December 12 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, December 12, 2021 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 Willie, Take Your Little Drum (Patapan) James Biery INTROIT Brass Fanfare Claremont Community School of Music CALL TO WORSHIP One: We come seeking King Jesus because we live in a dark world and are desperate for light. All: We gather to worship him because we are longing to hear good news. One: We come to retell his story because it gives us fresh hope for the present and the future. All: We sing his praises because he is the king of truth, ruling with love and mercy. OPENING HYMN Good King Wenceslas (see pg. 6) Tempus adest floridum WELCOME ADVENT WREATH LIGHTING The Svanidze Family PRAYER OF CONFESSION Compassionate Jesus, Forgive us for the times we are too afraid to hope, too exhausted to dream, too angry to listen, too disappointed to trust, and too certain to be surprised. As we make our way to the manger to greet you once again, kindle in us a renewed sense of faith. Lift our eyes to look for your light. Amen. ASSURANCE One: … Now let us rise to be the people we are created to be. All: We will be Christ’s witnesses to the world. 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 2

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 OFFERING/HYMN Angels We Have Heard on High GLORIA Angels we have heard on high, Sweetly singing o’er the plains And the mountains in reply, Echoing their joyous strains. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be Which inspire your heavenly song? Gloria in excelsis Deo. Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Gloria in excelsis Deo. RESPONSE What Child Is This GREENSLEEVES Bring gifts of incense, gold, and myrrh; come join in jubilation; The Holy Child, though meek and mild, has come with God’s salvation. This, this the angels sing, is Christ, God’s holy offering; Haste, haste your praise to bring the babe, the child of Mary! DEDICATION SCRIPTURE Mark 14:3-9 3 While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. 4 But some were there who said to one another in anger, “Why was the ointment wasted in this way? 5 For this 3

ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.” John 8:3-11 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.” SERMON Rev. Dr. Jen Strickland King of Kings: Jesus vs. The Great Rulers of History “Jesus vs. Henry VIII” HYMN Away in a Manger (see pg. 7) MUELLER 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 in your strong and capable name, O Jesus, using the words you teach us: All: God of all Who made the heavens and the earth Your name is perfect and complete Help us to be trustworthy with your creation Help us to trust 4

- in this life and in the life after Empower us to attain our physical and psychological needs, and free us from the wants of our privilege Forgive our failure to understand others and their needs And grant us the ability to forgive when we are misunderstood Free us from that which separates us from You But, help us to seek Your still speaking voice Because You are our community, our resilience, and our future - in all ways and at all times Let it be - Sean Luebbers GUEST MUSIC/HYMN O Come, All Ye Faithful ADESTE FIDELES (Verses 1-3: instrumental, Verse 4: ALL) O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant; O come ye; O come ye to Bethlehem! Come, and behold him, born the King of Angels! O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord! BENEDICTION CLOSING RESPONSE Hark, the Herald Angels Sing MENDELSSOHN Hark! the herald angels sing, \"Glory to the newborn King: peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!\" Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies; with th'angelic hosts proclaim, \"Christ is born in Bethlehem!\" Hark! the herald angels sing, \"Glory to the newborn King\" POSTLUDE Highland Cathedral Ulrich Roever & Michael Korb arr. John Kuzma 5

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HYMN COMMENTARY Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Charles Wesley (1707-1788) wrote this text less than one year after his conversion to Christianity. This hymn is a condensed course in biblical doctrine. Many consider it Wesley's finest hymn. Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847) composed the tune, but it was not set to Wesley's Christmas words until 15 years later. Bartholdy was a child prodigy, playing the piano publicly at the age of nine. GUEST ARTIST For over 50 years, the Claremont Community School of Music has been synonymous with quality and commitment. Our dedicated and talented faculty provides musical instruction of the highest caliber to students from diverse backgrounds and at all levels of musical development. The mission of Claremont Community School of Music is to enrich the lives of individuals and the community through music; to provide outstanding instruction for amateur and aspiring professional musicians of all ages; to reach out to the community through diverse programs and public performances; to promote and nurture a lifelong passion for music; and most importantly, to make music education available to all …one note at a time! Special recognition to Martha Hall, highland pipes and Richard Cook, uilleann pipes who can also be seen this afternoon at a second concert at CUCC – 3pm. Please join us! 8

