 |
| As is common in the death penalty world, it has been an up and down week. First, the down: I am saddened that once again the Governor has chosen to set the execution for Louis Gaskin, a man with severe mental illness who was sentenced to death by an 8-4 vote jury vote. It is no coincidence that this is the second person with an 8-4 vote that the Governor has chosen for execution. At the same time, he has called for the Legislature to amend Florida’s Death Penalty law to require only 8 jurors to secure a death sentence – the lowest standard in the country. Additionally, Mr. Gaskin’s last formal clemency review was in 2014, under a previous Governor, almost a decade ago. Act now and ask Governor DeSantis and the Clemency Board to re-open the clemency process and commute Mr. Gaskin’s sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Now, for the hopeful news: While the House and Senate bills seeking to return Florida to its outlier status allowing non-unanimous death sentences have passed favorably through several committees, some legislators are standing up and voting no. Importantly, when they are debating the issue or explaining the reasons for their no vote, they are echoing all of the concerns and issues we have been raising. This means our voices are being heard. We want those who voted no to know that we see what they are doing and we appreciate their courage to stand up for what is right – please take a moment to thank them here. Finally, please know that even if you are not in Florida, you can still take our actions. We know that our Governor and other state leaders pay attention to national and international opinions about both their governing ability in general and the death penalty in specific. All of our voices matter. |
| Onward, Maria DeLiberatoFADP Executive Director |
| P.S.: Keep checking our website for updated information about Louis’s case and ways you can help. Please consider making a contribution today to help us keep up this important fight. |
Author: lakewooducc
Weekly Update 3.10.23
This Sunday: This Sunday is the third Sunday of Lent, a season of 40 days of preparation for the festival of Easter. Lent is a time to be intentional about having Love at the center of our lives. This Sunday the focus is on water. How do we open ourselves to the flow of love in our lives like water gushing from a spring?
Childcare is provided at all Sunday services.
DON’T FORGET THE TIME CHANGE SATURDAY NIGHT!
Spring forward!
Stewardship Materials Available
A letter, pledge form and additional materials are available offering the opportunity to make a commitment of financial support to the church for the year 2023. If you have not gotten a packet and would like one, please contact the Church Office.
The packet includes a collection of quotes from several people in the congregation commenting on what LUCC means to them. This piece is very inspiring! Don’t miss it!
New College Demonstration
Many thanks to Bill Parsons, Dyanne Edds, Emily Bell, and Kim Wells for being part of the demonstration at New College on Tuesday. New College was founded in 1960 by the United Church of Christ.
There were about 300 people at the demonstration, many of them from UCC churches. Did this rally change the Governor’s mind about policies regarding higher education? Probably not. But it certainly let the students, staff, and parents of New College know that the wider community is paying attention and cares about what is happening.
To see more about the demonstration including pictures, click here: https://lakewooducc.org/2023/03/02/lakewood-ucc-supports-new-college-rally/.
Advisors Meeting Sunday
The LUCC advisors will be meeting this Sunday, March 12, following worship, in the Fellowship Hall. All are welcome to attend. There is much to discuss as church leaders seek to support the vibrant life of this congregation!
IFTAR Dinner Ahead
The church received this invitation to the annual IFTAR dinner. Please contact the Church Office if you would like to attend. The church can provide transportation. Please indicate that you would like a ride: lakewooducc@gmail.com
Dear Beloved Community Members,
We invite you, family, and friends to join us at our 5th Annual Iftar Dinner.
Each year we host a free community Iftar dinner at the St. Petersburg Coliseum for over 800 fellow community members from various faiths with an interest in human life, in order to break down barriers.
Please join us, and let’s “break bread together with peace, love, and compassion for all humanity.”
When: Tuesday, April 4th. Doors open at 5:30 with the program beginning promptly at 6:30. Dinner will be served at sunset with the breaking of the fast (approximately 7:40 PM).
Where: St. Petersburg Coliseum: 535 4th Avenue North
How: Please RSVP to the Church Office at lakewooducc@gmail.com or 727-867-7961.
Abdu K. Ali
Tampa Bay Area Muslim Association, Inc.
IFTAR, Chair
UCC General Minister and President Nominee a former member of LUCC
This past week, the search committee for the next General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ announced the candidate to be elected at the General Synod this summer. It is the Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson. Many years ago, Karen lived in St. Pete and was a member of LUCC. Congratulations to Karen and to the UCC!
