Category: Updates

Weekly Update 9/8

NEW SERVICE TIME!!!

Sunday services are now being held at 10:30 a.m. Masks are required.  There is physical distancing.  Childcare is provided.

You can also join in on Facebook Live at 10:30.  Please see the instructions below.  

This Sunday the assigned scriptures invite reflection on what it means to follow Jesus.  Maybe what we think we want really is not what is best for us.  Take a look at James 3:1-12, and Mark 8:27-38.

Also, you may have the opportunity to see Angela Wells-Bean and family this Sunday in church.

Sundays

Look for the bulletin posted on the church website on Friday: https://lakewooducc.org/category/bulletins/

Watch the service on Facebook Live Sundays at 9:30. https://www.facebook.com/LakewoodUCC

Or on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LakewoodUCC/videos

Instructions for how to access Facebook Live: For additional assistance, please contact the church office.

Here are some instructions to watch our Sunday services live through Facebook:

Use the following link to visit our homepage: https://www.facebook.com/LakewoodUCC/

On Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. please use the link above to visit our homepage. There, after using the link, you will see a section labeled “Happening Now”. This is our Livestream of the Sunday Service.

To watch the live stream, locate and click the “watch video” button in the lower right corner of the screen.

If the link above is not working, there is also a link to our Facebook page on our website. Please try that link located on the Home page of our website.

LUCC Creation Justice Book Discussion

Online Zoom for Fall 2021 Sign up now!

The Creation Justice Task Force will lead an online zoom discussion this coming Fall of the book, Cathedral on Fire – A Church Handbook for the Climate Crisis, a short 54 page read divided into 7 short chapters with Discussion Questions.

To reconnect us all in faith and community and in our common concern for Mother Earth, Claire Stiles along with Pastor Kim will lead us in a series of lively, interactive group discussions of this inspiring and upbeat approach to the protection of our planet and its inhabitants. From a Christian perspective, the author, the UCC Environmental Ministry Director Brooks Berndt, helps us understand our role as stewards of the earth and what we can do to safeguard nature and all those unjustly harmed by the current and future climate changes.

The Time and Date for the scheduled zoom meetings will be determined based on the schedules of participants interested in joining us. Books will be purchased and distributed to everyone who signs up to be a part of this lively group!

Please email Claire at stilesca@eckerd.edu or call her at 727-422-4787 if you want to be a part of this group and we will put you on the list! Please sign up by September 12th!

Book Talk Schedule

Book Talk is a monthly opportunity to enjoy discussing books! Participants hear about what others are reading and share what they have been reading. It’s very interesting and a chance to get to know people better, even people you already know well!

The next Book Talk will be Thursday, Sept. 16 at 6:30 on Zoom. Look for the link the week before.

In Memoriam

The Rev. Dr. Jim Prickett, former pastor of Lakewood United Church of Christ, died at home on Sept. 1 in Indiana. Jim helped to found Habitat for Humanity International in 1976.

Advisors to Meet 

The Advisors will meet Sunday, Sept. 12 at 9:00 a.m. in person before the worship service.

Hurricane Ida Response

Hurricane Ida caused severe damage in the South Central Conference of the United Church of Christ.  You are encouraged to donate funds for emergency relief and long-term recovery through the United Church of Christ Disaster Relief Ministries.  Here is the link to make your donation:  https://www.ucc.org/appeal-severe-storms-2021/

Guided Labyrinth Walks

The guided walk is held weekly on Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. This provides an opportunity to be aware and deepen your spiritual journey. If it is raining, the walk is held on Thursday at 9:00 a.m.

Also, the readings and prayers used on Wednesdays at the guided walk are put in the mailbox by the labyrinth each week for use during the week.

The labyrinth is on the church grounds near the southwest corner of the church property. It is available for use at all times.

Being Covid Safe and In-Person Worship

Please stay home if you are not feeling well.

Please wear a mask while in the church building.  While most people have been vaccinated, this helps visitors to feel safe.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending double masking.  Please consider wearing two masks to church.  Additional masks will be available at church to use as needed.

Two hand sanitizing stations are available for use by worshippers.

There is well-ventilated, physically distanced indoor seating in the sanctuary.

Please know that your safety is of primary consideration! 

Safe childcare is provided.

Immigration Action Item: THOUSANDS of Dreamers at risk of deportation! 

Severe processing delays are keeping THOUSANDS of DACA immigrants at risk of deportation and unemployment! As of March 31, USCIS had a backlog of more than 55,000 pending first-time DACA applications, in addition to over 44,000 renewal requests. United We Dream – an organization led by Dreamers – is calling on President Biden to clear the backlog NOW. 

