This is another in a series of mid-week hymns for you to sing along with at home if you wish. It’s also another remake of an earlier recording that was originally audio only, now a video.
This is the quintessential English melody as adapted by Martin Shaw, one of the most famous English church composers of the last century. Your mind can’t help but conjure up an image of a 50’s BBC television drama as soon as your hear it.
Still finding my way even though this pandemic has been going on since March. Finally starting to settle in on whatever my contribution might be to the weekly Corona Sabbath, now plus a mid-week hymn video recording, and as of today, “Sunday Morning Music.” No better way to start than with one of my favorite Irish tunes.
Zooms Ahead!
There will be an all church Zoom gathering the Sunday before school starts, which will probably be Sunday, August 23. The theme is Back to School. It will be a celebration of learning and a time to share memories of teachers who have made a difference in our lives.
Care Team Plus Visits Elinor Ross
A group of 9 people from LUCC was able to visit Elinor Ross who is now living with her daughter, Cheryl. It was beautiful to see Elinor! People from the church brought signs and were able to visit with Elinor and her children, Cheryl and David, outside with masks on.
Here’s the link to the pictures: https://lakewooducc.org/2020/07/28/visit-to-elinor-ross/
Summer Sundays
The theme for the Corona Sabbath posts this summer is ‘GROUNDED.’ Yes, with the COVID-19 pandemic continuing, many are not taking expected summer trips and vacations. Feeling grounded. And with the demonstrations going on, many do not feel safe to venture out because of the pandemic and feel grounded. And with a global pandemic, a global recession, and global demonstrations against racism, it is a time to lean on our faith to help us feel grounded. Each week’s presentation will explore a different dimension of our faith which helps us to feel grounded in these uncertain times. When we are grounded, we can grow and flourish and bear fruit! So, look for the Corona Sabbath post each week to help you be grounded! The theme for this week is Hope.
Hymnals for All
While we might not be able to recite many scripture verses, we can probably sing the words to many hymns. Singing is one of the things people miss most about not having in-person church services at this time. Hymns are a source of inspiration. We have associations with certain hymns. The tunes and the words help us to feel grounded.
Music Director, Hilton Jones, would like to use more hymns in the devotional posts provided by the church. If you have a hymnal and sing along, there are no copyright issues and problems.
To that end, please know that the church hymnals are available to be checked out like a library book but with no due date and no fines!
You may pick one up at church on Sunday mornings (10-11:30) or Sunday evenings (7:30-8:00). There is a clip board to sign your name indicating that you have taken a book.
If you would like a hymnal delivered to you, please contact the church office and we will try to do that.
When we can worship in person again, the hymnals will need to be returned.
‘God respects me when I work; but God loves me when I sing.” Rabindranath Tagore
Rev. Wells on Vacation
Rev. Wells will be on vacation from Monday, July 27 through Saturday, August 8. For pastoral care, please contact the church office by email (lakewooducc@gmail.com) or phone (727-867-7961). Corona Sabbaths, labyrinth walks, anti-racism demonstrations, and Sunday mornings will go on as scheduled.
Operation Attack Update
Dear Friends of Operation Attack,
We hope this email finds you and your families safe and well. In lieu of our July Newsletter, we are sending this email to update you about OA. We closed on March 17 because of COVID 19. Prior to this, we were able to serve 172 families, clothe 95 children, provide food to 320 people, and assist 24 people with their electric bills. We have given all of our food to the Neighborly Care Network for the seniors in our community or Atwater’s Cafe (9th Street South and 22nd Ave.) for free meals they are providing. Currently, we are researching ways with Circle of Faith that we might be able to distribute food in the community safely. Feel free to reply to this email with your questions and/or concerns.
Grace and Peace
Rake Needed
The church is in need of a rake, a regular yard rake for leaves, etc. If you have an extra one or see one at a yard sale, please consider donating it to the church. Many thanks!
Black Lives Matter Sign
The church has a Black Lives Matter lawn sign to give away. Please contact the Church Office if you would like the sign.
Moving Boxes Needed
Wally LeBlanc is in need of moving boxes. If you have any to donate please contact Wally or the Church Office. Thank you!
Sunday Evening Demonstration for Racial Justice
Black Lives Matter and Peace and Justice Demonstrations continue on 54th Ave south last Sunday night, August 2nd. This is an important way to help us remember to continue to work to create an anti-racism society.
All are welcome Sunday evenings from 7:30-8:00 p.m. at the church. Know justice, know peace!
Here are pictures from last week’s witness: https://lakewooducc.org/2020/08/03/august-2nd-blm-demonstration-at-lakewood-ucc/
Corona Sabbath
In addition to the material from Hilton and Kim, we hope to include contributions from the congregation each week. You are invited to send a picture, a poem, a quotation from a book or article, an image, a work of art, a song, a video of you doing something or reading something, anything you would like to share with your church family. Hilton and Kim will try to incorporate the contributions into the Corona Sabbath Devotional on the related theme.
