United Church of Gainesville
“All I Want for Christmas”
Sunday, December 3, 2023 – 10 a.m.
Our live stream begins at 10:00 a.m. Click here to join.
“Our time is a time of waiting; waiting is its special destiny. And every time is a time of waiting, waiting for the breaking in of eternity . . . Time itself is waiting, waiting not for another time, but for that which is eternal.” – Paul Tillich
WELCOME — Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
PRELUDE — “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent/O Come, O Come Emmanuel” – offered by Laurie Alsobrook, dulcimer
CALL TO WORSHIP — offered by Stephen Bottomly
One: People, look East! The time is near for the advent of our God.
Many: We watch the horizon and prepare our hearts for the promised coming.
One: The furrows are glad and the mountains cry out!
Many: The whole earth is waiting for the renewal of hope and joy.
One: In this holy season, God is already and not yet among us.
Many: We wait and watch, hope and prepare, opening our lives and our hearts to what may come.
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE – Finnette, Elena, and Eva Fabrick, and Adelyn Ansley
HYMN — “Come, O Long Expected Jesus”
(We will sing an alternate tune: Hyfrydol)
TIME WITH CHILDREN — offered by Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
BIRTHDAYS
INTERLUDE — Phillip Herr-Klepacki
READING — “Annunciation” by Marie Howe — offered by Andrew Ragsdale
Even if I don’t see it again – nor ever feel it
I know it is – and that if once it hailed me
it ever does –
And so it is myself I want to turn in that direction
not as toward a place, but it was a tilting
within myself,
as one turns a mirror to flash the light to where
it isn’t – I was blinded like that – and swam
in what shone at me
only able to endure it by being no one and so
specifically myself I thought I’d die
from being loved like that.
SPECIAL MUSIC — “My Favorite Things” by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II — offered by Rebecca Pethes Vincent
SCRIPTURE — Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 — offered by Cathy Myers
SERMON — “Comfort and Joy” — Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
SPECIAL MUSIC and OFFERTORY — “BEFORE THE MARVEL OF THIS NIGHT” – UCG Choir, led by Phillip Herr-Klepacki
Your gifts support all facets of the UCG community. You can also give online: bit.ly/ucgplate.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE — Rev. Chad McGinnis
CLOSING HYMN — “God Save You, Merry Gentlefolk” — lyrics by Sophia Green, tune: traditional
from worry and dismay,
for God our good Creator
has made you for this day,
to stand up for all life on Earth
though we had gone astray! Chorus:
O tidings of comfort and hope,
comfort and hope,
o tidings of comfort and hope!As sure as we are living
we’re meant to do our part,
as stewards of all Creation
with mind and hand and heart;
for God gave us such mighty pow’r
that Earth’s course we do chart!
Chorus
The creatures of our forests green,
of fields and mountains tall,
and creatures of the deepest sea,
of lakes and rivers call
upon our courage righteous set
for to redeem us all!
Chorus
Give not an ear to wicked word
from those in Evil’s sway,
who take your faith in God’s own Good
and say you’ve lost your way,
that they may speed the end of days
for falsely God they play!
Chorus
Let’s stand together tall and strong
and make our voices heard!
Now confident of right and wrong
we pledge to keep our word;
our stewardship of God’s precious Earth
to honor and to serve!
Chorus
BENEDICTION
SUNG BENEDICTION RESPONSE – “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
O come, O Wisdom from on high, and order all things far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show and help us in that way to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!
Here are our UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week!
|
Fred |
Gregory |
12/03 |
|
Adriane |
Isenberg |
12/03 |
|
Thatcher |
Morse |
12/03 |
|
Harper |
Fitzpatrick |
12/04 |
|
Beverly |
Holt |
12/06 |
|
Patti |
Williams |
12/06 |
|
Aoife |
Boisseau |
12/07 |
|
Jonathan |
Gitzendanner |
12/08 |
|
Travis |
Harris |
12/08 |
Today at UCG
Food First Sunday
9:45 a.m. Childcare
10:00 a.m. Worship – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
Friendship Group
10:15 a.m. United Tribes
11:00 a.m. Fellowship and Beverages
Youth United Chili Lunch
Women’s Retreat Registration
11:30 a.m. Sunday Seminar
Lessons & Carols Rehearsal
4:00 p.m. Compassion in Action
No Sunday Seminars in December
Youth United Annual Chili Lunch is today! — Join us from 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. to help support our UCG youth’s summer work tour. The cost is $7 for adults (16 and older), $5 for children ages 3-15, and free for ages 2 and under. You are encouraged to bring muffin tins if you would like to taste many different chilis, but bowls will be provided. Cornbread, brats, dogs (meat-eater and vegan friendly), and desserts included.