Please sign the United We Dream’s petition calling on Biden and USCIS to clear the DACA backlog and process applications and renewals in a timely manner.
Click here:  https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/end-the-daca-backlog/

Operation Attack Update

Many thanks to Ian Blair-Catala who has been connecting the church with Operation Attack for the last 4 years.  Ian is now moving on to attend USF in Tampa.  Ian’s brother, Owen, will be taking over as the church’s Operation Attack coordinator.  Owen will be sharing what food items are needed as well as opportunities to volunteer.  Operation Attack is an ecumenical food pantry that has been serving the area since the 1960s.  It is located at Lakeview Presbyterian Church in St. Petersburg.  With gratitude to Ian, the church welcomes Owen to this important role serving those in need in the community.  

OA also still needs donations of cereal, peanut butter, canned meat, fruit, vegetables and soup, dried beans, and mac/cheese. Donations may be placed on the shelf in the hallway at church.

Spiritual Direction Offered by LUCC Clergy Member.

In these troubled times, it is important to find ways to tend to our spiritual lives. In the Christian tradition, Spiritual Direction is one of the ways of paying attention to the spirit in our lives. A Spiritual Director is someone to talk with about what is going on in our spiritual life and in our relationship with God however we may conceive of God.

Rev. Sally Purvis, Ph.D., a member of LUCC, is a retired clergy person with training and experience in Spiritual Direction. She is offering her services as a Spiritual Director to the community. The sessions would be held on Zoom and there is no fee to be paid. Church leaders are pleased to have the ministry of the church expand in this way.

Spiritual Direction with Sally is open to anyone, not just the congregation. And it is offered to everyone whatever their spiritual or religious background or affiliation or lack thereof. Sessions are generally held once every three weeks. Spiritual Direction is not a mode of therapy. It is a process for understanding and deepening your relationship with God/Spirit in ways that are authentic and life-giving.

Sally was trained by Henri Nouwen, a noted spiritual guide of the 20th century, and did Spiritual Direction as part of her professional ministry before retiring in 2015.

If you would like to explore Spiritual Direction with Sally, please contact her at
sallybpurvis@icloud.com or contact the church (867-7961 or lakewooducc@gmail.com ).

The church is very grateful to Sally for offering this avenue of support to the congregation and the community.

USEFUL LAKEWOOD LINKS:

For the above church website links, please note the “Older Posts” button near the bottom of each page.

September Birthdays: Kim Wells 9/19, Donald Ritchie 9/27, and Carolyn Moore 9/30. Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.

Circle of Concern: 

Claudia Rodriguez

Dana Cosper and family

Dave Radens

Condolences to Bill Parsons over the death of his sister

William Owen-Cowan

Jen Degroot

Carolyn Moore

Ann Quinn

Maggie Brizendine

Janet Hall

Those impacted by Hurricane Ida

The situation in Afghanistan

All those suffering from COVID-19.

Students, families, teachers, and staff as school begins

Church Office Hours:  Tuesday 9:30-noon Thursday-Friday 9:30-noon. 

Recent Posts:

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.





Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lakewooduccstpete/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakewoodUCC

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lakewooducc?lang=en

Weekly Update 8/25

Service time change ahead

The first Sunday of September, the service will be at a NEW TIME. Services will begin at 10:30 a.m. Masks and distancing will remain in place.

The church will continue to offer the Facebook Live option on Sunday mornings with the bulletin posted on the website so that virtual participants can follow along.

Please do what feels safest and most comfortable for you. If the church can be of assistance, please contact the church office.

This Sunday

 The service is at 9:30 in person, covid safe.

Childcare provided.

This is the last of Summer Sundays.  With school starting, students attending college, teachers back in the classroom, and Covid worsening, these are trying times!  The gospels offer a teaching associated with Jesus about worrying.  The advice given is to consider the lilies and the birds.  It’s a time to reflect on what nature teaches about abundant life.   Take a look at Matthew 6:24-34.

The bulletin is available at the church website: https://lakewooducc.org/category/bulletins/

Watch the service on Facebook Live Sundays at 9:30. https://www.facebook.com/LakewoodUCC

Or on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LakewoodUCC/videos

Look for the bulletin posted on the church website on Friday.

Instructions for how to access Facebook Live will also be posted at the church website.  For additional assistance, please contact the church office.  

Tree Mapping – Tree Planting on the Church Grounds

THIS SUNDAY:  August 29, 2021 at 10:30 a.m.

The Urban Forestry Committee of the City of St. Petersburg is sponsoring a tree mapping event on the church grounds on Sunday Aug. 29 at 10:30 following worship.  This event will involve a process for mapping the trees currently on the church property and developing a plan to add more trees to the church grounds.

 The all volunteer Urban Forestry Committee includes a landscape architect, a certified arborist, and state and county master naturalists.  

Members and friends of the church are needed to help with the tree mapping.  So, plan to stay after worship on Sunday Aug. 29 to be part of this exciting initiative to ‘green’ the church grounds.  All are welcome!