CLAREMONT COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC PERFORMERS Double Bass: Saxophone: Uilleann Pipes: Adrianna Alfaro Jocelyn Chen Richard Cook Ivan Alfaro John Fin Robbie Davis* Nicholas Casillas* Highland Pipes: Martha Hall Cello: Trombone: Caleb Van Brunt Bob Creek Voice: Ivy Barlow Gary Tole* Angela Daher Jonas Matsuzaki Jack Mills Audrey Harry Maurisa Franco Kaitlyn Smith Barbara Durost* Maya Franco Benjamin Melstrom Patrick DeJardin* Trumpet: Benji Scharf Rebecca Keeler Archer Hodge Daniel Mathew Cheri Cole* Devon Guthrie* Clarinet: Ethan Negus Evan Hsu Aiperi Bush Jacob Watson Giana Daher Joanthan Chen Jocelyn Chen Grace Mathew Mitt Wu Joshua Schermerhorn Kyler Penalosa William Wellwood* Marcus Ho Roselyn Penalosa Lukas Urayeneza Flute: Violin: Marna Makau* Karin Fabiero* Aderlyn Ku Meghan Linnington Suzanne Braswell Chloe Shih Michael Urayeneza Colleen Coomber* Biftu Felema (Urayeneza) Guitar: Jara Yang Paul Thomas Anisa Bhechsonggram Julia Matsuzaki Riley Stepp Ebaa Khamas* Linda Tajima* Sebastian Gasparrelli- Maya Melvin Organ: Natasha Lee Byrne Nathaniel Lee Olga Meisel* Shannon Fernando Oliver Yan Sharon Thomas Percussion: Samantha Oceguera Yara Ghahramani Keendy Huang Taylor Sullivan* Donna Marie Minano* Scott Smith* Veronica Daley Julia Rodrigues Vincent Coppi Xi Wang Recorder: Wendy Waggener* Siri Lackey Bill Waggener Zooey Yang Dick Sanders *Denotes CCSM Instructor Gloria Martin ** Denotes CCSM Board Gwen Rodman Hilary Lackey Member Joan Presecan Lee Waggener** Marcy Clements Mark MacKenzie** Susan Hitch Win Aldrich** 9

CLAREMONT UCC PRAYER LIST Join us in prayer this week for the following individuals. Would you like to get involved with the Prayer Team? Please contact Judi Bayer at (215) 350-3397 or email judith_bayer@att.net. OUR NEWEST SAINT: Tom Dixon, brother of Jerry Dixon THOSE SEEKING ENCOURAGEMENT: Mary Alexander, twin of Martha Stephenson Tim McCann, Jasmine and Anna Gatto-McCann, Katrina Armienti, friend of Carolyn Barbera friends of Blair & Chris Aldworth Casey & Sarah Boatman, Tatum & Everett, Linda Hodson & Family, CUCC member Family of Sandy Wittwer & Galen Kenoyer Randi McKee & Family, friend of Blair Aldworth Elaine Bumiller, CUCC member Valeria Pizzetti, friend of Dona Turk Jill Carol, CUCC member Christy Powell, friend of Ali Perreault Irma Castaneda, CUCC attender Mario Ramos, Adelanto detainee Cynthia Chertos, CUCC member Gary Roswell, friend of Sandy Fasano The DiMitri Family, family of the Barbera’s Jennifer Stephenson, CUCC staff Ellen Feyk, CUCC member Lucy, Claire, & John Stover, friends of Linda Tajima Victoria Findlay & Allison Thomkins, Paul Towne, family of Howard Towne CUCC member & her daughter Carol & Linda, friends of Kay Brand Charles Folks, family of Marsha Madison Roger & Jeane, friends of Ruth Sandberg Leventhal Family, friends of Francesco Barbera FOR HEALTH AND HEALING: Caitlin Antrim, friend of Jean Marston Kimberly Griffin, CUCC attender Robert Apodaca, friend of Lydia de los Rios Iris Harleman, friend of Shirley Jones Tony Araunz-Martinez, friend of Maureen Moorman Bill Hodson, father of Linda Hodson Stacey Ballard Joan Hunter, Granny of Zoe Estrada Lori Barbera, mother of Francesco Barbera David Jamieson, CUCC member Cristina Bergfalk, mother of Benjamin & family of Terri King, CUCC member Virginia Bergfalk Michal Kohout, husband of Anne Bennett Stephanie Bertleson, Betty Frank’s niece Courtney Koverman, daughter of Briggs Gamblin Debbie Brown, friend of Judi Bayer Diana Krumme, friend of Dali Podenski Carlene Cable, friend of Sherry McCauley Olivia Lakner, family friend of Carolyn Barbera Linda Carney, niece-in-law of Linda Corbin Elaine & Ed Larson, friends of Dona Turk Alice Chin, CUCC attender Kathleen Leo, CUCC member Denise Christopoulos, friend of Sandy Fasano Nola Lewallen, mother of John Lewallen Barbara Coates, CUCC member Marlene Lobb, friend of Anne Stromberg Hazel & Claudia Corbin, aunt and cousin of Linda Bob Lominska, brother of Susan Lominska Corbin Frank & Barbara Malone, friends of Judith Bayer Russell Corbin, cousin of Linda Corbin Jim Marino, brother of Joe Marino Linda Cummings, CUCC member Jan Marshall, CUCC attender Toni de los Rios, cousin of Lydia de los Rios Sherry McCauley, CUCC member MaryAnn Delgadillo, mother of Christopher Leslie McLouhlin, extended family of Diana Miller Delgadillo Joseph Mikesell, nephew of Sandy Gabel Margaret Duffy, extended family of Dali Podenski Josephine Miller, mother of Deborah Castillero Erica & Haley Enos, CUCC member & sister Debbie Mitchell, CUCC member Matthew Enriquez, friend of Scott Bohlender Patricia Molina, aunt of Beatriz Roman Castellanos Levi Entereso, CUCC member Mila Moncayo, friend of Francesco Barbera Sandy French, friend of Marsha Madison Jeffrey Mulder, son of Sheri Mulder Laurie Giesenhagen, CUCC member Cynthia Munos, daughter of Juan Munoz James Golubic, brother of Judith Bayer Steve Murray, extended family of Judith Bayer Jennifer Grande, CUCC member Myles Nielson, grandson of Bea Gallegos 10

