Author: lakewooducc

Weekly Update July 31

This Sunday: This Summer is a chance to look back at some of the most well-known stories of the Bible. This week focuses on the story of Jesus turning water into wine in the gospel of John chapter 2. Jan Trebesch will be playing for the service while Hilton Jones is away. There will be special music offered by Randy Wilson on the dulcimer.

Communion: August 4 is a Communion Sunday. All are welcome to participate, children at the discretion of the adults who bring them. The communion offering goes to the Special Needs Fund which is used to help people in our community and the congregation with basic necessities such as food, rent, utilities, and prescription medication costs. In recent days the communion offering has assisted those in the congregation and the community with: rent, a bus pass, a car repair. Thanks to Janet Blair-Andrews for preparing communion.

Back to School Sunday Ahead: Sunday August 11 will be a chance to wish LUCC teachers and students well as the new school year begins. There will be a special Fellowship Hour after church that week. Don’t miss it!

Lights of Liberty: Action teams were formed to represent the lanes (areas) that will work toward ending immigrant detention.  Those lanes are: Direct Action, Legislative Accountability, Homestead Witnessing, Research Complicit Companies, Flores Agreement, Immigration Protection. The six action teams met briefly to discuss methods and action approaches for their groups. The take-home word was, Action! If you are interested in more information about the Coalition, please see Lucille Ruga or Patti Cooksey.  The next meeting is scheduled for August 6th.

Rocking Chair: The church would like a rocking chair for the new family friendly area of the sanctuary.  If you have one to donate, please contact the church office. 727-867-7961 or lakewooducc@gmail.com. Many thanks!

Lunch Bunch: The Lunch Bunch is going to resume going out to lunch after church on Sundays.  This is an informal gathering of whoever would like to go out to lunch together after church on Sunday.  There will be an announcement each week about the plans for that day.  Many thanks to Wally Leblanc for getting this going again!

Come Out St. Pete: This street festival and parade will be taking place Oct. 5 on Central Ave. between 22 and 31st Sts.  The church is considering have a booth at the event.  Volunteers are needed to help.  Please speak with Rev. Wells or one of the advisors if you are willing to help staff a church booth that day.  

Theological Orientation Discussions: These discussions were requested as part of reviewing the church mission statement and possibly creating a new mission statement. Upcoming dates for gatherings are: August 7, 14, 21, and 28. That will conclude the series. All are welcome to participate!

Concert and Old-Time Music Workshop Evan Kinney with Van Burchfield, Old-Time Music Workshop. As a duo, Evan and Van perform southern breakdowns, rags and novelty songs from the turn of the 20th century. The concert and workshop will be held here at Lakewood United Church of Christ August 17th. The workshop is 4-6pm and the concert at 7pm. The suggested donation for the workshop is $20 and the suggested donation for the concert is $20. Or come to both for a suggested donation of $30. All of the proceeds are given to the musicians. To register for the workshop please send an email indicating your intention to attend to the church email, lakewooducc@gmail.com.

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

Ministry with Children and Youth:  The church is working on putting a children’s ministry in place for the rest of the year.  Many thanks to Marg Radens, Patti Cooksey, Emily Bell, Olivia Gibson, and Claudia Rodriguez for working on this! The next meeting will be Tuesday Aug. 6 at 9:30 a.m. This is the group responsible for the new family friendly seating area in the sanctuary!

What’s Cookin’?: Have you been needing an excuse to have a good time? Are you interested in stirring up new friendships? Do you like to eat? Then SIGN UP for What’s Cooking! Small, intimate groups that dine together monthly for 4 months for the purpose of fostering friendship among the entire LUCC community. Groups will be announced Sunday August 25, at a potluck held after the service, to which all are welcome.  To sign up for What’s Cookin’?, please email the church at lakewooducc@gmail.com , or add your name to the sign up sheet at church.  Please sign up by Sunday August 18.  For more information, contact Malcolm Wells at malcolm.wells14@gmail.com

Advisors to Meet: The next Advisors meeting will be Sunday Aug. 11 following worship. All are welcome!

