In his book, Father Dear shows how Jesus’ teachings and practice of active nonviolence made him a disarming, healing presence to those in need and a revolutionary disrupter and threat to the unjust status quo, and how this nonviolence led to his execution and resurrection.
Father Dear bases his book on scholarship and on over forty years of nonviolent activism. In 2008, when Archbishop Desmond Tutu nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, he called Father Dear “the embodiment of a peacemaker. He is a man who has the courage of his convictions and who speaks out and acts against war, the manufacture of weapons, and any situation where a human being might be at risk through violence.”
Father Dear has served as the coordinator of chaplains for the Red Cross after 9/11 in New York while simultaneously organizing demonstrations against the U.S. war against Afghanistan, and as pastor to rural parishes in the high desert of New Mexico. He has traveled in warzones and has spoken to audiences about the Gospel message of nonviolence around the world. He arranged for Mother Teresa to speak to U. S. governors to stop the death penalty and helped prevent eight executions. He has been arrested over 85 times for nonviolent actions.
In 1998, he became executive director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the largest interfaith peace organization in the United States, and led Nobel laureates to Iraq and an interfaith delegation to Israel/Palestine. He drafted Pope Francis’ January 1, 2017 World Day of Peace message, the first statement on nonviolence in the history of the Catholic Church. He is the executive director of www.beatitudescenter.org where he hosts and offers zooms on Jesus and Gospel peacemaking.
Father Dear has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and USA Today. For eight years he wrote a weekly column for the National Catholic Reporter and Huffington Post. He is the author of hundreds of articles on peace and nonviolence, and forty books, including The Beatitudes of Peace, of which President Jimmy Carter said, ”I urge everyone to study John Dear’s beautiful reflections and join his campaign of peace and nonviolence.”
This is a season of watching and waiting and wonder. Given the stresses of our days, what does the it look like to be given peace – in our lives and in the world? Join your faith community in seeking peace this holy season, the Deep Peace of the Shining Stars.
In addition to the activities listed below:
There is an Advent Calendar for daily devotions available at church. This was prepared by a cousin of Jeff Wells, Merry Watters. She is a retired Methodist minister. If you would like one emailed or sent to you, please contact the Church Office.
Advent devotions will be emailed during the season to inspire your journey to the Deep Peace of the Shining Stars. If you would like to consider writing a devotion this month, please contact Tina Allen at tinaallengifted@gmail.com
Please consult the Weekly Update sent by email each week and posted on the website for changes and additions to the information below.
This Advent/Christmas season may we experience the Deep Peace of the Shining Stars!
December 1
World AIDS Day. Say a prayer for those living with HIV/AIDS. Get tested. HIV/AIDS is on the rise in St. Petersburg.
December 2
10:30 a.m. Join in decorating the sanctuary at Lakewood for the Advent/Christmas season. The stunning Christmas Tree from Trinity will be decorated. Join in the festivities!
December 3
10:15 a.m. Singing of favorite carols before worship
10:30 a.m. First Sunday of Advent
Lighting the advent wreath
A reflective service with time to center on the gift of Deep Peace we are given through Jesus. Communion will be served. Childcare is provided.
11:30 a.m. Star ornament making with Morgan Wright! Help to make star ornaments to decorate the branch in middle of the sanctuary. Deep Peace of the Shining Stars! ALL WELCOME!
Poinsettia order forms available. Financial donations received for Christmas hams for the Good Samaritan Food Pantry. Communion offering received. Cards available to fill out for area nursing home delivery.
Donations welcome for the Maximo Elementary Holiday Gift Shop:
Poinsettia order forms available.
Financial donations received for Christmas hams for the Good Samaritan
FoodPantry.
Communion offering received.
Cards available to fill out for area nursing home delivery.
Donations welcome for the Maximo Elementary Holiday Gift Shop:
Toys for All Ages
Jewelry: Popular for moms, grandmothers, and big sisters.
Stickers: Affordable and perfect for siblings.
Mugs: Everybody can use one more, right?
Coloring Books
Bicycles
Notepads: Especially in fun shapes like dogs, cats, hearts, or flowers.
