United Church of Gainesville
Sunday, October 27, 2024 – 10 a.m.
Soul Food
Our livestream begins here at 10 a.m.
” Inch by inch, row by row. . .”
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
AN INVITATION FROM OUR ENLISTMENT TEAM – Carole and Bill Zegel
PRELUDE – “Adagio” by W. A. Mozart – offered by the Dalirusa Trio: Ruth Saunders, violin; Lisa McElwee-White, flute; and Sally Simonis, flute
CALL TO WORSHIP – from enfleshed
One: Let all who dream of a world restored pray, “come quickly, O God!”
ALL: The saints have been laboring for generations.
One: The earth is groaning beneath our burdens.
ALL: The future of our children calls to us.
One: Come quickly, O God!
ALL: Birth through us your dreams of a new heaven and a new earth.
One: Gather together all who love with urgency,
ALL: And make us unwavering in faith.
One: For surely, O God, you are coming soon.
OPENING SONG – “Morning Has Broken”
TIME WITH CHILDREN AND BIRTHDAYS – The Making of Butterflies by Zora Neale Hurston, adapted by Ibram X. Kendi – read by Rev. Talia Raymond
INTERLUDE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
MEDITATIVE MUSIC – offered by Nan Ryan, handpan
READING – “Poem 133: The Summer Day” by Mary Oliver – read by Rev. Talia Raymond
Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean—
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down—
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
SPECIAL MUSIC AND OFFERING – “Come and Find the Quiet Center” setting by Anne K. Organ, text by Shirley Erena Murray – offered by the United Church of Gainesville Choir, with Cindy Martin, flute; Phillip Herr-Klepacki, Director
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PRAYER OF DEDICATION – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
READING FROM THE BIBLE – Revelation 22:1-7
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and God’s servants will worship; they will see God’s face, and Christ’s name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign for ever and ever.
And the angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true, for the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent God’s angel to show their servants what must soon take place.”
“See, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
SERMON – “Tending Gardens” – Rev. Նայիրի Nayiri Karjian
CLOSING HYMN – “Garden Song”
Chorus:
Inch by inch, row by row, gonna make this garden grow.
All it takes is a rake and a hoe and a piece of fertile ground.
Inch by inch, row by row, someone bless these seeds I sow.
Someone warm them from below til the rain comes tumbling down.
1. Pullin’ weeds, pickin’ stones,
we are made of dreams and bones.
I feel a need to grow my own for the time is near at hand.
Grain for grain, sun and rain, find my way through nature’s chain.
As I tune my body and brain to the music of the land.
2. Make your rows, straight and long, temper them with warmth and song.
Mother earth will make you strong if you give her love and care.
See that crow, watching hungrily, from its perch on yonder tree.
In my garden I’m as free as that feathered thief up there. (Chorus)
BENEDICTION – Rev. Նայիրի Nayiri Karjian
ALLELUIA
POSTLUDE
Flowers this week are offered by Glenn Acomb and Kristen Larsen
Here are our UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week:
Jahzara Winchester
October 28
Ryan Kruse
Georgia Vanover
October 29
Debbi Dykes-Howe
Cheyenne Conrad
October 30
Koa Larson
David Thaler
October 31
Carla Summers
November 1
Karen Johnson
Trisha Peterson
Talia Raymond
Kayla Barton
November 2
Jack Nettles
Brent Seagle
Devin Smith-Lopez
Jim White
Today at UCG
10 a.m. Worship Service – Rev. Նայիրի Nayiri Karjian
Friendship Group
10:15 a.m. Halloween Carnival
11 a.m. Fellowship and Beverages
Entr’acte
11:15 a.m. Art in the Library Reception
11:30 a.m. Sunday Seminar
1 p.m. Congregational Life Team Meeting
4 p.m. Blessing of the Animals
Calling all puzzle lovers – Stop by the Puzzler’s Table in front of seminar B today before service. Take home some puzzles, 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 please contact puzzle co-chair Marianne Schmink.
Friendship Group will be getting together again today at 10 a.m. in the west wing to build Halloween Lanterns with Helda Montero!
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/gmteer24 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.
Art in the Library Reception – Please join us in the library after the service today for an Artist Reception. Our newest show includes works by member Angela Lucas Hoppe.
Today’s Sunday Seminar is a One Alachua County presentation – Susan Bottcher, former City commissioner, will present important information on two local referenda that will be on our November ballot. 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.
We need a few people to clear chairs in the Sanctuary today to make way for the labyrinth. Stop by after the seminar or stay after the Entr’acte music to help out.
The blessing of the animals was rescheduled to today at 4 p.m. Please bring your fur babies, scaly babies, and everything in between to be blessed in the courtyard.
Next Sunday, November 3
10 a.m. Worship Service – Rev. Talia Raymond
11 a.m. Fellowship and Beverages
11:15 a.m. Common Threaders
11:30 a.m. Sunday Seminar – Turning Garbage into Gold – Composting
Lessons and Carols Rehearsal
2 p.m. OWL Program
4 p.m. All Board Kick-Off
7 p.m. Climate Movie Night
Looking Ahead
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.
All Saints Day has been a Christian tradition for centuries. In Catholic and Orthodox traditions, individual saints have their own feast days – holy days when they are honored and remembered – but November 1 serves as a catch-all celebration day for “All Saints,” known and unknown. Many Protestant churches also mark All Saints or All Souls Day, as a day of honoring all who have died: ancestors and beloved friends, the saints – or holy ones – who have touched our lives. At United Church of Gainesville this year we have two opportunities as a community to honor those who have died. On Wednesday, October 30, at 6 p.m., the Board of Parish Ministry will join the ministers in offering a quiet, contemplative service of memory, grief, and hope. In advance of that service, all are welcome to bring a photo or other memorabilia of a departed loved one for our congregation’s All Saints altar. On Sunday, November 3 during the 10 a.m. service, we will light candles and read the names of those who have died. You can add names to be read on a prayer card that morning.
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.
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!
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.
Mark your calendars for our annual UCG Art Show on Sunday, November 10, 11 a.m. to 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!
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.
United Church of Gainesville has just kicked off our annual Enlistment Campaign with the theme: Soul Food! Enlistment is the annual period during which we ask you to consider the church’s needs and the level of financial support you are able to offer. We invite you to consider the many ways that UCG feeds your soul, and to thoughtfully consider a pledge to support the church’s 2025 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. As of Thursday, October 24, $319,504 has been pledged – that is 38% of our goal of $850,000. 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.
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.
