May 17 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, May 17, 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 Hyfrydol Sean Keating, bagpipes Carey Robertson, organ INTROIT Dreams are More Than Visions HOLY MANNA WELCOME CALL TO WORSHIP One: People of God, what has happened this year? All: We have been surprised! Life is unfolding in ways we did not foresee. One: And yet, through the chaos and confusion, we can see God working. All: All around us there are outward signs of God’s inward grace. One: Let renew our faith in a better future that God has in store for us. All: We are connected! We are surprised! And we are hopeful! OPENING HYMN Amazing Grace AMAZING GRACE Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see. ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed! Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; ‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home. My God has promised good to me, whose word my hope secures; God will my shield and portion be as long as life endures. When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’ first begun. PRAYER OF CONFESSION O God, our Heavenly Creator, we confess that we keep losing our way. In our better moments, we proclaim that love always defeats hate, and that goodness always triumphs over evil. Yet, far too often in the heat of the moment, we lose our heads—and perhaps worse—we lose our hearts. We mean well, O God, but we still choose paths that lead us away from you. Today we acknowledge our sins and shortcomings, and ask you to once again give us mercy and lead us back onto the road of righteousness and faith. Amen.

ASSURANCE One: Friends, We are God’s people. It is God who made us and God who delivers us. God hears our confessions and offers us grace. 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. CHILDREN’S MESSAGE OFFERING/MUSIC We Walk by Faith Sanborn Choral Quartet DEDICATION SCRIPTURE 1 Kings 22:1-9, 13-23 22 For three years Aram and Israel continued without war. 2 But in the third year King Jehoshaphat of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 3 The king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, yet we are doing nothing to take it out of the hand of the king of Aram?” 4 He said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?” Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I am as you are; my people are your people, my horses are your horses.” 5 But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the Lord.” 6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred of them, and said to them, “Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?” They said, “Go up; for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” 7 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no other prophet of the Lord here of whom we may inquire?” 8 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one other by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah son of Imlah; but I hate him, for he never prophesies anything favorable about me, but only disaster.”

Jehoshaphat said, “Let the king not say such a thing.” 9 Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah son of Imlah.” 13 The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king; let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.” 14 But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak.” 15 When he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?” He answered him, “Go up and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” 16 But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” 17 Then Micaiah said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep that have no shepherd; and the Lord said, ‘These have no master; let each one go home in peace.’” 18 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy anything favorable about me, but only disaster?” 19 Then Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, with all the host of heaven standing beside him to the right and to the left of him. 20 And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, so that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ Then one said one thing, and another said another, 21 until a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ 22 ‘How?’ the Lord asked him. He replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then the Lord said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do it.’ 23 So you see, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has decreed disaster for you.” SERMON Seeing 2020: Envisioning a Faithful Future. Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz HYMN Be Now My Vision SLANE Be now my vision, O God of my heart; nothing surpasses the love you impart— You my best thought, by day or by night, waking or sleeping, your presence my light. Be now my wisdom, and be my true word; ever within me, my soul is assured; Mother and Father, you are both to me, now and forever your child I will be. Riches I need not, nor life’s empty praise, you, my inheritance, now and always; You and you only are first In my heart,

great God, my treasure, may we never part. Sovereign of heaven, my victory won, may I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun! Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my vision, O Ruler of all. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER 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. BENEDICTION GUEST ARTIST The Water is Wide Sean Keating, bagpipes CHAMPAGNE TOAST CLOSING RESPONSE Guide My Feet (vs. 1, 2, 4) GUIDE MY FEET Guide my feet while I run this race, guide my feet while I run this race, Guide my feet while I run this race, for I don’t want to run this race in vain. Hold my hand while I run this race, hold my hand while I run this race, Hold my hand while I runt his race, for I don’t want to run this race in vain. Stand by me while I run this race, stand by me while I run this race, Stand by me while I run this race, for I don’t want to run this race in vain. POSTLUDE Highland Cathedral Sean Keating, bagpipes Carey Robertson, organ

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?