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Devotion Forty Two
Tuesday 4.12.22

This past Sunday was the observance of Palm Sunday. The story for the day tells of people gathering along the streets of Jerusalem and waving palm branches and spreading their cloaks as Jesus rides by on a donkey. We are told of crowds shouting:

Hosanna to the Heir to the House of David!
Blessed is the One who comes
in the name of the Most High!
Hosanna in the highest!

Matthew 21:9

Apparently there is so much shouting and carrying on that in Lukan version of the story, the Pharisees tell Jesus to quiet his disciples. And Jesus responds, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the very stones would cry out!” [Luke 19:40] There is no curbing the enthusiasm.

So we are told of a loud, we might even say, rowdy, response to Jesus as the rides into Jerusalem. There is affirmation for him as a longed for leader.

It’s a good thing that Jesus is not one to get taken in with appearances because as the story goes on, later in the week, there is a crowd that shouts, “Crucify Him!” with just as much enthusiasm as the Palm Sunday throng. Could these have been some of the same people? That is very possible.

So we can imagine the people shouting ‘Blessed is the One who comes in the name of Our God!’ one day and then a few days later shouting ‘Crucify him!’ Now psychologists and sociologists can probably give us greater insight into this dynamic. But we all know that people are fickle. We are fickle. We change our minds all the time. We say one thing and do another. We do one thing and say another. While you can look for consistency in the behavior of, say, a dog, don’t expect it from humans. We are each a bundle of inconsistencies. And the composition of our inconsistencies changes from day to day if not minute to minute. But one thing I am wondering about in the gospel stories of the end of Jesus’ life is the role of the leaders, especially the religious leaders who want Jesus killed but do not have the authority to carry out capital punishment. I think people can be very easily swayed by capable, powerful leaders. So I suspect that the people who shout ‘Hosanna!’ and later shout ‘Crucify!’ have in some way been influenced by their leaders. Maybe we could even say manipulated by their leaders.

When I look around today, it seems to me that this is still going on and that the scope of the influence of such manipulative leaders is amplified by social mediaI. I think people in countries around the world INCLUDING OUR OWN are being exploited by leaders who are using fear and lies to stir up support out of self interest and to gain personal power. These leaders can be masterful and very effective. This gives me some sympathy for the crowds, for myself, for my neighbors, and for my enemies.

This situation also gives me greater appreciation for Jesus who was not swayed or influenced or manipulated by the leaders or the crowds. His loyalty to Divine Love was unswerving. His connection to God was not lost or broken even with his death at hand. The manipulative leaders and the fickle crowds bring the unshakeable faith of Jesus into greater focus.

And we are told that Jesus forgives all from the cross. Talk about the wildness of mercy!

Prayer
This is the week to remember that whatever crowd we are in, we are loved and forgiven. May we extend the same love and forgiveness to others especially those who may be in different crowds than we are. May our desire be to remain steady in our devotion to the God of pure, unadulterated Love. Amen.

Devotion 41
Monday 4.11.22

We are drawing near to the end of the Lenten season. It has been a season of reflection and exploring. It has been a time to repent, that is re-turn our lives to God. I am thinking back to the the last Sunday of the Epiphany season before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Each year the scripture reading for that Sunday is the story of the Transfiguration. Jesus goes up on the mountaintop to pray and brings with him three of the stalwart disciples, Peter, James, and John. (We’ll hear more about them later this week. This is the trio that goes with Jesus to Gethsemane.) While on the mountain there is the appearance of Moses and Elijah. And Jesus appears aglow in bright light. And a voice is heard from the clouds. This voice has been heard before at Jesus’ baptism saying, “You are my Own, my Beloved. On you my favor rests.” [Luke 3:22b.] That was at the river. In
the story on the mountaintop, the voice announces, “This is my Own, my Chosen One. Listen to him!”

During the Lenten season we have been trying to listen to Jesus. Trying to listen to his wisdom and teaching for our lives and our world. We have been doing this through the lens of the wildness of mercy hoping to let Jesus lead us more deeply into the reality of God.

The next few days we will be remembering the most difficult days in the ministry of Jesus. Let us keep listening. Let us stay open to what we can see and hear and learn from the stories of the last days of Jesus’ life. What are we shown? How can the ending of Jesus’ earthly life be life-giving for us?

