lakewooducc

Voicing Our Values October 18th

Many from the Lakewood congregation participated in Voicing Our Values on October 18th. Here are some pictures of the day of witness.

Sermon text 9.14.25 “Lost and Found”

LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
2601 54th Avenue South St. Petersburg, FL 33712 on the Gulf of Mexico
On land originally inhabited by the Tocabaga
727-867-7961

lakewooducc.org

lakewooducc@gmail.com

Date: September 14, 2025

Scripture Lesson: Luke 15:1-10

Sermon: Lost and Found

Pastor: Rev. Kim P. Wells

It’s been a week. With remembrances of the horrors of 9/11 and then the murder of a prominent political operative, there has been plenty of commentary to keep us up at night.

One of the most helpful things I have read this week was by another young political operative, Corbin Trent. He says:

“We tell ourselves violence is never the answer while simultaneously accepting it as always the answer. From our foreign policy to how we attempt to prevent crime to how we settle our traffic disputes, violence is always an answer for America.

“Charlie Kirk’s death is an atrocity. But it’s not a break in the pattern. It is the pattern.” [“American Carnage: The Violence We Accept and The Violence We Don’t,” Corbin Trent and America’s Undoing Sept. 11, 2025.]

This article was truth telling at its best, reflecting who we truly are as a nation rather than who we think we are.

I read a book recently, a novel, Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead. The story takes place in a small town in Poland near the border with the Czech Republic. The main character is an adamant animal rights activist concerned about the deer and the foxes and other wildlife. When several deaths occur in the town, she becomes a person of interest relating to these deaths. I remember thinking, Why would they turn to her? She has this obsession with animals and reverence for life. Without giving too much away, let’s just say, people are strange and mental illness is real. And I encourage you to read the book! [By Olga Tokarczuk.]

We humans are constantly a crazy mix of high ideals and conflicting behavior. Or, of low ideals and conflicting behavior. Look at the religious scholars and Pharisees who are listening to Jesus’ teaching. They are supposed to be people of high ideals representing the goodness of God. The idea was that the Jewish people were to be compliant with God and this would create a community so compelling everyone would be drawn to it. It would be irresistible. The justice and compassion and peace incarnated in the community would captivate and attract. And later, the Jesus followers, the Christian community, saw itself in the same light. But what did we hear this morning: “. . . the Pharisees and the religious scholars murmured, ‘This person welcomes sinners and eats with them.'” Well, we remember Jesus as one who came to seek and save the lost.

But there it is. Our seemingly inborn judgmentalism rearing its ugly head this time against sinners and tax collectors. This might be like saying a prominent religious authority was eating with undocumented workers and members of Greenpeace. Or, depending on your vantage point, eating with MAGA members, anti-vaxers, and oil industry executives. At one time we might have included among the despicable those who take advantage of others to get rich, but they do not seem to be on anyone’s naughty list anymore.

But notice, instead of confronting all of the many issues involved with what the religious leaders have to say, instead of commenting on our ridiculous human proclivity for self deception and hypocrisy, Jesus responds to this criticism, this murmuring, by talking not about humans but about God.

And lost sheep. One of 100. Now there are 99. But the shepherd searches. The number 100 is symbolic of completeness. So, to find the one sheep is to create wholeness, completeness. Oneness. And it is lost to most of us, but it would not have been lost to the first century listeners: shepherds were not only lowly, but they were considered outcasts. That was work for those who couldn’t find a legitimate way to be part of respectable society. And the sheep is lost. And the shepherd risks everything to find it. This certainly would have grated on the ears of the religious leaders and yet Jesus was talking about God, the nature of God. He was not correcting or directly disputing their comments.

Then the story of the woman and the coin. Here again, an affront. The Divine Feminine. Jesus portrays God in feminine terms. The great God, almighty, imaged from the underside of society, after all, women were at best second class, and at worst chattel. And what is lost? A coin. Not a fortune. A coin. One of 10. Again, 10 is symbolic of completeness, wholeness.

In both stories, what has been excluded is included. We see the comprehensive love of God. No one forgotten or left out. And the initiative is on the part of God, seeking completeness, wholeness. Bringing together what has been divided. The God figure in these stories is not a task master, not a vindictive judge, not a divine scorekeeper. This portrayal of God undoubtedly disorients the religious authorities of the first century as well as the tax collectors and sinners. This portrayal of God subverts ordinary thinking about God.

We are presented with a God of grace and love. What parent would walk away and leave a child behind? This God is not swayed by politics or income. There is no criticizing or vilifying or othering in these stories. There is no room for division or separation. One love. For one Creation. Period. Which means that each one of us is in. And the people we love to hate are in. And the people we are trying not to hate, they’re in. And the people who disgust us. They’re in. The deplorables, whoever they may be? They’re in. And the people who have hurt us. They’re in. And the people who perpetuate violence. They’re in. We’re all in. We need to be for there to be completeness.

