Pentecost Service & Annual Offering – Sunday, May 19
Every year in late spring, churches of all denominations remember and celebrate one of the most exciting and strange events in Christian history — the very first “Pentecost Sunday.” This year, due to an early Easter, Pentecost will arrive on May 19. The chancel will be “dressed” in its stunning red and orange paraments (“hangings”) and the communion table will be covered in the special Pentecost “antependium.” Our congregation enjoys breaking out their red and orange outfits! The service will feature readings, sermon, hymns and choral music that call upon the Holy Spirit’s presence and power. Kaori Hongo will play fiery and festive organ music composed just for Pentecost.
Presbyterians also celebrate Pentecost by taking an annual offering to be used exclusively for ministries to youth, children-at-risk and young adults. Forty percent of the offering remains with congregations to support local ministries to children and youth. LPC’s Mission, Outreach and Justice Ministry will announce this year’s recipient on Pentecost Sunday.
The church’s first Pentecost Sunday was recorded by Luke in his Acts of the Apostles, a memoir of the first thirty years of the Jesus movement. It happened about 50 days after the crucifixion during the Passover celebration. Pentecost was and still is a Jewish agricultural festival and holy day, 50 days after Passover. The disciples and followers of Jesus were still in Jerusalem, praying and waiting for divine direction as to next steps. On Sunday morning, they were praying together in a house when they were overtaken in a bizarre group mystical experience that included loud noises like high winds, and the sudden appearance of balls of flaming fire. Some began speaking in languages they had never learned, which were then identified by foreigners drawn to the house by the loud commotion. Peter assured the gathering crowds that they were not witnessing a bunch of wild, drunken Galileans, but the fulfillment of the prophet Joel’s vision about the “Last Days.” God’s Spirit, thought to be
housed in the Temple, and occasionally poured out on prophets, would be poured out on many people (Joel 2:28–32). Following their strange experience, Jesus’ followers were empowered and emboldened to continue his ministry of teaching and healing, welcoming Jews and Gentiles into the fellowship of Israel’s God. Today, Christians trust Jesus’ promise that the Spirit would come in his place to teach and guide and empower us to continue his ministry as his “living Body.”
A Message from the Pastor
by the Rev. Dr. James C. Butler
As we start to swing into the slower summer months, programmatically speaking, other activity around the church picks up, especially outside clean-up and planting, and annual inside deep-cleaning projects like carpets, hard surface floors, windows and upholstery. These tasks have been faithfully overseen by LPC’s Property Ministry. For decades, Property was a “standing committee” of the Session and chaired by a member of Session. For many good reasons, the Session has reorganized its committee structure, which resulted in Property becoming a subcommittee of Finance and Administration and accountable to its chair and members. Property will meet at least quarterly and oversee special and usual projects within line-item budgets. For large-scale projects or repairs, Property will continue to interface with Finance to ensure good stewardship of church resources. So far, so good!
The Music Corner with Dr. Kaori Hongo
Thank you!
As we end this program year with the Chancel Choir, Handbell Choir, Family Choir, Youth Choir and Children’s Choir, I would like to take this time to thank all the musicians for their time and dedication to the music program at LPC. We have had a wonderful and challenging year! You all have learned music that has inspired and blessed many people in our community. Thank you for working with me through all the twists and turns we have had together. You have responded to all my crazy requests beautifully! There is another group that has been rehearsing in our building whose existence has not been so visible. Many of you have seen in the bulletins that there is a Japanese handbell group meeting every week. Our name is Kachofugetsu. （花鳥風月）The definitions of these four characters are “flower,” “bird,” “wind,” and “moon.” This word represents the beauties of nature and the artistic pursuits surrounding these themes. As we enter the season of spring and new birth, I would like us to look around and feel God’s love in all the blessings we see around ourselves. I personally have been blessed with two musicians who have been with us and will now be leaving to pursue their own futures and dreams. Mae Alice Harrell, our soprano section leader and soloist and Chase Olson, our Music Ministry Intern will bless us on May 12 as their last Sunday with us at LPC. I would like to thank you, Mae, for your leadership and musicianship in the Chancel Choir. Chase, thank you for your support on the organ bench (even though we had to do “bench” maneuvers every Sunday!) and your hard work with the Chancel Choir and the Handbell Choir. We will all miss both of you and will be watching your careers as they develop and go forward into the world. Please join us on May 12 to celebrate their new beginnings.
Mae Alice Harrell
Soprano section leader/soloist
This May, I will graduate from Oberlin with degrees in Politics and Voice Performance. I am moving back to my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky and taking a gap year before applying to graduate schools for music. I have really enjoyed singing at Lakewood for the past year and getting to know the wonderful community here. I am so grateful for my fellow musicians here and the hard work that they put in each week to provide music for the congregation. It has been wonderful to get to know so many people through the LPC choir and I will miss singing with them!
