February 5 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, February 5, 2023 10:00 am Welcome home! Regardless of your age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, abilities, or faith background, we are glad you’re worshiping with us today. You belong here.

A CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP CLAREMONT UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST PRELUDE Communion Richard Purvis Dr. Carey Robertson, organ INTROIT When Israel Was in Egypt’s Land GO DOWN MOSES CALL TO WORSHIP One: First-time visitors and long-time members: All: All are welcome here. One: Those familiar with Christian traditions and those who find it all very strange: All: All are welcome here. One: Those of us who grew up in the church and those of us who consider ourselves agnostic or atheist: All: All are welcome here. One: Those searching for comfort and those hoping to be challenged: All: All are welcome here! OPENING HYMN #2 Glory, Glory Hallelujah GLORY, GLORY WELCOME CONFESSING OUR SHORTCOMINGS Forgive us, Great God, when we close our ears to the voices of those around us. Forgive us when we cling to that which comforts us while ignoring that which challenges us. Forgive us when we prioritize our resistance to change over your innovation and creativity. Forgive us when our attempts to be faithful become that which holds us back. We pray that you would guide us back to the path of love which you yourself have made for us. Amen. RECEIVING GOD’S MERCY One: …Our God doesn’t want us to live stagnant lives, but instead invites us into growth and healing. All: In God’s mercy, let us live as new people. 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 worshiping throng. Water, God’s Word, bread and cup, prayer and song: This is where children belong. SERMON ON THE STEPS Rev. Laurel Capesius OFFERING/ANTHEM Song of Moses John Ness Beck 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 15:20-21 20 Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing. 21 And Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.” SERMON Rev. Dr. Jen Strickland And the Best Supporting Actor/Actress Award Goes To…Miriam! LITURGICAL SONG Where Children Belong (Reprise) James Ritchie This, this is where children belong, welcomed as part of the worshiping throng. Water, God’s Word, bread and cup, prayer and song: This is where children belong. COMMUNION One: May you know that God is with you. All: And also with you.

One: Let us lift our anxious hearts to God. All: We open them to receive God’s peace. One: Let us give thanks and celebrate with joy. All: It is right to offer God our love and praise. One: …Great is the mystery of our faith: All: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. COMMUNION MUSIC One Bread, One Body Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ Let Us Break Bread Together Erica Lopez-Elwell, jazz pianist 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 using the words he teaches us, saying, 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. BENEDICTION CLOSING RESPONSE We Shall Overcome WE SHALL OVERCOME

POSTLUDE Prélude, Op. 29, no. 1 Gabriel Pierné Dr. Carey Robertson, organ ALTAR FLOWERS Today’s flowers are given by Man Dy in dedication to his family. May they all feel the presence of God in this difficult time of mourning. For even in death, there is the promise of life through our faith in God. HYMN COMMENTARY “Glory, Glory Hallelujah” This African American spiritual reminds the singer of the physical and spiritual benefits of 'laying down' one's burdens, even temporarily. Repetition is an important element in this text. The spiritual incorporates lines from another spiritual, \"Jacob's Ladder\". In her book, African American Christian Worship, Melva W. Costen suggests this spiritual would be an effective song for a 'ring shout' involving a circular dance or shuffle. GUEST MUSICIAN Erica Lopez-Elwell has been a nearly lifelong musician. She started taking piano lessons at 6 and studied voice, piano, and composition at the University of La Verne. While at ULV, she got to perform in many concerts, both locally and internationally. She has also performed with the Hour of Power Choir in Irvine and after graduating has continued to perform, including conducting the musical “Working” at her Alma Mater. She is currently performing with the Chaffey College Chamber Singers and ULV Chamber Singers and teaches piano and voice at Music and Arts in Upland.

