Lamentations
Sunday, March 10, 2024 – 10 a.m.

Our live stream begins here at 10 a.m.

“The measure of love that Christ has set for us is beyond measure.”  – Thomas Merton

 
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
 
PRELUDE –  “Oblivion,” by A. Piazzolla, Lisa McElwee-White, flute, and Phillip Herr-Klepacki, piano
         
Invocation — “Ramadan Mubarak 2024” by Maren Tirabassi – Offered by Rev. Talia Raymond
 
Ramadan Mubarak, my neighbors,
around the world
where sunset comes at different times.
 
May there be deep sanctity in the fasting,
followed by evenings’ feast,
but may all of us in every place
pray for those who cannot choose 
between fasting or feasting. 
 
For what makes these holy
is being able to choose.
 
And so we pray for Gaza,
for those with death-dealing hunger, 
those who grieve,
those who come to Ramadan,
holding Quran in their hands
to face fear and uncertainty
and seek community and kindness.
 
May there be holy memories,
gratitude for generosity
that stretches out heart and hand,
and the familiar rhythm of prayer.
 
And may those of us in different faiths,
and those with no faith,
pause at your sunset
letting the sanctity 
of your time of holiness,
touch our lives with blessing
and the courage to speak.
 
OPENING SONG – “O God of Earth and Altar” #582 in the UCC Hymnal
 
TIME WITH CHILDREN AND BIRTHDAYS – Offered by Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
 
INTERLUDE
                                                          
READING – Kimberlé Crenshaw, “Intersectionality, More Than Two Decades Later” – Offered by Blanche Stokley
 
Intersectionality is a lens through which you can see where power comes and collides, where it interlocks and intersects. It’s not simply that there’s a race problem here, a gender problem here, and a class or LBGTQ problem there. Many times that framework erases what happens to people who are subject to all of these things. . . . [But] intersectionality can get [mis]used as a blanket term to mean, “Well, it’s complicated.” Sometimes, “It’s complicated” is an excuse not to do anything.
 
SPECIAL MUSIC AND OFFERING – “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman – Offered by Fiona Hammond, Mira Lemstrom and Mae McGinnis, vocals; and the Hogtown Pickers, David Evans, Jack Nettles and Ned Stewart
 
Your gifts support all facets of the UCG community. You can also give online: bit.ly/ucgplate.
You got a fast car
I want a ticket to anywhere
Maybe we make a deal
Maybe together we can get somewhere
Any place is better
Starting from zero, got nothing to lose
Maybe we’ll make something
Me, myself, I got nothing to prove
 
You got a fast car
I got a plan to get us out of here
I been working at the convenience store
Managed to save just a little bit of money
Won’t have to drive too far
Just ‘cross the border and into the city
You and I can both get jobs
And finally see what it means to be livingSee, my old man’s got a problem
He lives with the bottle, that’s the way it is
He says his body’s too old for working
His body’s too young to look like his
My mama went off and left him
She wanted more from life than he could give
I said, somebody’s got to take care of him
So I quit school and that’s what I did
 
You got a fast car
Is it fast enough so we can fly away?
We gotta make a decision
Leave tonight or live and die this way
 
Chorus
 
So I remember we were driving, driving in your car
Speed so fast, I felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us
And your arm felt nice wrapped ’round my shoulder
And I-I, had a feeling that I belonged
I-I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone
 
You got a fast car
We go cruising to entertain ourselves
You still ain’t got a job
And I work in a market as a checkout girl
I know things will get better
You’ll find work and I’ll get promoted
We’ll move out of the shelter
Buy a bigger house and live in the suburbs
 
Chorus
 
You got a fast car
I got a job that pays all our bills
You stay out drinking late at the bar
See more of your friends than you do of your kids
I’d always hoped for better
Thought maybe together you and me would find it
I got no plans, I ain’t going nowhere
So take your fast car and keep on driving
 
Chorus
 
GOSPEL READING – Luke 19:41-44 – Offered by Jenny Land
 
As he came near and saw the city, Jesus wept over it, saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”
                            
SCRIPTURE READING – Lamentations 3:17-20
 
   I have forgotten what happiness is;
so I say, “Gone is my glory,
   and all that I had hoped for from the Lord.”
The thought of my affliction and my homelessness
   is wormwood and gall!
My soul continually thinks of it
   and is bowed down within me.
 
