September 5 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, September 5, 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 O Lamb of God Bach INTROIT Guide My Feet Chancel Choir WELCOME CALL TO WORSHIP One: Jesus said, “Love your neighbor.” All: Not because your neighbor is easy to love, but because love lives in you. One: Jesus said, “forgive seventy times seven.” All: Because when an insult becomes a grudge, we fixate on retaliation. One: Jesus said, “Love your enemies.” All: Because love is the only power that frees us from hate. One: Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” All: Because love transforms us and widens our circle of compassion. OPENING HYMN #193 In the Cross of Christ I Glory RATHBUN (verses 1-3) PRAYER OF CONFESSION Creator God, we confess that we have focused on our flaws and not celebrated the gifts you have planted and grown in us. We have spent our energy trying to measure up the the standards the world sets, rather than steeping ourselves in your teachings. We have allowed our egos to dictate our words and actions instead of allowing your Spirit to guide us. For all these sins, forgive us. Amen. ASSURANCE OF PARDON One: …We are forgiven. All: God makes all things new! Amen. PASSING OF THE PEACE One: May the peace of Christ be with you. All: And also with you.

THIRD GRADE BIBLES Rev. Laurel Capesius HYMN #522 I Love to Tell the Story (verse 1) HANKEY OFFERING/ANTHEM As the Deer Chancel Choir 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 Exodus 4:1-17 4 Then Moses answered, “But suppose they do not believe me or listen to me, but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’” 2 The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” 3 And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw the staff on the ground, and it became a snake; and Moses drew back from it. 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Reach out your hand, and seize it by the tail”— so he reached out his hand and grasped it, and it became a staff in his hand— 5 “so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” 6 Again, the Lord said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” He put his hand into his cloak; and when he took it out, his hand was leprous, as white as snow. 7 Then God said, “Put your hand back into your cloak”—so he put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored like the rest of his body— 8 “If they will not believe you or heed the first sign, they may believe the second sign. 9 If they will not believe even these two signs or heed you, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground; and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.” 10 But Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor even now that you have spoken to your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” 11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who gives speech to mortals? Who makes them mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to speak.” 13 But he said, “O my Lord, please send someone else.” 14 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “What of your brother Aaron

the Levite? I know that he can speak fluently; even now he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you his heart will be glad. 15 You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do. 16 He indeed shall speak for you to the people; he shall serve as a mouth for you, and you shall serve as God for him. 17 Take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs.” SERMON Wabi-Sabi: No Excuse Will Do Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz GUEST ARTIST The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power Monet Bagneris, voice & piano COMMUNION One: God be with you. All: And also with you. One: Lift up your hearts! All: We lift them up to God. One: Let us give thanks to God. All: It is right to give God our thanks and praise. One: …And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn: All: Holy, holy, holy is our God. One: In remembrance of your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer our lives and our love as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith: All: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again! 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: 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 Love You That Much Mary Mary Monet Bagneris, voice & piano BENEDICTION CLOSING RESPONSE God, Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens HOLY MANNA God, who stretched the spangled heavens infinite in time and place, Flung the suns in burning radiance through the silent fields of space; We, your children, in your likeness, share inventive powers with you; Great Creator, still creating, show us what we yet may do. POSTLUDE Grand Choer Dubois Claremont Brass Carey Robertson, organ CLAREMONT BRASS: Trumpet 1: Jake Petmecky Trumpet 2: Dirk Silva Horn: Chris Rutt Trombone: Lewis Fry Tuba: Gene Boutilier GUEST ARTIST Monet Bagneris (Mo-nay Baw-ner-reese) is a Los Angeles native singer/songwriter who comes from a family of generational pastors. A graduate of the University of Southern California, Monet was the winner of USC’s Trojan Idol and later held the title of Miss Los Angeles County for the Miss America Organization (winning a Talent award) and was voted Miss Congeniality by her peers. She founded Monet Cares in 2013, a nonprofit focused on promoting healthy lifestyles for youth and their families, and was recognized by the Global Prosperity & Peace Initiative as a Peace Ambassador for her service locally and abroad. Monet's voice is featured as the background vocalist on, “All of My Love” which the Associated Press named the #5 song of 2020.

ALTAR FLOWERS Today’s altar flowers are given by Man Dy and dedicated to the children who received their bibles this morning. May your new bible bring great knowledge to you, remind you that your church loves you, and fill your heart and mind with the spirit of God! HYMN COMMENTARY In the Cross of Christ I Glory John Bowring (1792-1872) based this text on Paul's letter to the Galatians 6:14. The opening line appears on his tombstone. This hymn alone has assured Bowring a place of distinction in the history of Christian hymnody. Bowring was a Unitarian, holding positions in France and Hong Kong. He was fluent in more than 100 languages and was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1854. Ithamir Conkey (1818-1867) composed this tune. He was organist and choir director of Central Baptist Church, Norwich, Connecticut. 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]. THOSE SEEKING ENCOURAGEMENT: Mary Alexander, friend of Martha Stephenson friends of Blair & Chris Aldworth 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 Gary Roswell, friend of Sandy Fasano Family of Sandy Wittwer & Galen Kenoyer Eric & David Sandberg, family of Ruth Sandberg Elaine Bumiller, CUCC member Heather Sheppard-Harlow, friend of Sandy Fasano Jill Carol, CUCC member Penny Smith & Family, friend of Dona Turk Cynthia Chertos, CUCC member Jennifer Stephenson, CUCC staff Ellen Feyk, CUCC member Lucy, Claire, & John Stover, friends of Linda Tajima Victoria Findlay & Allison Thomkins, Paul Towne, family of Howard Towne Tran Family, friends of Ruth Sandberg CUCC member & her daughter Charles Folks, family of Marsha Madison Mark Watson, family of Roxanne Watson Leventhal Family, friends of Francesco Barbera Victor Williams Family, friends of Linda Corbin Susan Lominska, responders, & victims of Roger & Jeane, friends of Ruth Sandberg Hurricane Ida, CUCC member Tim McCann, Jasmine and Anna Gatto-McCann,

