Lakewood United Church of Christ

Bulletin 4/10/2022

*GREETING

*OPENING SENTENCES Kay Rencken, liturgist

Humble and riding on a donkey,
We greet you.
Acclaimed by crowds and caroled by children,
We cheer you.
Moving from the peace of the countryside to the corridors of power,
We salute you.
You are giving the beasts of burden a new dignity;
you are giving majesty a new face;
you are giving those who long for redemption a new song to sing.
With them, with heart and voice, we shout, “Hosanna!”

Iona Community, adapted

*SCRIPTURE LESSON

Approaching Bethphage and Bethany, near what is called the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of the disciples with these instructions:

Go into the village ahead of you. Upon entering it, you’ll find a tethered colt no one has yet ridden. Untie it and lead it back. If anyone should ask you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Rabbi needs it.’

They departed on their errand and found things just as Jesus had said. As they untied the colt, its owners said to them,

Why are you doing that?

They explained that the Rabbi needed it. Then the disciples led the animal to Jesus and, laying their cloaks on it, helped him mount.

People spread their cloaks on the roadway as Jesus rode along. As they reached the descent from the Mount of Olives, the entire crowd of disciples joined them and began to rejoice and praise God loudly for the display of power they had seen, saying,

Blessed is the One who comes in the name of Our God!

Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus,

Teacher, rebuke your disciples!

Jesus replied,

I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the very stones would cry out!

* BLESSING AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE PALMS

* PROCESSION TO THE ALTAR

UNISON PRAYER Bruce Sanguin, b. 1955

O Holy One,
we come prepared to cheer on
our holy leader and hallowed child of Wisdom,
Jesus, the anointed one.

Our need is as great today
as it was for those ancient pilgrims
to honour and salute the presence
of truth and beauty and goodness.

For we have wandered far from Wisdom,
and we find ourselves cheering
for all the wrong things and all the wrong people.

Now we join in with this holy procession of hope,
that we might look into the heart of Christ
and see our own sacred heart reflected back,
empowering us to stay with Him,
and stay with our own deep integrity,
when the forces of chaos conspire to shake our conviction
and make peace with an unholy convention.
Amen.

*HYMN All Glory, Laud and Honor 216

SCRIPTURE LESSON
Let us prepare ourselves for the word of God as it comes to us in the reading of Holy Scripture. Our hearts and minds are open.

Philippians 2:5-11

For the word of God in scripture, for the word of God among us, for the word of God within us. Thanks be to God.

SERMON Laying Down Our Cloaks Rev. Kim P. Wells

RESPONSIVE PRAYER Gerardo Oberman, Argentina, adapted

Jesus, we greet your presence in our midst,
as on that day when you entered,
riding a borrowed donkey,
into that city in which you were acclaimed and hated,
received and rejected, praised and insulted.
We raise our hands to heaven,
as a sign of gratitude, in the same way that, on that other day,
many placed their own clothes on the road
and waved palms as you passed
to welcome you,
to express their joy,
to show their hope . . .
Each extended arm
was a symbol of freedom,
a desire for peace,
the dream of a better tomorrow,
a desire for peace.
And each shout raised up to the heavens
contained the longings of generations
of men and women
injured by injustice
and wounded by scorn.
Today we,
each from our own situations
of pain or disillusion,
or sadness or frustration,
greet you with faith,
we receive you with love,
we give to you all that we are
and promise to accompany you
on the road that you choose for us.
Welcome Lord Jesus, to your home. . .
Thank you for coming to us.

MUSICAL INTERLUDE

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

*Time of Dedication Leonardo Boff, b. 1938, Brazil

All those who die like Jesus,
sacrificing their lives out of love
for the sake of a more dignified human life,
will inherit life in all its fullness.
They are like grains of wheat,
dying to produce life,
being buried in the ground
only to break through and grow.
Amen.

*PREPARATION FOR PRAYER

Lord, I Want to Be a Christian 454

MORNING PRAYERS – SAVIOR’S PRAYER

Eternal Spirit, Earth Maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that ever shall be,
Father and Mother of all people, Loving God in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by all peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth!
With the bread that we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever. Amen.

