WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
LIGHTING THE PEACE CANDLE Sherry Santana, liturgist
The greatest danger to our future is apathy.
Jane Goodall b. 1934
PRELUDE The Meeting of the Waters trad.Irish
OPENING RESPONSIVE READING Nan Merrill, based on Ps. 63, adapted
O Love, You are our Beloved, and
we long for You,
our souls thirst for You;
All that is within us thirsts,
as in a dry and barren land
with no water.
So we call out to You in
our hearts,
sensing your power and glory.
For You have been our salvation,
and in the shadow of your wings
we sing for joy.
Our souls cling to You,
your love upholds us.
MUSIC Slevenamon trad. Irish
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.
Isaiah 55 and Luke 13:1-9
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.
SPECIAL MUSIC Dreams Andreyev
Bill Parsons, Balalaika
CONTEMPORARY READING Father Theophane Boyd, 1929-2003
SERMON Tyrants, Towers, and Trees Rev. Kim P. Wells
RESPONSIVE READING W. S. Merwin, Hawaii, 1927-2019
Listen
with the night falling we are saying thank you
we are stopping on the bridges to bow from the railings
we are running out of the glass rooms
with our mouths full of food to look at the sky
and say thank you
we are standing by the water looking out
in different directions
back from a series of hospitals back from a mugging
after funerals we are saying thank you
after the news of the dead
whether or not we know them we are saying thank you
looking up from tables we are saying thank you
in a culture up to its chin in shame
living in the stench it has chosen we are saying thank you
over telephones we are saying thank you
in doorways and in backs of cars and in elevators
remembering wars and the police at the back door
and the beatings on stairs we are saying thank you
in the banks that use us we are saying thank you
with crooks in office with the rich and fashionable
unchanged we go on saying thank you thank you
with the animals dying around us
our lost feelings we are saying thank you
with the forests falling faster than the minutes
of our lives we are saying thank you
with the words going out like cells of a brain
with the cities growing over us like the earth
we are saying thank you faster and faster
with nobody listening we are saying thank you
we are saying thank you and waving
dark though it is
MUSIC Carrickfergus trad. Irish
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 Four Jigs trad. Irish
Time of Dedication George Herbert, 1593-1633
Thou that hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, a grateful heart.
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if thy blessings had spare days;
But such a heart, whose pulse may be thy praise. Amen.
PREPARATION FOR PRAYER Raglan Road trad. Irish
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
Holy One, our only Home, hallowed be Your name.
May your day dawn, your will be done,
Here, as in heaven. Feed us today, and forgive us
As we forgive each other. Do not forsake us at the test,
But deliver us from evil. For the glory, the power,
And the mercy are yours, now and forever. Amen.
* BENEDICTION Nan Merrill, based on Ps. 63, adapted
We would radiate your Love as long
as we live,
and become a blessing to others
in gratitude to You. Amen.
*POSTLUDE The Red Haired Boy trad. Irish
Circle of Concern: Christopher and Dana, 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 3/18/22.
Book Talk Re-Scheduled for March The monthly Book Talk for March has been rescheduled to Thursday March 24 at 6:30 p.m. You are encouraged to participate. It is virtual. Here is the Zoom link: Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2700683648 Meeting ID: 270 068 3648
Guided Labyrinth Walks NOTE CHANGE OF DAY: The guided labyrinth walk next week will be held on Thursday March 24 at 9:00 a.m.
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. Many thanks to Janet Blair and Jim Andrews for taking the donations to Celebrate Outreach.
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 