Posts

Weekly Update 12/24

New Year’s Eve Gathering

The church will host a gathering around a fire to say goodbye to 2020 and welcome 2021.  There is much to reflect on from this past year.  And what will we look forward to?  There will be the opportunity to walk the labyrinth.  Bring a chair if you can.  Bring a reading or reflection to share if you would like to.  There will be marshmallows to roast.  All are welcome at this informal gathering Thursday Dec. 31 at 7:00 p.m.  

Christmas Eve Zoom and Christmas Eve Live

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is images.jpg

In these difficult and challenging days, celebrating the birth of Jesus is more important than ever.  Jesus, too, was born in difficult times.  His birth reminds us that God is with us, in joy and in sorrow, in times of fear and challenge as well as times of awe and wonder.  

You are invited to celebrate the birth of Jesus with the LUCC church family.  The same service will be offered two ways on Christmas Eve.  

At 5:00 p.m. there will be a Zoom/FaceBook live service.  Go to the church FaceBook page and click on the lower left.  Here’s the link for Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2700683648

At 7:00 p.m. there will be an in person version of the same service on the church grounds.  Masks and physical distancing will be maintained.  There will be no singing.  Bring a chair and a flashlight so you can read the bulletin.  In case of rain, the service will be held on the covered patio adjacent to the playground.  

Rekindle the Gifts of God:  Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love

Poinsettias

Many thanks to those who donated poinsettias during the Advent season to beautify the worship space and share joy with those in the congregation who are homebound.

Music

Hilton is posting all the Thanksgiving, Chanukah, and Christmas music he’s done for Lakewood UCC during the holidays at https://soundcloud.com/hilton-kean-jones/sets/traditional-holiday-music.

Plans for Church in the New Year

Those who attended the Sunday services outside in December are eager to resume weekly worship.  Once the sanctuary is available for use, services will resume, inside, with the church doors open and the fans on, masks and physical distancing.  Services will be shared live on Zoom and FaceBook.  

The anti racism demonstrations and weekly labyrinth walks will continue.

There will be a Corona Sabbath posted each week until live services can resume.  

Many thanks to all who are helping in this time of adaptation and continual transition!

Toys Delivered at Maximo

What an amazing, inspiring day Monday was at Maximo Elementary! The toys that were collected by the Education Ministry Team were delivered to the school. What began as a request by the Family and Community Liaison, Ms. Jones, for gifts for thirty children experiencing homelessness grew and grew and grew. Partnership with the Social Justice Team at Westminster Suncoast and then St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church flourished. Generosity grew wings. When the toys were delivered there were four cars overflowing with more than one hundred fifty gifts.

Ms. Jones, along with the Principal and staff, greeted us with smiles and great appreciation. Pictures were taken and friendships made. We left Maximo having received more than we had given. Our hearts were bursting with joy.

Thanks to everyone who joined in this undertaking to spread Christmas joy to children and their parents during this very stressful time. May the pictures bring you Hope, Peace, Joy and Love as you imagine the surprise and excitement of a precious child receiving your gift.

Use the following link to see pictures: https://lakewooducc.org/2020/12/09/toys-delivered-at-maximo/

Work Under Way for Adult Day Care

Finally after a year and a half of planning, the renovations of the Fellowship Hall are underway to prepare for the Adult Day Care program sponsored by Neighborly Services!  So far, a railing has been installed to the back entrance of the Fellowship Hall and the demolition is underway to prepare for the three accessible restrooms that are being installed.  The patio has been pressure washed.

It is very exciting to finally see movement toward the goal of offering needed services to the seniors in our area!

For pictures please use the following link: https://lakewooducc.org/2020/12/16/work-under-way-for-adult-day-care/

Operation Attack

Operation Attack is moving to have once a month drive through opportunities to still give the same services they have always given during these times. We send in all of our donations and they get them and send them outside to the distributors. They quickly hand the bags of food and clothes to the members of the community and help control the spread of Covid-19 and help our community as well. 

Please use the link to view pictures from the last volunteer date:https://lakewooducc.org/2020/12/24/operation-attack-2/

Corona Sabbath Ahead

The Corona Sabbath post this week is a follow up to Christmas.  Now that we have celebrated the birth of Jesus, what next? 

This week Sue Sherwood is reading the scripture, there is a reflection from Rev. Wells, and music from Hilton Jones.

If you missed last week’s Corona Sabbath here’s the link:

https://lakewooducc.org/2020/12/17/corona-sabbath-40-fourth-sunday-of-advent-love/

Anti-Racism Demonstrations Resume January 10

Weekly demonstrations to end racism will resume Sunday January 10 at 4:30 p.m..  Many thanks to all who are participating.  While there is a break in the demonstrations, we know that there is no break in the systemic racism that is harmful to everyone.  As the New Year begins, add your presence to this weekly demonstration making a witness to your commitment to anti racism.