The themes coming up are:
Forgiveness
Service/Generosity
Peace
Wonder/Awe
Please email contributions on any of these topics to the church at lakewooducc@gmail.com. Or use the “regular” mail.
Many thanks for the contributions so far. Please keep them coming!
This Sunday
The church will be open from 10:30 to 11:30. The peace candle will be lit. It will be a time of prayer and reflection as a witness that the church is still open and ministry continues even though we are not able to gather in person for worship.
Look for a Corona Sabbath post on Friday. Check for it at the website – lakewooducc.org
Also, please subscribe to the website so that you receive regular updates about church life.
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!
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.
QUICK LINKS TO OUR RECENT POSTS DURING THE CORONA CRISIS:
Sermon videos: https://lakewooducc.org/category/online-devotional/
Sermon texts: https://lakewooducc.org/category/posts/sermon-texts/
Posts containing music: https://lakewooducc.org/category/posts/music/
For all those links, please note the “Older Posts” button near bottom of page.
FOR JUST THE MUSIC: https://soundcloud.com/hilton-kean-jones/sets/music-at-lakewood
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 .
August Birthdays: Barbara Donohue 8/4, Mardie Chapman 8/7, Claire Stiles 8/11, Kay Rencken 8/13, Vita Uth 8/14, Dana Cosper 8/22, James Waterman 8/23, and Joanne Reid 8/28. Someone missing? Contact the church office with birthday information.
Circle of Concern: JoAnn Reid, William Owen, Wilbur Reid, Martha Lamar, Jen Degroot, Carolyn Moore, Ann Quinn, Maggie Brizendine, and all healthcare workers and essential workers. All those suffering from COVID-19.
Please keep Elinor Ross and family in your prayers. Elinor has moved in with her daughter, Cheryl, and is under Hospice care
Please keep Yvonne Riesen and family in your prayers. Yvonne has moved to the Memory Care unit at Westminster Suncoast. Calls and notes are a way to show your concern and support to Yvonne.
Maggie Brizendine has been in the hospital and should be moved into rehab soon. Please keep her in your prayers.
Please remember the family and friends of Ann Rogers in your prayers, especially her dear caregiver, Gene.
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.
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.
During these summer weeks, the theme being used in “Grounded.” Some of us feel that shelter-in-place feels like being grounded. Some would normally have travel plans and feel grounded. With the many challenges facing our society, it is important to feel grounded. So these Summer Sundays will focus on key concepts in Christianity that provide grounding. So, welcome to “Grounded.” This post focuses on hope.
There is a scripture reading offered by Jim Andrews and a meditation by Pastor Kim Wells as well as music offered by Music Director Hilton Kean Jones.
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:
God of life, there are days when the burdens we carry chafe our shoulders and wear us down; when the road seems dreary and endless, the skies gray and threatening; when our lives have no music in them and our hearts are lonely, and our souls have lost their courage. Flood the path with light, we beseech you: turn our eyes to where the skies are full of promise.
St. Augustine, 354-430 C.E.
When you are ready, start the video below.
(For written text of the above video click HERE.)
Christy Martin grew up in the church and is now a member as an adult. She is a mom with two wonderful daughters. She shares these words about where she finds hope in these difficult times when her daughters are scared to go outside because of the police:
Make America Great Again- in which time period was America Great for Blacks? The founding fathers were not for blacks. The Declaration of Independence was signed by white men; this didn’t even include people of color or white women. Slavery was abolished but still blacks didn’t have the same rights. My dad’s family is buried in a black only cemetery. What did giving blacks the right to vote do? In the 70’s my father had to go to Gibbs Junior College, known today as St. Pete College, because blacks were not allowed anywhere else. Just last year my daughter heard a teammate tell another teammate to stop acting crazy, stop acting black. This came from a 13 year old white girl. Which means she hears it from her inner circle.
When was America Great? It is understood that all lives matter, but a white man didn’t have a knee on his neck crying for his mom. A white woman wasn’t in her bed when the police broke in and shot her dead and then realized it was the wrong house. No white man was stopped because he fit a description of a robber and was shot dead. It will never be GREAT for Blacks until All Americans realize that America needs to change to include all people, no matter the color of their skin. Then and only then can we say ALL LIVES MATTER.
This movement didn’t just happen because someone died in police custody. On August 28, 1963, there was a march on Washington and Martin Luther King, Jr. said and I quote “I have a dream that my four little children will one day to live in a Nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” This fight now has a social media platform, but this is not a new fight. We just have the next strong generation taking over.
I will end with a piece of a poem from Maya Angelou:
Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I RISE.
As you listen to the music from Hilton which follows, you are invited to notice the thoughts and feelings and that arise for you.
