Today at UCG

No Programming in Gainesville

All-Church Retreat at Warren Willis Camp and Conference Center, 4990 Picciola Rd., Fruitland Park. Join us for worship at 9:30 a.m. at the camp.

*No worship service or livestream at UCG*

Instead, choose a service you missed and watch it on our YouTube Channel.

Note: Food First Sunday will be April 13 due to retreat.

4 p.m.   Gospel Sing-Along (small group) – Reimer Hall

Longtime UCG members John and Liz Harvey ask for your prayers for the Kairos prison ministry at Lake Butler Reception and Medical Center this week, April 3 – 6. This spiritual retreat within the prison begins at noon on Thursday and ends late afternoon on Sunday.  The motto of this ecumenical ministry is “Listen, Listen, Love, Love.” From previous Kairos retreats, we know that this experience can transform lives. Eighteen inmates will be attending this 3.5-day retreat. The Kairos team includes 18 men serving inside the prison and 6 support team members serving outside the prison. Seven inmates, who attended a previous Kairos retreat, will also be providing support. John is leading the team inside the prison, and Liz is serving on the support team outside the prison.

Racial Justice Committee are collaborating with the Alachua County Community Remembrance Project (ACCRP) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) on a series of lectures about black history in Alachua County, The Other Book: Black History in Alachua County. Each lecture will be held in a different location to contribute to experiential learning. The last lecture will be on Saturday, April 12, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Cotton Club. The program will look at “Civil Rights to the Present” with Dr. Rik Stevenson and local elected officials.

Food First Sunday is April 13 – The first three months of 2025, our congregation donated over 789 pounds for the food pantry of our community partner, Gainesville Community Ministry (GCM). Thank You! This month we will have Food Second Sunday on April 13 due to the UCG Retreat scheduled April 4 – 6. Many thanks to everyone who regularly donates nonperishable food items so needed by those experiencing food insecurity in our community. If you forget to bring your donations or prefer to donate online click here. Learn more here.

Coffee Church will be held in Reimer Hall at 10 a.m. on Sundays as an alternative space to the Sanctuary. The service will be livestreamed on the big screen TV and coffee and tea will be served. Join us if you want to be able to eat and drink and be in a less-crowded room for the service.

Members of the Congregational Life Team will be in the courtyard after the service next Sunday, April 13, to listen to feedback and answer questions about the behavioral covenant draft. Look for the brightly colored tablecloth!

Join UCG’s Open and Affirming Committee at the next “Open and Affirming Sunday Social.” Come get to know members of UCG in a fun and inclusive environment, hosted by ONA. We meet up on the Second Sunday of the month. The next Sunday Social will be on April 13 at 6 p.m. in Reimer Hall. We will be writing letters to our elected officials about current policies impacting LGBTQ+ in Florida. We will have all the information and materials needed. Please contact Brandon Telg at brantelg@gmail.com with any questions.

Easter is coming! For a full list of all the activities happening at UCG leading up to Easter Sunday, April 20, click here or pick up a flyer in the foyer on Sundays.

Grushers needed! If you can help greet and usher our congregants and visitors on Palm Sunday or Easter Sunday, please sign up here.

Lenten Devotional Booklets are available in the office or the church foyer. Click here for the digital edition.

UCG Directory – The Board of Membership encourages members to wear their name tags and upload a photo of themselves in our ShelbyNext online directory. This helps us put a face to a name and get to know one another. It is also helpful when individuals sign up for boards/committees, small groups, etc. To view your profile, go to https://bit.ly/UCGSNLog.

Work continues on the remodeling of the west side bathrooms. Please continue to use the office bathrooms for now. Exterior access is available from the breezeway between the chapel and courtyard, next to the water fountain. Note also that our west side parking lot may have limited spaces available.

Looking Ahead

Our Annual Noodles and Doodles Fundraiser is Coming on Sunday, April 27 at 5:30 p.m. This art sale and pasta dinner fundraiser supports our Youth United as they prepare for their summer work tour. This year, they are headed to Washington, DC to volunteer at World Pride 2025 and serve at various non-profits throughout the city. If you have artwork that you have made or that you would simply like to re-home, we are accepting donations! Please leave it in the office for Tami by Wednesday, April 23.  We appreciate your support of this fun event and of our youth!

Next Sunday, April 13
Palm Sunday

9:45 a.m.     Childcare
                    Food First dropoff
10 a.m.        Worship Service
                    Coffee Church
11 a.m.        Entr’acte 
                    Fellowship and Beverages
11:15 a.m.   Board of Membership 
11:30 a.m.   Sunday Seminar – “What’s Up With Our Public Schools?”
2 p.m.          OWL training 
3 p.m.          Dances of Universal Peace
5 p.m.          Youth United/Middle School Together
6 p.m.          ONA Sunday Social 
                    Sacred Sound Symphony

Let’s Stay Connected

Read our April newsletter!

Submit Your E-vents and Bulletin Announcements – Please email E-vents and bulletin announcements to Shanna Swiers to have them included in our newsletter, bulletin, and emails.

Church Office Schedule for April 2025
Mondays and Saturdays – Closed
Tuesdays and Thursdays – 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Wednesdays and Fridays – 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Sundays – 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.