We will never have all the right answers to solve the world’s problems or even our own problems. But we must keep working on those. Jesus shows us that the most important thing is relationships. And we are held tightly in the arms of Love. No matter our thoughts, opinions, or beliefs. Relationship is what brings us wholeness, completeness, oneness. Jesus doesn’t argue the fine points of the law with the religious authorities who feel it is their obligation to uphold the law in order to maintain right relationship with God. Jesus emphasizes God’s love of humanity and Creation, not God’s love of the law. It’s the relationship, not the issue. And God will stop at nothing to be in right relationship with us.

Sandra Hoffmeister was a young woman when her father divulged to her that she had a half sister, half a world away in Australia. That’s about all she knew until her father came to live with her in his later years. Before his death, he told her a bit more. Through all those years, Sandra was wondering about this sister. Who was she? How could she find her? Once the internet was a viable tool, she pursued trying to find this unknown sister. She tried everything she could with every scrap of information she had. She could not give up thinking about this sister and wanting to know her.

Finally, through an ancestry site, a connection was made. But then she considered how to approach this because she did not know if the sister knew about her birth father and she did not want to upset her relationship with the father who raised her. Finally, Hoffmeister was able to contact her sister’s adult daughter. And the sisters were joyfully reunited.

An article about this reunion reports,

“Hoffmeister says it’s amazing to look at photos of her sister and see so many similarities.

‘We both like jewelry. We both like shoes. She loves dogs, I love dogs. She wore purple, and when she got married a second time, her dress was purple,’ Hoffmeister says.

“Naturally, ‘Purple is my favorite color.'” [“Long-Lost Sisters on the Other Side of the World Reunite Decades Later, Thanks to DNA” by Susan Young, People, 1.2.25, https://people.com/long-lost-sisters-reunited-from-across-the-world-by-myheritage-dna-match-8763084%5D

Can we let ourselves be found, be fully claimed, be embraced by Divine Love? Can we see what we have in common? That we, too, are brothers and sisters born of one Love? Then maybe we can make progress on caring for one another and for this precious planet. Even if only Christians let ourselves be found by this searching love and grace, things might get better for everyone in this country and beyond. 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.

International Day of Peace Celebration

This past Sunday, Sept. 21, the church commemorated United Nations International Day of Peace. The focus was on the conflict between Israel and Gaza. Olive branches and watermelon adorned the altar. We were reminded that while watermelon is a symbol of Palestinian solidarity because it features the colors of the Palestinian flag, here in this culture watermelon is a racist trope. The service featured prayers from Palestinian sources, and music from Palestine as well as Jewish sources. There was a conversation between Rev. Wells and Gavin Meyers, an Eckerd College student who has been attending the church and has lived in Oman for 11 years where his father is a missionary working on fostering interreligious dialogue for peace. The video of the conversation will be posted on the church website. After the service, there was watermelon to eat before we headed out to 54th Ave. S. with our signs for a half hour demonstration for peace. The signs were a great success! We guesstimate that one out of five cars honked or waved. We circled up and debriefed at the end. Everyone agreed it was a good thing. Many thanks to Sharon Taylor and Michelle Varley Crosby for helping with the sign painting. We’ll keep the signs at church for future demonstrations like the upcoming No Kings Day. Many, many thanks to all who helped to create this beautiful celebration of peace!

Sermon Text- On Purpose- 8.24.25

LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

2601 54th Avenue South St. Petersburg, FL 33712

on the Gulf of Mexico

On land originally inhabited by the Tocabaga

727-867-7961

lakewooducc.org lakewooducc@gmail.com

Date: August 24, 2025

Scripture Lesson: Exodus 3:1-10

Sermon: On Purpose

Pastor: Rev. Kim P. Wells

For Moses, it was the burning bush. He was out, hiding out, really, with the flocks of his father in law. Glad to be away from people, politics, and danger since he had left Egypt a wanted man after killing an overseer who had beaten a Hebrew slave. It was safe in the wilderness with the sheep. Here, Moses could stay out of trouble and make a positive contribution to his family by helping with the livestock. He had a community and a purpose.

And then there was the burning bush. And the call to free the slaves in Egypt. And Moses resisted. He protested. He tried to get out of it. But God would have none of it. And, we know the story. Moses, along with his brother Aaron, and sister Miriam, were instrumental in helping the slaves escape from Egypt through the Red Sea. This was followed by 40 years in the wilderness, and then into the promised land. Moses had a calling. A purpose.

