These weeks when we cannot gather in person for Sunday worship, Lakewood United Church of Christ is providing brief weekly sabbath programs for you to listen to on your own or with those you live with. They will be posted on Friday so that you can schedule your sabbath time to suit your schedule and your spiritual inclinations. We hope these programs are of spiritual support to you in these difficult times.
There is a scripture reading and a brief meditation by Pastor Kim Wells followed by music offered by Music Director Hilton Kean Jones. We appreciate your suggestions and feedback.
Next week is Father’s Day and as a special tribute to father’s Hilton is preparing a music video using pictures of fathers, grandfathers, and such contributed by the church family. Please email pictures to Hilton through the website contact page (https://lakewooducc.org/contact/) by Sunday June 14. Thank you!
During these summer weeks, the theme being used in “Grounded.” Some of us feel that shelter-in-place feels like being grounded. Some would normally have travel plans and feel grounded. With the many challenges facing our society, it is important to feel grounded. So these Summer Sundays will focus on key concepts in Christianity that provide grounding. So, welcome to “Grounded.”
Find a quiet place, inside or outside. Light a candle. Take a look around you. If you are inside, pay attention to the room you are in. Breathe. Life-giving breath. Be present.
You may begin by offering this reading:
The day of my spiritual awakening was the day I saw and knew I saw all things in God and God in all things.
–Mechthild of Magdeburg, 1207-1282
When you are ready, start the video below.
(For written text of the above video click HERE.)
As you listen to the music from Hilton which follows, you are invited to notice the thoughts and feelings and that arise for you.
After viewing the video, you are invited to offer the following closing:
I have sought how to make souls love God better. How to bring them to God, persuade them that God is above any good, how to illuminate for them this sweetness, this wondrous peace, this mystery, this all which reveals itself to the soul without the soul being able to say how; how to obey the Holy Spirit, this fire that I feel in my soul and which wishes to give of itself, to extend itself. How to communicate this to all those souls that touch my soul; and I have found no other means more powerful than kindness.
–Mathilde Boutle (“Lucie Christine”),1844-1908, adapted
Breathe. Breathe again. Feel the Spirit at your center. Extinguish your candle and engage whatever may come with a sense of peace and a desire to serve.
LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
- A Just Peace Church
An Open and Affirming Church
A Creation Justice Church - 2601 54th Avenue South, St Petersburg, FL 33712-4700
(727) 867-7961
see the Contact page for
map, personnel, and email addresses
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 and in our world;
- Offer the hospitality and inclusive love of Christ to all people;
- Work for God’s peace and justice throughout creation.
QUICK LINKS TO OUR RECENT POSTS DURING THE CORONA CRISIS:
Online Devotionals: https://lakewooducc.org/category/online-devotional/
Sermon Texts: https://lakewooducc.org/category/posts/sermon-texts/
For above links, please note “Older Posts” button near bottom of page.
Music: https://soundcloud.com/hilton-kean-jones/sets/music-at-lakewood
These weeks when we cannot gather in person for Sunday worship, Lakewood United Church of Christ is providing brief weekly sabbath programs for you to listen to on your own or with those you live with. They will be posted on Friday so that you can schedule your sabbath time to suit your schedule and your spiritual inclinations. We hope these programs are of spiritual support to you in these difficult times.
These weeks when we cannot gather in person for Sunday worship, Lakewood United Church of Christ is providing brief weekly sabbath programs for you to listen to on your own or with those you live with. They will be posted on Friday so that you can schedule your sabbath time to suit your schedule and your spiritual inclinations. We hope these programs are of spiritual support to you in these difficult times.
This is an absolutely gorgeous hymn. One of those things one wishes one could have written oneself. It’s beautiful. If you congregation doesn’t know it, badger your music director and pastor to program it. It deserves to become a classic. I’ve presented it here, exactly as written, with just the sounds of a string orchestra. It speaks for itself. It’s the third in a series of hymns presented as part of our Pentecost celebration.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 