Author: lakewooducc

Each of the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John tell us of the ministry of John the Baptizer, getting people ready for the coming of the the Messiah.  Evidently, some prep is needed.  People need to be brought along to the changing of the world.  They need to be massaged a bit, made ready, for the pure love of God breaking into human reality.  

It’s a drastic message, so it must come from a drastic source.  John is known for wearing camel’s hair clothing and eating locusts, yes, the bugs, and honey.  That was way out, even for the first century.  But it got people’s attention.  And we are told that people flocked to the wilderness, to the Jordan River, to be baptized by John, to be prepared for what God was about to do.  

Now, how do we prepare for Jesus’ coming today?  We buy presents.  We buy more presents.  We perpetuate the story of Santa and the flying reindeer, who bring toys to girls and boys.  And we like heart warming stories where kids who might not have gotten any presents find gifts under the tree on Christmas morning.  We like to support efforts to bring a little Christmas to those who are left out the rest of the year.  This is all well and good, but then we wrap Christmas up, put it away, for another year. 

But John the Baptizer reminds us that there is more to the message of Jesus.  More than charity though that is certainly needed in our world today.  But John also speaks of justice.  A new world order.  Where there is no need because people are not taken advantage of, abused, oppressed, demeaned and degraded.  When the command for justice is fulfilled, there is very little need for charity.   

Prayer:  May we prepare ourselves for the new reality ushered in by the gospel of Jesus.  May we not be afraid of the power of the gospel.  Amen.

This devotion was prepared by Rev. Kim P. Wells, pastor of Lakewood United Church of Christ in St. Petersburg, FL.

We recently engaged in the annual ritual of watching the movie, “The Grinch.”   Not the original cartoon, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” but the full length movie made in 2018.  Each year, something different strikes me in the movie. This year, I noticed how everybody changes in the movie not just the Grinch.  Cindy Lou Who changes.  Her family changes.  The townspeople change.  They all come to see Christmas in a new way. There may be one exception.  The mayor of Whoville.  Does he change?  It’s a hard sell for him.  Probably because he is the most powerful figure in the town.  He has the most say so.  He controls and dominates everything.  So why would he want to change?  Why would he want the town to change?  Even the police chief softens toward the Grinch, but the mayor, he’s holding on to his grudge against the Grinch with both fists.   So, I’m imagining a ‘changometer.’  At one side of the dial, ‘extremely averse to change.’  And at the other end of the dial, ‘very open to change.’  And I am wondering where we might find ourselves on that spectrum.  Do we really want everything around us to change – like Mary says, the mighty cast down from their thrones, those of low degree exalted?  The rich sent empty away.  The poor full.  Are we at that ‘very open to change’ end of the spectrum?  Or are we a bit more reticent to see everything turned topsy turvy around us?   Some people around us say they want a LOT of change but it is not the kind of change Mary envisions.  In fact, it is the opposite.  It is ensconcing the rich in their power and position and denying the poor.   This advent season is a time to examine where we are with change and what kind of change we may want to see.  Is it consistent with Mary’s vision?   Prayer:  May we be open to change this season and every season.  Change that reflects the dream of God, the gospel values of Mary, the teachings of Jesus.  Amen. This devotion was prepared by Rev. Kim P. Wells, pastor of Lakewood United Church of Christ in St. Petersburg, FL.

Celebrate the Birth of the Savior!

6:30 Music of the Season featuring the Lakewood Church choir

7:00 Service of Candlelight and Communion

The special offering received on Christmas Eve will be for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.  This is a partner ministry of the United Church of Christ.  For more information, see https://www.pcrf.net/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2025dec9

 

In the story of the nativity from Matthew, it is Joseph who is visited by an angel in his dreams.  Maybe it was Gabriel?  We aren’t told.  But we are told of a dream and an angel.  And in the dream, Jospeh is told to go through with his marriage to Mary despite the unusual circumstances.  The child will be special.  

So, Joseph is given a choice.  Does he listen to this angel visitation in his dreams?  Or was it indigestion?   We are told, “When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the God commanded him. . .”  Joseph and Mary were married and Jesus was born.

This story reminds us that men, too, have a say so in child bearing and reproductive rights.  Men have a role to play and they are to take responsibility for the life of a child.  This is not for mothers alone.  

There are many paintings and renderings of Mary and Jesus.  But very few classic images that feature Joseph and Jesus alone.  And yet, the gospel of Matthew tells us of Joseph, listening to the angel and choosing to be the human father of Jesus.

Later in the gospel of Matthew, Joseph is told in another dream to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt to keep them safe while King Herod pursues the slaughter of the innocents.  Again, Joseph listens to the angel in his dreams and take the family to Egypt.  

In yet another dream, Jospeh is told when Herod has died, and the holy family returns to Palestine and makes their home in Nazareth.  

As a father, Joseph is tuned in, listening, and receptive to the directives of God so that he can be a fully functioning, responsible parent and not just abdicate all family matters to Mary.  

Prayer:  It takes so much to raise a child in these challenging times.  May we create a world that nurtures children and encourages parents and caring adults to help children thrive.  Amen.

This devotion was prepared by Rev. Kim P. Wells, pastor of Lakewood United Church of Christ in St. Petersburg, FL.