Click here to see the official announcement from the national UCC: https://lakewooducc.org/2023/03/02/rev-dr-karen-georgia-thompson-next-ucc-leader/
| Book Talk Ahead The monthly Book Talk will be held on Thursday March 16 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. This is a Zoom gathering. All are welcome to participate. Share what you have been reading lately if you would like to. Hear about what others have been reading. Meeting ID: 270 068 3648  |
Volunteers Needed
There are still several ways for volunteers to be helpful at church particularly involving basic tech skills. Please speak with Kim Wells if you can help out. Many thanks to all those who have taken on new responsibilities in recent weeks!
From Lakewood Church Leaders following the Congregational Meeting
As we enter the Lenten season we can be thankful for our church community deciding to move forward boldly at the Congregational Meeting on Feb. 19, 2023. By a unanimous vote with 23 people present, a 6 month budget was approved that keeps our full-time Pastor and accepts the challenge to meet a $12,500 deficit for the first 6 months of the year. A significant amount of that was pledged at the meeting.
There were two realities that were clear at the meeting. The first is the realization that expenses are going up for individual households and for the church. The second is that there is a strong sense of community and a special appreciation for the leadership of our Pastor and our church leaders. We simply have to find additional income.
We hope that you will seriously consider increasing your regular giving to the church this year. It is easy to say that we will do the same as last year, or that we will give when we attend on Sunday. But it will help in our planning if we know what we can count on to support our on-going expenses.
Another possibility is to consider a one-time gift to support this year’s shortfall. Perhaps you have planned to leave the church a bequest when you are no longer able to participate as part of the Lakewood family. Maybe you could use a portion of that bequest now to help Lakewood continue to thrive in this critical year of our life as a congregation. Eight to ten individuals contributing an additional $1,000 and 8-10 contributing an additional $500 would go a long way toward meeting our needs for the coming year. And for those who are not in a position to make this kind of commitment, please know that every gift is valued and significant to our life together.
In addition to increasing our financial giving, there is also the need to increase our participation and volunteering at the church. There many ways to be of assistance so that the ministry of the church can remain vibrant. Those who would like to become more involved are encouraged to contact Pastor Kim Wells to discuss ways to be helpful.
Working together, and the God’s help, we can meet this challenge.
Pledge forms will be available soon.
Many thanks for your support of this beautiful faith community!
Your Lakewood Church Leadership Team
 Guided Labyrinth Walks Wednesday Mornings at 9:00 a.m.Each week there is a guided labyrinth walk on the outdoor labyrinth at the church. It is a time of prayerful faith sharing, and a time to listen more deeply to our spiritual lives. In case of rain, the walks are held on Thursday morning. Also, the readings and prayers used each week at the guided walk are put in the mailbox by the labyrinth for use during the week. The labyrinth is on the church grounds near the southwest corner of the church property. It is available for use at all times. |
| Family Promise Needs Family Promise, a local ministry to houseless families with children, is in need of the following items: Women’s underwear sizes S/M/LWomen’s socksWash clothsBath towelsPull Ups sizes 2T-3T, 3T-4T, 4T-5THair conditioner (no shampoo)Women’s deodorantCerealCups, forks, platesSnacks to go (not granola bars)Please bring items to church and place them on the shelves behind the curtain in the hallway.  |
 Toiletries for Celebrate OutreachCelebrate Outreach is a local ministry with people who are living without shelter in St. Petersburg. An average of 135 people are served each week. LUCC was asked to collect toiletries to be distributed to the community at the meals that are provided on Saturday and Sundays each week. |
Celebration Outreach has an ongoing need for men’s and women’s underwear.
Men sizes 30, 32,34
Women’s sizes 5,6, 7,8.
Also in high demand are socks of all kinds /sizes for both men & women.
Other needed items are Deodorant & disposable razors.
Toothbrushes, toothpaste, disposable razors, bar soap, wash cloths, deodorant, feminine hygiene items, travel size creams, shampoo, body wash, individual packets of Kleenex, hand wipes, toilet tissue, and paper towels are always needed as well.
