March 20 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, March 20, 2022 10:00 am We are an Open and Affirming congregation, welcoming into our full life and ministry persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, races, socioeconomic status, faith experiences, countries of origin, and abilities. Jesus welcomes everyone and so do we!

A CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP CLAREMONT UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST PRELUDE A Lenten Medley Lani Smith INTROIT Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days ST. FLAVIAN CALL TO WORSHIP One: What has come into being in Jesus is life, All: And the life is the light of all people. One: The light shines through our heaviness, All: And the heaviness shall not overcome us. OPENING HYMN #18 Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer CWM RHONDDA WELCOME PRAYER OF CONFESSION Merciful Jesus, we confession that we often make excuses for our lack of faithfulness. We drag our feet when we know you are calling us to do important but hard things. We shy away from the responsibility of being your disciples in a world where your justice is often unpopular. Strengthen us and give us the courage to continue following in your footsteps. In your holy name we pray, Amen. WORDS OF ASSURANCE One: … Now let us live into this grace. All: Amen. CLAREMONT UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST COVENANT In response to God’s creating, redeeming, and sustaining love, we unite for the worship of God and the service of all. We seek to know the will of God and to walk in God’s ways made known in Jesus Christ; to love one another; to proclaim the Gospel to all the world; to work and pray for peace and justice; and to live in harmony with all creation. We trust the presence of the Holy Spirit in trial and rejoicing and the promise of eternal life both now and for evermore. 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 worshipping throng. Water, God’s Word, bread and cup, prayer and song: This is where children belong. SERMON ON THE STEPS Rev. Laurel Capesius OFFERING/ANTHEM Kyrie from Mass No. 2 in G Major Franz Schubert Laura Rutherford, guest conductor MUSICAL RESPONSE In Our God, We’ll Be Ever Thankful Taizé DEDICATION SCRIPTURE Luke 9:51-62 51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; 53 but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 Then they went on to another village. 57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 But

Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” SERMON Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz (un)faithful: When Even Disciples Miss the Mark “Put Your Hand to the Plow” HYMN #207 Just as I Am WOODWORTH 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: …O healing, living water, All: heal Your people. One: …We pray these things using the words you teach us, saying together, All: God of all Who made the heavens and the earth Your name is perfect and complete Help us to be trustworthy with your creation Help us to trust - in this life and in the life after Empower us to attain our physical and psychological needs, and free us from the wants of our privilege Forgive our failure to understand others and their needs And grant us the ability to forgive when we are misunderstood Free us from that which separates us from You But, help us to seek Your still speaking voice Because You are our community, our resilience, and our future - in all ways and at all times Let it be - Sean Luebbers GUEST ARTIST The Joke Brandi Carlile Lacey Jo Benter, soprano BENEDICTION

CLOSING RESPONSE Wait for the Lord (1x Choir, 2x ALL) Taizé POSTLUDE Rapsodie Gothique Gordon Young Special thanks to our Media Ministry Volunteer: David Moore ALTAR FLOWERS Today’s flowers on the altar are sponsored by Gayle Sharpe, in celebration of serenity. GUEST ARTIST American opera singer Lacey Jo Benter has been lauded by the New York Times as having a “rich, warm tone\" while bringing a \"broad emotional palette\" to the stage. Native to Cedar Rapids, Iowa she completed a two year residency at LA Opera with the Domingo-Colburn Stein Young Artist Program in 2016 where she debuted in the Grammy award winning production of John Corigliano's The Ghosts of Versailles. She received her Bachelor's of Music in Vocal Performance with a theater minor from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI before attending The Juilliard School where she received a Master's of Music in 2011 followed by an Artist Diploma of Opera Studies in 2014. She has appeared with Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Philharmonic in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, returning for several roles in Unsuk Chin’s Alice in Wonderland, which she reprised for her Barbican Hall debut with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. She has been conducted by musical master John Adams with the LA Phil in the multimedia performance of his Nixon in China and returned to the LA Phil in 2020 appearing in their exciting Weimar Nightfall production, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen. She has

