The recent Annual Gathering of the Florida Conference is summarized on page 1 of the newsletter along with snippets as to how some congregations addressed the November elections.
We are also continuing to look at how our Florida congregations have been responding to the COVID-19 crisis — not only on Sunday mornings but on every other day of the week in the face of the pandemic’s challenging circumstances. We hope you will take the time to read about the creative and interesting ways in which our churches have gone “virtual,” some of which you may wish to consider for your own ministries. You may want to note the increasing number of our congregations that have reopened to in-person worship or are planning to do so soon.
You will also find articles about the new Anti-Racism Ministry in the Conference and activities around Halloween, Thanksgiving, All Saints Day and Advent. We’ve included information about books written by current and recent Florida UCC clergy — some good Christmas gift ideas. Then there are articles about the rabbi and the minister, the pastor who got into some “good trouble,” the minister who reflects on how we in the UCC “describe ourselves” and the federal lawsuit involving one of our congregations.
Thanks to all those churches that provide information about their ministries. If we’ve not been hearing from you, please make sure we’re on the mailing list for your newsletter and e-blasts (celebrateflorida@uccfla.org) — simple and much appreciated.
We especially appreciate your providing the Celebrate Florida link information to church members via your newsletters, e-communications and on your website. During the coronavirus crisis, it is especially covenantal to share all the good news about the United Church of Christ in Florida among your church members.
These weeks when we cannot gather in person for Sunday worship, Lakewood United Church of Christ is providing brief weekly sabbath programs for you to listen to on your own or with others in your social isolation group. They will be posted on Friday so that you can schedule your sabbath time to suit your schedule and your spiritual inclinations. We hope these programs are of spiritual support to you in these difficult times.
The post this week focuses on the theme for the third Sunday of Advent – joy.
This post includes a scripture reading from Claire Stiles, a reflection from Rev. Kim Wells and a music video by Hilton Jones. We hope this post helps to feed your spirit in these difficult times as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
You are invited to find a quiet space, inside or outside. Light a candle. Take a look around you. Breathe. Life-giving breath. Be present.
You may begin with this reading:
Bright star-maker God,
travel with us
through Advent
shine into our
dark corners
lead us into
ways of justice
warm us
with joy and wonder
bring us
to new birth.
--Ruth Burgess
As you listen to the music that follows, you are invited to notice the thoughts and feelings that arise for you.
In closing, you are invited to offer the following closing reading:
All the broken hearts
shall rejoice:
all those who are heavy laden,
whose eyes are tired
and do not see,
shall be lifted up
to meet with
the motherly healer.
The battered souls and bodies
shall be healed;
the hungry
shall be fed;
the imprisoned
shall be free;
all her earthly children
shall regain joy
in the reign
of the just and loving one
coming for you
coming for me
in this time
in this world.
--Sun Ai Lee Park, Hong Kong/USA
Breathe. Breathe again. Be filled. With joy. Extinguish your candle and engage whatever may come with a sense of peace and a desire to serve.
When we had the Christmas in July Zoom celebration we enjoyed hearing the Christmas story and singing carols. Well, there is another Zoom Christmas Eve service planned for 5:00 p.m. on Dec. 24th. There will also be an in-person outdoor service at 7:00 p.m.
The theme for this Advent season at LUCC is Rekindle the Gift from a verse from 2 Timothy. This is certainly a season to ‘rekindle’ after all that we have been through! Each week, the Corona Sabbath and daily devotions will focus on the traditional themes for the candles of the Advent Wreath. Rekindle Hope. Rekindle Peace. Rekindle Joy. And Rekindle Love.
Please see the details below for the Advent season. May you find needed hope, peace, joy, and love this season!
Carol Sing Ahead
Missing singing those favorite Christmas carols? A Zoom carol sing is being planned. Hilton will play and everyone on the Zoom will safely sing at home. In the past, each Advent season there has been a caroling event to visit the homebound. Since Corona has us all somewhat homebound, this year, there will be caroling for everyone who can access Zoom. If you have a New Century Hymnal, you can use it. The zoom will be Saturday, December 12th at 4:00 p.m.
A booklet of devotions has been prepared for the Advent season with a reading for each day and liturgy for the lighting of Advent candles at home each Sunday. These devotions are also posted weekly at the church website. May these devotions help to rekindle hope, peace, joy, and love this holy season.
In these difficult and challenging days, celebrating the birth of Jesus is more important than ever. Jesus, too, was born in difficult times. His birth reminds us that God is with us, in joy and in sorrow, in times of fear and challenge as well as times of awe and wonder.
You are invited to celebrate the birth of Jesus with the LUCC church family. The same service will be offered two ways on Christmas Eve.
