Spirituality, However Known
Sunday, July 21, 2024 – 10 a.m.
Our livestream begins here at 10 a.m.
I will pour out my Spirit on all humankind.
Your children will prophesy,
your young people will see visions,
and your elders will dream dreams. – Acts 2:17
WELCOME, INTRODUCTION, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS – Rev. Chad McGinnis
UCG STORY CORPS – Betsy Harris
PRELUDE – offered by Nan Ryan, handpan
CALL TO WORSHIP – from enfleshed, offered by Rev. Chad McGinnis
One: Vibrant God, Alive God,
ALL: God of visions and dreams,
One: God of intimacy,
ALL: God of sustaining connections,
One: God of birdsong and whale song,
ALL: God of dance, laughter, art, and play:
One: Pour your Spirit of Life upon us,
ALL: that in our gathering we might live the joy of Holy Relationship.
OPENING SONG – “Turn, Turn, Turn”
Chorus:
To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep (Chorus)
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together (Chorus)
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing (Chorus)
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of peace, I swear it’s not too late (Chorus)
TIME WITH CHILDREN AND BIRTHDAYS – Rev. Ellen Ribe
INTERLUDE – 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. Ellen Ribe
MUSIC FOR MEDITATION – Offered by Nan Ryan, handpan
READING – Honoring Transformation, by Pixie Lighthorse from Prayers of Honoring Voice – Rev. Chad McGinnis
SUNG RESPONSE – “Spirit of the Living God”
SCRIPTURE READING – Acts 2:1-18, from The Inclusive Bible – Rev. S. LaTrell Harrison
SERMON – “Listening for the Sound of the Genuine” – Rev. S. LaTrell Harrison
CLOSING SONG – “Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness”
BENEDICTION – Rev. S. LaTrell Harrison
ALLELUIA
POSTLUDE
Rev. S. LaTrell Harrison describes herself as a faith facilitator and ecumenist. In addition to serving the United Church of Christ in Florida, she has served in multiple denominations. She believes the blueprint for beloved community starts with ecumenical partnerships. She often states: “Collaboration models are the future of the church’s sustainability and vitality. Organizing was the strength of the Acts Church.”
LaTrell spends her free time creating monologues, specifically unnamed and “notorious” women from biblical narratives. Her happy places are quaint bookstores and the beach.
Here are our UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week:
Ginny Reed
July 22
Phoebe Papadi
July 23
Marybeth Hammond
Glenn Mans
July 24
Linda Carlson
July 25
Fiona Hammond
Laura Templeton
July 26
Sanford Berg
Gwendolyn Chrzanowski
9:45 a.m. Childcare
10:00 a.m. Worship Service
10:15 a.m. Activity Time
11:00 a.m. Fellowship and Beverages
Ask the Leadership
Story Corps
Lost and Found Table
11:30 a.m. Sunday Seminar: Affirmations, However Known LifeSouth Blood Drive – There is an emergency need for all blood types. Please give the gift of life. Bloodmobile will be here from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Ask the Leadership – The Moderator and other church leaders take turns at the table each Sunday to answer questions and provide updates on UCG activities. You’re welcome to stop by, grab a seat, and get an update on church happenings. Handouts with updates will be available at the table. Email moderator@ucgainesville.org if you are looking for something else.
Story Corps – Tell your UCG story! This summer’s UCG activity inspired by NPR’s Story Corp is here and you can be a part of it. See the sign-up sheet and sample questions at the Story Cycle in the courtyard. The last storytelling date is today.
Sunday Seminar: Affirmations However Known art workshop with Jessica Elkins – Our art event will be a hands-on workshop to create affirmations for yourself and others. We will design cards and bookmarks to use for personal meditative practice or as a gift for others. These will be simple expressions of encouragement. Materials used will be black and colored Micron drawing pens, neon markers, Tombows, watercolor pencils, and water pens. Please note this workshop will last approximately 60 – 75 minutes.
Capital Campaign Feasibility Study Update: One of the important findings of this spring’s Capital Campaign Feasibility Study was that congregants needed to learn more about the projects on the “Essential Repairs and Improvements” list, what they entailed, why they were necessary, and so on. As part of the effort to address this need, the UCG Capital Campaign Visioning Committee and the Buildings and Grounds Committee are assembling a series of short videos to describe projects on the “Essential Repairs and Improvements” list. The videos will be available on this YouTube playlist. The first two videos cover the church water supply, and the beam that separates Reimer Hall from the West Wing. Please send any questions or comments about the projects, and about the effectiveness of these videos, to either Tim Martin or Erick Smith.
A timely reminder ahead of the August 20 primary that the deadline to register to vote is tomorrow so there is just one day to meet the deadline. If you need to register or make changes in your current voter registration, you have less than two weeks to meet the deadline! There have been legislative changes that now require voters to renew their vote by mail requests every two years. To receive vote-by-mail ballots in 2024, you must make a new request. If you have election-related questions, consider contacting your county Supervisor of Elections.
Childcare
10:00 a.m. Worship Service with Rabbi David Kaiman
10:15 a.m. Activity Time
11:00 a.m. Fellowship and Beverages
Ask the Leadership
1 p.m. Picnic at O’Leno State Park
Open and Affirming Sunday Social – UCG’s Open and Affirming Committee is launching a new monthly social gathering called the “Open and Affirming Sunday Social.” Come get to know members of UCG in a fun and inclusive environment, hosted by ONA. We’re going to meet up on the second Sunday of the month in the evening.
Our second Sunday Social will be dinner on August 11 at 5 p.m. at the 4th Ave Food Park (409 SW 4th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601). This event will be family friendly, so bring the kids (and the kids at heart)! Please contact Brandon Telg with any questions.
A Reminder to Gather Water – Wherever you are this summer – in your own backyard or somewhere else, in this or another country – gather a small amount of water to bring to our annual Gathering of Waters service on Sunday, August 11. We will celebrate our summer journeys, however known, and our reunited community. We will combine the gathered waters into one sacred water to use for baptisms and blessing rituals in the coming year.
COVID is back! Emergency room visits and hospitalizations for COVID-19 have both increased dramatically. The newest variant LB.1 causes symptoms much like previous COVID strains but evades most people’s waning immunity. However, prior immunization against COVID will help protect you from serious, life-threatening illness.
With such a high prevalence in the community, elderly people, pregnant women, and people with compromised immunity are advised to wear masks when attending indoor public events. People who are severely immune compromised should speak to their doctor about getting a monoclonal antibody called Pemgarda (pemivibart) to protect them against acquiring COVID-19.
Everyone should consider getting one of the three updated COVID vaccines that will be available in August and September.
