WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMNNTS
LIGHTING THE PEACE CANDLE Sally Purvis, liturgist
Lord, make me a channel of disturbance.
Where there is apathy, let me provoke;
Where there is compliance, let me bring questioning;
Where there is silence, may I be a voice.
Where there is too much comfort and too little action,
grant disruption;
Where there are doors closed and hearts locked,
Grant the willingness to listen.
When laws dictate and pain is overlooked. . .
When tradition speaks louder than need. . .
Grant that I may seek rather to do justice than to
talk about it;
Disturb us, O Lord.
To be with, as well as for, the alienated;
To love the unlovable as well as the lovely;
Lord, make me a channel of disturbance.
Author unknown
PRELUDE
*OPENING READING— The Green Wood Chant Jan Richardson
Tell out, my soul,
what my eyes have seen
while the tree is strong
and the wood is green.
When the tree grows old
and the wood is dry,
we will bow our heads
and we’ll raise our cry.
Yet we’ll hold the fire,
and we’ll hold the ash,
and we’ll hold your life
till your sorrows pass;
and we’ll place the dust
in the fertile ground,
and we’ll wait to see
what comes around.
*HYMN Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You 4
SCRIPTURE LESSON
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.
John 20:1-18
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
MODERN READING Martin Niemoller, 1892-1984
SERMON CBS Rev. Victoria Van Vlerah Long
RESPONSIVE READING Kathy Galloway
Christ our life, you are alive
in the beauty of the earth
in the rhythm of the seasons
in the mystery of time and space
Alleluia
Christ our life, you are alive
in the tenderness of touch
in the heartbeat of intimacy
in the insights of solitude
Alleluia
Christ our life, you are alive
in the creative possibility
of the dullest conversation
of the dreariest task
the most threatening event
Alleluia
Christ our life, you are alive
to offer re-creation
to every unhealed hurt
to every deadened place
to every damaged heart
Alleluia
You set before us a great choice.
Therefore we choose life.
The dance of resurrection soars and surges through the whole creation.
This is grace, dying we live.
So let us live.
MUSIC
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. 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
*Time of Dedication Kathleen Hughes, adapted
May God sparkle in all of us
as sunlight upon water,
May we radiate for each other
compassion and hope,
My our work be fruitful,
our joys profound,
and our pain redemptive.
In the name of the risen Christ. Amen.
*PREPARATION FOR PRAYER Standing in the Need of Prayer 519
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 Iona Community, adapted
Lord Jesus,
glorious and resurrected,
give us your hopefulness,
give us your resilience,
give us your peace. Amen.
* SUNG RESPONSE (please form a circle)
Weave, weave, weave us together;
Weave us together in unity and love.
Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together, together in love.
*POSTLUDE
For the safety and comfort of all, please wear a mask. Thank you!
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 4/21/2022.
Gratitude! Many thanks to Rev. Victoria Long for preaching this Sunday while Rev. Wells is in Cincinatti attending the memorial service for Jeff’s mother, Betty Wells.
Operation Attack 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.
Toiletries for Celebrate Outreach Celebrate Outreach is a local ministry with people who are living without shelter in St. Petersburg. Celebration Outreach has an ongoing need for men’s and women’s underwear. (Men sizes 30, 32,34 and Women’s sizes 5,6, 7,8.) Also in high demand are socks of all kinds /sizes for both men & women. Other needed items are Deodorant & disposable razors.
One City Chorus Concert The One City Chorus (70 progressive voices of sundry faiths) presents a free concert at the Lakewood United Methodist Church (5995 MLK Drive South) Sunday, May 1st, at 4:00 PM. A freewill offering will be collected to help the People of Ukraine.
CHURCH STAFF
Pastor- Kim Wells
Music Director- Hilton Jones
Nursery Attendant-Claudia Rodriguez
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 