| THIS SUNDAY: In commemoration of Black History Month, this Sunday will be a very special service that will feature the reflections of Louis Williams, a St. Pete resident and activist for many decades. Louis has been visiting Lakewood on a regular basis in past months and we have come to appreciate his faith and wisdom. Come hear Louis Williams share some of his experiences as a long time African American resident of St. Petersburg. Worship begins at 10:30. Childcare is provided. Reminder: The Advisors will meet after church this Sunday. There will be a discussion of the church budget for 2026. All are welcome to participate! |
| Congregational Meeting Ahead There will be a Congregational Meeting held on Sunday Feb. 22 following worship to take action on the church budget for 2026. All church members and friends are encouraged to attend. |
| Press Conference on Death Penalty at Lakewood On Thursday Feb. 5 at 11:00 a.m. the church is hosting a press conference introducing the For Whom the Bell Tolls campaign. More information is available at ForWhomTheBellTolls.org The goal of the campaign is for faith communities to make people aware of the executions that are taking place in Florida on a regular basis. Last year there were more executions in Florida than in any other year in the state. For more information about the death penalty in Florida, Curt Bergstrand of the Lakewood Outreach Committee has prepared a brief history and fact sheet that is posted on the church website.Click here to learn more. The For Whom the Bell Tolls campaign asks that faith communities: – Add prayers the weekend prior to each execution specific to all those impacted – Toll a bell for two minutes (or display a sign) on the day/time of an execution – Encourage your constituencies to take action via the state group & Death Penalty Action All are invited to attend the press conference Thursday Feb. 5 at 11:00 a.m. at the church. |
| Collection of Antiperspirant Our featured donation bin for February will be for Lakewood High School. They need antiperspirant/deodorant for their student pantry. Different types (spray, stick) of different scents, including unscented, are needed for students of all genders. Donations can be placed in the bin inside the sanctuary. |
| After Church Lunch Come enjoy a buffet luncheon with your church friends on February 15th after services! We will be dining at Buffet City, an Asian buffet in West St. Pete. They serve an all day dinner for $21.99 that includes a variety of sushi, cooked seafood, Chinese-American entrees and sides, as well as some traditional American fare. Please be aware that as a buffet, it may be more difficult for certain dietary restrictions to be met. If you are interested in joining and would like to know more, please speak to Joyce Lee. All are welcome. The church will cover the cost for those who request it. Please speak with Kim Wells. Address: 1030 58th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33710 |
| Lent Ahead! The season of Lent, the 40 days before Easter, not including Sundays, will begin on Ash Wednesday, Wednesday Feb. 18. There will be a beautiful service at the church at 7:00 p.m. The service will include Communion and the Imposition of Ashes for those who would like to participate. Lent is a season of reflection and returning to God as we prepare for the celebration of Easter. It’s an important time to seek spiritual authenticity and forgiveness. It is a time to be open and honest. Like seeds put in the dirt that will germinate and produce fruit, Lent is a time of germination. |
| Bible Study Ahead Come join a group for reflection and discussion on lesser known women of the Bible. The next gathering will be Tuesday Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m. at the church. The topic: Deborah and Jael. See Judges chapters 4 and 5. We see that the women of ancient Israel were not confined to the house doing dishes. |
| Book Talk Ahead The monthly LUCC Book Talk will gather on Zoom on Thursday Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m. Here is the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2551937851?omn=87959227305 This is a wonderful time to share what you have been reading and to hear what others have been reading as well. |
| Malcolm and Samantha are Getting Married! The wedding ceremony is Saturday March 7 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in St. Petersburg (1800 12th St. N.). Samantha and Malcolm would love to share their joy with the Lakewood Church family. All are invited to the ceremony. |
| Preparing for Solar In preparation for the installation of solar panels at the church, two trees are being removed from near the church building. The oak tree near the breezeway bathrooms and the oak tree near the church mailbox will both be removed on Monday February 9. May thanks to Ron Huff for overseeing all of the arrangements. |
| Memorial Garden Restoration For some time, the church has been planning a restoration of the Memorial Garden. The Garden is between the bike rack and 54th Ave. S. It was established as a sacred space for the ashes of people associated with the church to be buried. It was also a place of calm for people to rest, reflect, and pray. In recent months, large trees and shrubs have been removed from the Garden in preparation for new plantings more appropriate in size as well as a new railing around the Garden. Several people have donated financially to this project. After the hurricanes of 2024, there was significant damage to Pass A Grille Beach Community Church United Church of Christ. For several months after the storms, LUCC provided space for the PAG youth groups to meet until they could use their church again. To thank LUCC, the youth group wanted to do a project at the church. So, they agreed to help with the restoration of the Memorial Garden. On Saturday, Jan. 24, the youth and youth leaders from Pass A Grille Beach Church spent over 5 hours working on the Memorial Garden. The area was cleared of weeds and debris. The new plantings were placed and the young people were instructed in the proper technique for establishing a plant in the ground. After the planting of trees and bushes, mulch was placed around each plant. The students were capable and willing workers! Still to come: a new railing, more mulch, and a couple of additional bushes. Take a look the next time you are at church. Questions: Talk with Malcolm Wells who is leading this project. Malcolm has extensive knowledge and experience in gardening and landscaping.     |