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 [email protected]. THOSE SEEKING ENCOURAGEMENT: Mary Alexander, twin of Martha Stephenson Lisa & Josh Klimas Family, friends of Carolyn Danielle McLain Amsbury & Family, friend of Barbera Clarisse Nakahama Darren & Melanie Lakner, friends of Carolyn Barbera Jennifer Araujo, friend of Carolyn Barbera Ashley LeFlore, cousin of Carolyn Barbera The Armendariz Family, friends of the Barbera’s Embert Paul Madison, Jr., son of Marsha Madison Francesco Barbera & Family, CUCC member Marsha Madison, CUCC attender The Barnum Family, CUCC attenders Barbara Malone, friend of Judith Bayer Casey & Sarah Boatman, Tatum & Everett, Margaret Merhoff, CUCC member Family of Sandy Wittwer & Galen Kenoyer Melissa Nolan & Family, friend of Carolyn Barbera Elaine Bumiller, CUCC member Tim O’Clock, friend of Blair Aldworth Jill Carol, CUCC member Priscilla Otto & her daughter, Perla Valenzeula, Joe Carrero & Shane Jukes, friends of Maria Andrade CUCC attenders Amy Campbell, friend of Blair Aldworth Christy Powell, friend of Ali Perreault Irma Castaneda, CUCC attender Mike Quinn, CUCC member Maria Chave, friend of Silvia Young Mario Ramos, Adelanto detainee Cynthia Chertos, CUCC member Blair Relf, CUCC member Ellen Feyk, CUCC member Sandra Spiker, friends of Tim & Peggy Constantine, Victoria Findlay & Allison Thomkins, Denise Spooner, & Joe Marino CUCC member & her daughter Jennifer Stephenson, CUCC staff Phebi Foli, niece of Kerry Martin Lucy, Claire, & John Stover, friends of Linda Tajima Charles Folks, family of Marsha Madison Paul Towne, family of Howard Towne Zina Grishenko, grandmother of Alex Grabarchuk Carol & Linda, friends of Kay Brand Linda Hodson & Family, CUCC member Kyle King & Children, friends of Sochi Romero FOR HEALTH AND HEALING: Sharon Aitken, sister of David Moore Toni de los Rios, cousin of Lydia de los Rios Caitlin Antrim, friend of Jean Marston MaryAnn Delgadillo, mother of Christopher Robert Apodaca, friend of Lydia de los Rios Delgadillo Jenny Appleford, friend of Jane Droubay Ryan & Tammy Denny, friends of Missy McCormick Tony Araunz-Martinez, friend of Maureen Moorman Margaret Duffy, extended family of Dali Podenski Kim Bach Jesse Emmert, friend of Denise Spooner Stacey Ballard Erica & Haley Enos, CUCC member & sister Carolyn Barbera, CUCC member Matthew Enriquez, friend of Scott Bohlender Judi Bayer, CUCC member Levi Entereso, CUCC member Cristina Bergfalk, mother of Benjamin & family of Dutch Fairchild, brother of Christopher Fairchild Virginia Bergfalk Meredith Flinn, daughter of Marsha Madison’s friend Stephanie Bertleson, Betty Frank’s niece Patricia Flores, friend of Carol Wiese Janie Bombardier, extended friend of Peggy Kelly Sandy French, friend of Marsha Madison Shirlee Bromley, CUCC member Nina Fursova, grandmother of Alex Grabarchuk Tracy Buss, friend of Blair Aldworth Bea Gallegos, CUCC member Carlene Cable, friend of Sherry McCauley Laurie Giesenhagen, CUCC member Alice Chin, CUCC attender Daniel Graham, friend of Gayle Sharp Linda Cummings, CUCC member Jennifer Grande, CUCC member Lorena D’Anda, daughter-in-law of Marta D’Anda Kimberly Griffin, CUCC attender