At 5:00 p.m. there will be a Zoom/FaceBook live service. Go to the church FaceBook page and click on the lower left. Here’s the link for Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2700683648
At 7:00 p.m. there will be an in person version of the same service on the church grounds. Masks and physical distancing will be maintained. There will be no singing. Bring a chair and a flashlight so you can read the bulletin. In case of rain, the service will be held on the covered patio adjacent to the playground.
Rekindle the Gifts of God: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love
Poinsettias
In the uncharted territory we are facing this year, the church will be trying something new. The church family is invited to bring poinsettias to church on the Sundays in December before Christmas. They will beautify our worship space and they will be taken to those who are homebound and in need of special care in the congregation. So, if you would like to, please bring a poinsettia or poinsettias to church. Many thanks!
Congregational Care Visits Planned
While it is not safe to go caroling this year, the Care Team has plans for safe visits and drive bys to those in the congregation who are isolated or in need of Christmas cheer. Hopefully these visits will be meaningful to those who participate and will help to rekindle hope, peace, joy, and love!
In-Person Events!
The church is experimenting with a ‘soft’ re-opening. There will be in- person gatherings and services outside, with masks, and physical distancing. There will be no singing. Participants are encouraged to bring their own chairs. Some will also be available at the church. Most events will be on the church lawn. If the weather bad, events will be held on the church patio adjacent to the playground.
Here’s what’s coming:
In addition, the weekly guided labyrinth walks will continue on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 a.m. and weekly anti-racism demonstrations will continue on Sunday evenings at 4:30p.m. All are welcome.
For those who want to remain engaged with the church ‘remotely’, the church will continue to post a weekly Corona Sabbath with a scripture reading, reflection from Rev. Wells, and music from Hilton Jones. Paper copies of the Corona Sabbath and the Update will continue to be sent to those who do not use the internet.
After this period of experimentation, there will be a discussion about how to proceed into the New Year.
Toys Delivered at Maximo
What an amazing, inspiring day Monday was at Maximo Elementary! The toys that were collected by the Education Ministry Team were delivered to the school. What began as a request by the Family and Community Liaison, Ms. Jones, for gifts for thirty children experiencing homelessness grew and grew and grew. Partnership with the Social Justice Team at Westminster Suncoast and then St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church flourished. Generosity grew wings. When the toys were delivered there were four cars overflowing with more than one hundred fifty gifts.
Ms. Jones, along with the Principal and staff, greeted us with smiles and great appreciation. Pictures were taken and friendships made. We left Maximo having received more than we had given. Our hearts were bursting with joy.
Thanks to everyone who joined in this undertaking to spread Christmas joy to children and their parents during this very stressful time. May the pictures bring you Hope, Peace, Joy and Love as you imagine the surprise and excitement of a precious child receiving your gift.
Finally after a year and a half of planning, the renovations of the Fellowship Hall are underway to prepare for the Adult Day Care program sponsored by Neighborly Services! So far, a railing has been installed to the back entrance of the Fellowship Hall and the demolition is underway to prepare for the three accessible restrooms that are being installed. The patio has been pressure washed.
It is very exciting to finally see movement toward the goal of offering needed services to the seniors in our area!
Corona Sabbath Ahead
The Corona Sabbath post this week follows the theme for the Advent candles. This week the focus is joy. How do we think about rekindling joy in our lives this Advent season?
This week Claire Stiles is reading the scripture, there is a reflection from Rev. Wells, and music from Hilton Jones.
If you missed last week’s Corona Sabbath here’s the link:
Weekly demonstrations to end racism continue in front of the church each Sunday. Beginning Dec. 6, the demonstrations will begin at 4:30. Bring a sign or use one of the signs provided. Regardless of the outcome of the election, this witness is an important demonstration of Christian values and moral values. All are welcome to join in!
And use the following link to see pictures from the last demonstration.
In case of rain, the demonstration will not be held that week. Know justice, know peace!
Weekly Labyrinth Walks Continue
Each Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. a small group gathers at the outdoor labyrinth for a time of devotion, discussion, and meditative walking of the labyrinth. The theme for the week is taken from the Corona Sabbath of the week before, so it is an opportunity to go deeper in the spiritual exploration of that theme for your life. This devotional gathering is outside and physical distancing is maintained. All are welcome!
If there is rain on Wednesday morning, the gathering will be held on Thursday morning at 9:00.
Spiritual Direction Offered by LUCC Clergy Member.
In these troubled times, it is important to find ways to tend to our spiritual lives. In the Christian tradition, Spiritual Direction is one of the ways of paying attention to the spirit in our lives. A Spiritual Director is someone to talk with about what is going on in our spiritual life and in our relationship with God however we may conceive of God.
