****************ANNOUNCEMENTS******************
Today at UCG
Food First Sunday

9:15 a.m.    Youth Choir 
9:45 a.m.    Childcare 
10 a.m.       Worship Service
10:15 a.m.  Kids United 
11 a.m.       Fellowship and Beverages
11:15 a.m.  Lively Arts Committee Meeting
11:30 a.m.  Hanging of the Greens
                  Sunday Seminar – Interim Minister Search Committee
                   Lessons and Carols Rehearsal
2 p.m.         OWL Program

Soul Food Enlistment Update: We are closer to the finish line! As of Tuesday, November 26, we have received 232 pledges totaling $705,930, about 83 percent to our goal of $850,000. Thanks to everyone who has pledged! We are about $144,000 short of our goal for this year’s campaign, but we are closing the gap. About 200 members still have not turned in their pledge cards and it is critical that all UCG families / pledging units submit a pledge card so that Board of Business can plan for next year’s budget. Even if your pantry is bare this year and you are able to pledge zero dollars at this time, we would like you to submit a pledge card by Thanksgiving so we know where we stand for next year. To pledge, you can visit the web portal at https://bit.ly/UCGpledge2025, turn in a physical pledge card, or email Catherine Cake at catherinec@ucgainesville.org. UCG member Catherine Berg has gifted us a set of books of north Florida Haiku as thanks for this year’s pledgers.  Pick up your copy from an enlistment committee member in the courtyard after church.

This month’s Food First Sunday is both December 1 and 8, due to the Thanksgiving Holiday.  Gainesville Community Ministry has been serving many families impacted by the hurricanes. They especially need nonperishable donations to their food pantry for holiday meals such as: gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, ham, vegetables, beans, fruit pie filling, spaghetti sauce, pasta, brownies, cookies, and frosting. Thank you for your generous commitment to stocking the Food Pantry at Gainesville Community Ministries. To date in 2024, we have provided 1.6 tons of food – 3,184 pounds! If you forget to bring your donations or prefer to donate online, please visit bit.ly/ciafoodfirst.

Youth contribute one song to Services of Lessons and Carols December 8; all youth are invited to participate! Rehearsals for youth choir are 9:15 a.m. on December 1 and 7.

Sunday Seminar: Interim Minister Search Committee – Join members of the Interim Minister Search Committee to learn about the role of an interim minister, what work we’ve done so far, and what to expect as our process of finding and hiring a minister continues. We’ll answer questions we’ve received up to this point as well as any that come up during the seminar. There will also be an opportunity for you to provide input on what skills and qualities you’re looking for in an interim minister. In person at Reimer Hall at 11:30 a.m. and also available on Zoom. Meeting ID: 829 6457 0385 Passcode: 1624

It’s All-Church Band Time Again – If you do now or ever have played a band instrument, you are invited to join the UCG All Church Band for our annual Christmas Sing-Along Medley on December 15. It’s middle school level difficulty, and it’s always fun. Gather at 9:15 a.m. for a few run throughs, and we play for the opening of the service. Music is available now in the Sanctuary foyer. Take a part, sign your name so we know who is playing, reintroduce yourself to your instrument if necessary, and join in the joy.

A reminder that today is the final deadline to sign up for Advent Contemplative Prayer – which meets on Tuesdays; December 3, 10, and 17, 6 – 7 p.m. To register, email Sandy Reimer directly.

Next Sunday, December 8
Food First Sunday

10 a.m.        Lessons and Carols Warm-Ups – west wing
10:45 a.m.   Childcare – children’s wing
11 a.m.        Worship Service – Lessons and Carols
12 p.m.        Fellowship and Beverages
6:15 p.m.     Lessons and Carols Warm-Ups – west wing
7 p.m.          Worship Service – Lessons and Carols
8 p.m.          Lessons and Carols Reception

United Church of Gainesville’s 33rd Annual Festival of Lessons and Carols will be held December 8 at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. This service combines the readings of the Christmas story with beautiful carols and music that enrich the meaning of the Advent season.

