WHAT IS GOING ON AT CHURCH –
Summer Sundays
The theme for the Corona Sabbath posts this summer is ‘GROUNDED.’ Yes, with the COVID-19 pandemic continuing, many are not taking expected summer trips and vacations. Feeling grounded. And with the demonstrations going on, many do not feel safe to venture out because of the pandemic and feel grounded. And with a global pandemic, a global recession, and global demonstrations against racism, it is a time to lean on our faith to help us feel grounded. Each week’s presentation will explore a different dimension of our faith which helps us to feel grounded in these uncertain times. When we are grounded, we can grow and flourish and bear fruit! So, look for the Corona Sabbath post each week to help you be grounded! The theme for this week is Gratitude.
Zooms Ahead!
There will be another all church Zoom gathering on the evening of Friday July 24. This will be a Christmas Eve in July celebration complete with Christmas carols. The choir has recorded a special selection that will be part of this Zoom. Bake some Christmas cookies and get in the spirit to celebrate! We are grateful for the birth of Jesus 365 days a year!
There will also be an all church Zoom gathering on Sunday morning August 9 at 10:30. The theme is Back to School. It is the Sunday before school starts and it will be a celebration of learning and a time to share memories of teachers who have made a difference in our lives.
Christmas in July Zoom
5 posts are scheduled for the church website as leap-ups to the Christmas in July Zoom the evening of July 24. These 5 posts are scheduled for the 20th through the 24th. Here’s a playlist of all those pieces: https://soundcloud.com/hilton-kean-jones/sets/christmas-in-july should you wish to listen to them all at once, any time you want. They are all pipe organ pieces composed by Lakewood music director, Hilton Kean Jones, recorded at Tampa’s Bayshore Baptist Church in 1993, and published by Concordia Press.
July 20 – Come, O Come, Emmanuel
July 21 – God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen
July 22 – Angels We Have Heard on High
July 23 – O Come, All Ye Faithful
July 24 – What Child is This
Hymnals for All
While we might not be able to recite many scripture verses, we can probably sing the words to many hymns. Singing is one of the things people miss most about not having in-person church services at this time. Hymns are a source of inspiration. We have associations with certain hymns. The tunes and the words help us to feel grounded.
Music Director, Hilton Jones, would like to use more hymns in the devotional posts provided by the church. If you have a hymnal and sing along, there are no copyright issues and problems.
To that end, please know that the church hymnals are available to be checked out like a library book but with no due date and no fines!
You may pick one up at church on Sunday mornings (10-12) or Wednesday mornings (9-12) or Sunday evenings (7:30-8:00). There is a clip board to sign your name indicating that you have taken a book.
If you would like a hymnal delivered to you, please contact the church office and we will try to do that.
When we can worship in person again, the hymnals will need to be returned.
‘God respects me when I work; but God loves me when I sing.” Rabindranath Tagore
Rake Needed
The church is in need of a rake, a regular yard rake for leaves, etc. If you have an extra one or see one at a yard sale, please consider donating it to the church. Many thanks!
In Memoriam
The Care Team scheduled a visit to Ann Rogers complete with signs of love and support from her church family. Just 5 days later, Ann was admitted to the hospital where she died on Thursday July 2. Ann was a lifelong church musician, a quilter, a gardener, a cat lover, an avid baseball fan, and a dear friend to many. Whenever people from the church visited her, she had a bag of groceries ready to donate to Operation Attack. Ann will be sorely missed! Please keep her friends and family in your prayers in this time of loss. No memorial plans have been made yet.
Black Lives Matter Sign
The church has a Black Lives Matter lawn sign to give away. Please contact the Church Office if you would like the sign.
Moving Boxes Needed
Wally LeBlanc is in need of moving boxes. If you have any to donate please contact Wally or the Church Office. Thank you!
Voter Registration Deadline Coming Up
July 20 is the deadline to register to vote in the upcoming primary election on August 18. Please make sure you are registered to vote. It can be one online. Encourage others to register! Voting matters!
Sunday Evening Demonstration for Racial Justice
This past Sunday 17 people lined up on the sidewalk in front of the church sharing signs about the healing of racism. Much support was expressed by passing cars.
