WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
LIGHTING THE PEACE CANDLE Barbara Donohue, liturgist
Let your soul lend its ear to every cry of pain
as a lotus bares its heart to drink the morning sun.
Let not the fierce sun dry one tear of pain before
you yourself have wiped it from the sufferer’s eye.
But let each burning human tear fall on your heart
and there remain, nor ever brush it off
until the pain that caused it is removed.
Traditional Vedic Meditation
PRELUDE If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee J.S. Bach
*OPENING READING Vilayat Inayat Khan, 1916-2004
Dive deeply into the miracle of life and let the tips of your wings
be burnt by the flame,
let your feet be lacerated by the thorns,
let your heart be stirred by human emotion,
and let your soul be lifted beyond the earth.
*HYMN Praise to the Living God 8
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.
2 Kings 2:1-14 and Luke 9:51-62
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.
*HYMN You Have Come Down to the Lakeshore (English or Spanish) 173
SERMON Rev. Kim P. Wells
RESPONSIVE READING Kathy Galloway, contemporary
Our brother Jesus, you set our feet upon the way and sometimes
where you lead we do not like or understand.
Bless us with courage where the way is fraught with dread or
danger;
bless us with graceful meetings where the way is lonely;
bless us with good companions where the way demands a
common cause;
bless us with night vision where we travel in the dark, keen
hearing where we have not sight, to hear the reassuring
sounds of fellow travellers;
bless us with humour — we cannot travel lightly weighed
down with gravity;
bless us with humility to learn from those around us;
bless us with decisiveness where we must move with speed;
bless us with lazy moments, to stretch and rest and savour;
bless us with love, given and received;
and bless us with your presence, even when we know it in your
absence;
Lead us into exile,
until we find that on the road
is where you are,
and where you are is going home.
Bless us, lead us, love us, bring us home
bearing the Gospel of life.
* HYMN The Summons see insert
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 Prelude No. 19 Shostakovich
*Time of Dedication Henri J. M. Nouwen, 1932-1996
It is in community that we are tested and purified. It is in community that we learn what forgiveness and healing are all about. It is in community that we learn who our neighbor is. Community is the true school of love. Amen.
*PREPARATION FOR PRAYER How Deep the Silence of the Soul 509
MORNING PRAYERS- SAVIOR’S PRAYER
Eternal Spirit, Earth Maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that ever shall be,
Father and Mother of all people,
Loving God in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by all peoples
of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth!
With the bread that we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
now and forever. Amen.
* HYMN Called as Partners in Christ’s Service 495
* BENEDICTION Pueblo verse
Hold on to what is good
even if it is a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe
even if it is a tree which stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do
even if it is a long way from here.
Hold on to life
even when it is easier letting go.
Hold on to my hand
even when I have gone away from you.
*SUNG RESPONSE (please form a circle) Rosemary Crow
Weave, weave, weave us together;Weave us together in unity and love.
Weave, weave, weave us together, Weave us together, together in love.
*POSTLUDE Humoresque Dvořák
For the safety and comfort of all, please wear a mask. Thank you!
Circle Of Concern: Christopher and Dana, Ann Quinn who is under Hospice Care, William Owen-Cowan, Jen Degroot, Carolyn Moore, Maggie Brizendine, Janet Hall, Tony Larson, Mary Stokes Mims, Yoko Nogami walking the Appalachian Trail. 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.
Voter Guide Recommended: Claire Stiles of LUCC has this to say about the recent Voter Guide published by Interfaith Power and Light: I just downloaded this Voter Guide for congregations for the 2022 elections. The information is a general perspective on issues that candidates may or may not be supporting, some of the environmental. To take a look at this free Voter Guide, see here: https://bit.ly/ipl-guide
LUCC Creation Justice Property Cleanup: Many thanks to those who helped with the property clean up yesterday. Your efforts are appreciated!
Operation Attack: OA needs donations or cereal/oatmeal, mac and cheese, pasta sauce, noodles, peanut butter, canned meat, fruit, soup and vegetables. Donations may be placed on the shelf in the hallway at church.
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 