* BENEDICTION A New Zealand Prayer Book

Jesus, when you rode into Jerusalem
the people waved palms
with shouts of acclamation.
Grant that when the shouting dies
we may still walk beside you even to a cross. . .

*POSTLUDE

Circle of Concern: Joyce Lee, Michelle Cloutier, Christopher and Dana, Ann Quinn who is under Hospice Care, William Owen-Cowan, Jen Degroot, Carolyn Moore, Maggie Brizendine, Janet Hall, Yoko Nogami walking the Appalachian Trail, All those suffering from COVID-19 and all healthcare workers, Schools: Students, families, teachers, and staff.

Annoncements

Facebook Live The 10:30 a.m. service is being streamed on Facebook Live.

Support for Ukraine To find more ways to support Ukraine please visit our website and look at the Weekly update for 3/18/22.

Postcard from Yoko Nogami Former LUCC member Yoko Nogami is walking the Appalachian Trail fromGeorgia to Maine. There is a postcard from her on the bulletin board in thehallway.

One Great Hour of Sharing Offering Lakewood will be collecting this special offering today. There are envelopes that can be used or indicate on your check or online donation OGHS. This is an important way to love our neighbors and our enemies next door and around the world.

Operation Attack OA 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.

Holy Week Ahead-

April 10 Palm Sunday
The service begins outside. Bring a palm branch if you can.

April 14 Maundy Thursday
The Service of Tennebrae will be held at 7:00 p.m. remembering the Last Supper.

April 15 Good Friday
The observance will begin at noon with a reading out loud of the gospel of Mark. Those present will be invited to participate in the reading. This will be followed by a time of meditation around the cross and communion.

April 17 Easter Sunday
There will be 2 services at 9 and 11 with refreshments and fellowship in between the services outside on the church lawn.

Toiletries for Celebrate Outreach Celebrate Outreach is a local ministry with people who are living without shelter in St. Petersburg. All are invited to donate the following items: toothbrushes, toothpaste, disposable razors, bar soap, wash cloths, deodorant, feminine hygiene items, travel size creams, shampoo, body wash, individual packets of Kleenex, hand wipes, toilet tissue, and paper towels.

Sunflowers Thank you to Dyanne Edds for providing the sunflowers this morning. If you would like to bring sunflowers for the altar, please make arrangements with Kim Wells or the Church Office.

CHURCH STAFF

Pastor– Kim Wells
Music Director– Hilton Jones
Nursery Attendant– Claudia Rodriguez
Church Administrator – Gabi Paxton

MINISTERS: The Congregation

Lakewood United Church of Christ 2601 54th Ave. S. St. Petersburg, FL 33712
727-867-7961 lakewooducc@gmail.com Lakewooducc.org
On land originally inhabited by the Tocabaga

Lenten Devotion 4/8/2022

Devotion Thirty Eight
Friday 4.8.22

So often if someone is sick and has a fever, they take something like aspirin or acetaminophen to bring the fever down. Then, with the fever down, they feel better, so they assume they are better. But all the while, the fever may have been caused by an infection and the infection may still be present. The symptom may have been treated but not the cause.

I suffered from bone spurs and an inflamed achilles tendon. I limped and had pain in my. heal for two years. It was finally decided that surgery was necessary to correct the situation. I had the surgery. And after several months, I could walk without limping and without pain. I had the desired outcome. Yeah! On the outside, things looked fine. But inside there was still a problem. There was infection in my heal at the surgery site. The doctor informed me that another surgery was necessary to address the infection. What? That again? I really did not want to go through the knee scooter and the walking boot and the no driving for weeks on end even though covid had severely restricted my activities. So, I told the doctor, I have what I wanted. I can walk without limping and without pain. What if I don’t have the second surgery? “That will end in amputation,” she told me. So, the second surgery was scheduled and all is finally well.

We know from our health problems that we need to deal not just with the symptoms but with the causes of our maladies and our problems.

