WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
LIGHTING THE PEACE CANDLE Earl Waters, liturgist
Grandfather,
Look at our brokenness.
We know that in all creation
Only the human family
Has strayed from the Sacred Way.
We know that we are the ones
Who are divided
And we are the ones
Who must come back together
To walk in the Sacred Way.
Grandfather,
Sacred One,
Teach us love, compassion, and honor
That we may heal the earth
And heal each other. Ojibway prayer
PRELUDE The Happy Farmer Schumann
OPENING PRAYER Ken Sehested, adapted
Loaf-baking, kitchen-dwelling, breast-feeding God,
hungry and thirsty
we return to your lap and your table again.
Fill us with bread that satisfies,
milk that drenches our parched throats.
Feed us ’til we want no more.
Let your Spirit hang an apron around our necks.
Fashioned by our Lord and friend, Jesus.
Instruct us,
here in the halls of your kitchen/kin-dom,
with the recipes: mercy and forgiveness,
compassion and redemption.
Leaven our lives
’til they rise in praise:
Offered, blessed, and broken
for the healing of the nations. Amen.
MUSIC Simple Gifts Shaker tune
SCRIPTURE READING
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.
Luke 13:31-35
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 Shenandoah American
CONTEMPORARY READING-Pilgrimage John Gladwin, b. 1942
SERMON Rev. Kim P. Wells
TIME OF REFLECTION Caroline Myss, b. 1952
Let me be silent
Let me be still.
I offer You the sound in my Heart
I offer You the breath in my Lungs
I offer You the tranquility in my Soul.
Let me be silent
Let me be still
Hover over me. Amen.
MUSIC The Cherry Tree 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
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 Ducks on the Millpond Baker
Time of Dedication Rudyard Kipling, 1865-1936
Do not care
overly much for
wealth, or power, or fame,
Or one day you will meet someone
Who cares for none of these things,
And you will realize
How poor you have become.
PREPARATION FOR PRAYER Wendeyaho Native American/arr. HKJ
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.
MORNING PRAYERS – SAVIOR’S PRAYER
Eternal Spirit, Earth Maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that ever shall be,
Father and Mother of all people, Loving God in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by all peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and
come on earth!
With the bread that we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever.
Amen.
* BENEDICTION Pueblo verse
Hold on to what is good
even if it is a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe
even if it is a tree which stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do
even if it is a long way from here.
Hold on to life
even when it is easier letting go.
Hold on to my hand
even when I have gone away from you. Amen.
*POSTLUDE Hornpipe Handel
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
Facebook Live The 10:30 a.m. service is being streamed on Facebook Live.
Support for Ukraine To find more ways to support Ukraine please visit our website and look at the Weekly update for 3/12/22.
Conversation about Ukraine After church last Sunday, LUCC member Bill Parsons led a discussion about the war in Ukraine. The presentation was recorded and can be accessed at the church website.
Advisors meeting today If you have feelings about wearing masks at church, please speak to
an advisor: Malcolm Wells, Lucille Ruga, Barbara Donohue, Christy Martin.
Book Talk This month Book Talk will be held on Thursday, March 17 at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. This is a wonderful time of sharing about books. Everyone is welcome to listen in and to share about what you have been reading. It’s a very inspiring time! Join in! Here’s the link: Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2700683648 Meeting ID: 270 068 3648
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
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.
For the safety and comfort of all, please wear a mask. Thank you!
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 