As I have mentioned previously in these devotions, I have been dogged in my efforts to avoid getting covid. I had a sign on the front door of our home telling anyone who wanted to enter to mask and sanitize. The sanitizer was outside on the table by the front door. I masked everywhere outside of our house. Once the vaccine was available, we did not let anyone in our home that was not vaxed. When I had to fly, I wore two masks and a face shield. I kept my distance from people. I have not eaten in a restaurant for 2 years. I have not gone back to hear the orchestra live. I am still very careful. And despite my extensive efforts to evade the virus, it struck.
I got covid. From my grandchildren, ages 1 and 2 1/2. Too young for the vaccine. Too small to mask. After all of my efforts, I got covid from my very own close to home beloved family.
I think this speaks to Holy Week. Today we begin the week of commemoration of the last week of Jesus’ life. The gospels tell us of the Palm Sunday procession, the Last Supper, Gethsemane, Jesus’ arrest and trial and conviction and crucifixion. Yes, the Romans crucified Jesus. But Jesus’ friends, his disciples, the authorities of his own religion, even the crowds had a hand in the thing. It wasn’t random strangers from the outside. It was those close to Jesus. It was his own people.
As this Holy Week begins we continue our Lenten examination of our lives and our hearts. We are Jesus followers. We are the ones close at hand. This is a week to consider how we betray the gospel. How we deny the good news. How we crucify God’s dream. How we desert our Savior. Yes, we who are close to Jesus. How does the story of this Holy Week help us to be honest about our story?
Prayer On this Palm Sunday we celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The crowds were large and enthusiastic. May we engage in the intense self reflection needed so that we can number ourselves among those who are truly devoted to the dream of God for all of Creation. Amen.
These five things were together on a list. Can you guess what it is a list of? What kind of list would link religion and TV? Or religion and math? Or sleeping and observing animals?
Well, first the article had a list of the 5 Most Boring Jobs. You can make your guesses about what some of those were. Then there was a list of the 5 Most Exciting Jobs. You can make some guesses about that, too. Then there was the list above.
Evidently, according to a study done in England, sleeping, religion, watching television, observing animals, and math are the top five most boring hobbies! Hobbies?
Since when is religion a ‘hobby’? Webster tells us that a hobby is ‘a pursuit outside one’s regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation.’ Well, whoever worked on this study does not have much understanding of religion, at least not Christianity.
Christianity tells us who we are. And why we are here. Christianity defines us as a species created in the Divine image, holy and sacred, here to love and serve. Christianity gives us our values and our world view. It shows us how to function in the world. It informs how we conduct ourselves in relationships. Christianity forms our identity.
Being Christian, following Jesus, is not ‘outside one’s regular occupation.’ It is our primary occupation. It is our calling. It defines us. And it surely keeps us occupied!
As for boring, following a guy who was sentenced to capital punishment, killed on a cross, and remembered for being resurrected and coming back from the dead, is that boring? Investing your life in the well-being of the world, is that boring? Loving your enemies, is that boring? Forgiving 70 times 7, is that boring? There’s even fishing for people. Surely not as boring as the TV shows ‘The Deadliest Catch’ or ‘Aussie Lobster Men’! Anyone who thinks a life based on following Jesus is boring hasn’t tried following Jesus. They have not experienced the wildness of mercy.
Prayer With so many diversions and distractions, may we stay centered on following Jesus. May we be open to the adventures that faith brings. May we invest ourselves deeply in the life of this amazing world loving fully and freely. Amen.
Humble and riding on a donkey, We greet you. Acclaimed by crowds and caroled by children, We cheer you. Moving from the peace of the countryside to the corridors of power, We salute you. You are giving the beasts of burden a new dignity; you are giving majesty a new face; you are giving those who long for redemption a new song to sing. With them, with heart and voice, we shout, “Hosanna!”
Iona Community, adapted
*SCRIPTURE LESSON
Approaching Bethphage and Bethany, near what is called the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of the disciples with these instructions:
Go into the village ahead of you. Upon entering it, you’ll find a tethered colt no one has yet ridden. Untie it and lead it back. If anyone should ask you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Rabbi needs it.’
They departed on their errand and found things just as Jesus had said. As they untied the colt, its owners said to them,
Why are you doing that?
