Our Pinellas Chapter DECF General Membership Meeting for May will not be held on Wednesday, May18th. Instead, we are co-hosting the Statewide Gubernatorial Forum on Sunday, May 15th at 6:30pm.
Please join us for a virtual conversation about the vital environmental issues facing Florida today with Gubernatorial Candidates Charlie Crist, NIkki Fried and Annette Taddeo on Sunday, May 15th from 6:30-8:00pm. We’ll ask our Democratic candidates about policies, issues, and positions on environment and conservation issues that affect the life and future of Florida. Pre-registration is required so please use this link to register in advance for this event and confirm your attendance:
We encourage you and your organization(s) to share this important, statewide event and to.sign up for Mobilize – an important organizing tool for all of us Use this Mobilize link to sign up and share the Forum: http://bit.ly/DECFForum
State elections have never been so critical to our future. If you haven’t yet renewed your chapter dues for 2022 you can do so here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/2021b
Date: May 8, 2022 Mother’s Day Scripture Lesson: Acts 9:36-43 Sermon: The Mothering Love of Jesus Pastor: Rev. Kim P. Wells
Ok. Let’s face it. Peter was a screw up. Yes, the disciple. He drops everything to follow Jesus and then just doesn’t seem to get what Jesus is about – what he is showing people, teaching people, embodying. Jesus is offering an alternative reality, the realm of God, values and relationships that reflect the intentions of Divine Love for all people and all of Creation. And Peter misses the point again, and again, and again, and again.
There are numerous teachers in the congregation. You know what this is like. You have a student, even eager perhaps, and you just don’t seem to be able to get through. You try different approaches and learning modalities, to no avail. Parents, mothers and fathers, you know what this is like. You try to bring your child up with solid values and ethics and teach them what they need to know to be caring and compassionate and constructive human beings, and they just seem to be orbiting another star. Caught in some kind of web of self-destruction, perhaps related to alcohol or drugs. You did all you could. And many of us have worked with people who just didn’t seem to be able to catch on to what was supposed to be going on to function effectively and collegially in the work place. We know what this is like. Sometimes, people just don’t get it.
Peter is in that camp. He just doesn’t get it even with all of his ardor. Here are a few highlights-
Jesus teaches that the greatest is the one who serves. And Peter is among those discussing which one of them is the greatest. Jesus tells about his death and Peter rejects the idea that Jesus must die. And there is the Get behind me, Satan, line. Peter, asleep at the transfiguration, then wanting to build booths for Moses and Elijah. Wrong, again.
Peter, asleep at Gethsemane when Jesus asks him to pray, three times. And, of course, even with warning, Peter denies Jesus three times and deserts him at the crucifixion.
I mean, Peter was a screw up. He just doesn’t seem to get it.
Now we turn to today’s story. The beautiful story of Tabitha. Here is Peter, of all people, called upon to heal Tabitha, a wonderful saint in her community. The women come to display all the clothing she has made for them. But Tabitha has died. It’s too late for healing. And Peter goes into the room alone and brings her back to life, repeating the crowning sign associated with Jesus’ earthly ministry, the raising of Lazarus. As Jesus raised Lazarus, so we are told of Peter raising Tabitha from the dead. Yes, Peter.
A scan through the stories of the book of Acts, shows that once Jesus has been crucified, risen from the dead, and ascended into heaven, the holy spirit comes and infuses the believers, among them, Peter. From then on, we see a changed Peter. We see Peter begin by teaching in the Temple precincts. Then he heals a beggar at the Temple gate. Peter goes on to heal someone that is paralyzed in Lydda. Here is Peter, going from place to place, as Jesus did, even into Samaria, enemy territory, as Jesus did, facing off with the religious authorities, as Jesus did. Healing and teaching as Jesus did. And now we are told of Peter raising Tabitha from the dead as Jesus raised Lazarus.
