Governor DeSantis is planning to kill a mentally ill man two weeks from today.
Duane Owen, the man DeSantis wants to kill on June 15, was first diagnosed with schizophrenia over thirty years ago. Two weeks ago, an expert concluded Duane Owen was incompetent to be executed. Nonetheless, a commission appointed by Governor DeSantis found that Duane Owen has no current mental illness and is eligible to be executed.
Actions to take: • Sign a petition and read details about Duane’s casehere, urging the Governor to stay the execution and grant clemency for Duane. This link also has a petition for faith leaders.
Sadly, Duane’s pending execution serves as a reminder that Florida has a disturbing history of executing people with serious mental illness. FADP, in conjunction with journalist Alan Johnson, has compiled a booklet of stories shining the light on Florida’s shameful past. Read the first of these tragic stories here.
Every execution is a devastating reminder that Florida is on the wrong side of history. But to repeatedly execute the most ill and the most vulnerable in our society is simply unconscionable. Help us continue to expose this truth about Florida’s fatally flawed death penalty system.
An Open and Affirming Church A Creation Justice Church May 28, 2023 10:30 a.m.
PENTECOST!
GATHERING MUSICI Love You Son Lux [from the movie, “Everything Everywhere All At Once”]
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS LIGHTING THE PEACE CANDLE Barbara Donohue, liturgist You don’t have to have fought in a war to love peace. Geraldine Ferraro 1935-2011 PRELUDE Chariots of Fire Vangelis * OPENING PRAYER Jan Berry b. 1953 Exuberant Spirit of God, bursting with the brightness of flame into the coldness of our lives to warm us with a passion for justice and beauty, we praise you.
Exuberant Spirit of God, sweeping us out of the dusty corners of our apathy to breathe vitality into our struggles for change, we praise you.
Exuberant Spirit of God, speaking words that leap over barriers of mistrust to convey messages of truth and new understanding, we praise you.
Exuberant Spirit of God flame wind speech, burn, breathe, speak in us; fill your world with justice and with joy. * HYMN Come, O Spirit, with Your Sound265 MYSTIC READING Hildegard of Bingen 1098-1179 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 2:1-21
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 On Pentecost They Gathered 272 SERMON Powered Up! Rev. Kim P. Wells
UNISONREADING — Blessed are you who bear the light Jan Richardson b. 1967
Blessed are you who bear the light in unbearable times, who testify to its endurance amid the unendurable, who bear witness to its persistence when everything seems in shadow and grief. Blessed are you in whom the light lives, in whom the brightness blazes— your heart a chapel, an altar where in the deepest night can be seen the fire that shines forth in you in unaccountable faith, in stubborn hope, in love that illumines every broken thing it finds. ANTHEM Fire of Justice, Fire of Love HKJ 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 Clair de Lune Debussy [from the movie, “Everything Everywhere All At Once”] * Time of Dedication Christine Valters Paintner, b. 1970, adapted
Fiery Spirit, Source of all creative power, Kindle your Holy Spark within us, Breathe into us your Sacred Passion, Fill us with your Flame until we have become fire, Offering warmth and light to the world. Amen. * PREPARATION FOR PRAYER Loose the SpiritPorter MORNING PRAYERS – SAVIOR’S PRAYER
O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos, focus your light within us—make it useful. Create your reign of unity now; Your one desire acts with ours, as in all light, so in all forms. Grant what we need each day in bread and insight. Loose the cords of mistakes binding us, as we release the strand we hold of others’ guilt. Don’t let surface things delude us, but free us from what holds us back. From you is born all ruling will, the power and the life to do, the song that beautifies all; from age to age it renews. Amen. (Peshita Syriac-Aramaic translation)
* HYMN Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Wing 270 * BENEDICTION Digby Hannah, Australia The wind and flame of Pentecost is surely here stirring in our hearts glowing in the faces of those we love in the still, small voice of compassion for those on the margins of passion for justice many candles and flames quietly and resolutely burning in distant places in our own neighborhood within our small community of faith Who will shout, “look here it is” or “there it is”? There is no need because Pentecost is within us. * CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE (please form a circle) Rosemary Crow Weave, weave, weave us together; Weave, weave, weave us together, Weave us together in unity and love. Weave us together, together in love.
Teje, tejenos juntos, Teje, tejenos juntos, Tejenos juntos en unidad y amor. Tejenos juntos, juntos en el amor.
* POSTLUDE Ring of Fire Cash
ANNOUNCEMENTS Pilgrim, Trinity, Lakewood Cooperative Ministry Pilgrim, Trinity, and Lakewood UCC churches in St. Petersburg have begun having discussions about how we can cooperate and support each other’sministries. At the first meeting, a list was generated of things that we might work on together. At the next meeting, the group will pick several things to focus on.