A new climate report has come out informing us that the situation with the climate of Earth is more dire than had been predicted. Things are deteriorating faster than expected. So, people talk about building new buildings higher and putting the garage on the first floor so apartments don’t flood. There is talk of better drainage and sewer systems. There is talk of beefing up building codes. These kinds of discussions are all about the symptoms. To address the problem, the cause, humanity has to severely limit the use of fossil fuels immediately. The US has to stop subsidizing oil, gas, and coal. And those resources have to be redirected to providing energy to the masses from renewable sources. There have to be significant penalties for methane emissions so that industries will alter their methods of production. There have to be statutory limits placed on plastics and Styrofoam which are heavily dependent on fossil fuels. The response has to address the causes not just the symptoms.

This challenge of addressing the causes not just the symptoms is also a faith issue. Jesus did not just heal people, he healed them and invited them to be in community. They did not just go their own way as individuals relieved of disease or impediment. Jesus was also about providing support, community, relationships, and spiritual practices that would promote ongoing health and wholeness.

We are trained to give the impression that we are fine. We try to look fine on the outside. When someone asks, How are you? We know that we are to reply, I’m fine, thank you. How are you? Fine. But on the inside, we may really be in pain. Maybe we are grieving all that we missed during covid. Maybe we are distraught, as we should be, over the climate crisis. Maybe we are dealing with the realization of our own mortality. Maybe we are distressed by the war in Ukraine. Weren’t we over that? Maybe we or someone we love is struggling with addiction or mental health problems. Maybe there is a cancer diagnosis. Maybe we are not taking care of ourselves and it is affecting our physical health or our behavior and relationships. There may be a million things tugging us every which way, but we say we are, Fine. And we make sure that we appear to be fine.

Church is a place for honesty. A place where we are to be who we are, to be honest about the pain we are experiencing, the problems in our lives, so that we can draw on our faith as a source of healing. At church, when someone asks, How are you, we don’t have to lie and say, Fine. We are here to be a community of healing and support for one another. Jesus saves us not just from the symptoms of our issues, problems, and sins, but from the causes. And that happens in community.

How are we being called to be a healing presence in the lives of others and the world?

Prayer
So often we just want the pain to go away – physical pain, grief, spiritual pain, memories of the hurts we have endured. Pain can be numbed with substances and behaviors that distract and deaden. So in these reflective days of Lent, we ask how is Jesus inviting us to wholeness and healing? May we accept the healing and the saving that Jesus offers. Amen.

Weekly Update 4/7

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 Wednesday. Please provide the information in paragraph form with pertinent details and links. THANK YOU!

Easter Ahead April 17!

The wonderful festival of Easter is just a few weeks away. Please note there will be a change in the service schedule. There will be two identical services at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. The congregation is invited to meet and visit out on the lawn between services. Both services will be streamed on Facebook Live. Please make plans to be a part of this glorious celebration! Remember – come at 9 or 11.

Holy Week Ahead

April 10 Palm Sunday
The service begins outside. Bring a palm branch if you can.

April 14 Maundy Thursday
The Service of Tennebrae will be held at 7:00 p.m. remembering the Last Supper.

April 17 Easter Sunday
There will be 2 services at 9 and 11 with refreshments and fellowship in between the services outside on the church lawn.

This Sunday, April 10 is the traditional remembrance of Palm Sunday. The service will begin outside around the cross with the blessing of the palms. Please bring a palm branch, and more than one if you can.

This is also the Sunday that LUCC will join churches around the country in receiving the One Great Hour of Sharing offering. This offering helps people in the US and around the world in their hour of need – natural disaster, drought, war, famine, and other perils. The gifts are shared with partner churches around the world to offer the help that is needed. We can do more together than we can ever do alone! Please give as you are able. Envelopes are available at the church or note OGHS on your donation.

Each Sunday as the war in Ukraine continues, there will be sunflowers, the national flower of Ukraine, on the altar as a sign of solidarity with the Ukrainians. Last week the flowers were donated by Jim Andrews and Janet Blair. If you would like to bring sunflowers for the altar, please let Rev. Wells or the Church Office know.

The service will be in the sanctuary with the doors and windows open.

Join in the celebration on Sunday in person or on Facebook Live.

