Feb 6 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, February 6, 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 Down to the River to Pray Traditional American Maritri Garrett INTROIT My Lord! What a Morning Spiritual CALL TO WORSHIP One: Let us open our eyes so that God’s grace can be found. All: Let us open our ears so that God’s hope can be heard. One: Let us open our hearts so that God’s love can be planted. All: Let us open our minds so that God’s wisdom can grow. OPENING HYMN #328 Wonder of Wonders, Here Revealed PENTECOST WELCOME PRAYER OF CONFESSION Merciful God, You see deep into our hearts and know us better than we know ourselves. Forgive us we pray, for the times we turn away from Your word, and attempt to do life on our own. Remind us that You are our ever- present guide. For our resistance to forgiveness, generosity and mercy, fill us with Your compassionate grace and love. Amen. WORDS OF ASSURANCE One: …In Jesus, our sins are forgiven and our healing is able to begin. All: Our God redeems! Amen. PASSING OF THE PEACE One: May the peace of Christ be with you. All: And also with you. CHILDREN’S WELCOME SONG This Little Light THIS JOY This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

SERMON ON THE STEPS & BAPTISM OF WILLIAM VALENTINE One: Little children were being brought to Jesus so that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them; but Jesus said, All: “Let the little children come to me, do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” OFFERING/ANTHEM Baptism William Billings 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 Matthew 3:13-17 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” SERMON Havin’ Church: Old Time Religion Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz Baptism HYMN #322 Take Me to the Water African-American spiritual (verses 1, 3, 4, 1) 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: Lord, in your mercy… All: hear our prayer.

One: We pray these things using the words you teach us… All: God of all Who made the heavens and the earth Your name is perfect and complete Help us to be trustworthy with your creation Help us to trust - in this life and in the life after Empower us to attain our physical and psychological needs, and free us from the wants of our privilege Forgive our failure to understand others and their needs And grant us the ability to forgive when we are misunderstood Free us from that which separates us from You But, help us to seek Your still speaking voice Because You are our community, our resilience, and our future - in all ways and at all times Let it be - Sean Luebbers GUEST ARTIST His Eye is on the Sparrow Charles H. Gabriel Maritri Garrett BENEDICTION CLOSING RESPONSE Lord, Make Me More Holy Spiritual POSTLUDE The Promised Land Traditional American Melody arr. Joyce Jones

Special thanks to our Media Ministry Volunteer: David Moore ALTAR FLOWERS Today's flowers are given by Claremont United Church of Christ in celebration of the engagement of our Co-Directors of Music and Fine Arts, Alex Grabarchuk and David Rentz. HYMN COMMENTARY Wonder of Wonders, Here Revealed Jane Parker Huber (1926-2008), born in Jinan, China to Presbyteriain missionary parents, wrote this text. Jane Parker married William Huber, a Presbyterian minister in 1947. Noted for her column, \"Ask Jane\" in Horizons, the national women's magazine of her denomination, Jane Parker Huber emphasized peacemaking, justice, and inclusiveness in her ministry and her hymn texts. She served on the committee for the Presbyterian Hymnal (1990) in which seven of her hymns appeared. William Boyd (1847-1928) composed this tune. He was born in Jamaica, and received his education in England. He served for 29 years as vicar at All Saints, Norfolk Square, London. GUEST ARTIST Maritri is a singer, songwriter and multi- instrumentalist from San Bernardino, California. She holds a BA in biology from Fisk University where she was a Jubilee singer and a BS from Howard University in composition and an MFA in Jazz studies from Howard University.Of late, she has freelanced for several Southern California theaters as a musician and composer . She plays nightly on Facebook live five nights a week at Facebook.com/maritrigarrett.

