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Devotion 13
Monday 3.14.22

I read an article today about the increasingly limited information available to the people of Russia from outside of the country. The Russian government wants to control the narrative about Ukraine. Russians are not allowed to use the words ‘war’ or ‘invasion’ in reference to Ukraine. It is a ‘special military operation’. Because of the false information provided by the government, many of the people of Russia do not believe that a war is going on. And they certainly don’t believe that Russia is in any way the aggressor.

That’s the thing about people. We lie. About all kinds of things. War. Slavery. Our health. Our grades. All the time. About so many things. We simply, well, lie. We say thank you for something we didn’t like. We pay someone a compliment to make them feel good or to get ourselves off the hook when we really don’t mean it. We make excuses that we are busy when we could actually do something we just don’t want to. We are just really good at lying. About big things. About little things. About inconsequential things. About existential things.

And, in my opinion, it must be admitted that religion has certainly done its share of lying to people. And that lying causes untold harm.

Why do we lie? For a million reasons. Because we want to be liked. Because we are greedy. Because we’re lazy. Because we want to get ahead. Because it’s easy. Because the truth is too hard to bear. Because it’s to our advantage in some way. Because we want to protect someone’s feelings. Because we think it will avoid causing harm in some way. And that is just a start to why we lie.

I was thinking recently about our dogs and about nature. Animals. Plants. The natural world. There’s no lying. Animals can’t lie. They can practice deception for the sake of getting food. But it is not lying. It’s a necessary behavior for survival. Maybe that’s how some people think about lying.

But is lying really to our advantage, ultimately? I don’t think so. I think it compromises our character. Diminishes our spirits. Sucks us down – one lie. Then another. Then another. And then, well, what is real? What is truly reality? It’s not a war or an invasion. . . And lying masks the problems we are facing that need to be addressed with honesty, humility, and creativity for our survival.

In the New Testament we are told, “The truth will set you free.” The truth may be difficult. Stressful, even. Hard to deliver. Awful to accept. It may be hurtful. Many people today don’t want to know the truth about things like systemic racism and global warming. But, ultimately, the truth serves our well-being far more than lying ever will. Even though we may only ever see a partial truth.

Look at nature. No lying. Instead there is adaptation, adjustment, creating new balance. There is also the truth of incredible disruption and extinction. We need to be seeing the truth that nature is showing us to help us survive. The truth, hard as it may be, will set us free. That is part of the wildness of mercy. The truth may be painful but it leads to healing.

Prayer: Think about a lie you have told. Or that has been told to you. And the harm that it has caused. May we seek to see the truth. May we seek to tell the truth. May we make amends for the lies that have caused harm. May we seek to be made free by the truth. And the truth is that there is a wildness to Divine mercy and that mercy is our blessing. Amen.

Devotion 12
3.13.22

It was just about two years ago that the covid lockdown began. After church on the second Sunday of March 2020, we had a meeting to discuss the situation. About 20 people attended. We sat in a circle. We decided that we wanted to create a ritual to do each day to remember covid. So people were encouraged to pick a time that would work for them each day, light a candle, and offer the prayer that was created based on the church’s mission statement. If you couldn’t light a candle, you could turn on the flashlight on your phone. We were looking for light and hope in what was becoming an increasingly dark picture.

At the end of the gathering, we decided that we would monitor the situation and respond accordingly. We had no idea that we would not be back together again worshipping in the sanctuary for many months. It never occurred to us that we would not be coming back to church, as usual, the next Sunday. Or the next. Or the next. Not even an Easter service. Really? I mean, we never cancel church. Well, in the past 30 years, we have had to cancel church twice due to hurricanes. But basically, church goes on. Period.

And even though we could not safely meet, even though we could not gather in person, even though there was no service in the sanctuary on Sunday mornings, even though the piano wasn’t played for over a year, even though there was no one working in the office on a regular basis, even though, even though, even though – the church did go on. Church went on.

There were weekly Corona Sabbath posts with scripture, prayers, reflections, and music to feed our spirits. There were videos for special occasions like Earth Day and Mother’s Day with pictures contributed by the congregation. The sanctuary was open for prayer each Sunday morning and there was support and solace for the few who needed that space. There were weekly labyrinth walks outside, physically distanced. There were emails and posts on the website and phone calls helping the congregation maintain its ministry and stay connected. There were advisors meetings held outside under the trees. There were the herculean efforts of the Care Team, expanded from a ministry to the homebound and infirm to a ministry to the whole congregation now homebound. There were cards, flowers, drive-by visits, signs held up and seen through windows. There were outdoor visits by the gates of Westminster Suncoast to see not only church members but others who simply were eager for interpersonal contact with the ‘outside’ world. There was help provided to people in the congregation and beyond who were in need. Oh, and did I say there were Zoom meetings? And even Zoom services, Zoom communion, and other Zoom gatherings? Quite a stretch for a church that intentionally identifies as high touch/low tech.

Through these two years of an absolutely crazy ride, that felt at times like Disney’s Space Mountain, a roller coaster in the dark, the church went on. While scientists scrambled for vaccines and cures. The ministry of the church continued. While politicians wrangled over protecting the health and safety of people as well as the economy. The church was here to provide the spiritual support and inspiration that was needed to navigate our way through this unfolding saga.

Over six million people are dead because of this virus. Sisters. Brothers. Lovers. Mothers. Fathers. Aunts. Uncles. Cousins. Neighbors. Friends. Coworkers. Celebrities. Entertainers. Politicians. Teachers. Doctors. Nurses. Cleaning people. Store clerks. So many people. Gone. Our hearts are broken open. So much love. So much grief.

