lakewooducc

Corona Sabbath 1

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 those you live with. 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.

Find a quiet place, inside or outside. Light a candle. Breathe. Be present.

When you are ready, start the video below.

There is a scripture lesson, a poem, and a brief meditation by Pastor Kim Wells followed by music offered by Music Director Hilton Kean Jones.

(For the written text of the video click HERE.)

As you listen to the music from Hilton which follows, you are invited to pay attention to the thoughts and feelings and reflections that arise for you.

After viewing the video and listening to the music, you are invited to offer the following prayer in closing –

Even from a dark night songs of beauty may be born. Amen.
— Maryanne Radmacker-Hershey

Breathe. Extinguish your candle and engage whatever may come with a sense of peace and a desire to serve.

LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

A Just Peace Church
An Open and Affirming Church
A Creation Justice Church
2601 54th Avenue South, St Petersburg, FL 33712-4700
(727) 867-7961‎
see the Contact page for
map, personnel, and email addresses

The mission of Lakewood United Church of Christ, as part of the Church Universal, is to:

Celebrate the presence and power of God in our lives and in our world;
Offer the hospitality and inclusive love of Christ to all people;
Work for God’s peace and justice throughout creation.

Weekly Update 3/18/2020

WHAT IS GOING ON AT CHURCH –

Labyrinth Walks are being held as scheduled on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 through Lent. The dates are March 18th, 25th, April 1st, and 8th. There will also be guided labyrinth walks on Good Friday at noon and Easter Sunday at 7:00 a.m. We feel given current information and restrictions that it is safe to hold this activity. It involves less than 10 people, it is outside, and the people can be at least 6 feet apart. Bring your own chair if you wish.

Corona Sabbath Posts

Each Friday, the church will post a devotional with readings, video from Kim, and music from Hilton. You are invited to access these at the website and observe the sabbath according to your schedule over the weekend. There will be a new one posted each week.

Reaching Out

While we are to maintain our physical distance, you are encouraged to reach out to someone from the church family at least once a week – a phone call, an email, a handwritten note – whatever works best for you. Please be in contact with one another.

In addition, please be in contact with people beyond the church family – friends, neighbors, public officials, health care workers – offering a word of gratitude or support or encouragement. These are hard times for many people. And many feel extremely isolated. So, reach out, but don’t touch!

A New Church Directory

To facilitate our efforts to be in contact, an updated church directory is being prepared. It will be mailed to church members. If you would like a copy and do not receive one in the next week or so, please contact the Church Office.

Increased Spiritual Support

The church will be offering regular emails and posts offered as spiritual support for the congregation and beyond in these difficult days. If there is something you would like the church to share, please send it to the Church Office. Thank you!

Also, this would be a good time to subscribe to the church website if you do not already do so. It is very easy to do on the church homepage. You can subscribe to posts and also to comments. As a subscriber, everything that is posted on the website will be sent to your email. If you would like assistance with this, please contact the Church Office.

Sundays. . .

On Sundays, Rev. Wells will be at church from 10:30-11:30. The peace candle will be lit and prayers will be offered. You are welcome to stop by to pray or meditate. The labyrinth is also available. This is a symbolic witness that the church is still here, is still serving, is still active, is still shining light – even in these drastically changed circumstances.

Maximo Elementary

The church has reached out to Maximo Elementary School to see what can be done to help during this hiatus in regular instruction. No school means no food for breakfast or lunch for many students. We are looking into how we can help.

Help Offered

Several people from the congregation have offered to help others as needed. If you need something from the grocery store or help with an errand or some other kind of assistance, please contact the Church Office. There are those who are ready and willing.

Tithes and Offerings

While the nature of the ministry of the church is adapting to these pandemic circumstances, there are still staff to support and facilities and grounds to be maintained. So, please continue your financial support of the church and please increase that support as you are able. It is unlikely that the adult day care will be opening any time soon, so additional resources are needed to maintain the ministry of the church which is so very much needed in these uncertain times.

We will be adding PayPal at the website and establishing a church Venmo account to facilitate giving to the church.

New Cleaning Routines

The church custodian, Tony Rogers, is being sure to thoroughly sanitize the building including door handles, faucets, etc. We are grateful for this increased effort.

