June 19 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, June 19, 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 Make You Feel My Love Bob Dylan Aurianna Farley, vocalist INTROIT Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove ST. AGNES A READING OF “STILL I RISE” BY MAYA ANGELOU OPENING HYMN #593 Lift Every Voice and Sing LIFT EVERY VOICE WELCOME RECOGNIZING OUR GRADUATES PRAYER OF CONFESSION Today, we commemorate the end of slavery in America. This day partially reminds us of the progress made. This day also partially reminds us of the progress we have not made. We celebrate the freedom of black lives in our nation. We grieve that we have not correctly reconciled racism in our nation. You created each person in Your image. The two greatest commandments call us to love You with all our heart, souls, and minds; Then, to love our neighbor as ourselves. Your love for us motivates us to love each other. If we do not love each other, then ultimately, we have not experienced Your love. As much as we commemorate and celebrate Juneteenth, we grieve this day. We mourn that our black brothers and sisters have not been loved as our neighbors. We mourn that our black brothers and sisters have been treated less than created in Your image throughout history. So, Lord, we confess our sins and repent.

On Juneteenth this year, we ask You to guide our nation. May the good news of the gospel motivate us to love each other. May the ideals of our words match the practices of our lives. May a fresh empowerment of Your Spirit unite us together. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear Your will and leading. WORDS OF ASSURANCE One: Hear these words of Jesus, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” All: 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 worshipping throng. Water, God’s Word, bread and cup, prayer and song: This is where children belong. SERMON ON THE STEPS & CEREMONY OF PROMOTION Rev. Laurel Capesius OFFERING/ANTHEM Go Down Moses Spiritual, arr. William C. Powell 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 20:1-17 20 Then God spoke all these words, 2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; 3 you shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me 6 but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 “You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. 8 “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work. 10 But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it. 12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. 13 “You shall not murder. 14 “You shall not commit adultery. 15 “You shall not steal. 16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female slave, ox, donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” GUEST ARTIST Inscription of Hope Z. Randall Stroope Claremont High School Ensemble

SERMON What If… Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz “…Moses never received the Ten Commandments?” HYMN #454 Lord, I Want to Be a Christian I WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN 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: 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 One Pair of Hands Carroll Roberson Sean VanMeter BENEDICTION CLOSING RESPONSE Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove ST. AGNES POSTLUDE A Sky Full of Stars Coldplay Dr. Carey Robertson, organ Special thanks to our Media Ministry Volunteer, David Moore.

ALTAR FLOWERS Today’s flowers on the altar are sponsored by Man Dy and dedicated to all the fathers, acting fathers, soon to be fathers, and other father figures. May they all be blessed with the wisdom of our Lord, that they may enlighten their children’s path and guide them to righteousness and humility. HYMN COMMENTARY “Lift Every Voice and Sing” James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938) was a public school principal in Jacksonville, Florida. He wrote this text for a celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday in 1921, and it was performed by school children. Johnson served as the first national executive secretary of the NAACP, and this anthem became that organization’s official song. John Rosamond Johnson (1873-1954), brother of James, composed this tune. He collected and published a number of African American songs and hymn tunes. J. Rosamond Johnson was educated at the New England Conservatory of Music. He studied further in Europe. Collecting African American music was his lifelong pursuit. GUEST ARTISTS Aurianna Farley is a 27-year-old education and music student at Chaffey College. She sings in the CUCC Chancel Choir and recently started teaching at ECC. She has been playing guitar since she was 14 and singing since before she could talk. She plans to conduct an elementary school choir and, one day, open a community school. Sean VanMeter has been entertaining since he was seven years old and has performed alongside other famous entertainers such as Xavier Lewis, Chris Owens, Steve Dorff, and Dannette Flint. Sean has produced five albums and his music can be heard on his website: seanvanmeter.com

Members of the Claremont High School Chamber Singers Julia Pielke Santos (* Seniors) Josh Fisher* August Waggener* Nathan Terrazas Lily Lozano Mateo Colman Fiona Lamb Zachary Martin* Hannah Endo* Garrett Purugganan Claire Myers CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2022 GRADUATES! Sarah Gale High School Graduates: Zachary Tucker Connor Gordon August Waggener Sophia Gorman Zachary Martin Nathaniel Lee Jackie Merren Star Love Roberts Mia Rojas College Graduates: Alexa Acosta Megan De Alba Clara Ortega Sean Van Meter

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. Jennifer Stephenson 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