In preparation for that meeting, LUCC leaders would like input from the LUCC congregation about what projects and initiatives are of most interest to our congregation. There are three opportunities for you to be involved in this conversation.
There will be an in person conversation about prioritizing the list of potential projects after worship TODAY in the church sanctuary.
There will be a Zoom conversation about the list of possible projects on Tuesday June 6 at 6:30 p.m. Here is the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2700683648.
And there will be another in person conversation about the ministry possibilities at the next Advisors meeting, Sunday June 11 following worship in the Fellowship Hall.
Please know that your input is needed as we explore working with our neighboring UCC churches. Operation Attack Update Operation Attack is an ecumenical food pantry located at Lakeview Presbyterian Church. LUCC was a founding partner in this ministry in the 1960’s. Volunteers are needed to serve on Thursdays. Help is needed putting food away, serving clients, and doing clean up and re-stocking. Pick a time that suits you: 9:30-12:30, 1-4, 4:30-6:30. Help is needed during each of those time segments.
Please consider volunteering for this important ministry serving those most in need in our community.
Donations of non perishable food is always welcome. Summer Sundays Ahead For the Sunday services this summer, Rev. Wells would like to hear from you! What would you like to hear a sermon about? Is there a theme or a topic or a scripture lesson or an issue or a story that is of interest to you? Kim would love to hear from you and she will plan the summer services around your requests. Congregational Meeting Ahead There will be a congregational meeting following morning worship on Sunday June 25. This is a special called meeting to discuss a financial plan for the church for the second half of 2023. Guided Labyrinth Walks The weekly guided labyrinth walk is now scheduled for Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. There are several factors that have led to this change including the construction on the property next to the church. All are welcome!
Climate Card Initiative Ahead LUCC will be participating in the UCC Climate Card initiative letting legislators know that we support efforts to eliminate global warming. Look for more information soon!
Choir Ministry Concludes This is the last Sunday that the choir will sing for this season. The choir has brought much meaning and beauty to the worship services this year. MANY THANKS to the choir members and especially to Music Director Hilton Jones!
Exhibition Closing June 8 The exhibit “Civil Rights in the Sunshine State” at the St. Petersburg Museum of History will be closing June 8. You are encouraged to see this important, extensive exhibit about the Civil Rights movement in Florida. We all know the image of the marchers crossing the Pettus Bridge in Selma, AL but there were many significant Civil Rights demonstrations and actions in Florida. This important exhibit at the Museum of History shares those stories, which, sadly, may no longer be taught in schools. The exhibit will be on display through June 8. Circle of Concern
Yvonne Riesen recovering from a fall Barbara Donohue’s friend, Kelsey Lucille Ruga Sherry Santana Tony Rogers, church custodian Erik Johnson Ann Quinn is under Hospice care Janet Hall Caregivers Schools: Students, families, teachers, and staff.
Church Staff Rev. Kim P. Wells Pastor Hilton K. Jones Music Director Claudia Rodriguez Childcare 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 LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST A Just Peace Church
Date: May 21, 2023 Scripture Lesson: 1 Peter 4:12-16, 5:6-11 Sermon: Cast Your Cares Upon God Pastor: Rev. Kim P. Wells
This past week I spoke with someone I have known for years about his childhood. I had assumed that he had a typical upbringing in the 50’s and 60’s — until our recent conversation. I found out the this person’s father died when he was 5 or 6 years old. And then his mother died when he was in what was then called junior high. And his brother, 7 years older, was his guardian.
The two brothers lived together in the familial home. Then when he was in high school, the brother was drafted – this was during the Vietnam War. So, the brother went off to the service. And my friend continued to live in the family home by himself and to finish high school. He got a check for about $84 a month from Social Security and that is what he used to pay the utilities, etc. The house was paid for. As he told me about all of this, he did not seem sad or burdened. This was simply his story. His ‘normal.’
I must have looked appalled or aghast as I listened because my friend added, “Things were different then.” Yes, they were. But still. A high schooler left to raise himself? I asked him, how was it being by yourself? Were you lonely? No, not really. He had lots of friends and their parents helped to look out for him. One parent of a friend saw to it that he was not drafted. And he had lots of extended family in the area and they were looking out for him. He had a community of support and he was able to move on with his life, get an education, work productively in his chosen career, and not really be significantly negatively impacted by his situation.
This morning, we heard from First Peter, verses addressed to a people living under duress; in adverse circumstances. One thing they are told is not to bring more suffering upon themselves by doing evil like “being a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a destroyer of another’s rights.” Note that – destroyer of another’s rights. We can relate to that! Some of our supposed Christian elected officials need to be reading their Bibles.
