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Devotion Forty-Six
Saturday 4.16.22

In some churches it’s called Holy Saturday. No weddings or funerals held in churches this day. There are no services unless there is an Easter vigil at night.

This day is sort of a pause between Good Friday with the crucifixion and Easter with the resurrection. Maybe you will be dying Easter eggs or doing food preparation or making up Easter baskets. Getting ready for Easter.

For me, this is a time to remember the women in the Holy Week/Easter story. They were probably at the Last Supper. Cooking, serving, refilling the glasses, cleaning up. Very likely, they were around the edges for the arrest, the trial, Pilate offering clemency to Jesus. There is mention in the gospels of women being at the cross. Or perhaps near by. Watching. Witnessing events. Comforting each other. Jesus was probably aware of their presence. He was known for seeing those off to the side, ignored, discounted.

The women were probably also present when Jesus was buried. Again, observing. Present. Maybe in the background but there. A constant presence. Which is more than we can say for some of the men involved. . .

There are a few people in this life who will have a lot of money and will be amazingly generous philanthropists like MacKenzie Scott who has recently given an enormous sum to Habitat for Humanity in our area. There are a few people who will rise to power in politics and will make a huge difference in society like John Lewis. There are a few people who will become incredible social activists making strides for justice like Greta Thunberg. A few. Most of us are not going have that kind of power or impact.

We are more likely to be like the women around the crucifixion. Present. Paying attention. Serving and helping as we are able. Engaged. Open and available as needed. Offering support to each other. In solidarity through trauma and grief. Isn’t this how most ministry happens? And who finds the empty tomb? The ones who are faithful and attentive. And that has changed the world.

Today is a day to remember the women. And to hope to be counted among them.

Prayer
We are grateful for those who remain faithful and provide a steady witness. We are grateful for those who provide support and help in ways large and small. May we be present, open, and willing so that we, too, might bear witness to the gospel of Christ Jesus. Amen.

EASTER FESTIVAL SERVICE

PRELUDE

*OPENING SENTENCES                                                                Bruce Sanguin, b. 1955

And on this day,
we gather to proclaim that
from the tomb of violence, crucifixion, and death,
Christ sheds his grave clothes,
like a butterfly sheds a cocoon.

He emerges, our winged hope,
an elegant embodiment
of a new vision for humanity.

*HYMN                                        Christ the Lord is Risen Today                                   233

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE EASTER STORY                           from The Pilgrim Book of Bible Stories

*HYMN                                     To You, O God, All Creatures Sing                                 17

SCRIPTURE READING
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.

John 20:1-18

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.

*HYMN                                                          Joy to the World!                                              132

SERMON                                                   Turning                          Rev. Kim P. Wells

UNISION PRAYER                   Susan Durber based on e.e. cummings, adapted

We thank you God for this amazing day,
when our hearts dance like the shining sun,
when all the world leaps with life
and the great, infinite wonders of the earth
shout their “yes!” to you.

We who have seen death,
who have heard the story of the cross
and sorrowed deep at the sharp agony of the world’s pain,
we have come to life again
in the life of your Son.

We thank you God for this amazing day,
when the evil in us lies down dead,
and the good in us is born again.
This is the birth day of life and love and goodness.
This is the amazing day,
when our Saviour, rose, when the earth released him,
when the heavens echoed the praise of earth, on this great day.
Alleluia! to our leaping, rising, lively, infinite, God. Amen.

*HYMN                                         Because You Live, O Christ                                          231

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. 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                                

Words of Dedication                                                                         Australia

Risen Lord,
You walk through this earth
using the feet of very imperfect disciples;
may every race and generation take time to
look up and see you,
draw nearer, listen and worship,
and turn to follow you. Amen.

*PREPARATION FOR COMMUNION    

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

*HYMN                                         Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ                        347

* BENEDICTION                                                                         based on Bruce Sanguin

Turn to Christ Jesus
who sheds his grave clothes,
like a butterfly sheds a cocoon.
And emerges, our winged hope,
an elegant embodiment
of a new vision for humanity.

*POSTLUDE                              

For the safety and comfort of all, please wear a mask. Thank you!

Annoncements

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.

Pastor Away Kim Wells will be away from Wednesday 4/20-Thursday 4/28 to attend the memorial service for Betty Wells, Jeff’s mother. Rev. Victoria Long will be preaching Sunday 4/24. If pastoral care is needed, please contact Patti Cooksey.

April Book Talk Join in on Tuesday April 19 at 6:30 for an hour or so of engaging discussion about whatever folks are reading.  You are sure to hear about something you really want to read!  Everyone is welcome!  Here’s the Zoom link: Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2700683648  Meeting ID: 270 068 3648

Toiletries for Celebrate Outreach Celebrate Outreach is a local ministry with people who are living without shelter in St. Petersburg. 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.

See the Weekly Update for more information about: Mask Policy,Our Whole Lives Human Sexuality Training,USF Program on Preventing Dementia,How to Help Ukraine, and OA

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

Devotion Forty Four
Thursday April 14, 2022

Just before we began the Lenten season, we heard the story of the Transfiguration. Jesus goes up to the mountain to pray. Elijah and Moses appear. Jesus glows with light. A cloud descends. The voice of God is heard. “This is my Own, my Chosen One. Listen to him!”

When Jesus went up the mountain to pray, he took with him Peter, James, and John. And guess what happened? They fell asleep. And when they woke up, they saw the manifestations of Moses and Elijah and Jesus’ changed appearance. When they came down the mountain, they argued with the other disciples about who was greatest. Somehow, they just don’t seem to get it.

Then in the stories of the last week of Jesus’ life, there is the story of praying in the garden, Gethsemane or the Mount of Olives. It is the last night of Jesus’ life. There is the Passover dinner, the last supper, the betrayer among them, and the prediction of Peter denying Jesus three times. Jesus knows the end has come. We are told that he goes off to pray. And who does he take along? Peter, James, and John. The same trio from the Transfiguration story. And what do they do? Yup. They fall asleep. And he awakens them and asks them to pray. They fall asleep again. And again. Then later they argue about who is greatest. Really?

Jesus. You gotta love him. He never gives up. Never stops loving. Even gives his life. For these people who mess up again and again and again. But giving his life is not something that can be earned or merited. Hard for the disciples to comprehend. And hard for us in our meritocracy to comprehend. But Jesus is going to do what he is going to do. Because it is what God wants him to do. And it doesn’t really matter what we do. Because we are all beloved. As we are. Asleep or awake. That is the wildness of mercy.

Prayer
The story of the end of Jesus’ life is difficult. There is so much to take in. We want to understand. But maybe the best we can do is appreciate. May we try to be grateful for the love. The love for the world. For humanity. For those dim disciples. And for us. Sleeping or waking. Through Jesus we hear, You are my own. My chosen one. Amen.

Devotion Forty-Five
Friday 4.15.22 Good Friday

“It is finished.” These are words attributed to Jesus from the cross. It is finished. What Jesus needed to do is completed. Horrific, yes, but over. It is finished.

For Jesus, any questioning or speculation is over. Anticipation has ended. Any trace of worry or fear is gone. Any unresolved wondering is laid to rest. It is finished. Jesus has done what he needed to do. Maybe there is even a sense of relief.

It is finished for Jesus. But for us, it is not finished. We will spend the rest of our lives trying to make sense of the mystery of the cross. Of the unaccountable, indescribable love. For us, this not finished.

We remain forever “lost in wonder, love, and praise.”
[From the hymn “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling.”]

Prayer
How is it that pain, sorrow, guilt, betrayal, and denial culminate in love? Beyond our reckoning. Or our deserving. Thank you! Amen.