GATHERING MUSIC
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
LIGHTING THE PEACE CANDLE Sally Purvis, liturgist
When it gets down to having to use violence, then you are playing the system’s game. The establishment will irritate you: pull your beard, flick your face to make you fight. Because once they’ve got you violent, then they know how to handle you.
The only thing they don’t know how to handle is non-violence and humor.
John Lennon, 1940-1980
PRELUDE Sweet, Sweet Spirit Doris Akers
CALL TO WORSHIP Nan Merrill, Psalm 1
Blessed are those who walk hand in hand with goodness,
who stand beside virtue, who sit in the seat of truth;
For their delight is in the Spirit of Love,
and in Love’s heart they dwell day and night.
They are like trees planted by streams of water,
that yield fruit in due season,
and their leaves flourish;
And in all they do, they give life.
MUSICAL REFLECTION I Went Down in the River to Pray
African-American Spiritual
SCRIPTURE READING
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.
Psalm 1
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.
MODERN READING Annie Dillard, from Pilgrim at Tinker’s Creek
SERMON Well Watered Rev. Kim P. Wells
UNISON READING Mahatma Gandhi
For true love is inexhaustible;
the more you give,
the more you have.
And if you go to draw at the true fountainhead,
the more water you draw,
the more abundant its flow.
MUSICAL INTERLUDE Peace Like a River African-American Spiritual
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 Shall We Gather at the River Robert Lowry
Prayer of Dedication Leslie Brandt, Psalm 1, adapted
Those who choose to live a significant life
are not going to take cues
from the religiously indifferent.
Nor will they conform to the crowd
nor mouth prejudices,
nor dote on the failures of others.
Their ultimate concern is the will of God.
They make their daily decisions in respect to such.
They can be compared to a sturdy tree
planted in rich and moist soil.
As the tree yields fruit,
so their lives manifest blessing for others.
May we choose to live significant lives. Amen.
PREPARATION FOR PRAYER Deep River Harry T. Burleigh
You are invited to write your prayer requests on the sheets provided in the bulletin and bring them forward and place them in the basket on the altar. Please observe physical distancing.
MORNING PRAYER-SAVIOR’S PRAYER
Our Creator, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.
* BENEDICTION Celtic Prayer
Deep peace of the running wave to you,
of water flowing, rising and falling,
sometimes advancing, sometimes receding. . .
Deep peace of the running wave to you.
*POSTLUDE Down by the Riverside African-American spiritual
Circle of Concern: Bill Parsons, Dave Radens, Dana Cosper and family, Carol Shores, Sherry Santana, William Owen-Cowan, Jen Degroot, Carolyn Moore, Ann Quinn, Maggie Brizendine, Janet Hall, family and friends of Rev. Dr. Jim Prickett.
Announcements
Facebook Live The 10:30 a.m. service is being streamed on Facebook Live.
Operation Attack 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.
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.
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.
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.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 2601 54th Ave. S. St. Petersburg, FL 33712
727-867-7961 lakewooducc@gmail.com Lakewooducc.org
Lakewood United Church of Christ 