Bread and Roses
All Saints’ Day
Sunday, October 29, 2023 – 10 a.m.

Our live stream begins at 10:00 a.m. Click here to join.

“Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.”  — Rabbi Tarfon

WELCOME — Rev. Chad McGinnis

A MOMENT FOR ENLISTMENT — Jane Emmeree and Erick Smith

PRELUDE – Phillip Herr-Klepacki

CENTERING PRAYER — Mary Crummer

May you open our hearts and minds to sacred memory today, reminding us of those who have come before us, those whose spirits hover around us still, those who will come after us and cherish the gifts we will leave behind, may this opening not be frightening but inspiring, telling us stories of where we’ve been, who we are, and what we can become, and may we deeply know that this unfolding is always available to us, no matter the day or season, if we will simply stop, breathe, and pay hopeful attention to more than our fear. Amen.   — Rev. Micah Bucey

OPENING SONG – “For All the Saints” – #299 in the UCC Hymnal
Accompanied by Phillip Herr-Klepacki, piano, Mark Burlingame, Larry Reimer, and Tim Martin, trumpets

TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN and BIRTHDAYS — “Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs” by Tomie De Paola, offered by Jeremy Archer

INTERLUDE and OFFERTORY 

Your gifts support all facets of the UCG community. You can also give online: bit.ly/ucgplate.

READING from “Rebels, Despots and Saints: The Ancestors Who Free Us and the Ancestors We Need to be Free” by Sandya Rani Jha , offered by Jeremy Archer
On movement ancestors: There’s something about knowing what other people went through, and how they made it through, and how they showed up for each other and fought for each other, that makes me feel less alone and less daunted.

RESPONSE — “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” – verses 1-2, traditional, adapted

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by?
Let our circle be unbroken,
One human family as the years fly.

From the morning we awaken
To life’s promises and grace
Help us look to every creature
As a chance to see your face.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE — Rev. Chad McGinnis

RESPONSE — “Let the Circle Be Unbroken” – verses 3-4, adapted

We belong to one another
And each one belongs to you
In this world you have created
For the many not the few.

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by?
Let our circle be unbroken,
One human family, as the years fly.

SCRIPTURE READING — from Hebrews 1 & 2

SERMON — “Cloud Storage” — Rev. Daniel Webster

HONORING THE SAINTS

The names of those who have died this year will be read aloud and lifted in prayer. This holy moment is accompanied by Nan Ryan and Shirell Hix on handpan and flute.
Janie Kalaf
Mary Young
Ken Bradley
Becky Guinagh
Bhabi “Two Hats” Johnson
Erika Rothrock
Bonnye Greene

UNISON PRAYER

For all the saints — the angels who accompanied us and the ones with whom we wrestled, the instigators, cheerleaders and wisdom givers all  — we give thanks. For those near to us and far, for those who protected us and guided us, for the lovers and friends, the ones who gave us pause and the ones who gave us challenges, we give you thanks. Out of our sorrow may we find peace. By their examples, may our lives find meaning; with their passing, may they live on forever in our hearts and in our minds. For all the saints, we give you thanks. Amen.

CLOSING SONG — “The Rose” – from UCG Songbook #75 – accompanied by Nan Ryan 

Some say love, it is a river
that drowns the tender reed.
Some say love, it is a razor that leaves the heart to bleed.
Some say love, it is a hunger,
an endless aching need;
I say love, it is a flower;
and you, its only seed.

It’s the heart afraid of breaking
that never learns to dance.
It’s the dream afraid of waking
that never takes the chance.
It’s the one who won’t be taken
who cannot seem to give;
And the soul afraid of dying
that never learns to live.

When the night has been too lonely and the road has been too long,
And you think that love is only
for the lucky and the strong,
Just remember, in the winter
far beneath the bitter snows,
Lies the seed that with the sun’s love, in the spring, becomes the Rose.

BENEDICTION

ALLELUIA

We give thanks for all those who have stepped up and pivoted once more as COVID sweeps though Gainesville, especially the Rev. Daniel Webster for graciously filling our pulpit on very short notice.

Thank you to Dawn Beachy, Phoebe Papadi, Betsy Harris, and Connie Caldwell for contributing their quilts and fabric art for the Sanctuary today.

