United Church of Gainesville
“Hanging of the Greens”
Sunday, November 26, 2023, 10 a.m.
Our live stream begins at 10:00 a.m. Click here to join.
“Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.” – John Milton
WELCOME — Hannah Norton
PRELUDE — Phillip Herr-Klepacki
A TIME FOR CELEBRATION — Members of the 2023 Enlistment Team
CALL TO WORSHIP — “Honorable Harvest” from Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer — offered by Renee Andrews
One: Know the ways of the ones who take care of you, so that you may take care of them.
Many: Introduce yourself.
One: Be accountable as the one who comes asking for life.
Many: Ask permission before taking. Abide by the answer.
One: Never take the first. Never take the last. Take only what you need.
Many: Take only that which is given.
One: Never take more than half. Leave some for others. Use it respectfully. Never waste what you have taken.
Many: Share. Give thanks for what you have been given.
One: Give a gift, in reciprocity for what you have taken.
All: Sustain the ones who sustain you and the earth will last forever.
HYMN — “Come, O Thankful People Come” # 422 in UCC Hymnal
TIME WITH CHILDREN — “The Message of the Birds” by Kate Westerlund and Feridun Oral – offered by Jean Cunningham
INTERLUDE – Phillip Herr-Klepacki
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE — Rev. Chad McGinnis
READING — “Nest” by Jeffrey Harrison — offered by Eric Lemstrom
It wasn’t until we got the Christmas tree
into the house and up on the stand
that our daughter discovered a small bird’s nest
tucked among its needled branches.
Amazing, that the nest had made it
all the way from Nova Scotia on a truck
mashed together with hundreds of other trees
without being dislodged or crushed.
And now it made the tree feel wilder,
a balsam fir growing in our living room,
as though at any moment a bird might flutter
through the house and return to the nest.
And yet, because we’d brought the tree indoors,
we’d turned the nest into the first ornament.
So we wound the tree with strings of lights,
draped it with strands of red beads,
and added the other ornaments, then dropped
two small brass bells into the nest, like eggs
containing music, and hung a painted goldfinch
from the branch above, as if to keep them warm.
SCRIPTURE — Isaiah 40:3-5 — offered by RD Bonnaghan
SPECIAL MUSIC AND OFFERING — “Wings of a Dove” by Bob Ferguson — offered by Art Crummer
Your gifts support all facets of the UCG community. You can also give online: bit.ly/ucgplate.
SERMONETTE — Doves — Pilar Useche
Interlude. Members of the congregation are invited and guided to help decorate the Sanctuary.
SERMONETTE — Stars — Mary Crummer
Interlude and decorating by the congregation.
SERMONETTE — Wreaths — Pam Smith
Interlude and decorating by the congregation.
PRAYER — Hannah Norton
CLOSING HYMN — “Turn, Turn, Turn” #81 in the UCG Songbook
Chorus:
To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
Chorus
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together
Chorus
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from
embracing
Chorus
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of peace, I swear it’s not too late
Chorus
BENEDICTION — Pam Smith
ALLELUIA
Here are our UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week
|
Jackie |
Davis |
11/27 |
|
Laura |
Line |
11/27 |
|
Jim |
Harper |
11/27 |
|
Sharon |
Conley |
11/27 |
|
Art |
Crummer |
11/29 |
|
Carol |
Barron |
12/01 |
|
Lane |
Devereaux |
12/01 |
|
Max |
Archer |
12/02 |
Today at UCG
Hanging of the Greens
9:45 a.m. Childcare – Education Wing
Puzzler Exchange — Courtyard
10:00 a.m. Worship – Board of Parish Ministry
10:15 a.m. United Tribes — Education Wing
11:00 a.m. Fellowship and Beverages — Courtyard
11:30 a.m. Sunday Seminar — Reimer Hall and on Zoom
Lessons & Carols Rehearsal ― Sanctuary
Sunday Seminar — The Theology of Lessons and Carols — The language of Christmas carols is always a source for conversation and questions: What is a Noel? Why does Satan creep into all these sweet songs about a baby? Rev. Talia Raymond will lead a discussion about some of our 2023 Lessons and Carols texts. Join us to learn some history, and some context, and get a sneak peek at some of our musical pieces for this year’s beloved service. Join us in Reimer Hall or on Zoom at 11:30 a.m. Passcode: 1624
“Grace in Action” — We have received pledges totaling 68% of our goal. With just a week more to go before our enlistment team starts making phone calls, this is a wonderful moment to submit your pledge for next year. Thank you to all who have already responded. There are three ways to pledge:
1. go online here or
2. send an email to the UCG accountant at catherinec@ucgainesville.org or
3. fill out a pledge card, available in the church office and foyer, and return in person or by mail.