While so many people and so many activities and organizations and traditions are gone, finished, the church is still here to see us through. To help us heal. To renew our appreciation for the sacredness of each and every life. Despite all that has gone on, the body of Christ is still standing. Embodying Divine Love. Shining light and hope for the world. This virus could not take down the church. That is the wildness of mercy.

Prayer: Take a few moments to think about how covid has affected your life. Think about the things you had to give up. The things you missed. The people who are gone. Think about how things are different now because of covid. Then give thanks that through it all, the wildness of Divine mercy has still found us and sustained us, even through the ministry of our beloved church. Amen.

WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS

LIGHTING THE PEACE CANDLE                                               Earl Waters, liturgist

Grandfather,
Look at our brokenness.

We know that in all creation
Only the human family
Has strayed from the Sacred Way.

We know that we are the ones
Who are divided
And we are the ones
Who must come back together
To walk in the Sacred Way.

Grandfather,
Sacred One,
Teach us love, compassion, and honor
That we may heal the earth
And heal each other.                                                                           Ojibway prayer

PRELUDE                               The Happy Farmer                                        Schumann

OPENING PRAYER                                                                  Ken Sehested, adapted

Loaf-baking, kitchen-dwelling, breast-feeding God,
hungry and thirsty
we return to your lap and your table again.
Fill us with bread that satisfies,
milk that drenches our parched throats.
Feed us ’til we want no more.

Let your Spirit hang an apron around our necks.
Fashioned by our Lord and friend, Jesus.

Instruct us,
here in the halls of your kitchen/kin-dom,
with the recipes: mercy and forgiveness,
compassion and redemption.

Leaven our lives
’til they rise in praise:
Offered, blessed, and broken
for the healing of the nations. Amen.

MUSIC                                             Simple Gifts                                     Shaker tune

SCRIPTURE READING

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.

Luke 13:31-35

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.

MUSIC                                             Shenandoah                                        American

CONTEMPORARY READING-Pilgrimage                                   John Gladwin, b. 1942

SERMON                                                                                          Rev. Kim P. Wells

TIME OF REFLECTION                                                  Caroline Myss, b. 1952

Let me be silent
Let me be still.
I offer You the sound in my Heart
I offer You the breath in my Lungs
I offer You the tranquility in my Soul.
Let me be silent
Let me be still
Hover over me. Amen.

MUSIC                                           The Cherry Tree                                      Ireland

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. If you would like assistance, please turn to someone seated near you.

Offertory                           Ducks on the Millpond                                Baker

Time of Dedication                                          Rudyard Kipling, 1865-1936

Do not care
overly much for
wealth, or power, or fame,
Or one day you will meet someone
Who cares for none of these things,
And you will realize
How poor you have become.

PREPARATION FOR PRAYER         Wendeyaho                    Native  American/arr. HKJ

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.  Please observe physical distancing.

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                                                                               Pueblo verse

Hold on to what is good
even if it is a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe
even if it is a tree which stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do
even if it is a long way from here.
Hold on to life
even when it is easier letting go.
Hold on to my hand
even when I have gone away from you. Amen.

*POSTLUDE                                      Hornpipe                                                Handel

Circle of Concern: Christopher and Dana, Dyanne Edds, Ann Quinn who is under Hospice Care, William Owen-Cowan, Jen Degroot, Carolyn Moore, Maggie Brizendine, Janet Hall, All those suffering from COVID-19 and all healthcare workers, Schools: Students, families, teachers, and staff.

Announcements

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 3/12/22.

Conversation about Ukraine After church last Sunday, LUCC member Bill Parsons led a discussion about the war in Ukraine. The presentation was recorded and can be accessed at the church website.  

Advisors meeting today If you have feelings about wearing masks at church, please speak to

an advisor: Malcolm Wells, Lucille Ruga, Barbara Donohue, Christy Martin.

Book Talk This month Book Talk will be held on Thursday, March 17 at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom.  This is a wonderful time of sharing about books.  Everyone is welcome to listen in and to share about what you have been reading.  It’s a very inspiring time!  Join in!  Here’s the link:  Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2700683648 Meeting ID: 270 068 3648

Toiletries for Celebrate Outreach Celebrate Outreach is a local ministry with people who are living without shelter in St. Petersburg.  LUCC was asked to collect toiletries for this ministry.  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

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.

For the safety and comfort of all, please wear a mask. Thank you!

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

Devotion Eleven
3.12.22

We are going to re-visit the interview of Rene Marie on ‘Jazz Night in America’ with Christian McBride. As I said, I don’t know much about jazz but this interview was very meaningful to me.

Apparently Marie grew up in Roanoke, Virginia. Her mother was a grade school teacher. Every Saturday they would go to the grocery store and her mother would buy an extra bag of groceries. These groceries were for the family of one of the students in her mother’s classroom. On the way home from the store, Marie’s mother would drive by the home of the family for whom the groceries were intended. The mother would tell Marie to get out, put the bag of food by the front door, ring the door bell, and tear back to the car. The mother did not want the family to know who it was that brought the much-needed the groceries. She wanted to protect their dignity and self-respect.

Imagine that family, opening the door and discovering that food. Like manna from heaven. Finding the wildness of Divine mercy right there on the stoop!

Marie said that this was never discussed in her family. It was just done. She learned by example. And she saw that this helped the family in need. It helped her mother. And it taught the children through example. That is the wildness of mercy!

How are we showing forth mercy for the well-being of ourselves, the world, and those around us, especially children? Yes, children need food. But they also need to be taught by example of the wildness of mercy.

Prayer: Think of a child. A child in your life. A grandchild. A neighbor. A stranger, even. How are they learning mercy from you? How are you leaving a legacy of the wildness of mercy? May we be grateful that we have so much to give and to share. May the wildness of mercy overflow in us! Amen.