”The world is not a pleasant place to be without someone to hold
and be held by.”  – Nikki Giovanni

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
An Invitation to Men’s Retreat – Tim Martin

PRELUDE – offered by Phillip Herr-Klepacki, Director of Music Ministry

CALL TO WORSHIP – from “enfleshed” by Rev. M. Jade Kaiser

If you need to be reminded:
(as we all do
from time to time)
you are beloved.
your flesh bears Sacred worth.
neither prejudice nor power should keep you
from safety nor community nor a place to learn nor a place to work nor a place to practice your faith.
neither should it keep your neighbor from the same.
in a world and time where systems of violence
entice us to compromise our values
use us as pawns
tokenize us
ban us
exploit us
and teach us to turn on one another
may we be reminded
of our collective power
of the possibilities we bear
of our divine calling…
not to settle for dreams of access to what is corrupt
but to seek, and create, and imagine and protest our way
to something altogether better.
feeding each other until we get there
clothing one another until we get there
protecting one another until we get there
hiring one another until we get there
building community with one another until we get there
creating sacred space with one another until we get there
sharing all that we have with one another until we get there
trusting that these practices
in small and ordinary and extravagant ways
will in and of themselves
enflesh that which we dream of.

OPENING SONG – “In the Midst of New Dimensions” verses 1, 4, 5 

TIME WITH CHILDREN AND BIRTHDAYS – You Are Enough: A Book About Inclusion by Margaret O’Hair and Sofia Sanchez – read by Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan

INTERLUDE 

AN INVITATION FROM OUR ENLISTMENT TEAM – Adriane Isenberg

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Rev. Talia Raymond

MEDITATIVE MUSIC – offered by Mary Fukuyama, native flute and Shirell Hix, piano

READING – from Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human by Cole Arthur Riley

“I’m beginning to think alienation and rejection are the two great persuaders of our own unloveliness. The cunning will wield them against you so that you acquiesce to the systems of a community in order to retain membership in it. . . Not all belonging is salve.

For you, I want more. I want friendship, romance, family. I want a community that will not destroy you. I want belonging that isn’t always at risk, that isn’t always being threatened. . . To be known is not frivolous; it is survival. You will not survive by self-care and self-love alone. Who will hold you? Who will remember you? You, who are something to behold. You, who are flawed and mysterious and needy and good.

Belonging is not too great an ask. Find your sacred company. And may they find and cherish you.”

READING FROM THE BIBLE – Luke 9:51-59

SERMON – “Soul Food: Belonging” – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan

SPECIAL MUSIC AND OFFERING – “Home” by Tom Petty – offered by Elizabeth Clark

Here are our UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week:

October 20
Ben Murphy
Skylar Tudeen

October 21
Lesley LeBaron
Noah Robertson

October 22
Gloria Burger
Gade Duerksen
Nate Stapleton
Jason Vogel
Elizabeth Frank

October 23
Eloise Grant

October 24
Lindsey Telg
Angel McGee
Willow Broadwell

October 26
Jessica Elkins
Lynda Dillon

Calling all puzzle lovers – Stop by the Puzzler’s Table in front of seminar B on Sunday, October 27. Take home some puzzlers, a great substitute for TV watching, and good for your brain! You can bring puzzles to swap, or not; we have plenty to share. If you have puzzles to donate to the church at other times, please contact puzzle co-chair Marianne Schmink to arrange a time.

Art in the Library Reception – Please join us in the library after the service on Sunday, October 27 for an Artist Reception. Our newest show includes works by member Angela Lucas Hoppe.

Sunday Seminar is a One Alachua County Presentation – Susan Bottcher, former City commissioner, will present important information that will be on our November ballot on October 27 at 11:30 a.m. Your ballot in November will include two local referenda: One will be to amend the county charter to return to At Large District voting for county commission elections; The other is to amend the Gainesville city charter to dissolve the governor-appointed GRU Authority. Each presentation will take approximately 15 minutes (for a total of 30 minutes) and we look forward to questions and discussion with the audience.

The blessing of the animals has been rescheduled to Sunday, October 27 at 4 p.m. Please mark your calendars and bring your fur babies, scaly babies, and everything in between to be blessed in the courtyard.

Calling All Artists! We want you to exhibit your creations at our annual United Church of Gainesville Art Show on Sunday, November 10. You can sell your work, show it, or both. We call it “Show & Tell . . . and Sell” and welcome all ages, all kinds of creativity, and all skill levels! Spaces are limited – the deadline for application is Friday, October 25. Applications are available online at bit.ly/artsapp24 or in the church office.Calling All Singers! Join your fellow vocalists as we prepare for United Church of Gainesville’s 33rd Annual Festival of Lessons and Carols to be held on December 8. This service combines the readings of the Christmas story with beautiful carols and music that enrich the meaning of the Advent season. Rehearsals begin with our Kick-off Listening Party, Wednesday October 30, at 7 p.m. No vocal experience necessary. Contact our Director of Music Ministries, Phillip Herr-Klepacki with any questions at phillip.klepacki@gmail.com.

Labyrinth Walk – A favorite tradition for many at United Church of Gainesville is walking the labyrinth during particularly sacred times in the church year. Labyrinths look a bit like mazes, but they are not meant to trick the user; there is only one way in, one way to move forward. Walking the labyrinth allows individuals the opportunity to place one foot in front of the other, without needing to focus on anything but the next step. With that path laid out, the mind and spirit can reflect and remember, discern and pray.
Our labyrinth will be laid out around the celebration of All Saints Day, a time for remembering and honoring all those who have died, and whose physical presence we miss.
The labyrinth will be in our Sanctuary from Sunday, October 27 through Thursday, October 31. Hours for the labyrinth will be 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday Tuesday and Thursday October 28, 29, and 31, and 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Wednesday October 30.

2024 Advent Devotional Booklet Submissions Now Open – We are gathering writings and visual art for the 2024 Advent devotional booklet. This year’s theme is “A Thrill of Hope.” You can contribute one of your favorite writings (poems, sermon excerpts, songs, hymns, etc.) or an original piece of your own. Please submit text as an attached Word document or straight to the body of your email. We also accept visual art, please submit in jpg format. Send submissions to Ligia Ortega. The final deadline for submissions is Friday, November 1. Thank you for contributing!

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.

Capital Campaign Feasibility Study Update: One of the important findings of this spring’s Capital Campaign Feasibility Study was that congregants needed to learn more about the projects on the “Essential Repairs and Improvements” list, what they entailed, why they were necessary, and so on. As part of the effort to address this need, the UCG Capital Campaign Visioning Committee and the Buildings and Grounds Committee are assembling a series of short videos to describe projects on the “Essential Repairs and Improvements” list. There are 8 videos showing different projects available on this YouTube playlist. Please send any questions or comments about the projects, and about the effectiveness of these videos, to either Tim Martin or Erick Smith.

UCG Emergency Volunteer Phone Tree – If you are not already on the call recipient list of the UCG Emergency Volunteer Phone Tree and you would like a call from the UCG Phone Tree about any hurricane warnings issued for the Gainesville area, please contact the front office to add your name to the list.