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]. OUR NEWEST SAINT: Lori Barbera, mother of Francesco Barbera THOSE SEEKING ENCOURAGEMENT: Mary Alexander, twin of Martha Stephenson Danielle McLain Amsbury & Family, friend of Linda Hodson & Family, CUCC member Clarisse Nakahama Corey Laponis, former CUCC sexton Jennifer Araujo, friend of Carolyn Barbera Randi McKee & Family, friend of Blair Aldworth Katrina Armienti, friend of Carolyn Barbera Margaret Merhoff, CUCC member Francesco Barbera & Family, CUCC member Priscilla Otto & her daughter, Perla Valenzeula, Casey & Sarah Boatman, Tatum & Everett, CUCC attenders Family of Sandy Wittwer & Galen Kenoyer Valeria Pizzetti, friend of Dona Turk Elaine Bumiller, CUCC member Christy Powell, friend of Ali Perreault Jill Carol, CUCC member Mario Ramos, Adelanto detainee Irma Castaneda, CUCC attender Gary Roswell, friend of Sandy Fasano Cynthia Chertos, CUCC member Sandra Spiker, friends of Tim & Peggy Constantine, The DiMitri Family, family of the Barbera’s Denise Spooner, & Joe Marino Ellen Feyk, CUCC member Jennifer Stephenson, CUCC staff Victoria Findlay & Allison Thomkins, Lucy, Claire, & John Stover, friends of Linda Tajima CUCC member & her daughter Paul Towne, family of Howard Towne Charles Folks, family of Marsha Madison Carol & Linda, friends of Kay Brand Leventhal Family, friends of Francesco Barbera Roger & Jeane, friends of Ruth Sandberg Tim McCann, Jasmine and Anna Gatto-McCann, friends of Blair & Chris Aldworth FOR HEALTH AND HEALING: Blair Aldworth, CUCC member Margaret Duffy, extended family of Dali Podenski Caitlin Antrim, friend of Jean Marston Erica & Haley Enos, CUCC member & sister Robert Apodaca, friend of Lydia de los Rios Matthew Enriquez, friend of Scott Bohlender Tony Araunz-Martinez, friend of Maureen Moorman Levi Entereso, CUCC member Stacey Ballard Sandy French, friend of Marsha Madison Cristina Bergfalk, mother of Benjamin & family of Laurie Giesenhagen, CUCC member Virginia Bergfalk Jennifer Grande, CUCC member Stephanie Bertleson, Betty Frank’s niece Kimberly Griffin, CUCC attender Charles Blickenstaff, brother of Judith Bayer’s Iris Harleman, friend of Shirley Jones neighbor Bill Hodson, father of Linda Hodson Debbie Brown, friend of Judi Bayer Joan Hunter, Granny of Zoe Estrada Laura Burt, CUCC member David Jamieson, CUCC member Carlene Cable, friend of Sherry McCauley Sarah Jones, mother of Carolyn Barbera Alice Chin, CUCC attender Terri King, CUCC member Denise Christopoulos, friend of Sandy Fasano Michal Kohout, husband of Anne Bennett Linda Cummings, CUCC member Courtney Koverman, daughter of Briggs Gamblin Toni de los Rios, cousin of Lydia de los Rios Diana Krumme, friend of Dali Podenski MaryAnn Delgadillo, mother of Christopher Olivia Lakner, family friend of Carolyn Barbera Delgadillo Kathleen Leo, CUCC member Ryan & Tammy Denny, friends of Missy McCormick Nola Lewallen, mother of John Lewallen

Marlene Lobb, friend of Anne Stromberg Todd Songer, friend of Diana Miller Frank & Barbara Malone, friends of Judith Bayer Joyce Sorrento, family of the Barbera’s Jim Marino, brother of Joe Marino Larry Starkweather, friend of Sandra Wittwer Jan Marshall, CUCC attender Kathy Starr, friend of Sherry McCauley Sherry McCauley, CUCC member Martha Stephenson, CUCC member Leslie McLouhlin, extended family of Diana Miller Julius M. Steubing, CUCC member Joseph Mikesell, nephew of Sandy Gabel Lorraine Telles, friend of Marta D’Anda Josephine Miller, mother of Deborah Castillero Everett Thurston, father of Wayne Thurston Debbie Mitchell, CUCC member Michael Toomay, son of Bea Gallegos Patricia Molina, aunt of Beatriz Roman Castellanos Jocelyn Tuchon, daughter of Merritt Verrill Mila Moncayo, friend of Francesco Barbera Teresa Tulcan, friend of Anne Forburger Jeffrey Mulder, son of Sheri Mulder Dakota Van Fossen, friend of Peggy Kelly Cynthia Munos, daughter of Juan Munoz Sandi Walter, CUCC member Linda Murray, CUCC member Shirley Washington, CUCC member Steve Murray, extended family of Judith Bayer Chris Weldon, friend of Christopher Fairchild Myles Nielson, grandson of Bea Gallegos Kathy Widmer, friend of Cynthia Moreno Barbara Patch, friend of Ruth Abel Donna Williams, extended family of Shirley Jones Madeline Patane, CUCC member Rev. Maria Wilson, CUCC attender Greg Pavlik, friend of Marsha Madison Catherine Yamasaki, friend of Sandy Fasano Jessie Colby Pryce, friend of Linda & Craig Cummings Troy Zeleny, nephew of Anne Stromberg Whitney Relf Ava & her father, Mike, friend of Ruth Abel Jenna Robinson, friend of Rita Dixon Benjamin, grandson of Virginia Bergfalk Xochitl Romero, neighbor of Judith Bayer Brian, friend of Tina Kambarian Margo Rouette, CUCC member Chad, friend of Christopher Fairchild Lawrence Randall Rutt, father of Christopher Rutt Esperanza & Hector, extended family of Silvia Bernadette Sarver, cousin of Judith Bayer Jay Sharp, CUCC member Giordano Cheryl Sims, friend of Marsha Madison Ruthie, friend of Valerie Carrick Bo & Wayne Sims, brother and sister in-law of Marsha Scarlet, granddaughter of Judith Bayer Madison Simolena, grandmother of Sherry McCauley’s nurse RaeAnn Sines, friend of Linda Corbin Nancy Skidmore, cousin of Judith Bayer

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. Jennifer Stephenson 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