July 11 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, July 11, 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 Prelude: I, II IV & VI Hermann Schroeder from Kleine Praeludien und Intermezzi, Werk 9 Susan Achuff, organ INTROIT WELCOME CALL TO WORSHIP One: Our God does not ask us to pretend to be people we are not. All: Instead, our God invites us to worship just as we are. One: Our God does not ask us to hide the parts of ourselves that are not perfect. All: Instead, our Gd invites us to worship with our whole selves. One: Our God does not ask us to have all of the answers. All: Instead, our God invites us to worship with open minds and open hearts. OPENING HYMN #407 How Firm a Foundation FOUNDATION (verses 1, 2, 5) PRAYER OF CONFESSION Eternal Love, We confess that when things go wrong, we are quick to question your love for us, and sometimes even your existence. We confess that when we are in pain, or grieving, or anxious, or lost, we often turn away from you rather than draw closer to you. Strengthen us with your Holy Spirit, O God, that we might rest in the promises you make to us and invite you into our lives in both good times and hard times. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen. ASSURANCE OF PARDON One: For all that we have done and left undone, we are forgiven. All: In Christ, we are made new. Amen. PASSING OF THE PEACE One: May the peace of Christ be with you. All: And also with you. SERMON ON THE STEPS Rev. Laurel Capesius

OFFERING/MUSIC Praeludium Shostakovich Susan Achuff, piano Wendy Waggener & Charlotte Van Ryswyk, violins DEDICATION SCRIPTURE Exodus 8:1-15 8 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. 2 If you refuse to let them go, I will plague your whole country with frogs. 3 The river shall swarm with frogs; they shall come up into your palace, into your bedchamber and your bed, and into the houses of your officials and of your people, and into your ovens and your kneading bowls. 4 The frogs shall come up on you and on your people and on all your officials.’” 5 And the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, the canals, and the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.’” 6 So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. 7 But the magicians did the same by their secret arts, and brought frogs up on the land of Egypt. 8 Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron, and said, “Pray to the Lord to take away the frogs from me and my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.” 9 Moses said to Pharaoh, “Kindly tell me when I am to pray for you and for your officials and for your people, that the frogs may be removed from you and your houses and be left only in the Nile.” 10 And he said, “Tomorrow.” Moses said, “As you say! So that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God, 11 the frogs shall leave you and your houses and your officials and your people; they shall be left only in the Nile.” 12 Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh; and Moses cried out to the Lord concerning the frogs that he had brought upon Pharaoh. 13 And the Lord did as Moses requested: the frogs died in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields. 14 And they gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. 15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart, and would not listen to them, just as the Lord had said. SERMON Myths & Monsters: Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz The Bible’s Summer Blockbusters— The Ten Plagues ANTHEM Sinfonia Adriano Banchieri Claremont Early Music Ensemble 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 for all of these things using the words Jesus teaches us, saying… All: Great Giver, in whom heaven is found, holy is Your name. May your commonwealth of peace and freedom flourish on earth. Give us this day bread for our journey, and make us hungry to see the whole world nourished. Forgive us and help us forgive one another. Strengthen us for the challenges that lie ahead. Let us hear your prophets, and deliver us from our privilege. For your love is the only power, the only home, the only honor we need, in this world and in the world to come. Amen. GUEST ARTIST Gavotte Shostakovich Susan Achuff, piano Wendy Waggener & Charlotte Van Ryswyk, violins BENEDICTION CLOSING RESPONSE O Christ Jesus, Sent from Heaven WESTMINSTER ABBEY O Christ Jesus, Father-Mother, Spirit, Triune Source of all, Claim our wounded, halting witness; we surrender to your thrall. Alleluia! Truth Incarnate, stir us with your servant call. POSTLUDE Celebration Lani Smith Susan Achuff, organ

CLAREMONT EARLY MUSIC ENSEMBLE Win Aldrich, Mark MacKenzie, Barb MacKenzie, Gloria Martin, Sandy Parker, Joan Presecan, Bill Waggener, & Lee Waggener ALTAR FLOWERS Today’s altar flowers are sponsored by Gayle Sharp in celebration of Max Marker’s birthday. HYMN COMMENTARY “How Firm a Foundation” The author of this hymn is unknown. This is an early American melody that appeared with the text in several tune collections. John Kippon (1751 – 1836) published a collection of works by Watts and others. Joseph Funk (1778 – 1862) led singing-schools in Virginia. Funk, a descendant of German Mennonite immigrants, established a monthly music journal.