They explained that the Rabbi needed it. Then the disciples led the animal to Jesus and, laying their cloaks on it, helped him mount.
People spread their cloaks on the roadway as Jesus rode along. As they reached the descent from the Mount of Olives, the entire crowd of disciples joined them and began to rejoice and praise God loudly for the display of power they had seen, saying,
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of Our God!
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus,
Teacher, rebuke your disciples!
Jesus replied,
I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the very stones would cry out!
* BLESSING AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE PALMS
* PROCESSION TO THE ALTAR
UNISON PRAYER Bruce Sanguin, b. 1955
O Holy One, we come prepared to cheer on our holy leader and hallowed child of Wisdom, Jesus, the anointed one.
Our need is as great today as it was for those ancient pilgrims to honour and salute the presence of truth and beauty and goodness.
For we have wandered far from Wisdom, and we find ourselves cheering for all the wrong things and all the wrong people.
Now we join in with this holy procession of hope, that we might look into the heart of Christ and see our own sacred heart reflected back, empowering us to stay with Him, and stay with our own deep integrity, when the forces of chaos conspire to shake our conviction and make peace with an unholy convention. Amen.
*HYMN All Glory, Laud and Honor 216
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.
Philippians 2:5-11
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.
Jesus, we greet your presence in our midst, as on that day when you entered, riding a borrowed donkey, into that city in which you were acclaimed and hated, received and rejected, praised and insulted. We raise our hands to heaven, as a sign of gratitude, in the same way that, on that other day, many placed their own clothes on the road and waved palms as you passed to welcome you, to express their joy, to show their hope . . . Each extended arm was a symbol of freedom, a desire for peace, the dream of a better tomorrow, a desire for peace. And each shout raised up to the heavens contained the longings of generations of men and women injured by injustice and wounded by scorn. Today we, each from our own situations of pain or disillusion, or sadness or frustration, greet you with faith, we receive you with love, we give to you all that we are and promise to accompany you on the road that you choose for us. Welcome Lord Jesus, to your home. . . Thank you for coming to us.
MUSICAL INTERLUDE
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
*Time of Dedication Leonardo Boff, b. 1938, Brazil
All those who die like Jesus, sacrificing their lives out of love for the sake of a more dignified human life, will inherit life in all its fullness. They are like grains of wheat, dying to produce life, being buried in the ground only to break through and grow. Amen.
*PREPARATION FOR PRAYER
Lord, I Want to Be a Christian 454
MORNING PRAYERS – SAVIOR’S PRAYER
Eternal Spirit, Earth Maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that ever shall be, Father and Mother of all people, Loving God in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by all peoples of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth! With the bread that we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever. Amen.
*BENEDICTION A New Zealand Prayer Book
Jesus, when you rode into Jerusalem the people waved palms with shouts of acclamation. Grant that when the shouting dies we may still walk beside you even to a cross. . .
*POSTLUDE
Circle of Concern: Joyce Lee, Michelle Cloutier, Christopher and Dana, Ann Quinn who is under Hospice Care, William Owen-Cowan, Jen Degroot, Carolyn Moore, Maggie Brizendine, Janet Hall, Yoko Nogami walking the Appalachian Trail, All those suffering from COVID-19 and all healthcare workers, Schools: Students, families, teachers, and staff.
Annoncements
Facebook Live The 10:30 a.m. service is being streamed on Facebook Live.
Support for Ukraine To find more ways to support Ukraine please visit our website and look at the Weekly update for 3/18/22.
Postcard from Yoko Nogami Former LUCC member Yoko Nogami is walking the Appalachian Trail fromGeorgia to Maine. There is a postcard from her on the bulletin board in thehallway.
One Great Hour of Sharing Offering Lakewood will be collecting this special offering today. There are envelopes that can be used or indicate on your check or online donation OGHS. This is an important way to love our neighbors and our enemies next door and around the world.
Operation Attack OA needs donations of cereal, peanut butter, canned meat, fruit, vegetables and soup, dried beans, and mac/cheese. Donations may be placed on the shelf in the hallway at church.
Holy Week Ahead-
April 10 Palm Sunday The service begins outside. Bring a palm branch if you can.
