Sundays
The service is at 9:30 in person, covid safe.
Childcare provided.
Please bring a box of matches with at least 90 matches in it and a few small rubber bands or twist ties to church on Sunday.
The month of June will be devoted to “There Is A Season.” Gatherings each Sunday will provide the opportunity to reflect on this season of transition in the covid pandemic. It will be a time to look back, to notice what we have been going through, and to move forward with intention. Scripture, readings, ritual, and music will be used to guide this time of spiritual healing.
Each Sunday will be themed to one of the ancient elements: Air, Fire, Earth, and Water. This Sunday, the theme will be Fire. You may want to bring a journal, notebook or pad to make notes.
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.
The readings and material from the Sunday gathering 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
There Is a Season: Air
Last Sunday was the first in the June series on spiritual healing and comfort in this time of transition in the covid pandemic. It was a bit of a Sunday service and a bit of a mini spiritual retreat. The content is posted at the church website so that you can see what went on and do the guided spiritual reflection on your own if you would like to.
Part of the process included sharing in small groups for those who wanted to and felt comfortable doing so. It was wonderful to hear the sanctuary abuzz with energetic conversations! It was as if the building was coming back to life!
In the post, you can read about the feather. Maybe you are still looking at your feather and finding blessings in each day.
For next Sunday, please bring a box of matches, with at least 90 matches in it. You will also need a few small rubber bands or twist ties. The theme for next Sunday is fire.
Here’s the link to last week’s content: https://lakewooducc.org/2021/06/09/sunday-service-6-6-2021/
Facebook Live?
Sorry, the service was not live last week. It’s a new month and there is a new schedule but the people on the schedule weren’t informed of their assignments. Whoops! Look for Facebook Live next Sunday.
Book Talk
The initial gathering of LUCC’s Book Talk was lively and spirited! This is an opportunity to discuss what you have been reading and hear about what others are reading. Join in the fun this 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!
Advisors Meeting Ahead
The advisors are meeting Sunday June 13. Please contact an advisor if there are things you would like discussed at the meeting. The advisors are Patti Cooksey, Lucille Ruga, Jane Diven, and Malcolm Wells.
AIDS Awareness
Rev. Wells and Jim Andrews of LUCC were part of an Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (IMA) community witness to draw attention to the growing rate of HIV/AIDS particularly in the Black community in St. Petersburg. Here’s a link to learn more: https://www.facebook.com/IMAStPete/
Congratulations to Graduates
The LUCC church family celebrates the academic accomplishments of Julian Ricciardi and Ian Blair-Catala who graduated from Lakewood High School. Both will be going to USF for college.
It has been a challenging year for all students and teachers. The church celebrates that all students and teachers have completed another year of school. Blessings to students: Autumn and Nina Moore, Jackson Cosper, Ian and Owen Blair-Catala, Julian Ricciardi, Amaiya and Kai’Lyn Washington, Shelby and Gage Wilson, Zach Blair-Andrews, Noah Saylor, and Gabi Paxton. And to teachers: Mark Gibson, Dana Cosper, Claudia Rodriguez, and Melanie Moore.
Get Well Card
Please sign the get well card for Ben, Carol Shores’ grandson who is home from Shriner’s hospital and recovering from an extensive cleft palate surgery. Through all his medical appointments and travels for procedures—AND the year of Covid, he had made the Principal’s List all year!! Those who will not be in church Sunday are certainly welcome to send a card of well wishes, please contact the church office for Ben’s address.
Memorial Garden Efforts
Many thanks to Claire Stiles, Ed Kaspar, and Malcolm Wells who worked with Rev. Wells after church last Sunday to clean up the Memorial Garden. You can now see the paving stone path, the monument, and you can get to the bench to sit down! The team worked for about an hour to clear things out. Take a look the next time you are at the church.
Being Covid Safe and In Person Worship
Please stay home if you are not feeling well.
Please wear a mask while in the church building. While most people have been vaccinated, this helps visitors to feel safe.
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 are available for use by worshippers.
There is well-ventilated, physically distanced indoor seating in the sanctuary.
Please know that your safety is of primary consideration!
Safe childcare is provided.
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:
- 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.
June Birthdays: Genie Terrell 6/10, Tony Rogers 6/21, Michelle Cloutier 6/21. Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.
Circle of Concern:
Sherry Santana
Carol Shores’ grandson, Ben
Edward Jones
William Owen-Cowan
Jen Degroot
Carolyn Moore
Ann Quinn
Maggie Brizendine
Janet Hall
Ben Shores
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:
- The Babe of Bethlehem June 4, 2021
- New Orleans June 2, 2021
- Weekly Update 6/2 June 2, 2021
- Sunday Service 5.30.2021 June 2, 2021
- For Memorial Day: Elgar’s “Nimrod” May 31, 2021
- Mastering done… May 29, 2021
- The Promised Land May 27, 2021
- Weekly Update 5/26 May 26, 2021
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 