Welcome to Worship
January 23, 2022
Poets & Prophets
Join us here for a live-stream beginning at 9:15am
“Joy is an act of resistance.” — Toi Derricotte
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP – from “Won’t You Celebrate With Me,” by Lucille Clifton
Leader: won’t you celebrate with me
what i have shaped into
a kind of life? i had no model.
born in babylon
both nonwhite and woman
what did i see to be except myself?
i made it up
here on this bridge between
starshine and clay,
my one hand holding tight
my other hand; come celebrate
with me that everyday
something has tried to kill me
and has failed.
People: we celebrate together, that we are here,
together
singing and dancing before the sacred.
OPENING SONG – “The Breath of my Spirit”
The breath of my spirit will bless.
The cells of my body will sing in gratitude reawakening
TIME WITH CHILDREN
INTERLUDE – “The Breath of My Spirit”
The breath of my spirit will bless.
The cells of my body will sing in gratitude reawakening
READING – an excerpt from “One Today,” by Richard Blanco
One sun rose on us today, kindled over our shores,
peeking over the Smokies, greeting the faces
of the Great Lakes, spreading a simple truth
across the Great Plains, then charging across the Rockies.
One light, waking up rooftops, under each one, a story
told by our silent gestures moving behind windows.
My face, your face, millions of faces in morning’s mirrors,
each one yawning to life, crescendoing into our day:
pencil-yellow school buses, the rhythm of traffic lights,
fruit stands: apples, limes, and oranges arrayed like rainbows
begging our praise. Silver trucks heavy with oil or paper—
bricks or milk, teeming over highways alongside us,
on our way to clean tables, read ledgers, or save lives—
to teach geometry, or ring-up groceries as my mother did
for twenty years, so I could write this poem.
All of us as vital as the one light we move through,
the same light on blackboards with lessons for the day:
equations to solve, history to question, or atoms imagined,
the “I have a dream” we keep dreaming,
or the impossible vocabulary of sorrow that won’t explain
the empty desks of twenty children marked absent
today, and forever. Many prayers, but one light
breathing color into stained glass windows,
life into the faces of bronze statues, warmth
onto the steps of our museums and park benches
as mothers watch children slide into the day.
One sky, toward which we sometimes lift our eyes
tired from work: some days guessing at the weather
of our lives, some days giving thanks for a love
that loves you back, sometimes praising a mother
who knew how to give, or forgiving a father
who couldn’t give what you wanted.
We head home: through the gloss of rain or weight
of snow, or the plum blush of dusk, but always—home,
always under one sky, our sky. And always one moon
like a silent drum tapping on every rooftop
and every window, of one country—all of us—
facing the stars
hope—a new constellation
waiting for us to map it,
waiting for us to name it—together
SCRIPTURE – 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
In which King David dances before the ark of God, with all his might, with shouts and trumpets, with minimal clothing.
SERMON – “Justice and Joy” – Rachel Kirk
OFFERTORY – “For Everyone Born”
Leader sings the verses, the people sing the refrain
For everyone born, a place at the table,
for everyone born, clean water and bread,
a shelter, a space, a safe place for growing,
for everyone born, a star overhead,
Refrain: and God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators
of justice, justice and joy!
For folx of all kinds, a place at the table,
revising the roles, deciding the share,
with wisdom and grace, dividing the power,
for woman and man, a system that’s fair,
Refrain
For young and for old, a place at the table,
a voice to be heard, a part in the song,
the hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled,
for young and for old, the right to belong,
Refrain
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
PRAYER RESPONSE – “For Everyone Born”
For everyone born, a place at the table,
to live without fear, and simply to be,
to work, to speak out, to witness and worship,
for everyone born, the right to be free,
Refrain
BENEDICTION
ALLELUIA
Here are the UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week!
Happy Birthday!