April 14 Maundy Thursday The Service of Tennebrae will be held at 7:00 p.m. remembering the Last Supper.
April 15 Good Friday The observance will begin at noon with a reading out loud of the gospel of Mark. Those present will be invited to participate in the reading. This will be followed by a time of meditation around the cross and communion.
April 17 Easter Sunday There will be 2 services at 9 and 11 with refreshments and fellowship in between the services outside on the church lawn.
Toiletries for Celebrate Outreach Celebrate Outreach is a local ministry with people who are living without shelter in St. Petersburg. All are invited to donate the following items: 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.
Sunflowers Thank you to Dyanne Edds for providing the sunflowers this morning. If you would like to bring sunflowers for the altar, please make arrangements with Kim Wells or the Church Office.
CHURCH STAFF
Pastor– Kim Wells Music Director– Hilton Jones Nursery Attendant– Claudia Rodriguez Church Administrator – Gabi Paxton
MINISTERS: The Congregation
Lakewood United Church of Christ 2601 54th Ave. S. St. Petersburg, FL 33712 727-867-7961 lakewooducc@gmail.comLakewooducc.org On land originally inhabited by the Tocabaga
So often if someone is sick and has a fever, they take something like aspirin or acetaminophen to bring the fever down. Then, with the fever down, they feel better, so they assume they are better. But all the while, the fever may have been caused by an infection and the infection may still be present. The symptom may have been treated but not the cause.
I suffered from bone spurs and an inflamed achilles tendon. I limped and had pain in my. heal for two years. It was finally decided that surgery was necessary to correct the situation. I had the surgery. And after several months, I could walk without limping and without pain. I had the desired outcome. Yeah! On the outside, things looked fine. But inside there was still a problem. There was infection in my heal at the surgery site. The doctor informed me that another surgery was necessary to address the infection. What? That again? I really did not want to go through the knee scooter and the walking boot and the no driving for weeks on end even though covid had severely restricted my activities. So, I told the doctor, I have what I wanted. I can walk without limping and without pain. What if I don’t have the second surgery? “That will end in amputation,” she told me. So, the second surgery was scheduled and all is finally well.
We know from our health problems that we need to deal not just with the symptoms but with the causes of our maladies and our problems.
A new climate report has come out informing us that the situation with the climate of Earth is more dire than had been predicted. Things are deteriorating faster than expected. So, people talk about building new buildings higher and putting the garage on the first floor so apartments don’t flood. There is talk of better drainage and sewer systems. There is talk of beefing up building codes. These kinds of discussions are all about the symptoms. To address the problem, the cause, humanity has to severely limit the use of fossil fuels immediately. The US has to stop subsidizing oil, gas, and coal. And those resources have to be redirected to providing energy to the masses from renewable sources. There have to be significant penalties for methane emissions so that industries will alter their methods of production. There have to be statutory limits placed on plastics and Styrofoam which are heavily dependent on fossil fuels. The response has to address the causes not just the symptoms.
This challenge of addressing the causes not just the symptoms is also a faith issue. Jesus did not just heal people, he healed them and invited them to be in community. They did not just go their own way as individuals relieved of disease or impediment. Jesus was also about providing support, community, relationships, and spiritual practices that would promote ongoing health and wholeness.
We are trained to give the impression that we are fine. We try to look fine on the outside. When someone asks, How are you? We know that we are to reply, I’m fine, thank you. How are you? Fine. But on the inside, we may really be in pain. Maybe we are grieving all that we missed during covid. Maybe we are distraught, as we should be, over the climate crisis. Maybe we are dealing with the realization of our own mortality. Maybe we are distressed by the war in Ukraine. Weren’t we over that? Maybe we or someone we love is struggling with addiction or mental health problems. Maybe there is a cancer diagnosis. Maybe we are not taking care of ourselves and it is affecting our physical health or our behavior and relationships. There may be a million things tugging us every which way, but we say we are, Fine. And we make sure that we appear to be fine.
Church is a place for honesty. A place where we are to be who we are, to be honest about the pain we are experiencing, the problems in our lives, so that we can draw on our faith as a source of healing. At church, when someone asks, How are you, we don’t have to lie and say, Fine. We are here to be a community of healing and support for one another. Jesus saves us not just from the symptoms of our issues, problems, and sins, but from the causes. And that happens in community.
