Our Mission

Language is important to me. How we say things, how the Bible says things, matters. How we use language is important when we think about people, and when we think about society, and when we think about God.

I recognize that some of us use only Lord and Father as names for God, and that others among us use names for God other than Father and Lord. When we expand the names we use for God, we expand our understanding of who God is and what God does.

There is a new hymnal supplement in the ELCA entitled All Creation Sings. It includes a list of 100 Scriptural images for God. Here are a few I find interesting.

rain: [The Lord] will come to us like . . . spring rains that water the earth. (Hosea 6:3)

lamp: You are my lamp, O Lord. (2 Samuel 22:29)

silence: The Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. (1 Kings 19:12)

bear: I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs. (Hosea 13:8)

dove: [Jesus] saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. (Mark 1:10)

comforting mother: As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you. (Isaiah 66:13)

composer: Write this song, and teach it to the Israelites . . . in order that this song may be a witness for me. (Deuteronomy 31:19)

garment-maker: The Lord God made garments of skins for the man and for his wife, and clothed them. (Genesis 3:21)

planter: The Lord God planted a garden in Eden. (Genesis 2:8)

goddess of wisdom: Wisdom has built her house. . . . [She says,] “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.” (Proverbs 9:1, 5)

deity: I will bow down toward your holy temple in awe of you. (Psalm 5:7)

monster-slayer: You broke the heads of the dragons in the waters. You crushed the heads of Leviathan. (Psalm 74:13-14)

son of man: Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory. (Mark 13:26)

I encourage you to consider some of these images for God in your prayers. How does it feel to be protected by a she-bear, to have God aid you in planting a garden, to have God help you write – or at least sing – a song?

I would love to hear your stories if you try this.

Peace

Pastor Lynn

This article began with a question. I was asked why we are using the Nicene Creed instead of the Apostles’ Creed during the season of Easter. I replied it was determined by the rubrics in the hymnal.

Rubrics are the red italicized texts telling us what to do. They include some things that are to be done, and some things that may be done.

Here are a couple examples:

The presiding minister leads the prayer of the day. …. A brief silence is kept before the prayer.

Note the difference: The first citation includes the word “may”, while the second tells us who does what, using imperatives: leads, is kept. These indicate we are supposed to do them.

Historically, the practice of using red lettering in calendars and worship resources for the observance of feasts and festivals and saints days led to the term “red-letter days”.

It used to be said: “Do the red. Speak the black.” In today’s practice, the leader often speaks some of the rubrics. “Please be seated.” “Please stand in body or spirit.” Many rubrics are left out of congregational bulletins, for space considerations. And, because black and white printing is less expensive than color printing, most congregational bulletins use only italics to convey the instructions.

Rubrics ensure that lay leaders have an active role in leading worship: reading some of the scriptures, leading the prayers. Congregations have variations on how this is done, but the purpose is to have a balance between lay and clergy leadership.

And, now in answer to the starting question about when we use the Nicene Creed, here is the rubric.

It is a “may” rubric, so it is often ignored. Most pastors hope their people know both Creeds, so they choose to follow the rubric some of the time. In truth, the statements in the Creeds are present throughout worship, especially in the Thanksgiving at the Table, and using a Creed at all is a “may”, and therefore optional.

The next time you are in worship, pick up the hymnal and look for the rubrics. You “may” find them interesting reading.

The council met on April 25th via Zoom to conduct the monthly meeting.

Follow up from the “Healthy Congregations” workshop facilitated by Pastor Don Reiter was discussed. The first three action items that will be implemented from the workshop recommendations include the addition of ongoing spiritual education programs in the form of group discussions that will be included in the meeting agendas of various groups at UELC, the development of a policy and procedure manual, and initiating twice yearly feedback sessions between the council and the congregation. These sessions will be utilized to exchange information, perceptions, news and ideas and to address any questions and concerns from the congregation. The first feedback session is scheduled for Sunday, May 21, 2023 immediately following the worship service. The council is also working on the development of a slate of candidates for the call committee. It is anticipated that the congregation will be asked to vote on the slate of candidates within the next few weeks and the meeting date and time will be announced once finalized.

Warm regards,

Becky Borgert

May Servants

UELC People

Our next topic will be a 15-session video series called Searching for the Historical Jesus. The class will meet by Zoom at 7pm on Wednesday evenings, May 3, 17, and 24.

On Facebook, like our page at www.facebook.com/UELCGainesville

Offering Direct Deposits

LIFT

Due to the Covid pandemic LIFT (Lutherans In Fellowship Together) has not met for its monthly potluck luncheons for the past two years. We plan on restarting the luncheons by the summer of this new year. Of course, that depends on a lessening of the impact that Covid-19 and it many variants have on our lives. Let us all be responsible and stay safe. 

LIFT coordinator 

Young Adult and Campus Ministry

If you are eager to support our young people in order to build up the Church, you can give through your Thrivent Bucs. The Campus and Young Adults Ministry is making this appeal for Thrivent Choice Bucks from all our congregational members who are also Thrivent members. This appeal is made in anticipation of an all out effort to bring in new people this summer and fall. Thrivent Bucs can be applied for at any time during the year, but only applied for once. You can use this money towards any charitable donation, especially University Lutheran Church Campus Ministry or University Evangelical Lutheran Church. Therefore, if you have not designated your $$ for this year, please think about us when you do.

The Bee

Baker Interfaith Friends

Seven volunteers from five churches in Gainesville participated in a long-awaited visit inside the immigration detention facility on April 28. We were able to see the new outdoor recreation area that we had been lobbying for with the sheriff over five years! Following the stakeholder tour, we spent nearly four hours visiting face-to-face with more than twenty men and women. Routinely our visits are via video on-site or remotely and it was so great to interact in person. Though their feet were in shackles, we hope that we provided some respite from the "mental chains" that were described, affirming their humanity in that place of deprivation. So much talking...so many stories...some tears...some laughter...deeply memorable. 

Village of Hope

Our Pastor and Staff