Link: www.pg-cloud.com/stpetef

Guided Labyrinth Walks

The guided walk is held weekly on Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. This provides an opportunity to be aware and deepen your spiritual journey. If it is raining, the walk is held on Thursday at 9:00 a.m.

Also, the readings and prayers used on Wednesdays at the guided walk are put in the mailbox by the labyrinth each week for use during the week.

The labyrinth is on the church grounds near the southwest corner of the church property. It is available for use at all times.

Being Covid Safe and In Person Worship

Please stay home if you are not feeling well.

Please wear a mask while in the church building.  While most people have been vaccinated, this helps visitors to feel safe.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending double masking.  Please consider wearing two masks to church.  Additional masks will be available at church to use as needed.

Two hand sanitizing stations are available for use by worshippers.

There is well-ventilated, physically distanced indoor seating in the sanctuary.

Please know that your safety is of primary consideration! 

Safe childcare is provided.

Immigration Action Item: THOUSANDS of Dreamers at risk of deportation! 

Severe processing delays are keeping THOUSANDS of DACA immigrants at risk of deportation and unemployment! As of March 31, USCIS had a backlog of more than 55,000 pending first-time DACA applications, in addition to over 44,000 renewal requests. United We Dream – an organization led by Dreamers – is calling on President Biden to clear the backlog NOW. 

Please sign the United We Dream’s petition calling on Biden and USCIS to clear the DACA backlog and process applications and renewals in a timely manner.
Click here:  https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/end-the-daca-backlog/

Operation Attack Update

Many thanks to Ian Blair-Catala who has been connecting the church with Operation Attack for the last 4 years.  Ian is now moving on to attend USF in Tampa.  Ian’s brother, Owen, will be taking over as the church’s Operation Attack coordinator.  Owen will be sharing what food items are needed as well as opportunities to volunteer.  Operation Attack is an ecumenical food pantry that has been serving the area since the 1960’s.  It is located at Lakeview Presbyterian Church in St. Petersburg.  With gratitude to Ian, the church welcome’s Owen to this important role serving those in need in the community.  

OA also still needs donations of cereal, peanut butter, canned meat, fruit, vegetables and soup, dried beans, and mac/cheese. Donations may be placed on the shelf in the hallway at church.

Spiritual Direction Offered by LUCC Clergy Member.

In these troubled times, it is important to find ways to tend to our spiritual lives. In the Christian tradition, Spiritual Direction is one of the ways of paying attention to the spirit in our lives. A Spiritual Director is someone to talk with about what is going on in our spiritual life and in our relationship with God however we may conceive of God.

Rev. Sally Purvis, Ph.D., a member of LUCC, is a retired clergy person with training and experience in Spiritual Direction. She is offering her services as a Spiritual Director to the community. The sessions would be held on Zoom and there is no fee to be paid. Church leaders are pleased to have the ministry of the church expand in this way.

Spiritual Direction with Sally is open to anyone, not just the congregation. And it is offered to everyone whatever their spiritual or religious background or affiliation or lack thereof. Sessions are generally held once every three weeks. Spiritual Direction is not a mode of therapy. It is a process for understanding and deepening your relationship with God/Spirit in ways that are authentic and life-giving.

Sally was trained by Henri Nouwen, a noted spiritual guide of the 20th century, and did Spiritual Direction as part of her professional ministry before retiring in 2015.

If you would like to explore Spiritual Direction with Sally, please contact her at
sallybpurvis@icloud.com or contact the church (867-7961 or lakewooducc@gmail.com ).

The church is very grateful to Sally for offering this avenue of support to the congregation and the community.

USEFUL LAKEWOOD LINKS:

For the above church website links, please note the “Older Posts” button near the bottom of each page.

August Birthdays: Barbara Donohue 8/4, Mardie Chapman 8/7, Claire Stiles 8/11, Kay Rencken 8/13, Vita Uth 8/14, Dana Cosper 8/22, James Waterman 8/23, and Joanne Reid 8/28. Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.

Circle of Concern: 

The family and loved ones of Christy Martin’s uncle, Kenneth Silas

Kyle Martin

Malcolm Wells

Dana Cosper and family

Dave Radens

William Owen-Cowan

Jen Degroot

Carolyn Moore

Ann Quinn

Maggie Brizendine

Janet Hall

All those suffering from COVID-19.

Students, families, teachers, and staff as school begins

Church Office Hours:  Tuesday 9:30-noon Thursday-Friday 9:30-noon. 

Recent Posts:

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.





Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lakewooduccstpete/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakewoodUCC

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lakewooducc?lang=en

Weekly Update 8/18

Service changes ahead

The advisors discussed the covid situation, the church service schedule, and the FaceBook Live offerings.   They have received input from a number of people in the congregation.  Many thanks to all who weighed in!  

The church will continue to have covid safe in person worship at 9:30 a.m. for the rest of August.  Covid precautions include  wearing masks and physical distancing.  

