August 23 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, August 23, 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 Dance Behnke INTROIT “I Believe” from Credo of Gospel Mass Robert Ray WELCOME NEW MEMBER WELCOME CALL TO WORSHIP One: On computers and iPads, on smart phones and laptops, All: We gather to worship our God. One: In our pajamas and sweatpants, with our breakfast and coffee, All: We gather to worship our God. One: With sleep in our eyes and tangles in our hair, with happy hearts and hopefully dreams, All: We gather to worship our God. OPENING HYMN Jesus, Still Lead On SEELENBRÄUTIGAM Jesus, still lead on, till our rest be won; and although the way be cheerless, we will follow, calm and fearless; guide us by your hand to the promised land. If the way be drear, if the woe be near, let not faithless fears o’er take us, let not faith and hope forsake us; for through many a woe, to our home we go. When we seek relief from a long-felt grief, when temptations come alluring, make us patient and enduring; show us that bright shore where we weep no more. Jesus, still lead on, till our rest be won ; Heavenly Leader still direct us, still support, console, protect us, guide us by your hand to the promised land. PRAYER OF CONFESSION God who never leaves us, we confess that we feel lost in this wilderness. We have been wandering for nearly half a year in this barren land of uncertainty, loss, and worry. Our connections with our friends have weakened. Our trust in our neighbors has been tested. Our ability to see the

silver linings in these clouds is waning. Our confidence in your presence is shaken. And yet we know that we are still far from the end of our time in this wilderness. Renew our faith, Holy One. Lead us on through this dry, hard place and into a land flowing with nourishment and safety for all. Amen. WORDS OF ASSURANCE One: … Let us hold fast to God’s promises and accept grace for our doubts. We are forgiven and loved. 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 Pie Jesu from Requiem Fauré Devon Guthrie, soprano DEDICATION SCRIPTURE Ezra 1:1-4 1 In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of Persia so that he sent a herald throughout all his kingdom, and also in a written edict declared: 2 “Thus says King Cyrus of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. 3 Any of those among you who are of his people—may their God be with them!—are now permitted to go up to Jerusalem in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem; 4 and let all survivors, in whatever place they reside, be assisted by the

people of their place with silver and gold, with goods and with animals, besides freewill offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem.” SCRIPTURE Song of Solomon 1:1-7 1 The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s. 2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine, 3 your anointing oils are fragrant, your name is perfume poured out; therefore the maidens love you. 4 Draw me after you, let us make haste. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will exult and rejoice in you; we will extol your love more than wine; rightly do they love you. 5 I am black and beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. 6 Do not gaze at me because I am dark, because the sun has gazed on me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept! 7 Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you pasture your flock, where you make it lie down at noon; for why should I be like one who is veiled beside the flocks of your companions? SCRIPTURE Nahum 1:6-11 6 Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and by him the rocks are broken in pieces. 7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in a day of trouble; he protects those who take refuge in him, 8 even in a rushing flood. He will make a full end of his adversaries,

and will pursue his enemies into darkness. 9 Why do you plot against the Lord? He will make an end; no adversary will rise up twice. 10 Like thorns they are entangled, like drunkards they are drunk; they are consumed like dry straw. 11 From you one has gone out who plots evil against the Lord, one who counsels wickedness. SCRIPTURE 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 2 You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, 2 but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition. 3 For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; 6 nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, 7 though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. 8 So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us. 9 You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers. 11 As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, 12 urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. SCRIPTURE 2 Thessalonians 2:1-7 2 As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction. 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of

God, declaring himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you? 6 And you know what is now restraining him, so that he may be revealed when his time comes. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but only until the one who now restrains it is removed. SCRIPTURE Titus 3:3-11 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water[a] of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is sure. I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone. 9 But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 After a first and second admonition, have nothing more to do with anyone who causes divisions, 11 since you know that such a person is perverted and sinful, being self-condemned. SCRIPTURE Philemon 8-16 8 For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, 9 yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. 10 I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. 13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. 15 Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. SCRIPTURE 2 Peter 3:8-11

8 But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed. 11 Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, SERMON The Unread Books: The Remaining Books Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz ANTHEM For the Sake of the World Campbell 3. Created in the Image of God 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 Rejoice Greatly from Messiah Handel Devon Guthrie, soprano BENEDICTION CLOSING RESPONSE Jesus Christ is Risen Today LLANFAIR Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia! Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia! Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia! Suffer to redeem our loss, Alleluia! POSTLUDE Toccata Behnke

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]