And so did many significant figures in the stories in the Bible. Abraham was called, late in life, in his very old age, to relocate with his wife Sarah. And they were told they would be the progenitors of many nations. Which did not happen until they were elderly. You just never know. Then there was Samuel, who was called into God’s service as a child. Awakened by God in the night. And given his purpose. And we know the calling of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the story of the visitation by the angel Gabriel telling her of her purpose. And Paul being knocked off his horse, struck blind, and being told of his calling. So many stories of calling in the Bible!

And though its no longer Bible times, many of us today have a calling; we have a purpose revealed to us in some way. For me, I was walking home from church one Sunday when I was in college, and I was overcome with the feeling that if I made one person feel like this, in my whole life, then I would have fulfilled my purpose. So I became a pastor.

This is work we associate with a calling. Our daughter, Angela, was contemplating becoming a lawyer, until she attended her grandfather’s memorial service. He had been a pastor. She heard the stories about him and got her calling. She wanted to do what he did. Have that kind of an impact on people.

And our son, Sterling, in high school, he told me, “I can’t not paint. You should understand that, Mom.” And, of course, I do. And so he went to art school and is a painter living in Los Angeles.

And there is Robert Reich, the professor, who immediately resonated with teaching and knew that is what he was to do with his life. The story of his career is beautifully presented in the movie, “The Last Class.”

In the book, The Women, by Kristin Hannah, the main character, Frankie McGrath, finds that she wants to make a difference. She is from a well to do family in Southern California. It’s the 60’s. She decided to become a nurse. Until she got married. But after encountering an injured soldier in a San Diego hospital, she decided that she, like her brother who is serving in the Navy in Vietnam, she too, can serve her country. “‘I could serve my country,’ she said to the man [patient] whose hand she held. It was a revolutionary, frightening, exhilarating thought.” [The Women, Kristin Hannah, p. 14.] Frankie enlists in the army to serve as a nurse in Vietnam. She finds her purpose. Which, it turns out, is not validated by her family or by society. Because she is a woman and the service of women in wartime was not acknowledged or respected. But she listened to her heart and saved lives.

This is manifestation of Divine Love, at the heart of reality. God so loved the world, that not only was Jesus given to the world, but each and every person is given to the world to be a vessel of love. Of compassion. Of caring. Everyone one is needed. Each one of us is here for a purpose. In our Christian tradition we see that purpose as love, of self, love of God, love of neighbor, and love of enemy. We are here to love. This life. This earth. And the people of this earth, whoever they may be. Our purpose is LOVE.

Now, because we live in a culture of extractive capitalism, the society around us wants to convince us that we are here to be consumers, to buy things, to spend money, to make money for other people. We are here to work, so that we have the money to spend to make a profit for others. We’ll get more into that next week for Labor Day Sunday. But we are indoctrinated, brainwashed, to see ourselves not as moral beings or as beings of compassion. We are indoctrinated to see ourselves as economic beings. Our purpose is to engage with the economy. To buy, sell, spend, invest. Where does love fit into that picture?

We are also bound up in a society that is addicted to measuring and counting. Anything that is worth doing must have a measurable outcome. We are obsessed with quantifying what we do to justify our actions. What difference does something make? How do we know it is a worthy purpose? Well, there is a measurement to back it up.

That is not Biblical. We are never told how many slaves were freed from Egypt. We aren’t told of the economic implications or the measurable outcomes of most of what happens in the Bible. Because love, well, it really can’t be measured.

So as our lives unfold and we are thinking about why we are here and what our purpose is, we are programmed to think in terms of measurability. And love just doesn’t work like that.

In my mother’s last months in the nursing home at Westminster Suncoast, she really couldn’t talk much at all and she couldn’t walk. She couldn’t dress herself. She couldn’t feed herself. What was her purpose? To provide a job for an aide? Maybe. But there is one thing she did do. And she was known for it. And people used to stop and greet her in the hall way of the nursing facility. Because she would always smile. And they loved to see her smile. They knew that if they greeted Gertie, she would brighten their day with a smile. So, even in her reduced, compromised condition, she had a purpose. She could still love with a smile. How many lives did she brighten a day? Who knows? That’s not the point of love. Of purpose.

So I think measurability is one thing that can be an obstacle when we think about purpose. And here’s another thing. We are in a culture that values being busy. And there are many tasks we need to do to keep our everyday lives on track that take time. When we are younger, it’s work, relationships, parenting, keeping up house and yard, helping elderly parents, so many things demanding our time. And as we get older, there are medical appointments, helping with grandchildren, loss of energy, physical ability and mental acuity slowing us down. These things fill our days. So, where is our capacity for love and service? We are so busy! Do we even notice where we are needed?

