WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
LIGHTING THE PEACE CANDLE Barbara Donhue, liturgist
Show me the suffering of the most miserable;
So I will know my people’s plight.
Free me to pray for others;
For you are present in every person.
Help me to take responsibility for my own life;
So that I can be free at last.
Grant me courage to serve others;
For in service there is true life.
Give me honesty and patience;
So that I can work with other workers.
Bring forth song and celebration;
So that the spirit will be alive among us.
Let the spirit flourish and grow;
So we will never tire of the struggle.
Let us remember those who have died for justice;
For they have given us life.
Help us love even those who hate us;
So we can change the world.
Written by Cesar E. Chavez, UFW Founder (1927-1993)
In honor of Cesar Chavez Day, March 31
PRELUDE Solfegietto C.P.E. Bach
*OPENING SENTENCES Aminah Robinson, 1940-2015
On mah journey now,
Well I wouldn’t take nothin’ for mah journey now!
Praises to God —
One day I was walking along,
Well the elements opened an’ de love come down —
Praises to God!
I went to de valley an’ I didn’t go to stay,
Well, my soul got happy an’ I stayed all day!
Praises to God!
Praises to God!
*HYMN Love Divine, All Loves Excelling 43
SCRIPTURE READINGS
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 43:16-21 and John 11:55-12:8
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 Be Thou My Vision [SLANE] trad. Irish
CONTEMPORY READING Mary of Bethany Alan Guant, b. 1935
SERMON A House Full Rev. Kim P. Wells
UNISON PRAYER Wang Weifan, 1927-2015, China, adapted
God is the source of Love; I the river’s course.
Let God’s love flow through me. I will not obstruct it.
Irrigation ditches can water but a portion of the field;
the great Yangtze River can water a thousand acres.
Expand my heart, O God, that I may love yet more people.
The waters of love can water vast tracts,
nothing will be lost to me.
The greater the outward flow, the greater the returning tide.
If I am not linked to Love’s source, I will dry up.
If I dam the waters of Love, they will stagnate.
Can I compare my heart to the boundless seas?
But abandon not the measure of my heart, O God.
Let the waves of your love still billow there!
MUSIC Pie Jesu Webber
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. 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. If you would like assistance, please turn to someone seated near you.
Offertory Waltz Chopin
Words of Dedication J. Barrie Shepherd, b. 1935
We too have alabaster boxes
to be broken in the trust
that what we share will not be judged
in terms of vain conceit.
Rejoiced in rather
in the open way of One
who poured the precious oil
his own life to make
all other gifts complete.
*PREPARATION FOR COMMUNION Beautiful Jesus 44
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
*HYMN Won’t You Let Me Be Your Servant 539
* BENEDICTION Rubem A. Alves, 1933-2014, Brazil
God, we need to have signs of your grace.
We thirst for smiles
for sweet odors,
for soft words,
for firm gestures,
for truth and goodness,
and for triumphs
(no matter how small)
of justice. Amen.
*POSTLUDE Toccata in E minor Pachelbel
Circle of Concern: Joyce Lee, Michelle Cloutier, Christopher and Dana, Ann Quinn who is under Hospice Care, William Owen-Cowan, Jen Degroot, Carolyn Moore, Maggie Brizendine, Janet Hall, Yoko Nogami walking the Appalachian Trail, 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.
Easter Ahead April 17! The wonderful festival of Easter is just a few weeks away. Please note there will be a change in the service schedule. There will be two identical services at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. The congregation is invited to meet and visit out on the lawn between services. Both services will be streamed on Facebook Live. Please make plans to be a part of this glorious celebration! Remember – come at 9 or 11.
Holy Week Ahead-
April 10 Palm Sunday
The service begins outside. Bring a palm branch if you can.
April 14 Maundy Thursday
The Service of Tennebrae will be held at 7:00 p.m. remembering the Last Supper.
April 15 Good Friday
The observance will begin at noon with a reading out loud of the gospel of Mark. Those present will be invited to participate in the reading. This will be followed by a time of meditation around the cross and communion.
April 17 Easter Sunday
There will be 2 services at 9 and 11 with refreshments and fellowship in between the services outside on the church lawn.
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. 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.
See the Weekly Update for more information about:
Mask Policy
Our Whole Lives Human Sexuality Training
Florida Conference Anti-Racism Devotions for Holy Week
USF Program on Preventing Dementia
How to Help Ukraine
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 