Category: Posts

Weekly Update 8/26


WHAT IS GOING ON AT CHURCH –

Summer Sundays

The theme for the Corona Sabbath posts this summer is ‘GROUNDED.’ Yes, with the COVID-19 pandemic continuing, many are not taking expected summer trips and vacations.  Feeling grounded.  And with the demonstrations going on, many do not feel safe to venture out because of the pandemic and feel grounded.  And with a global pandemic, a global recession, and global demonstrations against racism, it is a time to lean on our faith to help us feel grounded.  Each week’s presentation will explore a different dimension of our faith which helps us to feel grounded in these uncertain times.  When we are grounded, we can grow and flourish and bear fruit!  So, look for the Corona Sabbath post each week to help you be grounded! 

The post this week is on the theme of Service and Generosity.  There is a reading submitted by Sue Sherwood and the scripture lesson is read by Earl Waters. This week’s Corona Sabbath includes a music video featuring Zachary Blair-Andrews. It will be posted on Friday.  You will be emailed the link.  

If you missed last week’s Corona Sabbath, the theme was forgiveness. Here’s the link: https://lakewooducc.org/2020/08/20/corona-sabbath-23-peace/

Gratitude from Rev. Wells

Kim would like to thank everyone for their good wishes and prayers related to her heel surgery on Monday.  Everything went smoothly and she will be recovering with limited mobility for 6 weeks.  

Church Library Makeover

Claire Stiles and Colleen Coughenour are hard at work cleaning up and reorganizing the church library.  There are many wonderful books that are “hiding under a bushel.”  When Colleen and Claire are done, the books will be accessible and displayed in an attractive manner.  What a beautiful anticipatory gesture of the time when we are all coming to the church again!  

Finance Follow Up

Several weeks ago, the Finance Team shared a letter about the current state of the church finances.  The information is also available at the church website.

https://lakewooducc.org/2020/08/26/church-finances-letter/

Many thanks to the church family and beyond for your generosity! With your continued faithfulness, the church should be able to stay on steady ground in these uncertain days.

Church School?

The Education Ministry Team met last week and has made some plans for the Fall.  They are reaching out to teachers and students as the school year begins.  After Labor Day, a new initiative will begin that will include all of the children and youth of the church family that would like to participate.  Grown ups, this will be for you, too!  You’ll hear more about it soon!

For the Circle of Concern

You are encouraged to pray and express your support to students, teachers, and families as the school year begins. These are very challenging times for all!  There is concern for the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of all involved in the educational system.  The LUCC faith community has several teachers and families with students and this has been a very difficult time for them all.

Back to School Zoom

Many thanks to those who participated in the all church Back to School Zoom.  It was a time of sharing, music, and prayer as we reflected on teachers, school, and how education is important to us.  Kim interviewed Elinor Ross and shared why Elinor became a teacher and then a professor teaching future teachers how to teach reading.  Elinor decided she wanted to be a teacher when she was in the second grade!  One of her favorite children’s books is The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.  The book was read as part of the Zoom.  And Mardie Chapman noticed that as Kim read the book she was sitting in front of the banner with the tree of hands in the sanctuary.  How fitting!  

There will be another Zoom in September to celebrate Charter Sunday and the founding of LUCC.  

Sunday’s Drive Bys

LUCC’s Education Ministry invites you to come join the fun as we celebrate and
support our children, youth, and teachers.  Our drive by journey will take us to
several homes to share greetings, joy, and gift bags prepared by the education
team. The final stop will be to see Pastor Kim.
Here is what you need to know:

  1. All are invited to bring a sign, bring a noise maker, wear a festive shirt or hat or .. !
  2. Meet at the church at 2:30 this Sunday, August 30 th
  3. Addresses of our route will be given out.
  4. We will drive to the homes and gather outside wearing masks, social
    distancing, and holding up our signs of support and cheer.
  5. We should conclude around 4pm

Questions?  Patti 727-789-9321 Emily 727- 692-2368

 Have you completed the Census?

