Category: Posts

Tuesday Dec. 20, 2022

If you have ever visited the churches of another country, particularly a predominantly Catholic country like Italy, Mexico, France, or Spain, yes, you see a lot of crucifixes, but you also see a lot of Marys. There are many statues of Mary at the altar, in an alcove, gracing a chapel. Mary, Mary, and more Mary. Sometimes you see more Mary than Jesus. This is easily noticed by someone with a Protestant background because we are not used to constantly seeing representations of Mary in church.

As we walked the Camino De Santiago in Spain recently, I peaked into a little chapel we passed along the way. At the door was a locked wrought iron gate. You could only look in from the gate. The space was lovely and in the front was a Mary complete with vases of fresh flowers. This Mary had a glowing golden halo. She was garbed in resplendent gold robes. She was holding Jesus in one arm, and in her other hand was, well, a tote bag. A reusable bag that one would take shopping at the grocery store. That is what was hooked over her dainty, beige colored hand. I loved this Mary! Exalted in all her finery and ready for the task at hand, for everyday life.

That is a wonderful image for the life of faith. Captivated by the glorious dreams of God and ready for every day life. Not above it all; too good for the ordinary. But ready to blend the transcendent and the everyday.

So, while we may think we are seeking some extraordinary revelation this season, like the sighting of Santa portrayed in the poem, “The Night Before Christmas,” this Mary reminds us to look for signs of the eternal Divine Love, God, in the everyday.

Prayer
As we go about our daily lives, may the dreams of God infuse us so that we are dazzled by the transcendent in the most ordinary of moments. Amen.

Monday Dec. 19, 2022

One of the towns that we stayed in on the Camino de Santiago Del Norte was called La Caridad. Originally, the town had a different name but the name was changed because the people of the town developed a reputation for being devoted to caring for the pilgrims who came through. So the name of the town was changed to reflect that. Caridad means ‘charity’ or love or compassionate hospitality. The people of the town were so caring, the town was renamed to reflect that.

So, in that town, we stayed in a hostel that did not have wifi. I needed wifi to arrange for my backpack to be carried by Correos, the postal system. So, I went in search of wifi – pronounced ‘weefee’ in Spain. I went to a bar on the town square. I asked if there was wifi. The server told me, yes, there was wifi. So, I ordered a Kass Limon, a soda, and sat down at a table and got out my phone. After inquiring about the password, I came to find out that there was no wifi at this bar. As I saw it, I had been lied to. Next, I went to a hostel just a few doors down from ours. I was told they had wifi. I explained my circumstances to the host and he said, basically, too bad. Their wifi was only for their guests. Getting desperate, I went to another bar. The woman working there told me there was wifi but it wasn’t reliable. She was doubtful that it would work. She gave me the password and let me know I was free to try it. And it worked. Whew! And I hadn’t even ordered anything at that bar. But after using the wifi, we gave her a tip which she tried to refuse.

This left me asking myself about the name of the town and its reputation for being so generous to pilgrims walking the Camino. It was one of the least hospitable towns as far as I was concerned.

So, I am thinking about our name, Christians. When people hear that, they should assume that we are caring, compassionate, and hospitable. Eager to help. Generous. Yet how many experiences do people have with so-called Christians that do not reflect the love and caring of Christ?

This season of Advent can be a time to practice our charity, compassion, and generosity by having a supportive, understanding attitude in our interactions with others. By helping others as we can. By giving as we are able. By putting the Christ back in Christmas with our behavior and approach and attitude. And we just might find a little bit of Christ not only in Christmas but in ourselves.

Prayer
May we try to show Christ to others by who we are and what we do. Today, may we do something Christlike for someone. A friend. A family member. A random stranger. May we reflect our name, Christian. Amen.

Sunday Dec. 18, 2022

I grew up in a large church in a large metropolitan area. The associate minister at our church had a beautiful voice. And in addition to serving as the associate pastor at this large UCC church, he was the cantor for the services at the large Jewish temple near by. Friday nights he was leading worship at the temple. Sunday mornings he was leading worship at our church. At the church we thought this was wonderful. We were glad that he got to share his wonderful gift with others. The temple and the church had Thanksgiving services together each November. I didn’t know that there was a troubled relationship between Christians and Jews until much later in my life.

