United Church of Gainesville

The Work of the People

Sunday, March 12, 2023 – 9:15 am

Our live stream begins at 9:15am. Click here to join.

Gloria in excelsis Deo!”
(Glory to God in the highest!)
WELCOME – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghanPRELUDE – La Réjouissance by GF Handel, offered by the Dalirusa Quartet

INVOCATION – “A Time to Shine” – offered by Daniel Webster

I’m not sure
I ever rightly understood
The sacredness of Sabbath
a time of rest
spent with God, so vital
failure to do so
once held the penalty
of death.
The weight of worship
Was – is – visible,
The Shekinah glory
A stamp of God Almighty
Glistening on the daces
Of those who dare
To draw near
The dearly beloved we
God’s spirit-filled
Living templeThose who most yearn for transformation.
Like Moses we descend
The mountain of meeting
Radiating from the kiss
Of his glory – and not simply
For show-and-tell.
Adonai empowers us to be
Like Christ
Each a trustworthy servant
Eager to soothe, encourage
Help and heal
Ready to wrestle evil
Down to the ground
And to build up the body
Standing on
The firm foundation
God gave us
In the Lord.


OPENING SONG Laudate Omnes Gentes”
Phillip and the Quartet will play the Taizé chant once; then we will sing it together twice

TIME WITH THE CHILDREN – Julián is a Mermaid, by Jessica Love – Offered by Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan with Malika Green

BIRTHDAYS
INTERLUDE 

READINGS On Glory  

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
John 10:10b, mid-first century

The Glory of God is the human person, fully alive
Irenaeus, second century bishop

Who do you think you are? We’re all born naked and the rest is drag
Rupaul, contemporary

SPECIAL MUSIC AND OFFERTORY- “Spring” by A. Vivaldi, from The Four Seasons. Offered by the Dalirusa Quartet.

Your gifts support all facets of the UCG community. You can also give online: bit.ly/ucgplate

PASTORAL PRAYER – Daniel Webster

SUNG RESPONSE: “In the Lord” 
Phillip and the Quartet will play the Taizé chant once; then we will sing it together twice

HEBREW BIBLE READING from Esther

SERMON “Gloria”- Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan

BLESSING OF THE DELEGATION TO TALLAHASSEE

FINAL SONG- “Glory, Glory, Hallelujah”

BENEDICTION

ALLELUIA

POSTLUDE – Brejeiro (Tango!) by Ernesto Nazareth, offered by the Dalirusa Quartet

The Dalirusa Quartet is Sally Simonis, and Lisa McElwee-White, flute; Ruth Saunders, violin; and David Turner, cello.

 Here are our UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week!

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

Mira

Lemstrom

03/17

Tom

Rothrock

03/17

Elise

Telg

03/17

Marthe

Walters

03/17

Candice

King

03/18

Announcements

Many thanks to Diana Tonnessen for the bulletin cover art and to Diana, Susan James, and Andy Bachmann for creating the banners at the front of the Sanctuary.
Today at UCG
9:00am                      Childcare
9:15am & 11:15am    Worship – “Gloria” – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
9:30am                     United Tribes Time
10:15am                     Fellowship & Beverages
                                  Entr’acte
10:30am                   Sunday Seminar    
12:00pm                    Croquet Spring: Wander Thru the Wickets* 
12:30pm                    Courtyard Evaluation presentation – 
3:00pm                      Theatre of Memory Museum*
4:00pm                      Dances of Universal Peace
7:00pm                      Sacred Sound Symphony*Pre-registered Group          

Interactive Lenten Art – The Lively Arts Committee has designed stained glass-like art hangings that are along the sides of the Sanctuary. Each bears the focus word for each Sunday in Lent. We need your help to add color and bring them to life! Each Sunday, a question will appear in the bulletin that relates to the theme of the day. As you depart the Sanctuary, you will see a table with pens, markers, and colored paper. We invite you to respond to the question of the day by writing a word, phrase, or drawing on a piece of colored paper. The papers will be added to the week’s artwork colorfully representing “The Work of the People.” Where do you find joy?                     

Sunday Seminar – Legal Documents You Should Complete BEFORE the end-of-life – Adriane Isenberg, personal attorney and UCG member, will discuss the most basic, and necessary, documents that everyone should have completed before sickness, death, and loss of cognition. She will offer the pros and cons of each, who to appoint as a personal representative, attorney in fact, health care surrogate, and representative to carry out terms of a living will. She will also elaborate on what to determine before signing any estate planning document. In Reimer Hall or on Zoom. Meeting ID: 829 6457 0385 Passcode: 1624

Lenten Booklets for daily reading are available in the Foyer or here with original artwork, music, photos, and writings by UCG members.

