Author: lakewooducc

Lenten Devotion 6
3.7.22

Many years ago when we were visiting Kenya we took the train from Nairobi to Mombasa. This was at the end of our stay in Kenya, so it was timed so that we got back to Nairobi the night before our flight home. We bought our round trip train tickets in Nairobi. We were ready to go!

At that time, everything related to the ticketing was written up by hand. Our tickets were paper with our names hand written on them. The tickets were for a specific departure date and time but there was no seating assignment on the ticket itself. For that we had to look at a chalkboard on the depot platform. The
chalkboard had a list of all of the seats and compartments and a name by each one. We examined the chalkboard and found our names and headed to the proper compartment.

After our stay in Mombasa, we headed to the train station for our return to Nairobi. We had our paper tickets with our names written on them. We went to the chalkboard in the middle of the platform. All of the compartments and seats appeared to be filled but we could not find our names on the board. Anywhere. We panicked. We had to get on this train so that we could make our
flight home the next day. There were no other transportation options back to Nairobi in that time frame. Our names were not on that board. We were a wreck.

In desperation, we sought out someone who worked at the station. We poured out our predicament with evident panic. The station master was very relaxed. And he appeared relieved. He told us that there had been some kind of confusion. He had been told by Nairobi that four tickets for this train had been sold but he had not been given the names of the people. Four seats but who
were the people? So, he did not know who we were and could not put our names on the board. He was waiting to see if we existed, if we appeared, because he did not know who we were and he was uncertain. He had been looking for us. And here we were panicking, looking for our place on the train. We were worried that there was no room for us and he was worried that we would not appear.

Lent is a time for re-turning our lives to God. We need this season because we get distracted. We put our spiritual life on the back burner, we think temporarily, only to realize that we have forgotten about it. Then maybe a crisis comes. We are in distress or overwhelmed or beset with worry or grief or maybe just not in a good space. And finally we remember that we can turn to our faith, to God, to the church. And we realize that God has been there all the time. Door open. ‘Come on in’ sign posted. Waiting for us. Hoping we will come by. Wondering if we remember that we live in the reality of God.

This Lenten season, may we remember the wildness of mercy eager to take us in, take us back, take care of us.

Prayer: Think of a time when you felt very close to God. When you felt the warmth of Divine Love. When you felt connected to a larger reality. When you felt tapped in to the sacred. Remember that feeling. That experience. It is available to us all the time. Ready. Waiting. May we show up. Amen.

Lent Devotion 5
3.6.22

In the early centuries of the Christian movement, the desert played a prominent role in the emergence of the church. Like Jesus, people went to the desert to be closer to God. Communities formed in the stark landscape of sand and stone away from material and social and even religious distractions. There was space and time to listen and commune with Divine Love. The fruits of this desert movement are still important today even though our circumstances are so different. We are still learning from the teachings of the desert mothers and fathers about life in God.

Episcopal priest Mary C. Earle is a scholar of the Desert Mothers. She tells us this about the desert experience: “The desert way does not gloss over our unjust and demeaning actions toward others, our sinful actions and behaviors. The desert way sees the truth of those actions with clarity and precision, yet always perceives them as much smaller than the vast and unfathomable love of God.”

That is the wildness of mercy. As we learn to trust in the love and mercy of the Divine, we become more willing to lay our burdens down. Let go of our sins, faults, and short comings. Our mistakes and our misgivings. And as we experience the healing and cleansing of Divine mercy, we learn to more readily see, accept, and release our sins. Our lives become more honest. More real. More authentic. We can stop wasting our time and energy protecting and defending and deceiving ourselves. We can then find greater joy and deeper connections with others.

Prayer: Think about something that you would like to let go of. Something you have done or said that you regret. That you know has caused harm or hurt. Maybe something that dogs you; that you have tried to bury but it keeps coming up. Let it surface. Examine it. Now imagine the vast scope of the desert. All that space. Filled with love and mercy. Surely there is mercy and forgiveness for your offense. Let that cleansing mercy blow through you like a desert wind that blows the sand. Give thanks for with wildness of mercy. Amen.

