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in Communion with God and the Holy Spirit

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You are here: Home / Archive / From the Pastor’s Study

March 31, 2019

From the Pastor’s Study

Over fifty of us gathered to pray in a plain building near downtown Gainesville.  It was Friday afternoon and most of us were seated on the floor.  We had taken off our shoes.  The carpet had arches and other geometric shapes woven into the fabric.  We all faced a wall on the eastern side of the room.  There was a section for the women who had gathered. 

When the time for prayer began, a man came forward and faced the eastern wall and began to chant in Arabic.  After the opening prayers a man stood and preached a sermon on persistence, patience, and prayer and called us all to trust God even in the dark times of our lives.  He reminded us that we all come from God and will return to God. He encouraged us to be steadfast in faith as an example to the wider world of the goodness of God.

After the sermon this same man led the gathered community in more prayers.  We all stood shoulder to shoulder in lines.  At a moment in the prayer we all bent our heads low.  At another moment in the prayer we all went down on our knees and touched our heads to the floor.  This was repeated.  At the conclusion of the service the leader welcomed us and honored our presence with this community of faithful people.

The experience was moving.  I had never prayed in a mosque before.  Several of us who are a part of a clergy interfaith group decided to attend the mosque in Gainesville as a sign of solidarity with this Muslim group after the horrific shootings that had taken place a week earlier in New Zealand. 

Men, women, children … fathers, mothers, siblings … some black, some brown, some white … had gathered to pray in the mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, when a man with darkness in his heart came and killed 50 people … a man who had been offered a sign of peace as he entered the sacred space and who then defiled it with a spray of bullets that found their targets. 

The Imam, Bilal, in Gainesville called us to trust that Allah was still in charge and all-merciful.  The Imam called us and his congregation to pray that the gunman’s heart might be changed.  The Imam called us to be faithful and he gave thanks for the small gesture of solidarity that his neighbors of different faith traditions had brought to the Friday prayers.

I do not think I will ever forget my Friday prayer time with this group of men and women.  Most were African American, but there were other shades of human skin in the group.  All of us were united in our desire for a world where people recognize one another as brothers and sisters, as family under God … the Most Compassionate, the Beneficent, the Bestower of Peace.

Peace,

Bob

P.S.  Holy Week for us begins on Palm/Passion Sunday, April 14. The services will begin with the waving of palms and then move to a partial reading of the Passion narrative as found in the Gospel of Luke.  We will also share the Eucharist at these services. 

On Thursday, April 18, at 6:00 pm we will have a Maundy Thursday service in Fellowship Hall.  This service is meditative.  We will eat a simple meal in quietness and then hear music and remember Jesus washing the disciple’s feet and giving them a holy meal. 

On Good Friday, April 19, at 6:00 pm we will have a service of lessons and hymns. We will remember the life of Jesus and his crucifixion.  The choir will sing several anthems during this service and the congregation will sing several hymns. 

On Easter Sunday, April 21, beginning at 7:00 am we will have a sunrise service in the Memorial Garden.  This will be a simple service, and poetry will be shared alongside the reading of the resurrection story.  After the service we will share a potluck breakfast. 

The more formal Easter service will be at 11:00 am with lots of beautiful music. Following the service there will be an Easter egg hunt in the churchyard.  Please join us for this important week in the life of the Christian community. 

Filed Under: Archive, Uncategorized

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Events Calendar

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  • April 2023

Calendar of Events

S Sun

M Mon

T Tue

W Wed

T Thu

F Fri

S Sat

1 event, 26

10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

March 26 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

1 event, 27

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

March 27 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

1 event, 28

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

March 28 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

4 events, 29

7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

March 29 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

March 29 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

March 29 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

+ 1 More

1 event, 30

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Event Series

Lenten Study Series

March 30 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Event Series

Lenten Study Series

Please join us on Thursday evenings during Lent, February 23 – March 30, 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, for a Lenten Study Series for Adults, based on Cynthia E. Cowen’s […]

0 events, 31

0 events, 1

1 event, 2

10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

April 2 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

1 event, 3

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 3 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

