April 16 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, April 16, 2023 10:00 am Welcome home! Regardless of your age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, abilities, or faith background, we are glad you’re worshiping with us today. You belong here.

A CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP CLAREMONT UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST PRELUDE Peace Prayer of St. Francis Abergel, Fuller, & Rosen The ShamaMamahS INTROIT Time to Put Down Roots AVON/David Lessard CALL TO WORSHIP One: Where there is understanding; All: there is compassion; One: where there is compassion, All: there is possibility; One: where there is possibility; All: there is transformation. Let us open ourselves to the understanding, compassion, possibility, and transformation of God. OPENING HYMN You Are Worthy Marc Imboden & Tammi Rhoton Jeanette Wiersma, guitar (see insert) WELCOME CONFESSING OUR SHORTCOMINGS God who blesses us generously, as we enter this season of stewardship, we confess that talking about money sometimes makes us uncomfortable and anxious. We confess that we are not always proud of how we spend our earnings, and we are not always good stewards of our resources, both personally and collectively. Forgive us for these human flaws. Draw us closer to you and closer to one another as we consider the power of being rooted in this church community, rooted in our faith, and rooted in our commitment to you and your dreams for this world. Help us to transform our feelings about money and giving from apprehensive to empowered. Amen. RECEIVING GOD’S GRACE One: …For all that we have done and left undone, our God offers us forgiveness and a chance to try again. All: Let us receive this grace and extend it to one another. Amen.

PASSING OF THE PEACE One: May the peace of Christ be with you. All: And also with you. LITURGICAL SONG Where Children Belong James Ritchie This, this is where children belong, welcomed as part of the worshiping throng. Water, God’s Word, bread and cup, prayer and song: This is where children belong. SERMON ON THE STEPS Rev. Laurel Capesius OFFERING/ANTHEM Lord, You Have Been Our Dwelling Place John Carter The Congregation is invited to join the choir for the final verse: O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Be Thou our guard while life shall last, And our eternal home. 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 Jeremiah 17:7-8 7 Blessed are those who trust in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. 8 They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.

SERMON Rooted: Rev. Dr. Jen Strickland HYMN “Finding a Place to Put Down Roots” HENDON Take My Life and Let It Be Jeanette Wiersma, guitar 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: …Using your words, we pray together, All: Great Giver, in whom heaven is found, holy is Your name. May Your commonwealth of peace and freedom flourish on earth. Give us this day bread for our journey, and make us hungry to see the whole world nourished. Forgive us and help us forgive one another. Strengthen us for the challenges that lie ahead. Let us hear Your prophets, and deliver us from our privilege. For Your love is the only power, the only home, the only honor we need, in this world and in the world to come. Amen. GUEST MUSICIANS I Am Here For You Jen Rosen The ShamaMamahS BENEDICTION

CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE VRUECHTEN Because You Live, O Christ POSTLUDE O Sons and Daughters Lani Smith Dr. Carey Robertson, organ “O filii et filiae” a traditional French melody

GUEST MUSICIANS The ShamaMamahS are a local Claremont musical group that creates and performs music that is healing and nurturing to the heart and Spirit. If you are interested in discovering more about them and their music, please visit their ShamaMamahS YouTube channel. The members of the group include: Florencia Abergel- ukulele/vocals Jenny Fuller- guitar/bass/vocals Jen Rosen- banjo/vocals Jeanette Wiersma is a kindergarten teacher in the Etiwanda School District who loves to play guitar and bass on the side. She has participated in various church bands over the years. Many moons ago she was in the Christian rock bands PUSH and Orange Hum. Jeanette was also the rhythm guitarist in an Oldies band called Gilder Creek, and in an all-female pop-rock cover band Cougrzz Rock. Currently, she plays bass in Rusty Lovers Ridge, an Americana style band that writes their own music and has performed at the Upland Lemon Festival and Pomona Hi Brow. Please contact Jeanette if you’re interested in forming a CUCC Praise and Worship band: [email protected] (909) 728-8388

SCAN THE QR CODE BELOW TO PLEDGE TO THE 2023-2024 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN:

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], x201 [email protected] Rev. Dr. Jen Strickland Dr. David Rentz [email protected], x202 [email protected] Finance & Payroll Administrator Principal Organist Ms. Jocelyn Bocking Dr. Carey Robertson [email protected], x110 [email protected] Office Manager Building Manager Ms. Jasmine Tomita Mr. Adam Thomas [email protected], [email protected], x101 x109 Minister of Children, Youth, & Technology Director Families Mr. Jon Van Rev. Laurel Capesius [email protected], x120 [email protected], x210 ASL Interpreters Children, Youth, & Families Ms. Jennifer Stephenson Assistant Ms. Rebecca McAllister Ms. Elizabeth Zehm [email protected] Moderator (Council President) Ms. Linda Yao Junior High Youth Director [email protected] Ms. Zoe Estrada [email protected] Pastor Emeritus Rev. Dr. Homer “Butch” Henderson Director of the ECC Ms. Kristy Knight [email protected], x114