Many thanks to Janet Blair and Jim Andrews for taking the donations to Celebrate Outreach.
| Inkjet Recycling The church is continuing to collect used inkjet cartridges. They are sent to a recycler and the church receives payment for the cartridges provided. So, don’t throw out your cartridges. Bring them to church. Not only do they get recycled but they provide income for the ministry of the church.  |
 Operation Attack UpdateOA needs donations of cereal/oatmeal, mac and cheese, pasta sauce, peanut butter, canned meat, fruit, soup, and vegetables. Donations may be placed on the shelf in the hallway at church. Many thanks to Owen Blair-Catala for seeing that the donations are received by Operation Attack. |
USEFUL LAKEWOOD LINKS
For the above church website links, please note the “Older Posts” button near the bottom of each page.
You can stream Hilton’s music and videos for free at http://hiltonkeanjones.com/look-listen/ as well as purchase his CDs and digital albums there.
| March Birthdays! March 1 Carol ShoresMarch 3 Claudia RodriguezMarch 13 Yvonne RiesenMarch 19 Ron Huff Are any church family birthdays missing? Please contact the Church Office!  |
 Circle of ConcernSamantha Wassmer and familyTony and Jim LarsonEmily BellAnn Quinn is under Hospice careMaggie BrizendineJanet Hall |
All those suffering from COVID-19 and all healthcare workers, Schools: Students, families, teachers, and staff
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 Wednesday. Please provide the information in paragraph form with pertinent details and links. THANK YOU!
RECENT WEBSITE POSTS
- Update March 2, 20March 3, 2023
- BULLETIN 3.5.23March 2, 2023
- Rev Dr Karen Georgia Thompson next UCC leaderMarch 2, 2023
- Pinellas Remembers Community Remembrance Project CoalitionMarch 2, 2023
- Lakewood UCC Supports New College RallyMarch 2, 2023
- Bulletin2.24.23February 25, 2023
- Bulletin 02.19.23February 17, 2023
- ANNOUNCEMENTS – 2.19.23February 17, 2023
- Sermon text 2-5-23February 16, 2023
- Sermon text 2-12-23February 15, 2023
- UCC appeal for Turkey and SyriaFebruary 14, 2023
- Vigil to Mark the Anniversary of the Lynching of John EvansFebruary 14, 2023
- Demonstration Against Upcoming Execution 2/23February 14, 2023
- Bulletin 02.12.23February 10, 2023
- ANNOUNCEMENTS – 2.12.23February 10, 2023
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Bulletin March 12, 2023
A Creation Justice Church
March 12, 2023
10:30 a.m.
Lent
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
LIGHTING THE PEACE CANDLE — Colleen Coughenour, Liturgist
. . . we must not be deceived by the giants, and by their thunderous denunciations of one another, their preparations for mutual destruction. The fact that they are powerful does not mean that they are sane, and the fact that they speak with intense conviction does not mean that they speak the truth. — Thomas Merton 1915-1968
PRELUDE
Precious Lord, Take My Hand Dorsey/Schrader
*OPENING SENTENCES from Isaiah 55:1 & Rev. 21:6b
Ho, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and you that have no money,
come, buy, and eat!
To the thirsty I will give water
as a gift from the spring of the water of life.
*HYMN
Christ Is the Mountain of Horeb 45
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
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.
Exodus 17:1-7 and John 4:5-42
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!
MODERN READING – The Fountain Denise Levertov
* SONG
God, fill our lives John L. Bell
SERMON
Dried Up? Rev. Kim P. Wells
UNISON READING Rainer Maria Rilke
May what I do flow from me like a river,
no forcing and no holding back,
the way it is with children.
Then in these swelling and ebbing currents,
these deepening tides moving out, returning,
I will sing you as no one ever has, streaming through
widening channels
into the open sea.
ANTHEM
Seek First God’s Kingdom Pavlechko
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 Meditation from Thaïs Massenet
* Time of Dedication Janet Morley, contemporary
Come to the waters,
all you who are thirsty:
children who need water
free from diseases,
women who need respite
from labour and searching,
plants that need moisture
rooted near the bedrock,
find here a living spring.
O God, may we thirst
for your waters of justice,
and learn to deny no one
the water of life.
* PREPARATION FOR PRAYER
The Lord will listen John L. Bell
MORNING PRAYER – SAVIOR’S PRAYER
Fathering and Mothering God, lover of us all, most holy one.
Help us to respond to you
To create what you want for us here on earth.
Give us today enough for our needs.
Forgive our weak and deliberate offenses,
Just as we must forgive others when they hurt us.
Help us to resist evil and to do what is good.
For we are yours, endowed with your power to make the world whole. Amen.
