July 24 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, July 24, 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 Benedictus Alec Rowley Susan Achuff, organ CALL TO WORSHIP One: This morning, some of us gather feeling content and peaceful. All: Others gather feeling out of sorts and anxious. One: This morning, some of us gather feeling tired and frustrated. All: Others gather feeling hopeful and happy. One: The Good News is that our God is present and ready to receive us with open arms, no matter how we are feeling or what we are thinking. All: Our God is here to welcome us just as we are. OPENING HYMN #4 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You HYMN TO JOY WELCOME PRAYER OF CONFESSION & CUCC’S LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT God of our past, present, and future, we acknowledge this morning that we build our churches on land that was taken from the original caretakers to whom You entrusted it. By peeling back the layers of history, we do not forgive the sins of those who came before us, for only You offer grace. Instead, we seek to follow Your Spirit down a different path—one that breaks cycles of displacement, colonization, and conflict. Together, we proclaim these truths: For thousands of years, the Gabrieleno/Tongva people have lived on this land, which is at the center of their lives and spirituality. We, the Claremont United Church of Christ, acknowledge their stewardship throughout the ages and the fact that we are now gathered on their traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory. We honor the Gabrieleno/Tongva people and promise to join them in caring for this land. We also pledge to move beyond this land acknowledgment by deepening our relationships with the Gabrieleno/Tongva people and partnering with them in projects of peace and sustainability. WORDS OF ASSURANCE One: …For past sins, we are forgiven.

All: Let us build a future that reflects God’s holy dream for all creation. 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 OFFERING/MUSIC Where’er You Walk (from Semele) George Frideric Handel Lacey Benter, soprano 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 Luke 15: 8-10 8 “Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘REJOICE with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is JOY in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Hebrews 12:1-2 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the pioneer and

perfecter of faith, who for the sake of the JOY that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. John 16:20-22 20 Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will REJOICE; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into JOY. 21 When a woman is in labor, she has pain because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the JOY of having brought a human being into the world. 22 So you have pain now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will REJOICE, and no one will take your JOY from you. SERMON Today God is Feeling…Joyful Rev. Dr. Jen Strickland HYMN We Are One in the Spirit THEY’LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord; We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord, And we pray that all unity may one day be restored; And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love: Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love. We will walk with each other; we will walk hand in hand; We will walk with each other; we will walk hand in hand, And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land: And they’ll know we are Christians by our joy, by our joy: Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our joy. We will work with each other; we will work side by side; We will work with each other; we will work side by side, And we’ll guard human dignity and save human pride: And they’ll know we are Christians by our joy, by our joy: Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our joy. 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 Joy Ricky Ian Gordon Lacey Benter, soprano BENEDICTION CLOSING RESPONSE Sent Forth by God’s Blessing THE ASH GROVE POSTLUDE God of Grace (CMM Rhondda) Paul Manz Susan Achuff, organ Special thanks to our Media Ministry Volunteer, David Moore. ALTAR FLOWERS Today's flowers are sponsored by Man Dy in dedication to anyone who lacks joy in these troubled times. May God shower you with his love so that your heart and soul may be filled with joy and peace.

TODAY’S CANTOR Thank you to Laura Rutherford for leading us in music this morning. GUEST ARTIST American opera singer Lacey Jo Benter has been lauded by the New York Times as having a \"rich, warm tone\" while bringing a \"broad emotional palette\" to the stage. Native to Cedar Rapids, Iowa she completed a two year residency at LA Opera with the Domingo-Colburn Stein Young Artist Program in 2016 where she debuted in the Grammy award winning production of John Corigliano's The Ghosts of Versailles. Also at LA Opera she sang “Clotilde” in Norma, “Kate Pinkerton” in Madame Butterfly, “Persephone” in Morganelli's Hercules vs Vampires and the Alto soloist in Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle. She received her Bachelor's of Music in Vocal Performance with a theater minor from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI before attending The Juilliard School where she received a Master's of Music in 2011 followed by an Artist Diploma of Opera Studies in 2014. While in school she performed such operatic roles as \"Madame de Croissy\" from Poulenc's Les Dialogues des Carmélites, \"Ma Moss\" from Copland's The Tender Land, \"Zita\" from Puccini's Gianni Schicchi and \"Le Prince Charmant\" from Massenet's Cendrillon as well as musical theater pieces including \"Fraülein Schneider\" in Cabaret, \"Princess Puffer\" in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and multiple roles in Working the Musical. She has appeared with Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Philharmonic in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, returning for several roles in Unsuk Chin’s Alice in Wonderland, which she reprised for her Barbican Hall debut with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. She has been conducted by musical master John Adams with the LA Phil in the multimedia performance of his Nixon in China and returned to the LA Phil in 2020 appearing in their exciting Weimar Nightfall production, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen. She has performed regionally with Opera Omaha and Opera Columbus and in 2018 self- produced and performed The Wagner Project, a reworking of pieces by Wagner, fused together with icons of modern day music including Beyoncé and David Bowie.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF CLAREMONT UCC! You can donate by texting an amount to (909) 343-590 or scanning the QR code: Childcare provided! Join us in-person in the Louise Roberts Room or online via Zoom.

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. Linda Yao [email protected] Director of the ECC Ms. Kristy Knight Pastor Emeritus [email protected], x226 Rev. Dr. Homer “Butch” Henderson