This week we mark the fourth Sunday of Advent, “Love Sunday,” as we celebrate both the children’s annual Christmas pageant and the ministry of Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan. The children will present “I Will Use My Gifts,” inviting us to remember that we all have value, and are gifts to a world in need of love and care. Then, we welcome Rev. Nayiri Karjia, Interim Conference Minister of the Florida Conference, United Church of Christ who will join us in a special liturgy to honor and release Rev. Bromleigh from her service as our Coordinating Minister. Special music includes a hand pan prelude with Nan Ryan and a vocal solo from Melvin Smith-Lopez, singing “O Holy Night.” Following the service, all are welcome to stay for a luncheon in Rev. Bromleigh’s honor.
If you would like to contribute to a love offering for Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan, please note that the gift is for her on the envelope or memo line, or please select “Love Offering for Bromleigh” from the drop-down menu if using the Shelby Next giving portal.
Advent Devotional 2024
Pause and reflect this Advent season guided by meaningful words and images shared by members of our community. We have copies available at church and online.
Blue Christmas Service will be on Wednesday, December 18 at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary
A service of grief, loss, reflection, and quiet hope. There will be a light reception following the service. All are welcome. Childcare is provided. The service will be live streamed on our YouTube channel.
Fourth Sunday of Advent – “Love”
9:45 a.m. Childcare – children’s wing
Puzzler Exchange – courtyard
10 a.m. Worship Service Children’s Christmas Pageant and Liturgy for Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan – Sanctuary
11:30 a.m. Farewell Luncheon for Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan – Reimer Hall
2 p.m. Christmas Carol Sing-Along – west wing
5:30 p.m. Youth United and Middle School Together Christmas Party
This service includes the Children’s Christmas Pageant and special liturgy for Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan.
Join us after the service at 11:30 a.m. in Reimer Hall for a farewell lunch and fellowship for Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan and family on her last Sunday at United Church of Gainesville as Coordinating Minister.
Christmas Carol Sing-Along. Sunday, December 22 at 2 p.m. in the West Wing. Harmony Fare will lead us to sing some of your favorite carols. Song sheets will be provided. This event is a Small Group, but all are welcome – we need to know who plans on attending so we can have enough song sheets for everyone – if you were not able to sign up but would like to participate, please email Sally Simonis.
Our annual Youth Holiday Party and White Elephant Gift Exchange will take place on Sunday, December 22 at 5:30 p.m. Dinner and treats will be provided. Look for additional details and RSVP in your weekly email. For more information, contact Tami Herchel.
IMPORTANT Soul Food Enlistment Update. As of Monday, we have received 262 pledges totaling $797,689 out of our goal of $850,000. We are so close, it is critical that all UCG families / pledging units submit a pledge card so that Board of Business can plan for next year’s budget. Even if your pantry is bare this year and you can’t commit monetary support at this time, we would like you to submit a pledge card so we know where we stand for next year. 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.
Finally: Long-time UCG member Catherine Berg has given us a set of Haiku books she wrote in reflection on north Florida nature. If you have pledged, please come by the table in the courtyard on Sunday and pick up a book as a gift of thanks. We will also have pledge cards on the table, so that you can pledge and pick up a book at the same time!
We would like to share that our Director of Communications, Ligia Ortega, is no longer serving on the UCG staff. We are grateful for the gifts she shared during her time in this position. We will begin the search for a new Director of Communications in the new year. Until then, please be assured that all communications will continue to be shared regularly with our congregation. If you have any questions or communications needs, please reach out to us via email at info@ucgainesville.org. Thank you!
A few of our small groups have availability or don’t require registration. Click here to see the offerings and register. Please contact the church office with any questions.
The Small Groups Committee Requests Your Feedback! Do you know of any health conditions where a support group might be beneficial for people facing similar challenges? The Small Groups Committee would like to hear from you! Please submit your response via this Google Form by Friday, December 27. We look forward to creating a space for you to connect with fellow church members, share experiences, and discuss coping strategies. Thank you for your input!
Women’s and Men’s Lunch Groups
Friday, December 20 at noon – All are welcome
The Women’s Lunch Group will meet in Reimer Hall.
The Men’s Lunch Group will be on Zoom. Meeting ID: 836 8128 8738 Passcode: 1965.
Please note there will be no in person lunch groups on Friday, December 27.
For those who cannot meet during the day on weekdays, we have two small groups: Good Men Drinking Beer and Wonderful Women Drinking Wine. These are social groups and non-drinkers are welcome. Click here to register.
Christmas Eve services on Tuesday, December 24. All services conclude with the candlelit singing of “Silent Night” in the courtyard.
- 4:30 p.m. An interactive multi-sensory service for all ages sharing the story of the first Christmas.
- 8 p.m. Special music from the choir and others, and a sermon from Revs. Bromleigh and Talia.
- 11 p.m. This special service of carols and candles ends just after midnight, with the ringing in of Christmas Day. Bring a bell!
Next Sunday, December 29
9:45 a.m. Childcare – children’s wing
10 a.m. Worship Service – Board of Parish Ministry
10:15 a.m. Activity Time
11 a.m. Fellowship and Beverages
Please mark your calendar to join us for the annual Women’s Overnight 2025 January 31- February 2! Our extravagantly planned weekend includes sessions at UCG on Friday (day) for anyone not available to get away, as well as the weekend at Camp Weed in Live Oak (you’re welcome to join us for all). Exciting details to follow in the January newsletter. Online registration starts January 3; see us in Seminar C in between services on Sunday, January 5 and Sunday, January 12 for questions or to register!
Black History Matters t-shirts return in 2025! The UCG Racial Justice Committee will once again be selling their Black History Matters shirts in the courtyard on Sundays, January 5, 12, 19, February 2 and 9. Cost is $20 payable by cash, check, or credit card payments accepted in the front office.
Save the Date: Convergence Futures Lab
Saturday, January 25, 2025 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch provided
To our United Church of Gainesville visionaries, way makers and beloved members (i.e., all of you!): UCG, in collaboration with Convergence Congregational Consulting, requests your attendance at the upcoming Futures Lab on Saturday, January 25. This fun, imaginative space offers a creative outlet for us to consider different futures for our church home so that together, we can craft the next chapter in United Church of Gainesville’s story.
Facilitated by Rev. Cameron Trimble, and based on her work with the United Nations and UNESCO, attendees will journey 45 years into the future to envision who we could become, and define the steps to take us there. As Lindsey Telg mentioned in the recent Moderator’s Minute, our congregation has not yet committed to hiring a consultant at its fullest extent; we will be voting on a motion to approve the full contract with Convergence during our Winter Congregational meeting on Sunday, February 9. With that in mind, the Futures Lab is a singular opportunity for members of our congregation to learn more about Convergence, and discern how future collaborations might serve us as we continue to navigate this time of transition.
Your ideas and perspectives are essential to the process of breathing life into the church we will become in the months and years to follow. Please consider lending your time and your voice to this workshop and help us shape United Church Gainesville for generations ahead!
All members are welcome; lunch will be provided, and childcare is available. To help us plan adequate food, supplies, and childcare, please indicate your interest in attending here. Thank you!
Our December newsletter is available online.