| In Memoriam Our condolences go out to the family and loved ones of James Waterman, brother-in-law of Ed Kaspar. James died on Sunday Jan. 18 after a fall on the ice when he was visiting his mother in Virginia. James is a former member of LUCC. |
| Florida Conference Annual Meeting Sat. 2/7 from 9-12 on Zoom The Annual meeting of the Florida Conference will be held this Saturday on Zoom. Lexi Green and Kim Wells will be representing Lakewood. The church is entitled to one more voting delegate and all visitors that are interested. To register, click this link: Register |
We’re Invited! Join Pass-a-Grille Beach Community Church for a Book Launch and Author Event!  |
| “Visions of Nature/Voices of Nature” Environmental Film Festival For many years, the Lakewood Congregation has been involved in viewing and discussing the films included in the annual Environmental Film Festival at Eckerd College (put in street address). Lakewood has always had a close relationship with Eckerd thanks to the professors and staff who have been part of the church family. This year, the college has a fantastic lineup of films to share that address environmental issues and so much more. Kim and Jeff Wells and Claire Stiles are regular attenders and can provide more information. You are encouraged to see as many of the films as you can. Admission is FREE and open to the public. To view the dates and times of the showings, please click here. |
| Another Movie Opportunity at Eckerd Eckerd College presents a public screening of Razed. The film tells the story of the Gas Plant Neighborhood, a thriving Black community displaced in the name of “progress,” through the first-hand memories of those who lived it. Set against a rarely told historical backdrop, Razed asks us to consider the true cost of development as St. Pete looks toward its future. Free and open to the public, this event will feature a screening of the film, immediately followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with the cast and crew. Location: Eckerd College Campus Dan and Mary Miller Auditorium 4200 54th Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33711 There will be a showing on February 11, 2026 at 6 pm – 8:00 pm, doors open at 5:30 pm. And another on February 12, 2026 at 7 pm – 9 pm, doors open at 6:30 pm. |
One City Chorus  |
| Celebrate Black History Month with U.S. Representative Kathy Castor Join us as we honor the contributions and leadership of leaders across the Tampa Bay Area. U.S. Representative Kathy Castor will help recognize local leaders whose impact continues to shape our community. This will be held at the President Barack Obama Main Library, 3745 9th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33713 on February 20th at 10:30 am. |
| Immigration Vigil Continued Be with us as we stand together in prayer, solidarity, and witness against the inhumane and unconstitutional treatment of our immigrant community. All are welcome at this peaceful, prayerful vigil. Sunday, February 8, 2026 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET Pinellas County Justice Center, 14450 49th St N, Clearwater, FL 33762 |
| WEEKLY LABYRINTH UPDATE |
| Guided labyrinth walks are held weekly on Wednesday’s at 10 am. All are welcome! The focus is on the scripture reading from the previous Sunday. For those who do not feel comfortable walking, a finger labyrinth is available. Please bring your own chair if you can. The labyrinth is on the southwest corner of the church property, beyond the bike rack. You are welcome to walk it any time. |
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| Care Closet Good Samaritan Food Pantry The food pantry has requested pet food and breakfast cereal. Donations may be placed in The Caring Closet here at the church. Plastic Bags for Missio Dei Missio Dei is in need of plastic grocery bags for the homeless and needy. Please place bags in The Caring Closet at church. 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. Here is a list of donations needed: towlettes travel size, socks and underwear. Please leave your donation in The Caring Closet at church. |
| USEFUL LAKEWOOD LINKS PostsLakewood UCC YouTube ChannelLakewood UCC Bluesky accountYou can listen to Hilton’s music and videos for free at https://hiltonkeanjones.com/. |
| View |
 February Birthdays!3 – Karen Denehy 5 – Curt Bergstrand 6 – Jim Andrew 7 – Dan Craft 12 – Howard Feldman 15 – Jeff Wells 20 – Nancy Spencer 28 – Joyce Lee |
 Circle of ConcernCathy Giesey Ann Cloutier, Michelle’s mother JoAnne ReidChristy MartinSusan Gilbert Dyanne Edds & family. Dyanne’s brother died. Paula and Tony Pelletier Barbara Walburn Yvonne RiesenBurt Lee & family. Burt’s sister died. Denise Williams Vita Uth Cate Colgan & Marty Seyler’s dog, Trinity Family & loved ones of James WatermanThe Denehy Family All school students, families & staff Caregivers The 280 women and men on Florida’s Death Row |
| 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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Lakewood United Church of Christ 