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What's Up at UCG?
The United Church of Granville
March 16, 2017
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"Roll Down, Justice!"
The Season of Lent at UCG
Lent--the forty days before Easter, is a season in which we pause to remind ourselves of who we're called to be in the world. This year at UCG, we'll be focusing our Sunday morning worship reflections around the words of Amos, "
let justice roll down in the land like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream!"
March 1 - Ash Wednesday, 5 PM
March 5 - "Naming Each One"
March 12 - "Renouncing Evil"
March 19 - "What Do You See?"
March 26 - "Communities that Persevere"
April 2 - "Offering Ourselves to the Work"
April 9 - Palm Sunday
April 16 - Easter Sunday
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Wednesday Evenings
during Lent
Embracing Spiritual Awakening
A DVD-Based Discussion Opportunity
Co-sponsored by St. Luke's and UCG
March 8 - April 5, 6-8 PM
in the Undercroft of St. Luke's Episcopal Church
These five evenings of
food, fellowship, and conversation focus on best-selling author, speaker, scholar, and "cultural observer" Diana Butler Bass as she explores what Christianity may look like "beyond religion and beyond the church."Thanks to all who have registered and are supporting this cooperative study!
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P
lay Cafe... & More!
Tuesdays in the Annex Gym, 3:30-5 PM
Our last day for Play Cafe will be next Tuesday, March 21st. At Play Cafe during winter months, time has been spent making tracks, racing around on toys, chasing and throwing. And most importantly, young ones have been navigating through social situations while parents have enjoyed spending time talking and sharing their experiences with one other...
And in other news...while Denison is on spring break, Ceciel is holding a thematic book club with the K-5th graders during Children's Church using the amazing selection of books purchased by Linda Mossholder for UCG. "On March 12th, we read Let's Talk About Race by Julius Lester-the book tells "I am a story. So are you. So is everyone." Then by imagining us all as skeletons without our skin, the author teaches that "those who say 'my race is better than your race' are telling a story that is not true."
The children were captivated by a book called The Youngest Marcher: the Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist by Cynthia Levinson. Audrey and other children go to juvenile hall/jail for protesting. This story clearly explains that the children broke a law and went to jail to help make things right. We'll follow these books on racism with refugee stories this Sunday, March 19th. More book clubs to come, including the themes of immigration and real-life stories about protests."
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Holding Friends in our Thoughts & Prayers
It's with sadness we share that, after a hard-fought battle with cancer, Beth Pearthree Albertson passed away on Tuesday, March 14th
in her home, surrounded by the love of family. Let's keep Ed, as well as Josh & Kristina and the extended family, in our prayers this week.
Condolences may be sent to the family at: 7700 Ballou Rd., Heath, OH 43056.
A Celebration of the Life of Beth Albertson will be held here at UCG on Saturday, March 25th. Calling hours in the Sanctuary at 10 AM, Service in the Sanctuary at 11 AM, and a lunch in the Annex at 12 Noon. All are welcome.
Let's also keep in prayer Judith Thomas, whose former husband, Milo Thornberry passed away last week, and the Denison community as they grieve the passing of English Department professor, James Davis last week.
We also extend our prayers and sympathies to Rev. Dr. Kenneth Dodgson and his family in the loss of Sally Dodgson, who died March 6 in Rochester, NY. For those of you who may be unaware, Ken and Sally Dodgson were ardent supporters of inclusion in the American Baptist Churches/USA, and were key advocates for our church when--because of our Welcoming and Affirming stance--we had been expelled by the Columbus Baptist Association in the 1990s, and were searching for another American Baptist region with which to affiliate. Cards can be sent to Ken and his family at:
31 Brickstone Circle, Rochester NY 14620
Let's also remember Bruce Duncanson, who has requested prayer as he continues his treatments for cancer.
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 Circle News
UCG Circles are member-organized groups which provide opportunities for people to gather together to do something they enjoy or to explore a common interest! Thank you, Circle conveners!
The
Re-Imaging the Sacred Mythos of Christianity Circle has wrapped up its discussion and activity--thanks to all who have shared in these productive discussions!
The
Haiku Circle will be meeting at UCG next Sunday afternoon, March 19th at 2 PM. On small slips of paper, bring a couple of haiku, either ones you have penned, or from a favorite haiku poet. We'll pick them randomly, and read/discuss. If you'd like to be on the mailing list, please contact
[email protected]. All are welcome!
Sitting Zen (Zazen)
typically meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Denison's Open House (Center for Religious & Spiritual Life), 7:00-7:20 PM. At the corner of N. Mulberry St. and W. College St. If you're new to sitting, an orientation is available every Tuesday at 6:30.
Note that due to Denison's Spring Break, this week (3/13-17), we will be meeting instead in UCG's Chapel for our Tuesday & Thursday sittings!
Growing Older Together will meet on the usual third Tuesday, March 21, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m, and Lyn Robertson will lead the meeting with a presentation on hearing loss, the idea that ears are considered to be the "windows to our brain," and therefore the importance of diagnosing hearing loss and dealing with it immediately. Contact
Judith Thomas for details.
Take note that the
UCG Dinner Circle which had been scheduled for March 25th at Richard and Marsha Crawford's home, 223 South Main Street, Granville, is going to be
postponed so that folks can focus on being present to the Alberston family that day. Look for more details to come in the Sunday bulletin & on the UCG Message Board.
Mark your calendars!
