United Church of Gainesville
Sunday, September 18, 2022 – 9:15am
Common Threads
Click here to join the live stream beginning at 9:15am.
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP – Rev. Andy Bachmann
One: Stitch us together, O Holy One.
We have come with our pockets filled with the fabric of our lives:
Many: Memories of our yesteryears, present patches and
fragmentary dreams and visions of our tomorrows.
ALL: Stitch us together, tailor us to your truth.
One: Some of us, lo, are frayed and worn;
some of us are ironed on hastily, our edges curling prematurely;
some of us are carefully stitched over time;
some are untimely torn…
ALL: Stitch us together, O Holy One,
And let your Holy Spirit stitch in us seams of grace
Many: Empower us to be a crazy, beautiful quilt of your love, challenge and story.
One: We are topstitched, backstitched, and drop stitched,
zig-zag, curved, and straight, full of color and texture,
ALL: Stitch us together, O Holy One, that all might receive what they need for another day,
Stitch us together today, O Holy One,
With your piercing promise,
And raise us and this community
a garment of new life,
clothing for a new day. –adapted from Dee Ledger
Please join in singing in English
TIME WITH CHILDREN AND BIRTHDAYS – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
INTERLUDE
READING from Stealing My Religion: Not Just Any Cultural Appropriation by Liz Bucar – Beth Hinrichs
My proposal is to use the term “religious appropriation” not as a diagnosis but as a framework of ethical analysis. The framework begins with the premise that ethically fraught forms of borrowing religious practices exist… but that is only the starting point. The analytical work involves describing what these practices mean to religious communities, and why outsiders see them as attractive for adoption; identifying forms of exploitation and the profound offense that stakeholders experience from that appropriation; and finally, explaining how specific asymmetrical power dynamics make the appropriation exploitative. The label of “religious appropriation” is where our work begins, not where it ends.
SCRIPTURE – Genesis 31:1-9, 17-21
SONG AND OFFERATORY – “Live in Charity (Ubi Caritas)” UCG Songbook, #99
Please join in singing in Latin.
(During the song, we welcome your offerings as the plates are passed. Your gifts support all facets of the UCG community. You can also give online: bit.ly/ucgplate)
SERMON – “Yours, Mine and Ours” – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Rev. Andy Bachmann
CLOSING HYMN – “Sing Praises” UCG Songbook, #98
Please join in singing in Latin.
BENEDICTION
ALLELUIA
Here are the UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week!
|
Remy |
Bachmann |
09/18 |
|
Sheila |
Ginsberg |
09/18 |
|
Grant |
Gravlee |
09/19 |
|
Elise |
Lee |
09/19 |
|
Dorian |
Terry |
09/19 |
|
Deb |
Dippre |
09/20 |
|
Allan |
March |
09/20 |
|
Melvin |
Smith-Lopez |
09/20 |
|
Barbara |
Beynon |
09/21 |
|
Anni |
Maxwell |
09/21 |
|
Marc |
Smith |
09/21 |
|
Stella |
Bachmann |
09/22 |
|
Suzi |
Kaufman |
09/23 |
|
Cheryl |
Poe |
09/23 |
|
Luke |
Engels |
09/24 |
Today at UCG
9:00am Childcare
9:15 & 11:15am Worship – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
9:30am United Tribes Time for Children
10:15am Fellowship & Beverages
Youth United & Middle School Together
Puzzle Exchange
Art in the Library Reception
10:30am Sunday Seminar
11:15am Friendship Group
12:15pm Young Adult Lunch
United Tribes – This Sunday, Shelby Haven leads the children in drumming, as they explore diverse rhythm traditions and how to listen to one another. If you haven’t already, please register kids for children’s programs in person or go to https://bit.ly/UTregis22.
Sunday Seminar – “Traditions That Bind Us Together” Our spiritual theme for the month is “Common Threads.” Come to our seminar today and explore the threads that bind us together. What family traditions do you practice that help weave your loved ones into a unit? What spiritual traditions do you enjoy that help keep you close to other spiritual seekers and God However Known? We would love to hear your experiences and look forward to sharing on today in Reimer Hall or on Zoom at 10:30am. Click here for zoom meeting. Meeting ID: 829 6457 0385 Passcode: 1624
Youth United & Middles School Together – This Sunday YU will work on their Art projects for the Lively Arts Fine Art show on October 2 with Angel. MST will learn, “How to Make the Most of Middle School” with Tami.