WHAT IS NOT GOING ON AT CHURCH –

Regular Sunday Services

Choir Rehearsal

Church School

The March Youth Tie Dye Event

National Refugee Sabbath at Temple Beth-El

The Interfaith Program at USF featuring Rev. Susan Sherwood and Rev. Kim Wells

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.

In Memoriam: Former LUCC member Mattie Lesueur died March 5 at her home in St. Petersburg. She was a member of Traveler’s Rest Baptist Church.

Operation Attack: Operation Attack is very much in need of clothes for men, boys, and girls as well as diapers and peanut butter and canned fruit. Donations may be placed in the shopping cart in the entryway to the sanctuary. Volunteer dates are April 13 and May 11. They also need people to help on the first three Tuesdays of the month from 9:30-noon.

Operation Attack is an ecumenical effort serving families with children located at Lakeview Presbyterian Church, 1310 22nd. Ave. S., St. Petersburg. LUCC was a founding member of Operation Attack in the 1960’s!

Maximo Report: LUCC delivered 25 Sack Packs and 25 Activity Packs to Maximo Elementary Tuesday. Olivia and Claudia did their shopping magic in 1 hour and then put all the packs together. I delivered them to Ms. Jones at Maximo Elementary. Thanks everyone for another awesome ministry to benefit homeless children at Maximo Elementary. A total of $978 was donated for this project. Olivia took pictures. -Emily Bell

View the pictures here! https://lakewooducc.org/2020/03/11/maximo-elementary-project-report/

March Birthdays: Claudia Rodriguez 3/3, Grace Lewis 3/13, Yvonne Riesen 3/13, Ron Huff 3/19, Earl Waters 3/25, Charlie Lewis 3/27, Marg Radens 3/31, Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.

Circle of Concern: William Owen, Wilbur Reid, Martha Lamar, Tony Rogers, Dana Cosper, Sherry Santana, Jen Degroot, Carolyn Moore, Ann Quinn, Maggie Brizendine, and Ann Rogers.

New Office Hours: The Church Office will be open Monday – Thursday mornings from 9:30 until noon. The office will no longer be open on Friday mornings. Thank you!

Recent Posts:

O Gott Du Frommer Got March 18, 2020
Sermon 3.15.2020 March 17, 2020
Mozart sonata 16 mov 2 K545 March 17, 2020
Corona Virus Congregational Conversation 3.15.2020 March 16, 2020
Music in honor of St. Patrick March 15, 2020
On Liberty and Slavery (audio & text) March 15, 2020
Weekly Update 3/11 March 11, 2020

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.

Weekly Update 3/11

This Sunday: What is in your heart? Do you know? Do others know? The story of David being selected to be king tells us that God “looks on the heart.” What does God see in our hearts? Take a look at 1 Samuel 16: 1-13.

Church School: There will be Church School this Sunday morning for school age youth and nursery care for preschool children. During Lent, the Church School will be exploring different spiritual practices and disciplines. Today the program will be about walking the labyrinth and will be led by Victoria Long.

Vote! Don’t forget the Florida Primary election on Tuesday March 17^th– St. Patrick’s day. If you need a ride to the polls, contact the Church office.

Labyrinth Walks for Lent: As part of the Lenten journey to Easter, the church will be offering guided labyrinth walks on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 a.m. The dates are March 18th, 25th, April 1st, and 8th. There will be a handout for each week and these will be placed in the mailbox near the labyrinth for those who cannot meet on Wednesdays at 9:00. The labyrinth is a way to deepen your prayer life and experience the Divine presence. All are welcome!

National Refugee Shabbat: Thank you to all who participated in last Sunday’s post card writing to our elected Congressional representatives (Sen. Rubio, Sen. Scott, Rep. Crist). We mailed 19 cards altogether, urging each to co-sponsor and then vote for The Refugee Protection Act to ensure fair, humane, and legal treatment of all who approach our borders.

Remember to mark your calendars for the National Refugee Shabbat at Temple Beth-El, 400 Pasadena Ave. S., on March 20 at 7:30 pm. After a brief service three speakers will share their experiences as a refugee in Africa and as witnesses at the border of Mexico. Table talk will follow for those who wish to stay.