The church will continue to offer the Facebook Live option on Sunday mornings with the bulletin posted on the website so that virtual participants can follow along.  

The first Sunday of September, the service will be at a NEW TIME.  Services will begin at 10:30 a.m.  Masks and distancing will remain in place.  

Please do what feels safest and most comfortable for you.  If the church can be of assistance, please contact the church office. 

Sundays

 The service is at 9:30 in person, covid safe.

Childcare provided.

When we think about a story in the New Testament with flowing blood, we think of the crucifixion.  But there is another story involving a flow of blood.  This is about a woman with a hemorrhage.  Her life takes a drastic turn after an encounter with Jesus.  Take a look at Mark 5:24b-34. What might an encounter with Jesus mean for our lives? 

The bulletin is available at the church website: https://lakewooducc.org/category/bulletins/

Watch the service on Facebook Live Sundays at 9:30. https://www.facebook.com/LakewoodUCC

Or on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LakewoodUCC/videos

Book Talk Schedule

Book Talk is a monthly opportunity to enjoy discussing books!  Participants hear about what others are reading and share about what they have been reading.  It’s very interesting and a chance to get to know people better, even people you already know well!

The next Book Talk will be Thursday Sept. 16 at 6:30 on Zoom.  Look for the link the week before.  There will be no Book Talk in August.

Rev. Wells on Vacation

Rev. Wells will be on vacation from August 9-21.  On Sunday Aug. 15, she will be in Burlington, MA to baptize her two grandsons, Soren and Emerson, an occasion for much joy and celebration!If pastoral care is  needed, please contact Patti Cooksey at cooksepa@eckerd.edu or the Church Office 727-867-7961 or lakewooducc@gmail.com.

Tree Mapping – Tree Planting on the Church Grounds

SAVE THE DATE:  August 29, 2021 at 10:30 a.m.

The Urban Forestry Committee of the City of St. Petersburg is sponsoring a tree mapping event on the church grounds on Sunday Aug. 29 at 10:30 following worship.  This event will involve a process for mapping the trees currently on the church property and developing a plan to add more trees to the church grounds.

 The all volunteer Urban Forestry Committee includes a landscape architect, a certified arborist, and state and county master naturalists.  

Members and friends of the church are needed to help with the tree mapping.  So, plan to stay after worship on Sunday Aug. 29 to be part of this exciting initiative to ‘green’ the church grounds.  All are welcome!

Link: www.pg-cloud.com/stpetef

Election Day Ahead

Make sure to vote on Tuesday August 24.  There are important city positions to be filled and a wide range of candidates.  Your voice is needed!

If you need transportation to the polls, please contact the Church Office.  

“WHO WILL SPEAK FOR THE TREES?” A RESOLUTION ON THE RIGHTS OF NATURE

Jul 19, 2021

Resolution as Adopted by the United Church of Christ General Synod 33 UCC became the first mainline Protestant denomination to affirm and declare that nature has rights. The global movement for the rights of nature has become a significant force over the last 15 years with a number of countries and indigenous leaders enacting laws and supporting this philosophy. This resolution urges all UCC church to take “intentional actions” including becoming a Creation Justice Church, a designation that we have already attained!

For Christians, affirming the rights of nature is especially significant because it is a central part of decolonizing our faith. Too often, misguided conceptions of “dominion” over nature have gone hand-in-hand with a conquer and plunder ethos that treats nature as something to own and exploit. At its heart, the rights of nature movement supersedes such world-views with both an affirmation of our interconnectedness with nature and a recognition that the rest of nature inherently deserves to flourish and thrive. Truly caring for God’s creation requires this fundamental outlook. Let’s celebrate this critical advancement in our faith tradition.

Summary is adapted by Claire Stiles from article by Rev. Brooks Berndt,
UCC Minister for Environmental Justice
UCC Pollinator Newsletter – July 22 2021

Further articles on the passing of the resolution can be found here and here. One can also read the resolution in its entirety. We urge you to subscribe to The Pollinator.

Guided Labyrinth Walks

The guided walk is held weekly on Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. This provides an opportunity to be aware and deepen your spiritual journey. If it is raining, the walk is held on Thursday at 9:00 a.m.

Also, the readings and prayers used on Wednesdays at the guided walk are put in the mailbox by the labyrinth each week for use during the week.

The labyrinth is on the church grounds near the southwest corner of the church property. It is available for use at all times.

Being Covid Safe and In Person Worship

Please stay home if you are not feeling well.

Please wear a mask while in the church building.  While most people have been vaccinated, this helps visitors to feel safe.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending double masking.  Please consider wearing two masks to church.  Additional masks will be available at church to use as needed.

Two hand sanitizing stations are available for use by worshippers.

There is well-ventilated, physically distanced indoor seating in the sanctuary.

Please know that your safety is of primary consideration! 

Safe childcare is provided.

