November 22 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, November 22, 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 Thanksgiving Medley Callahan INTROIT Come, Come, Blessed Bird Campbell WELCOME CALL TO WORSHIP One: If you are tired of division, anger, and hopelessness, welcome to worship. All: If you are weighed down with fear, grief, or struggle, gather with us before our God. One: If you are searching for personal and societal peace, seeking personal and societal liberation, and praying for the future, you have come to the right place. All: Our God is making all things new. Let us offer God our praise and worship. OPENING HYMN For the Fruit of All Creation AR HYD Y NOS For the fruit of all creation, thanks be to God. For God’s gifts to every nation, thanks be to God. For the plowing, sowing, reaping, silent growth while we are sleeping, Future needs in earth’s safekeeping, thanks be to God. In the just reward of labor, God’s will is done. In the help we give our neighbor, God’s will is done. In our worldwide task of caring for the hungry and despairing, In the harvests we are sharing, God’s will is done. For the harvests of the Spirit, thanks be to God. For the good we all inherit, thanks be to God. For the wonders that astound us, for the truths that still confound us, Most of all that love has found us, thanks be to God. PRAYER OF CONFESSION God of compassion, we confess that our faith is not as strong and constant as we wish it were. The world threatens to fill us with bitterness and cynicism. Our own insecurities threaten to harden our hearts and thwart our efforts to follow your will. Renew our strength, we pray. Open our hearts to better love ourselves and one another. Open our minds to grow wiser and kinder. Open our eyes to see one another with the same gentleness that you

see each of us. Shower us with your loving grace so that we might extend that grace to ourselves and one another. Amen. WORD OF ASSURANCE: One: …Let us accept it and live with renewed faith. 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 Simple Gifts Sam Betanzos, piano DEDICATION SCRIPTURE Ephesians 3:14-19 14 For this reason I bow my knees before God, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. 16 I pray that, according to the riches of God’s glory, God may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through God’s Spirit, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. 18 I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. SCRIPTURE John 18:33-38 33 Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” 35 Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom

were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 37 Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” SERMON What is Truth? Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz ANTHEM Praise to God Sirett 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 Hope Returns Sean Gabel, vocals and piano BENEDICTION CLOSING RESPONSE Now Thank We All Our God NUN DANKET Now thank we all our God with hearts and hands and voices, Who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices, Who, from our parents’ arms has blessed us on our way With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today. POSTLUDE No Thank We All Our God Karg-Elert

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 Mr. Tad Creasey [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]