Creation Justice Task Force meeting: There will be a meeting Friday, 3/20 at 12:30 pm. All are welcome! Contact Claire Stiles for more information. stilesca@eckerd.edu

March Youth Event! For the month of March, Malcolm and Olivia want to do a Tie Dye event! It is scheduled to take place on March 22, after church. They will provide the dye, a t-shirt, and a bandana. If you want anything special to color bring that as well. They will also have some snacks and drinks. Friends and family of the church are welcome! Contact Olivia to sign up and to give her your shirt size. gibsono1029@outlook.com

Interfaith program: On Tuesday, March 24^th, wisdom teachers from a variety of faith traditions will gather to share, compare and explore the perspectives and possibilities of interfaith understanding. The conversation will be held at USFSP University Student Center, 200 6^th Ave. S., St. Petersburg, Fl 33701. The event is free and open to the public and is at 1:00p.m.- 3:00p.m. Rev. Sue Sherwood of LUCC is the moderator and Rev. Kim Wells will be a panelist.

View the flyer for more information at the link below: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/our-common-journey-towards-human-excellence-tickets-88554196987

In Memoriam: Former LUCC member Mattie Lesueur died March 5 at her home in St. Petersburg. She was a member of Traveler’s Rest Baptist Church. A memorial service will be held there on March 22. The time has not yet been determined.

Safe Hygiene: The sanctuary is amply supplied with hand sanitizer. Please be mindful of public health protocols.

New Office Hours: The Church Office will be open Monday – Thursday mornings from 9:30 until noon. The office will no longer be open on Friday mornings. Thank you!

Operation Attack: Operation Attack is very much in need of clothes for men, boys, and girls as well as diapers and peanut butter and canned fruit. Donations may be placed in the shopping cart in the entryway to the sanctuary. Volunteer dates are April 13, and May 11. They also need people to help on the first three Tuesdays of the month from 9:30-noon.

View the pictures here! https://lakewooducc.org/2020/03/11/maximo-elementary-project-report/

LUCC at St. Pete Earth Day Festival: April 4th 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Our Creation Justice Task Force is sponsoring a Table for this event as a non-profit, faith based organization who is supporting sustainability and environmental justice. The event will be held in Williams Park.
Help is needed setting up the table (a table and two chairs are provided), hosting the table during the day, and packing up materials for transport back to the church at the end of the day.
If you can possibly help and would enjoy being at this wonderful event even for a short time on April 4th, please contact Claire Stiles. stilesca@eckerd.edu

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER
Palm Sunday April 5 10:30 a.m.
The service begins outside around the cross with the blessing of the palms and a processional into the sanctuary. Please bring a palm branch if you can.

Guided Labyrinth Walk Wednesday April 8 9:00 a.m.

Maundy Thursday April 9 7:00 p.m.
Service of Tennebrae and communion. This service will include a remembrance of the last day of Jesus’ life as portrayed in the Gospel. This includes Jesus’ last supper with his disciples which is commemorated in the sacrament of holy communion. This will be a beautiful, contemplative service.

Good Friday April 10 Noon
There will be a guided labyrinth walk on Good Friday at noon. This is an opportunity to remember Jesus’ walk with the cross and his crucifixion while walking the labyrinth.

Easter Sunday April 12

7:00 a.m. Sunrise Labyrinth Walk at 7:00 a.m. You are invited to a devotional time at dawn incorporating the themes of Easter into a guided labyrinth walk. Awaken the new life within you!

10:30 a.m.
Join in an intergenerational festival service celebrating new life and hope. All ages welcome! The service will include communion.
There will be refreshments and an Easter Egg hunt on the church grounds following the service.
Be part of the celebration!

Easter Flowers:You are invited to order Easter flowers to beautify the Sanctuary on Easter Sunday. All orders are due by April 5th. The cost is $10. Order forms are available at church or at the website at the following link: https://lakewooducc.org/2020/03/11/easter-flower-order-form/

Hearing Augmentation: Devices are available from the usher in the sanctuary during worship.

Circle of Concern: William Owen, Wilbur Reid, Martha Lamar, Tony Rogers, Dana Cosper, Sherry Santana, Jen Degroot, Carolyn Moore, Ann Quinn, Maggie Brizendine, and Ann Rogers.

Recent Posts:

Easter Flower Order Form March 11, 2020
Maximo Elementary Project Report March 11, 2020
Interfaith Program 3/24 March 11, 2020
Sermon 3/8 The Ripple Effect March 10, 2020
Sermon 3/1 On Liberty and Slavery March 5, 2020

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.