Immigration Action Item: THOUSANDS of Dreamers at risk of deportation! 

Severe processing delays are keeping THOUSANDS of DACA immigrants at risk of deportation and unemployment! As of March 31, USCIS had a backlog of more than 55,000 pending first-time DACA applications, in addition to over 44,000 renewal requests. United We Dream – an organization led by Dreamers – is calling on President Biden to clear the backlog NOW. 

Please sign the United We Dream’s petition calling on Biden and USCIS to clear the DACA backlog and process applications and renewals in a timely manner.
Click here:  https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/end-the-daca-backlog/

Operation Attack Update

Many thanks to Ian Blair-Catala who has been connecting the church with Operation Attack for the last 4 years.  Ian is now moving on to attend USF in Tampa.  Ian’s brother, Owen, will be taking over as the church’s Operation Attack coordinator.  Owen will be sharing what food items are needed as well as opportunities to volunteer.  Operation Attack is an ecumenical food pantry that has been serving the area since the 1960’s.  It is located at Lakeview Presbyterian Church in St. Petersburg.  With gratitude to Ian, the church welcome’s Owen to this important role serving those in need in the community.  

OA also still needs Donations of cereal, peanut butter, canned meat, fruit, vegetables and soup, dried beans, and mac/cheese.

Spiritual Direction Offered by LUCC Clergy Member.

In these troubled times, it is important to find ways to tend to our spiritual lives. In the Christian tradition, Spiritual Direction is one of the ways of paying attention to the spirit in our lives. A Spiritual Director is someone to talk with about what is going on in our spiritual life and in our relationship with God however we may conceive of God.

Rev. Sally Purvis, Ph.D., a member of LUCC, is a retired clergy person with training and experience in Spiritual Direction. She is offering her services as a Spiritual Director to the community. The sessions would be held on Zoom and there is no fee to be paid. Church leaders are pleased to have the ministry of the church expand in this way.

Spiritual Direction with Sally is open to anyone, not just the congregation. And it is offered to everyone whatever their spiritual or religious background or affiliation or lack thereof. Sessions are generally held once every three weeks. Spiritual Direction is not a mode of therapy. It is a process for understanding and deepening your relationship with God/Spirit in ways that are authentic and life-giving.

Sally was trained by Henri Nouwen, a noted spiritual guide of the 20th century, and did Spiritual Direction as part of her professional ministry before retiring in 2015.

If you would like to explore Spiritual Direction with Sally, please contact her at
sallybpurvis@icloud.com or contact the church (867-7961 or lakewooducc@gmail.com ).

The church is very grateful to Sally for offering this avenue of support to the congregation and the community.

USEFUL LAKEWOOD LINKS:

For the above church website links, please note the “Older Posts” button near the bottom of each page.

August Birthdays: Barbara Donohue 8/4, Mardie Chapman 8/7, Claire Stiles 8/11, Kay Rencken 8/13, Vita Uth 8/14, Dana Cosper 8/22, James Waterman 8/23, and Joanne Reid 8/28. Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.

Circle of Concern: 

The family and loved ones of Christy Martin’s uncle, Kenneth Silas

Family of Ralph Schubert

Dave Radens

William Owen-Cowan

Jen Degroot

Carolyn Moore

Ann Quinn

Maggie Brizendine

Janet Hall

All those suffering from COVID-19.

Church Office Hours:  Tuesday-Friday 9:30-noon. 

Recent Posts:

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.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lakewooduccstpete/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakewoodUCC

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lakewooducc?lang=en

Weekly Update 8/11

Service changes ahead

The advisors discussed the covid situation, the church service schedule, and the FaceBook Live offerings.   They have received input from a number of people in the congregation.  Many thanks to all who weighed in!  

The church will continue to have covid safe in person worship at 9:30 a.m. for the rest of August.  Covid precautions include  wearing masks and physical distancing.  

The church will continue to offer the Facebook Live option on Sunday mornings with the bulletin posted on the website so that virtual participants can follow along.  

The first Sunday of September, the service will be at a NEW TIME.  Services will begin at 10:30 a.m.  Masks and distancing will remain in place.  

Please do what feels safest and most comfortable for you.  If the church can be of assistance, please contact the church office. 

Sundays

 The service is at 9:30 in person, covid safe.

Childcare provided.

This Sunday Rev. Victoria Long will be preaching and leading worship with Colleen Coughenour as liturgist.  This week insights about worship come from Paul.  See Ephesians 5:15-20. 

Watch the service on Facebook Live Sundays at 9:30. https://www.facebook.com/LakewoodUCC

Or on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LakewoodUCC/videos

Book Talk Schedule

Book Talk is a monthly opportunity to enjoy discussing books!  Participants hear about what others are reading and share about what they have been reading.  It’s very interesting and a chance to get to know people better, even people you already know well!