From Hilton about Singing in Church

It is nice to be singing again. It’s interesting: I can hear how people’s voices are unaccustomed to singing after almost 3 years of not singing! I hope people aren’t straining themselves. They can do actual physical damage to themselves if they sing incorrectly or strain, including nodes on their vocal chords. Maybe it would be best to encourage people to sing, but to take it easy and not strain, to be aware at all times of how it feels and to stop if there’s tension or roughness, soreness, or discomfort. Things are delicate in there. Even too much talking can have injurious effects . . . it happens a lot to actors and politicians (probably preachers too).

Missing Glasses

A pair of glasses in a black case was left in the sanctuary after worship on Sunday. Please contact the Church Office – lakewoodcc@gmail.com or 867-7961 – if you think the glasses are yours.

Readers for Maundy Thursday Needed

The Maundy Thursday service is a remembrance of the Last Supper and the end of Jesus’ life. If you would like to do a reading at the service, please contact the church – lakewooducc@gmail.com or 867-7961. Twelve readers are needed. Many thanks!

Former LUCC Member on Appalachian Trail

Yoko Nogami, a beloved LUCC member, moved to Kentucky several years ago. In March she began a through hike of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. Please keep her in your prayers. Here’s a picture of Yoko on the trail

Peace March March 27

Many thanks to those who were able to participate in the peace march for Ukraine last Sunday: Bill Parsons, Kay Rencken, Jeff Wells, Earl Waters, Bob Bell, Emily Bell, and Rev. Kim Wells. The LUCC contingent was joined by Jay Johnson of Pass A Grille UCC. The group walked from the Dali Museum to Straub Park. There was many expressions of support from the community.

Mask Policy at Church

For the past several weeks, there has been conversation at church about masking and updating the masking protocol at church. The advisors and staff have had conversations. The congregation has been invited to offer input. There has been consideration of the issues at hand from many perspectives. Many thanks to ALL who have contributed to the discussion. Your input is valued.

After careful consideration of all of the information that has been received and the views that have been expressed, the advisors and church staff have decided that masks will remain mandatory at church on Sunday mornings and that congregational singing will resume.

The decision has also been made that at the church during the week, masks will be optional depending on the sensibilities of those who are present.

There is much to take into consideration and the leadership of the church is concerned with being safe and protecting those who are most vulnerable.

These latest decisions regarding masking at church will be revisited as public health circumstances change.

If you would like to discuss this further, please speak with Advisors Malcolm Wells, Barbara Donohue, or Lucille Ruga.

The Sunday morning service will continue to be streamed live on Facebook and posted at the church YouTube channel.

OWL Training Offered

The United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalist Church have worked together to create a comprehensive curriculum on sexuality for all ages – preschool through adult – called Our Whole Lives (OWL). To offer this curriculum, presenters must be trained.

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Clearwater is offering facilitator training for grades 7-12 the weekend of April 29-May 1.

This training could be used in a church setting as well as other settings involving young people. If you would like more information about the training for yourself or someone else, please contact Meredith Olson at learning@uuc.org or 727-531-7704 ext. 205.

There is a cost involved for the training. If you are interested in the training, LUCC can help to offset the cost.

Florida Conference Offers Anti-Racism Justice Devotions for Holy Week

The Anti-Racism Ministry Team of the Florida Conference offers Holy
Week “Racial Justice Reflections 2022.” Rev. Mardie Chapman of LUCC is
part of this ministry Team.

Four Florida Conference pastors (Rev. Dr. Sheila Harvey Guillaume, Pastor, Union Congregational Church, West Palm Beach; Rev. Harvey Lockhart, Pastor, First Church of North Miami Congregational; Rev. Dr. Guillermo Marquez-Sterling, Associate Pastor, Pass-A-Grille Beach Community Church, St. Pete Beach; Rev. Dr. Bernice Powell Jackson, Pastor, First United Church of Tampa) authored the reflections, which can be used for: personal, congregational, and worship use.

