New Year’s Eve Gathering
The church will host a gathering around a fire to say goodbye to 2020 and welcome 2021. There is much to reflect on from this past year. And what will we look forward to? There will be the opportunity to walk the labyrinth. Bring a chair if you can. Bring a reading or reflection to share if you would like to. There will be marshmallows to roast. All are welcome at this informal gathering Thursday Dec. 31 at 7:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve Zoom and Christmas Eve Live
In these difficult and challenging days, celebrating the birth of Jesus is more important than ever. Jesus, too, was born in difficult times. His birth reminds us that God is with us, in joy and in sorrow, in times of fear and challenge as well as times of awe and wonder.
You are invited to celebrate the birth of Jesus with the LUCC church family. The same service will be offered two ways on Christmas Eve.
At 5:00 p.m. there will be a Zoom/FaceBook live service. Go to the church FaceBook page and click on the lower left. Here’s the link for Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2700683648
At 7:00 p.m. there will be an in person version of the same service on the church grounds. Masks and physical distancing will be maintained. There will be no singing. Bring a chair and a flashlight so you can read the bulletin. In case of rain, the service will be held on the covered patio adjacent to the playground.
Rekindle the Gifts of God: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love
Poinsettias
Many thanks to those who donated poinsettias during the Advent season to beautify the worship space and share joy with those in the congregation who are homebound.
Music
Hilton is posting all the Thanksgiving, Chanukah, and Christmas music he’s done for Lakewood UCC during the holidays at https://soundcloud.com/hilton-kean-jones/sets/traditional-holiday-music.
Plans for Church in the New Year
Those who attended the Sunday services outside in December are eager to resume weekly worship. Once the sanctuary is available for use, services will resume, inside, with the church doors open and the fans on, masks and physical distancing. Services will be shared live on Zoom and FaceBook.
The anti racism demonstrations and weekly labyrinth walks will continue.
There will be a Corona Sabbath posted each week until live services can resume.
Many thanks to all who are helping in this time of adaptation and continual transition!
Toys Delivered at Maximo
What an amazing, inspiring day Monday was at Maximo Elementary! The toys that were collected by the Education Ministry Team were delivered to the school. What began as a request by the Family and Community Liaison, Ms. Jones, for gifts for thirty children experiencing homelessness grew and grew and grew. Partnership with the Social Justice Team at Westminster Suncoast and then St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church flourished. Generosity grew wings. When the toys were delivered there were four cars overflowing with more than one hundred fifty gifts.
Ms. Jones, along with the Principal and staff, greeted us with smiles and great appreciation. Pictures were taken and friendships made. We left Maximo having received more than we had given. Our hearts were bursting with joy.
Thanks to everyone who joined in this undertaking to spread Christmas joy to children and their parents during this very stressful time. May the pictures bring you Hope, Peace, Joy and Love as you imagine the surprise and excitement of a precious child receiving your gift.
Use the following link to see pictures: https://lakewooducc.org/2020/12/09/toys-delivered-at-maximo/
Work Under Way for Adult Day Care
Finally after a year and a half of planning, the renovations of the Fellowship Hall are underway to prepare for the Adult Day Care program sponsored by Neighborly Services! So far, a railing has been installed to the back entrance of the Fellowship Hall and the demolition is underway to prepare for the three accessible restrooms that are being installed. The patio has been pressure washed.
It is very exciting to finally see movement toward the goal of offering needed services to the seniors in our area!
For pictures please use the following link: https://lakewooducc.org/2020/12/16/work-under-way-for-adult-day-care/
Operation Attack
Operation Attack is moving to have once a month drive through opportunities to still give the same services they have always given during these times. We send in all of our donations and they get them and send them outside to the distributors. They quickly hand the bags of food and clothes to the members of the community and help control the spread of Covid-19 and help our community as well.
Please use the link to view pictures from the last volunteer date:https://lakewooducc.org/2020/12/24/operation-attack-2/
Corona Sabbath Ahead
The Corona Sabbath post this week is a follow up to Christmas. Now that we have celebrated the birth of Jesus, what next?
This week Sue Sherwood is reading the scripture, there is a reflection from Rev. Wells, and music from Hilton Jones.
If you missed last week’s Corona Sabbath here’s the link:
https://lakewooducc.org/2020/12/17/corona-sabbath-40-fourth-sunday-of-advent-love/
Anti-Racism Demonstrations Resume January 10
Weekly demonstrations to end racism will resume Sunday January 10 at 4:30 p.m.. Many thanks to all who are participating. While there is a break in the demonstrations, we know that there is no break in the systemic racism that is harmful to everyone. As the New Year begins, add your presence to this weekly demonstration making a witness to your commitment to anti racism.
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!
If there is rain on Wednesday morning, the gathering will be held on Thursday morning at 9:00.
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.
USEFUL LAKEWOOD LINKS DURING THE CORONA CRISIS:
- Corona Sabbath Posts
- Sermon and Reflection Texts
- Music at Lakewood
- Lakewood UCC YouTube Channel
- Lakewood UCC on Twitter
- Lakewood on Facebook
- Lakewood on Instagram
- Daily Corona Prayer
For the above church website links, please note the “Older Posts” button near the bottom of each page.
December Birthdays: Becky Palmer 12/16, Amaiya Washington 12/18, George Diven 12/27, Melanie Moore 12/27, Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.
Circle of Concern: JoAnn Reid, William Owen, Jen Degroot, Carolyn Moore, Ann Quinn, Maggie Brizendine, Dave Radens, Bert and Joyce Lee, Wally LeBlanc, teachers, students, and school personnel, and 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 in a COVID-19 unit in a local hospital. We are grateful for her ministry!
Church Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday 9:30-noon.
Please note that the church office will be closed the week of Dec. 28.
Recent Posts:
- Correction… December 24, 2020
- Corona Sabbath 41 THE BIRTH OF JESUS December 23, 2020
- Corona Sabbath 41 THE BIRTH OF JESUS Reflection Text December 23, 2020
- The Education Ministry Team Shares Christmas Cheer with the Children of the Church December 23, 2020
- Sermon 12/20 Rekindle Love December 23, 2020
- Midweek “Hymn” December 22, 2020
- Sunday Morning Music: The Cherry Tree Carol December 20, 2020
- Corona Sabbath 40 Fourth Sunday of Advent LOVE December 17, 2020
- Corona Sabbath 40 Fourth Sunday of Advent LOVE Reflection Text December 17, 2020
- Advent Candle Lighting Liturgy and Daily Devotions for Week 4 December 17, 2020
- O Little Town of Bethlehem December 17, 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 