The UCG Pride Circle will meet on Friday, April 21st at 6:30 PM at the same place as last time--the South Newark Civic Association Community Center (429 Ohio St., Newark). We will be having a taco buffet and will coordinate who brings toppings and such. Contact Andrew Hill ( [email protected]) for more information! Newcomers welcome!
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Prayer Group on Sunday mornings
In the Martin Reading Room (Church Library), 9:30-9:50 AM
A new
Prayer Group has begun. It meets every Sunday morning at UCG in the Martin Reading Room (Library) from 9:30-9:50. This is a time for people to gather and hold others in prayer with care and intentionality. All are welcome to join in!
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 Do we need Operation Feed?
The Annual Drive of the Food Pantry Network of Licking County
YES! Although Licking County is a prosperous community, there are many people who find themselves in difficult situations and in need of receiving emergency food distribution. Operation Feed generates 10% of the food and 40% of the funding needed annually by the Food pantry Network of Licking County. In 2016 a record 4.4 million pounds of food was distributed.
During the month of March, the Mission and Social Action Team will be collecting financial donations to support the efforts of the Food Pantry Network. Envelopes are available on the Welcome Table. Please make checks payable to the United Church of Granville and write "Food Pantry" on the memo line.
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Meditation & Spirituality Practices Group
Time Change for Spring! Every Monday...
Meditation/Contemplation is from 3:15-3:45 PM in the Chapel
Book Discussion to follow, 4-5 PM
The time for our weekly meditation practice will be changed to Mondays, 3:15-3:45, beginning March 13th. This is open to everyone. Spiritual Practices Monday Group will have our discussion from 4-5 PM. On March 20th, we will have a discussion of Thich Nhat Hahn's
You are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment. Note: please enter the church through the "office" door, as the others are generally locked!
Doris Jane Conway
([email protected])
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Global Residency Partnership 
Our
Local Work to meet the needs of Refugees
"The United Church of Granville has partnered with Denison University and several other Granville churches to pay the rent for two young political refugees from Iraq.
The Mission and Social Action Network (MSAN) submitted a proposal to the UCG Board to use Nat Shepard funds to cover this expense. One of the criteria for use of Nat Shepard funds is promoting the involvement of the Church in mission activities.
The Board agreed that using these funds to "welcome refugees who have escaped untenable situations and are given a chance at a new life" met the criteria for use of these designated funds. UGC will pay April's rent ($750.00) from that designated fund account." - Linda Mossholder
We're so glad that we have a part in providing a new start for some new friends!
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Consider singing during Lent!
Lots of special music coming up at UCG over the next six weeks!
UCG Singers will be rehearsing each Sunday morning at 9:20am. All singers welcome, even if you'd only like to participate through Easter. We'd love to have as many voices as we can for the music planned for the Easter season.
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 Let's celebrate abiding life with flowers for Easter Sunday!
Place your orders now!
We're taking orders for Easter lilies, chrysanthemums, regal geraniums, and hibiscus right now. The last day to turn in / phone in your order will be MONDAY, APRIL 3RD - 10 AM. You may turn in your order form & check in the offering plate on Sunday. You can download the form here. We also need a volunteer to pick up all these flowers! If you are available to pick up our church's order at Wilson's Garden Center on April 13th, contact Louise at [email protected]. Thanks!
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Stewardship Committee Meeting
Sunday, March 26th, after worship
We will be meeting in the south Choir Room (the room the Feminist Class meets in) after worship on the 26th!
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Are you on the UCG Message Board?
This is our new "people-powered" way to share information with one another!
As many of you know, we've created a new way of sharing information--the UCG Message Board. Since folks are sharing information about community initiatives and events directly with all others on the Message Board, these bi-weekly "What's Up" e-mails are containing news primarily related to events directly sponsored by UCG.
If you have not yet signed up for the UCG Message Board, you're encouraged to go back to Nov. 10th's e-mail, and follow the simple instructions listed there. Or you can follow this link to sign up!
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Coming Up!
In the next week...
Every Weekday, 9AM-3 PM
SPARK Day Program for Adults with Disabilities in the Annex upper levels
Granville Parent Cooperative Preschool in the Annex lower level
Thursday, March 16
Property Committee, 10 AM
Granville Meditation (Zen Sitting) in UCG's Chapel, 7 PM
Friday, March 17
No "Chaplain's Table" this week due to DU's Spring Break
AA in the Annex, 7 PM
Sunday, March 19
Prayer Group in the Martin Reading Room, 9:30-9:50 AM
Worship in the Sanctuary, 10 AM
Adult Groups & Kid's Club, 11:30-12:15
Nursery, 10 AM -12:15 PM
Haiku Circle at UCG, 2 PM
Monday, March 20
Meditation/Contemplatio, 3:15-3:45
Spiritual Book Group, 4 PM
AA in the Main Building (Basement), 6 PM
Tuesday, March 21
Pastor's River Road (Granville) Coffee hours, 1:30-3 PM
Play Cafe in the Annex Gym, 3:30-5 PM
Granville Meditation (Zen Sitting) in DU's Open House, 7 PM
Growing Older Together, UCG Chapel, 7 PM
Wednesday, March 22
"Embracing Spiritual Awakening" Study at St. Luke's, 6 PM
Also in weeks ahead..
Sunday, April 9 - Palm Sunday
Sunday, April 16 - Easter
Sunday, April 23 - Earth Day
Remember that you can always access a detailed calendar on the church website.
Click here & bookmark it if you'd like!
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Be Informed!
These partner organization links are regularly updated!
Check out the latest news from:
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