2022-03-02 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Denver) | CO
This year our theme for Lent will be Resurrecting Jesus. Each week during Lent we’ll focus on a different aspect of our understanding of who Jesus is to us. Drawing on Diana Butler Bass’s book, Freeing Jesus: Rediscovering Jesus as Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way, and Presence, we’ll explore the various facets and descriptions of Jesus. On Tuesday evenings during Lent, we’ll meet via Zoom to discuss Bass’s book and how we experience Jesus. Additionally, we are working on plans to have an indoor Labyrinth made available as well as other opportunities to delve more deeply into the questions Jesus asks his disciples: “Who do others say that I am?” And “who do you say that I am?”

Ash Wednesday Service – 6:30 pm
Join us in person or online for our Ash Wednesday service with Communion and the Imposition of Ashes. Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent, with the physical reminder that we have come from ash and to ash we will return. Join us for this meaningful service. Communion elements will be provided for this service, childcare will be available.

Fellowship Is Back/ Celebration for Leo!
2022-03-06 11:30 - 12:30
We will resume Fellowship on Sunday, March 6, when we celebrate the arrival of Leo, Mollie and Andrew’s new baby boy, in the Fellowship Hall. We will have cake, coffee, and lemonade and be able to sit at tables to enjoy one another. Since we will be eating indoors, you are not required to wear masks. If this might be an uncomfortable situation, we definitely understand your desire to avoid this gathering. We will continue with a simple Fellowship following worship in March and beyond. In order to seat folks, however, we need a couple of volunteers to set up tables and chairs. If you can volunteer for this Sunday task or wish to join the Committee, please contact Karen Huff – karenmuff@comcast.net or Sandi Little – slittleesq@gmail.com. We look forward to being together again.

International Dark-Sky Presentation
2022-03-06 14:00 - 15:00
In support of Earth Hour please join us for a Zoom presentation by a member of the International Dark-sky Association at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 6, 2022.

Earth Hour which is March 26th this year; this is the night when the world tries to go dark for one hour – it is very dramatic and rewarding to participate in. The object is to demonstrate what benefits may be derived from reducing light pollution.

“Night hides the world and reveals the universe.” Persian proverb

Please contact C4C.Charlie@gmail in order to receive the Zoom link which will be sent out Wed., 3/02/22.

New Member Inquirers' Gatherings
2022-03-13 11:30 - 12:30
Are you new to Lakewood UCC? Have you been around a while but are wanting to find out more about getting more involved? Do you have questions about what being a member of Lakewood UCC means? Please join us for a New Member Inquirers’ Gathering in March! We will gather following worship, in person, from 11:30 am-1:00 pm on Sunday, March 13. Lunch will be provided. Childcare is available. We will also gather via zoom on Sunday, March 20, at 2:00 pm for any who prefer zoom. Our purpose is to answer questions, share our faith journeys, learn about Lakewood UCC, and about the United Church of Christ. If you would like to attend, please email Pastor Curt at curt@lakewooducc.com

Lenten Book Study
2022-03-15 18:30 - 19:30
Our Lenten Book Study will meet via zoom on Tuesday Evenings from 6:30 pm-8:00 pm beginning March 8 and ending on April 5. We will be reading Diana Butler Bass’s Freeing Jesus: Rediscovering Jesus as Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way, and Peace. The book is available at Amazon.com or the church has pre-ordered copies from Tattered Cover for $25 apiece. Please sign up at the welcome center at church or online HERE and let us know if you would like us to get you a book, or if you will get it on your own. If the price precludes you from participating, please let us know and we will happily buy the book for you. You can join the book study on Zoom by clicking HERE