performed regionally with Opera Omaha and Opera Columbus and in 2018 self- produced and performed The Wagner Project, a reworking of pieces by Wagner, fused together with icons of modern day music including Beyoncé and David Bowie. HYMN COMMENTARY Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer William Williams (1717-1791) wrote this hymn. It became popular in the United States and in England and translated into 25 languages. Williams Williams was known as the \"Issac Watts of Wales.\" John Hughes (1873-1932) composed this tune one Sunday morning during worship. He became one of Wales' most prolific hymn writers. This tune is even sung at football (soccer) matches in Wales. CLAREMONT UCC PRAYER LIST Join us in prayer this week for the following individuals. Would you like to get involved with the Prayer Team? Please contact Judi Bayer at (215) 350-3397 or email [email protected]. OUR NEWEST SAINT: Tim Constantine, CUCC member THOSE SEEKING ENCOURAGEMENT: Mary Alexander, twin of Martha Stephenson Leventhal Family, friends of Francesco Barbera Danielle McLain Amsbury & Family, friend of Tim McCann, Jasmine and Anna Gatto-McCann, Clarisse Nakahama friends of Blair & Chris Aldworth Kelly Anthe, friend of Sandy Fasano Linda Hodson & Family, CUCC member Jennifer Araujo, friend of Carolyn Barbera Corey Laponis, former CUCC sexton Katrina Armienti, friend of Carolyn Barbera Embert Paul Madison, Jr., son of Marsha Madison Francesco Barbera & Family, CUCC member Randi McKee & Family, friend of Blair Aldworth The Barnum Family, CUCC attenders Margaret Merhoff, CUCC member Casey & Sarah Boatman, Tatum & Everett, Priscilla Otto & her daughter, Perla Valenzeula, Family of Sandy Wittwer & Galen Kenoyer CUCC attenders Elaine Bumiller, CUCC member Valeria Pizzetti, friend of Dona Turk Jill Carol, CUCC member Christy Powell, friend of Ali Perreault Irma Castaneda, CUCC attender Mario Ramos, Adelanto detainee Maria Chave, friend of Silvia Young Gary Roswell, friend of Sandy Fasano Cynthia Chertos, CUCC member Sandra Spiker, friends of Tim & Peggy Constantine, The DiMitri Family, family of the Barbera’s Denise Spooner, & Joe Marino Ellen Feyk, CUCC member Jennifer Stephenson, CUCC staff Victoria Findlay & Allison Thomkins, Lucy, Claire, & John Stover, friends of Linda Tajima CUCC member & her daughter Paul Towne, family of Howard Towne Charles Folks, family of Marsha Madison Carol & Linda, friends of Kay Brand Zina Grishenko, grandmother of Alex Grabarchuk Roger & Jeane, friends of Ruth Sandberg

