Social Action – Page 13 – Lakewood United Church of Christ

Celebrate Outreach Saturday morning breakfasts

Friends,

Last month, Celebrate Outreach’s Saturday morning breakfast served a full breakfast to 758 homeless and marginally housed people. Also last month, we received $0 from outside contributors.

Fortunately, unlike Blanche Dubois, Celebrate Outreach has always been able to count on the kindness of our friends.

Calvary Church in Clearwater and in Seminole each sponsor one weekend a month, supplying food, supplies and workers. Drag Queen Bingo largely supports the rest of the breakfasts.

This Wednesday, January 16 friends of the Saturday breakfast will gather at Hamburger Mary’s, 2901 Tyrone Blvd. N. in St Pete for Anything Goes Bingo with drag queen caller Miranda Sugarbaker (motto: “This ain’t your gramma’s bingo”). We guarantee food, friends, double entendres, single entendres, and a lot of fun. The website information for the bingo is here,

If you haven’t called to reserve, please call today. And don’t forget to bring a bevy of your chums for the drag queen bingo competition. There will be two fabulous trophies awarded: one for the group with the most members in attendance and one for the group with the most bingo winners. Don’t have a group? Get some people together, name yourselves, and come on down! Or come on your own. You can play solo or depend upon the kindness of strangers: organize a group on the spot!

In the past, Drag Queen Bingo has raised enough money to finance the breakfast for sixth months, and we hope to do that again.

Bingo sheets are available for a $10.00 cash donation. There will be gift bags for the winners, including wine from American Spirits and a gift certificate from Haslam’s Books. (Just keepin’ it local.)

The restaurant will seat people from 5:30-6:30. Bingo starts at 7:00.

Call Hamburger Mary’s at (727) 851-9386 to reserve seats. Please call ASAP.

Call us at (727) 894-2832 if you have any questions. See you Wednesday, January 16, and, as always, thanks to the kindness of our friends from everyone at the Saturday morning breakfast.

John and Sheila Stewart

Drag Queen Bingo benefit for homeless breakfast Jan 16

Friends,

Drag Queen Bingo, which puts the “fun” in “fundraising,” is essential to helping Celebrate Outreach feed over 150 homeless and precariously housed people at our Loaves and Fishes Breakfast every Saturday morning.

On Wednesday, January 16 friends and supporters of the breakfast will gather at Hamburger Mary’s, 2901 Tyrone Blvd. N. in St Pete for Anything Goes Bingo with drag queen caller Miranda Sugarbaker (motto: “This ain’t your gramma’s bingo”). We guarantee food, friends, double entendres, single entendres, and a lot of fun.

We also guarantee a drag queen bingo competition—but not one that involves fabulous clothes or, for that matter, race cars. Grab members of a group in your life—a club, religious congregation, circle of friends, work colleagues—and join us at Hamburger Mary’s. There will be two fabulous trophies awarded: one for the group with the most members in attendance and one for the group with the most bingo winners. Don’t have a group? Get some people together, name yourselves, and come on down! Or come by yourself, with or without a nom de bingo (such as Party of One or Mondo Mono).

No matter how big or small the number of people, please join us. The Loaves and Fishes Breakfast feeds over 150 poor and homeless residents of St. Petersburg with a full Denny’s-style breakfast every Saturday morning. In the past, Drag Queen Bingo has raised enough money to finance the breakfast for sixth months, and we hope to do that again.

Bingo sheets are available for a $10.00 cash donation. There will be gift bags for the winners. The website information for the bingo is here,

Please spread the word. I have attached the flyer for the event. Feel free to post in virtual and/or physical reality, early and often. The restaurant will seat people from 5:30-6:30. If you could come a bit early so the kitchen doesn’t get overwhelmed, that would be helpful. Bingo starts at 7:00.

Call Hamburger Mary’s at (727) 851-9386 to reserve seats. Please call ASAP.

Call us at (727) 894-2832 if you have any questions. See you Wednesday, January 16, and, as always, thanks from everyone at the Loaves and Fishes Breakfast.

John and Sheila Stewart

A letter from Rev. Kim to parents

This letter was written specifically to the teachers and parents of Lakewood United Church of Christ by Pastor Kim Wells in the aftermath of the Parkland school shooting.

My heart goes out to each of you, especially today. You went to school or sent your child(ren) to school. I’m sure it wasn’t easy. So much grief, fear, and anxiety.

I’m sure there were many students at school today who were worried, afraid, or distraught, even if they didn’t exactly know why. I’m sure there were teachers who were also worried, afraid, and distraught. And I know that parents made sure to give that hug and say that “I love you” this morning.

There are many conversations taking place in the teachers’ lounge, the lunchroom, and at the dinner table about the Parkland shooting. How did we wake up in a society where “school shooting” is a thing?

After fear and grief, we often move to anger and frustration and despair. Here, I want to tell you a few things.