Please participate in the US Census which is mandated by the Constitution.  These numbers determine the allocation of many resources that directly impact each of us in the community. Participation in the Census, like voting, is a way of showing love for your neighbor and your community.  If you would like assistance in submitting your Census information, please contact the church and someone will help you.

Operation Attack Update

Dear Friends of Operation Attack,

 A team of people from Operation Attack, Lake view Presbyterian, and Circle of Faith have determined a way that we can distribute food safely to the community.  We are going to have a Food Distribution Drive-Thru on Saturday, September 12, from 9-12 at Lakeview Presbyterian Church.  You can become involved in any or all of the following ways:

 Donate Cereal, Peanut Butter, Pasta, Pasta Sauce, or canned meat Volunteer for preparation tasks before the Drive-Thru Volunteer on September 12 Donate money Pray for all the people/groups making this event happen 

You are welcome to reply to dklamer@tampabay.rr.com with questions and/or information on how you would like to participate in this Drive-Thru. 

Thank you for your longtime faithfulness to Operation Attack and the families in our community.   Stay Safe and Be Well 

Sunday Evening Demonstration for Racial Justice Grows!   

The Black Lives Matter and Peace and Justice Demonstration continued on 54th Ave South last Sunday night, August 16th. There were 16 participants.  This is an important way to inspire hope in the community and to work to create an anti-racist society.  

All are welcome Sunday evenings from 7:30-8:00 p.m. at the church. In case of rain, the demonstration will not be held that week. Know justice, know peace!

Beginning in September, the demonstration will begin at 7:00 and end at 7:30.

 Click here to see pictures of the most recent witness.  https://lakewooducc.org/2020/08/26/weekly-anti-racism-demonstration-8-23/

Corona Sabbath

In addition to the material from Hilton and Kim, we hope to include contributions from the congregation each week.  You are invited to send a picture, a poem, a quotation from a book or article, an image, a work of art, a song, a video of you doing something or reading something, anything you would like to share with your church family.  Hilton and Kim will try to incorporate the contributions into the Corona Sabbath Devotional on the related theme.

The final theme for this series is: 

Wonder/Awe

Please email contributions to the church at lakewooducc@gmail.com. Or use the “regular” mail. 

Many thanks for the contributions so far.

This Sunday

The church will be open from 10:30 to 11:30.  The peace candle will be lit.  It will be a time of prayer and reflection as a witness that the church is still open and ministry continues even though we are not able to gather in person for worship.  

Look for a Corona Sabbath post on Friday.  Check for it at the website – lakewooducc.org
Also, please subscribe to the website so that you receive regular updates about church life. 

Weekly Labyrinth Walks Continue

Each Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. a small group gathers at the outdoor labyrinth for a time of devotion, discussion, and meditative walking of the labyrinth.  The theme for the week is taken from the Corona Sabbath of the week before, so it is an opportunity to go deeper in the spiritual exploration of that theme for your life.  This devotional gathering is outside and physical distancing is maintained. All are welcome!

If there is rain on Wednesday morning, the gathering will be held on Thursday morning at 9:00.

Labyrinth Has Been Refurbished

Spiritual Direction Offered by LUCC Clergy Member.

In these troubled times, it is important to find ways to tend to our spiritual lives. In the Christian tradition, Spiritual Direction is one of the ways of paying attention to the spirit in our lives. A Spiritual Director is someone to talk with about what is going on in our spiritual life and in our relationship with God however we may conceive of God.

Rev. Sally Purvis, Ph.D., a member of LUCC, is a retired clergy person with training and experience in Spiritual Direction. She is offering her services as a Spiritual Director to the community. The sessions would be held on Zoom and there is no fee to be paid. Church leaders are pleased to have the ministry of the church expand in this way.

Spiritual Direction with Sally is open to anyone, not just the congregation. And it is offered to everyone whatever their spiritual or religious background or affiliation or lack thereof. Sessions are generally held once every three weeks. Spiritual Direction is not a mode of therapy. It is a process for understanding and deepening your relationship with God/Spirit in ways that are authentic and life-giving.

Sally was trained by Henri Nouwen, a noted spiritual guide of the 20th century, and did Spiritual Direction as part of her professional ministry before retiring in 2015.

