Welcome to Worship

March 6, 2022
Broken Heroes

 Join us here for a live-stream beginning at 9:15am

“What are some of the landmarks on your spiritual journey?”

 

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan

PRELUDE – Mark Burlingame

CALL TO WORSHIP – Rev. Andy Bachmann

Weave my wanting threads with yours to form one cloth.
It matters not that you are silk and I am wool.
What matters is that we touch and make each other whole.
We come into this sacred time, to be woven together as one cloth, 
one community.

OPENING SONG – “Amazing Grace” – Hymnal #54 vs. 1-3, 5

TIME WITH CHILDREN – “The One Day House” by Julia Durango
Anne Casella with Board of Children, Youth and Families

BIRTHDAYS

INTERLUDE AND OFFERTORY – “They’ll Know We’re God’s People by Our Love” – verses 1 and 2    

We are one in the spirit, we are one in the Lord (2x)
And we pray that all unity will one day be restored,
And they’ll know we’re God’s people by our love, by our love (2x)

We will walk with each other, we will walk side by side (2x)
We will guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride
And they’ll know we’re God’s people by our love, by our love (2x)

NEW MEMBER INTRODUCTIONS

Something I am seeking at UCG
A talent or strength that I bring to this church
One thing I’d like you to know about me

WELCOME OF NEW MEMBERS – UCG MODERATOR Donn Smith-Lopez

READING OF THE COMPACT 

PRAYER FOR NEW MEMBERS and a SHARED BLESSING

Response – “They’ll Know We’re God’s People by our Love” verses 3-4

We will work with each other; we will work side by side (x2)
And we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride.
And they’ll know we’re God’s people by our love, by our love (2x)

All praise the Creator, from whom all things come,
And all praise to Christ Jesus who guides us on,
And all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one.
And they’ll know we’re God’s people by our love, by our love (2x)

HEBREW BIBLE READING– Deuteronomy 26:5-10a              

SPECIAL MUSIC – “Journey to the Past” by L. Ahrens & S. Flaherty
Offered by Elena Frenock, vocal, and Mark Burlingame, piano

SERMON – “Wandering” Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan

SUNG RESPONSE – “Lead On, O Heavenly Spirit” UCG Songbook, #39, v.1

Lead on, O Heavenly Spirit,
The exodus is come:
In wilderness and desert
Our tribe shall make its home.
Our slav’ry left behind us,
A vision in us grows,
We seek the land of promise
Where milk and honey flows.

Lead on, O fiery pillar,
We follow yet with fears,
But we shall come rejoicing
Though joy be born of tears:
We are not lost, though wandering
For by your light we come,
And we are still God’s people,
The journey is our home.

Lead on, O God of freedom,
Our guiding spirit be;
Though those who start the journey
The promise may not see.
We pray our sons and daughters
May live to see that land
Where justice rules with mercy
And love is law’s demand.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Rev. Talia Raymond         

CLOSING HYMN – “Down By the Riverside” – offered by Art Crummer, Jackie Davis, Judy Parsons, and Larry Reimer

BENEDICTION

The Peace of the Earth Be With You

 

Here are the UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week!
Happy Birthday!

Cherie

Stabler Anderson

03/06

Heather Hall

Frenchman

03/07

Lisa

McElwee-White

03/07

Ella

Bittikoffer

03/08

Margee

Rymal

03/08

Mary-Ellen

Cross

03/10

Shawn

Larson

03/11

Cathy

Persons

03/11

Rebecca

Vincent

03/11

Jilaina

Harris

03/12


Announcements

Today at UCG
Food First Sunday – New Member Sunday

9am -12:15pm       Childcare
9:15 & 11:15am     Worship Service – Sanctuary
9:30am                  United Tribes – Education Wing
10:15am                All-Church Retreat Registration – Courtyard
                              Women’s Retreat Registration – Courtyard
                              Fellowship & Beverages – Courtyard
                             YU & MST – Youth Room
10:30am               Adult Seminar – Reimer Hall
12:30pm               Charter School Lease Listening Session – Zoom

Lenten Devotional Booklet – with daily readings to guide you through your Lenten journey, are available in the Courtyard this morning. Click here for an electronic copy.

