Weekly Update: If you are involved with an activity or event that you would like to share with the LUCC family, please send the information to the Church Office by Wednesday. Please provide the information in paragraph form with pertinent details and links. THANK YOU!
This Sunday, May 15th, LUCC is celebrating Earth Sunday. In addition to celebrating our relationship with our Mother Earth, the Creation Justice ministry of the church will be highlighted. LUCC has a strong commitment to environmental justice and to caring for Creation. Be part of the celebration on Sunday!
Childcare is provided at all Sunday services.
If you would like to provide sunflowers for Sunday worship, please contact the Church Office. 727-867-7961 or lakewooducc@gmail.com
The service will be streamed live on Facebook and then posted on the church’s YouTube channel.
Masks are required at in-person worship.
PLEASE NOTE: Given the warming temperatures, the windows and doors of the sanctuary will be closed and the air conditioning will be on. Masks are still mandatory and there will be singing.
If you do not feel comfortable in those circumstances, please join in worship on Facebook live. There are instructions below.
Anti Racism Books Provided to Area Youth
LUCC received a matching grant of $500 from the Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ to pay for anti racism books to be provided for each classroom at Maximo Elementary School, the school nearest the church. The grant was matched by a family in the church. An additional donation was received from a church member that is funding a similar set of books for Fairmount Park Elementary School, another nearby St. Pete elementary school. The schools selected the books and ordered the age appropriate books for each class. And the church has paid for the books.
The church has also reached out to the South Branch Library and they, too, are interested in expanding their collection of anti racism books for children. They plan to purchase books based on the list selected by the elementary schools. To fund the books for the library, the additional generosity of the congregation is needed. All are invited to donate for this project on Sunday May 22. There will be a special offering with envelopes provided. Only $1,000 is needed. With these funds, the set of anti racism books will be provided to the South Branch Library. Think about how you are being led to contribute to this important initiative to help to create an anti racist community. Your generosity will be a blessing! It is so beautiful that a project for one school has expanded to a second school and to a library thanks to the wonderful generosity of the congregation!
Amendment Protecting the Right to Clean and Healthy Waters
There is an initiative to have an amendment on the Florida ballot which would protect the right to safe water in Florida. It is called “The Right to Clean and Healthy Waters.” For this initiative to appear on the ballot, petitions are needed. There are copies at the church. You may sign the petition and leave it at church to be sent in. Better yet, sign it, leave it, and take a stack with you. Get others to sign. Then bring them back to church to be sent in. For the full text of the proposed amendment, see https://initiativepetitions.elections.myflorida.com/InitiativeForms/Fulltext/Fulltext_2202_EN.pdf. As a Creation Justice church, LUCC is committed to advocacy for the environment.
Climate Change – Can We Talk about It?
The Sierra Club is sponsoring a workshop on how to talk about climate change. It will be on Monday May 23 at 7:00 p.m. This is the most important issue that humanity is facing and yet so many times, we don’t know what to say. This training will help with story telling about climate change. Here’s a link to more information and sign up: https://lakewooducc.org/2022/05/12/how-to-talk-about-climate-change/
Sabbatical Speakers
Rev. Kim Wells and spouse, Jeff, will be gone for several months this year walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain. This is an opportunity for much needed renewal and reflection. While Kim is away, the advisors would like to have people from the congregation speak in worship each week. As the Wells’ journey through Spain, this is an opportunity for people in the congregation to share a portion of their faith journey. Those who may be interested in sharing in this way are asked to speak with Kim. There will be training offered to help in preparation for those who are willing to speak. Please give serious consideration to sharing with your church family in this way.
Sundays Ahead
May 22 will be an examination of the concept, “The Lord Is My _________.” Fill in the blank! The psalmist says shepherd. What would you say?
May 29 there will be “Food for Thought.” Take a look at Acts 11:1-18.
June 5 is Pentecost, the Festival of the Holy Spirit. Don’t forget to wear red!
Congratulations, Graduate!
LUCC student, Zachary Blair-Andrews is graduating summa cum laude from the Judy Genshaft Honors College at USF this Saturday, May 7, with a degree in political science and public administration. Congratulations to Zach! There’s an exciting future ahead!
Florida Gubernatorial Forum on Environment
Listen to a forum featuring the three Democratic candidates for governor of Florida discuss the environmental issues facing the state and the country. It’s Sunday May 15 at 6:30 p.m. Here’s a link to more information: https://lakewooducc.org/2022/05/12/florida-gubernatorial-forum-on-environmental-issues/
As a Creation Justice church, LUCC supports voting for candidates who are willing to tackle climate change with bold initiatives and policies.