If you would like to explore Spiritual Direction with Sally, please contact her at
sallybpurvis@icloud.com or contact the church (867-7961 or lakewooducc@gmail.com ).

The church is very grateful to Sally for offering this avenue of support to the congregation and the community.

USEFUL LAKEWOOD LINKS DURING THE CORONA CRISIS:

For the above church website links, please note the “Older Posts” button near bottom of each page.

Daily Corona Prayer

LUCC Corona Daily Prayer

Assistance Available

If you need help of any kind – something from the store, someone to talk with, support managing during shelter-in-place, parenting concerns – please know that the church is ready and willing to help in any way needed.  This situation is trying for everyone.  You are not alone.  We’ll make it through together.  Please contact the church office (lakewooducc@gmail.com or 867-7961 or Rev. Kim Wells at wells.kim.p@gmail.com).  

Miss someone from church?  Give them a call or send a note.  Personal contact is so important when physical contact is limited.  

Music Ministry

About Hilton’s music. . . If you would enjoy hearing Hilton play more Irish folk songs, you can
listen for free at either https://hiltonjones.bandcamp.com/album/irish-
tunes or https://soundcloud.com/hilton-kean-jones/sets/irish-tunes .

August Birthdays: Barbara Donohue 8/4, Mardie Chapman 8/7, Claire Stiles 8/11, Kay Rencken 8/13, Vita Uth 8/14, Dana Cosper 8/22, James Waterman 8/23, and Joanne Reid 8/28. Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.

Circle of Concern: Carol Shores and family, JoAnn Reid, William Owen, Wilbur Reid, Martha Lamar, Jen Degroot, Carolyn Moore, Ann Quinn, Maggie Brizendine, Dave Radens, Dana Cosper’s cousin, Vern McKinney, and all healthcare workers and essential workers. All those suffering from COVID-19.

You are encouraged to pray and express your support to students, teachers, and families as the school year begins. These are very challenging times for all!  There is concern for the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of all involved in the educational system.  The LUCC faith community has several teachers and families with students and this has been a very difficult time for them all.

 Please keep Elinor Ross and family in your prayers.  Elinor has moved in with her daughter, Cheryl, and is under Hospice care  

Please keep Yvonne Riesen and family in your prayers.  Yvonne has moved again to a larger apartment in the assisted living at Westminster Suncoast.  Calls and notes are a way to show your concern and support to Yvonne. Call the main desk and they will connect you:  727-867-1131.

Please keep LUCC member, Olivia Gibson, in your prayers. She is a nurse in a COVID-19 unit in a local hospital. We are grateful for her ministry!

Recent Posts:

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 Tuesday since the Update usually is sent out on Wednesday.

Church Finances Letter

Dear Members and Friends of LUCC, 
 
Greetings to all from your advisors and financial team in this difficult time of the COVID-19 virus!
 
We have some good news and some concerns.  For the first six months, in spite of the coronavirus, we are slightly ahead on our income for the year, and our expenses have been slightly less than expected.  The majority of our members (almost ¾) are on track with their pledges, which is quite good considering that the virus has caused financial problems for many people.
 
Of course, loose offerings are down and some of our renters are not able to meet in our building at present.  We also have not seen any of the anticipated income from the adult daycare center built into our budget.  We are hoping that the needed modifications to the building will begin soon, and that as soon as possible, the fellowship hall will be ready for use.
 
We also have some good news from our application for a loan from the federal government.  We were approved, and we will receive a loan for $5,000 that will need to be paid back, beginning in one year.  But we also received an “advance” of $6,000 that does not need to be paid back.  This is intended primarily for payroll and utilities, and it will allow us to keep paying all of our employees, even if they are not able to perform all of their normal duties because of the shutdown.
 
We would like to remind everyone to do what they can to support LUCC, even when it is not possible to attend in person.  It is possible to send checks to the church or to pay by credit card at our website. This is also a time to remember possible contributions to the Special Needs Offering which we traditionally collect on the first Sunday of the month.  Or maybe loose change can be set aside for when we can return to fill up a special donation jar.
 
