The United Church of Gainesville – June 27, 2021Next to Normal
This morning our worship service will live-stream at 10:00am. It is available for viewing at anytime after this. Please click here to begin. If the live-stream link is not active or working for you, you can find our service at our YouTube page here.
“In the same way that people can drive each other mad, the company of people, and being understood by people, can also heal us.”
— Bessel A. van der Kolk
PRELUDE MUSIC – Phillip Herr-Klepacki
WELCOME, RINGING THE BELL, and LIGHTING THE CANDLE
CALL TO WORSHIP – Based on the “3 S’s” from Rebuilding Together, written by the Youth Work Tour team:
One: In our work together we celebrate:
ALL: Safety:
One: That, as a community, we ensure all of our collective and individual well being;
ALL: Stewardship:
One: We take care, respecting the space that we have been welcomed into;
ALL: Sensitivity:
One: That when we are invited into another’s sanctuary, all feel loved.
HYMN- “What a Wonderful World”
I see trees of green, red roses too,
I see them bloom for me and you,
and I think to myself, what a wonderful world.
I see skies of blue and clouds of white,
the bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
and I think to myself, what a wonderful world.
The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky,
are also on the faces of people going by.
I see friends shaking hands, sayin’ “How do you do!”
They’re really sayin’ “I love you.”
I hear babies cry, I watch them grow,
they’ll learn much more than I’ll never know
and I think to myself, what a wonderful world.
Yes, I think to myself, what a wonderful world.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
Prayer Response – “She Changes Everything”
She changes everything she touches
and everything she touches changes.
She changes everything she touches
and everything she touches changes.
Changes, touches, touches, changes.
Changes, touches.
Everything we touch can change.
READING
“If an organism is stuck in survival mode, its energies are focused on fighting off unseen enemies, which leaves no room for nurture, care, and love. For us humans, it means that as long as the mind is defending itself against invisible assaults, our closest bonds are threatened, along with our ability to imagine, plan, play, learn, and pay attention to other people’s needs.”
— Bessel A. van der Kolk
SCRIPTURE: Galatians 5:13–14 – Lucy Stein
For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become servants to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
SERMON – “Self-Regulation and Service”- Rev. Talia Raymond
CLOSING HYMN – “Hammer Song,” led by Rev. Larry Reimer
If I had a hammer, I’d hammer in the morning, I’d hammer in the evening, all over this land. I’d hammer out danger, I’d hammer out warning, I’d hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters, all over this land.
If I had a bell, I’d ring it in the morning, I’d ring it in the evening, all over this land. I’d ring out danger, I’d ring out warning, I’d ring out love between my brothers and my sisters, all over this land.
If I had a song, I’d sing it in the morning, I’d sing it in the evening, all over this land. I’d sing out danger, I’d sing out warning, I’d sing out love between my brothers and my sisters, all over this land.
Well, I got a hammer and I got a bell, and I got a song to sing all over this land. It’s the hammer of justice, It’s the bell of freedom, It’s the song about love between my brothers and my sisters, all over this land.
BENEDICTION
ALLELUIA
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Sunday Seminar
Sunday Seminar at 11:30am – Join us for a presentation by our own Bromleigh McCleneghan on “Good Christian Sex,” the subject of her 2016 book. A little bit of history, a little bit of theology, and a little personal storytelling pave the way for reflecting on embodiment, intimacy, pleasure and everyday sexual ethics. Join us in person in Reimer Hall or on zoom at 11:30am. Join Zoom here. Meeting ID: 829 6457 0385, Passcode: 1624. Phone in: 1 301 715 8592
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Announcements
“All God’s Critters” CAMP UCG 2021, August 2-6 – CAMP UCG is back! We are delighted to announce that our summer camp for children entering PreK-6th Grade will happen on the UCG Campus from August 2-6th. More information will be coming in the July newsletter. Please email Talia with any questions, or if you would like to volunteer to help with: crafts, STEM lessons, snacks, outdoor games, or have a connection to a community group (or you yourself) who can teach our children about “critters”, however known.
Let’s “Grush” This! – Looking for an easy way to re-emerge with your UCG community this summer? We are still looking for individuals or couples willing to help greet/usher (aka “Grusher”!) at the Sunday services this summer. There’s no lifting involved and you can show up as late as 9:30AM to help for just 30 minutes before the start of the service. No experience necessary. Dar will train you in ~5 minutes or less! To volunteer, click here, email Dar Mikula, or call (352)378-3500. Thank you for your help with this important job!
June 19 COVID Update – The past week’s average number of daily new cases of COVID-19 in Alachua County stayed level at 10 per day (Yellow Zone). The Yellow Zone represents 3-27 daily new cases (moderate risk of viral transmission).
Summer Small Groups – We have three Summer Small Groups for your groupie enjoyment! Like before, registration is via UCG Shelby Next:
Log in to your ShelbyNext account to see your name and “My Giving”, “Directory”, etc. Click on “Groups” => “Any Type” => “Small Groups” and scroll down to find yours. Click the “Join” button, and you will be sent further instructions. If you do not have a ShelbyNext profile, contact the church office at 378-3500 for help.
Hurricane Season starts NOW! – If you live in Florida, you likely know that Hurricane Season is upon us and lasts officially through November 30th. Two years ago, UCG started a group called the Emergency Response Team to check in on those who signed up for both a pre-storm and post-storm check in call. The primary purpose is to educate UCG members on what supplies to have on hand to be prepared as well as a reassuring phone call before and after a severe storm. If you want to be on the list or double check that your name is still on the list, email Star Bradbury or call the church office at 352-378-3500. The best websites to review to be prepared are: The National Weather Service or the official United States government website for Hurricanes. The 2021 Florida Department of Elder Affairs Disaster Resource Guide is an excellent source of information for anyone, no matter what your age!
Ray Meeks’ Birthday – This is Ray Meeks’ fifth birthday since being released from death row. He is now at Madison Correctional Institute,382 S.W. MCI Way Madison, FL 32340 If you write to him there address it to Douglas Raymond Meeks #046346. Every year we receive contributions for Ray at Christmas and in June for his birthday. Please Send checks made out to UCG with a memo Ray Meeks, or donate online here. Thanks for your continued care and prayers for Ray over the years. You have blessed him beyond words.
Family Promise Raffle – UCGers Phoebe Papadi and Dawn Beachy, along with other members of the Gainesville Modern Quilt Guild, designed and constructed a gorgeous Gator inspired quilt so that Family Promise of Gainesville may raffle it off in effort to raise awareness and funds for their housing programs. You may purchase tickets for the raffle here . Thanks for your support of Family Promise!
Minister Andy Bachmann is in Wisconsin for the summer at Camp Highlands. Please contact the church office to reach him or to speak to the minister handling his programs for the summer.
Please help keep our church finances healthy while you stay healthy! Please consider donating online. 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. Our budgeted (anticipated) amount of Plate Income for 2021 is $36,000, so we rely on the weekly passing of the plate. Here is a video on how to use Shelby Giving. Thank you for your support!
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