WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
PRELUDE – “Il Silenzio” by Nini Rosso – offered by Carl Carter and Ewan Johnson, trumpets; Phillip Herr-Klepacki, piano
INVOCATION – from “enfleshed” by M Jade Kaiser, offered by Jean Cunningham
Tender One,
You hold all the world’s grief close.
With every word that cuts,
every policy that demeans,
every act of violence or corruption,
You draw near to the ones who ache.
You comfort the broken hearted
and shore up beside the afflicted.
We know it’s not enough only to weep,
but your compassion reminds us
we cannot mend the world
without bearing witness to its sorrow.
Keep us from despair that overcomes,
but never let us become strangers to the world’s ache –
turning away from the pain of our neighbor,
or growing accustomed to violence that shouldn’t be.
Whatever evil may befall us,
whatever destruction we may witness,
may we never grow cold to Love
or be convinced of the inevitability of cruelty.
Jesus, ever-present to the pain around him,
did not escape into the safety of indifference –
even in the shadow of the cross.
His care for the suffering
and his confidence in your liberating ways,
made him kind,
softened him to even the hardest hearts,
and kindled in him Your love for humanity.
Love that appears foolish.
Love that resists evil.
Love that makes way for the Kindom.
Make it so among us, O God,
and lead us in the ways of compassion. Amen
OPENING SONG – “All This Joy, All This Sorrow”
All this joy, all this sorrow,
All this promise, all this pain,
Such is life, such is being,
Such is spirit, such is love.
Sing of joy, sing of sorrow,
Sing of promise, sing of pain,
Such is life, such is being,
Such is spirit, such is love.
World of joy, world of sorrow,
World of promise, world of pain,
Such is life, such is being,
Such is spirit, such is love.
All is joy, all is sorrow,
All is promise, all is pain,
Such is life, such is being
Such is spirit, such is love.
TIME WITH CHILDREN AND BIRTHDAYS – Tony Miller
INTERLUDE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
PRAYER RESPONSE – “Invocation” by Christopher Grundy – offered by Phillip Herr-Klepacki
A WORD ABOUT THE PREACHER
SPECIAL MUSIC AND OFFERING – “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay,” words and music by Otis Redding and Steve Cropper – offered by Elena Frenock, vocal; Mary Fukuyama, flute; Darren Burgess, guitar; Jackie Davis, bass.
Your gifts support all facets of the UCG community. You can also give online: bit.ly/ucgplate.
RESPONSIVE READING – from Lamentations: Sorrows of Captive Zion, selected from Chapters 4-5 – offered by Tony Miller
One: Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us; look and see how we are scorned.
All: Our patrimony is turned over to strangers and our homes to foreigners. We are like orphans without a father; our mothers are like widows. We must buy our own water to drink, our own wood can only be had at a price.
One: The yoke is on our necks, we are overdriven; we are weary and are given no rest. We come to terms, now with the Egyptians, now with the Assyrians, to provide us with food. Our fathers sinned and are no more, and we bear the burden of their guilt.
All: Slaves have become our rulers, and there is no one to rescue us from them. We must bring in our food from the wilderness, risking our lives in the scorching heat. Our sins are blackened as in a furnace by the ravages of starvation.
One: The Lord’s anointed was caught in their machinations; although we had thought to live among the nations, safe under the Lord’s protection.
All: Joy has fled from our hearts, and our dances are turned to mourning.
One: Still, we strain our eyes, looking in vain for help. Our days are all but finished, our end has come.
