WHAT IS GOING ON AT CHURCH –
This Sunday: The church will be open from 10:30 to 11:30. The peace candle will be lit. It will be a time of prayer and reflection as a witness that the church is still open and ministry continues even though we are not able to gather in person for worship.
Look for a Corona Sabbath post on Friday. Check for it at the website – lakewooducc.org
Also, please subscribe to the website so that you receive regular updates about church life.
Advisors Held MeetingThe church advisors met last week sitting outside in the shade near the Memorial Garden and the labyrinth. It was good to feel the spiritual support in that sacred location!
The advisors will be contacting the congregation for input about extending the ministry of the church in new ways in light of the restrictions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The advisors are considering ways of managing building usage for small groups and renters. They are also considering when and how church activities, especially Sunday morning worship, may resume. It may not be safe for quite some time. You will be hearing more in the days to come. The church is anticipating an expansion of ministry opportunities for connection and community needed to provide spiritual support.
Mobile Care TeamLast Sunday, the Care Team took to the road. The group, all in individual cars, went to Westminster Suncoast and parked outside and gathered, 6 feet apart with masks, near the old entrance. Folks from the church that live in the Suncoast community gathered on the other side of the fence. It was a shady spot.
Warm greetings were shared from the two sides of the fence. The Care Team had signs and cheers to offer. After catching up with everyone and glorying in being able to actually see one another, the gathering ended in prayer.
The Care Team had a wonderful time and was so happy to see the faces of some of our beloved community!
https://lakewooducc.org/2020/05/20/care-team-makes-a-visit/
Money Matters Many thanks to those who have given their stimulus checks to the church. This is a blessed offering!
A donate button on Facebook is in the works.
The ministry of the church is needed now more than ever! Your continued support makes that ministry possible.
One last note: Deposits at church are being made once or twice a month, not weekly, so there may be a delay in the depositing of checks. This is to reduce risk for those who are involved in doing the banking.
LUCC’s Jim Andrews Featured in Article about Area Chaplains
Jim Andrews, director of Spiritual Care for Suncoast Hospice, was quoted in an article about the challenges facing chaplains as they seek to provide spiritual support in the context of COVID-19. Here’s the link to the article:
https://www.tampabay.com/news/community-news/2020/04/27/always-on-the-front-lines-tampa-bay-chaplains-find-new-ways-to-connect/
PINELLAS COALITION FOR IMMIGRATION JUSTICE/Immokalee Workers
Even while sheltering at home, we are still part of a larger Beloved Community that needs our help and support. Please join your Lakewood family in contacting Gov. Ron DeSantis by phone (850-488-7146) or email (GovernorRon.Desantis@eog.myflorida.com) on behalf of the Immokalee farmworkers, who are putting their lives on the line for us. Ask for (1) a temporary field hospital to isolate/treat workers positive for COVID-19 & live in crowded conditions (2) masks/PPE/sanitizers for workers and (3) free COVID testing for workers. The Coalition is tallying our impact so please let Sue Sherwood (sherwood.susan@gmail.com) know if you called or emailed the Governor. Thanks to Patti Cooksey and Sally Purvis for helping to launch this campaign!
Want to learn more about life and legislation for those held at the border or in ICE detention facilities? “Friend” and follow the Coalition for Immigration Justice on Facebook.
To see the status of legislation to ensure that asylum seekers, refugees, detainees, and children receive just and humane treatment, check out the Action Lanes at the Coalition’s website: bit.ly/PinellasIJ
QUICK LINKS TO OUR RECENT POSTS DURING THE CORONA CRISIS:Sermon videos: https://lakewooducc.org/category/online-devotional/Sermon texts: https://lakewooducc.org/category/posts/sermon-texts/Posts containing music: https://lakewooducc.org/category/posts/music/For all those links, please note the “Older Posts” button near bottom of page.
FOR JUST THE MUSIC: https://soundcloud.com/hilton-kean-jones/sets/music-at-lakewood
Corona Sabbath Posts
Each Friday, the church will post a devotional with readings, video from Kim, and music from
Hilton. You are invited to access these at the website and observe the sabbath according to
your schedule over the weekend. There will be a new one posted each week.
Please use the link below to view last week’s Corona Sabbath Post –
https://lakewooducc.org/2020/05/15/corona-sabbath-9/
In addition to the weekly Corona Sabbath devotions on the website every Friday, Hilton is also posting music, mainly hymns, on the website daily. These are also posted on the church’s Twitter and Facebook accounts. You may find links to all the music posts on the website at https://lakewooducc.org/category/posts/music/ — note the “Older Posts” button down the page.
Daily Corona Prayer
https://lakewooducc.org/2020/03/20/lucc-corona-daily-prayer/
Labyrinth Walks
Labyrinth Walks are being held as scheduled on Wednesday mornings at 9:00. We feel given current information and restrictions that it is safe to hold this activity. It involves less than 10 people, it is outside, and the people can be at least 6 feet apart. Bring your own chair and wear a mask if you wish.
Assistance AvailableIf you need help of any kind – something from the store, someone to talk with, support managing during shelter-in-place, parenting concerns – please know that the church is ready and willing to help in any way needed. This situation is trying for everyone. You are not alone. We’ll make it through together. Please contact the church office (lakewooducc@gmail.com or 867-7961 or Rev. Kim Wells at wells.kim.p@gmail.com).
Miss someone from church? Give them a call or send a note. Personal contact is so important when physical contact is limited.
Music Ministry
About Hilton’s music. . . If you would enjoy hearing Hilton play more Irish folk songs, you can
listen for free at either https://hiltonjones.bandcamp.com/album/irish-
tunes or https://soundcloud.com/hilton-kean-jones/sets/irish-tunes .
May Birthdays: Mark Gibson 5/2, Angela Wells-Bean 5/7, Emily Gibson 5/8, Julian Micheal Ricciardi 5/9, Colleen Coughenour 5/11, Jen DeGroot 5/12, Christy Martin 5/15, Bill Parsons 5/16, Danielle Hintz 5/25, Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.
Circle of Concern: JoAnn Reid, William Owen, Wilbur Reid, Martha Lamar, Jen Degroot, Carolyn Moore, Ann Quinn, Maggie Brizendine, and Ann Rogers. All healthcare workers and essential workers. All those suffering from COVID-19.
Please keep LUCC member, Olivia Gibson, in your prayers. She is a nurse on a COVID-19 unit in a local hospital. We are grateful for her ministry!
Recent Posts:
- Encouraging Youth: Video from LUCC’s Danielle Hintz of JWB May 20, 2020
- Care Team Makes a Visit May 20, 2020
- Virtual Memorial Service to Mourn the Lives Lost to COVID19 May 20, 2020
- Corona Sabbath 9 May 15, 2020
- Corona Sabbath 9 Reflection text May 15, 2020
Weekly Update: If you are involved with an activity or event that you would like to share with the LUCC family, please send the information to the Church Office by Tuesday since the Update usually is sent out on Wednesday.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 