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 Amy Duncan at (951) 212-3576 or email [email protected] OUR NEWEST SAINT: Howard Kirschner, friend of Diana Miller Keri Toghia, niece of Dona Turk THOSE SEEKING ENCOURAGEMENT: Katrina Armienti, friend of Carolyn Barbera Tim McCann, Jasmine and Anna Gatto-McCann, Richard Blair, nephew of Virginia Bergfalk Casey & Sarah Boatman, Tatum & Everett, friends of Blair & Chris Aldworth Randi McKee & Family, friend of Blair Aldworth Family of Sandy Wittwer & Galen Kenoyer Elaine Bumiller, CUCC member Mario Ramos, Adelanto detainee Jill Carol, CUCC member Eric & David Sandberg, family of Ruth Sandberg Cynthia Chertos, CUCC member Family of Robert Schreiber, friends of Carol Wiese Ellen Feyk, CUCC member Jennifer Stephenson, CUCC staff Victoria Findlay & Allison Thomkins, Lucy, Claire, & John Stover, friends of Linda Tajima Paul Towne, family of Howard Towne CUCC member & her daughter Tran Family, friends of Ruth Sandberg Charles Folks, family of Marsha Madison Mark Watson, family of Roxanne Watson Leventhal Family, friends of Francisco Barbera Victor Williams Family, friends of Linda Corbin Paul Marino & members of Abundant Living Family Roger & Jeane, friends of Ruth Sandberg Church in Rancho Cucamonga FOR HEALTH AND HEALING: Chris Aldworth, CUCC member Toni de los Rios, cousin of Lydia de los Rios Matt Alford, CUCC member MaryAnn Delgadillo, mother of Christopher Caitlin Antrim, friend of Jean Marston Robert Apodaca, friend of Lydia de los Rios Delgadillo Tony Araunz-Martinez, friend of Maureen Moorman Dustin & Cristina Dickerson, family of Roxanne Lori Barbera, mother of Francesco Barbera Watson Cristina Bergfalk, mother of Benjamin & family of Paula DiMitri, family of Carolyn & Francesco Barbera Margaret Duffy, extended family of Dali Podenski Virginia Bergfalk Erica & Haley Enos, CUCC member & sister Stephanie Bertleson, Betty Frank’s niece Tom Esposito, family of Evy Morales Sylvia Brougham, grandmother of Tasha Ferrell Diaz Esposito Family, cousin/family of Evy Morales Debbie Brown, friend of Judi Bayer Max & Kelsey Ferrell, Johnathan Diaz, Ana Alicia, Stan Burwell, friend of Carol Wiese Jose, Elias, & Ana Villaseñor, family of Tasha Tracy Buss, friend of Blair Aldworth Carlene Cable, friend of Sherry McCauley Ferrell Sedra Canjo, daughter of Nadr Canjo Sandy French, friend of Marsha Madison Linda Carney, niece-in-law of Linda Corbin Laurie Giesenhagen, CUCC member Alice Chin, CUCC attender John George, son of Brenda Keith Kimberly Griffin, CUCC attender Dolores Clem, mother of Lisa Delgadillo Iris Harleman, friend of Shirley Jones Jason Clinge, friend of Linda Corbin Brenda & Michael Henry, CUCC member Linda Cummings, CUCC member Joan Hunter, Granny of Zoe Estrada Frank & Phylis DeLeo, friends of Carol Wiese David Jamieson, CUCC member

