‘Tis A Gift
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. 19 is the forth Sunday of Advent. Christmas is almost here. That means that it is time to Line the Cradle. Be part of this special service as we celebrate the gifts that we are being given through Jesus at Christmas and all year long!
There will be carol singing outside on the lawn from 10:15-10:30. Bring a chair if you can. Last week there were many people enjoying the songs of the season. Come join in!
The service will be in the sanctuary with the doors and windows open.
Holiday Cheer to the Homebound
The Care Team is planning visits to some of the homebound members of the church family. The congregation is welcome to be part of these visits. They are scheduled for Sunday Dec. 19 following worship. For additional details, please contact Patti Cooksey.
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.
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! You are invited to bring a reading or poem or scripture about light or darkness or winter to share.
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.
The Christmas Eve Offering will be used to support the Creation Justice ministries of the church. There are several projects under consideration including reforesting part of the church property, signs for the EV station, and installing solar panels. Caring for the Earth is a priority ministry of LUCC. The Christmas Eve offering will help the church to increase its greening initiatives.
Church School There will be Church School for elementary age children each Sunday on the themes of Advent
New Year – New Beginnings
Sunday January 2 will be a beautiful service inviting us to find Love in the New Year. Following the service there will be a special guided labyrinth walk themed on journeying into the New Year. All are welcome to extend the worship experience into this labyrinth walk. You may bring a chair for use at the labyrinth.
End of the Year Giving
Please consider LUCC as you make plans for your end of year giving. For some there are tax implications for making additional gifts. Thanks to the monies from the federal government to help navigate the pandemic, the church has been able to stay solvent. But these funds are no longer available and some fixed costs are increasing so your increased giving is needed to equip the vital ministries of the church. As we say on Sundays, may our giving reflect the generosity of God!
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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: Patti Cooksey 12/8, 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.
Apologies for leaving out Patti Cooksey’s birthday last week. Patti is head of the Care Team and sends birthday greetings to many in the church family. Many blessings and good wishes to Patti as she celebrates her birthday this week!
Circle of Concern:
Dana Cosper and family following the death of Dana’s mother
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:
- What Child Is ThisDecember 16, 2021
- Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, Amazon, etc.December 15, 2021
- The First Noel with trumpet descantsDecember 14, 2021
- Sermon 12/5/2021December 10, 2021
- Bulletin 12/12/2021December 10, 2021
- Weekly Update 12/9December 9, 2021
- Good Christians, All RejoiceDecember 9, 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 