September 13 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, September 13, 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 O Thou of God the Father Bach Blanchard INTROIT Thy Beauty on the Hills WELCOME CALL TO WORSHIP One: In the beginning, when there was deep darkness, All: Our God lit the universe. One: In the tomb, where there was deep darkness, All: Our Messiah stepped out into the sunlit morning. One: In our lives, when we feel lost in deep darkness, All: Our Creator seeks us and calls us into new light. Let us worship our God. OPENING HYMN Christ is Arisen, Alleluia Christ has arisen, alleluia, rejoice and praise him, alleluia! For our redeemer burst from the tomb, even from death dispelling its gloom. Let us sing praise to him with endless joy, death’s fearful sting he has come to destroy. Our sin forgiving, alleluia, Jesus is living, alleluia. For three long days the grave did its worst until its strength by God was dispersed. He who gives life did death undergo, and in its conquest God's might did show. Let us sing praise to him with endless joy, death’s fearful sting he has come to destroy. Our sin forgiving, alleluia, Jesus is living, alleluia. The angel said to them, \"Do not fear. You look for Jesus who is not here. See for yourselves the tomb is all bare. Only the graveclothes are lying there.\"

Let us sing praise to him with endless joy, death’s fearful sting he has come to destroy. Our sin forgiving, alleluia, Jesus is living, alleluia. PRAYER OF CONFESSION Seeking God, we confess that we are always wandering off the path you set before us. We are always getting lost in the complicated web of social interactions, the fluctuating relationships with our loved ones, the current volatile political landscape, and even in our own beliefs. Find us once again, we pray. Lead us back into your presence, where we may once again flourish and be made whole. Amen. WORDS OF ASSURANCE One: …Now let us return to God’s path renewed. 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. SERMON ON THE STEPS OFFERING/MUSIC Be Opened written and performed by Sean Gabel DEDICATION SCRIPTURE Ezekiel 37:1-14 37 The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. 3 He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry

bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.” 7 So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” 10 I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude. 11 Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ 12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. 14 I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.” SERMON Rev. Dr. Jen Strickland When Will This End? Lessons From the Wilderness ANTHEM Jesu, Joy of Our Desiring J.S. Bach Claremont Quartet 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 Improvisation Victor Ibarra, djembe

BENEDICTION CLOSING RESPONSE Great Is Your Faithfulness FAITHFULNESS Bach Great is your faithfulness, O God, creator, with you no shadows of turning we see. You do not change, your compassions they fail not; all of your goodness forever will be. Great is your faithfulness! Great is your faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; all I have needed your hand has provided, great is your faithfulness, God, unto me! POSTLUDE Praeludium In G Major 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 Dr. Linda Corbin [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]