This month in worship we have been spending time exploring Strength for the Long Way. Two weeks ago, we were reminded of The Source For Our Strength, this week we explored The Practice of Our Strength. You can watch both services here. Next Sunday, we will wrap up this short series with "The Community For Our Strength." 

This week in The Daily, we will highlight a different practice to touch the strength that is ours in God. 

As is all too apparent in our current culture, not all "strength" is the same. You can read a brief article on "Two Strenghts" by Pastor Jason (that includes some material that didn't make it into the sermons!) on his Substack.

This Friday night we are offering the opportunity to gather for dinner and a movie. Francisco and Johana are hosting us at their home near the church. We will have dinner at 6:00 and start the movie at 6:30. Please register here and we will send you the address. 

Martin Sheen plays Tom, an American doctor who comes to St. Jean Pied de Port, France to collect the remains of his adult son, killed in the Pyrenees in a storm while walking The Camino de Santiago, also known as The Way of Saint James. Driven by his profound sadness and desire to understand his son better, Tom decides to embark on the historical pilgrimage, leaving his "California bubble life" behind. Armed with his son's backpack and guidebook, Tom navigates the 800 km pilgrimage from the French Pyrenees, to Santiago de Compostela in the north west of Spain, but soon discovers that he will not be alone on this journey.

You can watch a trailer here.

A couple of weeks ago, singer and songwriter Bobby Jo Valentine joined us for worship sharing his music and the power of story. You can watch the service here.

Our Nehemiah Action is 6 weeks away! On Tuesday evening, March 24th at 7:00 PM, we will gather, along with 27 other congregations in Palm Beach County to hold our public officials accountable for solutions to serious issues facing our community including affordable housing, immigration, and mental health support. The way that we are taken seriously is through the power that we demonstrate by our presence together. The goal for the action this year is 1600 people. The goal for Lake Worth United Church of Christ is 65. To reach that goal, we want to confirm 85 people attending (to account for emergencies an inabitlity for some to attend at the last minute). We currently have 35 committed. We would like to be at 85 by February 22nd. 

We woud like to keep an accurate count of who will be going so please register here, even if you are already on the list!

There will be a bus leaving from our church, as well as other locations, to take action attendees to JupiterFirst Church. You MUST register for the bus by March 17th. You can register here.

This Thursday at 10:30 in the office, our Women's Fellowship will be discussing the book Good Night, Irene. 

Resources for Staying Centered, Grounded, and Connected

It is helpful and encouraging to remember that we are not alone in our work for justice. You can read UCC General Minister and President Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson's statement regarding the killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti here.

The Hope Circle Book Club

Lake Worth UCC Member Johanna Castillo is facilitating a new group, The Hope Circle Book Club. They meet every other Thursday evening in person in our office and online. They are currently discussing The Book of Hope by Jane Goodall. You can find more information here.

Together: Hope: A User's Manual

Our Together group which meets on Wednesday nights is currently discussing Hope: A User's Manual .

Note that this week our 

In Hope: A User’s Manual, pastor and theologian MaryAnn McKibben Dana offers a clear-eyed, compassionate vision of hope for a world that often feels exhausted, divided, and afraid. Rather than treating hope as optimism or positive thinking, Dana reframes hope as a practice—something we learn, exercise, and return to, especially when circumstances don’t improve as quickly as we’d like.

The book gently dismantles common misconceptions about hope and replaces them with something sturdier. Hope is not denial, certainty, or success. It is attention, courage, imagination, and persistence. Drawing from scripture, pastoral experience, psychology, and community life, Dana shows how hope can coexist with doubt, grief, and frustration—and how it often appears in small, quiet, faithful acts rather than dramatic breakthroughs.

Throughout the book, Dana invites readers to see hope not as predicting a better future, but as participating in God’s ongoing work in the present. It is a form of holy resilience that keeps us engaged, connected, and moving forward together.

This book is especially meaningful for those who care deeply about the world, feel the weight of its brokenness, and are looking for a hope that is honest, grounded, and sustaining.

We will be discussing Chapter one tonight on site at 1415 North K St and via Zoom. After two weeks off, we will resume meeting on January 7th, discussing Hope: A User's Manual.

Spiritual Direction 

Lake Worth UCC member Stacey Harter is a seminary student focusing on spiritual direction. She is currently open to taking new directees. You can learn more about her and spiritual direction at Nautilus Spiritual Direction.

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

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.

Join us at 10:00 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.