September 26 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, September 26, 2021 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 SHEEP MAY SAFELY GRAZE Bach, arr. Fox INTROIT Guide My Feet Chancel Choir WELCOME CALL TO WORSHIP One: We gather to celebrate the birds of the air and the fish of the sea, All: Reminders of God’s presence everywhere. One: We gather to celebrate the horses and cows of the field and the rabbits and foxes of the meadow, All: Signs of God’s abiding peace and tranquility. One: We gather to celebrate the elephants and giraffes of the grasslands, All: Voices of God’s ongoing hope and promise. One: We gather to celebrate the gorillas and sloths of the rainforests, All: Messengers of God’s mysterious goodness. Let us join our hearts and voices to celebrate all of God’s beautiful creatures. OPENING HYMN All Creatures of Our God and King LASST UNS ERFREUEN All creatures of our God and King, lift up your voice and with us sing, Alleluia! Alleluia! O brother sun with golden beam,O sister moon with silver gleam, sing praises! Alleluia!Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! All who for love of God forgive, all who in pain or sorrow grieve, Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ bears your burdens and your fears; so, even in the midst of tears, sing praises! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! And you, most gentle sister death, waiting to hush our final breath: Alleluia! Alleluia! Since Christ our light has pierced your gloom, fair is the night that leads us home. Sing praises! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! O sisters, brothers, take your part and worship God with humble heart. Alleluia! Alleluia!

All creatures, bless the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Three in One! Sing praises! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! PRAYER OF CONFESSION Creator God, We confess that we do not always embrace all of your creation with the love and care that you do. We destroy natural habitats and disrupt food chains. We invade land and water that for millennia belonged to animals alone. We treat them as commodities, claiming that they exist solely for our own consumption, entertainment, and use. When they no longer serve us, we discard them and dispose of them carelessly. We do not view them as beloved creatures who were crafted by your divine hands. We do not offer them the dignity, safety, and care they deserve. Forgive us, O God. Purify our hearts and widen our circle of compassion to include those beings who are weak, vulnerable, and without voices to protest our missteps. Amen. ASSURANCE OF PARDON One: …Let us go forth honoring and protecting all of creation. All: Amen. PASSING OF THE PEACE One: May the peace of Christ be with you. All: And also with you. LITURGICAL SONG Where Children Belong Ritchie (First time: Leader; Second time: ALL) 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 Badgers and Hedgehogs Carter Chancel Choir

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 Isaiah 40:8 8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. GUEST MUSIC Fair and Eloquent Flowers Campbell Devon Guthrie & Abi Levis, sopranos SERMON Wabi-Sabi : Accepting Impermanence Rev. Dr. Jen Strickland HYMN #436 God of Grace and God of Glory CWM RHONDDA (verses 1, 3, 5) 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 using the words Jesus teaches us, saying… 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. GUEST MUSIC Times Like This Flaherty Devon Guthrie, soprano BENEDICTION CLOSING RESPONSE God, Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens HOLY MANNA God, who stretched the spangled heavens infinite in time and place,

Flung the suns in burning radiance through the silent fields of space; We, your children, in your likeness, share inventive powers with you; Great Creator, still creating, show us what we yet may do. POSTLUDE TOCCATA IN SEVEN Rutter ALTAR FLOWERS Today’s altar flowers are given by Man Dy and dedicated to the 73rd birthday of his father, Manolo D. May God give more life to his years and more years to his life. HYMN COMMENTARY God of Grace and God of Glory Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878-1969) wrote this hymn while vacationing at his home in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. It was sung at the opening service of Riverside Church in NYC, and also at the church's dedication on February 8, 1931. Fosdick was one of the most influential preachers of his time. Through his seminary teaching and writing, he touched generations of Christians with his social gospel message. John Hughes (1873-1932) composed this tune. He composed music as an avocation. He wrote Sunday-school marches and two anthems.

