January 3 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, January 3, 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 We Three Kings of Orient Are Bock INTROIT What Cheer? Good Cheer! Warlock WELCOME CALL TO WORSHIP One: We will follow the light— whether it leads down familiar paths to expected destinations or into uncharted territory. All: We will follow the light— whether it takes us far from our places of safety and comfort or to places we had never dreamed of. One: We will follow the light— for we believe that our journey is bringing us closer to the heart of God, our true and lasting home. OPENING HYMN Once in Royal David’s City IRBY Once in royal David's city stood a lowly cattle shed, where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed: Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ, her little child. He came down to earth from heaven who is God and Lord of all, and his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall: with the poor, and mean, and lowly, lived on earth our Savior holy. Not in that poor lowly stable, with the oxen standing by, we shall see him, but in heaven, set at God's right hand on high; when like stars his children crowned all in white shall wait around. EPIPHANY PRAYER Subversive Christ, We know that your arrival was not, and is not, entirely welcomed. Wherever there is epiphany, there will also be darkness: the darkness of old beliefs which no longer nourish our spirits; the darkness of prejudice disguised as convention; the darkness of systemic evil disguised as tradition; the darkness of apathy that cannot be bothered; On this Epiphany Sunday, we confess that either through thoughtlessness or stubbornness, we often choose darkness instead of light.

We surrender our short-sightedness and rigidity. We surrender our resistance to change and renewal.We invite your transformative light into our lives and our hearts to restore us and redeem us. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen. WORDS OF ASSURANCE One: …Let us accept God’s grace. All: 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 New Shields Charlotte Van Ryswyk, violin Lynn Burrows ,cello DEDICATION SCRIPTURE Matthew 2:1-4, 7-20 1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. 13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 Then

Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.” 16 When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.” 19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20 “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.” SERMON Epiphany: More Than a Bright Idea Rev. Dr. Jen Strickland “Hidden in Plain Sight” ANTHEM Carol Fantasy Alexander COMMUNION One: God’s light is shining upon you! Many: And God’s light streams upon you! One: Open your hearts. Many: We open them to our radiant God. One: Let us give thanks for our luminous of God. Many: It is right to give God thanks and praise. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER 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 Never Tell Me the Odds Charlotte Van Ryswyk, violin Lynn Burrows ,cello

BENEDICTION CLOSING RESPONSE Good Christian Friends, Rejoice IN DULCI JUBILO Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice; Now ye need not fear the grave; Jesus Christ was born to save! Calls you one and calls you all to gain the everlasting hall. Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save! POSTLUDE How Brightly Shines the Morning Star: Vivace Buxtehude 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]