It’s not too late to submit your 2024 pledge! To date, we are at 82% of our pledge goal of $877,978. If you haven’t already, please submit your pledge today.
All pledge information is confidential. Here are three ways to pledge:
- Pledge online here or
- Send an email to the UCG accountant at catherinec@ucgainesville.org or
- Fill out a pledge card, available in the church office and foyer, and return it in person or by mail.
Registration for “Reflections: Friendships and Moonbeams” begins Sunday, December 3. Registration for the Women’s Overnight Retreat at Camp Weed (January 19-21 in Live Oak, FL) will take place in the library immediately after the services on Dec. 3, 10, and 17; online at https://bit.ly/womens24, or in the church office. The deadline to register is Sunday, Dec. 17. Registration for the Women’s one-day UCG Retreat on Saturday, March 2 will begin in late January. More details about both retreats are provided in the December newsletter. Contact Laura Robertson at alurajuly@gmail.com or Jane Emmerée at emmeree@gmail.com with questions.Rawlings Christmas Angel Gift Market — Thank you so much for donating to the Rawlings Elementary School gift market! Please take a Christmas angel from the tree in the foyer or sign up for gifts online at: https://bit.ly/CIAangel23. Or you can donate funds to the gift market here and someone from CIA will shop for you. Return the unwrapped gifts with the Christmas angel to the foyer on Sundays, December 3 or 10, or bring them to Seminar B between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. the weeks of November 27 or December 4. If you can help with the market, sign up here. Blessings to all of our Christmas angels.
The Racial Justice Committee will be in the courtyard selling BLM shirts every Sunday until January 14. Save the date and plan to join us for the annual Martin Luther King event on Monday, January 15.
The All Church Band will play a medley of sing-along Christmas carols at the service on Sunday, December 17. If you play or have ever played a band instrument, pick up music that is available in the foyer and plan to participate in this great UCG tradition. Rehearsal will be at 9:15 a.m. on December 17 in the Sanctuary. Please bring a music stand.
Parents’ Night Out — December 8, 5:30-9:30 p.m., UCG Education Wing. Children, infants through 5th grade, are invited for a night of pizza and fun. $15 for the first child, and $10 for each additional child. RSVP by Wednesday, December 6 to juliac@ucgainesville.org.
Men’s Squirrel Pie Lunch December 8 at noon in Reimer Hall — All UCG men are invited to this holiday tradition. Bring adult beverages, salads, side dishes, and desserts that go with squirrel.
Women’s Lunch Group Tasteful Christmas Luncheon Friday, December 15 at noon in Reimer Hall. All women are invited to bring a potluck dish to share and a beverage of their choice. 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.
32nd Annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
10:45 a.m. Childcare
11:00 a.m. Service of Nine Lessons and Carols
Noon Fellowship and Beverages
Women’s Retreat Registration
4:00 p.m. Dances of Universal Peace
6:15 p.m. Lessons and Carols Warm-up
7:00 p.m. Service of Nine Lessons and Carols
8:00 p.m. Lessons and Carols ReceptionJoin us for a reception after the 7 p.m. Lessons and Carols Service!This lovely event is our traditional way of giving thanks for the countless hours of work by singers and musicians in this wonderful seasonal performance. Please bring cookies or something similar. If you come to the first service and do not plan to come to the reception, you could bring a sweet offering and leave it in the kitchen. This is a joyous UCG community event in which all are invited to participate.
December 1 COVID Update
All of Alachua County’s wastewater samples continue to contain moderate levels of the COVID virus. A local emergency room physician has noted an uptick in the number of new cases this past week. Nationally, hospital admissions with COVID are likewise on the rise. Vaccination remains the best defense. People over age 65 and people with compromised immunity are encouraged to get the updated mRNA vaccine two or more weeks before holiday travel or entertaining out-of-state visitors. The same recommendation applies to the flu vaccine.
The wearing of masks in the Sanctuary is optional. People with respiratory symptoms should remain at home. People over age 65, people at risk for serious illness from COVID, and people who live with someone at increased risk are encouraged to wear an N-95 or KN-95 mask. KN-95 masks are available in the foyer of the Sanctuary.