This week, the group included the LUCC family, the Social Justice Committee at Westminster Suncoast, and, for the first time, a few folks from the St. Petersburg Quaker Meeting. We were glad to welcome the Friends whom we have worked with on Circus McGurkis.
Ruth Pettis, artist, brought a collection of the signs she has been making each week.
All are welcome to be part of this witness in support of anti-racism Sunday evenings from 7:30-8 at the church.
Here are pictures from last week’s witness: https://lakewooducc.org/2020/07/15/weekly-anti-racism-demonstration-2/
Corona Sabbath
In addition to the material from Hilton and Kim, we hope to include contributions from the congregation each week. You are invited to send a picture, a poem, a quotation from a book or article, an image, a work of art, a song, a video of you doing something or reading something, anything you would like to share with your church family. Hilton and Kim will try to incorporate the contributions into the Corona Sabbath Devotional on the related theme.
The themes coming up are:
Hope for the Future
Forgiveness
Compassion/Justice
Service/Generosity
Trust
Peace
Healing
Wonder/Awe
CHRISTMAS THEMED CONTRIBUTIONS ALSO WELCOME!
Please email contributions on any of these topics to the church at lakewooducc@gmail.com. Or use the “regular” mail.
Many thanks for the contributions so far. Please keep them coming!
This Sunday
The church will be open from 10:30 to 11:30. The peace candle will be lit. It will be a time of prayer and reflection as a witness that the church is still open and ministry continues even though we are not able to gather in person for worship.
Look for a Corona Sabbath post on Friday. Check for it at the website – lakewooducc.org
Also, please subscribe to the website so that you receive regular updates about church life.
Weekly Labyrinth Walks Continue
Each Wednesdayat 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!
In recent weeks, the labyrinth has been restored and refurbished with some trimming, raking, and new hay. Please know that this spiritual path is open for your use any time.
https://lakewooducc.org/2020/06/23/labyrinth-has-been-refurbished
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 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.
If you would like to explore Spiritual Direction with Sally, please contact her at
sallybpurvis@icloud.com or contact the church (867-7961 or lakewooducc@gmail.com ).
The church is very grateful to Sally for offering this avenue of support to the congregation and the community.
QUICK LINKS TO OUR RECENT POSTS DURING THE CORONA CRISIS:
Sermon videos: https://lakewooducc.org/category/online-devotional/
Sermon texts: https://lakewooducc.org/category/posts/sermon-texts/
Posts containing music: https://lakewooducc.org/category/posts/music/
For all those links, please note the “Older Posts” button near bottom of page.
FOR JUST THE MUSIC: https://soundcloud.com/hilton-kean-jones/sets/music-at-lakewood
Daily Corona Prayer
https://lakewooducc.org/2020/03/20/lucc-corona-daily-prayer
Assistance Available
If you need help of any kind – something from the store, someone to talk with, support managing during shelter-in-place, parenting concerns – please know that the church is ready and willing to help in any way needed. This situation is trying for everyone. You are not alone. We’ll make it through together. Please contact the church office (lakewooducc@gmail.com or 867-7961 or Rev. Kim Wells at wells.kim.p@gmail.com).
Miss someone from church? Give them a call or send a note. Personal contact is so important when physical contact is limited.
Music Ministry
About Hilton’s music. . . If you would enjoy hearing Hilton play more Irish folk songs, you can
listen for free at either https://hiltonjones.bandcamp.com/album/irish-
tunes or https://soundcloud.com/hilton-kean-jones/sets/irish-tunes .
July Birthdays: Ann Quinn 7/6. Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.
Circle of Concern: JoAnn Reid, William Owen, Wilbur Reid, Martha Lamar, Jen Degroot, Carolyn Moore, Ann Quinn, Maggie Brizendine, and all healthcare workers and essential workers. All those suffering from COVID-19.
Please keep Yvonne Riesen and family in your prayers. Yvonne has moved to the Memory Care unit at Westminster Suncoast. Calls and notes are a way to show your concern and support to Yvonne.
Maggie Brizendine has been in the hospital and should be moved into rehab soon. Please keep her in your prayers.
Please remember the family and friends of Ann Rogers in your prayers, especially her dear caregiver, Gene.
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!
Recent Posts:
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.
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.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 