This Sunday: This Sunday the service focuses on another classic gospel story: Mary and Martha. Do you tend to be a doer? Or a contemplative? Are you busy, busy, busy? Or do you reflect and listen? Take a look at Luke 10:38-42. There may be more going on than you think!
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
Sunday Facebook Live is now being 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!
Housing Needed
There is a family in the church in need of housing in the St. Petersburg area. At least 2 bedrooms are needed. And the rent must be well below currently inflated rates. Please contact the church with any leads about suitable affordable housing for one parent with two high school age children. Thank you!
UCC Events Ahead – Get Involved!
There are several important events ahead in the wider UCC fellowship and it would be wonderful to have LUCC participation! Much can be learned from engagement with the wider church and people from other UCC congregations. ALSO, people from LUCC have much to contribute to the wider church and to other churches!
Here are some opportunities:
JUST PEACE IN A SOUTHERN CONTEXT
A One Day Event for the Southern Region UCC
Saturday, August 27 | 10 – 4 PM EST
The Florida Conference of the UCC, with support from the Southeast,
South Central, and Southern Conferences and Justice and Local Church
Ministries, invites you to join “Just Peace in a Southern Context.” This
virtual event will offer a historical overview, theological grounding, and
current examples of why being a Just Peace Church matters today.
Guest Speakers will include: Rev. Dr. Susan Thistlethwaite, Rev. Geoffrey
Black, Sandra Sorensen, and others. The UCC Washington Office and
members of the UCC Just Peace Network will share examples of how
together we can bring hope for a more just and peaceful tomorrow.
REGISTER NOW: bit.ly/jpinsoutherncontext
ANNUAL GATHERING OF THE FLORIDA CONFERENCE UCC
Oct. 6-8, 2022 Vero Beach
Now is the time to gather the church and to celebrate and recommit to our shared covenant as The United Church of Christ in Florida. This year’s theme is “This is the Day! #Building Beloved Community”.
LUCC is entitled to send 2 delegates as well as a clergy delegate. Please contact Rev. Wells if you are willing to attend! The church can help with the expenses involved.
Discounted hotel rooms are unfortunately limited due to low availability.
https://uccfla-reg.brtapp.com/2022AnnualGatheringoftheFloridaConference
THE CHURCH IN A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD
September 19-21, 2022 | Online, and in person in St. Louis
Join the entire UCC as we envision what a vibrant, healthy church looks like as it emerges from the pandemic. Online participants will be fully engaged via Pheedloop, a virtual event platform. In-person sessions will be available, too, alternating between the Hilton—St. Louis Airport and Eden Theological Seminary. The program will include:
Keynotes by Jacqui Lewis and Laura Everett
Ted Talk-style “provocations” by Damayanthi Niles, Michael Malcom, Juan Carlos Huertas, Patrick Duggan, Jamesetta Ferguson, Cameron Trimble and David Vásquez-Levy
Play space for ingenuity and creativity – in plenaries and smaller clusters – as we discuss what we learned during COVID that will change what we do after COVID. A capture of ideas about what fits now, where we need to stretch ourselves, and how to build capacity to meet needs as the church evolves.
2022 UCC SOUTHERN REGIONAL WOMEN’S RETREAT
In Person: October 14 – 16, 2022
Camp Weed and Cerveny Conference Center 11057 Camp Weed Place Live Oak, Florida 32060
GOD OF MYSTERY – SPIRIT OF HOPE
Dyanne Edds of LUCC is on the planning team for this retreat! For more information: https://www.uccfla.org/floridauccwomen
Enrich LUCC and enrich the UCC by participating in these wider church events!
Sabbatical Speakers in Training
Rev. Wells will be taking sabbatical time to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain this fall. While she is gone, people from the congregation will be speaking on Sunday mornings sharing from their faith journeys. Those who are participating have been part of a training program to help them formulate their ideas and their remarks. This will be a wonderful season in the life of LUCC!
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: 270 068 364
Gratitude from the Cho Family – Friends of Claire Stiles
Through the ministrations of Claire Stiles and Ruth Pettis to their dear friends, the church patio was used for a family memorial service. The family sent this expression of gratitude to the church, including a poignant poem. The note is also posted on the bulletin board at the church.
Dear friends at Lakewood United,
Thank you for the love and support. There is no guidebook for loss, especially loss of loved ones. Grief is not a linear process. We so appreciated your church housing us for our lovely memorial event. Sending much love and gratitude to all who worship there.
-Jeh-rim Cho’s Family
Peace be with you.
“New Bones”
we will wear
new bones again.
we will leave
these rainy days,
break out through
another month
into sun and honey time.
worlds buzz over us like bees,
we be splendid in new bones.
other people think they know
how long life is.
how strong life is.
we know.
Advisors to Meet Sunday July 17 after Church
The advisors will hold their monthly meeting Sunday, July 17th following morning worship. The meetings are open. Everyone is invited to attend. If there is something you would like the advisors to discuss, please speak with one of them: Lucille Ruga, Malcolm Wells, Christy Martin, Barbara Donohue.
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:
- 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.
July Birthdays: Ann Quinn 7/6. Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.
Circle of Concern:
Emily Bell
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!
Lakewood United Church of Christ 