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Andrew
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Bittikoffer
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01/24
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Flo
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Turcotte
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01/24
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Mark
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Robinson
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01/25
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Rob
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White
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01/25
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Ron
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Nutter
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01/26
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Nan
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Ryan
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01/26
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Heidi
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Stein
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01/26
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Nicholas
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Thompson
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01/26
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Nora
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Hoover
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01/27
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Magnolia
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Nelson
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01/27
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Spencer
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Wise
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01/27
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Aaron
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Mickle
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01/27
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Anna
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Heineman
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01/28
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Karen
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Lovett
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01/28
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William
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Hall
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01/29
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Announcements
United Tribes – Tribes are having a soft open house of our newly renovated education wing this morning. If you would like to offer a housewarming gift to the new space, check out our wish list here.
Sunday Seminar – “Meet Rachel Kirk, Ordained Today at UCG” – Rachel has graciously agreed to be interviewed on the day of her ordination at UCG. Rachel grew up in UCG, completed her Master of Divinity at Vanderbilt Divinity School and is now serving as Pastor for Community and Mission at St. John United Church of Christ in Freeport, Illinois. Join us in Reimer Hall and live streamed here.
Rachel Kirk, a daughter of our church, will be ordained into ministry in the United Church of Christ in our Sanctuary at 2 pm today, January 23rd. This is a big day for Rachel and her family, and a big day for us as a church! Whether you know Rachel or not, please join us for this important and festive day in the life of our church.
Calling all puzzle lovers – Stop by the Puzzlers’ Table in front of Seminar B on Sunday. Take home some puzzles this week, a great activity for those of us who are still isolating. You can bring puzzles to swap, or not; we have plenty to share.
There is a new art exhibit in the sanctuary featuring works by Joon Stewart, a local artist. In keeping with the theme of “poets and prophets,” these sacred calligraphy images were created and derived from world religions and wisdom traditions. Please take time to view and contemplate each piece. The image behind the altar means “Faith, Hope, Love.” Also, please enjoy the UCG prayer flags in the Sanctuary, which were created by members and children of our UCG congregation several years ago.
Call to the Winter Congregational Meeting – Next Sunday, January 30 at 11:30am on Zoom. Please plan to attend!
Agenda:
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Updates from the Covid task force, Compensation Committee, Vinery program, information on potential new revenue sources, and more.
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Presentation and approval of the 2022 budget
KAIROS requests your help – John Jopling needs additional assistance getting to and from physical therapy. Click here to help.
A little short on your 2021 pledge donations? It’s not too late to fulfill your commitment! Donations are always welcome via check, cash, or credit card (click here). If you love your church bookkeeper, please note the YEAR on your donation. NOTE: If you wish your donation to be booked to the 2021 fiscal year (for tax purposes), I will accept cash or checks dated 12/31/2021 or prior.
Small Group Submissions – Please consider offering a group through UCG. It can be just about anything! From nature hikes to car tutorials, to Bible studies to volunteer work opportunities. Help us stay connected through a small group opportunity! Submit Small Group ideas at bit.ly/spring22SG. The deadline for submissions is January 30.
Sunday Drive-Up Assistance Now Available – Volunteers are available to assist disabled persons from the apron in front of the UCG courtyard into the Sanctuary. Please call or text Dar Mikula (352-359-4041) directly ahead of time to make arrangements and we’ll meet you out front.
Please help keep our church finances healthy while you stay healthy! Please consider donating online when we cannot be together in person. 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. Here is a video on how to use Shelby Giving.
Next Sunday, January 30
One Service at 10am – Congregational Meeting at 11:30am
9:45am Childcare
10:00am Worship – Talia Raymond
10:15am United Tribes
11:30am Youth United & Middle School Together – Congregational Meeting
January 22 COVID Update
The Florida Department of Health reports that last week the number of new cases of COVID-19 in Alachua County decreased a bit from 2,392 to 1812 per 100,000 per week. The threshold for the red zone (high risk of transmission) is 100. The omicron variant surge in Alachua County appears to have peaked.
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