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Debbi	Dykes-Howe	10/29
Koa	Larson	10/30
David	Thaler	10/30
Carla	Summers	10/31
Karen	Johnson	11/01
Trisha	Peterson	11/01
Talia	Raymond	11/01
Kayla	Barton	11/01
Jack	Nettles	11/02
Brent	Seagle	11/02

Devin	Smith-Lopez	11/02
Jim	White	11/02
Andrew	Robinson	11/03
Omri	Fabrick	11/03

Juliet	Anderson	11/04
Betsy	Dodd Sanders	11/04
Andy	McCollough	11/04
Kathryn	Ressel	11/04

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Today at UCG
All-Board Kickoff

10:00 a.m.     Worship – Rev. Daniel Webster
10:15 a.m.      United Tribes Halloween Carnival – Education Wing
11:00 a.m.      Fellowship and Beverages – Courtyard
                       Young Adult Lunch – Meet at the courtyard fountain
                       Entr’Acte – Sanctuary
11:15 a.m.      Sunday Seminar – Reimer Hall                 
11:30 a.m.      Lessons & Carols Rehearsal – West Wing
1:00 p.m.        All-Board Kickoff via Zoom
3:00 p.m.       *Croquet That’s More Treat than Trick – Offsite

 *pre-registered group

Sunday Seminar — “Stepping Stones: From Cathars to Compact” When we say the UCG Compact, do we know where those words came from? We’ve all heard of Martin Luther, but who was he and how did he influence our compact? Who were the heretics who broke away from Roman Catholicism? And did you know that our compact was also shaped by contributions from John Wesley in England, Jean-Paul Sartre in France, Dietrick Bonhoeffer in Germany, and Thomas Jefferson in the United States (among others)? Join us as we dissect the UCG Compact to understand the shoulders that we stand on. Join us in Reimer Hall or on Zoom at 11:15 a.m. Meeting ID: 829 6457 0385, Passcode: 1624.

All-Board Kickoff — Come one, come all!  If you are a member of a board, committee, or task force at UCG, you are invited to our annual All-Board Kickoff.  Join us today from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. We will be joined together via Zoom to learn more about how to work effectively within UCG’s organizational structure, and share our hopes and dreams for our church community. Hope to see you there! Zoom Meeting ID: 810 5935 9556 Passcode: 868740

United Tribes — The Annual Halloween Carnival, hosted by our youth, will take place during United Tribes Time.

Lessons and Carols — Calling all singers! Regular rehearsals are in the Sanctuary on Sundays 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. and Thursdays 7:30 – 9 p.m. beginning October 29. Please note today we are meeting in the West Wing.

“Grace in Action” — Enlistment Campaign 2024! One week in, we’re a little over 10% of the way to our goal. Thank you to all those who have already contributed to the campaign! Your financial covenant with UCG, no matter the size, will help strengthen the church’s ministries and programs, as we seek to nurture compassionate and creative spirituality, create safe and courageous spaces for our kids, youth, and others, and contribute to building a more just and inclusive community. With inflation, the pledge goal for 2024 has increased by 5.3%. A fully-funded budget, which is 90% pledged gifts from members and friends, allows us to continue to be such an important presence in Gainesville, and in the lives of so many. Your pledge allows us to plan for another year of vital ministry. Pledge information is confidential. To pledge,

1. Submit your pledge on ShelbyNext 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 it in person or by mail.

Calling All Artists! Exhibit your creations at our annual UCG Art Show on Sunday, November 12. You can sell your work, just show it, or both. Applications are available online at https://bit.ly/artsapp23 or in the foyer.

We will continue with a single 10 a.m. service through January 2024. A decision on the worship schedule will be made at the January 28 congregational meeting.

Advent Book Submissions – We are gathering writings and visual art for the 2023 Advent devotional booklet. This year’s theme is “All I Want . . . (for Christmas.)” You can contribute one of your favorite writings (poems, sermon excerpts, songs, hymns, etc.) or an original piece of your own. Please submit all writings as an attached Word document or straight into the body of your email, for easy editing. We also accept visual art submitted in JPG format. Send submissions to gutsandglorygnv@gmail.com by Friday, November 10. Thank you!

 

• The labyrinth will be in our Sanctuary from Monday, October 30 through Thursday, November 2. Hours for the labyrinth will be 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Thursday.
•  On Wednesday, November 1, at 7 p.m., the Board of Parish Ministry will join the ministers in offering a quiet, contemplative service of memory, grief, and hope.

The next Supper Club of the fall will be Friday, November 17 at 7 p.m. and features a Greek-themed menu with a pasta entrée that contains ground beef. We meet in groups of 8-10 in the homes of participants. Recipes are provided so that each group shares the same menu. Working people will be assigned easy or make-ahead recipes. Please contact Anne Casella (annecasella@gmail.com, 352-256-5960) or Kimberly McCollough (kmccollough224@gmail.com, 352-378-8371) if you would like to participate. If you can host one of the groups, please let them know. The deadline to sign up is Sunday, November 5. 

Thanks to all who recently completed the UCG women’s retreat survey. Based on your input, two Women’s Retreats will be held this spring! Please save the date for one or both of these enjoyable events:

• Women’s overnight at Camp Weed in Live Oak, Florida on January 19-21 (with a Saturday, January 20 only option available)
• One-day retreat at UCG on Saturday, March 2

Registration for the women’s overnight will begin on Sunday, December 3.  If you have any questions or want to help before or during the retreat(s), please contact Laura Robertson at alurajuly@gmail.com or Jane Emmerée at emmeree@gmail.com.

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