Weekly Update 9/15

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 is Charter Sunday.  It is a time to reflect on the founding of Lakewood United Church of Christ and it’s ministry.  There is much to remember and much to look forward to!  The service will feature music of the ’60’s since the church was founded in 1967.  Quite a time to be establishing a church!  Or maybe just the right time to founding a faith community!  Take a look at Psalm 1 for inspiration. 

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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 10:30. 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 10:30 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.

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Cathedral on Fire – a Church Handbook for the Climate Crisis

LUCC Book Discussion

Books are on order for the 12 people interested in this Creation Justice sponsored online book discussion.  The order is expected to arrive in the last week of September. The group will meet via Zoom online at 5:00pm on Thursday late afternoons October 7, 21, and 28 from 5:00 – 6:00pm.  A few extra books will be available for anyone else interested in reading or joining the discussion!  Check with Claire Stiles at stilesca@eckerd.edu for any further details.

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Join Third Act at https://thirdact.org/ for Climate Justice

Those of us who are over 60 years old can now sign up to be part of a new initiative seeking to leave a fair and stable planet for our kids, grandkids and all future generations. Earlier this month, Bill McKibben launched Third Act – a movement of Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation who want to use their skills, power and influence to embrace the urgent changes our civilization must undertake to assure a livable planet for our children.

Please consider joining this nonviolent public witness for climate justice, racial justice and economic justice. Instead of leaving the world a worse place than we found it, we can embrace a Third Act that will make the coming months and years a redemptive turning point.

Adapted from UCC online News published on Sep 9, 2021 featuring this piece by the Rev. Jim Antal, former Massachusetts Conference minister, special advisor on climate justice to the UCC General Minister and President.

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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 Tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 16 at 6:30 on Zoom. Here’s the link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2700683648

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Gathering to Honor International Day of Peace and the Fall Equinox

Join with your LUCC community in this time of transition.  Sept. 21 is United Nations International Day of Peace.  Sept. 22 is the fall equinox.  The LUCC community will gather on the patio of the church on Tuesday Sept. 21 at 7:00 p.m. for an evening celebrating peace and what we need to shed to create more peace in our lives and in the world.  You may bring a reading to share about peace or about the fall and the changing of the seasons.  This will be an outdoor event with physical distancing.  

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Anti Racism Demonstrations to Resume

The church will resume its witness against racism with weekly demonstrations along the sidewalk of 54th Ave. S.  Make your own sign or use one of the signs at the church.  
Demonstrations will be held Sundays from 5:30-6 beginning Sunday October 3. In case of rain, the demonstration will not be held that week. 

Know justice, know peace! This is an important way to inspire hope in the community and to work to create an anti-racist society.  

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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.

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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/

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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.

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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.

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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/

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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.

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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.

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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.

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September Birthdays: Kim Wells 9/19, Donald Ritchie 9/27, and Carolyn Moore 9/30. Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.

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Circle of Concern: 

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

All those suffering from COVID-19 and all healthcare workers

Schools: Students, families, teachers, and staff

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

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Recent Posts:

• Race & the Death Penalty September 7, 2021
• Sweet, Sweet Spirit September 15, 2021
• Guided Labyrinth Walks September 12, 2021
• technical test post September 11, 2021
• Lotus Born September 10, 2021
• Lift High the Cross (with trumpet descants) September 9, 2021
• Sermon 9/5/21 September 9, 2021
• Weekly Update 9/8 September 8, 2021

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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.





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