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 is Pentecost. It is a celebration of the Holy Spirit being given to the followers of Jesus after his crucifixion and resurrection. The story in Acts tells us that about 3,000 people were baptized that day. It’s a powerful story! Take a look at Acts chapter 2.
This is the Sunday to wear red. Red is the liturgical color for the Holy Spirit.
LUCC will welcome new members this Sunday. If you are considering church membership, please contact Rev. Wells wells.kim.p@gmail.com.
This Sunday is also a communion Sunday. 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 a heavy need for these funds. Please consider how you can help the community through this offering.
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.
Update on Anti Racism Book Project
To date, $3,475 has been received including the $500 grant from the Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ. With these funds, the church is purchasing anti racism books for Maximo Elementary School, Fairmount Park Elementary School, and the South Branch Public Library. Many thanks to all for your wonderful generosity aimed toward creating an anti racist future in our community and beyond!
Book Talk Ahead
Join in this month’s Book Talk on Thursday June 16 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss what you have been reading and to hear what others have been reading. It’s an informal gathering on Zoom. A very enriching conversation. All are welcome! No book banning here! Everything is open for discussion!
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2700683648
Meeting ID: 270 068 3648
Bon Voyage
Traveling mercies to LUCC church administrator, Gabi Paxton, as she travels to Italy on an educational tour. She will be gone from June 4-20.
Later in the summer, Gabi will be moving to Gainesville. So the church is in search of a new office administrator. If you know someone who may be interested in working in the Church Office 10-12 hours a week, please contact Kim Wells wells.kim.p@gmail.com.
Will You Help With Facebook Live?
Yes, LUCC has intentionally been “high touch, low tech.” But given the reality of the pandemic, the ministry of the church has expanded to offering the Sunday worship service live on FaceBook. This has been very meaningful to those who are not able or do not feel comfortable coming to church in person.
This ministry has been provided by Patti Cooksey, Barbara Donohue, Bert Lee, and Michelle Cloutier. Bert and Michelle are away for the next few months. With two new recruits, each one could serve one Sunday a month.
Barbara and Patti want you to know that it is very easy! There are clear instructions. A tutorial will be provided. Please contact the Church Office to express your willingness to help with this important outreach ministry. THANK YOU!
LUCC Creation Justice Property Cleanup
On Saturday, June 25 from 9:00 – 11:00am join us for a few hours to “declutter” and cleanup our beautiful Lakewood United Church of Christ grounds and to commune with nature and your fellow church members and friends!
Wear work clothes, gloves, and a hat and apply sunscreen! Fluids and snacks will be provided to sustain us!
So hoping you can gather with us to enjoy our lovely church property and each other!
LUCC Creation Justice 2021 Annual Review and update to May 2022
A Creation Justice Church in the Environmental Ministries Program of the United Church of Christ as of February 12, 2019, LUCC has pledged to review our progress annually. Due to the unprecedented cancellation of many LUCC church programs and initiatives due to Covid-19 restrictions, 2021 was a year of limited Creation Justice activities and engagement at our church. However, some progress on previous initiatives and an ongoing effort to keep our Creation Justice commitment alive were made. Please use the following link to view the whole report: https://lakewooducc.org/2022/05/26/lucc-creation-justice-2021-annual-review/
Guided Labyrinth Walks Time Change
For June and July, the weekly guided labyrinth walk will be on Fridays at 9:00 a.m. instead of Wednesdays. All are welcome!
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.
UCC Southern Regional Women’s Retreat
The United Church of Christ is sponsoring a retreat for women from the conferences of the Southern Region. Florida is the host conference and the retreat will be held at Camp Weed and Cerveny Conference Center in Live Oak, FL. The theme is God of Mystery – Spirit of Hope. Dyanne Edds of LUCC is on the planning committee. And the Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, a former LUCC member, is the keynote speaker. The retreat is Oct. 14-16, 2022. For more information, speak to Dyanne.
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.
To all the members of LUCC from Operation Attack
We send a most sincere thank you both from the volunteers at Operation Attack, but also the many needy people who will benefit from the books, clothes, and food you kindly donated.
Please know how much we all appreciate your donations.
Thank you again for thinking of Operation Attack.
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.
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.
June Birthdays: Genie Terrell 6/10, Tony Rogers 6/21, Michelle Cloutier 6/21. Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.
Circle of Concern:
Joyce and Bert Lee as they head back to Pennsylvania
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:
- Sermon 5/29/2022June 3, 2022
- Take Action Against Mass ShootingsMay 31, 2022
- Bulletin 5/29/2022May 27, 2022
- Weekly Update 5/27May 27, 2022
- LUCC Creation Justice 2021 Annual ReviewMay 26, 2022
- Sermon 5/22/2022May 26, 2022
- Bulletin 5/22/2022May 20, 2022
- Sermon 5/15/2022May 20, 2022
On land originally inhabited
Lakewood United Church of Christ 