May 7 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, May 7, 2023 10:00 am Welcome home! Regardless of your age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, abilities, or faith background, we are glad you’re worshiping with us today. You belong here.

A CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP CLAREMONT UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST PRELUDE A Whiter Shade of Pale Procol Harum Dr. Carey Robertson, organ INTROIT Welcome Peal Choral Bells CALL TO WORSHIP One: Let us be rooted in this place, for the Spirit has called us here. All: Let us be rooted in this place, where for over 132 years, saints have broken bread and shared the cup. One: Let us be rooted in this place, where for over 132 years, saints have baptized young and old alike. All: Let us be rooted in this place, for the world needs our faithfulness. OPENING HYMN Seed, Scattered and Sown SEED SCATTERED Refrain: Seed, scattered and sown; wheat, gathered and grown; bread, broken and shared as one, the Living Bread of God. Vine, fruit of the land; wine, work of our hands; one cup that is shared by all; the Living Cup, the Living Bread of God. Is not the bread we break a sharing in our Lord? Is not the cup we bless the blood of Christ outpoured? (Refrain) The seed which falls on rock will wither and will die. The seed within good ground will flower and have life. (Refrain) As wheat upon the hills was gathered and was grown, so may the church of God be gathered into one. (Refrain)

WELCOME CONFESSING OUR SHORTCOMINGS O God, we pray for forgiveness for the times this week when we were not rooted in love. For the moments we lost our tempers, for the times we spoke harshly, for the moments we could have helped others but chose not to. Help us to root down into your Spirit of mercy once more and grow in our compassion and kindness. Amen. RECEIVING GOD’S GRACE One: …Let us accept God’s grace and commit to faithful discipleship once again. All: We praise you, O God, choosing us and loving us as we grow. Amen. PASSING OF THE PEACE One: May the peace of Christ be with you. All: And also with you. LITURGICAL SONG Where Children Belong James Ritchie This, this is where children belong, welcomed as part of the worshiping throng. Water, God’s Word, bread and cup, prayer and song: This is where children belong. SERMON ON THE STEPS Rev. Laurel Capesius OFFERING/MUSIC Canon in D Johann Pachelbel, arr. Hopson Choral Bells DOXOLOGY LASST UNS ERFREUEN Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ the word in flesh born low, Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise Holy Spirit evermore, One God, Triune, whom we adore, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! DEDICATION SCRIPTURE Mark 4:26-29

26 He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground 27 and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28 The earth produces of itself first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle because the harvest has come.” SERMON Rooted: “Surprise Seeds” Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz HYMN Rooted and Grounded in One Loving Source EVENTIDE/Duck COMMUNION One: God is with YOU. All: God is with YOU. One: Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them up to God. One: Together, we give thanks to our God. All: It is right to give God thanks and praise. One: …We speak aloud the mystery of our faith: All: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. COMMUNION MUSIC Pan de Vida Bob Hurd & Pia Moriarty You Raise Me Up Rolf Lovland & Brendan Graham Rooted Ricardo Mota, tenor Cron/Morgan/Roberts

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER To honor the power of both the traditional and new versions of the Lord’s Prayer, we will alternate which version we pray each week. One: …We pray these things together, All: Our Father/Mother/Creator who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom/kin-dom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom/kin-dom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. BENEDICTION CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE VRUECHTEN Because You Live, O Christ POSTLUDE Alleluia Toccata Fenton Groden Dr. Carey Robertson, organ

ALTAR FLOWERS Today’s flowers on the altar are given by Man Dy in celebration of the community of faith that has grown and rooted here. GUEST MUSICIAN Mexican-American singer and actor Ricardo Mota holds a degree in Music from University of Veracruz and attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio. He has performed in different countries like Mexico, USA, Italy, and Bulgaria. He also works professionally as a Spanish medical interpreter and translator. Instagram: @motatenor



PLEASE BE IN TOUCH Claremont United Church of Christ 233 W. Harrison Ave., Claremont, CA 91711 (909) 626-1201 | claremontucc.org @uccclaremont Claremont United Church of Christ Senior Pastors Directors of Music & Fine Arts Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz Dr. Alexandra Grabarchuk [email protected], x201 [email protected] Rev. Dr. Jen Strickland Dr. David Rentz [email protected], x202 [email protected] Finance & Payroll Administrator Principal Organist Ms. Jocelyn Bocking Dr. Carey Robertson [email protected], x110 [email protected] Office Manager Building Manager Ms. Jasmine Tomita Mr. Adam Thomas [email protected], [email protected], x101 x109 Minister of Children, Youth, & Technology Director Families Mr. Jon Van Rev. Laurel Capesius [email protected], x120 [email protected], x210 ASL Interpreters Children, Youth, & Families Ms. Jennifer Stephenson Assistant Ms. Rebecca McAllister Ms. Elizabeth Zehm [email protected] Moderator (Council President) Ms. Linda Yao Junior High Youth Director [email protected] Ms. Zoe Estrada [email protected] Pastor Emeritus Rev. Dr. Homer “Butch” Henderson Director of the ECC Ms. Kristy Knight [email protected], x114