Rev. Sally Purvis, Ph.D., a member of LUCC, is a retired clergy person with training and experience in Spiritual Direction. She is offering her services as a Spiritual Director to the community. The sessions would be held on Zoom and there is no fee to be paid. Church leaders are pleased to have the ministry of the church expand in this way.
Spiritual Direction with Sally is open to anyone, not just the congregation. And it is offered to everyone whatever their spiritual or religious background or affiliation or lack thereof. Sessions are generally held once every three weeks. Spiritual Direction is not a mode of therapy. It is a process for understanding and deepening your relationship with God/Spirit in ways that are authentic and life-giving.
Sally was trained by Henri Nouwen, a noted spiritual guide of the 20th century, and did Spiritual Direction as part of her professional ministry before retiring in 2015.
December Birthdays: Becky Palmer 12/16, Amaiya Washington 12/18, George Diven 12/27, Melanie Moore 12/27, Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.
Circle of Concern: JoAnn Reid, William Owen, Wilbur Reid, Jen Degroot, Carolyn Moore, Ann Quinn, Maggie Brizendine, Dave Radens, Bert and Joyce Lee, Jeff Wells, teachers, students, and school personnel, and all healthcare workers and essential workers. All those suffering from COVID-19.
Please keep LUCC member, Olivia Gibson, in your prayers. She is a nurse in a COVID-19 unit in a local hospital. We are grateful for her ministry!
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 Tuesday since the Update usually is sent out on Wednesday.
This Advent season of 2020 the focus is on rekindling the gift of God. We certainly need our spiritual grounding and the gifts of faith to sustain us during these difficult times.
There is a ritual for lighting the Advent wreath each Sunday. Then there is a reading for each day of the week based on the theme of the week’s candle.
May we rekindle the gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love this Advent season!
Rekindle the Gift of Joy
Lighting the Third Advent Candle – JOY
In our homes we gather around wreaths to pray our lost hopes, broken peace, limited joys, and love so hard to find and share in this season of coronavirus. We affirm that our candles mean we claim the power to call this season Advent, when God’s light comes into the world and nothing can overcome it.
Light two candles.
We light the candles of hope and peace.
Light a third candle.
We now light the candle of joy in spite of missing so many things we thought were essential to a merry Christmas
name the traditions, people, and activities that you are missing this year
God’s joy ignites embers under loss and sorrow and lights the wick of joy in our lives so that we may shine on the world – a simple smile and unexpected laughter – and brighten the path toward joy. Amen.
Monday Dec. 14 JOY
‘Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him.’
Luke 17:15-16
In the story of Jesus healing the 10 people who have leprosy, one of those healed comes back to Jesus rejoicing and praising God. A joyous scene is portrayed.
Jesus comes to heal and make us whole. He comes to heal our wounds of hurt feelings and desperation. He comes to heal the past which can control us to our detriment. He comes to heal relationships and bring reconciliation. He comes to make us whole when we have been battered and bruised by people in our lives who were to care for us. He come to make us whole when we have been beaten down by attitudes and systems in society that seek to suppress us.
Jesus comes to heal us and lift us up so that we are filled with joy.
This invites us to consider where we need healing in our lives. What hurt and pain do we bear? Maybe you want to jot down where you may need healing in your life. How would you like to experience the healing power of Jesus that leads to joy?
Prayer
Healing involves change. Embracing a new reality. Sometimes we fear change. We become used to our aches and pains, our grudges and biases. May we open ourselves to healing so that we may know joy! Amen.
Tuesday Dec. 15 JOY
‘Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises. Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it. Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy. . .’
Psalm 98:4,7
‘Joy to the world, the Lord is come!’
It’s a Christmas favorite and in our church we usually sing it at Easter, too!
In this rousing hymn heaven, nature, Earth, fields, floods, rocks, hills, and plains along with humanity join in praise and joy for the wonder of God’s love in Jesus Christ.
This carol celebrates that Jesus brings joy not only to humanity but to all of Creation. It is a sentiment that prods us out of our anthropocentrism. All of nature is rejoicing. Jesus comes not just for people but for the whole world.
While there are days that we may not feel much joy, nature continues to resound with joy – trees growing, animals building homes and nests, mycelium breaking down vegetable matter, creating soil, and sending messages to trees. Yes, there are days when we don’t want to get out of bed, but nature continues to offer praise and joy.
We can let nature lift us up. We are part of nature, so our joy is to go on reveling in life no matter what the circumstances.
Heaven and nature sing. Repeat the sounding joy. Of the wonders of God’s love. May we join nature in joy and praise!
You are invited to note where you see joy in nature today.
Prayer
All of nature resounds with joy. Jesus brings abundant life and joy. May we join nature in celebrating the wonders of God’s love. Amen.
Wednesday Dec. 16 JOY
‘Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.’