LUCC Constitution and Bylaws
There is a task force working on a revision of the church’s bylaws. There are a variety of changes that need to be made to reflect current realities in the church and to lean into a strong future. There will be wider conversation and experimentation as part of the process. Many thanks to Patti Cooksey and Sally Purvis for working on this.
How to Help Ukraine
The local Ukrainian Catholic Church is sponsoring humanitarian aid. There are more details at their website: https://www.epiphanyukrch.com
The national United Church of Christ is also offering ways to support the Ukrainian people. Here’s a link: https://p2a.co/nGEvYVL?inf_contact_key=ad8269e3f149ec1ef1efd03de1e233aacc0558ed5d4c28cbfab114022b1ec50d
Toiletries for Celebrate Outreach
Celebrate Outreach is a local ministry with people who are living without shelter in St. Petersburg. An average of 135 people are served each week. LUCC was asked to collect toiletries to be distributed to the community at the meals that are provided on Saturday and Sundays each week. This collection will be ongoing in addition to the food being collected for Operation Attack. All are invited to donate the following items:
Celebration Outreach has an ongoing need for men’s and women’s underwear.
Men sizes 30, 32,34
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.
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 are always needed as well.
Many thanks to Janet Blair and Jim Andrews for taking the donations to Celebrate Outreach.
Inkjet Recycling
The church is continuing to collect used inkjet cartridges. They are sent to a recycler and the church receives payment for the cartridges provided. So, don’t throw out your cartridges. Bring them to church. Not only do they get recycled but they provide income for the ministry of the church.
Guided Labyrinth Walks
The guided walk is held weekly on Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. This provides an opportunity to be aware and deepen your spiritual journey. If it is raining, the walk is held on Thursday at 9:00 a.m.
Also, the readings and prayers used on Wednesdays at the guided walk are put in the mailbox by the labyrinth each week for use during the week.
The labyrinth is on the church grounds near the southwest corner of the church property. It is available for use at all times.
Operation Attack Update
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.
Being Covid Safe and In-Person Worship
Please stay home if you are not feeling well.
Please wear a mask while in the church building. While most people have been vaccinated, this helps visitors to feel safe.
Additional masks will be available at church to use as needed.
Two hand sanitizing stations are available for use by worshippers.
There is well-ventilated, physically distanced indoor seating in the sanctuary.
Please know that your safety is of primary consideration!
Safe childcare is provided.
Sundays
Look for the bulletin posted on the church website on Friday: https://lakewooducc.org/category/bulletins/
Watch the service on Facebook Live Sundays at 10:30. https://www.facebook.com/LakewoodUCC
Or on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LakewoodUCC/videos
Instructions for how to access Facebook Live: For additional assistance, please contact the church office.
Here are some instructions to watch our Sunday services live through Facebook:
Use the following link to visit our homepage: https://www.facebook.com/LakewoodUCC/
On Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. please use the link above to visit our homepage. There, after using the link, you will see a section labeled “Happening Now”. This is our Livestream of the Sunday Service.
To watch the live stream, locate and click the “watch video” button in the lower right corner of the screen.
If the link above is not working, there is also a link to our Facebook page on our website. Please try that link located on the Home page of our website.
USEFUL LAKEWOOD LINKS:
- Sermon and Reflection Texts
- Lakewood UCC YouTube Channel
- Lakewood UCC on Twitter
- Lakewood on Facebook
- Lakewood on Instagram
For the above church website links, please note the “Older Posts” button near the bottom of each page.
You can stream Hilton’s music and videos for free at hiltonkeanjones.com/look-listen/ as well as purchase his CDs and digital albums there.
May Birthdays: Mark Gibson 5/2, Nina Moore 5/2, Angela Wells-Bean 5/7, Emily Gibson 5/8, Julian Michael Ricciardi 5/9, Colleen Coughenour 5/11, Jen DeGroot 5/12, Christy Martin 5/15, Bill Parsons 5/16, Deanna Moore 5/19, Danielle Hintz 5/25 Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information..
Circle of Concern:
Joyce Lee
Christopher and Dana
William Owen-Cowan
Jen Degroot
Carolyn Moore
Ann Quinn is now under Hospice care
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
Recent Posts:
- How to Talk About Climate ChangeMay 12, 2022
- Florida Gubernatorial Forum on Environmental IssuesMay 12, 2022
- Sermon 5/8/2022May 12, 2022
- Bulletin 5/8/2022May 5, 2022
- Weekly Update 5/4May 5, 2022
On land originally inhabited by the Tocabaga
Lakewood United Church of Christ 