Month: May 2021

For Memorial Day: Elgar’s “Nimrod”

“Enigma Variations are 14 musical compositions in honour of Elgar’s dearest friends and family. Variation IX, also known as Nimrod, is dedicated to Augustus J. Jaeger, who helped the composer through his darkest periods of self-doubt and depression. Nimrod is a favourite piece for funeral music and is always played at the Cenotaph [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cenotaph] on Remembrance Sunday.” [https://www.carrollandcarrollfunerals.co.uk/funeral-music/]

Mastering done…

I’ve finished mastering my current project (https://soundcloud.com/hilton-kean-jones/sets/songs-from-southern-harmony). Still need to add Nathan’s album artwork and other metadata, then it’s ready to send off. A while back, I mentioned that I’ve discovered over time that the seeds of the next project always seem to lie in the current project. It’s true this time. I want to do more piano-only recordings like these two: https://soundcloud.com/hilton-kean-jones/salem and https://soundcloud.com/hilton-kean-jones/sweet-rivers. Don’t know yet if they’ll be my own tunes, or more folk arrangements, but I know I want to make more solo piano stuff I can just sit down and play for friends and family. A book I often used to recommend to composition students is Hermann Hesse’s “Magister Ludi.” Its conclusion, where the protagonist discovers, after a lifetime of absorption in the complicated Glass Bead Game, the real joy of The Game is playing a simple flute in the forest, parallels needs I feel compelled to satisfy in my next project. Each project satisfies personal needs and teaches me something (about music…and life).

The Promised Land

Not all the hymns in Southern Harmony, and Musical Companion are anonymous. Far from it. This one was composed by Matilda T. Durham. Her composer page in hymnary.org is https://hymnary.org/person/Durham_MT. From that page:

“A woman of remarkable intelligence and talents; a most colorful personality. She wrote interesting articles for the religious papers of the day, being noted for the witty repartee that characterized her work. She was outstanding as a music teacher and composer of music, some of her songs being “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks”, “Heavenly Treasure”, and “Star of Columbia”. – from http://www.Kletke.com”

It’s a little confusing. Her hymn as it appears in contemporary hymnals can be found HERE. Notice there are verses and a refrain. The original shaped note, reproduced HERE as found in Southern Harmony, doesn’t have a separate refrain but the melodic outline of the refrain is the same as the verse. If you’re new to shaped note music, the melody is found in the tenor, or the staff second stave from the bottom.

My arrangement of her tune is of a different character, completely, from the character of the hymn as presented in contemporary hymnals. I prefer more of a middle eastern dance character.

When I’ve completed the project, the album will credit the attributed composers as well as William Walker, the editor. For more information about this hymn, see https://hymnary.org/tune/promised_land_american.

Weekly Update 5/26

New Service Time Through the Summer

After considering the thoughts and views of the congregation, the Advisors have decided that services will continue to be held at 9:30a.m. through the end of August.

Sundays

 The service is at 9:30 in person, covid safe.

Childcare provided.

It’s Memorial Day weekend this Sunday.  It’s considered the official start of summer in spite of the summer solstice on June 20.  But what Memorial Day should be is a reminder of all those who have died serving our country.  There are many ways to serve.  And there are many who have died.  Leaving spouses, children, parents, and friends bereft.  This is a time to honor their memory and their sacrifice by recommitting ourselves to peace.  

Come to covid safe worship in person at 9:30 or attend on Facebook Live at 9:30.  

Services are also posted on the church’s YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/user/LakewoodUCC/videos

The bulletin and text of the Sunday sermon will be posted at the website the following week and there will be regular posts of music and music videos from Hilton Jones.

Watch the service on Facebook Live Sundays at 9:30. https://www.facebook.com/LakewoodUCC

Or on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LakewoodUCC/videos

For covid safety measures, see below

Following the Service This Sunday

After church on Sunday, Rev. Wells is going to work on cleaning up the Memorial Garden.  Others are welcome to stay after church and help out.  You may want to bring gardening gloves, clippers, rakes, or other yard tools.  The garden is a beautiful oasis of solace but it is in need of some pruning and trimming.  Everyone welcome!

Pentecost:  A Superspreader Event?

