Bulletin March 12, 2023

A Creation Justice Church
March 12, 2023
10:30 a.m.
Lent

WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS

LIGHTING THE PEACE CANDLE — Colleen Coughenour, Liturgist

. . . we must not be deceived by the giants, and by their thunderous denunciations of one another, their preparations for mutual destruction.  The fact that they are powerful does not mean that they are sane, and the fact that they speak with intense conviction does not mean that they speak the truth. — Thomas Merton  1915-1968

PRELUDE
Precious Lord, Take My Hand                          Dorsey/Schrader

*OPENING SENTENCES                                       from Isaiah 55:1 & Rev. 21:6b 

Ho, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and you that have no money,
come, buy, and eat!
To the thirsty I will give water
as a gift from the spring of the water of life.  

*HYMN
Christ Is the Mountain of Horeb                                     45

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.

Exodus 17:1-7 and John 4:5-42

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!

MODERN READING – The Fountain                                                              Denise Levertov

* SONG
God, fill our lives                                                John L. Bell                  

SERMON
Dried Up?                                              Rev. Kim P. Wells

UNISON READING                                                                                      Rainer Maria Rilke

May what I do flow from me like a river,
no forcing and no holding back,
the way it is with children.
Then in these swelling and ebbing currents,
these deepening tides moving out, returning,
I will sing you as no one ever has, streaming through
widening channels
into the open sea. 

ANTHEM
Seek First God’s Kingdom                                     Pavlechko

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                                                Meditation from Thaïs                                Massenet

* Time of Dedication                                                                   Janet Morley, contemporary

Come to the waters,
all you who are thirsty:
children who need water
free from diseases,
women who need respite
from labour and searching,
plants that need moisture
rooted near the bedrock,
find here a living spring.
O God, may we thirst
for your waters of justice,
and learn to deny no one
the water of life.

* PREPARATION FOR PRAYER
The Lord will listen                     John L. Bell

MORNING PRAYER – 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
Come, O Fount of Every Blessing                                        459

* BENEDICTION                                                                                                       Mahatma Gandhi

For true love is inexhaustible:
The more you give,
the more you have.
And if you go to draw at the true fountainhead,
the more water you draw,
the more abundant is its flow.                                                                            

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE   (please form a circle)                     Rosemary Crow
Weave, weave, weave us together; Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together in unity and love. Weave us together, together in love.                                                                                 
*POSTLUDE
Prelude III                                           Gershwin

ANNOUNCEMENTS

UCC General Minister and President a former member of LUCC
The search committee for the next General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ announced the candidate to be elected at the General Synod this summer.  It is the Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson.  Many years ago, Karen lived in St. Pete and was a member of LUCC.  Congratulations to Karen and to the UCC!
Book Talk
The monthly Book Talk will be held on Thursday March 16 from 6:30-7:30 p.m.  This is a Zoom gathering.  All are welcome to participate.  Share what you have been reading lately if you would like to.  Hear about what others have been reading.  
Meeting ID:  270 068 3648
Advisors Meeting
The Advisors will be meeting after church this morning.  All are welcome!
Stewardship
A stewardship packet has been prepared.  Please return your pledge form to the church by next Sunday.  Many thanks!
Operation Attack
Operation Attack is a food pantry for families with children.  At the moment, canned fruit is needed.  Bring your donations to LUCC and place them on the shelves in the hallway.

Circle of Concern
Samantha Wassmer and Family  –  Tony and Jim Larson  –  Erik Johnson  – Ann Quinn is under Hospice care  –  Maggie Brizendine  –  Janet Hall  –  Emily Bell
Schools: Students, families, teachers, and staff

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
A Just Peace Church
An Open and Affirming Church