United Tribes – Get ready for your children to get excited about social justice and service!  UCG member RD Bonnaghan will join us to tell our children all about Rebuilding Together and how it serves our community, and then lead them in a hands-on activity that will help put the finishing touches on some homes in the area.

Sunday Seminar – Artist Joon Thomas will share their insights and process around their work, including a tour of the beautiful installation of sacred script with calligraphic artistry that has been in our Sanctuary for the past month. Join us in Reimer Hall or on YouTube

Food First Sunday – Please drop your non-perishable food donations in the cart in the Courtyard.  Your generous donations provide much needed food for the Gainesville Community Ministry (GCM) Food Pantry. THANK YOU!

Retreat Registration TODAY in the Courtyard!  Please plan to attend our All-Church Retreat – April 1-3 at Warren Willis Camp near Fruitland Park, FL. Things will be a bit different this year, but we promise a simple weekend of family-friendly fun, relaxation, and fellowship! Our theme is “Simply Retreat” Registration Dates: Sunday, March 6, 10:15am-12:30pm in the Courtyard; Weekdays, Wednesday, March 2 – Friday, March 18, 9am to 4:30pm in the church office; Registration forms are also available on our website. Deadline for all registration is 4:30pm on Friday, March 18. **And all participants must be  vaccinated to the fullest extent possible, and a negative PCR test within 72 hours prior to beginning is required. Click here for more information.

Charter School Lease Subcommittee Listening Session – Second session today, March 6 at 12:30 pm on Zoom  Meeting ID: 847 2906 3443 Passcode: 1624 – At our Winter Congregational Meeting, Beth Hinrichs, chair of the Charter School Lease Committee, provided a summary of our process regarding a proposed use of our education and West Wing for a public Charter School called Constellation Charter School. The committee is still considering the pros and cons of entering into a lease relationship with the school. Join us to hear information on the proposal and the process so far and for a chance ask questions, or voice comments or concerns.

The Return of the UCG Rummage Sale (Sale Dates: March 18-19, 7:00am-3:00pm) – Let us help you with your spring cleaning, while you help us raise funds for the Summer Youth Work Tour! We will begin collecting items on Sunday, March 6 in Seminar A. Please save larger items and furniture for Sunday, March 13, when we will begin collection in the West Wing.  If you need pick-up services, please contact Talia. The kids are traveling to Chicago to study structural injustice and systems of poverty. Join us in supporting them in this important opportunity.

Grushers Needed! We are in need of more Grusher volunteers (aka greeter/ushers) at both services this spring. No experience necessary. Come 15 minutes early and basically be a welcoming presence for our friends and families returning to UCG after the long pandemic-related pause. Email denalidar@gmail.com for information or to help!

Lent at UCG

Thursday Taize
Thursdays, March 10- April 7, 6:35 – 7:10pm

Join us for a contemplative service every Thursday during Lent, where we will sing taize chants, pray, and hear the words of Scripture. (see below for concurrent children’s programming)

Children’s Lenten Series: God is Still With Us 
Thursdays, from 6:30-7:15pm, Room 9

Join Talia, Keri, and special guests for a special Lenten Series for kids!  Parents, drop your kids off and enjoy the Taize service in the courtyard. Watch your email for more details.

Women’s Retreat: “Mindful Mending: Society, Selves, Socks”
Saturday, March 12, All Day, UCG Campus or online

After the longest and strangest two years of life torn apart at the seams, join the women+ of UCG as we reflect on, and begin the work of mending ourselves back together again. Do some literal and lots of metaphorical mending in worship, breakout sessions, home groups, and fellowship times. Register in the Courtyard on Sunday or click here to register. Registration cost is $25 for in-person and $15 for online-only or half-day.

Next Sunday, March 13

9am -12:15pm        Childcare
9:15 & 11:15M        Worship Service
9:30am                  United Tribes
10:15am                All-Church Retreat Registration
                              Fellowship & Beverages
10:30am                Adult Seminar
4:00pm                  YU/MST – Family Meal & Conversation
                              All Church Jam @ Parker Park
                             ONA – via Zoom
                             Sacred Sound Symphony

 


March 5 COVID-19 Update

Last week the number of new cases of COVID-19 in Alachua County decreased from 157 to 84 per 100,000 per week. Alachua County has entered the orange zone. If this trend continues, the County will reach the yellow zone early next month.