NEW SERVICE TIME!!!
Sunday services are now being held at 10:30 a.m. Masks are required. There is physical distancing. Childcare is provided.
You can also join in on Facebook Live at 10:30. Please see the instructions below.
This Sunday the assigned scriptures invite reflection on what it means to follow Jesus. Maybe what we think we want really is not what is best for us. Take a look at James 3:1-12, and Mark 8:27-38.
Also, you may have the opportunity to see Angela Wells-Bean and family this Sunday in church.
Sundays
Look for the bulletin posted on the church website on Friday: https://lakewooducc.org/category/bulletins/
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
Instructions for how to access Facebook Live: For additional assistance, please contact the church office.
Here are some instructions to watch our Sunday services live through Facebook:
Use the following link to visit our homepage: https://www.facebook.com/LakewoodUCC/
On Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. please use the link above to visit our homepage. There, after using the link, you will see a section labeled “Happening Now”. This is our Livestream of the Sunday Service.
To watch the live stream, locate and click the “watch video” button in the lower right corner of the screen.
If the link above is not working, there is also a link to our Facebook page on our website. Please try that link located on the Home page of our website.
LUCC Creation Justice Book Discussion
Online Zoom for Fall 2021 Sign up now!
The Creation Justice Task Force will lead an online zoom discussion this coming Fall of the book, Cathedral on Fire – A Church Handbook for the Climate Crisis, a short 54 page read divided into 7 short chapters with Discussion Questions.
To reconnect us all in faith and community and in our common concern for Mother Earth, Claire Stiles along with Pastor Kim will lead us in a series of lively, interactive group discussions of this inspiring and upbeat approach to the protection of our planet and its inhabitants. From a Christian perspective, the author, the UCC Environmental Ministry Director Brooks Berndt, helps us understand our role as stewards of the earth and what we can do to safeguard nature and all those unjustly harmed by the current and future climate changes.
The Time and Date for the scheduled zoom meetings will be determined based on the schedules of participants interested in joining us. Books will be purchased and distributed to everyone who signs up to be a part of this lively group!
Please email Claire at stilesca@eckerd.edu or call her at 727-422-4787 if you want to be a part of this group and we will put you on the list! Please sign up by September 12th!
Book Talk Schedule
Book Talk is a monthly opportunity to enjoy discussing books! Participants hear about what others are reading and share what they have been reading. It’s very interesting and a chance to get to know people better, even people you already know well!
The next Book Talk will be Thursday, Sept. 16 at 6:30 on Zoom. Look for the link the week before.
In Memoriam
The Rev. Dr. Jim Prickett, former pastor of Lakewood United Church of Christ, died at home on Sept. 1 in Indiana. Jim helped to found Habitat for Humanity International in 1976.
Advisors to Meet
The Advisors will meet Sunday, Sept. 12 at 9:00 a.m. in person before the worship service.
Hurricane Ida Response
Hurricane Ida caused severe damage in the South Central Conference of the United Church of Christ. You are encouraged to donate funds for emergency relief and long-term recovery through the United Church of Christ Disaster Relief Ministries. Here is the link to make your donation: https://www.ucc.org/appeal-severe-storms-2021/
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.
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
Many thanks to Ian Blair-Catala who has been connecting the church with Operation Attack for the last 4 years. Ian is now moving on to attend USF in Tampa. Ian’s brother, Owen, will be taking over as the church’s Operation Attack coordinator. Owen will be sharing what food items are needed as well as opportunities to volunteer. Operation Attack is an ecumenical food pantry that has been serving the area since the 1960s. It is located at Lakeview Presbyterian Church in St. Petersburg. With gratitude to Ian, the church welcomes Owen to this important role serving those in need in the community.
OA also still needs donations of cereal, peanut butter, canned meat, fruit, vegetables and soup, dried beans, and mac/cheese. Donations may be placed on the shelf in the hallway at church.
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.
September Birthdays: Kim Wells 9/19, Donald Ritchie 9/27, and Carolyn Moore 9/30. Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.
Circle of Concern:
Claudia Rodriguez
Dana Cosper and family
Dave Radens
Condolences to Bill Parsons over the death of his sister
William Owen-Cowan
Jen Degroot
Carolyn Moore
Ann Quinn
Maggie Brizendine
Janet Hall
Those impacted by Hurricane Ida
The situation in Afghanistan
All those suffering from COVID-19.
Students, families, teachers, and staff as school begins
Church Office Hours: Tuesday 9:30-noon Thursday-Friday 9:30-noon.
Recent Posts:
- Race & the Death Penalty September 7, 2021
- Jesu, Jesu September 3, 2021
- Bulletin 8/29/21 August 27, 2021
- Weekly Update 8/25 August 25, 2021
- Bulletin 8/22/2021 August 21, 2021
- Weekly Update 8/18 August 18, 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.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lakewooduccstpete/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakewoodUCC
Lakewood United Church of Christ 