In addition to not doing evil themselves, the people who are suffering are told to cast their cares on God. In another translation, ‘cares’ is translated ‘anxiety.’ “Cast all your anxiety on God.” Well, we, too, know about cares and anxiety in spite of the fact that we live in a time of access to amazing material comforts and medical care. Still, who does not have anxiety – about death, health issues, finances, the future, global warming, our children and grandchildren, our society, those who are being left out and left behind, the rights that are being taken away from people, gun violence, and so much more. No matter how much money we have or how comfortable and stable our life may seem, being a human being involves worry and anxiety. And despite all of our accomplishments and progress as a species the experiencing of anxiety is on the rise on our context. Maybe this is influenced by the internet which makes us aware of so much more pain in the world and in the lives of others. And with more information sometimes it seems there is more to be afraid of. No more ‘ignorance is bliss.’ Anxiety is on the rise. And medical science has shown that the stress of anxiety has negative effects upon our physical health which gives us even more to worry about! Articles abound about how to calm your anxieties through breathing, therapy, processing, relaxation exercises, etc. First Peter invites us to add cast your cares, your anxieties, upon God as another tool in our kit to decrease our worries and our fears.
So I am interested in this advice, cast your cares upon God. We can be sure that this includes prayer. Offering our worries, our fears, our anxiety, our grief, to God, how ever we may understand God, in prayerful devotion. That is very important and can be extremely effective. We are invited to unburden ourselves to God. Through prayer, meditation, journaling, walking the labyrinth, and other spiritual disciplines. I also think this casting your cares upon God is something that can happen when we gather as a faith community and share our concerns.
The advisors are the governing board of our church. They meet regularly to discuss things like personnel issues, property concerns, finances. Always finances! But at the beginning of each meeting, we begin with ‘check in.’ Each person is invited to share what is going on with them. And then we extend that to the people of the church community for whom we are concerned. We are at the meeting to be the church. And yes, that involves administration, but I would hate to think that someone came to an advisors meeting heavily burdened and all we did was discuss the bank balance and the plumbing problem. We are here to incarnate the love of Christ to one another, to share each other’s burdens and joys. That’s why we bother with the budget.
Cast your cares upon God. To me, that is what we are here as a congregation to do. And yes, we pray, but we also share our burdens, our anxieties, our cares, in community, in relationship with one another, and receive needed support and sympathy. How did my friend make it through his stressful childhood? With the support of a community of family and friends. We are here to be that community for each other.
I remember one year, in stewardship season, I think, we had people in the congregation talk about what the church means to them and why they come to church. One person mentioned, that she comes to church in part because “somebody may need me.” Cast your cares. We come with our needs and cares and anxieties but we also come knowing someone else may come needing us – to listen, to offer spiritual support, to care. Yes, at church on Sunday there is singing and praying and praising and teaching, but there is also what appears to be casual conversation that may very well be an opportunity for us to share cares and worries and anxieties and know that they are received with love and concern. In these exchanges we incarnate the love and care of God to one another.
So I would like to invite you to take a few moments to think about what cares, worries, or anxieties are weighing on your heart this morning. What is keeping you up at night? Maybe something in your own life. Maybe something in the life of someone you care about. Maybe something in our society involving concern for others negatively impacted by societal forces. So you are invited to just reflect for a few moments on the cares and anxieties that you are carrying within you at this moment.
PAUSE
Now I would like to invite you to turn to someone else who is here this morning and have a brief conversation about your cares and concerns. You can talk with someone you know or someone who is new to you. I encourage you to consider talking with someone that you don’t typically engage with. You can get up and move. You can adjust the chairs to suit your conversation. So, take 5 minutes or so to share something that is weighing on your heart with someone who is here this morning and to listen to the cares of another.
SMALL GROUP CONVERSATION
Is there anyone who would like to comment on this experience before we wrap up?
Cast your cares upon God. That is one of the things we do at church each week. Yes, it can be a private, prayerful, experience, but it can also be a social experience done in community as we have done here today. We are incarnating the love of God to one another as Jesus did. We are sharing the cares and burdens we bring. We are offering solace and spiritual support by listening and caring. We are embodying Divine Love to one another. And if you did not come with concerns that you need to unburden, you can be uplifted knowing that you helped to ease the burden of someone else by hearing their cares.
We close with a prayer from contemporary mystic Andrew Harvey:
Mother, Make of my heart A vast bed of peace Where you can lay down your heart And rest from the agony that harrows it From all we are and continue to do. As you comfort me, so may I comfort you. [Andrew Harvey, contemporary mystic] 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.
This arrangement of mine is a musical reflections on the hymn tune, Resignation, a melody of anonymous authorship from William Walker’s “Southern Harmony, and Musical Companion” (1835).
The second “verse” of the arrangement is a minor key treatment of the melody. It returns to a more upbeat character on the “third” verse, and an even more positive statement on the “fourth” verse.
I don’t have videos of me playing a lot of these solo piano arrangements. I recorded them before I got into the practice of making videos. When there’s no video, I’m using a score synchronized with my audio recording.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 