August Birthdays:   There are no August birthdays on record at the church. Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.

Circle of Concern: Sherry Santana, Carolyn Moore, Ann Quinn, Maggie Brizendine, Ann Rogers, and the loved ones of Jeff Spain.

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.

Executions to begin for people on Federal Death Row

Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
AG Bill Barr orders execution dates for 5 on Federal Death Row.
Despite dramatic declines nationwide in use of the death penalty and continued exonerations of innocent people on our state death rows (166 so far, 29 in FL) U.S. Attorney General William Barr has been ordered to restart federal executions. The last federal execution was in 2003. Five executions will begin on Dec. 9th. The Justice department says more executions are coming. Read more here.

Take Action! Email President Trump or Call President Trump: Comments 202-456-1111.

Fast Facts:
Federal Execution Dates: Daniel Lee – Dec. 9, Lezmond Mitchell – Dec. 11, Wesley Purkey – Dec. 13, Alfred Bourgeois – Jan. 13, Dustin Honkin – Jan. 15.

62 people on Federal Death Row. Only one convicted of treason, espionage, or terrorism.

Death Row and Death Chamber: U.S. Penitentiary, Terre Haute, IN.

Florida Execution Date: Gary Bowles – Aug. 22. Please Take Action! Please contact FL gov. Ron DeSantis NOW and urge him to halt the execution of Gary Bowles and Sign No More Death Warrants.  

Your help is needed for the work to be done. Please support Florida Death Penalty abolition action campaigns to end the use of the Death Penalty. 

Please post and share this message widely.

Sent by:
Mark Elliott
Executive Director
Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
www.fadp.org
FADP is a non-profit and non-partisan Florida organization of individuals and groups united to abolish the Death Penalty in Florida.

Weekly Update July 24

This Sunday: The story of Jonah and the whale or big fish is very well known.  This Sunday we will think about who was saved by the whale. You are encouraged to read the brief book of Jonah. After church this Sunday, there will be Fellowship – drinks and snacks.  All are encouraged to stay and enjoy food and friends!

Lights of Liberty: The Coalition met to follow up on the July 12th Light for Liberty vigil held at Allendale UMC and to set forth an action plan to go forward.  This organizational meeting began with the introduction of the first draft of a mission statement for the Coalition. Following that discussion, action teams were formed to represent the lanes (areas) that will work toward ending immigrant detention.  Those lanes are: Direct Action, Legislative Accountability, Homestead Witnessing, Research Complicit Companies, Flores Agreement, Immigration Protection. The six action teams met briefly to discuss methods and action approaches for their groups. The take-home word was, Action! If you are interested in more information about the Coalition, please see Lucille Ruga or Patti Cooksey.  The next meeting is scheduled for August 6th.

Rocking Chair: The church would like a rocking chair for the new family friendly area of the sanctuary.  If you have one to donate, please contact the church office. 727-867-7961 or lakewooducc@gmail.com. Many thanks!

Lunch Bunch: The Lunch Bunch is going to resume going out to lunch after church on Sundays.  This is an informal gathering of whoever would like to go out to lunch together after church on Sunday.  There will be an announcement each week about the plans for that day.  Many thanks to Wally Leblanc for getting this going again!

Come Out St. Pete: This street festival and parade will be taking place Oct. 5 on Central Ave. between 22 and 31st Sts.  The church is considering have a booth at the event.  Volunteers are needed to help.  Please speak with Rev. Wells or one of the advisors if you are willing to help staff a church booth that day.  

Theological Orientation Discussions: These discussions were requested as part of reviewing the church mission statement and possibly creating a new mission statement. The next gathering will be Wednesday July 24 beginning with a potluck at 6:30 and a presentation at 7:00. Kim Wells will offer the remarks that she gave to the Religions and Faith interest group at the Academy of Senior Professionals at Eckerd College. The presentation was entitled, “Theological Challenges for Today’s Christian Churches.” There will be a variety of topics for discussion afterward. Upcoming dates for additional gatherings: August 7, 14, and 21. That will conclude the series. All are welcome to participate!