Well, that was the theme for worship last Sunday but it turns out the service did not appear on Facebook Live and was not recorded.  That’s irony for you!

But there is a text version of the service posted at the church website.  We hope you’ll take a look.  Here’s the link: https://lakewooducc.org/2021/05/26/sunday-service-5-23-2021/

Book Talk

The initial gathering of LUCC’s Book Talk last week was lively and spirited!  Many thanks to those who participated.  One take away:  There are some really smart people in this church and they are reading a lot!  It was inspiring to hear about the books and the wide range of interests.  Join in the fun next month, the third Thursday of the month, June 17 at 6:30 on Zoom.  It’s the same link the church always uses:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2700683648

If you aren’t reading anything compelling at the moment, you’ll certainly be inspired after Book Talk.  And you may even be given some specific recommendations based on your personal interests!

June: There Is A Season

For the month of June, gatherings on Sunday morning will be focussed on examining the time of transition that we are in.  It will be a season to remember and reflect.  It will be a time to acknowledge loss and grief.  It will be a season to look forward with hope and intention.  Each week’s gathering will be themed on one of the ancient elements:  Air, Water, Fire, and Earth.  Readings, prayers, and ritual will invite reflection and healing.

Gatherings will be Sundays at 9:30.  And beginning in June, the sanctuary doors and windows will be closed and the air conditioning will be turned on.  Wearing masks and physical distancing will help everyone, especially visitors, to feel safe.

If you know someone who has been struggling during this time, consider inviting them to church in June.  It will be a season for healing the spirit.  

Back in Business

Many thanks to Bert Lee for fixing the tire on the church wheel barrow.  Bert is still working on the lock for the women’s restroom in the breezeway.  

Adult Day Care Open!

A dream has come true.  From seeds planted by LUCC member Rev. Bob Frey back in the 1990’s, a new ministry has emerged.  The church is finally using its facilities to host an adult daycare sponsored by Neighborly Services.  It is a blessing for the church to use its assets to serve the needs of the community in this way.  

Being Covid Safe and In Person Worship

The church has contacted the St. Petersburg Health Department for guidance.  Here are the take aways that are being implemented for everyone’s safety.

Please stay home if you are not feeling well.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending double masking.  Please consider wearing two masks to church.  Additional masks will be available at church to use as needed.

Two hand sanitizing stations will be available for use by worshippers.

Signs will be posted to encourage physical distancing.

The pulpit and altar will be moved into the chancel to provide more room for the congregation to physical distance.

Prayer request sheets will be provided so that worshippers may write their prayer requests and place them in a basket on the altar.  This eliminates the need for the worship leader to come within 6 feet of the worshippers. 

People who would like to converse after the service are encouraged to do so outside, not in the hallway or the library or other confined spaces.

The breezeway restrooms will be open and available to prevent people from congregating in the library while waiting to use the office restroom.

The chairs in the sanctuary will be cleaned with sanitizer each week.  You are welcome to bring your own chair if you prefer.

There is well-ventilated, physically distanced indoor seating as well as outdoor seating on the sidewalk adjacent to the sanctuary. Masks are worn by all. Please know that your safety is of primary consideration! Childcare provided.

Facebook Live Continues

The broadcast of the service is very meaningful to the people from the church family that watch. It is a significant ministry to those who cannot be present in the church building.

Many thanks to Barbara Donohue, Bert Lee, and Jeff Wells for this ministry.  Patti Cooksey is planning to join the team.  Others are welcome!  All you need is a phone/laptop/tablet and a Facebook account. 

Immigration Justice: Action Item

The Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program provides a path to safety for Afghans who worked with U.S. forces and who, as a result of that affiliation, suffer direct threats to their safety. These visas have been long delayed. As the U.S. anticipates its final withdrawal of our Armed Forces in September, we know that we cannot simply abandon the Afghans who risked their (and their families’) lives to help us and our allies (think of the U.S. evacuation of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War).

