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Corona Sabbath 30 GOLDEN CALF 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.

This post focuses on the process of change.  There is a scripture reading, a reflection, and music from Hilton Jones.  Colleen Coughenour reads Exodus 32:1-14.  This is the story of the golden calf.  While Moses is away praying to God on the mountain, the people take matters into their own hands and, Moses’ brother, Aaron, left in charge, is quite willing to placate his base.  A golden calf.  Sure.  No problem.  

Video from Colleen

Exodus 32:1-14

Moses was an extremely long time in returning from the mountain, and when the people saw this, they turned to Aaron and said, “Come and make a god for us, someone who will lead us.  We don’t know what has happened to that Moses, who brought us up from the land of Egypt.”

Aaron replied, “Remove the gold earrings you are wearing – wives and husbands, sons and daughters alike – and bring them all to me.”  All the people brought their gold earrings to Aaron.  Aaron took the gold, melted it down and cast it in a mold, and made it into a calf, a young bull.

Then the people said, “Israel, here is your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!”

When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before the idol, proclaiming, “Tomorrow we will have a feast in honor of Yahweh!“

In the morning the people rose early, sacrificing burnt offerings and bringing communion offerings, and then they sat down to eat and drink, and lost themselves in debauchery.

Yahweh said to Moses, “Go down, now!  These people whom you led out of Egypt have corrupted themselves!  In such a short time, they have turned from the way that I have given them, and made themselves a molten calf.  Then they worshipped it and sacrificed to it saying, ‘Israel, here is your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!’”

Yahweh then said to Moses, “I look at these people – how stubborn they are!  Now leave me to myself so that my anger may pour out on them, and destroy them!  But you I’ll make into a great nation.”

Then Moses soothed the face of Yahweh, his God.  “But why, my God, should you let your wrath pour out on these people whom you delivered from Egypt with great might, with a strong hand?  Why should the Egyptians say, ‘Their God intended to destroy them all along, to kill them in the mountains, to erase them from the earth?’  Turn your back on your rage; reconsider the disaster you intended for your people.  Do not forget Sarah and Abraham, Rebecca and Isaac, and Leah and Rachel and Jacob, your chosen ones, to whom you promised, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky; I will give to you all this land which I have promised – I will give it to your descendants, and they will enjoy its inheritance forever.’”

So Yahweh relented, and the disaster that threatened the Israelites was forestalled.

Reflection from Kim

Ok.   This reflection is not going to be about the election.  From what I hear, people are so saturated and inundated with election news that it would not be of spiritual succor to talk about the election.  I get it.  

What I am going to talk about is change.  Transformation.  The emergence of social values and norms.  

We are in a time of major transition in human history/human emergence.  And accelerating climate change is a big component of this time of transition.  We’re in a radical turning – like the transition to settled agriculture, or the use of fire as a tool, or the invention of the wheel.  This transformation is technological, biological, and social/spiritual.  Things are changing.  Maybe not in the way we would like sometimes.  Maybe not fast enough at times.  But things are changing.

And as with previous major human transitions, we don’t know just where we are going or how long it will take to get there.  That will only be known from hindsight.  

And here we turn to the Hebrews wandering in the wilderness.  This grand Biblical epic.  The Hebrews migrated to Egypt during a drought to find food.  Then they become enslaved.  The story tells us that God hears their cries under the burden of their oppression and liberates them from slavery in Egypt.  Then there are 40 years of wandering in the wilderness before settling in the land of milk and honey.  

There are many chapters in the Hebrew scriptures devoted to those years of wandering.  The group is led by a cloud in the day and fire at night.  There are stories about needing water.   Stories of hunger and manna and quail.  

There are stories of the giving of the law – the 10 commandments.  Twice.  And many other directives regarding daily life, religious observance, a judicial system, a priestly system.  Extensive directives on many, many matters.   All aimed toward creating a model society of justice and peace.  

In Exodus 23, we find these directives:

“When you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden and you would hold back from setting it free, you must help to set it free.” 

We could see this as a statement about animal rights.

And, “You shall not oppress a resident alien; you know the heart of an alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.”

That is certainly a message that still needs to be heard by all church-going Americans today.  You were once an alien, an immigrant, a transplant.   

And, “You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in their lawsuits.”  

Yup.  It actually says that in the Bible.  Don’t screw the poor in the legal system.