When I found out more about the age old tensions and conflicts between Christians and Jews, it mystified me. And anti Semitism among Christians still mystifies me now. Jesus was Jewish. Period. He never was in a church. He never read a gospel. There wasn’t a cross hanging around his neck. He was hung on a cross. Jesus was Jewish through and through. And according to the gospels, he was a devout Jew, not just a cultural Jew. He went to the Temple. He went to the synagogue. He probably knew Hebrew. He observed the high holy days. All of it.

Today the Jewish festival of Hanukkah begins at sundown. This would have been an important observance for Jesus. It is the festival of lights.

As Christians we give thanks that the light of Christ still shines and that it exposes the sin and evil of anti Semitism. The light of Christ shines with universal, unconditional love. This is our season of light and that light burns bias, prejudice, and hatred to ash.

On this fourth Sunday of Advent as you light the four Advent candles of your Advent wreath, remember our Jewish friends who also starting a candle-lighting observance tonight.

Prayer
We give thanks for the festival of Hanukkah and the joy and hope that it brings to our Jewish sisters and brothers and to the world. Amen.

Saturday Dec. 17, 2022

A beloved part of the Christmas tradition is the story of the magi following a star to the baby Jesus.  How many magi were there?  We are not told.  Because three gifts are mentioned, it is posited that there were three visitors.  Where did they come from?  We are only told ‘the east’.  But it probably would have taken months if not years to get to Bethlehem from ‘the east’.  

In the story in Matthew, we are told that the travelers followed a star and the star led them to Christ Jesus.  So this is a season to ponder what star we are following.  What star is leading us?  Where are we heading?  What is leading us?  

Some people are obsessed with having long term goals and following a strategic plan to get to those goals.  Some people make lists and timelines.  Some people keep charts and graphics about how they are doing heading toward something that is important to them.  Some people just muddle through day to day dealing with what comes up.  Regardless of the style we choose, we are headed somewhere; in a direction, toward something.  There are tools and information that we use to lead and guide us.  And even if we are not going after some specific accomplishment, our choices and behaviors are heading somewhere.  They are leading to an outcome.  

Someone who is a heavy smoker is heading toward cancer.  They probably did not wake up one day and say, “I am going to do whatever it takes to get cancer,” and then start smoking a pack a day.  But nonetheless, that behavior is leading toward an outcome.  

So, if you think you do not have certain goals, that you are not intentionally following a star, examine your choices and behavior and you might get a sense of where you are heading.  And if nothing presents itself, you might ask someone who knows you whom you trust what they see, what they think, about where you are heading.

This Advent season, we want to think about making choices and taking actions that are consistent with human expression of universal, unconditional love of ourselves, others, and all of Creation.  That is the star we want to be following.  This is what we want to be leading and guiding us.  We may not know exactly where we will end up, or what the journey will be like, but we know that we will end up in the embrace of Divine Love.  

Prayer

In these days of too many choices and too much information, may we keep our hearts centered in universal, unconditional Love and marvel at the journey!  Amen.

Errata – the correct anthem and piano solos are as follows:

GATHERING MUSIC: Lo, How a Rose — trad./arr. HKJ

PRELUDE: O LIttle Town of Bethlehem — Redner/arr. HKJ

ANTHEM: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day — Calkin

OFFERTORY: 3 Chanukkah Songs — trad. Jewish folk tunes

POSTLUDE: Silver Bells —  Livingston & Evans

LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

A Just Peace Church

An Open and Affirming Church

A Creation Justice Church

10:30 am

December 18, 2022

                                                          FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

SONGS OF THE SEASON    10:15AM

WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS

LIGHTING THE PEACE CANDLE                    Michelle Cloutier, Liturgist

If I were president, what would I do?  I would stop the war.  I would come to peace with our adversaries.  I don’t like the thought of people dying over land or oil.  It makes me feel sad that people are losing their lives. 

Ellen Michaela Doyle, age 10, St. Petersburg, Florida

PRELUDE              O Little Town of Bethlehem               Redner/arr. HKJ      

* OPENING READING                       Raymond Chapman, adapted

Child of Bethlehem,

            weak and helpless,

            loved and cherished,

            peaceful in a manger,

            hold us with your strong love.                                                                                                 

* HYMN           Jesus, Jesus, Oh, What a Wonderful Child           139

LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH – Love

                Unison Prayer

We give thanks for the many ways that love is made manifest in our lives and in our world.  We need the gift of love to sustain us on life’s journey.  May we look for signs of love in the darkening days of this Advent season. May we be signs of love for the world.   Amen. 