Concert and Old-Time Music Workshop Evan Kinney with Van Burchfield, Old-Time Music Workshop. As a duo, Evan and Van perform southern breakdowns, rags and novelty songs from the turn of the 20th century. The concert and workshop will be held here at Lakewood United Church of Christ August 17th. The workshop is 4-6pm and the concert at 7pm. To register for the workshop please send an email concerning your attendance to the church email, lakewooducc@gmail.com.

Children’s Ministry:  The church is working on putting a children’s ministry in place for the rest of the year.  Many thanks to Marg Radens, Patti Cooksey, Emily Bell, Olivia Gibson, and Claudia Rodriguez for working on this!

What’s Cookin’?: Get ready for another round of dinner groups!  The plan is to start in Sept.  To sign up for What’s Cookin’?, please email the church at lakewooducc@gmail.com , or add your name to the sign up sheet at church.  Please sign up by Sunday August 18.  For more information, contact Malcolm Wells at malcolm.wells14@ncf.edu

Yard Sales: Ed Kaspar’s neighborhood is having several yard sales on Saturday July 27th starting at 8 a m. The area is 61st Avenue South and 30th Street South. There will be some furniture and kitchen utensils books and a lot of other stuff. Please come and browse and buy!

July Birthdays:  Ann Quinn(7/6) Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.

Circle of Concern: Sherry Santana, Carolyn Moore, Ann Quinn, Maggie Brizendine, Ann Rogers, and the loved ones of Jeff Spain.

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.

Sermon 7/21 Walking on Water

Date: July 21, 2019

Scripture Lesson: Matthew 14:22-36

Pastor: Rev. Kim P. Wells 

Fifty years ago yesterday, a human being walked on the moon for the first time.  There has been much in the news about that memorable day. How many of you remember that day?  What do you remember about it? Where were you? Did you watch it on TV? What did you think about it?  For those who did not see it live, have you seen video of the first moonwalk? What were your impressions?                 

Impressions shared from the congregation – 

I heard a report on NPR this past week that mentioned that when the astronauts got home, they toured the world giving talks about their experience.  And apparently everywhere they went, in every country, the attitude of the people was, “We did this!” All of humanity took ownership of this milestone in human history.  It wasn’t, “Look what the Americans have done.” It was look what WE have done, we, the human family. It created a great bond among people of earth.   

When we think about the story that we heard this morning about walking on the water, we think of Jesus overcoming the elements, calming the stormy sea.  We hear Jesus’ command Peter to step out of the boat. There is obedience and trust until fear leads to foundering and Peter is saved by Jesus. Fear, the great enemy of faith.  

But in addition to all of these messages and teachings from this story, there is more.  At the beginning of the story, Jesus sends the disciples across the sea of Galilee in a boat.  This is the first time they are sent on without Jesus. Obviously, Jesus has faith in them. He would not send them out if he was concerned for their safety.  He has confidence in them. Yes, there will be threats. The sea represents the forces of chaos in scripture. There are threatening forces. But Jesus has faith in the disciples.  He feels they have all the power they need. The presence of God is with them and within them. It seems he has more faith in them than they have in themselves. . . What if we take from this story that we have been sent out into the world together as a community with everything we need to live with love, compassion, peace, and justice? 

Also, we want to notice that the image of the boat is a common symbolic image for the church.  So in this story, we see Jesus’ faith in the church. The disciples are together in the boat. They have each other for community and solidarity and support.  Sure, they will be buffeted and there will be conflict and threat, but they have each other, they have the community, they have the presence of God in the faith community.  So Jesus has faith in their strength and solidarity. But again, they waffle. And Peter wants to get out of the boat, exposing himself to more peril and danger. He does not feel secure in the boat.  But when he gets out, he realizes that the situation is worse. What if we recognized and trusted that we need the faith community for our fundamental well-being?

