This September we are joining churches around the world in observing The Season of Creation. During our Sunday worship, we will be hearing the words of the prophet Jeremiah and of Jesus himself and reflecting on what they have to teach us about our relationship with the planet. This week, we engaged the prophet Jeremiah and the gospel of Luke and brought to mind and heart the images of a desolated creation and the ecstcy of a found coin,  You can watch the service here. 

We will finish our observance on October 4th as we participate together in Teilhard De Chardin's Mass on the World.

Misstatement Regarding Motive of Charlie Kirk's Murder

On Sunday I shared that a motive for Charlie Kirk's murder seemed to be the influence of those who felt that Kirk's views were not extreme enough. Based on further informtion, it seems that this is most likely not the case. I apologize for sharing erroneous information and possibly pushing the envelope of what should be expressed in worship. It is a lesson learned.

The fact remains that Kirk's murder is is a terrible tragedy for those who loved him and a sad commentary on the state of our society's discourse and value of human life.

Thanks for your patience as we navigate how to be a prophetic voice in a time such as this.

Resources for Staying Centered, Grounded, and Connected

For those of us practicing a justice-centered, non-Christian-nationalist faith, it can feel like we are on the margins, on the outside looking in, in disbelief. Yet we are reminded, as we worship and work together as Lake Worth United Church of Christ, that we are not alone. And LWUCC is not alone as a faith community in fostering and practicing resistance in the midst of our nation's continued slide into tyrany and fear. 

Our church is part of the United Church of Christ. Our denomination has been on the forefront of standing for the dignity of all people and working together for justice. Currently, our denomination provides training and support through frontlinefaith.org. Today at 3:30, in their ongoing Nurture the Soul series, you are invited to participate in What's Next? Remember Yourself as Sacred Creator.

This series began prior to the 2024 election cycle and is designed to help educate us around the big questions of our faith. To live into the Still Speaking G-d, we are the embodiment of who and what we are called to be to one another - whether it be spiritually, culturally, and lovingly during a time when we are being pulled apart at the seams. Part of this embodiment is examining the ways that art speaks and moves us towards expression and collectiveness.  

Join poet, artist and Creative Formation practitioner, Ally Markotich, to re-member yourself as a sacred creator. During our time together, Ally will share about her own story of coming back to herself as creative and inspire you to claim your colorful prowess. Become aware of common cultural and personal myths that hold us back from our innate creativity and learn simple ways to reweave creativity into your story. Bring a pencil and some color (markers, colored pencils or paint) as Ally will complete our gathering by guiding us through a simple 4-step visual prayer process to awaken insight. Come and experience the "ahas" creativity can bring when engaged as a spiritual practice for your life.

You can register here.

Becoming a Just Peace Church

On this Just Peace Sunday, Carol Lewis explained the process of us becoming an official Just Peace Church of the United Church of Christ. You can hear her remarks here.

The trustees recently reviewed the financial reports ending July 31, 2025, and the church membership needs to be thanked for being so generous.   As of July 31 (7 months), we have received (numbers rounded) $86,500.   This compares to receiving $68,200 in 2023 and $63,300 in 2024 for the same period.   This increase has greatly assisted the church in meeting its expenses.   The church still had a small deficit of about $6600.   Also we have been able to donate to various mission projects about $31,000, mainly through the use of interest and dividends from our sale proceeds account which is invested with the United Church Funds.   So thank you and continue to be generous for the rest of 2025.

It is easy to give online at our website lakeworthucc.org/give.

Thank you to everyone who has participated so far in our justice ministry house meetings. You honor us with your stories, your presence, and your willingness to participate in the work of justice. Our next meeting will be Saturday October 11th at 2:00 PM, location to be determined. Stay tuned for more information. We will also more than likely have a "make up" meeting in late October or early November.

Our app is now back up and running on all of your favorite app stores. You can watch services, keep up with what we are doing, and connect with one another. Go to our app page to find the links to download.

On Wednesday nights at 6:30 we have begun a new series in our Wednesday night Together group.   Embodying the Divine: Love as the Heart of Creation is a compelling five-part film series featuring theologian Ilia Delio, exploring the profound implications of understanding God as the unstoppable force of love within creation. Each film delves into the nature of divine love as it manifests in the cosmos, community, and personal transformation. Through these discussions, viewers are invited to reconsider their relationship with the divine, themselves, and the world, discovering how love is not only the essence of God but also the very fabric of existence. The series offers a transformative journey into the heart of a universe that is continually evolving toward greater union, freedom, and fullness.

You can join us on-site at 1415 North K ST in Lake Worth Beach, FL or online via Zoom (click here). 

For more information and resources about the group, check out our website.

This year, we are once again sponsors of CROS Ministries Hustle to End Hunger on Saturday October 4th. You can donate or join us in walking or running here.

On Sunday September 28th, from 2:00-5:00, Jason will be leading a new workshop. Soul force is that ineffable quality, the inner power that allows us to meet the demands of life and make a difference in the world.

In this workshop, you will:

• Gain clarity on your most important goals for the next six to twelve months, as well as a vision for the future you're excited to move towards.

• Develop a personal protocol and process to achieve those goals, with easily

accomplishable daily steps.

• Gain greater confidence in your capacity to move through challenges, do hard things, and be who you're capable of being.

• Know who you are at your best, the qualities that the best version of yourself embodies, and—most importantly-how to express that best version of yourself more consistently every day.

• Cultivate the ability to respond intentionally to life with a simple, repeatable process: stepping into the gap between stimulus and response and closing the gap between who you're capable of being and who you're actually being.

• Create a valuable collection of prior successes, and learn how to leverage your prior successes as fuel to create a better future.

• Know what it means to flourish, and how to live with more wisdom, discipline, courage, love, gratitude, hope, curiosity, and zest.

• Connect with those committed to being the best versions of themselves, in service of something bigger.

This will be in person at the church office, 1415 North K ST Lake Worth Beach FL. You can register here.

Sunday September 21st at 5:00 PM

St Andrew's Episcopal Church

100 N Palmway, Lake Worth Beach, FL 33460-3515

What can we do to support our neighbors?
Join interfaith leaders for discussion of today's greatest human rights challenges.
Potluck dinner, fellowship, and meaningful conversation. Sponsored by Lake Worth Interfaith Network, St. Andrews Episcopal Church and the HUB - Community Recovery Palm Beach. FREE to all people of faith and no faith.

Join us at 10:30 on Thursday morning as we gather to catch up with one another! Currently we meet only on Zoom - you can join us here. We will resume in person meetings later in the year.