The Compassion in Action Committee is soliciting requests for Christmas mini-grants in support of people or causes in need of financial assistance during the holiday season. These small grants of $50 to $150 typically go to local individuals, families, and non-profit organizations known by our congregation members. Forms are available in the church office orhere. The deadline for requests is November 28. Rawlings Christmas Angel Gift Market — Thank you so much for donating to the Rawlings Elementary School gift market! Please take a Christmas angel from the tree in the foyer or sign up for gifts online at: https://bit.ly/CIAangel23. Or you can donate funds to the gift market here and someone from CIA will shop for you. Return the unwrapped gifts with the Christmas angel to the foyer on Sundays, December 3 or 10, or bring them to Seminar B between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. the weeks of November 27 or December 4. If you can help with the market, sign up here. Blessings to all of our Christmas angels.
The Racial Justice Committee will be in the courtyard selling Black Lives Matter shirts every Sunday until January 14. Save the date and plan to join us for the annual Martin Luther King event on Monday, January 15. Advent Contemplative Prayer — During Advent, we are called to be present, to take time to breathe, to be still, and to wait, as over the weeks, the eternal rhythms of Advent’s hopes come to life within us. Amid our seasonal busyness, join us for a time for silence, scripture, and readings, and time in small groups to reflect, listen, and pray for one another. We will meet on Tuesdays, December 5, 12, and 19 from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Participants are asked to commit to at least two of the three sessions. If you did not register earlier this fall, just email Sandy Reimer at reimer.sandy@gmail.com. Deadline is November 28.
Advent Small Group “Magnify: Mary’s Song and the Magnificent Women of Advent,” offered Tuesdays, Nov. 28 – Dec.19, 8 p.m. on Zoom. Contact Bromleigh atbromleighm@ucgainesville.orgto register. Puzzle Amnesty Month – Got puzzles lying around at home that you’ve been meaning to bring to church? Now’s your chance! Bring them any time during office hours through November. Please either tape the boxes shut or secure the pieces in a bag. We’re having too many missing pieces because they fall out of the boxes when we store them. The puzzle Sunday is today. Thanks!
Youth United Annual Chili Lunch December 3 — Join us from 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. to help support our UCG youth’s summer work tour. The cost is $7 for adults (16 and older), $5 for children ages 3-15, and free for ages 2 and under. You are encouraged to bring muffin tins if you would like to taste many different chilis, but bowls will be provided. Cornbread, brats, dogs (meat-eater and vegan friendly), and desserts included. We also need donations of chili and other food items, sign up here.
Food First Sunday
10:00 a.m. Worship – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
Friendship Group
10:15 a.m. United Tribes
11:00 a.m. Fellowship and Beverages
Youth United Chili Lunch
Women’s Retreat Registration
11:30 a.m. Sunday Seminar
Lessons & Carols Rehearsal
4:00 p.m. Compassion in Action
Men’s Squirrel Pie Lunch December 8 at 12 p.m. in Reimer Hall – All UCG men are invited to this holiday tradition. Bring adult beverages, salads, side dishes, and desserts that go with squirrel.