It really is an amazing transformation. It’s a turn around story. And tradition has it that Peter was eventually arrested and faced crucifixion, as Jesus did. But the story goes that Peter insisted on being crucified upside down because he did not feel worthy to be crucified as Jesus was. So, Peter is even remembered for dying by crucifixion as Jesus did.
Peter ends up being remembered as an exemplary follower of Jesus, right down to raising someone from the dead and being crucified. How did that happen?
Well, simply said, I think it is because we are shown that Jesus never gives up on Peter. After Peter’s three fold denial, we are told of the risen Jesus offering a three fold opportunity to re-commit. Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep. Jesus restores and re-commissions Peter. Then Jesus entrusts to all of the disciples their sacred mission to go into all the world sharing the love of God and the dream of God that they have learned from Jesus. That ragged bunch. Jesus never stops believing in them. And their potential for good. He never gives up on them. Just like a mother who never gives up on her child. Jesus extends mothering love to his followers and never gives up on them.
And, as Hyun Kyung Chung, who was a classmate of ours at Union Seminary, reminds us, Jesus probably learned this from his mother! Who never gave up on the mothering love of God for ALL people especially those made poor and those who are downtrodden and forgotten. That’s the legacy she gives to Jesus. The vision of persistent Divine Love that never gives up on the capacity for transformation and for justice.
Just like Jesus never gives up on Peter and the disciples, the message of Christianity is about the mothering love of God that never gives up on us. No matter what we have done. No matter what we have not done. No matter where we have been. No matter what we have mistaken or confused. No matter who we have hurt, including ourselves. We are embraced by divine mothering love that NEVER gives up on us. No matter how we have screwed up, we are eternally beloved and precious. And so is every person, every child of God. There is no sibling rivalry in God’s reality. Everyone is beloved. No matter what!
And in our context, we see the need for that love to be shared freely in the world. In our world of competition and rivalry, bitterness and hatred. In our world of violence and war. In our world of perceived scarcity and evident greed, the power of the mothering love of God in Christ is inviting us to new life, to a new reality.
And at this moment, we want to recognize that the vision of the mothering love ofGod for all people is under attack. There are those who want to deny women their full humanity. Who do not trust women to have the ability to exercise their agency and judgment in ways that foster the well being of themselves and society. Despite the legacy of Mary and her impact upon the life of Jesus and upon the world, there are those who do not feel that women are capable of bearing the divine image as full human beings. They are believed to be lesser beings. The Roe v Wade situation is just one manifestation of this. There are many, many others.
Jesus learned from his mother to treat women as full human beings and we must be committed to that as well. So we must be dogged in upholding the rights and dignity of women as full human beings. Like Jesus, we must not give up or give in. We must cling to the persistence and power of mothering love.
We are told of the beautiful story of Peter, of all people, bringing back Tabitha from the dead. Tabitha. A woman. We too must trust the mothering love of God and Jesus to work in us, to work on us, to empower us, to do whatever it takes to protect the full humanity of each person and to protect life in all of its forms, and to preserve life on this planet as we know it. It is the work of mothering love. It is our work. To birth the reality of God. This Mother’s day and every day. 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
Arise, all women who have hearts, whether your baptism be that of water or of tears! Say firmly: “We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies, our husbands shall not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause.
“Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience. We women of one country will be too tender of those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.”
From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with our own. It says, “Disarm, disarm! The sword is not the balance of justice.” Blood does not wipe out dishonor nor violence indicate possession.
The original Mother’s Day Proclamation, 1870 Julia Ward Howe, 1819-1910
PRELUDE Mary, Did You Know Lowry & Greene
*OPENING READING Mary Oliver, 1935-2019 from “Mornings at Blackwater”
What I want to say is that the past is the past, and the present is what your life is, and you are capable of choosing what that will be, darling citizen. So come to the pond, or the river of your imagination, or the harbor of your longing, and put your lips to the world. And live your life.
