A Just Peace Church
An Open and Affirming Church
A Creation Justice Church
February 12, 2023
10:30 am
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
LIGHTING THE PEACE CANDLE
Kay Rencken, Liturgist
For people with darker skins, or of a different religion, or a minority sexual orientation, there is always the threat of violence that is bred by hate.
We must stand up to that and say, “no more!” We Americans must develop better hearts and minds in our common civil life. If not, the axe of hate will be laid to the tree of liberty.
A Meditation on Martin Luther King Day 2020, Old Verger
PRELUDE
As Time Goes By Hupfeld
*OPENING READING based on Psalm 119
We are blessed when we stay on course, walking steadily in the way of Love;
When we do not go off on our own, but walk along the road Divine Love has set before us.
May our steps be steady;
Keeping to the course.
May we ponder every morsel of wisdom Love offers,
and not forget a word of it.
May we delight far more in Love than in gathering a pile of riches.
* HYMN Guide My Feet 497
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.
Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and Matthew 6:24-34
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!
MYSTIC READING Mechtild of Magdeburg, 1207-1282
*HYMN
God’s Eye Is on the Sparrow 475
SERMON Say Yes! Rev. Kim P. Wells
UNISON READING
Cathy Hutcheon
Your love comes to me
in the silence,
ordinary.
Like a child’s treasure
I turn it over
in the nook of my hand,
warming its smooth
heaviness.
A thought of You,
stony,
clearly defined,
drops as though
down a deep
well,
is lost
momentarily,
then turns up
a certainty in the heart.
ANTHEM
All Bless the One HKJ
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 Sunflower Slow Drag Joplin
*Dedicating Our Gifts Fannie Lou Hamer, 1917-1977
Christianity is being concerned about your fellow man, not building a million-dollar church while people are starving right around the corner. Christ was a revolutionary person, out there where it was happening. That’s what God is all about, and that’s where I get my strength.
* PREPARATION FOR PRAYER
Seek Ye First Lafferty
Seek ye first the kin-dom of God
and God’s righteousness,
and all these things shall be added unto you,
allelu, alleluia.
One shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word
that proceeds from the mouth of God,
allelu, alleluia.
Ask, and it shall be given unto you.
Seek, and you shall find.
Knock, and the door shall be opened unto you,
allelu, alleluia.
MORNING PRAYERS – SAVIOR’S PRAYER
Fathering and Mothering God, lover of us all, most holy one.
Help us to respond to you
To create what you want for us here on earth.
Give us today enough for our needs.
Forgive our weak and deliberate offenses,
Just as we must forgive others when they hurt us.
Help us to resist evil and to do what is good.
For we are yours, endowed with your power to make the world whole. Amen.
* HYMN
What a Covenant 471
* BENEDICTION
Celtic, adapted
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE (please form a circle)
Lead Us From Death to Life 581
Lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth,
from despair to hope, from fear to trust.
Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace;
let peace fill our hearts, let peace fill our world,
let peace fill our universe.
*POSTLUDE
Easy Winners Joplin
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
Lakewood United Church of Christ 