How are we being called to be a healing presence in the lives of others and the world?
Prayer So often we just want the pain to go away – physical pain, grief, spiritual pain, memories of the hurts we have endured. Pain can be numbed with substances and behaviors that distract and deaden. So in these reflective days of Lent, we ask how is Jesus inviting us to wholeness and healing? May we accept the healing and the saving that Jesus offers. Amen.
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!
Easter Ahead April 17!
The wonderful festival of Easter is just a few weeks away. Please note there will be a change in the service schedule. There will be two identical services at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. The congregation is invited to meet and visit out on the lawn between services. Both services will be streamed on Facebook Live. Please make plans to be a part of this glorious celebration! Remember – come at 9 or 11.
Holy Week Ahead
April 10 Palm Sunday The service begins outside. Bring a palm branch if you can.
April 14 Maundy Thursday The Service of Tennebrae will be held at 7:00 p.m. remembering the Last Supper.
April 15 Good Friday The observance will begin at noon with a reading out loud of the gospel of Mark. Those present will be invited to participate in the reading. This will be followed by a time of meditation around the cross and communion.
April 17 Easter Sunday There will be 2 services at 9 and 11 with refreshments and fellowship in between the services outside on the church lawn.
This Sunday,April 10 is the traditional remembrance of Palm Sunday. The service will begin outside around the cross with the blessing of the palms. Please bring a palm branch, and more than one if you can.
This is also the Sunday that LUCC will join churches around the country in receiving the One Great Hour of Sharing offering. This offering helps people in the US and around the world in their hour of need – natural disaster, drought, war, famine, and other perils. The gifts are shared with partner churches around the world to offer the help that is needed. We can do more together than we can ever do alone! Please give as you are able. Envelopes are available at the church or note OGHS on your donation.
Each Sunday as the war in Ukraine continues, there will be sunflowers, the national flower of Ukraine, on the altar as a sign of solidarity with the Ukrainians. Last week the flowers were donated by Jim Andrews and Janet Blair. If you would like to bring sunflowers for the altar, please let Rev. Wells or the Church Office know.
The service will be in the sanctuary with the doors and windows open.
Join in the celebration on Sunday in person or on Facebook Live.
From Hilton about Singing in Church
It is nice to be singing again. It’s interesting: I can hear how people’s voices are unaccustomed to singing after almost 3 years of not singing! I hope people aren’t straining themselves. They can do actual physical damage to themselves if they sing incorrectly or strain, including nodes on their vocal chords. Maybe it would be best to encourage people to sing, but to take it easy and not strain, to be aware at all times of how it feels and to stop if there’s tension or roughness, soreness, or discomfort. Things are delicate in there. Even too much talking can have injurious effects . . . it happens a lot to actors and politicians (probably preachers too).
Missing Glasses
A pair of glasses in a black case was left in the sanctuary after worship on Sunday. Please contact the Church Office – lakewoodcc@gmail.com or 867-7961 – if you think the glasses are yours.
Readers for Maundy Thursday Needed
The Maundy Thursday service is a remembrance of the Last Supper and the end of Jesus’ life. If you would like to do a reading at the service, please contact the church – lakewooducc@gmail.com or 867-7961. Twelve readers are needed. Many thanks!
Former LUCC Member on Appalachian Trail
Yoko Nogami, a beloved LUCC member, moved to Kentucky several years ago. In March she began a through hike of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. Please keep her in your prayers. Here’s a picture of Yoko on the trail
Peace March March 27
Many thanks to those who were able to participate in the peace march for Ukraine last Sunday: Bill Parsons, Kay Rencken, Jeff Wells, Earl Waters, Bob Bell, Emily Bell, and Rev. Kim Wells. The LUCC contingent was joined by Jay Johnson of Pass A Grille UCC. The group walked from the Dali Museum to Straub Park. There was many expressions of support from the community.
Mask Policy at Church
For the past several weeks, there has been conversation at church about masking and updating the masking protocol at church. The advisors and staff have had conversations. The congregation has been invited to offer input. There has been consideration of the issues at hand from many perspectives. Many thanks to ALL who have contributed to the discussion. Your input is valued.