SERMON – “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once” – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
 
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Rev. Talia Raymond
 
PRAYER RESPONSE – “Invocation” by Christopher Grundy
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
CLOSING SONG – “For the Healing of the Nations”

 

 Here are our UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week!
 

Shawn 

Larson 

03/11 

Cathy 

Persons 

03/11 

Rebecca 

Vincent 

03/11 

Jilaina 

Harris 

03/12 

Anne 

Bonneville 

03/13 

Coleen 

DeGroff 

03/14 

Jean 

Epling 

03/14 

Joan 

Rothrock 

03/14 

Tom 

Williams 

03/14 

Sue 

Hartman 

03/16 

Dorothy 

Stroman 

03/16 

Lenten Practices 

Lenten Reflection Booklets – Daily readings, through March 31, featuring original and favorite artwork, music, photos, and writings by UCG members, curated by Taylor Williams and Lisa Goldstein. Available for pick-up or for digital delivery at bit.ly/ucglentdevo24.

Lenten Vespers Services – Each Thursday through March 21, 7 – 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. A time to sing and pray together, allowing the rhythm of the Lenten season to shape your heart and week.

Today at UCG
Fourth Sunday in Lent 

9:00 a.m.                Youth Choir9:45 a.m.                 Childcare                                  10:00 a.m.               Worship – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan10:15 a.m.                United Tribes                            11:00 a.m.                Fellowship and Beverages11:15 a.m.                Common Threaders
                                Board of Membership11:30 a.m.                Sunday Seminar               3:00 p.m.                 Dances of Universal Peace                6:00 p.m.                  Sacred Sound Symphony7:00 p.m.                 The Evolving Gainesville Community

 

Sunday Seminar – Did you ever read “Jesus Saves!” on a T-shirt or billboard and wonder, “From What?” This Sunday, join Rev. Talia Raymond during the seminar time for an abbreviated survey of some of the prevailing theological thoughts and historical evidence surrounding what is known as Holy Week, the last days of the life of Jesus and Easter morning. Join us in person in Reimer Hall or on Zoom. Meeting ID: 82964570385  Passcode: 1624 

All-Church Retreat is Coming – April 12 – 14 at Warren Willis Camp in Fruitland Park, Florida. Our theme is “Renew.” Registration begins Wednesday, March 13 and continues through March 24. Check out the March newsletter for more information.Confirmation Class is starting on March 17! Letters went out to all 7th-9th graders. If you did not receive one, or if you are older and have not had an opportunity for confirmation, please let Rev. Talia know and she will make sure you have all of the information!

Join us for our annual Break-Fast Feast on Thursday, March 21 at 6 p.m. in Reimer Hall, sponsored by the Compassion in Action Committee. Partnering with Growing Hope Globally, we fast, however known, and donate what we can to support communities around the world in growing lasting solutions to hunger. Please sign up to bring soup, salad, or bread to share with 8-10 people. Over the last five years, we have donated over $13,251 to the greenhouse project in the Western Highlands of Guatemala to improve food security for families in that region. We appreciate your giving for our fifth year of supporting the  greenhouse project in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. You can make a gift by check (Growing Hope Globally in subject line) or click here. Thank you for your support.
Since the addition of extra chairs in the Sanctuary, some people have expressed that the room feels too crowded. We want to let you know that each week there will be overflow seating in Reimer Hall with the service live-streamed to the tv there, if you would like to use that space.

A few of our small groups have availability or don’t require registration. Click here to see the offerings and register. Please contact the church office with any questions.

Next Sunday, March 17

Fifth Sunday in Lent

9:00 a.m.                Youth Choir                               Building Church and Community Through Diversity,                                Equity, and Inclusion9:45 a.m.                 Childcare                                  10:00 a.m.               Worship                                 Friendship Group10:15 a.m.               United Tribes                                 Confirmation Class                          11:00 a.m.               All-Church Retreat Registration                                 Entr’acte                                Visitors’ Coffee                                Fellowship and Beverages11:15 a.m.               Lively Arts Committee 11:30 a.m.               Sunday Seminar
5:30 p.m.                Youth United & Middle School Together Spring Break Social 
March 8 Covid Update

Although nearly all Alachua County wastewater samples still contain the COVID-19 virus, the levels are lower. Likewise, the number of new COVID cases in the county continue to decline.

The CDC advisory committee has now recommended that people who are over age 65 or are immune compromised should get a second shot of the bivalent vaccine released last September. This is in anticipation of a summer surge of new infections. People are advised to wait at least 4 months after their prior shot and 3 months after a COVID infection.