I wonder if the president has ever read the Bible he waved around outside the church in Washington, DC?

And there is this instruction in Deuteronomy:

“If you come on a bird’s nest, in any tree or on the ground, with fledglings or eggs, with the mother sitting on the fledglings or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young.  Let the mother go, taking only the young for yourself, in order that it may go well with you and you may live long.”  [22:6]

There’s surely a conservation message there.

And there is the specific directive: “You shall not make gods of silver alongside me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold.”  [Ex. 20:23]

Ah.  That was one of the rules that was forgotten as we heard in the story of the golden calf.  The ideal is set forth, but it takes a long time to get there.  With many fits and starts along the way.  

We are told of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness for forty years.  That’s a long time for a society to be nomadic immigrants.  But change takes time.  Re-creation can be a slow process.  The people leave Egypt and must adjust to being out from under the Egyptian boot.  They must learn to let go of fear.  They must heal from the internalized oppression.  They must regain their agency.   They must figure out how to organize themselves.  Set up social structures to embody their commitment to justice and compassion.   Create a system of religious observance that keeps their life together focussed on this ideal community that is the expression of the dreams of God.  It takes time.  It takes the passing of generations.  Moses sees the promised land but does not enter it.  His life ends and Joshua takes over leading the people into their new forever home.  

The process of transitioning from slavery to a model community takes time and it is by no means a smooth, well-marked path.  The story of the golden calf is only one of the many hurdles to be overcome.  Challenges that required Moses to de-escalate God’s wrath and mobilize the re-commitment of the people.  Change is not easy.  

And in a sense we are still wandering in the wilderness, trying to make our way to a social order that is characterized by peace, justice, and well-being for all.  As Americans we say, Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.  It is a long process.  Significant change takes time.  There is stumbling along the way.  There is back sliding.  And there are glorious leaps forward.  Like the Civil Rights legislation of the 1960’s.  We must continue the journey.  We must band together and recommit again and again and make our way toward Shalom, the beloved community, the commonwealth of God.  

We are part of a long process in our faith tradition and in the emergence of human history.  And right now we are in the midst of a significant transition in the human drama.  And yes, there is an election.  And yes, it matters.  But there is still a long road ahead and I am glad to be on that journey with the Lakewood UCC community!  Amen.  

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

 

Corona Sabbath 30 GOLDEN CALF


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 focuses on the process of change and embodying the hopes and dreams of God. It includes a scripture reading done by Colleen Coughenour, a reflection from Rev. Kim Wells and a musical offering from Hilton Jones. We hope this post helps to feed your spirit in these conflicted 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:

We have flown the air like birds and swum the sea like fishes, but have yet to learn the simple act of walking the earth like brothers.

==Martin Luther King Jr., 20th century

When you are ready, start the video/audio below.

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

As you listen to the music which follows, you are invited to notice the thoughts and feelings that arise for you.

After viewing the music video, you are invited to offer the following closing –

Truth can be told in an instant, forgiveness can be offered spontaneously, but reconciliation is the work of lifetimes and generations.

–Krista Tippett, Speaking of Faith, 21st century

Breathe. Breathe again. Be filled. With patience and trust. 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:

 

Weekly Update 10/8

WHAT IS GOING ON AT CHURCH –

Corona Sabbath 30

This week the Corona Sabbath post will feature the story of the Golden Calf from Exodus 32:1-14.  This is an ancient story that speaks truth to us today especially in this contentious election season.  

If you missed last week’s Corona Sabbath here’s the link: https://lakewooducc.org/2020/10/02/corona-sabbath-29-love/

World Communion Zoom

Many thanks to those who participated in the World Communion Zoom last Sunday.  It was good to see one another and to share a meal together – the meal that reminds us that we are the body of Christ.  

Third Quarter Financial Update

Look for a separate email with more information about the financial status of the church through the third quarter of the year.  Please know that your tithes, offerings, and contributions are very much appreciated and are working for good in these troubled times.  While the building may be closed and Sunday morning worship suspended, the ministry of the church continues.  The work of the Care Team and the Sunday evening demonstrations highlight that we are doing what we are called to do:  take care of each other and heal the world.  

