Author: lakewooducc

LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRISTA Just Peace Church
An Open and Affirming Church
A Creation Justice Church
June 11, 2023
10:30 a.m.

SUMMER SUNDAYS

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

LIGHTING THE PEACE CANDLE    Colleen Coughenour, liturgist

         The one who angers you conquers you.

Elizabeth Kenny 1880-1952, adapted

PRELUDE    Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing
Webster & Fain/arr. George Shearing

GATHERING TIME

*  HYMNS OF HOPE                  403, 488, 572                     

SCRIPTURE READING           Jeremiah 32:1-15, 42-44
SERMON     History and Hope        Rev. Kim P. Wells

INTERLUDE    Prelude No. 4 in F Major, Op. 103    Fauré
MISSION STATEMENT

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 & in                              our world.
         ●  Offer the hospitality and inclusive love of Christ to all                                        people.
         ●  Work for God’s peace and justice throughout creation.

MORNING OFFERING

Morning offerings may be brought forward and placed in the plates on the altar. If you would like assistance, please turn to someone seated near you.

         Offertory        Ashokan Farewell        Unger                

         Prayer of Dedication         

MORNING PRAYERS – SAVIOR’S PRAYER  [hymnal p. 60, prayer B]
*  HYMN      We Are Often Tossed and Driven        444

*  BENEDICTION               

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE  (please form a circle)                                                  Rosemary Crow
         Weave, weave, weave us together;
                  Weave us together in unity and love.
         Weave, weave, weave us together,
                           Weave us together, together in love.         

         Teje, tejenos juntos, Tejenos juntos en unidad y amor.
         Teje, tejenos juntos, Tejenos juntos, juntos en el amor.                

*  POSTLUDE   It Don’t Mean a Thing if It Ain’t Got that Swing 
                          Mills & Ellington

Circle of Concern
Kelsey, friend of Barbara Donohue  –  Yvonne Riesen  –  Bob Bell Sherry Santana  –  Tony Rogers  –  Erik Johnson  –  Ann Quinn is under Hospice care  –  Janet Hall  –  James Waterman  –  Caregivers
Schools: Students, families, teachers, and staff
                                                                                                                                                    Lakewood United Church of Christ 2601 54th Ave. S. St. Petersburg, FL 33712
727-867-7961  lakewooducc@gmail.com  lakewooducc.org
On land originally inhabited by the Tocabaga

June 4, 2023
10:30 a.m.

WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
LIGHTING THE PEACE CANDLE Jim Andrews,
liturgist
The energy of compassion in you will transform your life and make it more
beautiful. Compassion is always born of understanding and understanding
is the result of looking deeply.

Thich Nhat Hanh 1926-2022

PRELUDE
* OPENING READING Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
1881-1955
O God, I praise You for the universe which You have evolved over unending
centuries, vitalizing matter with energy, bringing forth all things as the peak
of Your creating wisdom, working to unify mankind, initiating a process of
spiritualizing humanity. O Creator God, let me be a willing partner in
building the universe of Your will and in divinizing humanity, in unity with
You, permeating Your creation with love and incorporating souls into the
eternal.
* HYMN Over My Head
514
SCRIPTURE LESSON
Let us prepare ourselves for the word of God as it comes to us in the reading
of Holy Scripture. Our hearts and minds are open.
Psalm 139, page 715
For the word of God in scripture, for the word of God among us, for the word
of God within us, Thanks be to God!
MYSTIC READING — What is Grace? St. John of the Cross 1542-1591,
Adapted

* HYMN We are Dancing Sarah’s Circle
501
REFLECTION A Journey Barbara
Donohue
UNISON READING Ruth
Richardson, 20th c.
I am a vessel that is broken.
My many pieces lay at Your feet.
And I long for what You’ve intended.
But all I offer is frailty.
That’s what You ask for —
You ask for weakness,
that in my weakness
Your strength can be known.
It’s hard to understand;
Your ways aren’t mine, but
if You want weakness —
take all of me.
MUSICAL REFLECTION
MISSION STATEMENT
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 & in our world.
● Offer the hospitality and inclusive love of Christ to all people.
● Work for God’s peace and justice throughout creation.

MORNING OFFERING – COMMUNION OFFERING
Morning offerings may be brought forward and placed in the plates on the altar.
You are invited to write your prayer requests on the sheets provided in the bulletin
and bring them forward and place them in the basket on the altar. If you would
like assistance, please turn to someone seated near you.
Offertory
* Time of Dedication
Celtic Blessing
In the world people
get what they pay for.

So the rich,
who have much to spend,
have much to enjoy;
While the poor,
who have little to spend,
have little to enjoy.
In church they should
get what they need.
So the rich,
who at present have much,
should give much and receive little;
While the poor,
who at present have little,
should give little, and receive much.
Let the world flourish
and prosper;
And the church
set right its wrongs.