Matthew 2:11
This is the season of gift giving. We especially think about giving gifts to children – toys, books, games. I can remember when our children were young, one Christmas there were so many gifts we could not open them all on Christmas Day and had to continue the gift opening orgy the day after Christmas.
That Christmas led to some soul searching. What were we doing with all of those gifts? What message was this sending? It was certainly perpetuating consumerism and materialism – completely at odds with the teachings of Jesus and the message of the Gospel. All those presents? This is not what Jesus would want.
The next year, we got one ‘big’ gift for each child. We spent much of the day at the local park, in the fenced in tennis courts, with the dog running loose, one child riding a new scooter and one with new roller blades. We had a wonderful time.
So, what are we looking for when we think about joy? What brings us joy? Are we thinking about something humongous and stupendous? Are we thinking about material wealth and security? Are we thinking about a miracle? Or are we thinking about something simple.
Survey your life. Examine your expectations. Jesus brings joy. Are you open to receiving it or are you missing it, preoccupied and distracted by other things and missing the joy that you are being given?
Maybe you can make a list of where you are finding joy in the living of your days – even with the restrictions of covid. Maybe even because of the restrictions of covid!
Prayer
Jesus comes to bring us joy. Maybe sometimes we miss the gift we are being given. May we open our eyes and our hearts to the joy that is being given to us. Amen.
Thursday Dec. 17 JOY
‘David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their kindred as the singers to play on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise loud sounds of joy.’
I Chronicles 15:16
The Christmas season is known for its music. What are some of your favorite Christmas songs? Sleigh Ride? We Three Kings? Feliz Navidad? Music expresses the joy of Christmas. Maybe some years we put on Christmas music to reflect our joy at this season. Maybe this year we need to play more Christmas music to help us feel the joy. Remember the joy. Rekindle the joy. So, what is on your Christmas play list? Are you making sure to listen to some Christmas music each day?
Think about how you are feeling right now. Put on some Christmas music. How do you feel after listening to it? Hopefully, it gave you a lift!
Prayer
Music is a divine gift of expression. We give thanks for artists and musicians who lift our spirits through their creativity. This season, we especially give thanks for Christmas music which connects us to the past and lifts our spirits in this moment. Amen.
Friday Dec. 18 JOY
‘Today salvation has come to this house. . .’
Luke 19:9
The story of the encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus is a favorite. The story exudes joy. Zacchaeus is a rich outcast. He climbs a tree to see Jesus. Jesus treats him with dignity and respect. His humanity is affirmed. Over a shared meal. That’s it. No hocus pocus. Or sacrificial penance. Or groveling. Jesus simply treats Zacchaeus as a person created in the image of God. And Zaccheaus is overjoyed. He is so grateful, he responds with lavish generosity for the poor and restitution to anyone he has defrauded. This story shows us joy that is simple, powerful, and profound.
Over the holidays, even during covid, we want to try to keep things simple. We can bring joy to others simply through respecting and affirming their humanity. Is there someone in your life that you can uplift with joy in this simple way?
Prayer
Jesus comes to bring us joy by affirming who we are; each a unique child of God. May we receive this gift and share it with others. Amen.
Saturday Dec. 19 JOY
‘I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.’
John 15:11
Many people think of religion as something hard, difficult, burdensome, constraining, and judgmental. Go to church? That’s like asking to be pinched.
But Jesus came to bring joy. He came to lift people up not slap them down. He came to bear witness to the abundance and goodness of the realm of God. It’s not surprising that he was known for his eating and drinking and partying!
If following Jesus makes you feel bitter and cheated, if it makes you feel privileged and entitled, well, maybe you are missing something.
Following Jesus should lead us to be filled with humble joy.
Give some thought to how your walk with Jesus brings more joy into your life.
Prayer
Jesus shows a life filled with joyful abandon. He shows us how to celebrate the presence of Divine Love in our lives and in our world. May our faith reflect the joy of Jesus. Amen.
What an amazing, inspiring day Monday was at Maximo Elementary! The toys that were collected by the Education Ministry Team were delivered to the school. What began as a request by the Family and Community Liaison, Ms. Jones, for gifts for thirty children experiencing homelessness grew and grew and grew. Partnership with the Social Justice Team at Westminster Suncoast and then St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church flourished. Generosity grew wings. When the toys were delivered there were four cars overflowing with more than one hundred fifty gifts.
Ms. Jones, along with the Principal and staff, greeted us with smiles and great appreciation. Pictures were taken and friendships made. We left Maximo having received more than we had given. Our hearts were bursting with joy.
Thanks to everyone who joined in this undertaking to spread Christmas joy to children and their parents during this very stressful time. May the pictures bring you Hope, Peace, Joy and Love as you imagine the surprise and excitement of a precious child receiving your gift.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 