‘Tis A Gift
Christmas Eve
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
The 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.
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. 26 is the Sunday after Christmas. Where do we fit into this ancient story from a different culture? How does it still speak to us today?
The service will be in the sanctuary with the doors and windows open.
Holiday Cheer to the Homebound
The Care Team had a beautiful time bringing the church to those who are homebound last Sunday. Check out the joy!
Anti Racism Demonstrations
Weekly demonstrations along the sidewalk of 54th Ave. S. Make your own sign or use one of the signs at the church. Demonstrations are 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.
Gifts to McCabe Early Childhood Learning Center
Thanks to the generosity of the LUCC congregation, LUCC member Claudia Rodriguez was able to provide Christmas gifts for students in her class at McCabe Early Childhood Learning Center on 26th Ave. S. The children were delighted. Many thanks to Patti Cooksey and Emily Bell for assisting with this. Click here to see this wonderful display of generosity!
Playground Clean Up
A friendly neighbor of the church volunteered to clean up the church playground. The weeds and seedlings are gone. The space is much more conducive to child’s play. Many thanks to our wonderful neighbor, Anita!
Zack Blair-Andrews Featured in Tampa Bay Times
College senior Zack Blair Andrews contributed to a very timely article in the Tampa Bay Times last Sunday – ‘The Good, the bad and the ugly of Facebook and Twitter.’ It is posted on the bulletin board at church. Or check it out on line: https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2021/12/16/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-facebook-and-twitter-column/
Winter Solstice – Seeing in the Dark
Despite the mist and the rain, seven hearty souls gathered to explore the themes of light and darkness on the shortest day/longest night of the year. One of the things we ‘saw in the dark’ is the need for ‘wintering.’ For time spent in quiet, solitary, reflection. Quite a contrast to this season which is often the busiest of the year! The rain drove the group to the sidewalk under the overhang and prevented the labyrinth walk but did not dampen illuminating conversation and wisdom about light and darkness. By the time the discussion was over, the rain had dissipated and the fire was still burning, so it was time for roasting marshmallows! See pictures here:
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 bookshelf in the main hallway. Please help yourself!
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!
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.
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.
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.
Circle of Concern:
Dana Cosper and family following the death of Dana’s mother
Carol Shores
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:
- LUCC Provides Gifts for PreschoolDecember 22, 2021
- Winter Solstice -Seeing in the DarkDecember 22, 2021
- Sermon 12/12/2021December 21, 2021
- The Babe of BethlehemDecember 21, 2021
- Lining the Cradle Sunday Dec. 19, 2021December 20, 2021
- Christmas VisitsDecember 20, 2021
- FREE home internet access and technology coaching for PCS familiesDecember 20, 2021
- Lo, How a Rose ‘Er BloomingDecember 19, 2021
- O Little Town of BethlehemDecember 18, 2021
- Bulletin 12/19/2021December 17, 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 
I thought/hoped your Christmas Eve service would be on Facebook Live but I couldn’t find it! I wish the Lakewood UCC family “Mele Kalikimaka” and a joyous New Year! May 2022 be better than ever for us all!
Lucy
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