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 judith_bayer@att.net. THOSE SEEKING ENCOURAGEMENT: Mary Alexander, friend of Martha Stephenson Tim McCann, Jasmine and Anna Gatto-McCann, Katrina Armienti, friend of Carolyn Barbera friends of Blair & Chris Aldworth Richard Blair, nephew of Virginia Bergfalk Randi McKee & Family, friend of Blair Aldworth Casey & Sarah Boatman, Tatum & Everett, Richie Padilla & Will Doose, friends of Linda Corbin Family of Sandy Wittwer & Galen Kenoyer Valeria Pizzetti, friend of Dona Turk Carolyn Boone & Nora Miller, friends of Linda Corbin Christy Powell, friend of Ali Perreault Elaine Bumiller, CUCC member Mario Ramos, Adelanto detainee Jill Carol, CUCC member Gary Roswell, friend of Sandy Fasano Cynthia Chertos, CUCC member Jennifer Stephenson, CUCC staff The DiMitri Family, family of the Barbera’s Lucy, Claire, & John Stover, friends of Linda Tajima Ellen Feyk, CUCC member Paul Towne, family of Howard Towne Victoria Findlay & Allison Thomkins, Victor Williams Family, friends of Linda Corbin CUCC member & her daughter Roger & Jeane, friends of Ruth Sandberg Charles Folks, family of Marsha Madison Leventhal Family, friends of Francesco Barbera Susan Lominska, responders, & victims of Hurricane Ida, CUCC member FOR HEALTH AND HEALING: Matt Alford, CUCC member Laurie Giesenhagen, CUCC member Caitlin Antrim, friend of Jean Marston Kimberly Griffin, CUCC attender Robert Apodaca, friend of Lydia de los Rios Iris Harleman, friend of Shirley Jones Tony Araunz-Martinez, friend of Maureen Moorman Joan Hunter, Granny of Zoe Estrada David Jamieson, CUCC member Lori Barbera, mother of Francesco Barbera Terri King, CUCC member Cristina Bergfalk, mother of Benjamin & family of Diana Krumme, friend of Dali Podenski Olivia Lakner, family friend of Carolyn Barbera Virginia Bergfalk Kathleen Leo, CUCC member Nola Lewallen, mother of John Lewallen Stephanie Bertleson, Betty Frank’s niece Marlene Lobb, friend of Anne Stromberg Frank Malone, friend of Judith Bayer Debbie Brown, friend of Judi Bayer Jan Marshall, CUCC attender Sherry McCauley, CUCC member Carlene Cable, friend of Sherry McCauley Leslie McLouhlin, extended family of Diana Miller Joseph Mikesell, nephew of Sandy Gabel Sedra Canjo, daughter of Nadr Canjo Josephine Miller, mother of Deborah Castillero Linda Carney, niece-in-law of Linda Corbin Patricia Molina, aunt of Beatriz Roman Castellanos Mila Moncayo, friend of Francesco Barbera Alice Chin, CUCC attender Jeffrey Mulder, son of Sheri Mulder Cynthia Munos, daughter of Juan Munoz Denise Christopoulos, friend of Sandy Fasano Steve Murray, extended family of Judith Bayer Myles Nielson, grandson of Bea Gallegos Barbara Coates, CUCC member Barbara Patch, friend of Ruth Abel Char Craft, friend of Sandy Fasano Linda Cummings, CUCC member Toni de los Rios, cousin of Lydia de los Rios MaryAnn Delgadillo, mother of Christopher Delgadillo Margaret Duffy, extended family of Dali Podenski Erica & Haley Enos, CUCC member & sister Levi Entereso, CUCC member Sandy French, friend of Marsha Madison

Greg Pavlik, friend of Marsha Madison Lorraine Telles, friend of Marta D’Anda Jessie Colby Pryce, friend of Linda & Craig Cummings Michael Toomay, son of Bea Gallegos Jenna Robinson, friend of Rita Dixon Teresa Tulcan, friend of Anne Forburger Joseph Robinson, brother of John Robinson Dakota Van Fossen, friend of Peggy Kelly Sandi Walter, CUCC member Jean Rosewall, CUCC member Chris Weldon, friend of Christopher Fairchild Margo Rouette, CUCC member Rev. Anita White, UCC Pastor, friend of Jane Lawrence Randall Rutt, father of Christopher Rutt Jay Sharp, CUCC member Gibbons Cheryl Sims, friend of Marsha Madison Kathy Widmer, friend of Cynthia Moreno Wayne E. Sims, R.N., brother of Marsha Madison Rev. Maria Wilson, CUCC attender Todd Songer, friend of Diana Miller Catherine Yamasaki, friend of Sandy Fasano Joyce Sorrento, family of the Barbera’s Troy Zeleny, nephew of Anne Stromberg Mickey & Sandra Spiker, friends of Tim & Peggy Ava & her father, Mike, friend of Ruth Abel Benjamin, grandson of Virginia Bergfalk Constantine, Denise Spooner, & Joe Marino Chad, friend of Christopher Fairchild Larry Starkweather, friend of Sandra Wittwer Ruthie, friend of Valerie Carrick Kathy Starr, friend of Sherry McCauley Simolena, grandmother of Sherry McCauley’s nurse Martha Stephenson, CUCC member Julius M. Steubing, 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 Director of Music & Fine Arts Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz Dr. Jonathan Campbell jacob@claremontucc.org, x230 jonathan@claremontucc.org, x242 Rev. Dr. Jen Strickland jen@claremontucc.org, x 228 Principal Organist Dr. Carey Robertson Finance & Payroll Administrator carey@claremontucc.org Ms. Jocelyn Bocking finance@claremontucc.org, x225 Director of the Early Childhood Center Office Manager Ms. Kristy Knight Ms. Jasmine Tomita krislizecc@hotmail.com, x226 officemanager@claremontucc.org, x222 Technology Director Mr. Jon Van Minister of Children, Youth, & jon@claremontucc.org Families Rev. Laurel Capesius Technology Assistant laurel@claremontucc.org Mr. Josh Ngo josh@claremontucc.org Children, Youth, & Families Assistant Sextons Ms. Elizabeth Zehm Mr. Jason Calmelat elizabeth@claremontucc.org Mr. Corey Laponis Junior High Youth Director ASL Interpreter Ms. Zoe Estrada Ms. Jennifer Stephenson zoe@claremontucc.org Moderator (Council President) Ms. Rita Dixon moderator@claremontucc.org