got up and went on my way.
People: And that – the getting up
and going – was faith.
SONG – #7 in the gray songbook – “Can’t Help But Wonder Where I’m Bound”
RESPONSIVE READING – Psalm 133, translated by Stephen Mitchell
Leader: How wonderful it is to live in harmony with all people: like stepping out of the bath, your whole body fresh and vibrant;
People: like the morning dew, glistening on the tiniest blade of grass.
Leader: It is God’s infinite blessing,
ALL: A taste of eternal life.
PRAYER – Gentle me, Holy One, into an unclenched moment,
a deep breath, a letting go of heavy experiences,
of shriveling anxieties, of dead certainties,
that, softened by the silence, surrounded by the light,
and open to the mystery, I may be found by wholeness,
upheld by the unfathomable, entranced by the simple,
and filled with the joy that is you. Amen. ~ Ted Loder, in Life Prayers
PRAYER CONCERNS – Talia Raymond
Choral Response – “In the Lord I’ll be Ever Thankful”
Phillip will play it through once. Then we will sing it together twice.
In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful, in the Lord I will rejoice!
Look to God, do not be afraid; lift up your voices, the Lord is near;
Lift up your voices, the Lord is near.
SERMON – “Small Words Big Ideas – Larry Reimer
1. But – Fritz Perls and Jon Snow
2. You – “Mass Appeal” and Jeremy Taylor
3. If-Only – Jesus – John 5:2-9
READING – “The Place Where We Are Right,” The Selected Poetry of
Yehuda Amachai as translated by Stephen Mitchell
From the place where we are right
flowers will never grow in the spring.
The place where we are right
is hard and trampled like a yard.
Instead, doubts and loves,
dig up the world like a mole, a plow.
And a whisper will be heard in the place
where the ruined house once stood.
“Anthem” by Leonard Cohen
David Evans, Alan Hill, Patsy Murray, Jack Nettles, Ned Stewart
Ring the bells that still can ring, forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack, a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.
PRAYER
HYMN – #84 in the gray songbook -“When Darkness Falls”
BENEDICTION
Good people, most royal greening verdancy,
Rooted in the sun, you shine with radiant light.
In this circle of earthly existence you shine so finely,
It surpasses all understanding.
God hugs you.
You are encircled by the arms of the mystery of God.
~Hildegard of Bingen
“ALLELUIA”
POSTLUDE
Here are the UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week.
|
Fiona |
Hammond |
07/25 |
|
Sanford |
Berg |
07/26 |
|
Gwendolyn |
Chrzanowski |
07/26 |
|
Frances |
Kaufman |
07/31 |
|
Mary Anne |
Wagner |
07/31 |
|
Khoe |
Winchester |
07/31 |
_____________________
Announcements
Mask Update – UCG is still a mask-wearing community when it comes to our larger gatherings. This is not only out of respect and inclusion for those who may not have been vaccinated (for whatever reason) but with awareness for our now most vulnerable population: younger people (those under 12 who cannot be vaccinated, yet).
July 24 COVID Update – The past week’s average number of daily new cases of COVID-19 in Alachua County increased from 53 to 95 per day, moving from the orange zone well into the red zone (extremely high risk of transmission).
“All God’s Critters” CAMP UCG 2021, August 2-6 – CAMP UCG is back! REGISTER HERE! We are delighted to announce that our summer camp for children entering PreK-6th Grade will happen on the UCG Campus from August 2-6th. Please email Talia with any questions, or if you would like to volunteer to help with: crafts, STEM lessons, snacks, outdoor games, or have a connection to a community group (or you yourself) who can teach our children about “critters”, however known.
Registration ends this Wednesday, July 28th!
Let’s “Grush” This! – Looking for an easy way to re-emerge with your UCG community this summer? We are still looking for individuals or couples willing to help greet/usher (aka “Grusher”!) at the Sunday services this summer. There’s no lifting involved and you can show up as late as 9:30AM to help for just 30 minutes before the start of the service. No experience necessary. Dar will train you in ~5 minutes or less! To volunteer, click here, email Dar Mikula, or call (352)378-3500. Thank you for your help with this important job!
Heartfelt thanks to all who made it possible for CIA Committee to donate 222 pounds of non-perishable food to Gainesville Community Ministries. Our next Food First Sunday for GCM is August 1. Please drop off your donations before or after the 10:00am service.
Monk Manual Small Group – Today we often confuse busy-ness with productivity. But action does not always equal progress. When productivity is measured merely by efficiency, output, and speed—it’s no wonder we often experience lives of anxiety, disconnection, and exhaustion. Life isn’t about getting to the end faster, it’s about being there the whole time—engaging each moment and…investing our time in life’s most important work, building meaningful connections with the people around us, and being a force of creativity in the world. The group will meet Sundays at 2pm from July 25 – September 19 on Zoom to share our journey using the Monk Manual. Download a set of free planner pages, print your own pages ($9), or purchase the manual ($38). All are welcome, and you can come when you like or skip a week when you wish. Contact Sue Hatch with questions or for the Zoom link. Please register through ShelbyNext:
Log in to your ShelbyNext account to see your name and “My Giving”, “Directory”, etc. Click on “Groups” => “Any Type” => “Small Groups” and scroll down to find yours. Click the “Join” button, and you will be sent further instructions. If you do not have a ShelbyNext profile, contact the church office at 378-3500 for help.
A Matter of Balance, an evidenced based eight- week program designed to manage falls and increase activity levels in older adults, will be offered at UCG on Tuesdays, August 10 – September 28, from 9-11am. Sponsored by Elder Options, participants will learn to view falls as controllable, set goals to increase activity, make changes to reduce fall risk, and exercise to increase strength and balance. Those who may want to attend include anyone concerned about falls, anyone interested in improving balance, flexibility and strength, anyone who has fallen in the past and anyone who has restricted activities because of falling concerns. For more information email Andrea Longstreet or call 352 692-5230. Limit of 12 participants.
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!