Note: After church today, LUCC member Bill Parsons will lead a discussion about the war in Ukraine. He will give some background information and respond to questions from those gathered. Bill is a retired history professor from Eckerd College. His specialty was Russia/USSR. He was instrumental in establishing the sister city relationship between St. Petersburg, FL and St. Petersburg, Russia. Bill has also fostered many other connections between Florida and Russia including the sister church relationship between LUCC and St. Job’s in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Lenten Devotion 4
3.5.22

These recent weeks have been an extremely stressful time. Perhaps Lent comes just when it should.

The invasion of Ukraine has the world stunned and the threat of nuclear attack has us all on edge. The UN climate report that came out recently indicates that global warming due to human activity is ahead of schedule and that catastrophic damage appears irreparable. And we are still navigating the covid
pandemic. And having been introduced to this plague situation, we have been advised to expect similar scourges in the future.

Well, the pandemic did not bring the world together. It could have. But it didn’t. And global warming has not brought the world together. It should have. But it hasn’t. But the invasion of Ukraine sure has brought the world together. The unity of the world community in support of Ukraine is unlike anything we have seen in recent decades. It is so uplifting!

Maybe now that the most of the worldwide community of nations and peoples has come together in support of Ukraine, maybe, just maybe, we can learn to work together with more unity on other issues like the pandemic and climate change.

There is a wildness in mercy. I am hoping that from this horrible tragedy, we can learn the power of cooperation instead of competition. And that we can work together to address the other severe threats that affect us all.

Prayer: Think of a country or a people that you have considered an ‘enemy.’ If enemy is too strong a concept, maybe think of a society that you feel you do not have much in common with. Now imagine finding common ground protecting the environment that sustains us all. Imagine coming together to address health concerns so that everyone can be safe and travel freely. This is the world that were created to live in. May we trust the wildness of mercy to get us there. Amen.

Note: After church this Sunday, LUCC member Bill Parsons will lead a discussion about the war in Ukraine. He will give some background information and respond to questions from those gathered. Bill is a retired history professor from Eckerd College. His specialty was Russia/USSR. He was instrumental in establishing the sister city relationship between St. Petersburg, FL and St. Petersburg, Russia. Bill has also fostered many other connections between Florida and Russia including the sister church relationship between LUCC and St. Job’s in St. Petersburg, Russia.

WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS

LIGHTING THE PEACE CANDLE                                     JoAnne Reid, liturgist

There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.

Howard Zinn, 1922-2010

PRELUDE                    There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy

OPENING READING                                                                   Pope Francis

Do you want to fast this Lent?
Fast from hurting words and say kind words.
Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
Fast from worries and have trust in God.
Fast from complaints; contemplate simplicity.
Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
Fast from bitterness; fill your hearts with joy.
Fast from selfishness and be compassionate.
Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
Fast from words; be silent and listen.

MUSIC                                    Stormy Weather                      Arlen & Koehler

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.

Psalm 91:1-3a, 9-16 and Luke 4:1-13

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.

MUSIC                                           Ebb Tide                                       Maxwell

CONTEMPORARY READING               Lent                         Ann Lewin, adapted

SERMON                             Errand in the Wilderness             Rev. Kim P. Wells

TIME OF REFLECTION                                        

We do not live on bread alone.
Worship the Most High God, and serve only God.
Do not put God to the test.

MUSIC                                   The Darkened Valley                              Ireland

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 and COMMUNION 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                            Anitra’s Dance                                  Grieg

Prayer of Dedication                                                                 India

Servant Christ,
help us to follow you into the desert,
with you to fast, denying false luxury,
refusing the tempting ways of self-indulgence,
the way of success at all costs,
the way of coercive persuasion.

Servant Christ, help us to follow you. Amen.

PREPARATION FOR COMMUNION    Gymnopédie No. 2                 Satie

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.  Please observe physical distancing.

CELEBRATION OF HOLY COMMUNION

Invitation

Communion Prayer- Savior’s Prayer

Our Creator in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

Blessing the Bread and Cup

Sharing the Meal

* BENEDICTION                                                     Angeles Arrien, adapted

Mercy before us,
mercy behind us,
mercy to the left of us,
mercy to the right of us,
mercy above us,
mercy below us,
mercy within us,
mercy all around us. Amen.