After careful consideration of all of the information that has been received and the views that have been expressed, the advisors and church staff have decided that masks will remain mandatory at church on Sunday mornings and that congregational singing will resume.
The decision has also been made that at the church during the week, masks will be optional depending on the sensibilities of those who are present.
There is much to take into consideration and the leadership of the church is concerned with being safe and protecting those who are most vulnerable.
These latest decisions regarding masking at church will be revisited as public health circumstances change.
If you would like to discuss this further, please speak with Advisors Malcolm Wells, Barbara Donohue, or Lucille Ruga.
The Sunday morning service will continue to be streamed live on Facebook and posted at the church YouTube channel.
OWL Training Offered
The United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalist Church have worked together to create a comprehensive curriculum on sexuality for all ages – preschool through adult – called Our Whole Lives (OWL). To offer this curriculum, presenters must be trained.
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Clearwater is offering facilitator training for grades 7-12 the weekend of April 29-May 1.
This training could be used in a church setting as well as other settings involving young people. If you would like more information about the training for yourself or someone else, please contact Meredith Olson at learning@uuc.org or 727-531-7704 ext. 205.
There is a cost involved for the training. If you are interested in the training, LUCC can help to offset the cost.
Florida Conference Offers Anti-Racism Justice Devotions for Holy Week
The Anti-Racism Ministry Team of the Florida Conference offers Holy Week “Racial Justice Reflections 2022.” Rev. Mardie Chapman of LUCC is part of this ministry Team.
Four Florida Conference pastors (Rev. Dr. Sheila Harvey Guillaume, Pastor, Union Congregational Church, West Palm Beach; Rev. Harvey Lockhart, Pastor, First Church of North Miami Congregational; Rev. Dr. Guillermo Marquez-Sterling, Associate Pastor, Pass-A-Grille Beach Community Church, St. Pete Beach; Rev. Dr. Bernice Powell Jackson, Pastor, First United Church of Tampa) authored the reflections, which can be used for: personal, congregational, and worship use.
The church has been contacted by USF about a research study called “Preventing Alzheimer’s with Cognitive Training (PACT)”. They are currently enrolling older adult participants at the USF St. Petersburg campus to participate in the program. They are looking for adults 65 years and older to participate in this important study. For more information, click here. https://lakewooducc.org/2022/03/25/usf-st-pete-program-preventing-dementia/
Lakewood will be collecting this special offering on Palm Sunday April 10. There are envelopes at church that can be used or indicate on your check or online donation OGHS. This is an important way to love our neighbors and our enemies next door and around the world.
How to Help Ukraine
The local Ukrainian Catholic Church is sponsoring humanitarian aid. There are more details at their website: https://www.epiphanyukrch.com
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. This collection will be ongoing in addition to the food being collected for Operation Attack. All are invited to donate the following items: 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.
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.
Guided Labyrinth Walks
The guided walk is held weekly on Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. This provides an opportunity to be aware and deepen your spiritual journey. If it is raining, the walk is held on Thursday at 9:00 a.m.
Also, the readings and prayers used on Wednesdays at the guided walk are put in the mailbox by the labyrinth each week 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.
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.
Being Covid Safe and In-Person Worship
Please stay home if you are not feeling well.
Please wear a mask while in the church building. While most people have been vaccinated, this helps visitors to feel safe.
Additional masks will be available at church to use as needed.
Two hand sanitizing stations are available for use by worshippers.
There is well-ventilated, physically distanced indoor seating in the sanctuary.
Please know that your safety is of primary consideration!
On Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. please use the link above to visit our homepage. There, after using the link, you will see a section labeled “Happening Now”. This is our Livestream of the Sunday Service.
To watch the live stream, locate and click the “watch video” button in the lower right corner of the screen.
If the link above is not working, there is also a link to our Facebook page on our website. Please try that link located on the Home page of our website.
PLEASE NOTE:
With the cooler temperatures, we will resume opening the doors and windows for morning worship as we continue efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Sunday services are being held at 10:30 a.m. Masks are required. There is physical distancing. Childcare is provided.
You can also join in on Facebook Live at 10:30. Please see the instructions below.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 