A Note about
"What's Up
at UCG?"
We hope you find these e-mails informative and useful, but we also know that many of you have full in-boxes already! If you'd rather not receive these mid-week updates from UCG, you may unsubscribe by following the link at the bottom of this page. We'll be sad to see you go, but we understand!
|
Electronic Giving
UCG has a system in place which allows you to contribute by automatic deposit. Click here to find out more or to sign up.
"If you have a question or would like some assistance setting up e-giving, Louise Gemmell (740-587-0336) or Jerry Griffin (749-403-6399) would be glad to help!"
And remember that you can always listen to past
sermons on our webpage!
|
Thought for the Day
""Above all, love each other deeply, for love covers a multitude of wrongs."
1 Peter 4:8
|
115 W. Broadway
SW Corner of Broadway & Main
Granville, OH 43023
(740) 587-0336
|
|
|
| |
A recently submitted "Letter to the Editor" from your pastor...
"We need a spiritual awakening. As we grieve the Orlando tragedy, it'd be healthy for us to admit that anti-LGBTQI sentiment is alive and well in the USA. Even as we continue to be plagued by dire challenges of grinding poverty, homelessness, and hunger, a pitiful irony is that many have chosen to spend precious energy persecuting LGBTQI people. Over 175 anti-LGBTQI bills have been introduced in 32 states in the last six months, scores of LGBTQI youth-bullied at home or school-have wrestled with thoughts of suicide, and major politicians continue to recklessly fan the flames of hatred. We need a spiritual awakening that will take us back to the roots of our spiritual traditions. Despite obfuscation by various forms of fundamentalism, all of the world's major sacred traditions are rooted in the understanding that loving-kindness towards others-no matter who-is the center of a life well-lived. We mourn the senseless loss of life in Orlando. We mourn our representatives' unwillingness to impose even a simple waiting period before people can obtain assault weapons. We mourn ideologies which incite people to violence. But we can also act. We can urge others to offer loving respect to all people in our homes, churches and communities. Though this horrific attack was miles away, we could consider it a call to be more mindful of the ways our words and actions either create a climate of respect and toleration, or a climate of polarization and ill-will. May we choose what's better."
See below for details about these upcoming opportunities to gather "for the better!"
* Thursday night's "Community Vigil for Orlando" in Granville, 8:30 PM
* Saturday's Pride Parade in Columbus, and
* Sunday's morning "Gay Pride Sunday" Service, 10 AM
Shalom,
Dwight
|
 THIS THURSDAY
"Community Vigil for Orlando," 8:30 PM
Opera House Park (across the street from UCG)
Members of the Granville community are invited to "A Community Vigil for Orlando" to be held in Opera House Park at the corner of South Main Street and East Broadway at 8:30 pm on Thursday, June 16th.
The vigil will provide an opportunity to mourn and grieve the deaths of the victims in Orlando and the loss of potential their deaths represent. The half-hour long service at the close of the day will begin with remarks by Mayor Melissa Hartfield and include music (Tom Carroll and Andy Carlson), readings, silence, prayers (including one offered by UCGer and Granville High School Gender Sexuality Alliance incoming president, Kate Guiney) and the tolling of bells before ending with a candle lighting at sundown.
Leaders of different religious communities will take part in the ceremony, but the observance is open to all people of good will who stand together in opposition to violence of all kinds and who believe, as did English poet John Donne, "Any person's death diminishes me because I am involved in humankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee."
__________________________________________________________
COLUMBUS PRIDE PARADE - This Saturday, June 18th!!!
March with us at the Columbus Pride Parade this year!
There are a few changes this year, so read carefully! This year, the parade is starting 30 minutes earlier at 10:30AM and the main step off is on W. Broad Street near COSI and the former Veteran's Memorial. This means that...
For those carpooling from Granville:
Let's meet at the gravel lot behind Ross's IGA on Saturday morning, in time for an 8:15 departure for St.John's UCC downtown, where parking is available for those who drive. St. John's will be serving breakfast (a free-will offering will be collected) from 8 to 9:30 AM. We will leave St. John's at 9:30 as a group to walk to COSI to wait for the parade to begin.
If you need to ride on the float, please note:
"We will construct the float at St. John's UCC beginning a 7:30AM. The truck and float need to leave St. John's by 8:30AM to go to the line up on West Broad Street. So if you have a disability or limitation and need to ride on the float, please be at St. John's by 8:30AM!"
Other "good to know"s:
* Please watch the weather forecast and dress for the temperature! Comfortable shoes and sunscreen are a must!
* If you ordered a new UCC Pride shirt, they will be at St. John's UCC that AM - you may change at the church before we leave. If you don't have a shirt please wear a pink or purple shirt (such as the shirts we've worn before) and you'll be offered a sticker to put on your shirt to unify our appearance as a UCC group.
