December 6 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, December 6, 2020 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 People, Look East Wood INTROIT I Believe in the Sun Miller WELCOME ADVENT WREATH LIGHTING Felschundneff Family CALL TO WORSHIP One: We are waiting. All: Sometimes patiently, sometimes wearily. One: We are preparing. All: Sometimes frantically, sometimes peacefully. One: We are anticipating the birth of God’s love in a manger, and also the birth of God’s peaceable kingdom here on earth. All: Let us watch, wait, and worship. OPENING HYMN Toda le tierra/All Earth is Hopeful All earth is hopeful, the Savior comes at last! Furrows lies open for created task: this the labor of people who struggle to see how God’s truth and justice set everybody free. People of Israel you heard the prophet tell: “A virgin mother will bear Emmanuel;” she conceived him, “God with us,” our brother whose birth restores hope and courage to children of this earth. Mountains and valleys will have to be prepared: new highways opened, new protocols declared. Almost here! God is nearing, in beauty and grace! All clear every gateway, in haste, come out in haste! We first saw Jesus a baby in a crib. This same Lord Jesus today has come to live in our world; God is present in neighbors we see our Jesus is with us and ever sets us free. ADVENT PRAYER Loving God, We are not perfect, but we hear your promises. Your promises continue to give us hope. Your promises continue to inspire us to love deeper. Your

promises continue to strengthen us in our faith. We ask for your grace as we stumble forward along our path towards Bethlehem. Amen. WORDS OF COMFORT & JOY One: The true light is coming into the world. All: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness shall not overcome it. Amen. PASSING OF THE PEACE One: May the peace of Christ be with you. All: And also with you. SERMON ON THE STEPS OFFERING/MUSIC Angels from the Realms of Glory DEDICATION SCRIPTURE John 1:1-18 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

SERMON Home for the Holidays: Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz “Set Up a Tent Among Us” ANTHEM Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus arr. Campbell COMMUNION One: God be with you. All: And also with you. One: Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them up to God. One: Let us give thanks to our God. All: It is right to give God thanks and praise. One: …We join in the Advent prayer of all your people: All: O come, come, Emmanuel. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER (These are prayers compiled by our church’s Prayer Team each week and reflect the contents of our own hearts.) One: …We pray, 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 ARTIST Mary Did You Know Maritri Garrett BENEDICTION CLOSING RESPONSE Good Christian Friends, Rejoice IN DULCI JUBILO Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice; Now ye need not fear the grave; Jesus Christ was born to save! Calls you one and calls you all to gain the everlasting hall. Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save! POSTLUDE Toccata on ‘Veni Emmanuel’ Carter

WAYS TO DONATE TO THE CHURCH: 1. Mail in your donation (233 W. Harrison Ave., Claremont, CA 91711) 2. Contribute on our website: claremontucc.org 3. Text an amount to (909) 343-5901 4. Set up automatic giving through your bank Reflection Questions About Today's Worship * What was the most meaningful moment of worship for you today? * What is one new question or idea today's worship service inspired for you

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 Children’s Music Director Ms. Sarah Shufeldt Finance & Payroll Administrator [email protected] Ms. Jocelyn Bocking [email protected], x225 Principal Organist Dr. Carey Robertson Office Manager [email protected] Ms. Jasmine Tomita [email protected], Moderator (Council President) x222 Mr. Tad Creasey [email protected] Minister of Children, Youth, & Families Director of the Early Childhood Rev. DJ Severin Center [email protected], x227 Ms. Kristy Knight [email protected], x226 Children, Youth, & Families Assistant Ms. Elizabeth Zehm [email protected] Junior High Youth Director Ms. Zoe Estrada [email protected]