Fall Small Group Registration is here! Signing up for one of our small groups is a great way to make some friendly connections with your fellow UCG’ers while enhancing your life through one of our amazing offerings. Click here to see the offerings and then sign up through ShelbyNext from a desktop computer or tablet.
Art in the Library – An exhibition of collage art titled “The Layers”, by Valerie Aslakson-Jennings, will be on view in the UCG library this month. Please join Valerie there for a reception between the services today.
KAIROS MEAL REQUEST – The Tudeens are expecting their third child on October 16. A friend of Amanda has created a mealtrain. Click here to provide a meal if you are able. Thank you!
Rev. Talia Raymond had a scheduled surgery on September 1 and will be out of the office through September 22. Please direct questions concerning Youth Group activities to Tami Herchel, (Youth Group Coordinator) and those concerning children to Taylor Bourg, (Activity Time Director). Rev. Andy and Rev. Bromleigh are available for any pastoral needs.
The Racial Justice Committee is dedicating a shelf in our library to banned books. RJC created a list of books banned by counties across the country and in Florida. Being a committed congregation that seeks to “Learn from our religious heritage, yet to grow by seeking new dimensions of truth,” we invite you to join us, donate to us, borrow from us, and grow with us. Titles will be removed from the list. Please choose the shipping address labeled “UCG Library (c/o Shanna Swiers.)” Go to https://bit.ly/rjcbbooks22 for the Amazon list. Thank you for your support!
Roadmap to Reconciliation: A Trip to the Legacy Museum and Monument for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama – We have partnered with the Alachua County Community Remembrance Project and the NAACP to travel together to Montgomery, Alabama the weekend of November 18 – 20. We will visit the Legacy Museum and the Memorial for Peace and Justice, then meet with representatives from the Equal Justice Initiative. All participants are asked to join us for a preliminary gathering on November 10 and again on December 1 for a time of community building, reflection, and a memorial service for those who have been lynched in Alachua County. This will be our third trip to Montgomery. Spots are limited. Contact Rev. Andy to register or look for it in ShelbyNext under Small Groups.
You are invited to join the UCG team at the NAMI Gainesville Walk and 5K on Sunday, October 2. Please sign-up through the small groups portal or stop by the table in the courtyard between services any Sunday in September.
CALLING ALL ARTISTS! The UCG Art Show will take place on Sunday, October 2, from 10am to 11:45am. All artists from 3 to 103- creating paintings, sculptures, or crafts -are welcome to participate. You can exhibit your work or sell it; 20% of all sales will go to a designated church fund. Applications are available in the Sanctuary foyer or online at https://bit.ly/artsapp22. Deadline to sign up is NEXT Sunday, September 25.
Grushers Needed on Sundays. Come 15 minutes early and be a welcoming presence for our friends and families at UCG. Please email hannah.norton@gmail.com or visit https://bit.ly/grusher to sign up now!
We will celebrate Mary Clark’s life on Saturday, September 24th, at 1:00pm in the Sanctuary. The service will also be live-streamed. A reception will follow. If you can help our Kairos committee with the reception, please contact Susan Cary at esqary@gmail.com.
Next Sunday, September 25
New Member Sunday
9:00am Childcare
9:15 & 11:15am Worship – Rev. Andy Bachmann
9:30am United Tribes Time for Children
10:15am New Member Reception
Fellowship & Beverages
Youth United & Middle School Together
10:30am Sunday Seminar
12:15pm Young Adult Lunch
September 16 COVID Update – According to the CDC, Alachua County residents still have a high risk of serious illness from COVID-19 (the Orange Zone.) However, the number of new cases has dropped sharply. The number of new hospital admissions has also declined. Nonetheless, masks continue to be required upon entering the Sanctuary and are recommended when visiting crowded indoor venues.