Barbara Patch, friend of Ruth Abel Jennalee Thurston, mother of Wayne Thurston Madeline Patane, CUCC member Michael Toomay, son of Bea Gallegos Greg Pavlik, friend of Marsha Madison Jocelyn Tuchon, daughter of Merritt Verrill Jessie Colby Pryce, friend of Linda & Craig Cummings Teresa Tulcan, friend of Anne Forburger Whitney Relf Dakota Van Fossen, friend of Peggy Kelly Sandi Walter, CUCC member Jenna Robinson, friend of Rita Dixon Shirley Washington, CUCC member Margo Rouette, CUCC member Chris Weldon, friend of Christopher Fairchild Lawrence Randall Rutt, father of Christopher Rutt Kathy Widmer, friend of Cynthia Moreno Jay Sharp, CUCC member Donna Williams, extended family of Shirley Jones Cheryl Sims, friend of Marsha Madison Rev. Maria Wilson, CUCC attender Bo & Wayne Sims, brother and sister in-law of Marsha Catherine Yamasaki, friend of Sandy Fasano Troy Zeleny, nephew of Anne Stromberg Madison Ava & her father, Mike, friend of Ruth Abel Nancy Skidmore, cousin of Judith Bayer Benjamin, grandson of Virginia Bergfalk Todd Songer, friend of Diana Miller Brian, friend of Tina Kambarian Joyce Sorrento, family of the Barbera’s Chad, friend of Christopher Fairchild Mickey & Sandra Spiker, friends of Tim & Peggy Esperanza & Hector, extended family of Siliva Constantine, Denise Spooner, & Joe Marino Giordano Larry Starkweather, friend of Sandra Wittwer Ruthie, friend of Valerie Carrick Kathy Starr, friend of Sherry McCauley Simolena, grandmother of Sherry McCauley’s nurse Martha Stephenson, CUCC member Julius M. Steubing, CUCC member Lorraine Telles, friend of Marta D’Anda 11

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 jacob@claremontucc.org, x230 alex@claremontucc.org, x242 Rev. Dr. Jen Strickland Dr. David Rentz jen@claremontucc.org, x228 david@claremontucc.org, x242 Finance & Payroll Administrator Principal Organist Ms. Jocelyn Bocking Dr. Carey Robertson finance@claremontucc.org, x225 carey@claremontucc.org Office Manager Building Manager Ms. Jasmine Tomita Mr. Adam Thomas officemanager@claremontucc.org, buildingmanager@claremontucc.org, x222 x240 Minister of Children, Youth, & Technology Director Families Mr. Jon Van Rev. Laurel Capesius jon@claremontucc.org laurel@claremontucc.org Technology Assistant Children, Youth, & Families Mr. Josh Ngo Assistant josh@claremontucc.org Ms. Elizabeth Zehm elizabeth@claremontucc.org ASL Interpreter Ms. Rebecca McAllister Junior High Youth Director Ms. Zoe Estrada Moderator (Council President) zoe@claremontucc.org Ms. Rita Dixon moderator@claremontucc.org Director of the ECC Ms. Kristy Knight Pastor Emeritus krislizecc@hotmail.com, x226 Rev. Dr. Homer “Butch” Henderson 12