Family I — Mikailah: Suitcase for kids, Baby Alive doll, food for doll, Doll stroller; Kayleigh: Baby Alive doll, baby diaper bag, baby changing table and babybottles.
Family ll — Nasir: (4yr old boy) 4T-5T clothes, 9c shoes, likes Ninja Turtles, Spiderman, trucks, dinosaurs and bike with helmet; Kamilah: (3yr old girl) 3T clothes, 6c shoes, likes Doc McStuffins, MinnieMouse, princess and bike with helmet.
Family III — Sha’nya: L.O.L Doll, L.O.L Doll House, slime, perfume, play make-up, pailpolish, scrunchies (for hair) and bracelets.
For details about Maximo, please contact Emily Bell — Maximo donations will be collected through December 17.
December 5
9:30 a.m. Weekly faith discussion group on Zoom. To participate, please email Diane Bullock at dibull321@gmail.com
December 6
10:00 a.m. Weekly guided labyrinth walk at Lakewood.
7:00 p.m. Planetarium presentation at St. Petersburg College Gibbs Campus (5th Ave. N. and 66th St., St. Pete).
For December, Dr. Craig Joseph will be presenting Yuletide Skies, based upon what the sky would have looked like 2000 years ago during the birth of Christ. Seating (46 total) is first-come first-served. Parking is free on campus and located next to the Natural Sciences building. Each show starts at 7 p.m. and lasts for about 45 minutes. After the show, attendees are welcome to view the night’s sky from the rooftop observatory, weather permitting.
Join folks from Lakewood and Trinity for this illuminating opportunity to view the Deep Peace of the Shining Stars!
December 8
7:00 p.m. Join in ‘No Room at the Inn.’ This is a Christmas caroling event sponsored by Celebrate Outreach that ministers to the houseless in St. Petersburg. Visits include Cara House and St. Petersburg Free Clinic Baldwin Women’s Residence. Celebrate Outreach distributes the toiletries that are collected at church. Meet at the Mirror Lake Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg (100 Mirror Lake Dr. N.).
December 10
10:15 a.m. Singing of favorite carols before worship
10:30 a.m. Second Sunday of Advent
Lighting the advent wreath
The service will provide a time of comfort in this busy season and these troubling days.
Childcare provided.
11:30 a.m. There will be a cookie event following worship! Watch the Weekly Update for details.
There will be cards available to sign for the home bound of the church families.
Poinsettia order forms available.
Financial donations received for Christmas hams for the Good Samaritan Food Pantry.
Maximo donations welcome. See Dec. 3.
December 12
9:30 a.m. Weekly faith discussion group on Zoom. To participate, please email Diane Bullock at dibull321@gmail.com
December 13
10:00 a.m. Weekly guided labyrinth walk at Lakewood.
6:00 p.m. Blue Christmas Service at Trinity UCC (1150 49th St. N.). For many the holiday season includes feelings of grief and loss. This service is a time to honor those feelings and appreciate the healing love of the Christmas season.
Today is the deadline for poinsettia orders.
December 14
6:30 p.m. Monthly Book Talk discussion will be held on Zoom. Watch the Weekly Update for the link.
December 17
10:15 a.m. Singing of favorite carols before worship
10:30 a.m. Third Sunday of Advent
Lighting the advent wreath
The service will provide a time to remember Mary and her commitment to justice. There will also be recognition of the founding of Trinity UCC on Dec. 21 in 1952.
Childcare provided.
This is the last opportunity to make financial donations for Christmas hams for the Good Samaritan Food Pantry.
Cards must be returned for area nursing home delivery.
Last day for contributions to the Maximo Elementary. Please see list on December 3.
Noon Light lunch will be provided for those who will go Christmas caroling to the homebound from the church families.
12:30 p.m. Christmas Caroling! Leaving from Lakewood. Car pooling will be arranged.
December 19
9:30 a.m. Weekly faith discussion group on Zoom. To participate, please email Diane Bullock at dibull321@gmail.com
December 20
7:00 p.m. Nighttime guided labyrinth walk. This will be a time to remember the solstice and prepare for Christmas. The evening will include a fire circle and s’mores.