Negro Spirituals, Worship, and Anti-Racism at Lakewood UCC
2022-03-25 19:00 - 20:30
The Spirituals we sing on Sunday morning are the sacred “songs first sung by enslaved Africans in America in the 18th and 19th centuries. Spirituals uplift in times of crisis, heal, comfort, inspire and instill hopes and dreams, thereby transforming individuals, communities, and whole societies”.
Please join the Board of Congregational Care in welcoming Dr. Art Jones for a presentation on the history, function, meaning, and contemporary use of Spirituals in worship. He is currently Professor Emeritus of Music, Culture, and Psychology at the University of Denver and is the founder of the Spirituals Project (now affiliated with the Lamont School of Music at DU). The Board welcomes Dr. Jones as part of our anti-racist work at Lakewood UCC. His experience and perspective will assist our congregation in understanding the roots, meaning, and social justice themes of the spirituals we sing in worship. Spirituals are more than praise for the Divine and knowing their history will offer insights into ways enslaved people have employed singing as liberation, humanization, and connection to God.
Dr. Jones’ interactive presentation (including singing) is on March 25th, 7:00-8:30 in the church sanctuary. Because the session involves questions, slides, and singing, face-to-face is preferred, but live streaming is also available on our YouTube Channel HERE. Please join us for a lively and informative presentation that will add meaning and context to the Spirituals we sing during Sunday worship.

Palm Sunday
2022-04-10 10:15 - 11:30
Sunday, April 10, is Palm Sunday. It’s the Sunday that marks Jesus’ triumphant arrival in Jerusalem, the start to Holy Week. Usually, we receive and wave palm branches, with singing and shouts of Hosanna to mark this Sunday. We are offering this online and in-person! If you want to participate from home, we invite you to still participate in the waving of branches, singing, and shouts of Hosanna. Find something to wave – a branch, this coloring Palm, a scarf would even work. Let us make way for Jesus and the start of Holy Week!

Palm Sunday Easter Egg Hunt
2022-04-10 11:30 - 12:30
During the Palm Sunday fellowship time, join the Faith Formation Board for an Easter egg hunt! We’ll countdown together and hunt for eggs in the courtyard area. Bring your own basket, we hope to see many of our kiddos and families there! See Janet Cass or Rev. Mollie for more information.

Lakewood UCC Book Group
2022-04-10 11:30 - 12:30
The next Lakewood UCC Book Group will be held on Sunday, April 10th. The book to be discussed is The Shipping News by, E. Annie Proulx. “This is a personal evolution story about Quoyle, who transforms from a downtrodden big oaf to a content, well-regarded man.”- Book Thoughts from Bed. We are not sure whether we’ll be able to meet in person or not. Linda Andreen will let you know where and what time we’ll be meeting by April 8th. All Are Welcome! If you would like to take part in Book Group, contact Linda Andreen at 720-257- 4275.

Easter Lily Orders DUE
2022-04-14 08:00 - 17:00
If you’d like to purchase an Easter lily to decorate the church for Easter Sunday, please fill out an order form on the Welcome Center or digitally HERE, then drop it along with your payment in the grey dropbox outside the Church Office. You can choose 6 inches for $15 or 10 inches for $25. The deadline for orders is April 14.

Maundy Thursday Service
2022-04-14 18:30 - 19:30
On Holy Thursday, sometimes called “Maundy Thursday,” we recall the Last Supper, Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, as well as the betrayal and arrest of Jesus. The word “Maundy” is rooted in the Latin word “mandatum” which means: “to give, to entrust, to order.” According to John’s gospel, on the night of the last supper, Jesus gives his disciples a commandment: “that you love one another; even as I have loved you, you also ought to love one another” (John 13:34). Our Maundy Thursday service includes communion and follows the tradition of a “Tenebrae” service. “Tenebrae” means “shadows” or “darkness” in Latin. Through song and readings, we intentionally recall 12 important moments in the story of Jesus’ betrayal, desertion, and ultimately his crucifixion. Each moment is powerfully noted with the extinguishing of a candle as the service ends in darkness. Year after year, this service is considered one of the most powerful we offer. We are in need of 12 readers for Maundy Thursday Service! If you are interested in reading, please sign up on the welcome center or HERE!

Easter Sunrise Service
2022-04-17 06:00 - 06:30
Join us for a beautiful, small Easter Sunrise Service at 6:00 am Easter morning. Since the first resurrection, people have been meeting at dawn’s first light to celebrate Christ’s resurrection and God’s promise of hope and life. Join us in the courtyard at church for this short yet meaningful service.

Easter Sunday Service
2022-04-17 10:15 - 11:30
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Easter is the high point in the Christian calendar and a day of great joy and celebration. Join us for a very special Easter Service beginning at 10:15 am. To celebrate the resurrection as we make a joyful noise, we encourage you to bring a musical instrument of some kind to your home worship space. This could be a horn or fiddle, the piano or a kazoo, drums or a bell.

