What I Learned on My Summer Vacation
Sunday, August 25, 2024 – 10 a.m.
Our livestream begins here at 10 a.m.
”Where there is no vision, there is no hope.” ― George Washington Carver
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS – Rev. Talia Raymond
PRELUDE – offered by Phillip Herr-Klepacki, Director of Music Ministry
CALL TO WORSHIP – adapted from “enfleshed”
One: Galactic Mystery—envisioning the Milky Way, we expand our imagination, refusing to settle for narrow ways of living.
ALL: We invite wonder to awaken in us possibilities.
One: Ancient wisdom, undo within us ways we add to our own suffering.
ALL: Instead of isolation, nudge us towards connection.
One: Instead of cynicism, awaken us to the wonder.
ALL: Instead of unkind self-talk, fill our inner thoughts with compassion.
One: Instead of perfectionism, make vivid our holy enoughness.
ALL: For our own healing ripples out into our relationships. And our relationships create the world to come. Amen.
OPENING HYMN – “God, Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens”
TIME WITH CHILDREN AND BIRTHDAYS – How I Spent My Summer Vacation by Mark Teague – shared by Reisa George
INTERLUDE AND OFFERING – Your gifts support all facets of the UCG community. You can also give online: bit.ly/ucgplate
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
MEDITATIVE MUSIC – offered by Mark Burlingame, hand pan and Shirell Hix, Native American flute
READING – from The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath by Sylvia Plath – read by Jennifer Pritchett
“What I fear most, I think, is the death of the imagination. When the sky outside is merely pink, and the rooftops merely black: that photographic mind which paradoxically tells the truth, but the worthless truth, about the world. It is that synthesizing spirit, that “shaping” force, which prolifically sprouts and makes up its own worlds with more inventiveness than God which I desire. If I sit still and don’t do anything, the world goes on beating like a slack drum, without meaning. We must be moving, working, making dreams to run toward; the poverty of life without dreams is too horrible to imagine.”
READING FROM SCRIPTURE – Habakkuk 1:1-5 and 2:1-3
SERMON – “Curiosity and Connection” – Rev. Talia Raymond
CLOSING HYMN – “In the Midst of New Dimensions”
BENEDICTION
ALLELUIA
POSTLUDE
Here are our UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week:
Julie Abrams-Bernier
Susan Austin
Paul Pritchard
August 28
Stacy Dreher
August 29
Brandt Frenchman
Maureen Killoran
August 30
Cathy Myers
August 31
Marj Hauptman
Puzzler Exchange
10 a.m. Worship Service – Rev. Talia Raymond
10:15 a.m. Kids United
11 a.m. Fellowship and Beverages
Ask the Leadership
Meet the Teacher
11:15 a.m. Lively Arts Committee Meeting
11:30 a.m. Middle School Together
Youth United
Pathfinder Subcommittee Report Question and Answer – Please join members of the Pathfinding Subcommittee in Reimer Hall after the service for an informal opportunity to ask questions that have come up after reading the report. There will be tables set up dedicated to different sections of the report.
Meet the Teacher – If you have a child in kindergarten through 5th grade, please stop by west wing immediately following today’s service to learn about this year’s program. We look forward to speaking with you.
Ask the Leadership – The Moderator and other church leaders take turns at the table each Sunday to answer questions and provide updates on UCG activities. You’re welcome to stop by, grab a seat, and get an update on church happenings. Handouts with updates will be available at the table. Email moderator@ucgainesville.org with additional questions.
Food First Sunday
10 a.m. Worship Service – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
10:15 a.m. Activity Time
11 a.m. Fellowship and Beverages
Ask the Leadership
4 p.m. Pathfinder Subcommittee Session via Zoom
Food First Sunday is September 1 – Please place your donations for the Gainesville Community Ministry food bank in the cart provided. Thank you for your generous commitment to stocking the Food Pantry at Gainesville Community Ministries with monthly donations. To date in 2024, we have provided 1.2 tons of food!