Friends! Are you ready for Lessons & Carols?!?

Your fellow UCG’ers have been rehearsing for weeks to bring this amazing annual tradition to you, and we all hope you can join us!
One caveat: while we wish to fill EVERY available seat, we have a strict LIMIT of 286 persons in the Sanctuary. Once those seats are full, NO MORE chairs will be added to the foyer or Sanctuary.
But! Latecomers have a few options:
•    Reimer Hall livestream. Pros: far less crowded, can drink (coffee or…?), first dibs at
post-7 p.m. reception cookies.
•    YouTube livestream.  Pro: watch from home in your (Christmas?) pajamas.
•    Attend the 7 p.m. service. Pros: it’s usually less crowded, and the lighting makes it
magical.
Whatever way you wish to view, plan ahead to join us for this beautiful service!

Looking Ahead

Buy your tickets now for Flamy Grant in Concert at UCG – Award-winning and Billboard-charting artist Flamy Grant, a shame-slaying, hip-swaying, singing-songwriting drag queen from western North Carolina will have a concert at United Church of Gainesville on December 3 at 8 p.m., tickets are $20 and available online or at the office with cash or a check made out to United Church of Gainesville with Flamy Grant on the memo line, or tickets may be purchased at the door on the day of the event. A powerhouse vocalist and intrepid songwriter who blends country, folk, gospel, and roots music, Flamy delivers a theatrical, therapeutic, and wholly original storytelling experience, all shared through the evocative art of drag.

Mark Your Calendar for this Year’s Children’s Advent Craft Fair – This year’s theme is holiday-focused activities that spark interest in our youth and foster intergenerational relationships within our church community. The craft fair will take place on Saturday, December 7, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. in Reimer Hall.  Cost is $5 per child or $10 per family as a suggested donation, look in future communications to sign up.

Men’s Lunch Group Annual Squirrel Pie Lunch – All United Church of Gainesville men are invited to this holiday tradition on Friday, December 6, 12 – 1:30 p.m. in Reimer Hall. Bring adult beverages, salads, side dishes, and desserts that go with squirrel. Sign up at bit.ly/Squirrel24 or look for the sign up on the bulletin board on Sundays.

The Kids United Lessons and Carols Final Rehearsal with Phillip, our Director of Music will be on Saturday, December 7, at 9 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Children have been learning their song on Sunday mornings.

Women’s Lunch Group Tasteful Christmas Lunch – Women’s Lunch Group will celebrate the holidays with a Tasteful Christmas Luncheon on Friday, December 13, at noon in Reimer Hall. All women are invited to bring a potluck dish to share and a beverage of their choice. The potluck sign up is at bit.ly/WomensLunch24 or you can look for the bulletin board in the courtyard on Sundays. Please bring your plate and utensils to save on clean-up and waste. Also, if you can, please bring new underwear or a donation (cash or check to Helping Hands Clinic) which will be given to Helping Hands Clinic for the women’s boutique. Join us for good food and fellowship this Christmas season.

“Starry Night” Kids’ Night Out – December 13, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Education Wing Join us to stargaze with high-powered telescopes, paint starry artwork inspired by Van Gogh, and decorate a galaxy dessert that is out of this world! Infants through 5th grade are invited for a night of activities, crafts, pizza, and a movie. Cost is $20 for the first child, and $15 for siblings. RSVP by noon December 11 to juliac@ucgainesville.org.

January 31- February 2: Please mark your calendar to join us for the annual Women’s Overnight 2025! Our extravagantly planned weekend includes sessions at UCG on Friday (day) for anyone not available to get away, as well as the weekend at Camp Weed in Live Oak (you’re welcome to join us for all). Exciting details to follow in the January newsletter. Online registration starts January 3; see us in Seminar C in between services on Sunday, January 5 and Sunday, January 12 for questions or to register!

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Church Office Holiday Hours Thanksgiving Week 2024
Wednesday-Friday November 27-29 – closed