Sundays
The service is at 9:30 in person, covid safe.
Childcare provided.
The Sundays in July will be themed “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus.” Each Sunday will feature a beloved story associated with Jesus. These stories still offer much to inspire and inform our faith and our living today.
This Sunday is a time to reflect on a story associated with Jesus that is well known but maybe not so well liked. There will be a discussion oriented sermon with participation invited from the congregation. Take a look at Matthew 20:10-16.
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
In Memoriam
Mae Wiggins died Tuesday July 20. Mae was the spouse of Richard Wiggins, the founding pastor of LUCC. Given that there were no childcare centers in this part of St. Petersburg, Mae started the LUCC Childcare Center around 1970. She wanted families to have safe, enriching daycare for their children. Following their ministry at LUCC, the Wiggins moved to New Port Richey where Richard served the UCC church there. That is where they have stayed in retirement. Please keep Richard and their family and loved ones in your prayers.
Follow Up Conversation from June Services
Those who would like to are invited to be part of a follow up conversation about the services held in June. Are you looking at a feather and remembering your blessings? Are you lighting matches? Do you look at the sticker on your water bottle? Kim Wells will invite reflection and reaction to some of the activities that were done in worship in June to aid in healing and processing of the pandemic experience. This conversation will be held Sunday July 25 following morning worship.
Voter Registration Deadline July 26
The deadline to register to vote in the August 24 city election is Monday July 26. Please make sure that you are registered to vote and encourage others to register as well!
You Can Impact the Death Penalty in Florida!
See the church website or Facebook page for a petition to sign and a video. One step at a time, this inhuman practice can be abolished!
United Church of Christ Holds Virtual Assembly
For highlights of last week’s UCC General Synod, follow this link.
LUCC is part of an awesome denomination! And the Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson who is Associate General Minister of the UCC and led the planning for the General Synod was a member of LUCC when she lived in St. Petersburg!
New Members
In these challenging times, being part of a church community is more grounding and supportive than ever! The LUCC congregation is so grateful for all of the ways that spiritual support has been offered this past year and beyond. The church would like to officially welcome as members those who are finding a spiritual ‘home’ at LUCC. For those who are interested in considering church membership, there is an orientation session about the mission, identity, history and theology of the church. Please be in contact with Rev. Wells if you would like to consider joining the church. The orientation and the Sunday for joining will then be determined accordingly.
Meals on Wheels From the Church
Meals on Wheels now has a distribution center at Lakewood United Church as part of the Neighborly senior center. They need volunteers to help deliver meals to shut-in seniors in our area. Sometimes, the only person a client sees all day is a MoW volunteer. They are following COVID-safe practices (mask wearing, social distancing, dropping off food rather than entering the home). Volunteers pick up the meals at 10:30 and drive to clients in the area, and return the empty bags to LUCC when they’re done, usually within an hour. Please consider doing this; it takes just an hour once a week to make someone happy. Please contact Angela, the MoW coordinator at 727-612-1791 and she will tell you how to get trained. Or go to https://neighborly.org/volunteer-opportunities/ to find out more.
Scan the QR code to watch a video for more information about volunteering
Guided Labyrinth Walks
The guided walk is held weekly on Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. This provides an opportunity to be aware and deepen your spiritual journey. If it is raining, the walk is held on Thursday at 9:00 a.m.
Also, the readings and prayers used on Wednesdays at the guided walk are put in the mailbox by the labyrinth each week for use during the week.
The labyrinth is on the church grounds near the southwest corner of the church property. It is available for use at all times.
Be Part of Reducing AIDS
There is an the increase in HIV/AIDS infections in our area. As a way of responding, Suncoast Hospice has given the church a large supply of condoms to be distributed. They will be placed in the bathrooms at the church. They will also be available in the sanctuary. The church advisors are encouraging the congregation to take some condoms and put them in public bathrooms and workplace bathrooms where they may get picked up by the appropriate population.
So, the next time you are at the church, pick up a few condoms and see that they make their way out into the community!
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 Action Item: THOUSANDS of Dreamers at risk of deportation!
Severe processing delays are keeping THOUSANDS of DACA immigrants at risk of deportation and unemployment! As of March 31, USCIS had a backlog of more than 55,000 pending first-time DACA applications, in addition to over 44,000 renewal requests. United We Dream – an organization led by Dreamers – is calling on President Biden to clear the backlog NOW.
Please sign the United We Dream’s petition calling on Biden and USCIS to clear the DACA backlog and process applications and renewals in a timely manner.
Click here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/end-the-daca-backlog/
Operation Attack Update
Good Afternoon,
I hope you are doing well, many members of Lakewood UCC are aware that I’ve graduated from high school (thank you for the card) and plan to head to college. While at college, I won’t be able to help collect any OA donations or help keep Lakewood up to date on OA needs. I’ve had this task all of high school and I am very thankful for it. For replacing me, I HIGHLY recommend my brother Owen Blair-Catala. This position has been passed down from Zach to me and now to Owen. He’s someone who is active in OA and understands the task he must complete from watching me do them.
Besides this OA is still doing very well. There are the same drive thru dates as before (July 31st and September 11th). In addition, OA also still needs Donations of cereal, peanut butter, canned meat, fruit, vegetables and soup, dried beans, and mac/cheese. I came by this past week and was able to get some donations. Remember we still aren’t accepting clothing donations at the moment. If you have any questions please contact me.
Thanks,Ian Blair-Catala
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:
- Sermon and Reflection Texts
- Music at Lakewood
- Lakewood UCC YouTube Channel
- Lakewood UCC on Twitter
- Lakewood on Facebook
- Lakewood on Instagram
For the above church website links, please note the “Older Posts” button near the bottom of each page.
July Birthdays: Ann Quinn 7/6. Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.
Circle of Concern:
Bill Parsons
Earl Waters
Dave Radens
Richard Wiggins and family
Carol Shores
Sherry Santana
William Owen-Cowan
Jen Degroot
Carolyn Moore
Ann Quinn
Maggie Brizendine
Janet Hall
All those suffering from COVID-19.
Church Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday 9:30-noon.
Recent Posts:
- Former Florida Chief Justice Gerald Kogan Left Legacy Opposing the Death Penalty July 20, 2021
- Sunday Service 7.18.2021 July 20, 2021
- Sunday Service 7.11.2021 July 14, 2021
- Weekly Update 7/14 July 14, 2021
- Weekly Update7/9 July 9, 2021
- Sunday Service 7.4.2021 July 8, 2021
- Weekly Update 7/1 July 1, 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 