First of all, you are not alone. Many other people in society and in your church family are alarmed at the gun violence in our society and especially the involvement of young people. Sue Sherwood, Earl Waters, Patti Cooksey, Lucille Ruga and I went to the event at Allendale Methodist Church Tuesday night for a community conversation about gun violence in St. Petersburg. The gathering was very helpful and we went away committed to continue to be involved in addressing this problem. So, please know, you are not alone, and there are people at church that are working on doing something about this.

Secondly, know that you are already part of the solution. You are already doing something about this each and every day. You are teaching your children constructive ways to express anger and resentment and hostility and fear. Each and every day they are learning from you to use words, to take a run, to cry into a pillow, to talk with a trusted friend or a trusted adult about their feelings when they are upset. So, each and every day, in your various settings, you are addressing this problem and making a difference.

You are also making a difference by paying attention. You pay attention to your children and their friends. You pay attention to your students. You notice what is going on. You ask questions. You take an interest in others. You are involved. You express concerns. You show that you care. That matters. Many adults today are consumed with themselves and don’t notice what is going on around them. And when they do see something of concern they think it is not their problem or their business. I know that all of you are proactive in your caring and concern for others. That really matters!

You also make a difference by involving yourselves in schools and education. You advocate for better educational policies. I am not an educator but I am a parent and the Parkland school had 3,000 students. That is just too big. A high school should not be that big. Maybe it is an economy of scale from a financial standpoint but it is not an economy of scale from an educational standpoint. With 3,000 students it is too easy for students to fall through the cracks. It’s too easy for teachers and staff not to care. And we know that students these days have more and more needs. They need more attention and care not less. A school that large cannot meet the needs of the students. But in ways large and small, I know that you are working to make the school culture more supportive of the educational and character building needs of the students. That matters!

Let your heart break for Parkland and those families. Don’t hold back your tears. Love your kids and your students. Let them know it! Continue to be a positive influence in society. And know that your church family is with you every day all the way!

Please call on me if I can be helpful. I am willing to listen. I can give a hug. I am available to speak with your children as well. I want them to know that at church there are caring adults that they can trust.

I know you may be weary of all of this but stay engaged. Be courageous. Don’t let fear win.

Take care.
Blessings,
Kim

Kim Wells, pastor
B.A. Wellesley College
M. Div. Union Theological Seminary of New York

Lakewood United Church of Christ
2601 54th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33712-4700
(727) 867-7961
lakewooducc.org

Statement about Separation of Church and State and Proposed LUCC Policy

Separation of Church and State and Political Campaigns
According to the American United for Separation of Church and State website (https://au.org/issues/churches-and-politics), religious groups have the right to speak out on political and social issues. Federal law, however, prohibits most tax-exempt bodies, including houses of worship, from intervening in elections by endorsing or opposing candidates for public office. Churches are not political action committees and should not act like them. Religious leaders should abide by the law and refrain from turning their congregations into cogs in a political machine.

Under the link to the Project Fair Play webpage and Get the Facts section of this website, an educational outreach effort of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, more detailed information is available about the law and how to be in compliance with it (http://projectfairplay.org/facts/). Specifically churches are not allowed to act as political organizations and advocate for a specific candidate.

Federal tax law is clear: Houses of worship and other non-profit groups may not endorse or oppose candidates for public office. The Internal Revenue Service vigorously enforces this provision of the IRS Code.

Under the Frequently Asked Questions section of this website we find even more specific information: (http://projectfairplay.org/facts/faq/)

Q. What types of activities are prohibited under the IRS Code?
A. Church endorsements of candidates and statements of opposition to candidates are strictly forbidden and can result in revocation of a church’s tax-exempt status. (However, clergy may endorse candidates as individuals in forums outside the church or work on behalf of candidates during their personal time.)
In addition, churches may not contribute money to candidates, solicit contributions on their behalf or donate to candidates’ political action committees. Churches may not set up their own PACs.

Q. What constitutes an endorsement or opposition to a candidate?
A. Prohibited activities may include letters of endorsement or opposition printed on church letterhead, church-sponsored distribution of campaign literature, pastors advising congregants to vote for or against candidates from the pulpit, the display of campaign signs on church property and other activities that could be construed as endorsing or opposing a candidate.

Many types of political activities are however allowable and are also listed on this website to include:
Voter registration drives
Driving people to the polls
Sponsor non-partisan candidate forums
Taking stands on political and social issues
Non-biased voter guides

Proposed LUCC Position and Guidelines
To support and act in accord with the law and the AU Separation of Church and State position, LUCC leadership will refrain from any and all illegal partisan political activities as described on their webpage and summarized here. In addition out of respect for the law , in support of the ethics of respect, fairness, and care for others, and in accord with the values of our church and faith (Mission statement here?), we ask that when on the LUCC property, engaged in LUCC activities, or when representing LUCC at any function on or off the property, the leadership and members of LUCC refrain from overtly endorsing or opposing a political candidate.

Of course as individual and independent citizens and voters, we are all free to communicate and advocate for any political candidate or party of our choice.

Discussion and feedback from congregation is requested.