Welcome to Worship
The United Church of Gainesville – August 8, 2021
Little Words/Big Ideas

Today we will be gathered in the courtyard for a single service at 10am. In order to ensure sound and video quality, the service will be recorded and immediately uploaded to our YouTube channel. You should find it shortly after the conclusion of the service, probably around 11:15am (though you should go to the Sunday seminar first at 11:30 on zoom!)

WELCOME, RINGING THE BELL, and LIGHTING THE CANDLE – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan

PRELUDE MUSIC – Phillip Herr-Klepacki

*CALL TO WORSHIP

One: Emerging from our memories, as melodies and poems,

All: We recall the many usages of these little words.

One: Four letter words, or three. Or even two. So much held in a remarkably small package.

All: Awe and fear. Exile and beauty. Separation and wholeness.

One: This morning, we consider one of the biggest words we have.

All: God.

One: We gather to worship God, however known. We wonder, though, how to describe this mystery to others, and to our children.

All: Today, may we open our hearts and minds, our eyes and our ears to explore that Holy Unknown, to meet again the Sacred that We Know.

*HYMN – “God of the Sparrow God of the Whale, vv. 1-3”

1. God of the sparrow

God of the whale

God of the swirling stars

How does the creature say Awe

How does the creature say Praise

2. God of the earthquake

God of the storm

God of the trumpet blast

How does the creature cry Woe

How does the creature cry Save

3. God of the rainbow

God of the cross

God of the empty grave

How does the creature say Grace

How does the creature say Yes

REFLECTING ON TIME AND TALENT – Sanford Berg

*HYMN – “God of the Sparrow God of the Whale,” vv. 4-6

4. God of the hungry

God of the sick

God of the prodigal

How does the creature say Care

How does the creature say Life

5. God of the neighbour

God of the foe

God of the pruning hook

How does the creature say Love

How does the creature say Peace

6. God of the ages

God near at hand

God of the loving heart

How do your children say Joy

How do your children say Home

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Rev. Talia Raymond

SPECIAL MUSIC

READING – What is God Like by Rachel Held Evans and Matthew Paul Turner

SCRIPTURE – 1 John 4:20

Those who say, ‘I love God’, and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.

SERMON – “The One We’ve Seen” – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan

*CLOSING HYMN –  “All God’s Critters Got a Place in the Choir”

Chorus:

Refrain:

All God’s critters got a place in the choir

Some sing low, some sing higher

Some sing out loud on the telephone wire

And some just clap their hands, or paws

Or anything they got.

Listen to the bass, it’s the one on the bottom

Where the bullfrog croaks and the hippopotamus

Moans and groans with a big to-do

The old cow just goes MOOOOO

The dog and the cat pick up the middle

While the honey bee hums and the cricket fiddles

The donkey brays and the pony neighs

And the old coyote howls

Refrain

Listen to the top where the little birds sing

On the melody with the high note ringing

The hoot owl hollers over everything

And the jaybird disagrees

Singin’ in the night-time, singin’ in the day

Little duck quacks, and he’s on his way

The possum ain’t got much to say

And the porcupine talks to himself

Refrain

It’s a simple song of livin’ sung everywhere

By the ox and the fox and the grizzly bear

Grumpy alligator and the hawks above

Sly raccoon and the turtle dove.

Refrain

*BACK TO SCHOOL BLESSING

Holy one of love and care, we bless these children and teens as they commit themselves to a new year of learning. Give them strength to do their best and persistence to keep trying, and help them remember that practicing kindness and compassion with yourself and others is also part of a day’s work.

God of life and learning, hear the deepest prayers of our hearts, keep your beloved ones safe and in good health. May they always remember that they are not alone and loved, always. Amen.

*BENEDICTION

*ALLELUIA

*please stand if you are able

Here are the UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week.

Happy Birthday!
Jennifer   Stuart          08/08
Tom        Bergbower   08/09
Fletch      Crowe          08/09
Greg        DeLong        08/09
Josephine Palmer        08/09
Lucia        Nelson         08/10
Arwynn     Collins         08/11
Stewart     Lollar           08/11
Abby         Hogan         08/11
Griffin        Adams         08/12
Margaret    Johnston     08/13
Janet         March          08/13
Christoph   Seubert       08/13
Jane          Emmeree     08/14
Dylan         Fitzpatrick    08/14
Beth          Hinrichs         08/14
Billy           Stechmiller    08/14
 Sunday Seminar via Zoom at 11:30am
“Critical Race Theory: The Struggle to Tell Historical Truths”  with Dr. Paul Ortiz, a Professor of History at the University of Florida, will address these and other similar questions relating to the controversy over teaching “Critical Race Theory” in Florida. Dr. Ortiz will also discuss why the recent Florida Board of Education rule, known as the “anti-Critical Race Theory law,” contradicts the state’s existing mandates on the teaching of history. And why, in his view, this rule under-mines our ability to understand the Holocaust, World War II, African-American history, and other topics. Join us via Zoom here. Meeting ID: 829 6457 0385, Passcode: 1624.
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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).

August 7 COVID Update

Using the reporting method adopted by the Florida Department of Health, the number of new cases of COVID-19 in Alachua County increased last week from 397 to 520 per 100,000 per week, rising even further into the red zone (high risk of transmission).

Our Back to School Blessing TODAY is open to all children and youth, preschoolers through high schoolers.  On that day, please bring your child(ren) to the playground/nursery before 10am just as you have been doing since re-gathering. The children will be brought to the courtyard at the end of the worship service and will stand in a circle in the center of the courtyard. The congregation will exit the sanctuary and assemble, masked, around the courtyard under the overhang (Christmas Eve style). We will bless the children and youth and sing our Alleluia together. We will then have the children step into Reimer Hall and invite parents to sign their children out from our childcare staff there.  We hope that you will join us as we send our children back to school with blessings for safety, care, learning, and compassion.

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!

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!

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Prayers

  • Jodi and Colin Hall-Rogers, recovering from COVID-19

  • All in our community that are suffering the effects of this COVID-19 surge; those infected, those who are caretaking, and those who are grieving

  • Children, Teens, Teachers, and other School staff who will be returning to full schools this week; we pray safety, health, and joy in learning

Cards of support and encouragement are welcome. Click here for church directory.