* HYMN
Come, O Fount of Every Blessing 459
* BENEDICTION Mahatma Gandhi
For true love is inexhaustible:
The more you give,
the more you have.
And if you go to draw at the true fountainhead,
the more water you draw,
the more abundant is its flow.
*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.
*POSTLUDE
Prelude III Gershwin
ANNOUNCEMENTS
UCC General Minister and President a former member of LUCC
The search committee for the next General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ announced the candidate to be elected at the General Synod this summer. It is the Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson. Many years ago, Karen lived in St. Pete and was a member of LUCC. Congratulations to Karen and to the UCC!
Book Talk
The monthly Book Talk will be held on Thursday March 16 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. This is a Zoom gathering. All are welcome to participate. Share what you have been reading lately if you would like to. Hear about what others have been reading.
Meeting ID: 270 068 3648
Advisors Meeting
The Advisors will be meeting after church this morning. All are welcome!
Stewardship
A stewardship packet has been prepared. Please return your pledge form to the church by next Sunday. Many thanks!
Operation Attack
Operation Attack is a food pantry for families with children. At the moment, canned fruit is needed. Bring your donations to LUCC and place them on the shelves in the hallway.
Circle of Concern
Samantha Wassmer and Family – Tony and Jim Larson – Erik Johnson – Ann Quinn is under Hospice care – Maggie Brizendine – Janet Hall – Emily Bell
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
LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
A Just Peace Church
An Open and Affirming Church
Update March 2, 20
 |
 |
| This Sunday: This Sunday is the second Sunday of Lent, a season of 40 days of preparation for the festival of Easter. Lent is a time to be intentional about having Love at the center of our lives. This Sunday there are journeys offered. Abram is directed to take a journey to a new land, a new life, a new nation. And Nicodemus is offered a journey to a new life, to be born anew. Take a look at: Genesis 12:1-5a (and keep reading to hear the whole Abraham saga!) and John 3:1-17. This Sunday is also a communion Sunday. The Communion offering will be received. This offering is used to help people in the church and the community with basic needs such as rent and utility assistance, bus passes, prescriptions, etc. There has been a heavy need for these funds. Please consider how you can help the community through this offering. Communion will be offered by intinction. This involves coming forward, taking a piece of bread and dipping it in the cup and eating it. There will also be individual cups available, and the prepackaged communion servings. Please do what feels most comfortable for you. Childcare is provided at all Sunday services. |
| Giving Up Something for Lent? There is an age old tradition of giving up something for Lent. This tradition has many associations. This year, you are encouraged to join people from churches around Florida and around the country in giving up single use plastics for Lent. You can define the particulars to apply to your specific situation. Like – is the plastic container that blueberries come in at the grocery store considered a single use plastic? If you recycle it, is it single use plastic? You can make those determinations. Then see what it is like for you to give up this ubiquitous substance that is tainting every square inch of our planet – earth, air, and water. |
| New College Demonstration Many thanks to Bill Parsons, Dyanne Edds, Emily Bell, and Kim Wells for being part of the demonstration at New College on Tuesday. New College was founded in 1960 by the United Church of Christ. There were about 300 people at the demonstration, many of them from UCC churches. Did this rally change the Governor’s mind about policies regarding higher education? Probably not. But it certainly let the students, staff, and parents of New College know that the wider community is paying attention and cares about what is happening. To see more about the demonstration including pictures, click here: https://lakewooducc.org/2023/03/02/lakewood-ucc-supports-new-college-rally/ |
| UCC General Minister and President Nominee a former member of LUCC This past week, the search committee for the next General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ announced the candidate to be elected at the General Synod this summer. It is the Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson. Many years ago, Karen lived in St. Pete and was a member of LUCC. Congratulations to Karen and to the UCC! Click here to see the official announcement from the national UCC: https://lakewooducc.org/2023/03/02/rev-dr-karen-georgia-thompson-next-ucc-leader/ |
| Volunteers Needed There are still several ways for volunteers to be helpful at church particularly involving basic tech skills. Please speak with Kim Wells if you can help out. Many thanks to all those who have taken on new responsibilities in recent weeks! |
| Earthquake Response In response to the horrific devastation and loss of life in Turkey, Syria, and beyond, the United Church of Christ Disaster Ministries in on the scene offering assistance. To make a financial donation through the UCC, please click here. https://lakewooducc.org/2023/02/14/25034/ |
| Annual Giving Reports Finance Secretary Lucille Ruga has prepared annual giving statements for 2022.If you would like your statement for your records, please contact Lucille |