You are beloved!  And you are a blessing to LUCC and each other!  Stay safe!
 
Warm regards,
 
The financial team of Bill Parsons, Earl Waters, Don Ritchie, Lucille Ruga, and Mardie Chapman, and the Advisors:  Pattie Cooksey, Jane Diven, Olivia Gibson, Lucille Ruga, and Malcolm Wells.

Weekly Anti-Racism Demonstration 8/23

The Black Lives Matter and Peace and Justice Demonstration continued on 54th Ave South last Sunday night, August 16th. There were 16 participants.  This is an important way to inspire hope in the community and to work to create an anti-racist society.  

All are welcome Sunday evenings from 7:30-8:00 p.m. at the church. In case of rain, the demonstration will not be held that week. Know justice, know peace!

Beginning in September, the demonstration will begin at 7:00 and end at 7:30. 

St. Pete Quakers join in the anti-racism demonstration.

Corona Sabbath 24 GENEROSITY and SERVICE Reflection Text

Greetings and welcome to Corona Sabbath. This is one of the ways the church is endeavoring to offer spiritual support during these challenging days of COVID-19. We appreciate your feedback and suggestions.

In this summer series on the theme “Grounded” we turn the foundations of our faith. This post focuses on service and generosity.

We listen to Mathew 16:21-26 read by Earl Waters. In the traditional translation, Jesus tells his followers to take up their cross and follow me. This does not refer to a burden beyond our control like an act of nature or a random accident or contracting COVID-19. It is a reference to consciously choosing the path of service and self-giving.

Scripture video from Earl

From that time on, Jesus began to explain to the disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, to suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and religious scholars, and that he must be killed, and on the third day raised to life.

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Rabbi!” he said. “This will never happen to you!”

Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get yourself behind me, you Satan! You are trying to make me stumble and fall. You’re setting your mind not on the things of God, but of mortals.”

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “If you wish to come after me, you must deny your very selves, take up the instrument of your own death and begin to follow in my footsteps.

“If you would save your life, you will lose it; but if you would lose your life for my sake, you will find it. What profit would you show if you gained the whole world but lost yourself? What can you offer in exchange for your very self?”

Reflection from Kim on video

When I started as pastor of Lakewood United Church of Christ in 1991, the church had a custom around baptism. When a child was baptized at the church, they were given a ‘cradle cross.’ This was a small wooden cross that was to be hung near the child’s bed as a reminder of their baptism and their connection to the church.

Then after one baptism, the parents returned the cross to the church. They said that the cross was an instrument of capital punishment. They would no sooner hang the cross in the child’s room than hang a likeness of ‘old sparky’ – the electric chair that was used in Florida for executions. After that, the church did not order anymore cradle crosses and no longer gave them out at baptisms.

Yes, the cross is an instrument of capital punishment. So why does Jesus, who loves us beyond measure, who is the incarnation of universal, unconditional Divine Love, who wants the best for us, instruct his dearest friends and followers to take up their cross? Why would he suggest that they risk death? Death at the hands of an oppressive government reserved for traitors and people who were perceived as a threat to the public? Death that was an excruciatingly painful public humiliation? Why would Jesus suggest that his followers take up their cross?

The heart of Christianity is love. Love for others, love for self, love for neighbors, love for enemies. Love that is expressed in commitment to the common good. Love expressed in acts of service, generosity, and self giving. The book of James puts it this way: “But act on this word – because if all you do is listen to it, you’re deceiving yourselves. . . . Pure, unspoiled religion, in the eyes of our Abba God, is this: coming to the aid of widows and orphans when they are in need, and keeping oneself uncontaminated by this world. . . Be assured then, that faith without works is as dead as a body without a spirit.” [James 1:22, 27, 2:26]

Jesus does not want us to be dead. He wants us to be alive. That’s why he tells us to take up our cross. True life, at its fullest and most joyful, is life spent in service to others. Our highest is good is marked by our generosity; the giving of ourselves as well as our time, talent, and treasure.