* PREPARATION FOR COMMUNION As We Gather at Your Table
332
CELEBRATION OF HOLY COMMUNION
Invitation
Communion Prayer – Savior’s Prayer
Our Creator, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kindom come.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the
power, and the glory for ever. Amen.
Blessing the Bread and Cup
Sharing the Meal

Unison Prayer of Thanksgiving — cast off William B.
Jones
to compare and contrast no longer the lives
I have not had with this one:
not larger, more noticed
nor quieter, steadier,
not better accompanied
nor less attached,
not gifted more
nor costed less,
just this life
this one life
to take
and eat
and know.
* HYMN Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ
347
* BENEDICTION
Celtic blessing
Always
A mind has sought you
An eye has seen you
A mouth has named you
A heart has desired you. Amen.
* CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE (please form a circle) Rosemary
Crow

Weave, weave, weave us together; Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together in unity and love. Weave us together, together in love.
Teje, tejenos juntos, Teje, tejenos juntos,
Tejenos juntos en unidad y amor. Tejenos juntos, juntos en el amor.
* POSTLUDE

An Open and Affirming Church
A Creation Justice Church
May 28, 2023
10:30 a.m.

PENTECOST!


GATHERING MUSIC         I Love You          Son Lux
[from the movie, “Everything Everywhere All At Once”]

WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS           

LIGHTING THE PEACE CANDLE            Barbara Donohue, liturgist
You don’t have to have fought in a war to love peace.
                                                   Geraldine Ferraro 1935-2011

PRELUDE                      Chariots of Fire          Vangelis

*  OPENING PRAYER                       Jan Berry b. 1953 

            Exuberant Spirit of God,
            bursting with the brightness of flame
            into the coldness of our lives
            to warm us with a passion for justice and beauty,
            we praise you.

            Exuberant Spirit of God,
            sweeping us out of the dusty corners of our apathy
            to breathe vitality into our struggles for change,
            we praise you.

            Exuberant Spirit of God,
            speaking words that leap over barriers of mistrust
            to convey messages of truth and new understanding,
            we praise you.

            Exuberant Spirit of God
            flame
                        wind
                                    speech,
            burn, breathe, speak in us;
            fill your world with justice and with joy. 
           
*  HYMN          Come, O Spirit, with Your Sound        265
 
MYSTIC READING              Hildegard of Bingen 1098-1179

SCRIPTURE LESSON

Let us prepare ourselves for the word of God as it comes to us in the reading of Holy Scripture.  Our hearts and minds are open.

                        Acts 2:1-21

For the word of God in scripture, for the word of God among us, for the word of God within us,  Thanks be to God!

*  HYMN            On Pentecost They Gathered        272   

SERMON             Powered Up!        Rev. Kim P. Wells

UNISON READING — Blessed are you who bear the light   Jan Richardson b. 1967

            Blessed are you
            who bear the light
            in unbearable times,
            who testify
            to its endurance
            amid the unendurable,
            who bear witness
            to its persistence
            when everything seems
            in shadow
            and grief.
            Blessed are you
            in whom
            the light lives,
            in whom
            the brightness blazes—
            your heart
            a chapel,
            an altar where
            in the deepest night
            can be seen
            the fire that
            shines forth in you
            in unaccountable faith,
            in stubborn hope,
            in love that illumines
            every broken thing
            it finds.

ANTHEM            Fire of Justice, Fire of Love         HKJ
 
MISSION STATEMENT

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 & in our world.
●  Offer the hospitality and inclusive love of Christ to all people.
●  Work for God’s peace and justice throughout creation.
MORNING OFFERING

Morning offerings may be brought forward and placed in the plates on the altar. You are invited to write your prayer requests on the sheets provided in the bulletin and bring them forward and place them in the basket on the altar. If you would like assistance, please turn to someone seated near you. 

Offertory            Clair de Lune           Debussy
            [from the movie, “Everything Everywhere All At Once”]

*  Time of Dedication       Christine Valters Paintner, b. 1970, adapted

            Fiery Spirit, Source of all creative power,
            Kindle your Holy Spark within us,
            Breathe into us your Sacred Passion,
            Fill us with your Flame until we have become fire,
            Offering warmth and light to the world.  Amen.      