Send a message to President Biden today! Urge the administration to provide urgent humanitarian protections, including evacuation for those who have put their lives on the line for our country. Easy, templated, click and send link here from the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service: https://www.votervoice.net/LIRS/campaigns/85410/respond

Operation Attack Update

The two most recent OA drive thru events were a success! Thank you for Lakewood continuous donations during this trying time. OA is having 4 drive thru dates in the coming months. Those being June 26, July 31, and September 11. Please get these dates out to members of our congregation if they wish to help volunteer. In addition to those dates, OA is also still needing

Donations of cereal, peanut butter, canned meat, fruit, vegetables and soup, dried beans, and mac/cheese. Remember we still aren’t accepting clothing donations at the moment. Finally, pray for the people in our community who are continuing to be challenged during this difficult time and the volunteers who are trying to ease their burdens. I’m hoping to find a time to stop by Lakewood to pick up any donations. 

Thank You,Ian Blair-Catala

Please note that OA is not accepting clothing donations.

Anti Racism Demonstration Continues

Yes, it is still going on every week.  Because racism is still going on every week, every day, every moment in this country.  We can imagine a different future.  And we are making a small effort at creating that new reality at the demonstrations each Sunday.  

Signs are available at church or bring your own.

The new time beginning May 16 is 5:30.  Come every week.  Come for a season.  Come once. Come once in a while.  Everyone is ALWAYS welcome!

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:

For the above church website links, please note the “Older Posts” button near the bottom of each page.

May Birthdays: Mark Gibson 5/2, Nina Moore 5/2, Angela Wells-Bean 5/7, Emily Gibson 5/8, Julian Michael Ricciardi 5/9, Colleen Coughenour 5/11, Jen DeGroot 5/12, Christy Martin 5/15, Bill Parsons 5/16, Deanna Moore 5/19, Danielle Hintz 5/25  Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.

Circle of Concern: 

Edward Jones

William Owen-Cowan

Jen Degroot

Carolyn Moore

Ann Quinn

Maggie Brizendine

Janet Hall

Teachers, students, and school personnel, and all healthcare workers and essential workers. All those suffering from COVID-19.

Church Office Hours:  Tuesday-Friday 9:30-noon. 

Recent Posts:

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.

Sunday Service 5.23.2021

GATHERING MUSIC

WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS

LIGHTING THE PEACE CANDLE Barbara Donohue, liturgist
O Lord, open my eyes that I may see the needs of others
Open my ears that I may hear their cries;
Open my heart so that they need not be without succor;
Let me not be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of
the strong,
Nor afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich.
Show me where love and hope and faith are needed,
And use me to bring them to those places.
And so open my eyes and my ears
That I may this coming day be able to do some work of peace for
thee.

Alan Paton, South Africa, United Methodist Hymnal #456

PRELUDE Promenade Mussorgsky

CALL TO WORSHIP
Come like fire and kindle love in our hearts
Come like wind and breathe life into our frames
Come like water and flow through our souls
Come like the earth: sustain and nourish our being.
MUSICAL REFLECTION Come, O Spirit, with Your Sound

Union Harmony , 1836

SCRIPTURE LESSON
Let us prepare ourselves for the word of God as it comes to us
in the reading of Holy Scripture.
Our hearts and minds are open.
Acts 2: 1-21
For the word of God in scripture, for the word of God among
us, for the word of God within us.
Thanks be to God.

SERMON Pentecost: A Superspreader Event Rev. Kim P. Wells

Who knew about a superspreader event until the covid pandemic? But now we know. We know of those events where that covert, unseen, unsmelled, undetected covid virus snuck in, through respiratory passages, and infected one person after another. And this happened repeatedly at church events like choir practice. Most of a church choir struck down. An elderly member of the choir dying. And at large, mega church services, with hundreds of people worshiping, singing, praying, and spreading the virus. It happened at weddings and funerals.

People came together for spiritual nourishment and instead found themselves not healed or cured but infected.

And then there were other superspreader events, like press conferences, and political rallies, and sports events.

This little virus, now we know, airborne, unseen, extremely powerful, attacking life after life after life. Filling hospitals and clinics. Devastating families and nations. Creating vast political, economic, and social disruption. Spreading. Multiplying. Virtually ubiquitous.

In its own way, Pentecost is a kind of superspreader event. Something unseen emerges and erupts to great consequence. But the outcome is to the good. It is healing and hopeful.

The story starts in Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified. The followers of Jesus have been told to go to Jerusalem and wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit. So, there they are, a small group, hidden away upstairs, on lock down, waiting. Afraid. Feeling endangered by the same forces that killed Jesus.