            Response:                  Light Our Way                  Joyce Rupp

                                    Please See Insert

READING                                   Jesus Is Born              Archbishop Desmond Tutu

* HYMN                                  Away in a Manger                   124

SERMON                                   Oh, Baby!                         Rev. Kim P. Wells

UNISON READING                                   John Harvey

            ‘You are deeply, deeply loved,

            just as you are,

            forgiven, loved and challenged to be

            the very best you can be.

            So I’m speaking to you in the only way I know how —

            from a stable,

            in a child born into poverty,

            soon to grow to maturity,

            born to show you,

            in a human life,

            the love of God.’

.

ANTHEM        The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came                  Basque Carol

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         Good Christians All Rejoice and Sing          trad./arr. HKJ 

         * Prayer of Dedication                                    Thom M Shuman

                        Help us to set down

                        our parcels of expectations

                        to reach down and scoop

                        you up in our arms,

‘                       your laughing breath

                        giving us life.  Amen.         

* PREPARATION FOR PRAYER               Jesus, Our Brother               138

MORNING PRAYERS – 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.

LINING THE CRADLE

                  Responsive Reading                           Shirley Erena Murray

            Spirit of love, you move within creation,

            drawing the threads to color and design;

            life into life, you knit our true salvation,

                        come, work with us,

                                    and weave us into one.

            Though we have frayed the fabric of your making,

            tearing away from all that you intend,

            yet, to be whole, humanity is aching —

                        come, work with us,

                                    and weave us into one.

Great loom of God, where history is woven,

            you are the frame that holds us to the truth,

            Christ is the theme, the pattern you have given —

                        come, work with us,

                                    and weave us into one.                  

* Hymn                           Cloth for the Cradle                       See Insert

            During the singing of the hymn you are invited to come forward and place a  strip of fabric in the manger.

*BENEDICTION                                                                   

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE (please form a circle)      Rosemary Crow

Weave, weave, weave us together;  weave us together in unity and love.

Weave, weave, weave us together; weave us together, together in love.         

*POSTLUDE          It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas      Willson

Circle of Concern: Erik Johnson, Katherine Conover, Danielle Hintz, Colombian Family, Ann Quinn is under Hospice care, Maggie Brizendine, Janet Hall, Tony Larson, Don Ritchie, who is moving, and Yvonne Riesen. All those suffering from COVID-19 and all healthcare workers, Schools: Students, families, teachers, and staff

Announcements

All Church Read – Access a copy of Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan. It’s a very short story. This book is also available as an audio book. Join in a discussion of this beautiful story December 22 @ 6:30 via zoom.

Zoom Link: http://us02web.zoom.us/j/2700683648    Meeting Id: 270 068 3648

Baby Time – Family Promise of Pinellas County is a faith-based coalition helping families without a house to move toward residential stability. This ministry to families without homes has been supported by LUCC for many years. This year Family Promise has asked that we collect diapers for the families in the program. Please bring donations of diapers- any size, any style- to church

CHRISTMAS EVE

6:30      Music of the Season

7:00     Service with candlelight and communion. All ages welcome!      t

Family Promise Needs – Word was received this week that Family Promise, a local ministry to houseless families with children, is in need of the following items:

Milk, Water (small bottles), Paper Goods (paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, plates, cups) Cleaning Supplies (disinfectants, sponges, dish soap, laundry soap.

Please bring items to the church and place them on the shelves behind the curtain in the hallway.

Guided labyrinth walks Wednesday mornings at 9:00am – Each week there is a guided labyrinth walk on the outdoor labyrinth at the church. It’s a time of prayerful faith sharing, and a time to listen more deeply to our spiritual lives. In case of rain, the walks are held on Thursday Morning.

WINTER SOLSTICE

The longest night is a time for reflection and wonder. Join in a fireside gathering at

5:41pm on Wednesday December 21 at the church.

NEW YEARS DAY

There will be a service on Sunday @ 10:30 to start the New Year. Rituals will help set the heart’s intentions for the year ahead.