Get Your Breeze Photo Taken!
2022-04-24 09:30 - 11:30
Thanks to Breeze, our online database, we can easily have access to a photo directory as well. We just need photos! Two ways you can make this happen. Upload your own (directions below) or have a new, up-to-date photo taken on April 24 and May 1 before or after worship.
Just take these simple steps to activate upload a photo of your choice

From a web browser:

Log in to your profile
Click on the image box at the top.
Click “Upload Image” and select the image you want to upload.
Crop the image to the appropriate size and save the change.

From a mobile device

Log in to your profile
Tap the Profile picture.
Scroll down and click ‘Upload Image’
After selecting your picture, turn the phone sideways (landscape) in order to see the full picture for cropping.
After cropping, scroll down and select ‘Set as Profile’.

Family Photos (this is in addition to your own profile photo)

Navigate to the profile of someone in the family.
Click the gray header over the family section and then click “Add Family Picture.”
Click “Upload Image” and select the image you want to upload.1
Crop the image to the appropriate size and save the change.

If you need assistance with any of these steps, please be in touch with Allison Booth, at office@lakewooducc.com

Care for Creation Sunday
2022-04-24 10:30 - 11:30
Join us for a special service planned and led by the Care for Creation Committee on April 24. As we celebrate Earth Day on April 22, we are asked to consider how our love for Creation impacts our actions to care for it. We’ll hear a reading from Ecclesiastes and be invited to think about how one person, one act in faith can make a difference as we confront the climate crisis. Stay after service for an intergenerational event where we will be planting seeds and growing hope.

Mission and Ministry Fair
2022-05-01 11:30 - 12:30
Mark your calendars for May 1 at 11:30. This is Lakewood UCC’s Mission and Ministry Fair. ALL are encouraged to attend to learn about each other and explore the variety of ways to support our callings, live into our faith, and get involved in the mission and ministry of this vibrant and spirit-filled church community.

Church Clean Up Day
2022-05-07 09:00 - 14:00
Please join us on Saturday, May 7 for a church clean-up day. We have both inside and outdoor projects. Join us beginning at 9 am but come when you can and stay as long as you can. Lunch will be served at noon and all are welcome.

Who is Graduating?
2022-05-15 10:30 - 11:30
If you (or your child) are graduating from high school or college, please send the following details to Allison at office@lakewooducc.com- name, school, graduation date, and future educational/career plans. We would also love to have a picture of each of our graduates. Thank you, we look forward to celebrating your many accomplishments! On Sunday, May 15, we will be celebrating all our graduates!

Lakewood UCC Book Group
2022-05-15 11:30 - 12:30
The Lakewood UCC Book Group will meet Sunday, May 15th at 11:30 am in the Conference Room to discuss Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Braiding Sweetgrass is a collection of essays, that weaves in memoir and indigenous storytelling. – Amazon.com. Carolyn Ewald, who will be leading this discussion, has suggested these essays for discussion: Planting Sweetgrass: Sky Woman Falling; Tending Sweetgrass: Allegiance to Gratitude; Braiding Sweetgrass: The Sound of Silverbells; Burning Sweetgrass – The Sacred and the Superfund. But, if you have one you really liked or spoke to you about, feel free to bring them up at our meeting. Hope this is helpful, we are all busy this time of year! Feel free to bring something from Fellowship to eat and drink. I know that I will be getting hungry by then. For information, contact Linda Andreen at 720-257-4275.

Confirmation Sunday
2022-05-22 10:30 - 11:30
Celebrate our Confirmands this Sunday, May 22 during worship! Following Service, join us for a special Confirmation Sunday Fellowship with sweets and treats.

Memorial Day Tradition: Save the Date
2022-05-29 11:30 - 13:00
Save the date! On Sunday, May 29, we will return a tradition brought to us by Lakewood UCC legends, Phil and Steve Goebel, for many years on Memorial Day weekend. The father-son team served hot dogs and chips following worship in honor of the holiday. Both Phil and his wife Merna served in the Armed Forced, making this an important holiday to celebrate. Food and beverages will be provided by the Beastroms, Ransdells, and Fellowship Committee in honor of Phil and Steve.