| From Lakewood Church Leaders following the Congregational Meeting As we enter the Lenten season we can be thankful for our church community deciding to move forward boldly at the Congregational Meeting on Feb. 19, 2023. By a unanimous vote with 23 people present, a 6 month budget was approved that keeps our full-time Pastor and accepts the challenge to meet a $12,500 deficit for the first 6 months of the year. A significant amount of that was pledged at the meeting. There were two realities that were clear at the meeting. The first is the realization that expenses are going up for individual households and for the church. The second is that there is a strong sense of community and a special appreciation for the leadership of our Pastor and our church leaders. We simply have to find additional income. We hope that you will seriously consider increasing your regular giving to the church this year. It is easy to say that we will do the same as last year, or that we will give when we attend on Sunday. But it will help in our planning if we know what we can count on to support our on-going expenses. Another possibility is to consider a one-time gift to support this year’s shortfall. Perhaps you have planned to leave the church a bequest when you are no longer able to participate as part of the Lakewood family. Maybe you could use a portion of that bequest now to help Lakewood continue to thrive in this critical year of our life as a congregation. Eight to ten individuals contributing an additional $1,000 and 8-10 contributing an additional $500 would go a long way toward meeting our needs for the coming year. And for those who are not in a position to make this kind of commitment, please know that every gift is valued and significant to our life together. In addition to increasing our financial giving, there is also the need to increase our participation and volunteering at the church. There many ways to be of assistance so that the ministry of the church can remain vibrant. Those who would like to become more involved are encouraged to contact Pastor Kim Wells to discuss ways to be helpful. Working together, and the God’s help, we can meet this challenge. Pledge forms will be available soon. Many thanks for your support of this beautiful faith community! Your Lakewood Church Leadership Team |
| Guided Labyrinth Walks Wednesday Mornings at 9:00 a.m. Each week there is a guided labyrinth walk on the outdoor labyrinth at the church. It is a time of prayerful faith sharing, and a time to listen more deeply to our spiritual lives. In case of rain, the walks are held on Thursday morning. Also, the readings and prayers used each week at the guided walk are put in the mailbox by the labyrinth for use during the week. The labyrinth is on the church grounds near the southwest corner of the church property. It is available for use at all times. |
| Family Promise Needs Family Promise, a local ministry to houseless families with children, is in need of the following items: Women’s underwear sizes S/M/LWomen’s socksWash clothsBath towelsPull Ups sizes 2T-3T, 3T-4T, 4T-5THair conditioner (no shampoo)Women’s deodorantCerealCups, forks, platesSnacks to go (not granola bars)Please bring items to church and place them on the shelves behind the curtain in the hallway. |
| Toiletries for Celebrate Outreach Celebrate Outreach is a local ministry with people who are living without shelter in St. Petersburg. An average of 135 people are served each week. LUCC was asked to collect toiletries to be distributed to the community at the meals that are provided on Saturday and Sundays each week. Celebration Outreach has an ongoing need for men’s and women’s underwear. Men sizes 30, 32,34 Women’s sizes 5,6, 7,8. Also in high demand are socks of all kinds /sizes for both men & women. Other needed items are Deodorant & disposable razors.Toothbrushes, toothpaste, disposable razors, bar soap, wash cloths, deodorant, feminine hygiene items, travel size creams, shampoo, body wash, individual packets of Kleenex, hand wipes, toilet tissue, and paper towels are always needed as well.Many thanks to Janet Blair and Jim Andrews for taking the donations to Celebrate Outreach. |
| Inkjet Recycling The church is continuing to collect used inkjet cartridges. They are sent to a recycler and the church receives payment for the cartridges provided. So, don’t throw out your cartridges. Bring them to church. Not only do they get recycled but they provide income for the ministry of the church. |
| Operation Attack Update OA needs donations of cereal/oatmeal, mac and cheese, pasta sauce, peanut butter, canned meat, fruit, soup, and vegetables. Donations may be placed on the shelf in the hallway at church. Many thanks to Owen Blair-Catala for seeing that the donations are received by Operation Attack. |
| USEFUL LAKEWOOD LINKS Sermon and Reflection Texts Lakewood UCC YouTube Channel Lakewood UCC on Twitter Lakewood on Facebook Lakewood on Instagram For the above church website links, please note the “Older Posts” button near the bottom of each page. You can stream Hilton’s music and videos for free at http://hiltonkeanjones.com/look-listen/ as well as purchase his CDs and digital albums there. |
| March Birthdays! March 1 Carol ShoresMarch 3 Claudia RodriguezMarch 13 Yvonne RiesenMarch 19 Ron Huff Are any church family birthdays missing? Please contact the Church Office! |
| Circle of Concern Samantha Wassmer and familyThe Family and Loved Ones of Beulah CoughenourTony and Jim LarsonErik JohnsonKatherine ConoverSherry SantanaAnn Quinn is under Hospice careMaggie BrizendineJanet HallAll those suffering from COVID-19 and all healthcare workers, Schools: Students, families, teachers, and staff |
| 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 Wednesday. Please provide the information in paragraph form with pertinent details and links. THANK YOU! |
| RECENT WEBSITE POSTS Put in list of new postsBULLETIN 3.5.23March 2, 2023 Rev Dr Karen Georgia Thompson next UCC leaderMarch 2, 2023 Pinellas Remembers Community Remembrance Project CoalitionMarch 2, 2023 Lakewood UCC Supports New College RallyMarch 2, 2023 |
BULLETIN 3.5.23
March 5, 2023
10:30 a.m.
