In Person Outdoor Services Resume
After the time of experimentation in Advent, weekly services will resume on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. The services will be held outside on the lawn. Masks are to be worn and physical distancing will be observed. Please bring your own chair if you can.
Childcare provided.
If the weather is bad, the service will be held on the patio adjacent to the playground.
This Sunday will be the annual commemoration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. especially in light of recent events in America. There is an opportunity in the service for congregants to recommit themselves to the mission of Dr. King.
With in person worship resuming, the weekly Corona Sabbath posts will be suspended. The text of the Sunday sermon will be posted at the website early in the week and there will be regular posts of music and music videos from Hilton Jones.
Thank you for your understanding in this continuing season of adaptation and experimentation!
In Memoriam
Sympathy and condolences are expressed to Claire Stiles and Ruth Pettis and family over the death of Ruth’s mother, Dollie, on December 31. Dollie was a resident of Westminster Suncoast.
Sympathy and condolences are expressed to the family and friends of LUCC member Irma Smith. Irma died on Sunday Jan. 3. She was living with her daughter, Linda, in Louisiana. Irma is remembered with love at LUCC.
Sympathy and condolences are expressed to JoAnne Reid and the family and friends of Wilbur Reid who died on Dec. 22 at home in Illinois. JoAnne has come to Florida to recover.
We hold all of these dear ones in our prayers in this time of remembering, grieving, and healing.
Church to Be a Possible Covid Vaccination Site
The church is in conversation with Pinellas County Emergency Management about serving as a covid vaccination site for the community. There is no timeline yet but it may be soon. If the church can serve in this way, volunteers will be needed to be on site during vaccination hours. Please look for more updates about this important way the church may be able to serve the community!
Adult Daycare Update
Renovations continue in the Fellowship Hall. The tentative opening date for the Adult Daycare Center is Feb. 15. It is very exciting to see this ministry finally coming to fruition!
Homeless Visitor Last Sunday
As the congregation worshipped outside, a homeless neighbor slept in the doorway of the church. Following the service he was able to find a place to stay and Rev. Wells gave him a ride to the hotel downtown. May we remember the ‘least of these.’
Rev. Wells to Have Surgery
Please note that Kim is having surgery on her heel (again) on Thursday Jan. 15. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
Christmas Gifts to McCabe
This was part of the Christmas giving of the LUCC congregation. In addition to gifts to Maximo Elementary School, gifts were provided for the class taught by LUCC member Claudia Rodriguez at the preschool at McCabe United Methodist Church.
Please use this link to view pictures: https://lakewooducc.org/2021/01/13/christmas-gifts-to-mccabe/
Operation Attack Needs
There was another successful OA Food Distribution Drive Thru in December due to caring volunteers, thankful families, and all of you. We fed 91 families with 2 bags of non perishables, fresh produce, meat, and dairy products. We also gave extra food to large families (over 6 people), diapers and wipes, 50 referrals to Clothes to Kids, and 120 Christmas Goodie Bags. The goodie bags were donated and made by E.L.F.S., The Elected Ladies For The Savior. Each beautifully decorated Christmas bag was filled with a juice box, chips and candy. We were grateful to be asked to distribute these gifts to children.
The next Food Distribution Drive Thrus will be January 30 and March 13. Listed below are ways you can participate in our future Drive Thrus:
Volunteer to pre-bag food before the Drive Thru Volunteer on January 30 Purchase baby wipes and large/family size nonperishable food Donate plastic grocery bags Pray for the people/groups making this event happen Pray for the people we are serving
Thank you for your faithfulness to the people in the community who need our support right now. Yours in Christ!
Anti-Racism Demonstrations Resume
Weekly demonstrations to end racism resumed Sunday January 10 at 4:30 p.m.. Many thanks to all who are participating. While there was 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 Sunday 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.
January Birthdays: Martha Lamar 1/2, Chip Cosper 1/7, Jackson Cosper 1/9, Hilton Kean Jones 1/23, Bob Bell 1/28. Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.
Circle of Concern: To the family and loved ones of Wilbur Reid, Dollie Pettis, and Irma Smith. Victoria Long, Kim Wells, Edward Jones, William Owen, Jen Degroot, Carolyn Moore, Ann Quinn, Maggie Brizendine, Dave Radens, 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.
Recent Posts:
- Christmas Eve Service January 5, 2021
- Midweek Hymn: Let the Lower Lights Be Burning January 5, 2021
- Sunday Morning Music: 2020 Favorites January 3, 2021
- Corona Sabbath 42 December 31, 2020
- Corona Sabbath 42 Reflection Text December 31, 2020
- Midweek Hymn: NCH #434 All Beautiful the March of Days December 29, 2020
- Sunday Morning Music: Wendeyaho December 27, 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 