Weekly Labyrinth Walks Continue

Each Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. a small group gathers at the outdoor labyrinth for a time of devotion, discussion, and meditative walking of the labyrinth.  The theme for the week is taken from the Corona Sabbath of the week before, so it is an opportunity to go deeper in the spiritual exploration of that theme for your life.  This devotional gathering is outside and physical distancing is maintained. All are welcome!

If there is rain on Wednesday morning, the gathering will be held on Thursday morning at 9:00.

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 DURING THE CORONA CRISIS:

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

December Birthdays: Becky Palmer 12/16, Amaiya Washington 12/18, George Diven 12/27, Melanie Moore 12/27, Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.

Circle of Concern: JoAnn Reid, William Owen, Jen Degroot, Carolyn Moore, Ann Quinn, Maggie Brizendine, Dave Radens, Bert and Joyce Lee, Wally LeBlanc, teachers, students, and school personnel, and all healthcare workers and essential workers. All those suffering from COVID-19.

Please keep LUCC member, Olivia Gibson, in your prayers. She is a nurse in a COVID-19 unit in a local hospital. We are grateful for her ministry!

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

 Please note that the church office will be closed the week of Dec. 28.

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.

Operation Attack

Operation Attack is moving to have once a month drive through opportunities to still give the same services they have always given during these times. We send in all of our donations and they get them and send them outside to the distributors. They quickly hand the bags of food and clothes to the members of the community and help control the spread of Covid-19 and help our community as well. 

Corona Sabbath 41 THE BIRTH OF JESUS

These weeks when we cannot gather in person for Sunday worship, Lakewood United Church of Christ is providing brief weekly sabbath programs for you to listen to on your own or with others in your social isolation group.  They will be posted on Friday so that you can schedule your sabbath time to suit your schedule and your spiritual inclinations.  We hope these programs are of spiritual support to you in these difficult times.

The post this week is a follow up to Christmas.

This post includes a scripture reading from Sue Sherwood, a reflection from Rev. Kim Wells and a music video by Hilton Jones.    We hope this post helps to feed your spirit in these difficult times.

You are invited to find a quiet space, inside or outside.  Light a candle.  Take a look around you.   Breathe.  Life-giving breath.   Be present. 

You may begin with this reading –

As the sun illumines not only the heaven and the whole world, shining on both land and sea, but also sends rays through windows and small chinks into the furthest recesses of a house, so the Word, poured out everywhere, behold the smallest actions of our life.

-Clement of Alexandria  c.150-215

When you are ready, start the video below. 

(For written text of the above video click HERE.)

As you listen to the music that follows, which is a virtual performance by the Lakewood Choir of the traditional Christmas song, “Lo How a Rose,” you are invited to notice the thoughts and feelings that arise for you. 

In closing, you are invited to read the poem, The Work of Christmas:

 When the song of the angels is stilled,
 when the star in the sky is gone,
 when the kings and princes are home,
 when the shepherds are back with their flocks,
 the work of Christmas begins:
 to find the lost,
 to heal the broken,
 to feed the hungry,
 to release the prisoner,
 to rebuild the nations,
 to bring peace among the people,
 to make music in the heart.

-- Howard Thurman, 1899-1981

Breathe.  Breathe again.  Be filled.  With grace.   Extinguish your candle and engage whatever may come with a sense of peace and a desire to serve.

LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

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 and in our world;
  • Offer the hospitality and inclusive love of Christ to all people;
  • Work for God’s peace and justice throughout creation.

USEFUL LAKEWOOD LINKS DURING THE CORONA CRISIS:

Corona Sabbath 41 THE BIRTH OF JESUS Reflection Text

Greetings and welcome to Corona Sabbath.  This is one of the ways the church is endeavoring to offer spiritual support during these challenging days of COVID-19.    We appreciate your feedback and suggestions.

We listen to John 1:1-14 read by Sue Sherwood.  This passage includes the prologue to the gospel of John.  No angels or stars here, but a sweeping statement of the import of the birth of Jesus.  

 
 
             In the beginning
                         there was the Word;
             the Word was in God’s presence,
                         and the Word was God.
             The Word was present to God
                         from the beginning.
             Through the Word
                         all things came into being,
             and apart form the Word
                         nothing came into being
                         that has come into being.
             In the Word was life,
                         and that life was humanity’s light -
             a Light that shines in the darkness,
                         a Light that the darkness has never overtaken.

Then came one named John, sent as an envoy from God, who came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through his testimony everyone might believe.  He himself wasn’t the Light; he only came to testify about the Light – the true Light that illumines all humankind.