Now it is 50 days after Passover, after the crucifixion. Fifty days that must have seemed like
eternity for the small, scared band of hicks waiting in the big city. Would the Holy Spirit ever come? The time has arrived for the Festival of Pentecost, a Jewish harvest festival 50 days after Passover, celebrating the first harvest of the season. Jews from around the world came to this celebration of abundance and thanksgiving. But the Jesus followers are still sheltering in place. Still afraid of the threat outside.

And then we have this wonderful story of how they suddenly heard a sound like the rush of a mighty wind. We know that sound, we Floridians, familiar as we are with hurricanes. And then they see something that looks like a tongue of fire on the head of each person. No one was left out. And we are told that they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages. Finally, the day they had been waiting for!

In the multicultural crowd, everyone hears in their own language from what one commentator describes as these “unlearned Galilean laborers mistaken for colorful inebriates. . .” [Benjamin J. Dueholm, The Christian Century, 5.5.21, p. 21]

Here are these followers of Jesus, the crucified, who were scared and sheltering in place in an upstairs room, now out on the streets speaking forthrightly in many languages, making a scene, making what John Lewis would call, ‘good trouble.’ Empowered by the Spirit, they come out of hiding preaching a message of reconciliation and forgiveness and hope
to a crowd that surely included people who only weeks before had been among those shouting, ‘Crucify!’ Here are Jesus’ beloved friends declaring a message of love, compassion, and understanding. We don’t hold this against you. We offer you God’s eternal love, mercy, and grace.

These disciples who had been scared and embittered and angry because their leader was killed could have come out swinging. Hostile. Accusatory. Vindictive. But these followers of Jesus are transformed. And as it turns out this Spirit-filled group isn’t just laughed off as a crazy spectacle. At the end of the day, the story tells us, over 3,000 people have been baptized. It has been a superspreader event of love, good will, acceptance, new life, hope,
transformation, and reconciliation.

And the superspreading did not stop there. It spread from that ragtag band in a backwater rural colony from country to country and people to people resulting in Christianity becoming largest religion in the world. We are here today because of those superspreaders who came before us.

Pentecost, with the flames and wind, reminds us that we, too, have been gifted with the Holy Spirit. It’s not a matter of choice. It’s not something earned or deserved. It’s simply something that’s given. In the Acts story, the wind and the flames touch everyone. There is no singling out. And it is not something that can be controlled. The message is clear: The Holy Spirit is at work in us. It is empowering us to be witnesses to the Divine Love that we see in Jesus. And this witness is desperately needed today. We are needed to be superspreaders of love, of goodness, and of justice. Our world needs this kind of impact and energy from a positive source.

Now in the Pentecost story, the pouring out of the Spirit indicated the coming of the last days with better days ahead. As superpreaders, we are needed to herald the last days of racism, of an extractive economy, of addiction to fossil fuels. We are needed to declare the last days of legally sanctioned obscene greed. We are needed to proclaim the last days of the death penalty, and threats to Jews and apartheid for Palestinians. We are needed to announce the last days of sexism, white privilege, industrial pollution, homophobia, and compulsive consumerism.

The world is desperate to hear this message. We are needed to be superspreaders of universal love, the sacredness of all life, and reverence for the natural world that will hail a new tomorrow.

The world is aching for this message. To hear this declaration. To be transformed by hope in a different kind of future for the planet.

Last week I participated in a secular webinar about claiming your power and removing the obstacles that block you from exercising your full power to love and to make a difference in the world. It was interesting to see how many people are searching for this kind of direction. And to hear their stories. What I found interesting is that they seem to have no idea that the church exists as a community of spiritual support and formation and discernment to help tune the ear to the call of Divine Love and how you can be a superspreader of Good News for all of creation. There was no mention of religion or church in this presentation even though the leader calls his home base a ‘temple.’ It was very interesting. I felt like here are these hungry people. And we in the church have food. And they don’t know that it is here for them. There’s a big disconnect. And last week, Claire Stiles and I met with a Florida friendly landscape designer about the church grounds. She told us that she is in a Facebook group of young parents in St. Pete and at least once a week someone asks if anyone can recommend a church to go to where their kids will get the basic values of love, peace, sharing, helping others, etc. without all the ‘garbage’ like hell and condemnation of gay people and creationism. Claire and I raised our hands. We know a church like that. Then the landscaper asked, “Are you willing to have new people come to your church?”

