‘Tis A Gift
This is a season to ponder the many gifts that we are being given each and every day. It is a season for gratitude.
The Gift of Music
LUCC Music Director Hilton Jones has recorded 2 CDs for the LUCC family. One is Christmas Piano featuring favorite songs of this season. The second is Simply Hymns featuring favorite hymn tunes. Both CDs are available at the church. The music is a gift to the congregation. If you would like to make a donation to offset the production costs, you may. See the display in the sanctuary. Enjoy the gift of music from Hilton not just on Sundays but every day!
This Sunday, Dec. 5 is the second Sunday of Advent. The advent season provides the opportunity to continue to reflect on the gifts that we are receiving through the birth of Jesus and in so many other ways in our lives and in our world.
There will be carol singing outside on the lawn from 10:15-10:30. Bring a chair if you can.
The service will be in the sanctuary with the doors and windows open.
The first Sunday of the month is communion Sunday. The Communion offering will be received. This offering is used to help people in the church and the community with basic needs such as rent and utility assistance, bus passes, prescriptions, etc. There has been a heavy need for these funds. Please consider how you can help the community through this offering
Advent and Christmas at LUCC
The theme for the season will be Receive the Gift. It is a continuation of the celebration of gratitude that has been part of the stewardship season and the Thanksgiving holiday. Even with covid, there is so much to be thankful for!
On Sundays in December, those who enjoy singing Christmas music are invited to come to church at 10:15 .am. and sing sitting outside on the lawn before the service begins. Bring your own chair if you can. Hilton will play the piano near the open doors and there will be outdoor singing with masks on. When it is time for the service to begin, everyone will move inside. There will be no singing in the service.
Labyrinth walks will continue on Wednesday mornings at 9:00. It’s a beautiful season to deepen your spiritual reflection and the labyrinth is a wonderful way to do that.
Anti-racism demonstrations will also continue on Sunday afternoons from 4:30-5:00 in Advent. This is an opportunity to express the gift of love for all that we celebrate at Christmas. It’s also a time to remember that the baby Jesus was a person of color.
Book Talk will be held via Zoom on Thursday, Dec. 16 from 6:30-7:30. This is an opportunity to share some of your favorite Christmas stories and books.
There will be a Winter Solstice gathering around a fire on Tuesday, Dec. 21. This will be a time to share stories and readings and inspiration around the themes of darkness and light. Those who would like to may walk the labyrinth. Sunset is at 5:41 p.m. so that is when the gathering will begin!72389
Christmas Eve will be celebrated with an outdoor service at 7:00 p.m. on the church lawn. Music of the season will begin at 6:30. Please bring your own chair if you can. The offering on Christmas Eve will be used to support the Creation Justice ministries of the church.
This year, the congregation is invited to donate poinsettias to beautify the sanctuary for Advent and Christmas Eve. The plants will be taken by the Care Team to those in the congregation who are not able to attend church. There are order forms available at church. The cost of the plants is $10 each. The deadline for orders is Sunday, December 12.
Church School There will be Church School for elementary age children each Sunday on the themes of Advent
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.
PLEASE NOTE:
With the cooler temperatures, we will resume opening the doors and windows for morning worship as we continue efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
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.
New Century Hymnals Available
LUCC has been given 60 used New Century Hymnals from a church that no longer needs them. If you would like a hymnal for home use, you are welcome to have one. They are available at church on the book shelf in the main hallway. Please help yourself!
Birthday Blessings
The congregation recently had the wonderful opportunity to share birthday blessings with Katharine Meacham Conover who turned 100 and with Jane Diven who turned 90. What a gift to be inspired by these amazing women!
Christmas Eve Readers
Readers are needed for the outdoor Christmas Eve service. If you would be willing to do a reading, please speak with Rev. Wells. This is a beautiful way to share the spirit of Christmas with your LUCC family.
Celebrating Our Gifts Stewardship 2022
Thank you to all who have participated generously by returning your commitments of giving to assure the financial future of Lakewood UCC! As of this week, the total pledged is $52,500. We’ll begin the work of setting a budget for 2022 very soon. If you have not yet let us know how you can help financially support the work of our church, or if you would like to increase your giving, we invite you to contact us. You may send a note or an email to the office to the attention of the Finance Committee, or directly contact Lucille Ruga.
Harvest Forms
To see the Harvest results, please check out this post:
https://lakewooducc.org/2021/11/11/harvest-form-2021/
Anti-Death Penalty Action
A bill has recently been filed in the Florida Senate that will prohibit the imposition of a sentence of death upon a defendant convicted of a capital felony if the defendant had a serious mental illness at the time the criminal offense was committed. If you wish to show your support of SB 770, there’s a petition at the website of the Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty at https://www.fadp.org/
You may also wish to send a thank-you note to the bill’s sponsor, Senator Jeff Brandes,at brandes.jeff.web@flsenate.gov
Advisors Needed for 2022
Each year 3-5 wonderful people meet monthly to support the life and ministry of the church especially attending to matters involving finance, administration, personnel, and property. This past year, the church was ably served by Patti Cooksey, Lucille Ruga, Jane Diven, and Malcolm Wells. Some new advisors are needed for 2022. Is this something you might like to be involved in? Or can you think of someone in the church that you would like to see serve in this role? There are forms to fill out at church or speak to one of the current advisors or to Rev. Wells. This is a wonderful way to deepen your ties with the church and to make a difference!
Anti Racism Demonstrations
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 4:30-5. 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.
Operation Attack Update
OA needs donations of cereal/oatmeal, mac and cheese, pasta sauce, peanut butter, canned meat, fruit, soup, and vegetables. Donations may be placed on the shelf in the hallway at church.
USEFUL LAKEWOOD LINKS:
- Sermon and Reflection Texts
- 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.
You can stream Hilton’s music and videos for free at hiltonkeanjones.com/look-listen/ as well as purchase his CDs and digital albums there.
December Birthdays: Becky Palmer 12/16, Amaiya Washington 12/18, George Diven 12/27, Melanie Moore 12/27, Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.
Circle of Concern:
Carol Shores
Deanna Moore
Dave Radens
William Owen-Cowan
Jen Degroot
Carolyn Moore
Ann Quinn is now under Hospice care
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:
- Thanksgiving music #6: Come, O Thankful People, ComeNovember 23, 2021
- Sermon 11/21/2021November 22, 20Come, O Come EmmanuelNovember 30, 2021
- 3 Chanukah SongsNovember 28, 2021
- Bulletin 11/28/21November 26, 2021
- Thanksgiving music #7: Great is Thy FaithfulnessNovember 25, 2021
- Weekly Update 11/24November 24, 2021
- Thanksgiving music #6: Come, O Thankful People, ComeNovember 23, 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.
On land originally inhabited by the Tocabaga
Lakewood United Church of Christ 