Charlie Kalb, friend of Margaret Merhoff Eileen Schmalle, friend of Anne Forburger Chuck Kelcher, friend of Carol Wiese Griffen Schreiber, friend of Francisco Barbera Faith King, daughter of Jeanne King Diane Schulman, friend of Maria Andrade Terri King, CUCC member Jay Sharp, CUCC member Diana Krumme, friend of Dali Podenski Pauline Castellan Silva, friend of Sandy Gabel Richard Kuchar, friend of David Moore Cheryl Sims, friend of Marsha Madison Wayne E. Sims, R.N., brother of Marsha Madison Olivia Lakner, family friend of Carolyn Barbera Todd Songer, friend of Diana Miller Elaine Larson, friend of Dona Turk Mickey & Sandra Spiker, friends of Tim & Peggy Kathleen Leo, CUCC member Nola Lewallen, mother of John Lewallen Constantine, Denise Spooner, & Joe Marino Marlene Lobb, friend of Anne Stromberg Larry Starkweather, friend of Sandra Wittwer Frank Malone, friend of Judith Bayer Martha Stephenson, CUCC member Julius M. Steubing, CUCC member Jan Marshall, CUCC attender Danielle Marquez, family of Carolyn Barbera Lorraine Telles, friend of Marta D’Anda Sherry McCauley, CUCC member Michael Toomay, son of Bea Gallegos Dean McCrumb, friend of Dorothy Wheat David Tortes, brother of Rebecca Tortes Catherine McIntosh, friend of Carol Wiese Teresa Tulcan, friend of Anne Forburger Leslie McLouhlin, extended family of Diana Miller VeBrad & Karen Visser, son & daughter in-law of Jim Wendy Mitchell, friend of Carol Wiese Josephine Miller, mother of Deborah Castillero Visser Patricia Molina, aunt of Beatriz Roman Castellanos Dwight Vogel, friend of Jean Rosewall Mila Moncayo, friend of Francisco Barbera Sandi Walter, CUCC member Jeffrey Mulder, son of Sheri Mulder Chris Weldon, friend of Christopher Fairchild Cynthia Munos, daughter of Juan Munoz Rev. Anita White, UCC Pastor, friend of Jane Steve Murray, extended family of Judith Bayer Nate Neumeyer, friend of Blair Aldworth Gibbons Grace Newkirk, friend of Carol Wiese Kathy Widmer, friend of Cynthia Moreno Myles Nielson, grandson of Bea Gallegos Rev. Maria Wilson, CUCC attender Greg Pavlik, friend of Marsha Madison Troy Zeleny, nephew of Anne Stromberg Tom Peterson, friend of Ruth Abel Ava & her father, Mike, friend of Ruth Abel Jessie Colby Pryce, friend of Linda & Craig Cummings Benjamin, grandson of Virginia Bergfalk Jenna Robinson, friend of Rita Dixon Diane, friend of Kay Brand Jennifer, daughter of Laura Burt Joseph Robinson, brother of John Robinson Marilyn, friend of Ruth Sandberg Margo Rouette, CUCC member Simolena, grandmother of Sherry McCauley’s nurse Lawrence Randall Rutt, father of Christopher Rutt

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 [email protected], x230 [email protected], x242 Rev. Dr. Jen Strickland [email protected], x 228 Principal Organist Dr. Carey Robertson Finance & Payroll Administrator [email protected] Ms. Jocelyn Bocking [email protected], x225 Technology Specialist Mr. Josh Ngo Office Manager [email protected] Ms. Jasmine Tomita [email protected], ASL Interpreter x222 Ms. Jennifer Stephenson Minister of Children, Youth, & Moderator (Council President) Families Ms. Rita Dixon Rev. Laurel Capesius [email protected] [email protected] Director of the Early Childhood Children, Youth, & Families Center Assistant Ms. Kristy Knight Ms. Elizabeth Zehm [email protected], x226 [email protected] Building Manager Junior High Youth Director Mr. Don Doughty Ms. Zoe Estrada [email protected], [email protected] x240