So, first we realize that each and every one of us needs to be lifted; needs to be brought to life, needs to be rescued from the numbing, life-sapping impulses of selfishness, self centeredness, and greed. Jesus saw our need as humans for meaning and purpose and belonging. And so he invites us, urges us, begs us, out of love, to take up our cross. To find our highest good by giving ourselves away. He knew that we would experience our greatest worth by helping others, investing ourselves in the wellbeing of the community. Without that, our lives would be hollow, empty, even tormented.

Karl Menninger, one of the premier psychiatrists of the 20th century, was once asked what action he would recommend if a person were to feel a nervous breakdown coming on: Lock up your house, go across the railroad tracks, and find someone in need and do something for him. Menninger is picking up on the teachings of Jesus and other spiritual teachers throughout human history.

The positive effects of the spiritual command to serve have also been verified by science. Studies show that helping others, practicing generosity, and volunteering have direct health benefits such as boosting the immune system, lowering blood pressure, and other positive physiological consequences. This learning has been shared by Norman Cousins and Dean Ornish. It is also documented in the book, The Healing Power of Doing Good: The Health and Spiritual Benefits of Helping Others by Allan Luks and Peggy Payne.

So we see that modern healing professionals are endorsing the teaching of Jesus, take up your cross. This basically amounts to LOVE. Don’t be controlled by fear. Give your life away. Because, as Jesus teaches, to find your life, you must lose it.

The beauty of this teaching is that it applies to everyone. No matter what your circumstances in life, whatever your condition, your status, your class, your education level, your income, every single person can take up their cross. In fact, Jesus, known for taking up his cross, was poor and owned almost nothing and had no financial portfolio. And he sets the pace for taking up his cross. For giving his life away for the good of others. For generosity and service.

Some of you know that our son, Sterling, is an artist in Los Angeles. This spring he was painting the famous California poppies near an urban homeless encampment. Each day he want to his spot to paint. One day he sent us this text:

Some homeless men just gave ME some change and cigarettes because they liked my painting. The opposite of how it usually works.

Sterling received those offerings with gratitude. And in so doing, he affirmed the capacity of the homeless people to be generous and giving. Like the widow’s mite. He validated the humanity of those who are often treated as less than human in our society.

Take up your cross.
Jesus ennobles everyone because everyone can serve in some way. Everyone can listen. Everyone can smile. Everyone can pray. Everyone has something to give to help another.

Take up your cross.
Realize all that you have been given and all that you are. Experience abundance.

Take up your cross.
Free yourself from the the bondage of selfishness and the tyranny of the self. Free yourself from the false construct of scarcity that is perpetuated by the society around us.

Take up your cross.
Experience your commonality with each and every human being because we all suffer and are all in need of comfort and solace from one another. Be enlivened by the connections borne of solidarity and compassion.

Take up your cross.
Be rescued from a small, constricted, paltry existence and experience the expansive life of love, joy, and freedom from fear.

If you hear of a church that does not ask the members to give, to serve, to contribute, to help others, the community, the world, then head the other way. This is not the life giving way of Jesus. This is not the way of joy and abundant life.

And I can say as a pastor for all the many times I have been involved with getting people to volunteer for some kind of ministry, to help the homeless, to advocate for more just policies, to cook a meal for someone in the church, to teach church school, to help with Operation Attack, whatever it is, people always say to me that they got far more out of it than they put into it. It was far more meaningful to them to have participated than the effort that was expended. I have heard that over and over and over again throughout 35 years of ministry. Thirty five years of inviting people to contribute their money to the church and other initiatives to transform society and the lives of those in need. And never have I heard, I’m sorry I gave away that money. No, what I’ve heard again and again is, I am so glad to give. I feel I am making a difference. Let me know what else I can do.

We know that when we reach out to others and engage in service or generosity of some kind, we are the ones who are blessed by the giving.

This is why Jesus tells us to take up our cross. He wants us to have a full life; brimming with joy and meaning and purpose and well-being and significant relationships with people. All the fruits of service and generosity that come from offering ourselves in service to others in whatever shape or form that may take. Amen.

As you listen to the music video featuring Zach Blair-Andrews, you are invited to notice the thoughts and feelings and that arise for you.

(Click HERE if you wish to see the post containing the video of this text.)