*HYMN Bring Many Names 11
NAMING OF MOTHERS
One: On this Mother’s Day, let us lift up the names of women in our own lives who have mothered us and made manifest to us the power of Divine Love.
Naming of Mothers
ALL: May daughters prophesy justice and sons dream peace!
*HYMN God Made from One Blood 427
CONTEMPORARY READING- “Who Is Mary?” Chung Hyun Kyung, b. 1956
MUSIC Minuet Boccherini
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.
Acts 9:36-43
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.
SERMON The Mothering Love of Jesus Rev. Kim P. Wells
*HYMN Just as a Nursing Mother HKJ, see insert
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 Mama Liked the Roses Elvis
*Time of Dedication Hildegard of Bingen, 1098-1179
Be not lax In celebrating, Be not lazy in the festive service of God.
Be ablaze with enthusiasm Let us be an alive, burning offering before the altar of God!
*PREPARATION FOR PRAYER Guide My Feet 497
MORNING PRAYERS- SAVIOR’S PRAYER
Our Father-Mother, who is in the heavens, may your name be made holy. May your dominion come, may your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us today, the bread we need; and forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors; and do not put us to the test, but rescue us from evil. For yours is the dominion, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
*BENEDICTION Julian of Norwich, around 1343-after 1416
Never does love’s compassionate eye turn from us. Amen.
*SUNG RESPONSE (please form a circle)
Weave, weave, weave us together; Weave us together in unity and love. Weave, weave, weave us together, Weave us together, together in love.
*POSTLUDE Baby Elephant Walk Mancini
For the safety and comfort of all, please wear a mask. Thank you!
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.
Announcements
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 5/4/2022.
Water Petitions Petitions are available to sign to get the Right to Clean and Healthy Waters on the ballot as a proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution. You are welcome to get others to fill out these petitions and then bring them back to church to be sent in.
Sunflowers If you would like to bring sunflowers for the altar, please inform Rev. Wells or the Church Office.
Advisors Meet Today There will be an advisors meeting after church today. All are welcome. Please let an advisor know if there is something you would like on the agenda: Malcolm Wells, Barbara Donohue, Lucille Ruga, and Christy Martin.
Book Talk Ahead This month’s Book Talk will be on Thursday May 12 from 6:30- 7:30 on Zoom. The link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2700683648 . All are welcome to this engaging conversation about what you are reading.
Congratulations, Graduate! Many congratulations to Zach Blair-Andrews who graduated from USF yesterday. There is a card to sign for Zach this morning.
Operation AttackOA 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.
Toiletries for Celebrate Outreach Celebration Outreach has an ongoing need for men’s and women’s underwear. (Men sizes 30, 32,34 and 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.
CHURCH STAFF
Pastor- Kim Wells Music Director- Hilton Jones Nursery Attendant-Claudia Rodriguez
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
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!
This Sunday: This Sunday is Mother’s Day. There will be a time in worship to remember those who have shared mothering love in our lives.
There will also be a celebration of the mothering love of Jesus. Take a look at Acts 9:36-43.
This Sunday a new hymn by Music Director Hilton Jones will be used in the service. It reflects the theme of Mother’s Day. You can listen to the hymn in preparation for Sunday. Follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyFJTNi4BXI.
Childcare is provided at all Sunday services.
If you would like to provide sunflowers for Sunday worship, please contact the Church Office. 727-867-7961 or lakewooducc@gmail.com
The service will be streamed live on Facebook and then posted on the church’s YouTube channel.
Masks are required at in-person worship.
PLEASE NOTE: Given the warming temperatures, the windows and doors of the sanctuary will be closed and the air conditioning will be on. Masks are still mandatory and there will be singing.
If you do not feel comfortable in those circumstances, please join in worship on Facebook live. There are instructions below.