Gina Gutierrez, CUCC member Whitney Relf, CUCC member Iris Harleman, friend of Shirley Jones Rosa Reyes, friend of Carol Wiese Ja’Ron Henderson, friend of Linda Corbin Jenna Robinson, friend of Rita Dixon Judy Hilgert, CUCC member Rony Rodriguez, friend of Denise Spooner Susan Huie & Family, friend of Mary Beth & Rick Xochitl Romero, neighbor of Judith Bayer Margo Rouette, CUCC member Rogers Lawrence Randall Rutt, father of Christopher Rutt Joan Hunter, Granny of Zoe Estrada Denis Salazar, father of Carolyn Barbera’s friend David Jamieson, CUCC member Jay Sharp, CUCC member Sarah Jones, mother of Carolyn Barbera Cheryl Sims, friend of Marsha Madison Terri King, CUCC member Bo & Wayne Sims, brother and sister in-law of Marsha Michal Kohout, husband of Anne Bennett Courtney Koverman, daughter of Briggs Gamblin Madison Logan Kowalski, grandson of Guy Nakahama’s friend RaeAnn Sines, friend of Linda Corbin Diana Krumme, friend of Dali Podenski Todd Songer, friend of Diana Miller Debra LeFlore, aunt of Carolyn Barbera Joyce Sorrento, family of the Barbera’s Rodney Lehman, CUCC member Larry Starkweather, friend of Sandra Wittwer Brad Lemons, friend of Laura Burt Kathy Starr, friend of Sherry McCauley Kathleen Leo, CUCC member Martha Stephenson, CUCC member Trevor Luebbers, son of Sean Luebbers Julius M. Steubing, CUCC member Nola Lewallen, mother of John Lewallen Lorraine Telles, friend of Marta D’Anda Marlene Lobb, friend of Anne Stromberg Jocelyn Tuchon, daughter of Merritt Verrill Sherry McCauley, CUCC member Jon Turner, husband of Bea Gallegos’ granddaughter Dean McCrum, friend of Dorothy Wheat Jenny Tyniec, CUCC attender Bobbie McKoy, CUCC member Dakota Van Fossen, friend of Peggy Kelly Leslie McLoughlin, extended family of Diana Miller Sandi Walter, CUCC member John McWhirter, brother of Shirley Jones Chris Weldon, friend of Christopher Fairchild Angela Mendoza, friend of Lydia de los Rios Kathy Widmer, friend of Cynthia Moreno Josephine Miller, mother of Deborah Castillero Rev. Maria Wilson, CUCC attender Debbie Mitchell, CUCC member Catherine Yamasaki, friend of Sandy Fasano Patricia Molina, aunt of Beatriz Roman Castellanos Troy Zeleny, nephew of Anne Stromberg Bob Moore, friend of Ruth Abel Ava & her father, Mike, friend of Ruth Abel David Moore, CUCC member Benjamin, grandson of Virginia Bergfalk Rick Moore, friend of Maria Andrade Brian, friend of Tina Kambarian Jeffrey Mulder, son of Sheri Mulder Chad, friend of Christopher Fairchild Cynthia Munos, daughter of Juan Munoz Esperanza & Hector, extended family of Silvia Linda Murray, CUCC member Myles Nielson, grandson of Bea Gallegos Giordano Katie O’Connell, extended family of Dona Turk Janean, friend of Charlotte Van Rywyk Costanza Panico, cousin of Francesco Barbera Macall, granddaughter of the Ryder’s Greg Pavlik, friend of Marsha Madison Michele, daughter-in-law of Judi Bayer’s neighbor Jessie Colby Pryce, friend of Linda & Craig Cummings Ruthie, friend of Valerie Carrick Ricardo Pulido, friend of Linda Corbin Simolena, grandmother of Sherry McCauley’s nurse Lucy Quinn, CUCC member Vilma, sister of Maria Andrade

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], x201 [email protected] Rev. Dr. Jen Strickland Dr. David Rentz [email protected], x202 [email protected] Finance & Payroll Administrator Principal Organist Ms. Jocelyn Bocking Dr. Carey Robertson [email protected], x110 [email protected] Office Manager Building Manager Ms. Jasmine Tomita Mr. Adam Thomas [email protected], [email protected], x101 x109 Minister of Children, Youth, & Technology Director Families Mr. Jon Van Rev. Laurel Capesius [email protected], x120 [email protected], x210 ASL Interpreter Children, Youth, & Families Ms. Jennifer Stephenson Assistant Ms. Elizabeth Zehm Moderator (Council President) [email protected] Ms. Linda Yao [email protected] Junior High Youth Director Ms. Zoe Estrada Pastor Emeritus [email protected] Rev. Dr. Homer “Butch” Henderson Director of the ECC Ms. Kristy Knight [email protected], x114