June 5 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, June 5, 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 Variations on O Waly Waly/The Gift of Love arr. Janet Linker INTROIT Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove ST. AGNES CALL TO WORSHIP One: The spirit is here among us All: Within us, around us, between us. One: The spirit is here to strengthen us All: Bringing courage, bringing conviction. One: The Spirit is here to move us, All: Making us sing and praise. One: The Spirit is here. All: May we feel the Spirit as we gather. May we be fed by her fiery strength. May we be emboldened by her powerful wind. One: We gather in the Spirit’s arms to be nurtured as we worship. All: And may our worship fill us with the Spirit As we go back out into our daily lives. OPENING HYMN Spirit of the Living God IVERSON Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me; Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Spirit of the living God, move among us all; Make us one in heart and mind, make us one in love, Humble, caring, selfless, sharing. Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me; Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. WELCOME

PRAYER OF CONFESSION O God, who sent gifts of the Holy Spirit to those first saints, we know you continue to send gifts to us even when we do not claim them. We confess that we have not always opened our gifts. We have often chosen to keep them packed away or buried. Move us, by your Spirit, to pick up your presents, that you so freely give, to open them and to spend them lavishly on the stewardship of your world. Loving God, we know that in every generation you call forth prophets to proclaim your word. We give you thanks that you are still speaking even today. Your Spirit inspires the young to see visions of a new creation and elders to dream of a time yet known. Yet we confess that we fail to hear your voice when it comes from an unexpected place. Convinced that we are right, we miss the Good News of your reconciling love. Forgive us, God. Restore us with humility and awaken us anew to your presence and your promise. Amen. WORDS OF ASSURANCE One: … The Spirit of God is moving in our midst, filling us with the love of God, and calling us forward. All: Thank you, God, for your Spirit. 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 worshipping throng. Water, God’s Word, bread and cup, prayer and song: This is where children belong. SERMON ON THE STEPS Rev. Laurel Capesius CONFIRMATION CEREMONY OFFERING/ANTHEM Hymn, arr. Zebulon M. Highben Now to the Holy Spirit Let Us Pray Christine Moore, trumpet 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 Genesis 41:14-36 14 Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was hurriedly brought out of the dungeon. When he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not I; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” 17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile, 18 and seven cows, fat and sleek, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass. 19 Then seven other cows came up after them, poor, very ugly, and thin. Never had I seen such ugly ones in all the land of Egypt. 20 The thin and ugly cows ate up the first seven fat cows, 21 but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had done so, for they were still as ugly as before. Then I awoke. 22 I fell asleep a second time, and I saw in my dream seven ears of grain, full and good, growing on one stalk, 23 and seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouting after them, 24 and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. But when I told it to the magicians, there was no one who could explain it to me.” 25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s dreams are one and the same; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one. 27 The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, as are the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind. They are seven years of famine. 28 It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. 30 After them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; the famine will consume the land. 31 The plenty will no longer be known in the land because of the famine that will follow, for it will be very grievous. 32 And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about. 33 Now therefore let Pharaoh select a

man who is discerning and wise and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plenteous years. 35 Let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and lay up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. 36 That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to befall the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.” Habakkuk 1:1-4 1 The oracle that the prophet Habakkuk saw. 2 O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? 3 Why do you make me see wrongdoing and look at trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. 4 So the law becomes slack, and justice never prevails. The wicked surround the righteous; therefore judgment comes forth perverted. Habakkuk 2:1-3 2 I will stand at my watchpost and station myself on the rampart; I will keep watch to see what he will say to me and what he will answer concerning my complaint. 2 Then the LORD answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it. 3 For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. SERMON Imagine! Tales of Dreamers in the Bible Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz “Lean Years and Good Years”

STEWARDSHIP HYMN Come, Let Us Dream GIFT OF LOVE Come, let us dream God’s dream again. Come, one and all, let us ascend the mountain top where those of old saw God’s new day on earth unfold. The lost be found, the blinkered see, the doors swing wide, all prisoners free, the lowly raised, the proud brought low. This is God’s dream: let justice flow. When hatred ends and war shall cease, so all may dwell in deepest peace, then be assured the time is near when perfect love casts out all fear. Come, let us dream God’s dream as one, as all together, leaving none we walk towards justice, peace, and love, sharing our gifts for God above. COMMUNION (Thank you for helping us to dispose of your communion cups. The container can be recycled and the lid placed in the trash on your way out.) 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 these things using the words you teach us, saying 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 ARTIST Abide With Me Hymn, arr. Anna Krentz Christine Moore, trumpet BENEDICTION

CLOSING RESPONSE Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove ST. AGNES POSTLUDE Walk in the Light (Toccata Giocosa) David Blackwell Special thanks to our Media Ministry Volunteer, David Moore HYMN COMMENTARY \"Spirit of the Living God\" David Iverson (1890-1977) wrote this hymn after hearing a sermon at the George T. Stephans Evangelical Revival meeting at Orlando, Florida in 1926. Iverson was ordained as a Presbyterian minister. He served churches in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina and founded the Shenandoah Presbyterian Church in Miami, Florida. Iverson wrote this tune and text together. The song was taught to the congregation by rote. GUEST ARTIST A forensic toxicologist by day, Christine Moore has lived in the Claremont area for 18 years. A native of England, she grew up playing cornet in British brass bands. As a member of the Young Ambassadors Brass Band of Great Britain, she toured Europe and the USA many times in her youth. She has also performed at the National Brass Band Championships in the Royal Albert Hall in London, and at the Suntory Hall in Japan with the Tokyo Brass Concord. ALTAR FLOWERS Today’s altar flowers are sponsored by CUCC Women’s Fellowship.

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. Rebecca McAllister 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