Posts

Bulletin 10/31/21

GATHERING MUSIC            

WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS

LIGHTING THE PEACE CANDLE                            Kay Rencken, liturgist

If there is a divine spark
that is in me,
let it flame;
that I might be
consumed
for peace.                             

Erice Fairbrother, Aotearoa/New Zealand

PRELUDE                    I Sing a Song of the Saints of God      John H. Hopkins

CALL TO WORSHIP                                       The Iona Community, adapted

With the whole church
We affirm that we are made in God’s image,
befriended by Christ, and empowered by the Spirit.
With people everywhere
We affirm the goodness at the heart of humanity,
planted more deeply than all that is wrong.
With all creation
We celebrate the miracle and wonder of life;
the unfolding purposes of God,
forever at work in ourselves and the world.

MUSICAL REFLECTION               Some Glad Morning          Albert E. Brumley

SCRIPTURE LESSONS

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.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 and Matthew 5:14-16

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.

MODERN READING — Lineage           Margaret Walker, 1915-1988, poet

LITANY OF REFLECTION

Let us reflect on the pilgrimage of life; on how we all come from the earth
and all return to its womb.
In death as in life, we are all one family.
Let us acknowledge that we share this experience with all living creatures
through the unity of nature.
In death as in life, we are all one family.
Let us give thanks for those who have gone before us, and for all the
memories that their lives brings to mind.
In death as in life, we are all one family.
In the strength of God’s love, let us determine to keep alive in ourselves
those qualities which we admire in our ancestors, for
In death as in life, we are all one family.

WORD OF REMEBERENCE                                                  The Congregation

PRAYER OF REMEMBRANCE                                                   Jewish Prayer

In the rising of the sun and in its going down,
we remember them.
In the glowing of the wind and in the chill of winter,
we remember them.
In the opening of buds and in the rebirth of spring,
we remember them.
In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of summer,
we remember them.
In the rustling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn,
we remember them.
In the beginning of the year and when it ends,
we remember them.
When we are weary and in need of strength,
we remember them.
When we are lost and sick at heart,
we remember them.
When we have joys we yearn to share,
we remember them.
So long as we live, they too shall live,
for they are now a part of us, as
we remember them.

MUSICAL INTERLUDE            Shall We Gather at the River       Robert Lowry

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.

Offertory                     This Little Light of Mine        Harry Dixon Loes

Prayer of Dedication                                                  Caeser Chavez

When we are honest with ourselves,
we must admit that our lives are all that really belong to us.
So it is how we use our lives that determines
what kind of people we are. Amen.

PREPARATION FOR PRAYER     Sonata in A Major, Mov. II     Franz Schubert

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 PRAYER-SAVIOR’S PRAYER

Our Creator in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

* BENEDICTION                                       The Iona Community, adapted

God of the past, who has fathered and mothered us,
We thank you.
God of the future, who is always ahead of us,
We trust you.
God of the present, here in our midst,
We praise you.
God of life beyond us, within us,
We rejoice in your glorious love.

*POSTLUDE                                 Sine Nominee            

Ralph Vaughn Williams/descants HKJ   

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

Circle of Concern: Claire Stiles, Ann Quinn who is under Hospice Care, Jeff Wells, Dave Radens, William Owen-Cowan, Jen Degroot, Carolyn Moore, Ann Quinn, 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.

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.

Anti Racism Demonstrations The church will resume its witness against racism with weekly demonstrations along the sidewalk of 54th Ave. S.  Make your own sign or use one of the signs at the church. Demonstrations will be held Sundays from 5:30-6 beginning Sunday October 3. In case of rain, the demonstration will not be held that week. 

Wednesday Workshops Ahead! The Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ is offering a series of Wednesday Workshops on Zoom at 7 p.m. These events are intended for people from all churches of the Florida Conference.  Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate.  Here are the topics for the weeks ahead and information about how to tune in.  The next workshop is Wednesday, Nov 03: Update from Immokalee

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

Last week…

Last week, I played an arrangement of Amazing Grace that is, more or less, a transcription of an orchestrated version that’s on simple hymns (currently a digital album, soon an audio CD). I’m going to try to make as many of my arrangements on simple hymns into piano solos as I can since it’s unlikely I’ll ever get to perform them with an orchestra but I definitely will get to perform them as piano solos! This solo piano version is available for purchase on SheetMusicPlus. But, for a couple week you’re welcome to download a complimentary copy below!

Amazing Grace PF solo – ScoreDownload

Weekly Update 10/27

On land originally inhabited by the Tocabaga

Sunday, Oct. 31 – Day of the Dead Remembrance

This Sunday will be a celebration of our legacy and our inheritance as we give thanks for those who have gone before us and have shown us the way.

You are invited to give some thought to someone who has been particularly influential in your life.  Perhaps it is a family member or someone you knew in the past.  Or maybe it is an historic figure from the past.  Whose legacy lives on in you?  Who inspires you? 

So, give some thought to someone who has died and is important for you at this time.  And share that inspiration and legacy with your church family on Sunday, Oct. 31 during morning worship as we honor those who have gone before us and who help us to navigate the living of our days!

PLEASE NOTE:  Because of the personal nature of the remembrances that will be shared on Sunday, the service will not be left up on Facebook or YouTube for future viewing.  It can be viewed live and then will be removed from Facebook and YouTube.

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. 

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.

Yard Sale for Haitian Hurricane Relief

Redeemer Baptist Church will be having a yard sale this Saturday, October 30, from 8-3p.m. on the LUCC church grounds to raise money for hurricane relief for Haiti. This is yet another extension of the ministry of LUCC!