The point is, people are actually looking for this. Looking for what we have to offer in the church. Looking for the message of hope and transformation and reconciliation that has been entrusted to us.

We are needed to be superspreaders. Outloud like the disciples in the Pentecost story. Or covertly like that nasty little virus. But we are needed to spread the message of universal love and grace. We are needed to display reckless abandon in our witness to Jesus who never condemned homosexuality or weighed in on abortion, but did command love of enemy and an end to violence.

We are needed to speak out. Infected by Divine Love, we are needed to spread it! Offering words of hope, love, connection, and reconciliation – superspreading in all of our different forums like Twitter, Facebook, What’sApp, Instagram, Facetime, Zoom. Speaking out in person, on the phone, with a megaphone, through a mask, in an email, on paper. We have all of these different modalities to use to declare the powerful message of love which can create a new future for us and for those who will come after us.

And we can start right now. I’m going to ask you to do something that we don’t usually do in church. I’m going to ask you to get your phone out if you have one with you. Yes, your phone. And I want you to send a message of hope, love, encouragement, or comfort. You can make a Facebook post or send a Tweet. You can think of someone you know who is having a rough time and send a personal message. But right here, right now, we can be superspreaders.

Sharing love and compassion and hope. . . Would anyone like to share the message that they sent? Several people responded.

Friends, this is not the time to be timid or shy. It is a time for boldness. Courage. Speaking out. Lifting up. Challenging. Inviting. Affirming. There is a world hungry, aching, desperate for this Good News. Looking for a way forward; an on-ramp to community and connection to one another and to the natural world.

The flames of the wildfires will rage again in a few months. The winds of the storms and hurricanesahead will howl calling to us to step up. Have an impact. Act boldly.

Here in this sacred sanctuary this morning, we hear the whispers of the wind, we see the flickering of the flames, the red of the Holy Spirit captures our attention, and we know that grace, mercy, and justice are our lifeline. Love is our protection. So let us be superspreaders of the Good News of the gospel of Divine Love.

Amen.

UNISON READING Jan Berry, adapted
Infectious Spirit of God,
bursting with brightness of flame
into the coldness of our lives
to warm us with a passion for justice and beauty
we praise you.

Infectious Spirit of God,
sweeping us out of the dusty corners of our apathy
to breathe vitality into our struggles for change,
we praise you.

Infectious Spirit of God,
speaking words that leap over barriers of mistrust
to convey messages of truth and new understanding,
we praise you.

Infectious Spirit of God,
flame
wind
speech,
burn, breathe, speak in us;
fill your world with justice and with joy.

MUSICAL INTERLUDE Fire of Justice, Fire of Love HKJ

Lakewood UCC Choir Virtual Performance

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Lakewood United Church of Christ, as part of the
Church Universal is to:
• Celebrate the presence and power of God in our lives & in our
world.
• Offer the hospitality and inclusive love of Christ to all people.
• Work for God’s peace and justice throughout creation.

MORNING OFFERING
Morning offerings may be brought forward and placed in the
plates on the altar.
Offertory Renew Your Church White
Prayer of Dedication Jean Vanier
How can we live and love as Jesus did, except through the
mysterious gift and power which he gives through his Spirit,
so that we become his face, his hands, his heart and body?

PREPARATION FOR PRAYER Nocturne #21 In C Minor (posthumous)

Chopin

COMMUNITY PRAYERS- SAVIOR’S PRAYER
Holy One, our only Home, hallowed be Your name.
May your day dawn, your will be done,
Here, as in heaven. Feed us today, and forgive us
As we forgive each other. Do not forsake us at the test,
But deliver us from evil. For the glory, the power,
And the mercy are yours, now and forever. Amen.

*BENEDICTION After a prayer of St. John of Damascus
To we who are but black cold charcoal
grant, O Lord,
that by the fire of Pentecost,
We may be set ablaze.

*POSTLUDE Jig Fugue Buxtehude