July 5 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, July 5, 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 BERCEUSE Vierne INTROIT Be Still My Soul Susan Hitch, handbells WELCOME CALL TO WORSHIP One: So many have come to this land with heads and hearts full of dreams. All: So many have sacrificed to pursue those dreams. One: We still have dreams we are pursuing: All: Equality for all, peace from sea to shining sea, and a healthy planet for our children’s children. One: We dream of leaders who inspire us to be kinder and more generous; and communities that seek the common good of all citizens. All: Re-ignite our dreaming, O God, as we worship you and seek your dreams for the world. OPENING HYMN This is My Song FINLANDIA This is my song, O God of all the nations, a song of peace for lands afar and mine. This is my home, the country where my heart is; here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine; But other hearts in other lands are beating with hopes and dreams as true and high as mine. My country’s skies are bluer than the ocean, and sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine; But other lands have sunlight too, and clover, and skies are everywhere as blue as mine. O hear my song, O God of all the nations, a song of peace for their land and for mine. PRAYER OF CONFESSION God of Endless Mercy, For all the ways we colonize each other–with expectations, beliefs, judgments, and our own fear… For all the ways we fail to support one another–grabbing to “have” more while some go without…

For all the ways we abuse our freedom–engaging hateful acts that kill, wound, and traumatize others… For all the ways we deny equality–deeming some “in” and others “out…” For all the ways we have refused to let go of privilege–complaining about the challenges of “changing” our ways, our systems, our lifestyles. God, in your mercy, forgive and transform us. Amen. WORDS OF ASSURANCE One: …And so, in the name of him who came to loose the chains, you are forgiven. All: We are set free to try again. 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 Fantasia sopra La gamba Adam Gilbert Adam Gilbert & Rotem Gilbert, recorders DEDICATION SCRIPTURE Obadiah 1:2-4, 10-17, 21 2 I will surely make you least among the nations; you shall be utterly despised. 3 Your proud heart has deceived you, you that live in the clefts of the rock, whose dwelling is in the heights. You say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” 4 Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, says the Lord. 10 For the slaughter and violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever. 11 On the day that you stood aside, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth, and foreigners entered his gates

and cast lots for Jerusalem, you too were like one of them. 12 But you should not have gloated over your brother on the day of his misfortune; you should not have rejoiced over the people of Judah on the day of their ruin; you should not have boasted on the day of distress. 13 You should not have entered the gate of my people on the day of their calamity; you should not have joined in the gloating over Judah’s disaster on the day of his calamity; you should not have looted his goods on the day of his calamity. 14 You should not have stood at the crossings to cut off his fugitives; you should not have handed over his survivors on the day of distress. 15 For the day of the Lord is near against all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head. 16 For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, all the nations around you shall drink; they shall drink and gulp down, and shall be as though they had never been. 17 But on Mount Zion there shall be those that escape, and it shall be holy; and the house of Jacob shall take possession of those who dispossessed them. 21 Those who have been saved shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s. SERMON The Unread Books: Obadiah Rev. Dr. Jen Strickland HYMN How Beautiful, Our Spacious Skies MATERNA How beautiful, our spacious skies, our amber waves of grain; our purple mountains as they rise above the fruitful plain. America! America! God’s gracious gifts abound, and more and more we’re grateful for life’s bounty all around.

How beautiful, sincere lament, the wisdom born of tears, that courage called for to repent the bloodshed through the years. America! America! God grant that we may be a nation blessed with none oppressed, true land of liberty. How beautiful, two continents, and islands in the sea that dream of peace, non-violence, all people living free. America! America! God grant that we may be a hemisphere where people here all live in harmony. COMMUNION One: The Liberating God be with you! All: And also with you! One: Lift up your hearts with joy! All: We lift them up to God! One: Let us give praise to the Author of Freedom! All: It is right to give our thanks and praise! PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER One: …It is for this kingdom that we now pray, using the words Jesus taught us. 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 Amoroso/La Franchoise nouvelle Anonymous (15th century) Adam Gilbert & Rotem Gilbert, “Renaissance bagpipes” BENEDICTION CLOSING RESPONSE For the Healing of the Nations WESTMINSTER ABBEY For the healing of the nations, God, we pray with one accord; for a just and equal sharing of the things that earth affords; to a life of love in action help us rise and pledge our word. POSTLUDE POSTLUDE in B MINOR Vierne

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 Dr. Linda Corbin [email protected] Director of Children & Family Ministries Director of the Early Childhood Ms. Elizabeth Zehm Center [email protected], x227 Ms. Kristy Knight [email protected], x226 High School Youth Director Mr. Myron Woods [email protected] Junior High Youth Director Ms. Zoe Estrada [email protected]