This past Thanksgiving Sunday, the church offered the same service two ways – in-person, outside, with masks and physical distancing, and broadcast live on FaceBook and Zoom from the sanctuary. About 26 people attended the outdoor service. The weather was beautiful. It was wonderful to see all who were there. This was the first in-person worship service at the church since March 15. Years ago, the Thanksgiving service was routinely held outside to remember the Pilgrims and indigenous people eating together outside. So, we resumed an old tradition for a new reason! The broadcast service worked out well also. There were a few technical glitches, to be expected, but overall, things went smoothly.
Many thanks to all who helped to make these services happen including: Earl Waters, Don Ritchie, Kay Rencken, Bill Parsons, Colleen Coughenour, Julian Ricciardi, Wally LeBlanc, Mark Gibson, Danielle Hintz, Hilton Jones, Jeff Wells, and Malcolm Wells.
For the first three Sundays of December, there will be in-person outdoor services. And for Christmas Eve, there will be the same service on Zoom/FaceBook Live at 5:00 p.m. and in person at 7:00 p.m.
Dear Lakewood United Church of Christ Family and Friends,
Greetings! This is definitely a year to remember! And one of the things we remember and give thanks for in this season is the faithfulness, constancy, and generosity of the Lakewood Church family.
When we left the sanctuary after worship and a congregational conversation about the corona virus on Sunday March 15 we did not know that we would not be returning the next Sunday or the next or the next.
And yet, the ministry of the church has flourished and grown this year:
-The Care Team has expanded to the Care Team Plus and everyone in the church family is included in the ministry of the Care Team.
– There have been special mailings to children and youth for holidays.
– There have been ‘drive bys’ to those homebound, the sick, the dying, children, youth, teachers, and healthcare workers.
– There have been weekly anti-racism demonstrations which have brought us new partners: The Friends Meeting and the Social Justice Committee of Westminster Suncoast.
– There has been the expansion of the music ministry of the church. Music posted by Hilton on a regular basis has helped to soothe our souls. The church gets more comments on social media about Hilton’s music than anything else. This ministry is reaching well beyond the in-person LUCC family.
– Weekly Corona Sabbath posts have brought spiritual support to many including people beyond the in-person congregation.
– There is a team actively revamping the church library to offer greater enrichment and enjoyment.
– Spiritual Direction is being offered through the church.
– The labyrinth ministry has grown from a seasonal offering to a weekly year round gathering providing spiritual support and insight during these challenging days.
And there are many in the church who work in helping professions, social service, education, healthcare, and chaplaincy. They have seen their job responsibilities mushroom with the increasing need created by the pandemic. The church has endeavored to provide them with spiritual support so that they might minister to the community.
Because of your generosity, the ministry of the church has grown during these covid days. Because of your giving, the ministry of the church has been ‘pressed down and shaken together’ and is ‘running over.’
Please know that Lakewood Church is grateful to you, grateful to be a part of your life, and grateful for your generosity.
YOU make this a Happy Thanksgiving for your LUCC family. Thank you!
With love,
Rev. Kim Wells and the Advisors Patti Cooksey, Jane Diven, Lucille Ruga, Malcolm Wells, and Olivia Gibson
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 spiritual discipline of Thanksgiving.
This post includes a scripture reading done by Jim Andrews, a reflection from Rev. Kim Wells and a music video created by Hilton Jones featuring pictures submitted by the congregation of things to be thankful for. We hope this post helps to feed your spirit in these difficult times.
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 by reading this poem:
i thank You God for most this amazing day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes
(i who have died am alive again today, and this is the sun’s birthday; this is the birth day of life and of love and wings:and of the gay great happening illimitably earth)
how should tasting touching hearing seeing breathing any—lifted from the no of all nothing—human merely being doubt unimaginable You?
(now the ears of my ears awake and now the eyes of my eyes are opened)
The following video is a collection of pictures submitted by some of the parishioners of Lakewood UCC accompanied by a soundtrack of Hilton playing Great is Thy Faithfulness.
You are invited to offer the following closing –
When each day is sacred
when each hour is sacred
when each instant is sacred
earth and you space and you bearing the sacred through time
you’ll reach the fields of light.
–Guillevic, French poet
Breathe. Breathe again. Be filled. With thanksgiving. Extinguish your candle and engage whatever may come with a sense of peace and a desire to serve.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 