The Pathfinding Subcommittee report was emailed to all church members on August 22.
- If you did not receive the report via email, or need an alternate method to access the report, email Lindsey Telg at moderator@ucgainesville.org
- If you would like to ask a question about the report, please submit it via the Google Form found at bit.ly/PathfindingQs
- There are 9 opportunities for small group question and answer sessions. You can see all available opportunities at bit.ly/PathfindingQAs
Save the Date – Special Congregational Meeting Sunday, September 8 at 11:30 a.m. We will have a congregational meeting after the service to discuss the Pathfinders subcommittee report. All are encouraged to attend in person or via Zoom. Please stay tuned to your email, the bulletin, or visit the leadership table for more information.
Creation Justice Climate Events – Gainesville Art Exhibit: August 27-October 19 the Gainesville Fine Arts Association (GFAA) will be hosting “HEAT,” their Biennial National juried exhibit. As part of this exhibit, they are partnering with UCG and other community groups to host climate change related events. They are located at 1314 S. Main Street. There is also a Climate Book Discussion Group September 9 from 6-7 p.m. at The Lynx Bookstore, we will be discussing the book “The Heat Will Kill You First” by Jeff Goodall. Later, on September 28 at GFAA, the author will speak and do book signing. The book is available at The Lynx and other local bookstores. Discussion will be led by Allan March and Jackie Davis. This book discussion is sponsored by Creation Justice Committee of UCG, GFAA, and The Lynx Bookstore. The Creation Justice committee has several exciting events and opportunities happening for September, see them all in the August newsletter or visit bit.ly/CJ0824
Calling UCGers of all ages! Come to our Ent’racte Food 4 Kids Benefit concert on Sunday, September 22 at 2 p.m. And if you’re a musician, we’d love for you to sing, dance, play music… however known! Dancers, skaters, rappers, spoken word…. All forms of music are welcome here. If you’re not performing, tap your foot, sing along, and enjoy the afternoon. An offering will be collected to help fund our Food 4 Kids program which gives food to children whose families need help feeding them on the weekends. If you’d like to perform, please send an email to Nan Ryan by August 30.
UCG Supper Club – The ever-popular UCG Supper Club is a great way to meet members and share a meal and fellowship. We meet in groups of 8-10 in the homes of participants. Recipes are provided so that each group shares the same menu. The next Supper Club will be Saturday September 28 at 6:30 p.m. and will feature a salmon entree. Please contact Anne Casella (annecasella@gmail.com, 256-5960) or Kimberly McCollough (kmmcollough224@gmail.com, 378-8371) if you would like to participate. If you are able to host one of the groups, please let them know. The deadline to sign up is Sunday, September 15.
Alachua County Faith Leaders Alliance – The second Alachua County Faith Leaders Alliance Interfaith Potluck in honor of International Peace Day will be September 22 at 5 p.m. at Baha’i Community, 4451 NW 19th St. Bring a vegetarian potluck dish and your own silverware and plate and learn about and build relationships across different faiths.
UCG Emergency Volunteer Phone Tree – If you are not already on the call recipient list of the UCG Emergency Volunteer Phone Tree and you would like a call from the UCG Phone Tree about any hurricane warnings issued for the Gainesville area, please contact the front office to add your name to the list.
Capital Campaign Feasibility Study Update: One of the important findings of this spring’s Capital Campaign Feasibility Study was that congregants needed to learn more about the projects on the “Essential Repairs and Improvements” list, what they entailed, why they were necessary, and so on. As part of the effort to address this need, the UCG Capital Campaign Visioning Committee and the Buildings and Grounds Committee are assembling a series of short videos to describe projects on the “Essential Repairs and Improvements” list. Three new videos have been added: seminar rooms, kitchen, and security, in addition to the first five videos about water supply, the beam that separates Reimer Hall from the west wing, west bathrooms and HVAC. The videos will be available on this YouTube playlist. Please send any questions or comments about the projects, and about the effectiveness of these videos, to either Tim Martinor Erick Smith.
