WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
LIGHTING THE PEACE CANDLE JoAnne Reid, liturgist
There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.
Howard Zinn, 1922-2010
PRELUDE There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy
OPENING READING Pope Francis
Do you want to fast this Lent?
Fast from hurting words and say kind words.
Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
Fast from worries and have trust in God.
Fast from complaints; contemplate simplicity.
Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
Fast from bitterness; fill your hearts with joy.
Fast from selfishness and be compassionate.
Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
Fast from words; be silent and listen.
MUSIC Stormy Weather Arlen & Koehler
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
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 91:1-3a, 9-16 and Luke 4:1-13
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.
MUSIC Ebb Tide Maxwell
CONTEMPORARY READING Lent Ann Lewin, adapted
SERMON Errand in the Wilderness Rev. Kim P. Wells
TIME OF REFLECTION
We do not live on bread alone.
Worship the Most High God, and serve only God.
Do not put God to the test.
MUSIC The Darkened Valley Ireland
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 and COMMUNION OFFERING
Morning offerings may be brought forward and placed in the plates on the altar. If you would like assistance, please turn to someone seated near you.
Offertory Anitra’s Dance Grieg
Prayer of Dedication India
Servant Christ,
help us to follow you into the desert,
with you to fast, denying false luxury,
refusing the tempting ways of self-indulgence,
the way of success at all costs,
the way of coercive persuasion.
Servant Christ, help us to follow you. Amen.
PREPARATION FOR COMMUNION Gymnopédie No. 2 Satie
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.
CELEBRATION OF HOLY COMMUNION
Invitation
Communion Prayer- Savior’s Prayer
Our Creator in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
Blessing the Bread and Cup
Sharing the Meal
* BENEDICTION Angeles Arrien, adapted
Mercy before us,
mercy behind us,
mercy to the left of us,
mercy to the right of us,
mercy above us,
mercy below us,
mercy within us,
mercy all around us. Amen.
*POSTLUDE Agincourt Hymn Dunstable
Circle of Concern: Christopher and Dana, Dyanne Edds, Ann Quinn who is under Hospice Care, William Owen-Cowan, Jen Degroot, Carolyn Moore, Maggie Brizendine, Janet Hall, All those suffering from COVID-19 and all healthcare workers, Schools: Students, families, teachers, and staff.
Announcements
Communion This is a Communion Sunday. We are using the prepackaged individualcommunion servings. Please know that everyone iswelcome to participate in communion. Young people are invited toparticipate at the discretion of the adult(s) who have brought them.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 heavy need for these funds. Please consider how you can help the community through this offering.
Facebook Live The 10:30 a.m. service is being streamed on Facebook Live.
Operation Attack 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.
Toiletries for Celebrate Outreach Celebrate Outreach is a local ministry with people who are living without shelter in St. Petersburg. LUCC was asked to collect toiletries for this ministry. This collection will be ongoing in addition to the food being collected for Operation Attack. All are invited to donate the following items: toothbrushes, toothpaste, disposable razors, bar soap, wash cloths, deodorant, feminine hygiene items, travel size creams, shampoo, body wash, individual packets of Kleenex, hand wipes, toilet tissue, and paper towels.
Take action to help Ukrainians in the US There is information on the church website about encouraging the USgovernment to extend the visas for people from Ukraine who are currentlyin the US.
Conversation about Ukraine After church this Sunday, LUCC member Bill Parsons will lead a discussion about the war in Ukraine. He will give some background information and respond to questions from those gathered. Bill is a retired history professor from Eckerd College. His specialty was Russia/USSR. He was instrumental in establishing the sister city relationship between St. Petersburg, FL and St. Petersburg, Russia. Bill has also fostered many other connections between Florida and Russia including the sister church relationship between LUCC and St. Job’s in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 2601 54th Ave. S. St. Petersburg, FL 33712
727-867-7961 lakewooducc@gmail.com Lakewooducc.org
On land originally inhabited by the Tocabaga
Lakewood United Church of Christ 