The next Book Talk will be Thursday Sept. 16 at 6:30 on Zoom.  Look for the link the week before.  There will be no Book Talk in August.

Rev. Wells on Vacation

Rev. Wells will be on vacation from August 9-21.  On Sunday Aug. 15, she will be in Burlington, MA to baptize her two grandsons, Soren and Emerson, an occasion for much joy and celebration!If pastoral care is  needed, please contact Patti Cooksey at cooksepa@eckerd.edu or the Church Office 727-867-7961 or lakewooducc@gmail.com.

Tree Mapping – Tree Planting on the Church Grounds

SAVE THE DATE:  August 29, 2021 at 10:30 a.m.

The Urban Forestry Committee of the City of St. Petersburg is sponsoring a tree mapping event on the church grounds on Sunday Aug. 29 at 10:30 following worship.  This event will involve a process for mapping the trees currently on the church property and developing a plan to add more trees to the church grounds.

 The all volunteer Urban Forestry Committee includes a landscape architect, a certified arborist, and state and county master naturalists.  

Members and friends of the church are needed to help with the tree mapping.  So, plan to stay after worship on Sunday Aug. 29 to be part of this exciting initiative to ‘green’ the church grounds.  All are welcome!  

“WHO WILL SPEAK FOR THE TREES?” A RESOLUTION ON THE RIGHTS OF NATURE

Jul 19, 2021

Resolution as Adopted by the United Church of Christ General Synod 33 UCC became the first mainline Protestant denomination to affirm and declare that nature has rights. The global movement for the rights of nature has become a significant force over the last 15 years with a number of countries and indigenous leaders enacting laws and supporting this philosophy. This resolution urges all UCC church to take “intentional actions” including becoming a Creation Justice Church, a designation that we have already attained!

For Christians, affirming the rights of nature is especially significant because it is a central part of decolonizing our faith. Too often, misguided conceptions of “dominion” over nature have gone hand-in-hand with a conquer and plunder ethos that treats nature as something to own and exploit. At its heart, the rights of nature movement supersedes such world-views with both an affirmation of our interconnectedness with nature and a recognition that the rest of nature inherently deserves to flourish and thrive. Truly caring for God’s creation requires this fundamental outlook. Let’s celebrate this critical advancement in our faith tradition.

Summary is adapted by Claire Stiles from article by Rev. Brooks Berndt,
UCC Minister for Environmental Justice
UCC Pollinator Newsletter – July 22 2021

Further articles on the passing of the resolution can be found here and here. One can also read the resolution in its entirety. We urge you to subscribe to The Pollinator.

Guided Labyrinth Walks

The guided walk is held weekly on Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. This provides an opportunity to be aware and deepen your spiritual journey. If it is raining, the walk is held on Thursday at 9:00 a.m.

Also, the readings and prayers used on Wednesdays at the guided walk are put in the mailbox by the labyrinth each week for use during the week.

The labyrinth is on the church grounds near the southwest corner of the church property. It is available for use at all times.

Being Covid Safe and In Person Worship

Please stay home if you are not feeling well.

Please wear a mask while in the church building.  While most people have been vaccinated, this helps visitors to feel safe.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending double masking.  Please consider wearing two masks to church.  Additional masks will be available at church to use as needed.

Two hand sanitizing stations are available for use by worshippers.

There is well-ventilated, physically distanced indoor seating in the sanctuary.

Please know that your safety is of primary consideration! 

Safe childcare is provided.

Immigration Action Item: THOUSANDS of Dreamers at risk of deportation! 

Severe processing delays are keeping THOUSANDS of DACA immigrants at risk of deportation and unemployment! As of March 31, USCIS had a backlog of more than 55,000 pending first-time DACA applications, in addition to over 44,000 renewal requests. United We Dream – an organization led by Dreamers – is calling on President Biden to clear the backlog NOW. 

Please sign the United We Dream’s petition calling on Biden and USCIS to clear the DACA backlog and process applications and renewals in a timely manner.
Click here:  https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/end-the-daca-backlog/

Operation Attack Update

Many thanks to Ian Blair-Catala who has been connecting the church with Operation Attack for the last 4 years.  Ian is now moving on to attend USF in Tampa.  Ian’s brother, Owen, will be taking over as the church’s Operation Attack coordinator.  Owen will be sharing what food items are needed as well as opportunities to volunteer.  Operation Attack is an ecumenical food pantry that has been serving the area since the 1960’s.  It is located at Lakeview Presbyterian Church in St. Petersburg.  With gratitude to Ian, the church welcome’s Owen to this important role serving those in need in the community.  

OA also still needs Donations of cereal, peanut butter, canned meat, fruit, vegetables and soup, dried beans, and mac/cheese.

Spiritual Direction Offered by LUCC Clergy Member.