Even as we remember the terrible events of those last days, the trial, the desertion, the betrayal, the agony, the irony, and all the rest, the wildness of mercy will make this story a love story. And we are the ones who receive the love. So let’s “Listen to him!”

Prayer
We know that Jesus’ suffering and death are ahead. The last days, the last hours. The point of no return. An ultimate expression of love. May we listen to the story and hear the love. Amen.

Devotion Forty
Palm Sunday 4.10.22

As I have mentioned previously in these devotions, I have been dogged in my efforts to avoid getting covid. I had a sign on the front door of our home telling anyone who wanted to enter to mask and sanitize. The sanitizer was outside on the table by the front door. I masked everywhere outside of our house. Once the vaccine was available, we did not let anyone in our home that was not vaxed. When I had to fly, I wore two masks and a face shield. I kept my distance from people. I have not eaten in a restaurant for 2 years. I have not gone back to hear the orchestra live. I am still very careful. And despite my extensive efforts to evade the virus, it struck.

I got covid. From my grandchildren, ages 1 and 2 1/2. Too young for the vaccine. Too small to mask. After all of my efforts, I got covid from my very own close to home beloved family.

I think this speaks to Holy Week. Today we begin the week of commemoration of the last week of Jesus’ life. The gospels tell us of the Palm Sunday procession, the Last Supper, Gethsemane, Jesus’ arrest and trial and conviction and crucifixion. Yes, the Romans crucified Jesus. But Jesus’ friends, his disciples, the authorities of his own religion, even the crowds had a hand in the thing. It wasn’t random strangers from the outside. It was those close to Jesus. It was his own people.

As this Holy Week begins we continue our Lenten examination of our lives and our hearts. We are Jesus followers. We are the ones close at hand. This is a week to consider how we betray the gospel. How we deny the good news. How we crucify God’s dream. How we desert our Savior. Yes, we who are close to Jesus. How does the story of this Holy Week help us to be honest about our story?

Prayer
On this Palm Sunday we celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The crowds were large and enthusiastic. May we engage in the intense self reflection needed so that we can number ourselves among those who are truly devoted to the dream of God for all of Creation. Amen.

Devotion Thirty Nine
Saturday 4.9.22

1. Sleeping
2. Religion
3. Watching television
4. Observing animals
5. Math

These five things were together on a list. Can you guess what it is a list of? What kind of list would link religion and TV? Or religion and math? Or sleeping and observing animals?

Well, first the article had a list of the 5 Most Boring Jobs. You can make your guesses about what some of those were. Then there was a list of the 5 Most Exciting Jobs. You can make some guesses about that, too. Then there was the list above.

Evidently, according to a study done in England, sleeping, religion, watching television, observing animals, and math are the top five most boring hobbies! Hobbies?

Since when is religion a ‘hobby’? Webster tells us that a hobby is ‘a pursuit outside one’s regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation.’ Well, whoever worked on this study does not have much understanding of religion, at least not Christianity.

Christianity tells us who we are. And why we are here. Christianity defines us as a species created in the Divine image, holy and sacred, here to love and serve. Christianity gives us our values and our world view. It shows us how to function in the world. It informs how we conduct ourselves in relationships. Christianity forms our identity.

Being Christian, following Jesus, is not ‘outside one’s regular occupation.’ It is our primary occupation. It is our calling. It defines us. And it surely keeps us occupied!

As for boring, following a guy who was sentenced to capital punishment, killed on a cross, and remembered for being resurrected and coming back from the dead, is that boring? Investing your life in the well-being of the world, is that boring? Loving your enemies, is that boring? Forgiving 70 times 7, is that boring? There’s even fishing for people. Surely not as boring as the TV shows ‘The Deadliest Catch’ or ‘Aussie Lobster Men’! Anyone who thinks a life based on following Jesus is boring hasn’t tried following Jesus. They have not experienced the wildness of mercy.

Prayer
With so many diversions and distractions, may we stay centered on following Jesus. May we be open to the adventures that faith brings. May we invest ourselves deeply in the life of this amazing world loving fully and freely. Amen.

*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.

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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. 

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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