Lent
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
LIGHTING THE PEACE CANDLE Sally Purvis, Liturgist
Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.
Rumi 1207-1273
PRELUDE
The Meadow Ireland
*OPENING READING Rabindranath Tagore 1861-1941
The winds of grace are blowing, but it is you who must raise your sails.
*HYMN
Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness 286
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
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.
Genesis 12:1-5a and John 3:1-17
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!
* SONG
In love you summon John L. Bell
SERMON
Short Cuts? Rev. Kim P. Wells
UNISON READING
Anselm c.1033-1109
Jesus, like a mother, you gather us to you. With a mother’s gentleness, you weep for our sins, cry for our arrogance, lead us out of hatred, deliver us from judging, comfort our sorrow, heal our wounds, and feed us pure milk. You are our mother, Lord. You gather us under your wings. You died for us and give us life. Restore our souls. Remake us in your peace.
ANTHEM
JLM (Jesus Loves Me) Phillips
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
Andante Cantabile Mozart
* Time of Dedication
Eric James
There is never an act of faith without risk.
* PREPARATION FOR COMMUNION Take, O take me as I am Iona Community
CELEBRATION OF HOLY COMMUNION
Invitation
Communion Prayer – Savior’s Prayer
Our Creator, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom 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 John Hammon
Child of Bethlehem —
house of bread;
Man of Jerusalem —
city of peace;
you have loved us
without condition;
in our greatness and in our misery,
in our folly and in our virtue;
may your hand be always upon us
and may your heart be within us
so that we too
may become bread and peace
for one another. Amen.
* HYMN
I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry 351
* BENEDICTION
*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.
*POSTLUDE
Agincourt Hymn Dunstable
ANNOUNCEMENTS
This is a Communion Sunday. Please know that everyone is welcome to participate in communion. Young people are invited to participate at the discretion of the adult(s) who have brought them. The Communion Offering will be received. This offering is used to help people in the church and the community with basic needs such as rent and utility assistance, bus passes, prescriptions, etc. There has been heavy need for these funds. Please consider how you can help the community through this offering.
This morning communion will be offered by intinction. This involves coming forward, taking a piece of bread and dipping it in the cup and eating it. There are also individual cups available, and the prepackaged communion servings. Please do what feels most comfortable for you.
UCC General Minister and President a former member of LUCC
This past week, the search committee for the next General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ announced the candidate to be elected at the General Synod this summer. It is the Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson. Many years ago, Karen lived in St. Pete and was a member of LUCC. Congratulations to Karen and to the UCC!
New College Demonstration Many thanks to Bill Parsons, Dyanne Edds, Emily Bell, and Kim Wells for being part of the demonstration at New College on Tuesday. New College was founded in 1960 by the United Church of Christ.
Circle of Concern
Samantha Wassmer and Family – The Family and Loved Ones of Beulah Coughenour – Tony and Jim Larson – Erik Johnson – George and Jane Diven and Family – Katherine Conover – Sherry Santana – Ann Quinn is under Hospice care – Maggie Brizendine – Janet Hall
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
LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
A Just Peace Church
An Open and Affirming Church
A Creation Justice Church
Lakewood United Church of Christ 