Operation Attack Update from Ian

Operation Attack is having a drive by pickup for the people they’re serving. I know due to covid it might be hard to donate goods but these are a few of OA’s requests:

Buy Cereal, Peanut Butter, Pasta, Pasta Sauce, or canned meat Buy diapers and wipes, sizes Newborn – 6

Donations may be delivered to the church on Wednesday mornings from 9-10 and Sunday evenings from 6-6:30.  Please call the church to make other arrangements if needed.  

Volunteers are needed to pre-bag food before the Drive-Thrus. Volunteer dates are on October 24th and/or December 12th at Operation Attack at Lakeview Presbyterian Church 1310 22nd Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33705.

Thanks, Ian Blair-Catala  iblaircatala@gmail.com

Let’s Make Beautiful Music Videos Together!

Music Director Hilton Jones is working on a music video for All Saints Sunday, November 1, and for Thanksgiving Sunday, November 22.  Please submit pictures of people that you consider saints for the All Saints music video.  These people may be alive or historical figures or people who have entered life eternal.  Please email pictures to Hilton by Sunday Oct. 18.

For the Thanksgiving music video, please submit pictures of things that you are thankful for.  The deadline is Sunday November 8.

 In these days of high anxiety, stress, and fear, we must take every opportunity to celebrate!  The gift of life is amazing and mysterious. We have been given the gift of living in interesting times.  Well, what times are not interesting if you are paying attention?  Let us celebrate with joy!

Please email pictures to hilton.kean.jones@gmail.com

Florida Conference UCC Fall Gathering

This Saturday, the Florida Conference will have a virtual gathering to celebrate the ministry of the UCC churches in Florida.  The meeting will include taking action on a resolution to call the churches of the conference to work to create an anti racist society. Rev. Wells was part of the group that wrote the resolution.

 Health Update from Rev. Wells

I am happy to be off of the IV antibiotic and, in a few days, off of the walking boot!  I am feeling a little better each day.  Thank you all so much for your care and support during this challenging time!  And special thanks to all the folks at church who have kept things going in my absence!  Much gratitude and many blessings, Kim

All Saints Sunday Ahead

All Saints Sunday is Nov. 1.  The church is planning a special gathering outside with physical distancing and masks, to remember all those who have died of Covid-19.  The prayer gathering will be at 10:30 a.m. near the Memorial Garden.  Participants will be invited to share the names of those who have died from Covid-19.  This could be someone you know or someone you have heard about or a public figure of importance to you.  If you can, bring a chair.  It will be a sacred time to pause, remember, and give thanks.

 Offering Up the Election

There is much concern about the upcoming election.  Pastor Kim Wells spoke to someone from the church family recently who indicated that everyone is consumed by the election.  They are not thinking about what is going on at church.  

Seems like what is needed is space to give the election up to God in prayer.  Monday Nov. 2 at 6:00 p.m. there will be a special outdoor prayer gathering for the election.  This will be a time to release our anxiety and fears and offer them to God.  It will be a time to remember that our ultimate trust is not in human rulers or institutions but in God.  Bring a chair if you can.  

On Tuesday Nov. 3, the polls close at 7:00 p.m.  Before you watch the results, center your spirit with a labyrinth walk.  This walk at 7:00 p.m. will be specifically oriented toward centering on love, goodness, and peace.  

Four years ago, there was a meeting at church on election night.  After the meeting before heading home, Pastor Kim Wells walked the labyrinth at church.  Then she went home to watch the election results emerge.  She seemed much less distraught than others seemed to be in the ensuing days.  She attributes this to walking the labyrinth.  “I can’t tell you how it works or what happened, but I believe that somehow walking the labyrinth calmed my spirit.”  So, four years later, Kim invites others to join her for a labyrinth walk on election night at 7:00 p.m.  

There will also be the weekly labyrinth walk on Wednesday morning, Nov. 4 at 9:00 a.m.  All are welcome!

Holidays – Holy Days

Like much else this year, the holidays will be different.  Health concerns are impacting how we celebrate.  What will we be doing at church for Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas Eve since we can’t do what we would normally do and what we want to be doing?  The pandemic invites us to consider alternative ways to mark these holy moments that ground us and help us through the cycle of the seasons of the year and of life.  

In addition, how will we mark these important times in our homes?  What new ways of celebrating and sharing are emerging?