To access the devotions, click here:
https://files.constantcontact.com/c6c60b48701/d6fcbae3-d229-483d-98f7-
cc36056c006a.pdf

USF St. Pete Program: Preventing Dementia

The church has been contacted by USF about a research study called “Preventing Alzheimer’s with Cognitive Training (PACT)”. They are currently enrolling older adult participants at the USF St. Petersburg campus to participate in the program. They are looking for adults 65 years and older to participate in this important study. For more information, click here. https://lakewooducc.org/2022/03/25/usf-st-pete-program-preventing-dementia/

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING OFFERING

The United Church of Christ joins forces each year to receive the One Great Hour of Sharing offering. This special offering helps with needs around the world. When you read about a terrible weather event, flooding, drought, or other devastating situations, you can know that your dollars are at work through local religious communities to offer assistance. Here’s a link to more information from the national UCC: https://www.ucc.org/love-remains-long-term-and-worldwide-through-one-great-hour-of-sharing/?inf_contact_key=0cfd65371d22f479bfede083a268824fcc0558ed5d4c28cbfab114022b1ec50d

Lakewood will be collecting this special offering on Palm Sunday April 10. There are envelopes at church that can be used or indicate on your check or online donation OGHS. This is an important way to love our neighbors and our enemies next door and around the world.

How to Help Ukraine

The local Ukrainian Catholic Church is sponsoring humanitarian aid. There are more details at their website: https://www.epiphanyukrch.com

The national United Church of Christ is also offering ways to support the Ukrainian people. Here’s a link: https://p2a.co/nGEvYVL?inf_contact_key=ad8269e3f149ec1ef1efd03de1e233aacc0558ed5d4c28cbfab114022b1ec50d

Toiletries for Celebrate Outreach

Celebrate Outreach is a local ministry with people who are living without shelter in St. Petersburg. An average of 135 people are served each week. LUCC was asked to collect toiletries to be distributed to the community at the meals that are provided on Saturday and Sundays each week. This collection will be ongoing in addition to the food being collected for Operation Attack. All are invited to donate the following items: toothbrushes, toothpaste, disposable razors, bar soap, wash cloths, deodorant, feminine hygiene items, travel size creams, shampoo, body wash, individual packets of Kleenex, hand wipes, toilet tissue, and paper towels.

Many thanks to Janet Blair and Jim Andrews for taking the donations to Celebrate Outreach.

Inkjet Recycling

The church is continuing to collect used inkjet cartridges. They are sent to a recycler and the church receives payment for the cartridges provided. So, don’t throw out your cartridges. Bring them to church. Not only do they get recycled but they provide income for the ministry of the church.

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.

Operation Attack Update

News from Operation Attack: Making a Difference

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

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.

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.

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 10:30. 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 10:30 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.

PLEASE NOTE:

With the cooler temperatures, we will resume opening the doors and windows for morning worship as we continue efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Sunday services are 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.

USEFUL LAKEWOOD LINKS:

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

You can stream Hilton’s music and videos for free at hiltonkeanjones.com/look-listen/ as well as purchase his CDs and digital albums there.

April Birthdays: Zachery Blair-Andrews 4/16, Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.

Circle of Concern:

Joyce Lee

Michelle Cloutier

Christopher and Dana

William Owen-Cowan

Jen Degroot

Carolyn Moore

Ann Quinn is now under Hospice care

Maggie Brizendine

Janet Hall

Yoko Nogami walking the Appalachian Trail

All those suffering from COVID-19 and all healthcare workers

Schools: Students, families, teachers, and staff

Recent Posts:

On land originally inhabited by the Tocabaga

Lenten Devotion 4/7/2022

Devotion Thirty Seven
April 7, 2022

We get the newspapers every Sunday, and my husband reads them and then tells me what he thinks I would be interested in. This is a great arrangement – to have someone preview the paper for you! And it gives me more time to do the crossword puzzles!

So, a few weeks ago, Jeff handed me a page from the ‘Parade’ section. It was an ad for a ‘sculpture’ called ‘Life of Christ.’ At the bottom of the sculpture is a nativity scene complete with sheep. Then up a level is the portrayal of an adult Jesus healing someone. Then the next level up depicts Jesus with two children. Continuing up the spiral is Jesus on the cross with two women at his feet. The Jesus on the cross looks like he is napping. No blood or any evidence of agony. Then at the top of the sculpture is a puff of cloud with Jesus coming down the cloud, arms open, white-robed, like an entertainer greeting a crowd. Oh, and did I mention that all the figures in the depiction are very clearly white?