Wednesday Workshops Ahead!

The Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ is offering a series of Wednesday Workshops on Zoom at 7 p.m..  These events are intended for people from all churches of the Florida Conference.  Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate.  Here are the topics for the weeks ahead and information about how to tune in.  

Wednesday, Oct 27
Workshop Wednesdays: Justice, Advocacy, & Action

Join us at 7 p.m. for a conversation about doing justice right here in Florida. We’ve got voting rights concerns, environmental justice concerns, mass incarceration and death penalty concerns, a health care system that does not include nearly a million Floridians in the midst of a global pandemic, farm workers still facing harassment and injustice, just to name a few. What can we do to press for expansion of voting rights rather than suppression of them? That might be a good place to start the conversation, but we’re open to other ideas, too.

Rev. Dr. Bernice Powell Jackson is an activist on behalf of human and civil rights, women’s rights, and has been an advocate for peace with justice and ecumenism around the world, including serving as president of the North American region of the World Council of Churches for nine years. She just finished her term as co-president of HOPE (Hillsborough Organization for Progress and Equality) and still chairs its Criminal Justice Committee. Serving on the Conational staff for nearly two decades, Pastor Bernice was the founding Executive Minister of Justice and Witness Ministries and one of five officers of the denomination. She also served as Executive Director of the United Church of Christ Commission for Racial Justice. Prior to that, she served as the director of the Bishop Tutu Southern African Refugee Scholarship Fund, where she was also the Archbishop’s U.S. representative. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., she is a graduate of Wilson College and holds master’s degrees from the Columbia University School of Journalism and Union Theological Seminary and received honorary doctor of humane letters degrees from Defiance College and the Florida Center for Theological Studies.

Wednesday, Nov 03
Workshop Wednesdays: Update from Immokalee

Wednesday, Nov 10
Workshop Wednesdays: Preaching an Earth-loving Jesus in a Time of Climate Crisis

Wednesday, Nov 17
Workshop Wednesdays: Small Church is not Less Church

The Zoom Meeting ID is 361-687-8295, and here’s the link to connect: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/3616878295. And here is a link to a flyer with information on all the upcoming workshops.

https://www.uccfla.org

New Church Directory Available

An updated church directory is available.  The directory is a welcome tool to help the congregation remain connected and in contact with each other.  Please pick one up when you are at the church.  If you would like one sent to you, please contact the Church Office at lakewooducc@gmail.com or call at 727-867-7961. The directory is a welcome tool to help the congregation remain connected and in contact with each other.  

Technology Grant Received

The church has received a technology grant from the Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ to improve the sound system in the sanctuary and facilitate the streaming of the worship service on Sunday mornings.  Gratitude is expressed to the Conference for this generous assistance!

Adult Day Care Available

The Neighborly Services Adult Day Care at the church still has openings available.  The center is open Monday through Friday during the day.  Clients can come every day or part time.  Health insurance and VA benefits can be used to offset the expenses.  If you have a friend or neighbor who could benefit from these services, please suggest the Evergreen Adult Day Care Center.  For more information, call 727-954-6484 .

Electronics Recycling

The church is collecting a load of electronics to be taken to an electronics recycling company in Clearwater.  The electronics are dismantled and usable components, parts, and substances are recycled.  Given the current problems getting the materials to produce electronic equipment, this recycling service has become even more important.  If you have anything you would like recycled, please bring it to the church and put it on the built-in desk in the Church Office.

These are some of the items that are accepted for recycling:  computers, amps, batteries, cables and connectors, cd players, cassette players, cell phones, televisions, digital cameras, e-readers. medical and dental equipment, iPods, mp3 players, memory cards, modems, printers, projectors, radar detectors, radios, remotes, receivers, recorders, SLR cameras, TVs, TV antennas, VCRs, etc.  

The collection ends this Sunday .

Anti Racism Demonstrations

The church will resume its witness against racism with weekly demonstrations along the sidewalk of 54th Ave. S. Make your own sign or use one of the signs at the church.
Demonstrations will be held Sundays from 5:30-6 beginning Sunday, October 3. In case of rain, the demonstration will not be held that week.

Know justice, know peace! This is an important way to inspire hope in the community and to work to create an anti-racist society.

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.  

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.

Operation Attack Update

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.

USEFUL LAKEWOOD LINKS:

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

October Birthdays: Janet Blair 10/19, Rick Carr 10/22, Denise Williams 10/25, Olivia Gibson 10/29, and Victoria Long 10/29. Someone missing? Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.

Circle of Concern: 

Dave Radens

William Owen-Cowan

Jen Degroot

Carolyn Moore

Ann Quinn is now under Hospice care

Maggie Brizendine

Janet Hall

Claire Stiles

All those suffering from COVID-19 and all healthcare workers

Schools: Students, families, teachers, and staff

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.

Music preview for 10/31/2021

Sunday, Lakewood will celebrate All Saints Day. Of course, the postlude has to be Sine Nomine! I assembled this video for online devotional last year (year before? this pandemic has gone on SO long).

I think I wrote both the trumpet descants, but I honestly can’t remember. For a working church musician, stuff like that gets lost in the shuffle and is lucky to even get written down somewhere scribbled on the back of a church bulletin or penciled into some hymnal.I know the last descant is mine, but not sure of the first one. If someone knows of a source (other than me) for the first one, please let me know. I’ll be doing an organ solo version of this video for Sunday.