Updates – Page 16 – Lakewood United Church of Christ

This Sunday: The theme for worship this Sunday is “Just Be Nice?” What does it mean to follow Jesus? What was Jesus about? Have a look at Luke 4:21-30 and Jeremiah 1:4-10.

Theological Orientation Discussions: The next gathering is tonight (January 30) at 6:30pm. The conversation will focus on how to define Christianity. Future sessions will be held Feb. 19, Feb. 27 (tentative), March 19, and March 27 from 6:30-7:45pm in the Fellowship Hall.

Budget Workshop: There will be another meeting to create a budget for the year tomorrow (January 31) at 10am. All are welcome to attend. If you have thoughts and ideas to share and are unable to come, please e-mail Bill Parsons or Rev. Wells.

Civil Rights Lectures: Dr. Susannah Heschel (Professor of Jewish Studies, Dartmouth College) scholar, author, and daughter of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, will deliver two speeches in St. Petersburg, at part of Legacy Week 2019. Both are free and open to the community, and concern the Civil Rights Movement and the role her father played with his friend and confidant, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. LUCC’s Sally Purvis, Chip Cosper, Jim Andrews, and Kim Wells are all associated with these events.

On Thursday, Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. Heschel will speak on “Faith, Courage and the Civil Rights Movement” in Ballroom 1 at the USF St. Petersburg Student Center, (200 Sixth Ave S). Following the lecture, time will be set aside for audience discussion with Heschel. This program is being brought to the community as a joint project of USF St. Petersburg and the Florida Holocaust Museum in collaboration with “Legacy Week 2019.”

On Saturday, Feb. 2, Heschel will speak at Congregation B’nai Israel, (300 58th St N), on Shabbat morning services, beginning at 9am, on “The Prophetic Spirit and the Civil Rights Movement,” as part of the synagogue’s annual Law Shabbat. That speech is expected to dwell more heavily on Jewish law, but will include information as well on Rabbi Heschel and King and their Civil Rights work.

Climate change FLICAN event: “Climate Impact & Environmental Inequity: Towards Justice for All” will be held Friday & Saturday, February 1 & 2, at the Callahan Center in Orlando. Rev. Wells plans to attend and can provide transportation.

Congregational Meeting: There will be a congregational meeting for the purpose of endorsing a church budget for 2019. It will be held after worship, in the sanctuary on Sunday February 3rd.

Operation Attack: Ongoing needs include coats of all sizes, clothes for boys and men, and diapers of all sizes. The next LUCC volunteer evening is February 11 at 6:30 pm at Lakeview Presbyterian Church (1310 22nd Ave S).

LUCC Concert Series: celebrating Old Time, Blues, Blue Grass, Folk & Country music. All concerts begin at 7pm. There is a $20 suggested donation for the band, doors open at 6:30pm. See the website or LUCC Facebook page for more information.

Friday, February 15 – The Wandering Hours
Friday, March 22 – Randy Wilson and Gabe Dansereau
Friday, May 3 – Charley Groth
Friday, May – Rebecca Zapen

One City Chorus: The next One City Chorus concert will be on February 17th at the Palladium Theater (253 5th Ave N). Tickets are $25 at the door, $20 in advance. LUCC member Jeff Wells is a member of the chorus.

Exchange Student: This comes from LUCC member Yoko Nogami, a teacher at Gibbs High School. She received a request for a new host home for an international high school student. Maybe there is someone in the LUCC family or beyond that would be willing to host this student? The student attends Boca Ciega High School and is from Norway. He loves music and drawing. He is quiet and enjoys the beach. He is in the area until June. If you are willing to explore this opportunity, please contact Yoko.

January Birthdays: Happy birthday to Martha Lamar (1/2); Elinor Ross (1/4); Chip Cosper (1/7); Jackson Cosper (1/9); Hilton Kean Jones (1/23); and Bob Bell (1/28). Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.

Circle of Concern: Family and friends of Bill Locke. Beverly Belche, a friend of LUCC member Martha Lamar, is fighting cancer and cellulitis and would like your prayers at this challenging time. Carolyn Moore, Ann Quinn, Willy Zessoules, Jen De Groot, and Ann Rogers.

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.

Many of you receive a weekly email from the church called the Weekly Update. In the past, this has included a lot of information about the church as well as community events. Starting in 2019, the Weekly Update will primarily feature information about the church, church family, and activities that church members are involved in. Community events and other initiatives will be posted on the church website and at the church Facebook page. If there is something you would like included in the Weekly Update, please notify the church before Wednesday as the Weekly Update typically is sent out on Wednesday.

This Sunday: is Epiphany. The service will be celebration of light and following the light of Jesus. New members will be received and it is a communion Sunday. Many thanks to Sally Purvis and Colleen Coughenour for ushering and to Chip Cosper for serving as liturgist!

New Members: Sunday morning Danielle Hintz and Julian Ricciardi will be welcomed back into LUCC membership. Their presence is a blessing!

Communion: 6 January is a communion Sunday. All are welcome to participate, children at the discretion of the adults who bring them. The communion offering goes to the Special Needs Fund which is used to help people in our community and the congregation with basic necessities such as food, rent, utilities, and prescription medication costs. Thanks to Janet Blair for preparing communion and to George & Jane Diven, Sally Purvis and Chip Cosper for serving communion!

Friday, January 11 – The Stillhouse Shakers
Thursday, January 24 – Vaden Landers Band
Friday, February 15 – The Wandering Hours
Friday, March 22 – Randy Wilson and Gabe Dansereau

Jesus Seminar in Sarasota: On Friday and Saturday, February 8-9, the First Congregational UCC of Sarasota will host the Jesus Seminar on the Road. Celene Lillie and Natalie Renee Perkins (both Union Theological Seminary graduates) will introduce the Gospel of Mary and Thunder: Perfect Mind in their ancient context as well as in creative, modern expressions. Register online at westarinstitute.org or by calling (651) 200-2372. Rev. Wells will attend and can provide transportation.

Youth Moment: Most Sundays in 2019 there will be a Youth Moment in the service. This will be a message specifically oriented to younger people. Word has it that the grown ups have been missing “Children’s Time” so this is a new initiative in 2019 to include all those who are youth as well as those who are young at heart!

Theological Orientation Discussions: Following up on conversations about the mission statement of the church, in 2019 the Advisors will be offering a bi-weekly discussion group about theological orientation. The sessions will alternate between Tuesday and Wednesday nights. There will be a topic for each session and opportunity for discussion and learning from one another. The series will be coordinated by Rev. Wells and Patti Cooksey. Stay tuned for more details!

Extra Mile Giving: The church has reached its extra mile giving goal of $13,500! Thanks to all who donated.

January Birthdays: Happy birthday to Martha Lamar (1/2); Elinor Ross (1/4); Chip Cosper (1/7); Jackson Cosper (1/9); and Hilton Kean Jones (1/23). Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.

Circle of Concern: Roger Goodson, Carolyn Moore, Ann Quinn, Willy Zessoules, Ann Rogers, Jen DeGroot and Yvonne Riesen.

Category: Updates

Weekly Update 30 January

Weekly Update