Chase Olson
Music Ministry Intern
During my two years as the Music Ministry Intern, I have always counted myself as lucky to be guided by a church willing to foster my growth and education. Early on in my studies at the organ, I was taught the importance of a music ministry; over the course of the summer following the completion of my first year at Lakewood Presbyterian Church, I met with many of my past teachers and mentors, each of whom I had worked with or for in the church, and each of whom remarked in some way that my understanding of how to provide a music ministry to a congregation had greatly improved. This, compounded with my ever-increasing comfort and confidence in front of a choir and a congregation, have marked what I identify as an important milestone in my development as a musician. With the completion of my undergraduate studies on a far horizon quickly approaching, I am simultaneously unsure of exactly what the future will hold and adamant that what I have learned at Lakewood will help to carry me through whatever is in store for me. I cannot express my gratitude more completely or succinctly than by simply saying to all of you: Thank you!
Adult Faith Formation in May
LPC Pastor Jim Butler will lead a three-part series on the New Testament Book of Acts (aka “The Acts of the Apostles”) on Sundays, May 5, 12 and 19 in Wright Chapel following worship. The document is commonly understood as a memoir of the early years of Christian history, from the crucifixion of Jesus and the Easter “appearances” up to the martyrdoms of James, Peter and Paul (AD 62–68). Most scholars agree that it was written by Luke, a co-worker of Paul, as a companion volume to his Gospel.
Acts is full of very interesting stories of the scrapes and troubles the early Christian believers got into with religious and civil authorities as they took “the good news of God” to the world. But it is not just history, it also records the theological controversies and squabbles that occurred inside the movement as it slowly separated from Jewish synagogues and the Jerusalem Temple and welcomed more and more Gentiles. Acts hints of the long-term icy relationship between Paul and the original apostles and James, the brother of Jesus who led the Jerusalem “mother” church for 32 years following Jesus’ death.
When read alongside Paul’s letters, a more fulsome, accurate and lively picture emerges of the serious birth pangs of the Jewish sect that blossomed into a new world religion.
Youth Faith Formation News
Lifting Up Those Who are Down
The youth group will participate in the 48th annual Teeter-Totter Marathon, Rock the Rainbow, in Middleburg Heights on May 4 and 5. Last year’s marathon raised over $10,000 and they hope to do it again. All funds will directly benefit two local nonprofits: Second Mile Outreach, a food pantry that serves all of Cuyahoga County, and The Gathering Place, an organization that supports those facing a cancer diagnosis, which serves the Greater Cleveland area and beyond. The Marathon is open for children, youth and adults — either as individuals or groups — to participate in making an impact by riding the see-saw, collecting money, collecting non-perishable food items for Second Mile Outreach, and connecting with others. Teens can earn service hours for school or for programs that require it. The LPC Youth Group is already raising funds as Team Purple! Our goal is to raise at least $1,000 before the event. Top funders will earn $100 to be donated to the Youth Group’s choice of charity and the youth who raises the most will receive two free passes to Make Believe Family Fun Center in Parma. You can help sponsor our team by donating to one of the youth directly, by giving your donation to Aliyah Kennedy, by visiting givebutter.com/ttm48 or by scanning the QR code on our team image and selecting Team Purple. Thank you in advance for your continued support.
Graduation Sunday
On May 26, we will honor our graduates. Faith Formation would like to recognize Evan Grief, graduating from North Olmsted High School; Maddie Jenkins, graduating from Lutheran West; and Arabella Spear, who is graduating from Lakewood High School this spring. Help us celebrate the class of 2024 as we wish them well in their future endeavors and take their place in the greater congregation. If you know of another member who is graduating high school or college in 2024, please contact Aliyah Kennedy in the church office so we can honor their hard work.
Hand in Hand May Program
Hand in Hand will meet on Friday, May 10in the Reed Room from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Rev. Dr. Jim Butler will speak on the topic, “The Mysticism tradition within Christianity and other faith religious traditions — what it is and is not, and what differentiates it from ancient magic and occult practices.” All are welcome.
Welcome to Our Housekeeper
Carolyn Fordosi has been cleaning the church for over five years on the staff of a cleaning company, but we are pleased to welcome her to our staff as an LPC employee. Carolyn has been a beloved and friendly presence. She is a Lakewood resident, married to Michael, a proud mother and grandmother (grandson is in the LPC Nursery School), and an avid gardener. Be sure to say hello when you see Carolyn.
Thanks for Your Help
A GREAT BIG THANKS on behalf of the Ministry Advocating with Homeless Persons to all of you who helped with donations and in many other ways with the collection of goods taken to the 33rd annual Homeless Stand Down. Over 1,000 persons were assisted in some way this year. That is a great many people (more than 2023). All were treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.
Lakewood Presbyterian and Church of the Covenant did the collections for our Presbytery this year and did an outstanding job. This is truly living up to our Matthew 25 commitment. Continued blessings on you all.
Have You Considered “Paying Your Portion”?
Are you aware that there is a price on your Presbyterian “head?” It’s true! The expenses of operating our Presbyterian denomination (Presbytery, Synod and the General Assembly) will cost every congregation in our Presbytery $38.00 per “head” (each member). Out of the $38.00, $24.95 goes to the Presbytery, $9.80 to General Assembly and $3.25 to the Synod.
Per capita is a fundamental way in which the nearly 9,000 congregations and governing bodies of the PCUSA are connected and allows its members to participate in the work of the wider church. It is the responsible way of sharing costs that equitably belong to the whole Presbyterian community. Please consider paying your per capita apportionment on top of your pledge amount. Simply note “per capita” on the memo line of your check or pew envelope. Thank you for considering this request.