FOR HEALTH AND HEALING: Matt Alford, CUCC member Leslie McLouhlin, extended family of Diana Miller Caitlin Antrim, friend of Jean Marston Josephine Miller, mother of Deborah Castillero Robert Apodaca, friend of Lydia de los Rios Tony Araunz-Martinez, friend of Maureen Moorman Patricia Molina, aunt of Beatriz Roman Castellanos Lori Barbera, mother of Francesco Barbera Mila Moncayo, friend of Francesco Barbera Cristina Bergfalk, mother of Benjamin & family of Jeffrey Mulder, son of Sheri Mulder Cynthia Munos, daughter of Juan Munoz Virginia Bergfalk Steve Murray, extended family of Judith Bayer Stephanie Bertleson, Betty Frank’s niece Myles Nielson, grandson of Bea Gallegos Greg Pavlik, friend of Marsha Madison Debbie Brown, friend of Judi Bayer Jessie Colby Pryce, friend of Linda & Craig Cummings Carlene Cable, friend of Sherry McCauley Jenna Robinson, friend of Rita Dixon Sedra Canjo, daughter of Nadr Canjo Joseph Robinson, brother of John Robinson Linda Carney, niece-in-law of Linda Corbin Margo Rouette, CUCC member Alice Chin, CUCC attender Lawrence Randall Rutt, father of Christopher Rutt Denise Christopoulos, friend of Sandy Fasano Jay Sharp, CUCC member Char Craft, friend of Sandy Fasano Cheryl Sims, friend of Marsha Madison Linda Cummings, CUCC member Wayne E. Sims, R.N., brother of Marsha Madison Toni de los Rios, cousin of Lydia de los Rios Todd Songer, friend of Diana Miller MaryAnn Delgadillo, mother of Christopher Mickey & Sandra Spiker, friends of Tim & Peggy Delgadillo Constantine, Denise Spooner, & Joe Marino Dustin & Cristina Dickerson, family of Roxanne Larry Starkweather, friend of Sandra Wittwer Watson Kathy Starr, friend of Sherry McCauley Margaret Duffy, extended family of Dali Podenski Martha Stephenson, CUCC member Erica & Haley Enos, CUCC member & sister Julius M. Steubing, CUCC member Max & Kelsey Ferrell, Johnathan Diaz, Ana Alicia, Lorraine Telles, friend of Marta D’Anda Michael Toomay, son of Bea Gallegos Jose, Elias, & Ana Villaseñor, family of Tasha Teresa Tulcan, friend of Anne Forburger Ferrell Sandi Walter, CUCC member Sandy French, friend of Marsha Madison Chris Weldon, friend of Christopher Fairchild Rev. Anita White, UCC Pastor, friend of Jane Laurie Giesenhagen, CUCC member Kimberly Griffin, CUCC attender Gibbons Iris Harleman, friend of Shirley Jones Kathy Widmer, friend of Cynthia Moreno Joan Hunter, Granny of Zoe Estrada Rev. Maria Wilson, CUCC attender David Jamieson, CUCC member Terri King, CUCC member Catherine Yamasaki, friend of Sandy Fasano Diana Krumme, friend of Dali Podenski Troy Zeleny, nephew of Anne Stromberg Olivia Lakner, family friend of Carolyn Barbera Ava & her father, Mike, friend of Ruth Abel Elaine Larson, friend of Dona Turk Benjamin, grandson of Virginia Bergfalk Kathleen Leo, CUCC member Chad, friend of Christopher Fairchild Nola Lewallen, mother of John Lewallen Marilyn, friend of Ruth Sandberg Marlene Lobb, friend of Anne Stromberg Ruthie, friend of Valerie Carrick Frank Malone, friend of Judith Bayer Simolena, grandmother of Sherry McCauley’s nurse Jan Marshall, CUCC attender Sherry McCauley, CUCC member

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 Dr. Carey Robertson Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz [email protected] [email protected], x230 Rev. Dr. Jen Strickland Director of the Early Childhood [email protected], x 228 Center Ms. Kristy Knight Finance & Payroll Administrator [email protected], x226 Ms. Jocelyn Bocking [email protected], x225 Building Manager Mr. Don Doughty Office Manager [email protected], Ms. Jasmine Tomita x240 [email protected], x222 Technology Director Mr. Jon Van Minister of Children, Youth, & [email protected] Families Rev. Laurel Capesius Technology Asisstant [email protected] Mr. Josh Ngo [email protected] Children, Youth, & Families Assistant ASL Interpreter Ms. Elizabeth Zehm Ms. Jennifer Stephenson [email protected] Moderator (Council President) Junior High Youth Director Ms. Rita Dixon Ms. Zoe Estrada [email protected] [email protected] Director of Music & Fine Arts Dr. Jonathan Campbell [email protected], x242 Principal Organist