Lakewood UCC Book Group
2022-06-05 11:30 - 12:30
The Lakewood UCC Book Group will next meet on Sunday, June 5, at 11:30 am in the Conference Room. We’ll be discussing The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig. “This is a streamlined novel; no side plots, no broadcast of characters, no twists of fantasy for the sheer joy of it. While the concept does fly high, it also flies straight. For those readers who might be put off by speculative fiction, The Midnight Library is a charming way into the genre.”-The Guardian.com

Team Delores Meeting
2022-06-09 18:30 - 20:00
On Thursday, May 26, members of the Lakewood UCC Team Delores provided lunch for guests at the Delores Project in Denver. The Delores Project provides transitional housing for women in the Metro Denver Area. Team members planned, cooked, delivered, and served a meal of baked ziti, salad, bread, and yummy desserts. We thoroughly enjoyed working with the Delores Project staff and meeting the guests. They have a lovely, bright, and welcoming facility. Many thanks to all who participated. Volunteers are vital to the mission of the Delores Project. Donated goods and in-kind services allow the Project to extend its budget by $200,000.

The next organizational meeting for the Lakewood Team Delores will take place via Zoom on Thursday, June 9, at 6:30 PM. We will serve dinner at the Delores Project on Thursday, June 30. If you would like to join the Team or receive any further information, please contact Pauline Nunez at paulinenunez40@gmail.com ; 505-350-3281, or Joan Campbell at joanvilshofen@gmail.com; 603-339-1986

Congregational Annual Meeting
2022-06-12 11:30 - 12:30
The primary purpose of the annual meeting is to vote on the slate of officers for the next 12 months. Additionally, we will discuss and vote on proposed changes to our Care for Creation Covenant, our Open and Affirming Statement, receive an update on the Endowment, and discuss and vote to authorize a proposed Fundraising for Capital Improvements endeavor. Please plan to attend to ensure we meet our quorum numbers.

Following Jesus, Walking With PRIDE
2022-06-26
Join Lakewood UCC and other Metro UCC churches as we walk in the Pride Parade on June 26, 2022. We’re so excited the Pride Parade is back in person this year! If you are interested in walking (rides in a truck are available too), please sign up at the welcome center or let our Pride coordinator, Brenda Zserdin know – dbzserdin@comcast.net. This is a wonderful way to extend hospitality, proclaim God’s extravagant love for ALL, and live out our identity as an Open and Affirming Congregation. And it’s a super fun time!

Men's Breakfast
2022-07-09 09:00 - 12:00
After a several-year hiatus due to COVID concerns, we are happy to announce the return of the Men’s Breakfast. We will gather at the Valley Inn Restaurant (1997 S Wadsworth Blvd, Lakewood, CO 80227) at 9:00 am on Saturday, July 9th. This is a time of casual conversation with no particular agenda. Any and all are welcome! Please email Curt (curt@lakewooducc.com) if you intend to be there so he can give the restaurant an approximate number of attendees.

Lakewood UCC Book Group
2022-07-17 11:30 - 12:30
The Lakewood UCC Book Group will next meet on Sunday, July 17th, in the Conference Room after service at 11:30 am. The Rent Collector, by Camron Wright, will be discussed. “The Rent Collector is a story of hope, of one woman’s journey to save her son and another woman’s chance at redemption.” – Deseret Books

Save the Date– Taizé Service & Communion
2022-08-07 10:30 - 11:30
Please join us for this very special service on Sunday, August 7! Taizé-style worship comes to us from the Taizé community, an ecumenical Christian group based in France. Songs consist of simple, repeated phrases, and instead of a sermon, there’s an emphasis on contemplation and silence. Some describe it as a massage for the soul. Over the last couple years, this has become one of our most popular worship services. Everyone is invited to join us as we quiet our minds, still our hearts, and wait for the wind of God to blow among us.

Lakewood UCC Book Group
2022-08-21 11:00 - 12:30
The next meeting of the Lakewood UCC Book Group will be held on Sunday, August 21st at 11:30 am in the Conference Room. We will discuss Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk, by Kathleen Rooney. All are welcome!

Men's Breakfast
2022-09-10 09:00 - 10:30
We will gather at the Valley Inn Restaurant (1997 S Wadsworth Blvd, Lakewood, CO 80227) at 9:00 am on Saturday, September 10th. This is a time of casual conversation with no particular agenda. Any and all are welcome! Please email Curt (curt@lakewooducc.com) if you intend to be there so he can give the restaurant an approximate number of attendees.
