United Methodist Church at Lakewood

06/09/2026

Beloved,
I hope by now most of you have had an opportunity to process the news of the upcoming pastoral transition here at The United Methodist Church at Lakewood. While we grieve and adjust to this change, I also want to hold on to the hope this small faith community has offered to one another and to our wider community.

My prayer for you is that you continue to find belonging here. Many of you have come seeking a deeper spiritual life, authentic relationships, and meaningful ways to engage in the work of justice, mercy, and compassion. For some, that journey has not been easy. Many have arrived carrying hurt, disappointment, or hesitation born from past experiences with organized religion. Yet, despite those wounds, you have chosen to take the risk of showing up, building relationships, and exploring faith alongside us.

The trust that has been growing among us is precious. My prayer is that this season of transition does not diminish that trust, but strengthens it. I hope you will continue to lean into the relationships you have formed here, remain connected to one another, and allow this community to be a place where you can continue exploring the Divine with honesty, curiosity, and hope.

In the months ahead, our leadership team and ministry leaders will be working diligently to maintain those connections—with our congregation, community partners, building partners, and all who are finding a spiritual home among us. My hope is that the relationships we have built together will remain strong, and that the spirit of welcome, kindness, and belonging that has taken root here will continue to flourish.

with Grit and Grace
Pastor Stephen

06/04/2026

Desserts on the Driveway
Thu, Jun 18

Desserts on the Driveway with the City and Custer Neighborhood. This event is an opportunity for Custer residents to connect with the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and City Council members. It also offers residents a platform to voice concerns, share ideas for solutions, and gain insight into city services.

05/28/2026

Come on Ya'll
- You know you want some of these goodies that have been hiding in Church Closets

05/27/2026

05/12/2026

I am not sure I am interested in what people believe, but I am genuinely concerned about what people apply.

The Word of Life 1 John 1:1-4
We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— what we have seen and heard we also declare to you so that you also may have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

05/07/2026

As Mother's Day approaches, we are looking at the role several women made in influencing the Methodist Movement. These are the "Mothers of Methodism."

Mary Bosanquet-Fletcher rejected her comfortable upbringing to set up an orphanage and school. In the late eighteenth century, she became one of the first female Methodist preachers and was instrumental in persuading John Wesley to allow women to be lay preachers. This is the first profile of promin...

05/04/2026

ACTIVISM and SOLIDARITY in faith Communities
Sunday, May 17th, 6:00 – 8 p.m.

We will be discussing what role faith communities play in Activism and Solidarity with the Rev.Shalom Agtarap and the amazing work 1st UMC Tacoma has done in launching Common Good Tacoma!

04/29/2026

A 1-year-old oak sapling is a small, 6- to 12-inch tall seedling with a thin, green-to-brown stem, a few leaves, and a surprisingly long taproot. It often retains the remnants of the original acorn at its base and prioritizes root development over height in its first year.

Our average Sunday attendance has seen a 200% increase over the last 2 years.
We are still a small church, what this article calls a "Family-Sized" church, but we are trending upward. We have done a lot of work to address healthy leadership and to create a safe, hospitable space. We are still learning, prioritizing a healthy root system.

You might find this article interesting.
https://greaternw.org/news/smaller-sent-and-still-here/

04/25/2026

If you have visited recently, or not so recently....
- We are having lunch with some new to us folks:

Its an opprotunity to meet other newish people who have been checking us out
and ask any curiosity questions you may have of the Pastor.

umclw.org/events-1/new-ish-comers-lunch

04/23/2026

We have set an intention to be better communicators this year, especially about upcoming events, services, and happenings around the church.

You should now be able to see the Church Events Calendar at the bottom of the events page on our website. We will also endeavour to update and post each event so people can confirm details and such.

umclw.org/events