United Church of Gainesville
Sunday, November 3, 2024 – 10 a.m.
All Saints
Our livestream begins here at 10 a.m.
”There is no remedy for love but to love more”
– Henry David Thoureau
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS – Rev. Talia Raymond
AN INVITATION FROM OUR ENLISTMENT TEAM – James Gerien-Chen and Ethan Frey
PRELUDE – offered by Phillip Herr-Klepacki, Director of Music Ministry
CALL TO WORSHIP
ONE: How do we say thank you?
ALL: To you who dreamed. fought. believed. suffered.
ONE: To you who showed us what incredible things humans are capable of under the most challenging of circumstances.
ALL: We kneel to your courage. We pray to acquire your faith.
ONE: We praise God, the Divine in you.
ALL: Are you with us still, in these days of grief?
ONE: Are you companioning us in this long journey to justice or weeping at the vanity of it all? Will you tell us your secrets?
ALL: Whisper softly in our direction about when you wanted to quit, when you got tired, when you weren’t sure if any of it mattered or if it was worth the costs.
ONE: What kept you going? Was it your own prayers to the saints who went before you? Did you long to make them proud?
ALL: Was it seeing God in your people yearning to live free? Was it us – the future ones, now enfleshed?
ONE: More important than your answers is simply your assurance that you asked the same questions as budding prophets today and kept living love anyway.
OPENING HYMN – “Some Glad Morning (I’ll Fly Away)”
TIME WITH CHILDREN AND BIRTHDAYS – The Invisible String by Patrice Karst, – read by Betsy Harris
INTERLUDE – Children 3 years – 5th grade may leave for our children’s program, Kids United, accompanied by our children’s staff. Our nursery for babies and toddlers and programs for older children are available until 12:30 p.m., as is a caregivers’ room in the back of the Sanctuary.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
MEDITATIVE MUSIC – offered by Shirell Hix, piano and Jeff Shapiro, clarinet
During the music, you are invited to come down the center aisles to place a picture of a deceased loved one on our altar. If you want to write the name of your loved ones, you may do so on a notecard and place that on the table. Then, please return to your seats using the outside aisles.
If you have a loved one who has died in this past year and you would like us to say their name aloud, please hand your notecard to Rev. Bromleigh. We will read names aloud during communion.
READING – From Leavings: Poems by Wendell Berry – read by Jan Adkins
O saints, if I am even eligible for this prayer,
though less than worthy of this dear desire,
and if your prayers have influence in Heaven,
let my place there be lower than your own.
I know how you longed, here where you lived
as exiles, for the presence of the essential
Being and Maker and Knower of all things.
But because of my unruliness, or some erring
virtue in me never rightly schooled,
some error clear and dear, my life
has not taught me your desire for flight:
dismattered, pure, and free. I long
instead for the Heaven of creatures, of seasons,
of day and night. Heaven enough for me
would be this world as I know it, but redeemed
of our abuse of it and one another. It would be
the Heaven of knowing again. There is no marrying
in Heaven, and I submit; even so, I would like
to know my wife again, both of us young again,
and I remembering always how I loved her
when she was old. I would like to know
my children again, all my family, all my dear ones,
to see, to hear, to hold, more carefully
than before, to study them lingeringly as one
studies old verses, committing them to heart
forever. I would like again to know my friends,
my old companions, men and women, horses
and dogs, in all the ages of our lives, here
in this place that I have watched over all my life
in all its moods and seasons, never enough.
I will be leaving how many beauties overlooked?
A painful Heaven this would be, for I would know
by it how far I have fallen short. I have not
paid enough attention, I have not been grateful
enough. And yet this pain would be the measure
of my love. In eternity’s once and now, pain would
place me surely in the Heaven of my earthly love.
SPECIAL MUSIC AND OFFERING – “Glory to God” based on a chant from Peru, arranged by Hal H. Thompson – offered by the United Church of Gainesville Choir, Phillip Herr-Klepacki, Director
Your gifts support all facets of the UCG community. You can also give online: bit.ly/ucgplate.
SCRIPTURE – Luke’s account of the Last Supper, chapter 22
REFLECTION – “Loved into Life” – Rev. Talia Raymond
CELEBRATION OF COMMUNION
LITANY OF THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE SAINTS OF LIGHT
David Leslie
Darrow Mixon
Patti Williams
Martha Wroe
CLOSING HYMN – “I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry”
BENEDICTION – Rev. Talia Raymond
ALLELUIA
POSTLUDE
Here are our UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week:
Omri Fabrick
November 4
Juliet Anderson
Betsy Dodd Sanders
Andy McCollough
Kathryn Ressel
November 5
Kitty Williams
November 6
Janet Thomas
November 7
Jan Adkins
November 8
Lori Robinson
Angela Mickle
November 9
Isaac Adams
Mary Nutter
Jim Wagner
****************ANNOUNCEMENTS******************
Today at UCG
Food First Sunday
10 a.m. Worship Service – Sanctuary
10:15 a.m. Kids United – children’s wing
11 a.m. Fellowship and Beverages – courtyard
11:15 a.m. Common Threaders – library
11:30 a.m. Sunday Seminar – Reimer Hall
Lessons and Carols Rehearsal – Sanctuary
Youth United – youth room
Middle School Together – youth room
2 p.m. OWL Program – west wing
4 p.m. All Board Kickoff – Reimer Hall
7 p.m. Climate Movie Night – Reimer HallIMPORTANT Soul Food Enlistment Update: We are behind! As of Thursday, October 31, we have received 106 pledges totaling $405,733 out of our goal of $850,000. This is wonderful, BUT, we are about $80,000 behind where we were at this point in last year’s campaign. It is critical that all UCG families / pledging units submit a pledge card so that Board of Business can plan for next year’s budget. Even if your pantry is bare this year and you are able to pledge zero dollars at this time, we would like you to submit a pledge card by Thanksgiving so we know where we stand for next year. To pledge, you can visit the web portal at https://bit.ly/UCGpledge2025, turn in a physical pledge card, or email Catherine Cake at catherinec@ucgainesville.org.