*POSTLUDE                               Agincourt Hymn                         Dunstable

Circle of Concern: Christopher and Dana, Dyanne Edds, Ann Quinn who is under Hospice Care, William Owen-Cowan, Jen Degroot, Carolyn Moore, Maggie Brizendine, Janet Hall, All those suffering from COVID-19 and all healthcare workers, Schools: Students, families, teachers, and staff.

Announcements

Communion This is a Communion Sunday. We are using the prepackaged individualcommunion servings. Please know that everyone iswelcome to participate in communion. Young people are invited toparticipate 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.

Facebook Live The 10:30 a.m. service is being streamed on Facebook Live.

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.

Toiletries for Celebrate Outreach Celebrate Outreach is a local ministry with people who are living without shelter in St. Petersburg.  LUCC was asked to collect toiletries for this ministry.  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.

Take action to help Ukrainians in the US There is information on the church website about encouraging the USgovernment to extend the visas for people from Ukraine who are currentlyin the US.

Conversation about Ukraine After church this Sunday, LUCC member Bill Parsons will lead a discussion about the war in Ukraine.  He will give some background information and respond to questions from those gathered.  Bill is a retired history professor from Eckerd College.  His specialty was Russia/USSR.  He was instrumental in establishing the sister city relationship between St. Petersburg, FL and St. Petersburg, Russia.  Bill has also fostered many other connections between Florida and Russia including the sister church relationship between LUCC and St. Job’s in St. Petersburg, Russia.

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

Lenten Devotion 3
3.4.22

After the prayer vigil for solidarity with the people of Ukraine this past Wednesday, I was interviewed by Fox News. Here are the two quotes that were used in the story:

“Our calling is to show love to all people and to all of creation,” said Rev. Kim Wells of Lakewood United Church of Christ.

“Because of where I was standing, I could watch the people from this parish,” said Wells, “and seeing their faces and how moved they were to see this, it really stirred the heart.”

Here’s what they didn’t put in the story. I was asked a leading question about Vladimir Putin. Something like, Based on the religious perspective of America, what do you think of Putin? The interviewer went on to insinuate that Russia did not support religion. The godless communists. . . First, I commented on the
presumption of America having a religious perspective. A religions perspective. I do not think America has a unified religious orientation or perspective. We have many different religious expressions. Even within the same faith tradition. And I believe that is as it should be in a country that values freedom of religion.

Next, Putin. I told the interviewer that from a Christian perspective, Putin, damaged and misguided as he may be, is still a child of God and worthy of being treated with dignity and respect.

So to me, these responses are a reflection of the wildness of mercy. Yes, in our country there are many different expressions of just Christianity before you get to other religions. Our faith tradition is not monolithic or homogenous. Maybe that is the wildness of mercy in that we are not all forced to be fundamentalists, say. Or Catholics. We are free to respond to the gospel and the workings of Divine Love in many different ways. And somehow, someway, Love persists and prevails. To me, that is the wildness of mercy.

And Putin. Well, he is a child of God. And to be treated as such. And that’s the wildness of mercy. Even someone who starts a predatory war causing death and destruction with negative, harmful ripple effects around the globe is still a human being, created in the Divine image and beloved by God. That is the wildness of mercy!

And maybe we will see the wildness of mercy when the ‘godless’ Russian people rise up to unseat their current leader. Who knows?

What we do know is that there is wildness in God’s mercy. And we are all the better for it!

Prayer: Think of someone that you really don’t like, that you disagree with, maybe even that you hate. And remember that whoever that is, whatever that person has done, whatever that person thinks and believes, they are still embraced by the love of God. Mercy is wild. Amen.

Note: After church this Sunday, LUCC member Bill Parsons will lead a discussion about the war in Ukraine. He will give some background information and respond to questions from those gathered. Bill is a retired history professor from Eckerd College. His specialty was Russia/USSR. He was instrumental in establishing the sister city relationship between St. Petersburg, FL and St. Petersburg, Russia. Bill has also fostered many other connections between Florida and Russia including the sister church relationship between LUCC and St. Job’s in St. Petersburg, Russia.