The Word was coming into the world -
was in the world-
     and though the world was made through the Word,
     the world didn’t recognize it.
Though the Word came to its own realm,
     the Word’s own people didn’t accept it.
Yet any who did accept the Word,
     who believed in that Name,
     were empowered to become children of God-
children born not of natural descent,
     nor urge of flesh
     nor human will -
but born of God.
And the Word became flesh
     and stayed for a little while among us;
we saw the Word’s glory -
     the favor and position a parent gives an only       child -
             filled with grace,
                         filled with truth.

Reflection from Kim

Christmas Eve is over.  Christmas Day has passed.  Maybe it was different for you this covid year.  Maybe you had to adapt your traditions.  Maybe the holiday involved a Zoom.  Maybe you were on your own for the first time.  Maybe you missed the usual celebrations with food and family and friends.  But we can all take a deep breath.  Sigh.  Relieved.  We made it!  Christmas is over.

So, now there is the putting away of Christmas.  Taking down the lights.  Undecorating the tree.  Putting away the creche scene.  Storing the garland.  Until next year.  When, hopefully things will be back to normal as far as Christmas is concerned. 

But Christmas is the celebration of a birth.  It is a beginning.  It is the start of an adventure.  As with the birth of any baby, there is more.  There is the unfolding of all that is to come.  The stages and changes and transitions and growth and struggles and adventures that mark a life.  So, Christmas is a beginning.

In the beautiful lesson that we heard from the gospel of John, we are told that in the life of Jesus we are shown grace and truth.  The grace and truth of God.  Of Divine Love. 

What if as we put away Christmas for this year we leave out the grace and truth.  What if we don’t box them up for next year but leave them out?  Grace and truth.  What if we try to hang on to the grace and truth that we see in Jesus and let that be our light in the days to come?  What if we really try to fundamentally integrate that grace and truth into our lives? 

Grace is about realizing all that we are given.  It’s about forgiveness of ourselves and others.  Grace enables us to treat others with compassion and understanding instead of judgment and hostility.  Truth is about affirming that the way of Jesus really does work.  Building community, pursuing reconciliation, living with compassion, ending oppression, creating a society that is anti racist and anti violent.  Declaring Good New to the poor.  This as not about a food bank.  This is about a living wage, affordable housing, good public transportation and healthcare. 

I spoke with someone recently who belongs to a conservative evangelical church.  I was told that they’re is a lot of upset in those churches right now over the race situation in America.  Many, especially pastors, believe that the church, to be true to the grace and truth of Jesus, must promote anti-racism in America today.  But there are many in the pews who do not share that commitment. 

We can think about Jesus teachings with regard to race, yes.  But there is more.  His teachings about money and wealth.  Seldom adhered to.  His teachings about forgiveness and reconciliation.  Often ignored.  Teachings about equality and justice.  We pick and choose. How about love?  Of neighbor?  Stranger?  Enemy?  Self?  When it suits us?   Here we want to remember the grace and truth.  Keep it at the forefront.  Not box it up.  Put it away.  Store it.

In the book The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History by Michael H. Hart Jesus is number three not because his message isn’t valued but because his followers do not adhere to his teachings.  Others have noted that the teachings of Jesus are wonderful but so seldom lived out.  Taken seriously.  The way of Jesus actually embodied.  Apparently his followers are known for lacking commitment to his grace and truth. 

In recent months in our country there has been much talk about voting rights and redistricting and the census.  We want to see sanity and integrity in government.  Of course!  So, we want to think about the same kind of consistency and integrity when it comes to our faith.  We want to think about living out the grace and truth that we see in Jesus. 

There is a story about a poor young Eskimo girl .  She didn’t have enough to eat or clothes to keep warm.  One day, a newspaper reporter came into the village where the little girl lived.  He saw the girl’s situation and decided to interview her.  In the course of things, he asked her, “Do you believe in God?” 

“Yes, I do,” said the little girl. 

“Do you believe God loves you?” asked the reporter.

Again the girl said, “Yes, I do.”

“If you believe in God and believe that God loves you, then why do you think you don’t have enough food or enough warm clothes to wear?”

The little girl answered, “I think God asked someone to bring me these things.  But someone said no!” [From Advent, Christmas and Epiphany:  Stories and Reflections on the Sunday Readings, by Megan McKenna, p. 237.]

If you are watching this or reading this, you have likely been on your journey of faith for some time.  Maybe you have already committed yourself to the way of Jesus.  It may already be your intention to try to live out Divine Love in your life.  So, for you, Christmas may just be a reminder.  An opportunity to re-commit.  To open yourself once again to birthing Divine Love in your life.  And blessing the world in your own way.  So as we put away the decorations may we remember that the Word, full of grace and truth, is seeking to become flesh in us.  Amen.

(Click HERE if you wish to see the post containing the video of this text.)