Weekly Update 6/29

This Sunday: It comes up in the lectionary every three years.  And if you’ve been part of the church for a while, you know that it is one of the pastor’s favorite stories.  And she is excited to preach on it yet again!  That’s the Bible.  It just keeps on giving.  New times.  New challenges.  New contexts.  New inspiration from ancient teachings.  Take a look at the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5.  The Fourth of July holiday helps to reveal the many messages in this story.  See you on Sunday!

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.

The service will be streamed live on Facebook and then posted on the church’s YouTube channel.

Masks are required at in-person worship.

FACEBOOK LIVE UPDATE

Beginning this Sunday Facebook Live will be streamed from a new iPad that the church was able to purchase with funds from a grant from the Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ.  The grant also provided for the purchase of a new microphone.    With these two improvements, the sound on Facebook Live on Sunday mornings and on the videos posted to YouTube should be much better!

DOORS OPEN TO ALL

The Doors Open to All installation by LUCC artist William Owen-Cowan has become a distinguishing feature of the church grounds.  The church has become known in the community as the church with the colorful doors.  

The doors used in the installation were salvaged from tree lawns and alleys.  One door in the installation had begun to fall apart.  William and Don Ritchie removed the broken door.  William would like to replace it.  He needs a door to paint.  A salvaged door with lots of window panes would be perfect.  If you  see a suitable door, please pick it up and bring it to the church or contact the church or William. Many thanks!

VOTER GUIDE RECOMMENDATION

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, click here: https://bit.ly/ipl-guide

Interfaith Power and Light reminds us of the importance of the election process:

Every election year is significant, and 2022 is certainly no exception. The outcome will impact our nation’s response to climate change for years to come. As people of faith and conscience across the country, we believe elections are a referendum on the values that will shape our future. Voting is how we create a society based on our shared values. That’s why Interfaith Power & Light offers this multi-issue Faithful Voter Reflection Guide.

Whether you use it at the kitchen table, in a house of worship, at a community forum, or at an event with political candidates, we hope it helps you and your community navigate the urgent moral questions facing our nation.

The Candidates Forum

Please click here for more information: https://lakewooducc.org/2022/06/29/the-candidates-forum/

LUCC Creation Justice Property Cleanup Last Saturday

Bill Parsons, Ron Huff, Christy Martin, Kim Wells, and Claire Stiles worked from 9:00 – 11:00am mostly on clearing brush and vines from the area where the former cross stood.  You will see a difference tomorrow when you come to church!  This work is just the 1st step to reimagining and recreating the “front lawn” of our church and deciding what, if any one thing, will replace the cross.

We also buried 4 deceased birds/ducks on the property and Ron cleared trash along 54th Ave. South.

Thanks to Patti Cooksey for dropping fresh fruit and snack bars to sustain us along with a cooler of water provided by Kim!

With gratitude and blessings
Claire

Please click here to view images: https://lakewooducc.org/2022/06/29/lucc-creation-justice-property-cleanup-last-saturday/

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!

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 each week at the guided walk are put in the mailbox by the labyrinth 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.

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:

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.

July Birthdays: Ann Quinn 7/6. Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.

Circle of Concern:

Christopher and Dana

William Owen-Cowan

Jen Degroot

Carolyn Moore

Ann Quinn is now under Hospice care

Maggie Brizendine

Janet Hall

Tony Larson

Yoko Nogami walking the Appalachian Trail

All those suffering from COVID-19 and all healthcare workers

Schools: Students, families, teachers, and staff.

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!

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