The church will sponsor several Zooms to talk about the holidays and share ideas for celebrating these significant spiritual moments both within the context of the congregation as well as in our home situations.  Please consider participating and sharing your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions for how the church can effectively meet the spiritual needs of the congregation so that the holidays indeed are holy days.  

Join in the first conversation, Holidays – Holy Days, on Thursday Oct. 15 from 7-8 p.m.  You will be sent the Zoom link the day before.  ALL WELCOME!

Meeting Needs at Maximo Elementary

LUCC is off to a good start providing  Maximo Elementary school children with uniforms and a mentor or two.   The need is even greater this school year with the Covid 19 pandemic going on. 

If you have thirty minutes a week to mentor(lunch pal)  a child from your home via zoom you can go online at focus.pcsb.org  for all volunteer info or call Emily Bell at 727-692-2368.

Another important way to meet needs is by supplying school uniforms*, child masks(all masks must be store bought), hand sanitizers, Lysol spray, disposable gloves, disinfecting wipes. 
These supplies may be dropped off at the church on Sundays(6-6:30pm) and Wednesdays(9-10am).   If you would like to make a financial contribution, please send your check made out to “LakewoodUCC” to the church marked “Maximo Elementary.”

*UNIFORM COLORS:  blue and khaki for
pants, shorts, dresses, skirts-boys and girls;
light blue, dark blue, white for all shirts
*UNIFORM SIZES:  5T, 6T, 8, 10, 12 (Also undies)

Ink Cartridges

The church is collecting and recycling ink cartridges! Please save up any empty ink cartridges and recycle them at the church, there is a box in the sanctuary for recycling. The last batch we recycled we received $49.90!

Sunday Evening Demonstration for Racial Justice 10/4  

The Black Lives Matter and Peace and Justice Demonstration continues on 54th Ave South each Sunday evening. This is an important way to inspire hope in the community and to work to create an anti-racist society.  

All are welcome Sunday evenings at the church. In case of rain, the demonstration will not be held that week. Know justice, know peace!

Please note that the time for the anti racism demonstrations is 6:00 p.m.

 Click here to see pictures of the most recent witness: https://lakewooducc.org/2020/10/08/anti-racism-demonstration-10-4/

From the Creation Justice Task Force

You are invited to participate in a webinar about a new solar power initiative that is being pursued in Florida.  The program is called Purchase Power Agreements.  This system is used in other areas of the US.  The concept is to make Purchase Power Agreements available to non profits and faith-based communities in Florida to encourage the installation of solar power without the large upfront costs.

Here is the information about the webinar:  
With a PPA, a developer installs, owns, and operates a solar system on the customer’s property. The non-profit then buys the electricity the system produces at a fixed rate. This rate is generally lower than what they pay to their utility providing monthly electricity savings. Nonprofits and governments are able to benefit from solar with low to no upfront cost.  

Learn about the projected environmental and economic benefits of PPAs for governments and nonprofits with the release of a Florida PPA Impact Report on Wednesday October 14 at 2pm ET: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jpS8in9nS3SQzmR4tCJtlw

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.

https://lakewooducc.org/2020/06/23/labyrinth-has-been-refurbished

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 bottom of each page.

Daily Corona Prayer

https://lakewooducc.org/2020/03/20/lucc-corona-daily-prayer

Assistance Available

If you need help of any kind – something from the store, someone to talk with, support managing during shelter-in-place, parenting concerns – please know that the church is ready and willing to help in any way needed.  This situation is trying for everyone.  You are not alone.  We’ll make it through together.  Please contact the church office (lakewooducc@gmail.com or 867-7961 or Rev. Kim Wells at wells.kim.p@gmail.com).  

Miss someone from church?  Give them a call or send a note.  Personal contact is so important when physical contact is limited.  

Music Ministry

About Hilton’s music. . . If you would enjoy hearing Hilton play more Irish folk songs, you can
listen for free at either https://hiltonjones.bandcamp.com/album/irish-
tunes or https://soundcloud.com/hilton-kean-jones/sets/irish-tunes .

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

Circle of Concern: Ed Kaspar, Claudia Rodriguez, JoAnn Reid, William Owen, Wilbur Reid, Jen Degroot, Carolyn Moore, Ann Quinn, Maggie Brizendine, Dave Radens,Kim Wells, Elinor Ross, teachers, students, and school personnel, Vern McKinney, 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!

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.