December 21
The anniversary of the founding of Trinity Evangelical and Reformed Church in 1952, later Trinity United Church of Christ.
December 24
10:15 a.m. Singing of favorite carols before worship
10:30 a.m. Fourth Sunday of Advent
Lighting the advent wreath
The service will provide a time to re-create the Christmas Tableau. Come as a shepherd, an angel, a wise one, whoever you envision at the manger. There will be some costuming available at church.
The service will also include the ritual of lining the manger in preparation for the birth of Jesus.
Childcare provided but children are welcome to participate in the interactive service.
6:30 p.m. Christmas Concert of piano music offered by Hilton Jones preceding the Christmas Eve service.
7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service of lessons and carols with candlelight and communion. Celebrate the Deep Peace of the Shining Stars that comes to us through the birth of Jesus.
The Christmas Eve offering will be dedicated to helping the children of Gaza and Palestine. The money will be given to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund which is supported by the United Church of Christ.
December 26
9:30 a.m. Weekly faith discussion group on Zoom. To participate, please email Diane Bullock at dibull321@gmail.com
December 27
10:00 a.m. Weekly guided labyrinth walk at Lakewood.
December 31
10:30 a.m. Morning Worship with a focus on spiritually preparing for the New Year. Perhaps there is something you need to leave behind? Maybe there is something calling out to you in the New Year. This is a time to listen and discern. And to commit: Before I die, I’m going to. . .
January 2
9:30 a.m. Weekly faith discussion group on Zoom. To participate, please email Diane Bullock at dibull321@gmail.com
January 3
10:00 a.m. Weekly guided labyrinth walk at Lakewood.
January 6
Epiphany! There will be a celebration of the coming of the light with a fire circle at night. Watch the Weekly Update and the bulletin for details about time and place.
There will be an in person congregational meeting on Sunday Oct. 22, 2023 following worship to take action on proposed revisions to the church Constitution and By Laws. The changes being proposed reflect the way the congregation is actually functioning and bring consistency to what is in the official documents and what is being done in actual practice. The changes have been carefully reviewed by the Advisors as well as other church members who have assisted with the process including Sally Purvis, Patti Cooksey, Mark Gibson, and Bill Parsons.
At the meeting, all members of Lakewood United Church of Christ are entitled to vote. Friends of the church and the congregation of Trinity United Church of Christ are welcome to attend and to make comments on the proposed documents but will not be eligible to officially vote.
Perhaps you’ve been reading about the recent Florida government interruption of life at New College in Sarasota, Florida. A lead article in the Orlando Sentinel on February 1, 2023 begins this way:
“Former Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran is slated to become the next president of embattled New College of Florida, while Gov. Ron DeSantis is pushing to cut diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and curtail faculty tenure on state university campuses. All of these planned changes apparently are intended to further DeSantis’ campaign against what he describes as a “far–left” agenda in higher education.”
Current and former students, faculty, and education experts from around the country are decrying this incursion into higher education by one seeking political points to engage a base of voters who have bought into the so called ‘anti-woke’ movement. It’s time for the church to raise our voice, too. It is a different voice that needs a platform you can provide.
Here’s something you maybe didn’t know: “In 1960 New College was founded as a private liberal arts college in cooperation with the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries (Congregational); in 1962, at the campus dedication ceremony on November 18, earth from Harvard was mixed with soil from New College to symbolize the shared Congregationalist origins and high academic ideals of the two institutions.”
The history of our United Church of Christ is one of valuing education and encouraging freedom of thought as each generation shapes a sound future for itself and those who will come after them. The Florida government attack on New College is an attack on foundational values that have shaped our United Church of Christ culture for generations. I encourage you to reach out to your legislators and to the governor’s office. Make it known that we value the high academic ideals upon which New College was founded and that we object to this hijacking of higher education at New College and on campuses across the state of Florida.
Blessings,
Rev. John Vertigan
Conference Minister, United Church of Christ in Florida
Lakewood United Church of Christ 