WHAT IS GOING ON AT CHURCH –
Zoom Ahead!
There will be an all church Zoom gathering on Sunday August 23, the Sunday before school starts, The theme is Back to School. It will be a celebration of learning and a time to share memories of teachers who have made a difference in our lives. You will receive the Zoom invitation the day before the Zoom. Young people are especially encouraged to participate!
New Music Video
This week’s coming Corona Sabbath has a video that features LUCC member William II’s This Door is Open to All installation that’s on the church lawn. The musical track is Hilton playing It’s a Wonderful World. This video (This Door is Open to All), along with many others, can also be found on Lakewood’s YouTube channel.
Summer Sundays
The theme for the Corona Sabbath posts this summer is ‘GROUNDED.’ Yes, with the COVID-19 pandemic continuing, many are not taking expected summer trips and vacations. Feeling grounded. And with the demonstrations going on, many do not feel safe to venture out because of the pandemic and feel grounded. And with a global pandemic, a global recession, and global demonstrations against racism, it is a time to lean on our faith to help us feel grounded. Each week’s presentation will explore a different dimension of our faith which helps us to feel grounded in these uncertain times. When we are grounded, we can grow and flourish and bear fruit! So, look for the Corona Sabbath post each week to help you be grounded!
The theme for this week is Forgiveness. It includes an incredible music video featuring the painted doors on the church grounds by William II. You’ll get the link on Friday.
If you missed last week’s Corona Sabbath, the theme was Hope. It included a beautiful statement from LUCC member Christy Martin about the need for hope in the struggle to end racism. Here’s the link: https://lakewooducc.org/2020/08/06/corona-sabbath-21-hope/
Election Ahead!
One of the most important and influential things we can do is VOTE. Every vote counts. Our life together as a nation is based on our participatory democracy. August 18 is an important primary election. The results will impact the future of our community. PLEASE VOTE! If you need assistance with voting in any way, please contact the church, and someone will help you.
And Then There is the Census!
Please participate in the US Census which is mandated by the Constitution. These numbers determine allocation of many resources which directly impact each of us in the community.Participation in the Census, like voting, is a way of showing love for your neighbor and your community. Again, if you would like assistance in submitting your Census information, please contact the church and someone will help you.
Operation Attack Update
Dear Friends of Operation Attack,
We hope this email finds you and your families safe and well. In lieu of our July Newsletter, we are sending this email to update you about OA. We closed on March 17 because of COVID 19. Prior to this, we were able to serve 172 families, clothe 95 children, provide food to 320 people, and assist 24 people with their electric bills. We have given all of our food to the Neighborly Care Network for the seniors in our community or Atwater’s Cafe (9th Street South and 22nd Ave.) for free meals they are providing. Currently, we are researching ways with Circle of Faith that we might be able to distribute food in the community safely. Feel free to reply to this email with your questions and/or concerns.
Grace and Peace
Rake Provided
Many thanks to Mark Gibson for generously donating a beautiful rake to the church. The labyrinth is grateful!
Sunday Evening Demonstration for Racial Justice Grows!
The Black Lives Matter and Peace and Justice Demonstration continued on 54th Ave South last Sunday night, August 9th. There were 22 participants. Joining the group were 5 young people from the Quaker Meeting. This is an important way to inspire hope in the community and to work to create an anti-racist society.
All are welcome Sunday evenings from 7:30-8:00 p.m. at the church. Know justice, know peace!
Here are pictures from last week’s witness: https://lakewooducc.org/2020/08/12/sunday-evening-demonstration-for-racial-justice-grows/
Corona Sabbath
In addition to the material from Hilton and Kim, we hope to include contributions from the congregation each week. You are invited to send a picture, a poem, a quotation from a book or article, an image, a work of art, a song, a video of you doing something or reading something, anything you would like to share with your church family. Hilton and Kim will try to incorporate the contributions into the Corona Sabbath Devotional on the related theme.
The themes coming up are:
Service/Generosity
Peace
Wonder/Awe
Please email contributions on any of these topics to the church at lakewooducc@gmail.com. Or use the “regular” mail.
Many thanks for the contributions so far. Please keep them coming!
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.
Weekly Labyrinth Walks Continue
Each Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. a small group gathers at the outdoor labyrinth for a time of devotion, discussion, and meditative walking of the labyrinth. The theme for the week is taken from the Corona Sabbath of the week before, so it is an opportunity to go deeper in the spiritual exploration of that theme for your life. This devotional gathering is outside and physical distancing is maintained. All are welcome!
https://lakewooducc.org/2020/06/23/labyrinth-has-been-refurbished
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 that 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 her at
sallybpurvis@icloud.com or contact the church (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.
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
Daily Corona Prayer
https://lakewooducc.org/2020/03/20/lucc-corona-daily-prayer
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 .
August Birthdays: Barbara Donohue 8/4, Mardie Chapman 8/7, Claire Stiles 8/11, Kay Rencken 8/13, Vita Uth 8/14, Dana Cosper 8/22, James Waterman 8/23, and Joanne Reid 8/28. 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 all healthcare workers and essential workers. All those suffering from COVID-19.
Please keep Elinor Ross and family in your prayers. Elinor has moved in with her daughter, Cheryl, and is under Hospice care
Please keep Yvonne Riesen and family in your prayers. Yvonne has moved to the Memory Care unit at Westminster Suncoast. Calls and notes are a way to show your concern and support to Yvonne.
Maggie Brizendine has been in the hospital and should be moved into rehab soon. Please keep her in your prayers.
Please keep LUCC member, Olivia Gibson, in your prayers. She is a nurse in a COVID-19 unit in a local hospital. We are grateful for her ministry!
Recent Posts:
- ‘Roll to the Polls’ Voting Parade set for Saturday • St Pete Catalyst August 12, 2020
- Shape Your Community’s Future: Take the 2020 Census Today August 12, 2020
- Sunday Evening Demonstration for Racial Justice Grows! August 12, 2020
- #31 NCH All Things Bright and Beautiful August 12, 2020
- Sunday Morning Music: Raglan Road August 9, 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 