August 8 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, August 8, 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 Jesu, Joy of Our Desiring Bach INTROIT Come, Come, Blessed Bird Campbell WELCOME CALL TO WORSHIP One: Our God loves us and is with us when all is well and peaceful. All: Our God loves us and is with us when everything is overwhelming and hard. One: Our God loves us and is with us when we follow Christ’s teachings. All: Our God loves us and is with us when we really make a mess of things. One: In every moment of every day, we are loved, seen, and known. All: Together, let us worship our God. OPENING HYMN #459 Come, O Fount of Every Blessing NETTLETON PRAYER OF CONFESSION God who helps us cross rivers, each week we are presented with new opportunities to show grace to others, to give selflessly of our time and resources, and to widen our circle of compassion. Sometimes we succeed in accepting these beautiful invitations into bigger and better life, but often we fail. Often we disappoint ourselves and we are sure that we have disappointed you, as well. Hear our confession, and offer us mercy, O God. Amen. ASSURANCE OF PARDON One: …God offers us bountiful grace in light of our shortcomings, and the chance to be renewed again and again in the light of Christ. All: Through Christ, God makes all things 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 Domine Deus Mozart

Devon Guthrie, soprano, CUCC section leader Abi Levis, mezzo soprano, CUCC section leader Genevieve Lee, collaborative piano 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 2 Kings 2:1-14 2 Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent.” 4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5 The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; be silent.” 6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. 7 Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8 Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground. 9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” 10 He responded, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” 11 As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. 12 Elisha kept

watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13 He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over. SERMON Crossing Rivers: Passing the Mantle Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz ANTHEM Summer Choir 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 using the words Jesus teaches us, saying… All: Heavenly Mother, heavenly Father, Holy and blessed is your true name. We pray for your reign of peace to come, We pray that your good will be done, Let heaven and earth become one. Give us this day the bread we need, Give it to those who have none. Let forgiveness flow like a river through us, From each one to each one to each one. Lead us to holy innocence Beyond the evil of our days, Come swiftly Mother, Father, come! For yours is the power and the glory and the mercy - Forever your name is All in One. (Parker Palmer) GUEST ARTIST Pie Jesu Lloyd Webber Devon Guthrie, soprano, CUCC section leader Abi Levis, mezzo soprano, CUCC section leader Genevieve Lee, collaborative piano BENEDICTION

CLOSING RESPONSE Shall We Gather at the River HANSON PLACE Shall we gather at the river, where bright angel feet have trod, With its crystal tide forever flowing by the throne of God? Yes, we’ll gather at the river, the beautiful, the beautiful river, Gather with the saints at the river that flows by the throne of God. POSTLUDE Toccata in B Minor Gigout ALTAR FLOWERS Today’s altar flowers are given by Man Dy and dedicated to all who are returning to school soon. May your school year be safe and full of new knowledge! HYMN COMMENTARY “Come, O Fount of Every Blessing” Robert Robinson (1735 - 1790) is believed to be the author of this hymn. He converted to Christianity at the age of twenty. Robinson entered the ministry, but his unstable nature caused him to move from one denomination to another. John Wyeth (1770-1858) marks the first printed use of this American tune. A similar melody exists in the African American spiritual tradition.

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

Kathleen Leo, CUCC member Cheryl Sims, friend of Marsha Madison Nola Lewallen, mother of John Lewallen Wayne E. Sims, R.N., brother of Marsha Madison Marlene Lobb, friend of Anne Stromberg Todd Songer, friend of Diana Miller Frank Malone, friend of Judith Bayer Mickey & Sandra Spiker, friends of Tim & Peggy Jan Marshall, CUCC attender Danielle Marquez, family of Carolyn Barbera Constantine, Denise Spooner, & Joe Marino Larry Starkweather, friend of Sandra Wittwer Sherry McCauley, CUCC member Martha Stephenson, CUCC member Dean McCrumb, friend of Dorothy Wheat Julius M. Steubing, CUCC member Catherine McIntosh, friend of Carol Wiese Lorraine Telles, friend of Marta D’Anda Leslie McLouhlin, extended family of Diana Miller Michael Toomay, son of Bea Gallegos Wendy Mitchell, friend of Carol Wiese David Tortes, brother of Rebecca Tortes Josephine Miller, mother of Deborah Castillero Teresa Tulcan, friend of Anne Forburger VeBrad & Karen Visser, son & daughter in-law of Jim Patricia Molina, aunt of Beatriz Roman Castellanos Mila Moncayo, friend of Francesco Barbera Visser Jeffrey Mulder, son of Sheri Mulder Dwight Vogel, friend of Jean Rosewall Cynthia Munos, daughter of Juan Munoz Sandi Walter, CUCC member Steve Murray, extended family of Judith Bayer Chris Weldon, friend of Christopher Fairchild Nate Neumeyer, friend of Blair Aldworth Rev. Anita White, UCC Pastor, friend of Jane Grace Newkirk, friend of Carol Wiese Myles Nielson, grandson of Bea Gallegos Gibbons Greg Pavlik, friend of Marsha Madison Jessie Colby Pryce, friend of Linda & Craig Cummings Kathy Widmer, friend of Cynthia Moreno Jenna Robinson, friend of Rita Dixon Rev. Maria Wilson, CUCC attender Joseph Robinson, brother of John Robinson Troy Zeleny, nephew of Anne Stromberg Margo Rouette, CUCC member Ava & her father, Mike, friend of Ruth Abel Lawrence Randall Rutt, father of Christopher Rutt Benjamin, grandson of Virginia Bergfalk Eileen Schmalle, friend of Anne Forburger Chad, friend of Christopher Fairchild Griffen Schreiber, friend of Francesco Barbera Diane, friend of Kay Brand Jay Sharp, CUCC member Jennifer, daughter of Laura Burt Marilyn, friend of Ruth Sandberg 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 [email protected], x242 Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz [email protected], x230 Principal Organist Rev. Dr. Jen Strickland Dr. Carey Robertson [email protected], x 228 [email protected] Finance & Payroll Administrator Director of the Early Childhood Ms. Jocelyn Bocking Center [email protected], x225 Ms. Kristy Knight [email protected], x226 Office Manager Ms. Jasmine Tomita Building Manager [email protected], Mr. Don Doughty x222 [email protected], x240 Minister of Children, Youth, & Families Technology Director Rev. Laurel Capesius Mr. Jon Van [email protected] [email protected] Children, Youth, & Families Technology Asisstant Assistant Mr. Josh Ngo Ms. Elizabeth Zehm [email protected] [email protected] ASL Interpreter Junior High Youth Director Ms. Jennifer Stephenson Ms. Zoe Estrada [email protected] Moderator (Council President) Ms. Rita Dixon Director of Music & Fine Arts [email protected] Dr. Jonathan Campbell