Talk about a white-washed, sanitized, distorted depiction of a first century Jewish man from Palestine whose life, by the way, was not a walk in the park as depicted in the sculpture, but was steeped in controversy. There were disputes with religious leaders. Jesus was challenged by authorities. He was a wanted man with a target on his back. And he was killed in the most brutal way imaginable for the time. There was blood and lots of it.

We are approaching holy week. This is the week that we remember Jesus’ brutal, bloody death. We remember his fearlessness heading into Jerusalem knowing he would be killed. We remember his nighttime prayer in Gethsemane, asking for a reprieve, but willing to take the cup. We remember how he was betrayed and deserted by his followers. And we remember the words of forgiveness from the cross, from one broken and bloodied, in agony and humiliation.

None of the gory details of the stories should be edited out. Omitted. Glossed over. Or white washed.

Because we need to be reminded of how low we can sink. Of how desperate we can be when we feel threatened. Of how brutal we are when we are losing control. We need to be reminded of how we cling to the status quo, to our privilege, and our pride.

The sanitizing of Jesus’ life and death robs his witness of courage, of radicality, of the challenge of the status quo, of defiance, of sacrifice. The wildness of mercy.

We need to be reminded of the pain and the hardship and the enemies that Jesus faced so that we can begin to appreciate the love he demonstrates for those around him, for God, for us. A sanitized, whitewashed portrayal of Jesus robs him of his radical power and consigns him to meaningless oblivion which may be why the Church in the US is fading, dimming, dying? Oh, and by the way, the statue in the ad costs $139.99. Better to give the money to the poor. Or for Ukrainian relief.

Prayer
In these Lenten days, may we remember the powerful stories of Jesus that challenged the assumptions and authorities of his day. May his witness give us the courage to challenge the assumptions and authorities of our day that are draining dignity and hope from so many lives. May we see in Jesus a power that can cure our warring madness and our greed as well as our addiction to fossil fuels which is irreparably damaging Earth. Amen.

Lenten Devotion 4/6/2022

Devotion Thirty Six
Wednesday April 6

I don’t know about you, but I hardly expect the grocery store to be a place of spiritual illumination. But, in the wildness of mercy, I had a spiritual experience in the produce aisle.

I am not one to pay attention to the sound coming over the sound system in the store. That is something that I typically tune out. I am busy concentrating on what I am in the store to buy and trying to remember everything on my list, etc. I can’t have my mind cluttered with whatever dribble is being disseminated through the loudspeakers. It’s usually an annoyance.

But somehow as I was going down the aisles, the words of the song coming over the speakers caught my ear. What was she singing? It sounded like, “I’m broken and it’s beautiful.” That can’t be right. But I stayed tuned in and that is what the song was saying. It’s a superstar Kelly Clarkson song from the movie “Ugly Dolls.”

I think this is a beautiful image for Lent. We’re broken and we’re beautiful. That seems to be the way the God of the Bible sees this wayward human species. Broken and beautiful. That seems to be the way Jesus sees people. Broken and beautiful. That seems to be the way we are to look at others. As broken and beautiful. And then there is the invitation to see ourselves that way: I’m broken and it’s beautiful.

So often broken means no good. Doesn’t work. Something to be pitched. This is especially true in our throw away culture. The US produces 1,704 pounds of garbage per person per year. That is three times the global average. Broken? Worthless. Trash it.

But the song, “Broken and Beautiful,” invites us to see things another way. We are all broken in some way. Damaged. Hurt. Scarred. Imperfect. You can’t go through life without difficult experiences that take their toll. That is what makes us who we are. Each person unique and precious. We are all broken. And we are all beautiful. And we are here to see the brokenness and the beauty in each other and in ourselves. Isn’t that what love is all about?

Prayer
Take some time to think about how you are imperfect, damaged, scarred. Think about the hurt and pain that you see in others. That is part of what makes us who we are. The Christian image of God is a God that claims us as beloved. As we are. And we see Jesus as someone who embodies that claim. Broken, beloved, beautiful. That is who we are. Amen.