1 event, 4

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 4 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

6 events, 5

7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 5 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

8:30 am - 10:00 am Event Series

Men’s Breakfast at Crossroads Café

April 5 @ 8:30 am - 10:00 am Event Series

Men’s Breakfast at Crossroads Café

10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

April 5 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

+ 3 More

1 event, 6

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Maundy Thursday

April 6 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Maundy Thursday

Bread and lentil soup supper and Celebration of the Eucharist

1 event, 7

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Good Friday

April 7 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Good Friday

Service of scripture reading, hymns, and choral music focusing on the final hours of Jesus’ life

0 events, 8

2 events, 9

7:30 am - 8:30 am

Sunrise Service

April 9 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am

Sunrise Service

Breakfast following the 7:30 service

11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Easter Worship Service

April 9 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Easter Worship Service

Fellowship and Egg Hunt following the 11:00 service

1 event, 10

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 10 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

1 event, 11

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 11 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

5 events, 12

7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 12 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

April 12 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Centering Prayer

April 12 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Centering Prayer

+ 2 More

0 events, 13

0 events, 14

0 events, 15

1 event, 16

10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

April 16 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

1 event, 17

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 17 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

1 event, 18

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 18 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

6 events, 19

7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 19 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

April 19 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Woman’s Spirituality Group

April 19 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Woman’s Spirituality Group

+ 3 More

0 events, 20

0 events, 21

0 events, 22

1 event, 23

10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

April 23 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

1 event, 24

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 24 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

1 event, 25

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 25 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

5 events, 26

7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 26 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

April 26 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Centering Prayer

April 26 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Centering Prayer

+ 2 More

0 events, 27

0 events, 28

0 events, 29

1 event, 30

10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

April 30 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

1 event, 1

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

May 1 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

1 event, 2

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

May 2 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

6 events, 3

7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

May 3 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

8:30 am - 10:00 am Event Series

Men’s Breakfast at Crossroads Café

May 3 @ 8:30 am - 10:00 am Event Series

Men’s Breakfast at Crossroads Café

10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

May 3 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

+ 3 More

0 events, 4

0 events, 5

1 event, 6

11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Water for the World Benefit

May 6 @ 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Water for the World Benefit

Save the date for May 6th for the Water 4 the World Benefit!! This will be a day filled with music, silent auction items, crafts, food and activities for the […]

March 26
March 26 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

March 27
March 27 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

March 28
March 28 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

March 29
March 29 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

March 29 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

March 29 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

+ 1 More
March 30
March 30 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Event Series

Lenten Study Series

  • There are no events on this day.
April 2
April 2 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

April 3
April 3 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 4
April 4 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 2
April 2 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

April 3
April 3 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 4
April 4 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 5
April 5 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 5 @ 8:30 am - 10:00 am Event Series

Men’s Breakfast at Crossroads Café

April 5 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

+ 3 More
April 6
April 6 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Maundy Thursday

April 7
April 7 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Good Friday

  • There are no events on this day.
April 9
April 9 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am

Sunrise Service

April 9 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Easter Worship Service

April 10
April 10 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 11
April 11 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 12
April 12 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 12 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

April 12 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Centering Prayer

+ 2 More
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
April 16
April 16 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

April 17
April 17 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 18
April 18 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 19
April 19 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 19 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

April 19 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Woman’s Spirituality Group

+ 3 More
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
April 23
April 23 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

April 24
April 24 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 25
April 25 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 26
April 26 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

April 26 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

April 26 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Centering Prayer

+ 2 More
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
April 30
April 30 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

May 1
May 1 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

May 2
May 2 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

May 3
May 3 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

May 3 @ 8:30 am - 10:00 am Event Series

Men’s Breakfast at Crossroads Café

May 3 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

+ 3 More
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
May 6
May 6 @ 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Water for the World Benefit

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LOCATION

260 GA Highway 255 North
Send mail to PO Box 87
Sautee Nacoochee, GA 30571
(706) 878-2226

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Worship services are held Sundays at 10 am.

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Thursday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am - Noon

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