* How long will we wait at COSI? The short answer is we do not know! The parade is LARGE and we may have to wait some time until we begin to march. You may want to pack a snack to eat just in case. The march itselt is 1.8 miles and takes about 60 to 90 minutes. Organizers suggest, "Bring your good attitude and your patience!"
* They will have portable restroom facilities in the staging area.
* Parking is available at St. John's (which is where we will park at least initially if we carpool) or you may choose to pay for a parking space at COSI to be closer to the staging area (plan on $10 for the day if you plan to park at COSI).
* As usual, there is no official ride provided back to St. John's or COSI- you may use the CBUS free shuttle bus service on High Street or a taxi or UBER. We may want to think about a few people parking near Goodale Park so as to help transport people back to St. Johns after the parade.
This is always a fun event (even during a monsoon such as we had last year!), and a great way to share the church's welcome with the community!
Please join us if you can!
__________________________________________________________
SUMMER IS HERE! Please note some changes in our schedule!
First of all, note that this
"What's Up at UCG?" e-mail will be put out bi-weekly, rather than weekly, during summer months! If you'd like your news shared with the congregation, take note & get it in early!
Church & Annex Administrator,
Louise Gemmell, has shortened summer hours, so take note that Louise's hours will be...
T, W, F, 9 AM - 12 PM
Th, 9 AM - 3 PM
_________________________________________________________
Sunday Summer Brunches... next up, July 10th
Sunday Brunches in the Annex after worship!
"Eat Local, Healthier You, Healthier Earth"
Thanks to coordinators Kitty Leatham and Mark Uher, we're going to be enjoying brunch five times this summer, after worship. The dates will be June 5th, July 10th, 17th and 31st. Kids are welcome to play in and around the Annex while we eat. A good chance to enjoy some good food and to make some new friends!
_________________________________________________________
A BIG THANK YOU to all those who volunteered to serve at this year's Granville VBS June 6-10, 2016!
We especially thank Diane Jaquish and Kim Keethler Ball who have helped coordinate our participation in VBS this year! But so many other adults and teens volunteered, as well. Thanks to each and every one of you who served in different ways. Nearly 250 kids and 100 volunteers came together to create a fun, enriching week for kids in our community.
__________________________________________________________
Coming up Sunday, July 3rd...
Dr. Fadhel Kaboub to speak at UCG
Associate Professor of International Studies, Philosophy, Politics & Economics at Denison University
Dr. Kaboub and his family will be with us at our Sunday service, in which Fadhel will share about the meaning of Ramadan in his life. Many of us know Fadhel from his wonderful presentations
hosted by Denison and the Freedom School
on living wages
and other matters of economic justic
e.
We welcome Dr. Kaboub to UCG!
__________________________________________________________
Ohio United Church of Christ
It's Summer Camping Season!
The Ohio Conference UCC has a wonderful camping facility--Pilgrim Hills-- just northeast of us, about an hour away.
Click here
to see all of the great camping opportunities for kids & youth this summer.
________________________________________________________
Other Opportunities to grow & connect...
 Thursday-night Sitting Zen (Zazen
Join us as we sit on Thursdays in UCG's chapel. 6:30 PM for first-timers. Bell will ring at 7:00 for a 20 minute sitting.
Click here for a good, short introduction to sitting from Fr. Ruben Habito's Maria Kannon Zen Center in Dallas. You may bring your own cushion if you have one--there are a number in the chapel as well. You may sit in a chair if it's more comfortable, too. This is free & open to anyone of any (or no) religious tradition. Peace.
- Dwight
Monday Book Group & Meditation...
Note: No Pastor's Granville River Road Coffee Hours Next Tuesday (June 21) due to a clergy meeting!
The Feminist Class
...will be meeting at members' homes three times during the summer!
Sunday, June 26, 5:30-7:30 at Lyn Robertson's (2062 Taylor Ln., Newark)
Sunday, July 17, 5:30-7:30 at Susan Richardson's (211 W. Elm, Granville)
Sunday, Aug 28, 5:30-7:30 at Judith Thomas' (4 Sheppard Pl, Granville)
_______________________________________________________
Interested in becoming an official member of UCG?
Click here to read our "Membership FAQs." We'd love to have you be part of our growing community! If you're interested in officially joining, or have questions, please contact Pastor Dwight or moderator, Dave Ball soon. Welcome!
________________________________________________________
Pledge for 2016!
There's always time to pledge for 2016! Your generous gifts go a long way to keeping our community programs thriving and UCG keeping its peace & justice mission alive!
To make a donation,
simply click here and/or contact Stewardship Chair,
Mark Uher regarding your intention.
Thanks in advance for your generosity!
____________________________________________________
Be Informed...
These links are regularly updated!
Check out the latest news from:
|
|
| |
|
Registration is coming to a close for the Summer Conference (AKA "Peace Camp")! 