We don’t see Jesus consulting his calendar all the time – two healings this morning, followed by an exorcism. Lunch with the lepers. Then in the afternoon, walk to the next town, have dinner with a religious leader. Then offer some teachings lakeside before turning in at the home of a random local. Oh, next week, we’ll be in Capernaum. We’re scheduled to give a talk there and to cast out demons. Then we’ll cross the Sea of Galilee by boat. That night I will calm the storm. I mean, it just doesn’t work like that with Jesus. He has space and time in his life, and the inclination, to spend his days fulfilling his purpose which is to show people how to love, God, Creation, themselves, and others. That is his purpose.

For God to get in and give us a message about what we are needed to be doing to love, well, there has to be some space, some emptiness, some readiness. Moses was out in the scrub with the sheep. Plenty of time and room for God to get a word in edgewise.

We also live in a time where we are trained to expect immediate results. We click. We tap. We post. We email. No waiting days or weeks for a response. We are used to getting the response now. Instantly. It’s like feeding the beast. I want it now. The likes. The thumbs up. But so much that has to do with purpose, well, we may never get a response. Or the outcome may be a long time coming. Sharing love and compassion, working for justice, creating a society that honors human rights for all, these things take time. Twentieth century theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr, once said, “Nothing worth doing can be achieved in a lifetime; therefore we must be saved by hope.” When it comes to purpose, to channeling the love of God, we must realize that we may never see the results. It’s not something that we do so that we get immediate gratification though there are studies that show that helping others does actually improve physical health outcomes. But we may never see our efforts come to full fruition. Any teacher can tell you that. Teachers pour themselves into their students and who knows what becomes of them? Maybe a few stay in touch but most go on with their lives and the teachers never know what impact they have had.

Another thing that I think influences our sense of purpose today is that we know so much about what is going on in the world around us and that can make the problems seem overwhelming. We don’t think we can make a difference. There’s too much. And it’s too big. And what can we do?

Yet we are here, we are put here, we are intended to be here, to channel Divine Love. We are here, like Jesus, to make the love of God manifest to the world around us.

This week I read about a camp for old people and young people combined that took place in California last month. The older people taught the younger people things they don’t necessarily learn today like how to sew, or embroider, or play a musical instrument, or cook. The camp was started by a high schooler who lives with her grandmother. The intent was to help teens learn from their elders, and help address the loneliness and isolation experienced by many seniors. The younger people were thrilled to benefit from these interactions with their elders which included doing things like card making, embroidery, clay, jewelry making, Instant Pot cooking, and fruit bouquet making. And the elders learned about life today for younger people. [“Seniors Teach “Lost” Life Skills to Students at Intergenerational Summer Camp,” Nice News, Daily Edition August 22, 2025.]

So, what is our purpose? To love. To express love. If you like to cook, then cook a meal for someone, and better yet, enjoy it with them. That’s purpose. Listen to someone’s troubles. Just listen. Pay attention. That’s purpose. If you have money, share it. Where it is needed. To help someone. Or to make the world a better place. Give it away. That’s purpose. If you like to write, post things that offer insight and encouragement. Share joy. Expose injustice. Write. Write. Write. That’s purpose. If your are a musician, make beautiful music. To move others. To bring joy. That’s purpose. Call someone you know who is lonely. And maybe down. That’s purpose. Helping someone carry in their grocery bags. That’s purpose. Giving someone a ride to the doctor. That’s purpose. Taking care of someone’s children when needed, that’s purpose. Purpose is an orientation of the heart.

When we were in Kentucky recently, we did a lot of hiking. There was a lot of up and down, uneven paths, rocks and roots and boulders to traverse. With my arthritic knees that don’t like to bend, it could be a challenge. I was down on all fours. Or going up backwards on my butt. Whatever it took. In one spot, I was down on all fours, climbing over a rocky formation, and a young man and woman came up behind me. The man, maybe in his thirties, he kind of hovered near by as I proceeded. My family had gone on ahead. I encouraged this couple to go past me and continue on. I told them I’m slow. Go ahead. But his man just couldn’t do it. He finally said, “It’s just not in my blood to walk away when I could help someone. . .” Well, I affirmed that! And I let him know that my husband, son, daughter, son in law, and soon to be daughter in law were here with me, so it was ok for him to head on. And then he did.

Purpose does not mean that you have a grand calling, part of a big scheme, to transform the world, or make a lot of money. Purpose means that you are trying to be open to letting love flow through you into the world, some way, some how, whatever your situation, abilities, or circumstances. Purpose means that it’s in your blood to help. To give. To contribute. To speak up. To listen. To smile. To love.

We may not all get marching orders like Moses. But the presence and power of Divine Love infuses our world and our reality and calls us to channel love. As long as there is breath in our bodies, our purpose is to love. That’s is what we are here to be and to do. Writing in 1856, poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning picks up on the burning bush and reminds us:

“Earth’s crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God,
But only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round and pluck blackberries.”

[Poem: Aurora Leigh.]

You are welcome to take off your shoes! 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.