May 1 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, May 1, 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 All Creatures of Our God and King Hymn, arr. Brenda Hunter Flutter-by Music INTROIT Listen to Your Savior Call ORIENTIS PARTIBUS CALL TO WORSHIP One: We tend to put God in a box, as if it’s safer that way. All: God, break through our walls. One: We claim to have answers, when all we have are questions. All: God, break through our certainty. One: We come to this place of worship to be renewed. All: God, restore us in love. OPENING HYMN #247 My Shepherd Is the Living God CONSOLATION WELCOME PRAYER OF CONFESSION Liberating God, we confess that we bind ourselves to human rules and laws. We do not allow ourselves to think beyond these cages. We turn away from your kin-dom, and we fail to act for collective liberation. Forgive us, God of Life. Free our minds to know more of your truth. Free our hearts to know more of your love. Amen. WORDS OF ASSURANCE One: …May you be filled with joy, hope, and courage, for you are forgiven. All: Thanks be to God! 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 Elizabeth Zehm OFFERING/ANTHEM Sweet Rivers of Redeeming Love Jonathan D. Campbell 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 Acts 5:17-21, 27-32 (NRSV) 17 Then the high priest took action; he and all who were with him (that is, the sect of the Sadducees), being filled with jealousy, 18 arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, brought them out, and said, 20 “Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about this life.” 21 When they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching. When the high priest and those with him arrived, they called together the council and the whole body of the elders of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 27 When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles

answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” SERMON Acting Up: When We Disobey Rev. Laurel Capesius HYMN #349 I Come with Joy (verses 1-3, 5) DOVE OF PEACE COMMUNION 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 using the words you teach us, saying 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. GUEST ARTIST For the Beauty of the Earth Kocher, arr. Brenda Hunter Flutter-by Music BENEDICTION CLOSING RESPONSE Come, Christians, Join to Sing MADRID

POSTLUDE Fugue in C Major Dietrich Buxtehude Special thanks to our Media Ministry Volunteer: David Moore ALTAR FLOWERS Today’s altar flowers are given by Man Dy in honor of those who stand up for what is right, even in perilous situations. May God bless you and reward you for your courage. HYMN COMMENTARY \"My Shepherd Is the Living God\" Isaac Watts (1674-1748) created three metrical paraphrases of psalm 23. He published the fourth and final collection of his hymn texts in 1719. This tune first appeared in a shape-note tunebook published by Freeman Lewis in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In William Walker's Baptist hymnbook, used primarily in Southeastern United States, this tune was matched with Isaac Watts's text. GUEST ARTIST Flutter-by Music is a duo of SoCal/CentralCal musicians. Longtime friends, now musical partners, Patti Amelotte and Brenda Hunter draw from their common classical backgrounds and love of Celtic music to create a broad ranging repertoire of hammered dulcimer duets sometimes adding in harp, fiddle and

accordion. They derive great joy from arranging and performing music together and are grateful to be providing music for you this morning! www.flutterbymusic.com https://www.facebook.com/DoubleDulcimers [email protected] 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]. THOSE SEEKING ENCOURAGEMENT: Mary Alexander, twin of Martha Stephenson Leventhal Family, friends of Francesco Barbera Danielle McLain Amsbury & Family, friend of Linda Hodson & Family, CUCC member Clarisse Nakahama Kyle King & Children, friends of Sochi Romero 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, Sheila Brumleve Moses, friend of Sandy Fasano Family of Sandy Wittwer & Galen Kenoyer Priscilla Otto & her daughter, Perla Valenzeula, Elaine Bumiller, CUCC member CUCC attenders Jill Carol, CUCC member Valeria Pizzetti, friend of Dona Turk Joe Carrero & Shane Jukes, friends of Maria Andrade Christy Powell, friend of Ali Perreault Amy Campbell, friend of Blair Aldworth Mario Ramos, Adelanto detainee Irma Castaneda, CUCC attender Sandra Spiker, friends of Tim & Peggy Constantine, Maria Chave, friend of Silvia Young Denise Spooner, & Joe Marino 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 Cheri Strawsburg & Family, friends of Sandy Fasano Victoria Findlay & Allison Thomkins, Paul Towne, family of Howard Towne CUCC member & her daughter Carol & Linda, friends of Kay Brand Charles Folks, family of Marsha Madison Roger & Jeane, friends of Ruth Sandberg Zina Grishenko, grandmother of Alex Grabarchuk FOR HEALTH AND HEALING: Caitlin Antrim, friend of Jean Marston Virginia Bergfalk Robert Apodaca, friend of Lydia de los Rios Stephanie Bertleson, Betty Frank’s niece Jenny Appleford, friend of Jane Droubay Charles Blickenstaff, brother of Judith Bayer’s Tony Araunz-Martinez, friend of Maureen Moorman neighbor Stacey Ballard Debbie Brown, friend of Judi Bayer Cristina Bergfalk, mother of Benjamin & family of Laura Burt, CUCC member

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

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. Rebecca McAllister 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