Amendment Protecting the Right to Clean and Healthy Waters
There is an initiative to have an amendment on the Florida ballot which would protect the right to safe water in Florida. It is called “The Right to Clean and Healthy Waters.” For this initiative to appear on the ballot, petitions are needed. There are copies at the church. You may sign the petition and leave it at church to be sent in. Better yet, sign it, leave it, and take a stack with you. Get others to sign. Then bring them back to church to be sent in. For the full text of the proposed amendment, see https://initiativepetitions.elections.myflorida.com/InitiativeForms/Fulltext/Fulltext_2202_EN.pdf. As a Creation Justice church, LUCC is committed to advocacy for the environment.
Advisors Meeting Ahead
The advisors will meet after church this Sunday in the Fellowship Hall. All are welcome to attend. If there is something you would like the advisors to discuss, please contact Malcolm Wells, Lucille Ruga, Barbara Donohue, or Christy Martin.
May Book Talk – A Week Early
Join in a casual conversation about what people are reading at this monthly Zoom gathering. You are guaranteed to get some great ideas about what to read next! The discussions are informal. Everyone is welcome. No pressure to be an ‘expert.’ No preparation expected. Just an hour to an hour and a half of stimulating discussion! Book Talk usually happens the third Thursday, this month it is the second Thursday, May 12, at 6:30 p.m. It’s the usual church Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2700683648 Meeting ID: 270 068 3648
Sundays Ahead
This Sunday is Mother’s Day.
May 15 will be a celebration of Earth Sunday
May 22 will be an examination of the concept, “The Lord Is My _________.” Fill in the blank! The psalmist says shepherd. What would you say?
May 29 there will be “Food for Thought.” Take a look at Acts 11:1-18.
June 5 is Pentecost, the Festival of the Holy Spirit. Don’t forget to wear red!
Congratulations, Graduate!
LUCC student, Zachary Blair-Andrews is graduating summa cum laude from the Judy Genshaft Honors College at USF this Saturday, May 7, with a degree in political science and public administration. Congratulations to Zach! There’s an exciting future ahead!
LUCC Earth Day Cleanup
On Saturday morning, April 23, Bill Parsons, Ruth Pettis, and Claire Stiles worked together to “tidy up” our Labyrinth and property while enjoying our time outdoors with Mother Earth. Celebrating Earth Day was a blessing and we are grateful for all efforts to care for Mother Earth and all the species who depend upon her health and well-being! As a Creation Justice church we want to continue to do our part to live up to our covenant and be good stewards of creation.
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/
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:
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.
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.
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 hiltonkeanjones.com/look-listen/ as well as purchase his CDs and digital albums there.
May Birthdays: Mark Gibson 5/2, Nina Moore 5/2, Angela Wells-Bean 5/7, Emily Gibson 5/8, Julian Michael Ricciardi 5/9, Colleen Coughenour 5/11, Jen DeGroot 5/12, Christy Martin 5/15, Bill Parsons 5/16, Deanna Moore 5/19, Danielle Hintz 5/25 Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information..
Circle of Concern:
Michelle Cloutier
Joyce Lee
Christopher and Dana
William Owen-Cowan
Jen Degroot
Carolyn Moore
Ann Quinn is now under Hospice care
Maggie Brizendine
Janet Hall
Yoko Nogami walking the Appalachian Trail
All those suffering from COVID-19 and all healthcare workers
This coming Sunday as part of Lakewood’s Mother’s Day celebration, we’re going to sing a new hymn by Hilton called “Just As a Nursing Mother.” The words and music are by Hilton and they were inspired by a sermon of Rev. Kim’s (posted 10/23/2020 — https://lakewooducc.org/2020/10/23/corona-sabbath-32-compassion-reflection-text/).
Because it’s a hymn the congregation has never heard or sung, here’s a video recording of to listen to in order to familiarize yourself with it: https://youtu.be/FyFJTNi4BXI.
Here’s the bulletin insert of the music and words for the same familiarization purpose.
Happy listening and learning and Happy Mother’s Day (anticipated)!
Lakewood United Church of Christ 