*  PREPARATION FOR PRAYER        Loose the Spirit        Porter

MORNING PRAYERS – SAVIOR’S PRAYER 

O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos, focus your light within us—make it useful. Create your reign of unity now; Your one desire acts with ours, as in all light, so in all forms. Grant what we need each day in bread and insight. Loose the cords of mistakes binding us, as we release the strand we hold of others’ guilt. Don’t let surface things delude us, but free us from what holds us back. From you is born all ruling will, the power and the life to do, the song that beautifies all; from age to age it renews. Amen.
(Peshita Syriac-Aramaic translation)

*  HYMN          Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Wing         270   
*  BENEDICTION                    Digby Hannah, Australia 

            The wind and flame of Pentecost is surely here
            stirring in our hearts
            glowing in the faces of those we love
            in the still, small voice
            of compassion for those on the margins
            of passion for justice
            many candles and flames quietly and resolutely burning
            in distant places
            in our own neighborhood
            within our small community of faith
            Who will shout, “look here it is” or “there it is”?
            There is no need
            because Pentecost is within us.       

*  CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE  (please form a circle)     Rosemary Crow

            Weave, weave, weave us together;             Weave, weave, weave us together,
            Weave us together in unity and love.          Weave us together, together in love.

Teje, tejenos juntos,                          Teje, tejenos juntos,
Tejenos juntos en unidad y amor.    Tejenos juntos, juntos en el amor.

*  POSTLUDE            Ring of Fire            Cash





ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pilgrim, Trinity, Lakewood Cooperative Ministry
Pilgrim, Trinity, and Lakewood UCC churches in St. Petersburg have begun having discussions about how we can cooperate and support each other’sministries.  At the first meeting, a list was generated of things that we might work on together.  At the next meeting, the group will pick several things to focus on. 

In preparation for that meeting, LUCC leaders would like input from the LUCC congregation about what projects and initiatives are of most interest to our congregation.  There are three opportunities for you to be involved in this conversation. 

There will be an in person conversation about prioritizing the list of potential projects after worship TODAY in the church sanctuary.

There will be a Zoom conversation about the list of possible projects on Tuesday June 6 at 6:30 p.m.  Here is the Zoom link: 
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2700683648.

And there will be another in person conversation about the ministry possibilities at the next Advisors meeting, Sunday June 11 following worship in the Fellowship Hall. 

Please know that your input is needed as we explore working with our neighboring UCC churches. 

Operation Attack Update 
Operation Attack is an ecumenical food pantry located at Lakeview Presbyterian Church.  LUCC was a founding partner in this ministry in the 1960’s.  Volunteers are needed to serve on Thursdays.  Help is needed putting food away, serving clients, and doing clean up and re-stocking.  Pick a time that suits you:  9:30-12:30, 1-4, 4:30-6:30.  Help is needed during each of those time segments. 

Please consider volunteering for this important ministry serving those most in need in our community.

Donations of non perishable food is always welcome. 

Summer Sundays Ahead
For the Sunday services this summer, Rev. Wells would like to hear from you! 
What would you like to hear a sermon about?  Is there a theme or a topic or a scripture lesson or an issue or a story that is of interest to you?  Kim would love to hear from you and she will plan the summer services around your requests. 

Congregational Meeting Ahead
There will be a congregational meeting following morning worship on Sunday June 25.  This is a special called meeting to discuss a financial plan for the church for the second half of 2023.

Guided Labyrinth Walks
The weekly guided labyrinth walk is now scheduled for Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.  There are several factors that have led to this change including the construction on the property next to the church.  All are welcome!


Climate Card Initiative Ahead
LUCC will be participating in the UCC Climate Card initiative letting legislators know that we support efforts to eliminate global warming.  Look for more information soon!

Choir Ministry Concludes
This is the last Sunday that the choir will sing for this season.  The choir has brought much meaning and beauty to the worship services this year.  MANY THANKS to the choir members and especially to Music Director Hilton Jones! 

Exhibition Closing June 8
The exhibit “Civil Rights in the Sunshine State” at the St. Petersburg Museum of History will be closing June 8.  You are encouraged to see this important, extensive exhibit about the Civil Rights movement in Florida.  We all know the image of the marchers crossing the Pettus Bridge in Selma, AL but there were many significant Civil Rights demonstrations and actions in Florida.  This important exhibit at the Museum of History shares those stories, which, sadly, may no longer be taught in schools.  The exhibit will be on display through June 8. 
Circle of Concern

Yvonne Riesen recovering from a fall
Barbara Donohue’s friend, Kelsey
Lucille Ruga
Sherry Santana
Tony Rogers, church custodian
Erik Johnson 
Ann Quinn is under Hospice care 
Janet Hall
Caregivers
Schools: Students, families, teachers, and staff. 











































Church Staff
Rev. Kim P. Wells  Pastor
    Hilton K. Jones    Music Director
  Claudia Rodriguez  Childcare

Lakewood United Church of Christ 2601 54th Ave. S. St. Petersburg, FL 33712
727-867-7961  lakewooducc@gmail.com  lakewooducc.org
On land originally inhabited by the Tocabaga
LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
A Just Peace Church