In these troubled times, it is important to find ways to tend to our spiritual lives. In the Christian tradition, Spiritual Direction is one of the ways of paying attention to the spirit in our lives. A Spiritual Director is someone to talk with about what is going on in our spiritual life and in our relationship with God however we may conceive of God.

Rev. Sally Purvis, Ph.D., a member of LUCC, is a retired clergy person with training and experience in Spiritual Direction. She is offering her services as a Spiritual Director to the community. The sessions would be held on Zoom and there is no fee to be paid. Church leaders are pleased to have the ministry of the church expand in this way.

Spiritual Direction with Sally is open to anyone, not just the congregation. And it is offered to everyone whatever their spiritual or religious background or affiliation or lack thereof. Sessions are generally held once every three weeks. Spiritual Direction is not a mode of therapy. It is a process for understanding and deepening your relationship with God/Spirit in ways that are authentic and life-giving.

Sally was trained by Henri Nouwen, a noted spiritual guide of the 20th century, and did Spiritual Direction as part of her professional ministry before retiring in 2015.

If you would like to explore Spiritual Direction with Sally, please contact her at
sallybpurvis@icloud.com or contact the church (867-7961 or lakewooducc@gmail.com ).

The church is very grateful to Sally for offering this avenue of support to the congregation and the community.

USEFUL LAKEWOOD LINKS:

For the above church website links, please note the “Older Posts” button near the bottom of each page.

August Birthdays: Barbara Donohue 8/4, Mardie Chapman 8/7, Claire Stiles 8/11, Kay Rencken 8/13, Vita Uth 8/14, Dana Cosper 8/22, James Waterman 8/23, and Joanne Reid 8/28. Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.

Circle of Concern: 

Family of Ralph Schubert

Bill Parsons

Dave Radens

William Owen-Cowan

Jen Degroot

Carolyn Moore

Ann Quinn

Maggie Brizendine

Janet Hall

All those suffering from COVID-19.

Church Office Hours:  Tuesday-Friday 9:30-noon. 

Recent Posts:

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.

Weekly Update 8/4

Sundays

 The service is at 9:30 in person, covid safe.

Childcare provided.

When does no really mean no?  There’s a story associated with Jesus that raises that issue.  Take a look at Matthew 15:21-28.  The Canaanite woman sheds light on this for Jesus and for us.

Watch the service on Facebook Live Sundays at 9:30. https://www.facebook.com/LakewoodUCC

Or on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LakewoodUCC/videos

Advisors Meeting Sunday

The advisors will meet at 11:15 on Sunday on Zoom.  One of the concerns to be addressed is the safety of in person worship at this time in the covid pandemic.  If you have thoughts or feelings about this, please contact an advisor:  Patti Cooksey, Lucille Ruga, Jane Diven, or Malcolm Wells.  All are welcome.   If you would like to participate in the meeting, here is the Zoom link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2700683648

Rev. Wells on Vacation

Rev. Wells will be on vacation from August 9-21.  On Sunday Aug. 15, she will be in Burlington, MA to baptize her two grandsons, Soren and Emerson, an occasion for much joy and celebration!If pastoral care is  needed, please contact Patti Cooksey at cooksepa@eckerd.edu or the Church Office 727-867-7961 or lakewooducc@gmail.com.

Tree Mapping – Tree Planting on the Church Grounds

SAVE THE DATE:  August 29, 2021 at 10:30 a.m.

The Urban Forestry Committee of the City of St. Petersburg is sponsoring a tree mapping event on the church grounds on Sunday Aug. 29 at 10:30 following worship.  This event will involve a process for mapping the trees currently on the church property and developing a plan to add more trees to the church grounds.

 The all volunteer Urban Forestry Committee includes a landscape architect, a certified arborist, and state and county master naturalists.  

Members and friends of the church are needed to help with the tree mapping.  So, plan to stay after worship on Sunday Aug. 29 to be part of this exciting initiative to ‘green’ the church grounds.  All are welcome!  

“WHO WILL SPEAK FOR THE TREES?” A RESOLUTION ON THE RIGHTS OF NATURE

Jul 19, 2021

Resolution as Adopted by the United Church of Christ General Synod 33 UCC became the first mainline Protestant denomination to affirm and declare that nature has rights. The global movement for the rights of nature has become a significant force over the last 15 years with a number of countries and indigenous leaders enacting laws and supporting this philosophy. This resolution urges all UCC church to take “intentional actions” including becoming a Creation Justice Church, a designation that we have already attained!

For Christians, affirming the rights of nature is especially significant because it is a central part of decolonizing our faith. Too often, misguided conceptions of “dominion” over nature have gone hand-in-hand with a conquer and plunder ethos that treats nature as something to own and exploit. At its heart, the rights of nature movement supersedes such world-views with both an affirmation of our interconnectedness with nature and a recognition that the rest of nature inherently deserves to flourish and thrive. Truly caring for God’s creation requires this fundamental outlook. Let’s celebrate this critical advancement in our faith tradition.

