WHAT IS GOING ON AT CHURCH –
This Sunday is PENTECOST. This is the celebration of the giving of the Holy Spirit to the dispirited followers of Jesus after the crucifixion. From then on, they were a galvanized movement that continues through us today! So this is a Sunday to celebrate the church!
We’ll have a Zoom this Sunday at 10:30 in celebration of Pentecost. The liturgical color for Pentecost is red, so consider wearing red! The theme will be around wind and fire. How have you experienced the church in refreshing, renewing ways? How has the church been energizing for you? How has the church inspired you? How has the church gathered you in? Or pushed you out into new things?
You are invited to think about your experiences in church. What stands out? What has made a difference? Was it a certain conversation with someone? Was it a hymn? Was it a response someone made in a church-wide discussion? Was it something someone from church did for
you?
Give some thought to your church experiences and be ready to offer them to the gathered congregation on Zoom this Sunday. We will share stories of things that have happened in church that have had an impact on us. Maybe memorable. Maybe funny. With our stories, we will celebrate the importance of the church in our lives and give thanks!
You will get an email later in the week with the details for the Zoom event.
Looking forward to seeing each other again!
Mobile care team on the road again
Last Sunday afternoon the care team set out on another caravan to bring greetings, joy, and love to LUCC members. This time the team, along with Ed Kasper, drove their cars to the homes of Olivia and Amaiya where they greeted the families, from the sidewalk, with personalized cheers of celebration and thanksgiving. Amayia was celebrated for completing 8th grade and now preparing to attend Lakewood High School. Olivia was thanked for her tireless work, devotion, and care as a nurse on the Covid unit at a hospital in Tampa. The rain did not dampen the spirits or the personally designed posters (thanks to Ruth!) presented to both Olivia and Amayia. It was a joyous experience for all, including a few neighbors standing by!
https://lakewooducc.org/2020/05/27/mobile-care-team-on-the-road-again/
Advisors At Work
The advisors met last Sunday. Though the church is not holding Sunday services, there are many things to discuss relating to the life of the church. And there are property issues to address. The advisors are actively discussing the shape of the church’s ministry going forward. There is discussion about when to resume having services of some kind on Sundays – knowing there can be no singing, no touching, people must wear masks, and stay 6 feet apart. There are no plans to resume services in the near future.
There are plans to send out a form requesting feedback and ideas from the congregation. It will be sent out this week. After the forms are returned, the advisors will have a better idea of the inclinations of the congregation. WHEN YOU GET THE FORM, PLEASE FILL IT OUT AND RETURN IT TO THE CHURCH. The advisors really do want to hear from everyone in the church family.
There was also discussion of when to let renters resume meeting and what the health and safety requirements will be for those gatherings.
There are plans to move most of the chairs out of the sanctuary and the Fellowship Hall to prevent large gatherings with people close together.
Going forward, the advisors will be meeting twice a month to address the new realities that are emerging in this time of pandemic.
A Great Flush
Following the advisors meeting on Sunday, several stayed to assist with a great flush. The church has been advised by the water department to flush the pipes since the water has not been used on a regular basis. This involved running all 11 taps and the water fountain, and repeated flushing all 8 toilets until all evidence of rust and residue was gone. Everything is running pure and clear now!
DayStar Donations Grocery donations given to the church were donated to DayStar Life Center this week. Daystar is taking grocery donations as well as adult clothing on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. To drop off donations, drive around to the back of the building to the open bay area.
DayStar Life Center
1055 28th St. S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712
We encourage you to take your donations to them rather than leave them at the church. However, if you are unable or don’t feel comfortable going to DayStar, please do leave donations at the church and we will deliver them once a month to DayStar. Thank you.
Spiritual Direction Offered by LUCC Clergy Member.
In these troubled times, it is important to find ways to tend to our spiritual lives. In the Christian tradition, Spiritual Direction is one of the ways of paying attention to the spirit in our lives. A Spiritual Director is someone to talk with about what is going on in our spiritual life and in our relationship with God however we may conceive of God.
Rev. Sally Purvis, Ph.D., a member of LUCC, is a retired clergy person with training and experience in Spiritual Direction. She is offering her services as a Spiritual Director to the community. The sessions would be held on Zoom and there is no fee to be paid. Church leaders are pleased to have the ministry of the church expand in this way.
Spiritual Direction with Sally is open to anyone, not just the congregation. And it is offered to everyone whatever their spiritual or religious background or affiliation or lack thereof. Sessions are generally held once every three weeks. Spiritual Direction is not a mode of therapy. It is a process for understanding and deepening your relationship with God/Spirit in ways are authentic and life-giving.
Sally was trained by Henri Nouwen, a noted spiritual guide of the 20th century, and did Spiritual Direction as part of her professional ministry before retiring in 2015.
If you would like to explore Spiritual Direction with Sally, please contact the church at 72-867-7961 or lakewooducc@gmail.com
The church is very grateful to Sally for offering this avenue of support to the congregation and the community.
Font Page News LUCC’s Victoria Long Featured on the Front Page of the Tampa Bay Times!Rev. Victoria Long, a UCC minister and member of LUCC, was featured in a front page article about serving as a Hospice chaplain in the difficult days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many thanks to Victoria for her meaningful ministry. Here’s the link to the article:
https://www.tampabay.com/narratives/2020/05/23/comforting-the-dying-and-their-families-from-a-distance/.
Money Matters The church may be approved for government assistance through the pandemic relief. Bill Parsons submitted all of the applications and information and the advisors will be following up.
Also related to finances, the adult day care is continuing to prepare to open a center at the church. Building modifications and health concerns make the opening date still uncertain.
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.
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/2020/05/22/corona-sabbath-10-memorial-day-weekend/
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 Available If 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:
- Immokalee COVID-19 Cases May 28, 2020
- Come, O Spirit, with Your Sound May 27, 2020
- Mobile care team on the road again May 27, 2020
- IMA free support services May 27, 2020
- Hail, O Festival Day May 26, 2020
- Memorial Day in the Land of the Free May 25, 2020
- Corona Sabbath 10 (Memorial Day Weekend) May 22, 2020
- Corona Sabbath 10 Reflection text May 22, 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 