FOR HEALTH AND HEALING: Blair Aldworth, CUCC member Patricia Molina, aunt of Beatriz Roman Castellanos Caitlin Antrim, friend of Jean Marston Mila Moncayo, friend of Francesco Barbera Robert Apodaca, friend of Lydia de los Rios Jeffrey Mulder, son of Sheri Mulder Jenny Appleford, friend of Jane Droubay Cynthia Munos, daughter of Juan Munoz Tony Araunz-Martinez, friend of Maureen Moorman Linda Murray, CUCC member Mara Archambault, CUCC member Steve Murray, extended family of Judith Bayer Stacey Ballard Myles Nielson, grandson of Bea Gallegos Cristina Bergfalk, mother of Benjamin & family of Barbara Patch, friend of Ruth Abel Virginia Bergfalk Madeline Patane, CUCC member Stephanie Bertleson, Betty Frank’s niece Greg Pavlik, friend of Marsha Madison Charles Blickenstaff, brother of Judith Bayer’s Jessie Colby Pryce, friend of Linda & Craig Cummings neighbor Whitney Relf Debbie Brown, friend of Judi Bayer Jenna Robinson, friend of Rita Dixon Laura Burt, CUCC member Xochitl Romero, neighbor of Judith Bayer Carlene Cable, friend of Sherry McCauley Margo Rouette, CUCC member Alice Chin, CUCC attender Lawrence Randall Rutt, father of Christopher Rutt Denise Christopoulos, friend of Sandy Fasano Bernadette Sarver, cousin of Judith Bayer Linda Cummings, CUCC member Jay Sharp, CUCC member Toni de los Rios, cousin of Lydia de los Rios Cheryl Sims, friend of Marsha Madison MaryAnn Delgadillo, mother of Christopher Bo & Wayne Sims, brother and sister in-law of Marsha Delgadillo Madison Ryan & Tammy Denny, friends of Missy McCormick RaeAnn Sines, friend of Linda Corbin Margaret Duffy, extended family of Dali Podenski Todd Songer, friend of Diana Miller Erica & Haley Enos, CUCC member & sister Joyce Sorrento, family of the Barbera’s Matthew Enriquez, friend of Scott Bohlender Larry Starkweather, friend of Sandra Wittwer Levi Entereso, CUCC member Kathy Starr, friend of Sherry McCauley Meredith Flinn, daughter of Marsha Madison’s friend Martha Stephenson, CUCC member Sandy French, friend of Marsha Madison Julius M. Steubing, CUCC member Nina Fursova, grandmother of Alex Grabarchuk Jason Tarshis, friend of Sandy Fasano Bea Gallegos, CUCC member Lorraine Telles, friend of Marta D’Anda Laurie Giesenhagen, CUCC member Michael Toomay, son of Bea Gallegos Jennifer Grande, CUCC member Jocelyn Tuchon, daughter of Merritt Verrill Kimberly Griffin, CUCC attender Teresa Tulcan, friend of Anne Forburger Iris Harleman, friend of Shirley Jones Dakota Van Fossen, friend of Peggy Kelly Bill Hodson, father of Linda Hodson Sandi Walter, CUCC member Joan Hunter, Granny of Zoe Estrada Felicia Warner, family of Denise & Kenneth Johnson David Jamieson, CUCC member Shirley Washington, CUCC member Sarah Jones, mother of Carolyn Barbera Chris Weldon, friend of Christopher Fairchild Terri King, CUCC member Kathy Widmer, friend of Cynthia Moreno Michal Kohout, husband of Anne Bennett Donna Williams, extended family of Shirley Jones Courtney Koverman, daughter of Briggs Gamblin Rev. Maria Wilson, CUCC attender Diana Krumme, friend of Dali Podenski Catherine Yamasaki, friend of Sandy Fasano Olivia Lakner, family friend of Carolyn Barbera Troy Zeleny, nephew of Anne Stromberg Kathleen Leo, CUCC member Ava & her father, Mike, friend of Ruth Abel Nola Lewallen, mother of John Lewallen Benjamin, grandson of Virginia Bergfalk Marlene Lobb, friend of Anne Stromberg Brian, friend of Tina Kambarian Frank & Barbara Malone, friends of Judith Bayer Chad, friend of Christopher Fairchild Jan Marshall, CUCC member Esperanza & Hector, extended family of Silvia Sherry McCauley, CUCC member Giordano Leslie McLoughlin, extended family of Diana Miller Ruthie, friend of Valerie Carrick Josephine Miller, mother of Deborah Castillero Simolena, grandmother of Sherry McCauley’s nurse Debbie Mitchell, CUCC member

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], x230 [email protected], x242 Rev. Dr. Jen Strickland Dr. David Rentz [email protected], x228 [email protected], x242 Finance & Payroll Administrator Principal Organist Ms. Jocelyn Bocking Dr. Carey Robertson [email protected], x225 [email protected] Office Manager Building Manager Ms. Jasmine Tomita Mr. Adam Thomas [email protected], [email protected], x222 x240 Minister of Children, Youth, & Technology Director Families Mr. Jon Van Rev. Laurel Capesius [email protected] [email protected] Technology Assistant Children, Youth, & Families Mr. Josh Ngo Assistant [email protected] Ms. Elizabeth Zehm [email protected] ASL Interpreter Ms. Jennifer Stephenson Junior High Youth Director Ms. Zoe Estrada Moderator (Council President) [email protected] Ms. Rita Dixon [email protected] Director of the ECC Ms. Kristy Knight Pastor Emeritus [email protected], x226 Rev. Dr. Homer “Butch” Henderson