After viewing the video, you are invited to offer the following closing –
How many nights
have I lain in terror,
O Creator Spirit, Maker of night and day,only to work out
the next morning over the frozen world
hearing under the creaking of snow
faith, peaceful breaths . . .
snake,
bear, earthworm, ant . . .and above me
a wild crow crying ‘yaw yaw yaw’
from a branch nothing cried from ever in my life.–Galway Kinnell, “How Many Nights”
Breathe. Breathe again. Be filled. With hope. Extinguish your candle and engage whatever may come with a sense of peace and a desire grow and serve.
LAKEWOOD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
The mission of Lakewood United Church of Christ, as part of the Church Universal, is to:
QUICK LINKS TO OUR RECENT POSTS DURING THE CORONA CRISIS:
Online Devotionals: https://lakewooducc.org/category/online-devotional/
Sermon Texts: https://lakewooducc.org/category/posts/sermon-texts/
For above links, please note “Older Posts” button near bottom of page.
Music: https://soundcloud.com/hilton-kean-jones/sets/music-at-lakewood
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.
In this summer series on the theme “Grounded” we turn to one of the foundations of our faith – hope.
We listen to Genesis 21:8-21 read by Kay Rencken???. This is a portion of the story of Hagar. In the narrative, God has promised a child to Abraham and Sarah. They will have many ancestors. But years went by and no child arrived. So Sarah sent her handmaid, Hagar, to Abraham, and a child was born, Ishmael. Subsequently, Sarah herself had a child, Isaac. Family relations deteriorate and Sarah instructs Abraham to exile Hagar and Ishmael. We listen to a portion of that wrenching story. Hagar and Ishmael do survive and become the progenitors of a great people who eventually become associated with Islam.
Scripture video
Genesis 21:8-21
We begin by hearing about Isaac, the child of Abraham and Sarah.
The child grew, and on the day of weaning, Sarah and Abraham held a great feast. But Sarah noticed the child that Hagar the Egyptian had borne for Abraham, playing with her child Isaac. She demanded of Abraham, “Send Hagar and her child away! I will not have this child of my attendant share in Isaac’s inheritance.”
Abraham was greatly distressed by this because of his son Ishmael. But God said to Abraham, “Don’t be distressed about the child or about Hagar. Heed Sarah’s demands, for it is through Isaac that descendants will bear your name. As for the child of Hagar the Egyptian, I will make a great nation of him as well, since he is also your offspring.”
Early the next morning Abraham brought bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar. Then, placing the child on her back, he sent her away. She wandered off into the desert of Beersheba. When the skin of water was empty, she set the child under a bush, and sat down opposite him, about a bow-shot away. She said to herself, “Don’t let me see the child die!” and she began to wail and weep.
God heard the child crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven. “What is wrong, Hagar?” the angel asked. “Do not be afraid, for God has heard the child’s cry. Get up, lift up the child and hold his hand; for I will make of him a great nation.”
Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went to it and filled the skin with water, and she gave the child a drink.
God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became a fine archer. He made his home in the desert of Paran, and his mother found a wife for him in Egypt.
[pause]
Reflection from Kim
When I hear the word ‘hope’ it brings to mind the line from poet Emily Dickinson – “Hope is the thing with feathers.” Featherweight – light. Not heavy hitting. Seemingly insignificant. Carrying small creatures through the sky on currents of air. Just feathers.
But hope, just a whisper of it, just a seemingly weightless pinion adrift, is what can help us to hold on. Take another breath. Make it another moment. Get through.
The story of Hagar and Ishmael is wrought with the desperation of survival. I would even say that they have abandoned all hope. In this story, it is God that has the hope. The hope for Hagar and Ishmael. The hope for their future. The hope that they will survive. And not only survive, but eventually flourish. And they do.
When life is going along fairly smoothly, we might not think much about hope. Life is good. We don’t have to have aspirations for something else, something different, something more. We aren’t focussed on how to make it through when the song we are hearing is a happy tune.
Hope is important when things have derailed. When the bottom has dropped out. When things are crashing down around us. Like during a pandemic.
President Obama is known for his book, The Audacity of Hope. How was he feeling about hope after the 2016 election? An article in the November 28, 2016 issue of The New Yorker examines Obama’s response to the election. Apparently Obama told staffers in the Oval Office, “‘A lot of you are young and this is your first rodeo. For some of you, all you’ve ever known is winning. But the older people here, we have known loss. And this stings. This hurts.’ He went on, it’s easy to be hopeful when things are going well, but when you need to be hopeful is when things are at their worst.” [“It Happened Here,” David Remnick, The New Yorker, 11/28/2016]
The worst. That’s when we really need hope. Just a feather’s worth. And if we can’t muster it, then it will come to us – from a loved one, a friend, a stranger, an article, a book, an inner insight, a message from nature, a scripture passage. Somehow, when we truly need it most, hope will find us. In the desolate desert. In the garden of Gethsemane. Separated from a loved one dying of COVID 19. Hope is the thing with feathers and it will somehow find its way to us gliding and soaring. It will take us beyond. Giving us a fresh vista. Amen.
(Click HERE if you wish to see the post containing the video of this text.)
Lakewood United Church of Christ 