On land originally inhabited by the Tocabaga
This Sunday
Sunday services are 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 service will invite reflection on grace and how it frees us from all pretension. What a relief! It can be hard keeping up our facades and social images. Take a look at Hebrews 4:12-16
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.
Looking Ahead to Sunday Oct. 31 – Day of the Dead
On the last Sunday in October, the service will involve celebrating those who have died who have been significant in our lives. You are invited to give some thought to someone who has been particularly influential in your life. Perhaps it is a family member or someone you knew in the past. Or maybe it is an historic figure from the past. Whose legacy lives on in you? Who inspires you? During the service, you will be invited to tell the congregation about who you would like to honor and why they are important to you. Can’t be in church that Sunday? Write something brief and it will be read in the service.
So, give some thought to someone who has died and is important for you at this time. And share that inspiration and legacy with your church family on Sunday Oct. 31 during morning worship as we honor those who have gone before us and who help us to navigate the living of our days!
Ways to Help Afghan Refugees from LUCC Member Janet Blair
Janet works for the state of Florida in refugee resettlement. She recommends the following ways to help Afghan refugees.
Show support for legislation to help with the resettlement of Afghan refugees. Here’s the link: https://act.rescue.org/I94Y95d
Janet tells us: We haven’t had many Afghan arrivals yet in Tampa Bay, but there are about 10 individuals that Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services is working with. Local and volunteer/donation opportunities with their agency can be found at: https://gulfcoastjewishfamilyandcommunityservices.org/
Also, Pinellas County Libraries is doing their annual project for National Welcoming Week which they expanded to a month-long donation drive to put together baskets of needed items for refugee families in Pinellas County. Although not all baskets will go directly to Afghan families, they will go to families in need who come as refugees from other countries that are not as often in the media spotlight such as refugees from Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Haiti.
Information can be found online at largopubliclibrary.org/welcomingweek
Thank you to Janet for helping LUCC to extend hospitality and welcome to those in need!
Electronics Recycling
The church is collecting a load of electronics to be taken to an electronics recycling company in Clearwater. The electronics are dismantled and usable components, parts, and substances are recycled. Given the current problems getting the materials to produce electronic equipment, this recycling service has become even more important. If you have anything you would like recycled, please bring it to the church and put it on the builtin desk in the Church Office.
These are some of the items that are accepted for recycling: computers, amps, batteries, cables and connectors, cd players, cassette players, cell phones, televisions, digital cameras, ereaders. medical and dental equipment, ipods, mp3 players, memory cards, modems, printers, projectors, radar detectors, radios, remotes, receivers, recorders, SLR cameras, TVs, TV antennas, VCRs, etc.
Collection will continue until the end of October.
Honoring Original Peoples
Lakewood UCC is one of the sponsoring organizations of the City of St. Petersburg proclamation honoring those who originally inhabited the land that is now called St. Petersburg. The proclamation celebrates the important legacy of the Original Peoples and what it has to teach us today. The proclamation will be read at the City Council meeting on Thursday Oct. 14 at 3:00 p.m.
Florida Conference Annual Gathering
The Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ will be having another virtual annual gathering this year. The events will begin Wednesday evening Oct. 13. There will be virtual events Wednesday evening, Thursday evening, and Friday evening. There will be a business session Saturday morning October 16 at 9:00 a.m. Lakewood is entitled to two lay delegates. If you would like to be a delegate from the church, please contact Rev. Wells. Visitors are welcome! Here is a link for more information: https://uccfla-reg.brtapp.com/2021AnnualGathering
Book Talk Ahead – Note date change for this month
The LUCC monthly Book Talk is a chance to share with others what you have been reading. Haven’t read much lately, hear about what others are enjoying. It’s a very inspiring conversation. There are many avid readers in the congregation! This month, the Zoom will be held on Wednesday Oct. 20 instead of the usual third Thursday. Here’s the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2700683648
Cathedral on Fire – a Church Handbook for the Climate Crisis
LUCC Book Discussion
Books are available for the 12 people interested in this Creation Justice sponsored online book discussion. 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.
Blessings to LUCC Member Rev. Sue Sherwood
Sue Sherwood has accepted the position of Designated Term Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in St. Petersburg for the coming year beginning Oct. 1. Prayers of support and love from the LUCC family surround Sue as she begins this new ministry.
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.
Anti Racism Demonstrations to Resume Oct. 3
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.
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.
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
OA 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.
October Birthdays: Janet Blair 10/19, Rick Carr 10/22, Denise Williams 10/25, Olivia Gibson 10/29, and Victoria Long 10/29. Someone missing? Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.
Circle of Concern:
Jeff Wells and family following the death of his mother, Betty
Bill Parsons
Dave Radens
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
Church Office Hours: Tuesday 9:30-noon Thursday-Friday 9:30-noon.
Recent Posts:
- Music for October 10, 2021 October 6, 2021
- Sermon 10.3.2021 October 5, 2021
- Danzas Españolas (Playera Op. 5, #5) — Enrique Granados October 2, 2021
- Celebrate Florida Newsletter October 1, 2021
- Bulletin 10.3.2021 October 1, 2021
- Weekly Update 9/30 September 30, 2021
- Sermon 9.26.2021 September 30, 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 