This Week @ LPC

Service Time

Sunday Worship - 10 am

Sunday School

Children & Youth - 10:30 am | Adults - 11 am

A note from Pastor Joy...

As a new year approaches, it’s natural to think about leaving bad things behind and making a fresh start, but this year I have been thinking about the fact that things aren’t always so neat and tidy. I’m aware that between December 31 and January 1 all the things we’d like to leave behind don’t just disappear. Grief that began last year, carries over into the next. An illness may have surfaced last year, but the treatment will happen in the new year. It’s like we’re floating

down a river carrying whatever life has given to us, and there’s no stop where we get to unload. We just keep floating through. 

I’ve recently been reading a book called Surrender to Love by David G. Benner. He also talks about floating in water, but he uses the image to describe how God’s love surrounds us and carries us along. I like this image as I think about moving between years and carrying things with us from one year to the next. It reminds me that we are always being carried, and supported, and surrounded by God’s love as we move along from day to day, month to month, and year to year. Jesus was with us last year, and he goes with us into the next. 

For me, this takes some pressure off. It relieves me of feeling like I have to fix everything so that I can have a perfect start to a new year. Instead, I just need to keep trusting and surrendering to the One who has carried me along this far and will keep carrying me, loving me, and supporting me as life and all that comes with it flows on.

As we begin 2024, may we surrender ourselves to Christ and go with the flow of God’s unending love for us.

Happy New Year!

In Christ’s love,

Pastor Joy 

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Music Corner

Carl Marucci, Music Director & Organist

Our LPC Music Ministry deserves an amazing "Thank You" for providing such wonderful ministry throughout the recent seasons of Advent and Christmas. Our Chancel Choir, in particular, devoted much time, effort, and energy into our recent Christmas Cantata--in addition to our regular LPC Sunday rehearsals and services. This is no small task to accomplish in an approximate 8-week timeframe. 

We were thrilled that the Cantata was augmented by 40+ singers, both from LPC and the surrounding community. We view music ministry--and all LPC ministries for that fact--as important vehicles of evangelization to demonstrate to our community the wonderful spirituality and community of Lakewood Presbyterian Church. 

Thanks, as well, to our Praise Band and Handbell Ringers for also augmenting our Christmas Services and for the important ministry they offer throughout the year.