Summary is adapted by Claire Stiles from article by Rev. Brooks Berndt,
UCC Minister for Environmental Justice
UCC Pollinator Newsletter – July 22 2021

Further articles on the passing of the resolution can be found here and here. One can also read the resolution in its entirety. We urge you to subscribe to The Pollinator.

Guided Labyrinth Walks

The guided walk is held weekly on Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. This provides an opportunity to be aware and deepen your spiritual journey. If it is raining, the walk is held on Thursday at 9:00 a.m.

Also, the readings and prayers used on Wednesdays at the guided walk are put in the mailbox by the labyrinth each week for use during the week.

The labyrinth is on the church grounds near the southwest corner of the church property. It is available for use at all times.

Being Covid Safe and In Person Worship

Please stay home if you are not feeling well.

Please wear a mask while in the church building.  While most people have been vaccinated, this helps visitors to feel safe.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending double masking.  Please consider wearing two masks to church.  Additional masks will be available at church to use as needed.

Two hand sanitizing stations are available for use by worshippers.

There is well-ventilated, physically distanced indoor seating in the sanctuary.

Please know that your safety is of primary consideration! 

Safe childcare is provided.

Immigration Action Item: THOUSANDS of Dreamers at risk of deportation! 

Severe processing delays are keeping THOUSANDS of DACA immigrants at risk of deportation and unemployment! As of March 31, USCIS had a backlog of more than 55,000 pending first-time DACA applications, in addition to over 44,000 renewal requests. United We Dream – an organization led by Dreamers – is calling on President Biden to clear the backlog NOW. 


Please sign the United We Dream’s petition calling on Biden and USCIS to clear the DACA backlog and process applications and renewals in a timely manner.
Click here:  https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/end-the-daca-backlog/

Operation Attack Update

Good Afternoon, 
I hope you are doing well, many members of Lakewood UCC are aware that I’ve graduated from high school (thank you for the card) and plan to head to college. While at college, I won’t be able to help collect any OA donations or help keep Lakewood up to date on OA needs. I’ve had this task all of high school and I am very thankful for it. For replacing me, I HIGHLY recommend my brother Owen Blair-Catala. This position has been passed down from Zach to me and now to Owen. He’s someone who is active in OA and understands the task he must complete from watching me do them. 

Besides this OA is still doing very well. There are the same drive thru dates as before (September 11th). In addition, OA also still needs Donations of cereal, peanut butter, canned meat, fruit, vegetables and soup, dried beans, and mac/cheese. I came by this past week and was able to get some donations. Remember we still aren’t accepting clothing donations at the moment. If you have any questions please contact me. 

Thanks,Ian Blair-Catala

iblaircatala@gmail.com

Spiritual Direction Offered by LUCC Clergy Member.

In these troubled times, it is important to find ways to tend to our spiritual lives. In the Christian tradition, Spiritual Direction is one of the ways of paying attention to the spirit in our lives. A Spiritual Director is someone to talk with about what is going on in our spiritual life and in our relationship with God however we may conceive of God.

Rev. Sally Purvis, Ph.D., a member of LUCC, is a retired clergy person with training and experience in Spiritual Direction. She is offering her services as a Spiritual Director to the community. The sessions would be held on Zoom and there is no fee to be paid. Church leaders are pleased to have the ministry of the church expand in this way.

Spiritual Direction with Sally is open to anyone, not just the congregation. And it is offered to everyone whatever their spiritual or religious background or affiliation or lack thereof. Sessions are generally held once every three weeks. Spiritual Direction is not a mode of therapy. It is a process for understanding and deepening your relationship with God/Spirit in ways that are authentic and life-giving.

Sally was trained by Henri Nouwen, a noted spiritual guide of the 20th century, and did Spiritual Direction as part of her professional ministry before retiring in 2015.

If you would like to explore Spiritual Direction with Sally, please contact her at
sallybpurvis@icloud.com or contact the church (867-7961 or lakewooducc@gmail.com ).

The church is very grateful to Sally for offering this avenue of support to the congregation and the community.

USEFUL LAKEWOOD LINKS:

For the above church website links, please note the “Older Posts” button near the bottom of each page.

August Birthdays: Barbara Donohue 8/4, Mardie Chapman 8/7, Claire Stiles 8/11, Kay Rencken 8/13, Vita Uth 8/14, Dana Cosper 8/22, James Waterman 8/23, and Joanne Reid 8/28. Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.

Circle of Concern: 

Bill Parsons

Earl Waters

Dave Radens

Richard Wiggins and family

Sherry Santana

William Owen-Cowan

Jen Degroot

Carolyn Moore

Ann Quinn

Maggie Brizendine

Janet Hall

All those suffering from COVID-19.

Church Office Hours:  Tuesday-Friday 9:30-noon. 

Recent Posts:

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.