Pastoral Associates

Contacting a

Pastoral Associate

Call the congregation and speak with the Office Administrator (Cam Pierce, 352.377.1669 or <uuoffice@uufg.org> -- note: email cannot be regarded as confidential).

The administrator will gather some basic information and then refer the call to the minister or to a Pastoral Associate. Generally, you may expect a return call within 24 hours . You may also contact the ministers at 352-377-1669 and leave a message in their confidential voice mail box, or email Rev. Meredith Garmon <minister@uufg.org>.

The Pastoral Associate will contact you and arrange a time for talking or for a visit. After the visit you and the Pastoral Associate will make arrangements for any further visits. If you two determine that there is a need for repeated, long term visits then you can be referred to the ministers or to professional help depending on your needs.

If you know the Pastoral Associate for your neighborhood, you may also contact them directly. To determine your neighborhoods Pastoral Associate, refer to the list to the right.

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Pastoral Associates

Our congregation is a community to caring for one another. This is part of our vision:
“to be a diverse religious community committed to life long spiritual growth and compassionate care of one another, our community, and the earth.”

Reaching out in understanding and compassion also rises out of our rich Unitarian and Universalist roots and traditions. We seek always to listen and be present to one another and to life so that we may heal as we ourselves are healed. Listening to each other and abiding with each other during the rough spots of our lives attunes us to wholeness as we move away from our sense of disconnection and brokeness. Unitarian Universalists are bound together not by creed but by covenant: our promise to walk in the ways of love with each other. Our Pastoral Associates represent our faith and actualize it in their service to others.

Neighborhoods

UUFG has defined 19 "Neighborhoods":

A. 13th St: along or off NW 13th St, north of NW 8th Ave-- Renee Z.

B. 16th Ave: along or off 16th Ave between NW 43rd St and NW 13th St--Carol W

C. 23rd Ave: along or off NW 23rd Ave between NW 43rd St and NW 75th St --Carol W

D. 39th Ave East: along or off NW 39th Ave, east of NW 51st St --Roxane B.

E. 39th Ave West: along or off NW 39th Ave, west of NW 51st St --Meg J.

F. 43rd St: along or off 43rd St, north of NW 8th Ave --Rick H.

G. 53rd Ave East: along or off NW 53rd Ave, east of NW 43rd St --Liz S.

H. 53rd Ave West: along or off NW 53rd Ave, west of NW 43rd St--Liz S.

I. 8th Ave: along or off NW 8th Ave between NW 13th St and NW 55th St--Alice G.

J. Alachua and High Springs: northwest of Gainesville --Sally Y.

K. Archer Road: along or off Archer Road from SW 75th St to Archer --Tee Lee W.

L. Eastside: near or east of Main St; between N Main and Waldo Rd or between S Main and SE 27th St-- Renee Z.

M. Glen Springs: near Glen Springs Blvd between NW 34th St and NW 13th St --Roxane B.

N. Micanopy and Marion Co.: further south than "UF South"--Tee Lee W.

O. Newberry: west of Gainesville --Sally Y.

P. Oaks Mall: near Oaks Mall/Newberry Rd and south down to near SW 20th Ave--Janese N.

Q. UF South: from the south edge of UF south down to Williston Rd--Alice G.

R. The Village: just east and southeast of the Santa Fe College campus; near NW 23rd Ave and 83rd St --Janese N.

S. Way East: from Newnan's Lake out to points east, northeast, and north from there-- Pat C.

Who Are Pastoral Associates?

Our Pastoral Associates are lay members of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville (UUFG) who offer confidential, practical, and emotional support to congregational members in need. Pastoral Associates have trained with the Senior Minister, Rev. Meredith Garmon, and meet with him regularly for ongoing training and support.

Pastoral Associates covenant with the congregation to deepen the loving embrace of this spiritual community through their presence and gifts.

Pastoral Associates work in conjunction with UUFG's professional ministers to meet the pastoral care needs of the congregational community. These needs may include:

To be present during a difficult time
To provide you an opportunity to talk and to be heard
To offer empathy and emotional support
To refer you to other sources of support or help, such as the Ministers or United Way Help Line (call 211)
To offer to light a candle for Joys and Sorrows
To offer to put out a request for help on the News and Needs email
list serve ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
To contact the minister or any other UUFG members or family on your behalf

Pastoral Associates provide a caring presence and will gladly refer you to others who might be able to provide respite care, such as meals, transportation, shopping, child care, housing, or medical appointments.

How to Contact a Pastoral Associate

You may call the congregation directly and speak with the Office Administrator (Cam Pierce at 352-377-1669 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it -- note: email cannot be regarded as not confidential). The administrator will gather some basic information and then refer the call to the minister or to a Pastoral Associate. Generally, you may expect a return call within 24 hours . You may also contact the ministers directly at 352-377-1669 or leave a message in their confidential voice mail box, or email Rev. Meredith Garmon at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Pastoral Associate will then contact you and arrange a time for talking or for a visit. After the visit you and the Pastoral Associate will make arrangements for any further visits. If you two determine that there is a need for repeated, long term visits then you can be referred to the ministers or to professional help depending on your needs.

If you know the Pastoral Associate for your area, you may also contact her or him directly. Determine what neighborhood you're in, then see below for the name of the Pastoral Associate especially assigned to your area.

Contacting a

Pastoral Associate

UUFG has defined 19 "Neighborhoods":

How to Contact a Pastoral Associate

Email the Minister and Staff: