United Church of Gainesville
“Another Scroll”
Sunday, June 4, 2023 – 10:00 a.m.
Our live stream begins at 10:00 am. Click here to join.
“Love is the whole thing. We are only pieces.” – Rumi
“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” – Maya Angelou
WELCOME – Rev. Talia Raymond
PRELUDE – Offered by Shirell Hix, Native American flute, Shelby Havens and Karol Halter, drums
CALL TO WORSHIP – adapted from enfleshed
ONE: Listen. Divine Love beckons us saying:
ALL: Arise, beloveds, and come away.
ONE: God draws our attention in body and spirit toward what is healing, what is good, what is true.
ALL: Alive to desire, we cannot settle for ways of life that deaden and destroy.
ONE: Our hearts set, we pursue life abundant.
ALL: With passion, we chase the sound of Love and search high and low for justice. Amen.
OPENING SONG – “The Gift of Love”
( ) = high voices echo proceeding phrase
Though I may speak with bravest fire,
And have the gift to all inspire,
And have not love, my words are vain,
As sounding brass, and hopeless gain.
Though I may give all I possess,
And striving so my love profess,
But not be giv’n by love within,
The profit soon turns strangely thin.
Come, Spirit, come, ( ) our hearts control ( ),
Our spirits long ( ) to be made whole ( ).
Let inward love ( ) guide every deed ( );
By this we worship ( ), and are freed ( ).
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN – “Worm Loves Worm,” by J. J. Austrian – Rev. Talia Raymond
BIRTHDAYS
INTERLUDE
SCRIPTURE SINGING – Song of Songs 8: 6-7, “Hymn,” by René Clausen, offered by the UCG choir
Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death. Many waters cannot quench love; neither can the floods drown it.
PASTORAL PRAYER – Rev. Bromleigh McClenaghan
SPECIAL MUSIC AND OFFERTORY: “At the Gates” – original music by Shirell Hix, piano and Sally Simonis, flute
Your gifts support all facets of the UCG community. You can also give online: bit.ly/ucgplate
ANOTHER SCROLL – Selections from “The Odes of Solomon”
SERMON – “An Othered Scroll”- Rev. Talia Raymond
FINAL SONG – “The Rose”
Some say love, it is a river
that drowns the tender reed.
Some say love, it is a razor
that leaves the heart to bleed.
Some say love, it is a hunger,
an endless aching need;
I say love, it is a flower;
and you, its only seed.
It’s the heart, afraid of breaking
that never learns to dance.
It’s the dream, afraid of waking
that never takes the chance.
It’s the one who won’t be taken
who cannot seem to give;
And the soul, afraid of dying
that never learns to live.
When the night has been too lonely
and the road has been too long,
And you think that love is only
for the lucky and the strong,
Just remember, in the winter
far beneath the bitter snows,
Lies the seed that with the sun’s love,
in the spring, becomes the Rose.
BENEDICTION
ALLELUIA
POSTLUDE – Offered by Shirell Hix, Native American flute, Shelby Havens and Karol Halter, drums
|
Clark |
Durant |
06/04 |
|
Priscilla |
Arinson |
06/05 |
|
Darrow |
Mixon |
06/05 |
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Barbara |
Rienzo |
06/06 |
|
Charles |
Boisseau |
06/06 |
|
Alan |
Keitt |
06/07 |
|
Karen |
Martin |
06/07 |
|
David |
Hackett |
06/08 |
|
Cindy |
Martin |
06/08 |
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Peter |
Prugh |
06/08 |
|
Colleen |
Anderson |
06/09 |
|
Susan |
Johnson |
06/09 |
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Meryl |
Klein |
06/09 |
|
Brian |
Martin |
06/09 |
|
David |
Martin |
06/09 |
|
Eva |
Fabrick |
06/10 |
Announcements
Food First
10:00 a.m. Worship – Sanctuary
10:30 a.m. Activity Time – Education Wing
11:00 a.m. Fellowship & Beverages – Courtyard
11:15 a.m. Sunday Seminar – Reimer Hall or on Zoom
Work Tour Meeting – Youth Room
2:00 p.m. The Five Pillars of Aging Successfully* – Reimer Hall
Sunday Seminar – “Navigating Climate Challenges: Reflecting on Gainesville’s Past, Present, and Future” – Dr. Dan Zhu, Gainesville’s first Chief Climate Officer, will discuss climate change in Gainesville. She will focus on the city’s adoption of the net zero goal, actions taken since then, challenges, and potential solutions. She will also present the city’s climate action plan timeline and discuss citizen expectations. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to learn about climate change and the city we love! Join us in person or via Zoom. Meeting ID: 829 6457 0385 Passcode: 1624
Food First Today – Please place your non-perishable donations in the cart outside the Sanctuary or you can give online here. Thank you for supporting the Gainesville Community Ministry food bank!
Birthday Collection for Ray Meeks – Ray Meeks is turning 70 this month and every year we receive contributions for Ray at Christmas and for his birthday in June. All financial contributions must go through UCG. There are envelopes in the foyer, or you can give here. Please include your name and address since Ray likes to write thank-you notes. The address to write to Ray is Douglas Raymond Meeks #046346, P.O. Box 23608, Tampa, FL 33623 Thanks for your continued care and prayers for Ray over the years.
Summer Office Hours – Beginning Monday, June 5, the church office hours will be Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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.
10:00 a.m. Worship
10:30 a.m. Activity Time
11:00 a.m. Fellowship & Beverages
11:15 a.m. Sunday Seminar
Common Threaders
12:30 p.m. Board of Membership
6:00 p.m. Sacred Sound Symphony
Small Group Opportunity – Learn how to DO THE WORK! Learn how to not be overwhelmed by racial injustice and white supremacy in our country. We will be studying DO THE WORK: An Antiracist Activity Book by W. Kamau Bell and Kate Schatz. Contact Terrie Mullin at asat2299@aol.com if you wish to sign up. The group will meet on Wednesdays starting June 14 at 7:00 pm.
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 2 COVID Update -Waiting on information – Although the COVID-19 virus is still detectable in nearly all Alachua County wastewater samples, the levels remain low. Also, the test positivity rate of 6.9% indicates that the virus is not spreading rapidly. These data suggest that County residents have a low risk of serious illness from COVID (the green zone). For churchgoers, 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.