Today is Food First Sunday – Thank you for your generous commitment to stocking the Food Pantry at Gainesville Community Ministries with monthly donations. To date in 2024, we have provided 1.4 tons of food – 2,865 pounds! If you forget to bring your donations or prefer to donate online visit our site.
Sunday Seminar in Reimer Hall and on Zoom – Turning Garbage into Gold: Composting. Join our special guest Matt Buszko, one of the City of Gainesville’s Zero Waste Specialists, for an in-depth composting seminar. Zoom Meeting ID: 829 6457 0385 Passcode: 1624
Join us today from 4-6 p.m. in Reimer Hall for All-Board Kickoff – This is an annual gathering of members of the boards and committees that help make United Church of Gainesville tick. There will be an update on Congregational Transitions, presentation of new staff/staffing structure with an outline of who does what and how they can help, and individual boards will have a chance to set their goals and get ready for the year ahead.
Creation Justice Movie Night tonight at 7 p.m. in Reimer Hall! Get ready for more of Connie Caldwell’s delicious popcorn, as the Creation Justice Committee once again turns Reimer Hall into Climate Justice Cinema! We will be showing The Biggest Little Farm. Popcorn provided, please bring your own beverage. For more information contact Connie Caldwell or Jackie Davis.
Compassion in Action’s annual Rawlings Elementary Christmas Gift Market has moved up to November 21 due to the new 12-month school schedule that Rawlings is following. Look for the Christmas Angel Tree with holiday gift options today or through SignUpGenius: https://bit.ly/CIAangel24 Please bring gift donations no later than Friday, November 15. If you prefer, make a cash donation and we’ll shop for you! Thank you for your support of this popular annual project. We also need volunteers to host the Gift Market. Please sign up using this link: https://bit.ly/gmteer24.
9:45 a.m. Childcare
10 a.m. Worship Service – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
10:15 a.m. Kids United
11 a.m. Fellowship and Beverages
11:15 a.m. Board of Membership
11:30 a.m. United Church of Gainesville Art Show
Lessons and Carols Rehearsal
Youth United
Middle School Together
1 p.m. Open and Affirming Sunday Social – offsite
2 p.m. OWL Program
6 p.m. Sacred Sound Symphony
United Church of Gainesville Blood Drive is November 10 – Please give the gift of life. The Bloodmobile will be at United Church of Gainesville from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Mark your calendars for our annual UCG Art Show on Sunday, November 10, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Members and friends will display their creative works: painting, sculpture, clay, fabric art, 3D, and more. Some of the pieces will be for sale with 20% of the proceeds going to the Food4Kids Program. It will be a fun gathering for all!
Let’s cook up a fun sweet treat, make gratitude cards, and create a beautiful Thanksgiving centerpiece! Join hosts Alexis Dixon and Kathryn Rabb at the November Kids’ Night Out, themed Setting the Table! Children in K-5th grade are invited for a night of activities, crafts and a pizza dinner on Friday, November 8, from 5:30-9 p.m. Cost is $20 for the first child, and $15 for siblings. Infants are welcome to attend staffed childcare in the nursery. Please RSVP by noon on Wednesday, November 6 by sending an email to Julia Crawford at juliac@ucgainesville.org. For questions about volunteering for the event, please email Kathryn Rabb at kaking0812@gmail.com.
The United Church of Gainesville Supper Club is a great way to meet members and share a meal and fellowship. We meet in groups of 8-10 in the homes of participants. Recipes are provided so that each group shares the same menu. Attendees who work will be assigned easy or make-ahead recipes. The next Supper Club of the fall will be Friday November 22 at 7 p.m. and will feature a vegetarian menu. Please contact Anne Casella or Kimberly McCollough if you would like to participate. If you are able to host one of the groups, please let them know. The deadline to sign up is Sunday, November 10.
Save the Date for Our Annual Church and Potluck Picnic on the Prairie – Sunday, November 17 at 10 a.m. at Prairie Creek Lodge, 7204 SE County Road 234, Gainesville (about 25 minutes travel time from the church.) If it rains, we will meet at the church! This is one of our most popular events of the year and we can’t wait to share it with you. Bring outdoor chairs/blankets, a potluck dish to share, and utensils (no foods for grilling), sunscreen, and bug spray (just in case). Water and lemonade will be provided. We’ll have the Hogtown Pickers, holy communion, and activities for children. Join us!
Christmas Mini-Grants – 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 go to local individuals, families, and non-profit organizations known by our congregation members. Forms are available in the church office. The deadline for requests is Wednesday, November 27.