The “ReMod Squad”, aka the Building & Grounds Committee, will be sharing their evaluation of the Courtyard’s conditions on the following dates and times:

  •  Today, March 12th at 12:30 PM
  • Next Thursday, March 16 at 5:30 PM

Both presentations will be held in Reimer Hall and on Zoom at https://bit.ly/remod0312 Meeting ID: 895 4492 1187 Passcode: 1624. Please plan to join us.

Common Threaders will meet at 10:15am on Sunday, March 12. Please bring any type of stitching, knitting, etc.., or just join us for some coffee and conversation.  Everyone is welcome, you do not need to have signed up for the small group.

“Odyssey” All Church Retreat – April 14-16, 2023 at Warren Willis Camp in Fruitland Park, Florida. registration begins this Wednesday, March 15, and runs through Sunday, March 26. You can register in the office during the week and in the Library on Sundays, March 19 & 26. Information brochure here.

Save the Date! Our Annual Noodles and Doodles Fundraiser is Coming on March 26 at 5:30pm! This Art Sale and Pasta Dinner Fundraiser supports our Youth United as they prepare for their summer Work Tour. This year, they are headed to West Virginia to work alongside Appalachia Service Project to assist homeowners with projects that will benefit their health and safety. If you have artwork that you have made or that you would simply like to re-home, we are accepting donations!  Please leave it in the office for Talia by Wednesday, March 22.  We appreciate your support of this fun event and of our youth!

KAIROS Request – Sam Harris is at home recovering from surgery. Please click here if you are able to provide a meal.

BCYF is working on a United Tribes Directory! It will have the family’s picture beside the family’s contact information. If you have not completed a registration form, or need to update your information in Shelby Next, email juliac@ucgainesville.org.

A new way to connect with United Tribes! Stay updated about United Tribes and other Children’s Programming via Facebook, join the United Tribes Families Facebook page at bit.ly/TribesFB. Only parents of registered United Tribes children will be admitted to the group. We ask that any pictures including children that are not your own not be taken from the page and shared on social media accounts. Thanks!                  

The Vinery – We are compiling a small group on ShelbyNext so that we can communicate more easily, sharing resources or ideas, but we are also hoping to gather regularly for a meal and further community building. Our next gathering will be on Tuesday, March 28, from 6-8 pm, with dinner and childcare provided. Contact bromleighm@ucgainesville.org for more information, to be added to the e-mail list, or to RSVP for the 28th.


Spring Small Groups Participant Opportunities!
Contact the front office if you are interested in joining any of these small groups.

Lenten Small Groups with Rev. Bromleigh:

Lenten Lectio Divina/Lectio Vita Thursdays, February 23 – March 30, 7:00-8:00p.m. on Zoom. Join in this practice of the devotional reading of both Scriptures and news stories, to hear what the voice of the divine might speak into your heart. Meeting ID: 827 3925 3374 Passcode: 1624

How to Begin When Your World Is Ending – March 21 and April 18, 7:00-8:00p.m. on Zoom. Read and discuss the newest, wonderful book by the Rev. Molly Baskette (a pastor in the UCC). Meeting ID: 875 8140 3722 Passcode: 1624

Small Groups still accepting participants:

Dances of Universal Peace are led & (taught) with Musical Instruction with Vocal accompaniment from participants, Joyful & Inspired from all cultures & Spiritual attunement & Inspiration. The group meets on the 2nd Sunday of each month at 4pm in the West Wing led by Nurallah Briseno. First gathering is March 12.

The Community Weatherization Coalition (CWC) is a local non-profit that UCG members helped to found, and several UCG members serve as active volunteers. During CWC’s three-part Spring Energy Coach training, you’ll learn how you can save local families money on their utility expenses and empowering residents with dozens of conservation tips. If you are interested in joining other UCG volunteers, contact the front office. First training meeting is Wednesday, March 22 at 5:30pm.

Writing Your Own Peace Together – Do you have a lot to say? Do you have a lot of feelings? Observations? Memories? Dreams? And (God forbids) opinions to share? If you are one of those with a lot of any of that, come join Christine Engels and others, we will have a nice space on a Saturday afternoon to sit down and write.  And maybe, just maybe, we can talk about writing and enjoy other writing topics. The group will meet on Saturday, March 25th from 3-4 pm in UCG’s Room 9. Join us for a ‘writing’ (or jolly) good time.


March 10 COVID Update – According to the CDC, whose data were limited, Alachua County residents have a moderate risk of serious illness from COVID-19 (the Yellow Zone). There was no data for the number of new cases; however, hospital admissions were decreasing. Masks are recommended for people with medical risk factors but are optional for others.