United Church of Gainesville
“Another Scroll”
Sunday, June 11, 2023 – 10:00 a.m.
Our live stream begins at 10:00 am. Click here to join.
“Truth is truth no matter where it is.” – Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III
The Dances of Universal Peace are spiritual practices in motion. Drawing on the sacred phrases, scripture, and poetry of many spiritual traditions of the earth, dances blend chant, live music, and evocative simple movement into a living experience of unity, peace, and integration. This taste of our true nature – as Universal Peace – opens to the possibility of a deep spiritual revolution.
WELCOME – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
PRELUDE – Offered by Mark Burlingame
WITNESS – “How I Became a Sufi” – Nurallah Eleanor Briseno, a Cherag of the Universal Worship
CANDLE LIGHTING CEREMONY
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN – “Faith,” by Maya Ajmera, Magda Nakassis, and Cynthia Pon – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
BIRTHDAYS
INTERLUDE – Phillip Herr-Klepacki
READINGS FROM WORLD SCRIPTURES
Indigenous Peoples of the World, a Lakota prayer
SONG “May the Great Spirit” – from the Dances of Universal Peace
May the Great Spirit grant you peace of mind; may the peace be there in everything you find; may the peace be there in all you leave behind . . .
The worship of Mother Gaia
SONG – “Madre Tierra, Madre Vida” – from the Dances of Universal Peace
The Hindu Religion, from the Upanishads
The Zoroastrian Religion, from the Zen Avesta
The Buddhist Religion, from the writings of Thich Nhat Hanh
The Religion of Judaism, from the Psalms
The Christian Tradition, from 1 John
From the Islamic Tradition, from the Qur’an
From the Sufi Tradition, from the writings of Hazrat Inayat Khan
SINGING – “Return Again”
Return again, return again; return to the home of your soul.
Return to who you are; return to what you are; return to where you are;
Born and reborn again . . .
HEBREW BIBLE READING – from Genesis 32 – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
SERMON – “Other Scrolls” – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
HYMN AND OFFERTORY – “Come O Thou Traveler Unknown”
Your gifts support all facets of the UCG community. You can also give online: bit.ly/ucgplate
PRAYERS OF DEDICATION AND COMMUNITY – Rev. Chad McGinnis
FINAL SONG – “May the Blessings of God”
Nurallah will sing through once, and the congregation will repeat it.
May the blessings of God rest upon you,
May God’s peace abide with you,
May God’s presence illuminate your heart, now and forever more.
BENEDICTION – “Khatum” offered by Nurallah Briseno
ALLELUIA
Many thanks to these friends who participated in today’s service – Elliot Kiker, Salina Briseno Kiker, Mark Burlingame, Jeff Shapiro, Jane Emmeree, Susan Cary, Nurallah Briseno, and Ann Gill.
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Sam |
Harris |
06/15 |
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Ted |
Runions |
06/15 |
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Joan |
Stevens |
06/15 |
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Steven |
Wallace |
06/15 |
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Judah |
Bachmann |
06/16 |
Announcements
Food First
Sunday Seminar – Discuss the Sermon with Bromleigh – Bromleigh will lead a discussion session focused on her sermon. Come and bring your questions and thoughts and discuss ways to make practical applications of the spiritual themes. Join us in person or via Zoom. Meeting ID: 829 6457 0385 Passcode: 1624
The Sacred Sound Symphony that was scheduled for this evening has been canceled.
Summer office hours through August 11 are Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Thanks to the congregation for voting to become a Creation Justice Church at the last congregational meeting! The newest activity from the Creation Care & Climate Justice Task Force is a postcard campaign organized by the United Church of Christ. Climate Hope Cards were provided for free from UCC, and we are collecting names of people who support its purpose, which you can read about at https://www.ucc.org/climatehopecards/ (In brief, they implore President Biden and the EPA to fight pollution with strong standards.) The cards will be available at Sunday services in June, and they can be returned in person to Jim Harper or by dropping them at the UCG office. We plan to have more than 200 postcards signed by the end of June.
The Re-Mod Squad needs your help! We are working to mediate drainage issues in the courtyard and buy ourselves some time until long-term solutions can be implemented. Committee member Glenn Mans has been doing lots of hard physical labor in the courtyard with some help from a couple of volunteers, but more work is needed! We will primarily be leveling high areas of the courtyard, sifting excavated dirt to remove root mass, cutting out roots from old tree stumps, and hauling and spreading sieved dirt to help stabilize parking lot areas. Maximum work periods from 9:15 am to noon as weather and stamina permit. Two volunteers per workday work well! If this sounds like work you can do, we’d love to have your help. Workdays are June 23, July 7, July 10, and July 14. If you can help with this, please text Glenn Mans at 352-870-1303.
The Lively Arts Committee is pleased to feature World Calligraphy Art by Joon Thomas. The scrolls hanging in the sanctuary represent philosophies from the major world religions. There is currently a show of their work at the Sweetwater Print Coop in downtown Gainesville. Visit https://bit.ly/joonthomas for more information.The All-Church Band is playing at the 10 a.m. service on July 2, offering the Fred Rogers classic, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” Musicians of any and all skill levels are encouraged to pick up music in the Sanctuary foyer beginning Sunday, practice on their own, and join others for a single rehearsal at 9 a.m. on July 2.
Patticakes Potluck Summer Pool Party! – Patticakes is a group for UCG member and visitor families with small children, from infants through 1st grade, as well as their siblings. Join us Sunday, June 25th 1-5 pm at the home of Donn and Melvin Smith-Lopez at 3994 NW 14th St., Gainesville. Pack your swim suits, towels and sunscreen. We have lots of pool toys for water play. Please bring a finger food appetizer, easily shareable dish or beverage. We will have water and juice boxes for the kids.
C.A.M.P. UCG for children entering Rising K-6th Grade will be July 24-28, 2023! Our theme is “All God’s Critters: Flying Animals Edition.” There will be special guests, a water slide day, yummy snacks, spiritual exploration, and a visit from some flying animals! Rates: $30 per child (8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.), $50 family cap for children in the same household. Aftercare Rate: 12-5 p.m. $100 for the week, $20 per day. Email taliar@ucgainesville.org with any questions, or to volunteer with: crafts, STEM lessons, snacks, outdoor games, or if you have a connection to a community group that can teach our children about critters, however known. Monetary donations or gift cards to grocery/big box stores are also welcome. Visit https://bit.ly/campucg23 to register.
Gathering Water – Wherever you are this summer – in your own yard, at the beach, in another state or country – remember to gather a small amount of water to bring to our annual “Gathering of Waters” service on August 13. This service is our ritual of re-gathering as a church community at the end of the summer.
June 9 COVID Update – Although the COVID-19 virus is still detectable in nearly all Alachua County wastewater samples, the levels remain low. Hospital admissions appear to be leveling off at a low level. These data suggest that county residents have a low risk of serious illness from COVID (the green zone). For church goers, N-95 and KN-95 masks are not required but should be considered by people with medical risks (and people over age 65) who have not received a bivalent booster within the last 6 months.