SERMON – “What Are We Crying About?” – Tony Miller
CLOSING SONG – “Within Our Darkest Night”
BENEDICTION
BENEDICTION RESPONSE – “O Lord, Hear My Prayer”
POSTLUDE
Today at UCG
First Sunday in Lent
9:00 a.m. Youth Choir – Sanctuary
9:45 a.m. Childcare – education wing
10:00 a.m. Worship – Tony Miller
Friendship Group – west wing
10:15 a.m. United Tribes – education wing
11:00 a.m. Fellowship and Beverages – courtyard
Legislative Session Debrief – Sanctuary
Art in the Library Reception
Women’s Day Retreat registration – Seminar B
11:15 a.m. Youth United/Middle School Together – youth room
11:30 a.m. Sunday Seminar – Reimer Hall
7:00 p.m. Climate Justice Movie Night – Reimer Hall
Sunday Seminar – Repentance: What Is It? – Is the concept still relevant today? Why do it? How do we do it? Offered by Daniel Webster. Join us in person in Reimer Hall or on
Zoom. Meeting ID: 82964570385 Passcode: 1624
Art in the Library Reception this Sunday at 11 a.m. – Stop by and see the work of Sue Littell and Janet March on display this month. Light refreshments provided.
Lenten Practices for February
Lenten Reflection Booklets – Daily readings, February 14 – March 31, featuring original and favorite artwork, music, photos, and writings by UCG members, curated by Taylor Williams and Lisa Goldstein. Available for pick-up or for digital delivery at bit.ly/ucglentdevo24.
Lenten Contemplative Prayer – Tuesdays, February 20 – March 19, 6 – 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary. A quiet hour each week, between Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday, offers time for silence, for a Psalm and reflection, for prayer and for sharing. Check out the small groups for details and to sign up. Deadline to register is today.
Lenten Vespers Services – Thursdays, Feb. 22 – March 21, 7 – 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. A time to sing and pray together, allowing the rhythm of the Lenten season to shape your heart and week.
Small Group Registration Ends Today. Visit https://bit.ly/SGUCGSPR24 to view the offerings and register. If you need help registering, paper registrations are available in the church office and in the foyer.
The Compassion In Action Committee invites you to provide items for the Gift Bags for the Homeless project. Please bring donations on Sundays, February 18 (today) or 25, or during the week of February 19. Seminar A will be open Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. The gift bags will be delivered to our neighbors at GRACE Marketplace and St. Francis House. Your gifts will brighten the lives of many! Donation list available in the foyer.
Legislative Session Debrief today, 11 a.m. in the Sanctuary – The 2024 Florida Legislative session continues the assault on human rights, especially those of our LGBTQ+ citizens. If you would like to discuss these bills and learn how to register your opposition, please join Malika Green and Elizabeth Husband, Open and Affirming (ONA) co-chairpersons.
Climate Justice Movie Night today, February 18, 7 – 9 p.m. in Reimer Hall. Connie Caldwell and Jackie Davis will offer Connie’s amazing popcorn and a movie from the series “Reciprocity Project.” Here is a description: Facing a climate crisis, Reciprocity Project embraces Indigenous value systems created in kinship with Earth. This short film series and multimedia platform, made in partnership with Indigenous storytellers and their communities worldwide, invites learning from time honored and current Indigenous ways of being. This small group is sponsored by the Creation Care and Climate Justice Committee (C3J).
Reflections: Friendships and Moonbeams – Women’s Day Retreat on March 2, 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Join us for a day of fun, creativity, friendship, and worship at UCG. With both new sessions/session leaders, and recurring sessions/session leaders from the previous weekend retreat, this day offers something for everyone. Participants will be invited to reflect on treasured friendships and memories, create new experiences and connections, delve deeper into how friends enhance our lives, and reflect on how to be their own best friend. Cost is $30 ($15 without lunch) and includes lunch, snacks, and childcare. Register at https://bit.ly/WomenRet24, or in the courtyard this morning.
Next Sunday, February 25
Second Sunday in Lent
9:00 a.m. Youth Choir
9:45 a.m. Childcare
Puzzler Exchange
10:00 a.m. Worship – Rev. Talia Raymond
10:15 a.m. United Tribes
11:00 a.m. Fellowship and Beverages
Women’s Day Retreat registration
11:15 a.m. Youth United / Middle School Together
11:30 a.m. Sunday Seminar
5:00 p.m. Interfaith Potluck