The disciples seem to want some kind of magical display, some kind of spectacle to engender enough faith; to give them enough reason to trust.  But Jesus seems to be showing them, by sending them out together, that they have what they need in one another and in their solidarity, to face the challenges of life – accidents, disease, aging, difficult circumstances, conflicting values.  Jesus believes that in their community, they have the resources they need to live everyday life imbued with divinity, with a sense of the sacred, as part of a transcendent reality beyond them and within them and among them. In Jesus’ eyes, they have been given what they need to face the challenges of life.  So, if Peter, if the disciples, had enough faith, they would have believed from the boat and trusted that all would eventually be well. They wouldn’t have needed a test, a spectacle. The walking on water. Jesus had faith in them, in the boat, as a group, as a faith community – you are enough, you are what you need, God is with you.  There is nothing to fear. What if we truly had faith in what we have been given; no otherworldly spectacles and signs and wonders needed?

In this story, we see that Jesus came to equip and empower his followers to be agents of peace and love in the world.  He gave them all that they needed for this mission. He sent them. They were in the boat. They were fine. Yes, there were the stormy seas but they were safe.  They had been given what they needed. But because of fear, panic, anxiety, and doubt, they did not trust. They wanted to be rescued. And they wanted some kind of spectacle to engender their trust.  So, Jesus does it their way. He rescues. He gives them a spectacle in hopes that they will learn to trust the power of the love within them and among them each and every day.

In the book. Living Buddha, Living Christ, Buddhist teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh offers a reflection on this story of walking on water:  “When I was a young monk in Vietnam, each village temple had a big bell, like those in Christian churches in Europe and America.  Whenever the bell was invited to sound (in Buddhist circles, we never say ‘hit’ or ‘strike’ a bell), all the villagers would stop what they were doing and pause for a few moments to breathe in and out in mindfulness.  At Plum Village [a Buddhist community], every time we hear the bell, we do the same. We go back to ourselves and enjoy our breathing. Breathing in, we say, silently, ‘Listen, listen,’ and breathing out, we say, ‘This wonderful sound brings me back to my true home.’

“Our true home is in the present moment.  The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth in the present moment.  Peace is all around us – in the world and in nature – and within us – in our bodies and our spirits. Once we learn to touch this peace, we will be healed and transformed.  It is not a matter of faith; it is a matter of practice. We need only to bring our body and mind into the present moment, and we will touch what is refreshing, healing, and wondrous.”  [Quoted in Resources for Preaching and Worship: Year A, compiled by Hannah Ward and Jennifer Wild, p. 216]

Fifty years ago, a human stood on the moon; touched the moon.  It was not some kind of magical miracle wrought by otherworldly forces.  It was an accomplishment based on the application of knowledge and scientific achievement, trial and error, creativity and ingenuity, money and luck.  And from that experience, we got a new image of the earth, the picture taken from space considered the most recognized visual image in human history. From this endeavor to go to the moon, we learned about the earth.  We saw that this earth is a precious, tiny blue green marble floating in a vast ocean of space. And we are together, on this earth, our boat, in the sea of the cosmos. What we see is our need to band together as a human community, as a planet, to survive and to thrive.   

We are the people who have walked on the moon and in so doing gotten a clearer view of our reality here on earth.  Every moment is a gift. Reality is infused with divinity. Life and creation are sacred. Humanity is a community.  And like the disciples in the boat, we have been given everything that we need. We are capable of amazing things! We must not cave in to fear.  We must trust and work together for good, for peace, in the midst of the chaotic forces around us – even though sometimes this seems as impossible as walking on water.   Amen.

A reasonable effort has been made to appropriately cite materials referenced in this sermon. For additional information, please contact Lakewood United Church of Christ.