May 22 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, May 22, 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 (VIDEO) Those Who Dream The Many Visual art by Lauren Wright Pittman, Hannah Garrity, & Lisle Gwynn Garrity Video by Lisle Gwynn Garrity INTROIT Give Me Jesus Spiritual, arr. Randa Kirshbaum Timothy Davis, Jr., tenor CALL TO WORSHIP One: In a world of darkness, All: Let us dream of light. One: In a world of hatred, All: Let us dream of love. One: In a world of fear, All: Let us dream of courage. One: No matter what the weak ahead may hold, All: Let us dream of all that God can do. OPENING HYMN #67 Let Me Enter God’s Own Dwelling UNSER HERRSCHER (verses 1, 3-4) WELCOME PRAYER OF CONFESSION God of all creation, we confess that sometimes we lose hope. When we see hatred and violence in our world, we wonder if anything ever gets better. When it seems as if history repeats itself, we wonder if we can ever create change. When innocent people lose their lives, we wonder if you are really with us. Give us the strength not to lose hope. Help us to keep dreaming, keep working, keep pushing for your will to be done on earth. When all seems lost, allow us to always hold onto a small glimmer of hope. WORDS OF ASSURANCE One: …Let us go forth in confidence All: Amen. CLAREMONT UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST COVENANT

In response to God’s creating, redeeming, and sustaining love, we unite for the worship of God and the service of all. We seek to know the will of God and to walk in God’s ways made known in Jesus Christ; to love one another; to proclaim the Gospel to all the world; to work and pray for peace and justice; and to live in harmony with all creation. We trust the presence of the Holy Spirit in trial and rejoicing and the promise of eternal life both now and for evermore. 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/ANTHEM Any Dream Will Do Andrew Lloyd Webber arr. Mac Huff 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 Genesis 28:10-21 10 Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. 11 He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. 12 And he dreamed that there was a stairway set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 And the LORD stood

beside him and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring, 14 and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. 15 Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” 16 Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place—and I did not know it!” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” 18 So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. 19 He called that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God.” Genesis 32:22-32 22 The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. 24 Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” 27 So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, yet my life is preserved.” 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the thigh muscle that is on the hip socket, because he struck Jacob on the hip socket at the thigh muscle. SERMON Imagine! Tales of Dreamers in the Bible Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz “Wrestling with God” STEWARDSHIP HYMN Come, Let Us Dream GIFT OF LOVE

Come, let us dream God’s dream again. Come, one and all, let us ascend the mountain top where those of old saw God’s new day on earth unfold. The lost be found, the blinkered see, the doors swing wide, all prisoners free, the lowly raised, the proud brought low. This is God’s dream: let justice flow. When hatred ends and war shall cease, so all may dwell in deepest peace, then be assured the time is near when perfect love casts out all fear. Come, let us dream God’s dream as one, as all together, leaving none we walk towards justice, peace, and love, sharing our gifts for God above. 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 Total Praise Richard Smallwood Timothy Davis, Jr., tenor BENEDICTION CLOSING RESPONSE Come, Christians, Join to Sing MADRID

POSTLUDE Toccata for Organ John Weaver Special thanks to our Media Ministry Volunteer: David Moore ALTAR FLOWERS Today’s flowers are sponsored by Man Dy and dedicated to church staff and leaders. May they lead by example in this world and this church in teaching us how to overcome our struggles in the human world and strengthen our relationship with God. HYMN COMMENTARY “Let Me Enter God's Own Dwelling” Benjamin Schmolck (1672-1737) wrote the original German words for this hymn. The text was popular with both the Reformed and Evangelical German immigrants to America, although they sang these words to different tunes. Benjamin Schmolck, a German Lutheran pastor, is credited with more than a thousand hymns. He served the few Lutheran churches in an area that had been taken over by the Roman Catholics.

Joachim Neander (1650-1680) composed this tune. He made his living primarily as a teacher in a grammar school. GUEST ARTIST Timothy Davis, Jr. is currently attending Claremont Graduate University, pursuing a DMA in conducting. He also serves as Professor of Choral Music at Compton College. A versatile tenor soloist, he has performed with such artists as Audra McDonald, Wayne Brady, Wynton Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, Seal, and Will.i.am. He has also performed with the Los Angeles Opera in Porgy and Bess, singing the role of Daddy Peter. He has performed the same role with the San Diego Symphony, as well as on European tour with the Pacific Symphony. Tim plays piano for churches, starting his career at Bryant Temple African Methodist Episcopal, as well as at Grant AME, Second AME, and now First AME Pasadena. He has been connected to the AME Fifth Episcopal District of the Southern California Conference for 33 years, and currently serves as the Southern California Conference Music Director. Tim is serving his fourth term as the Western Regional Director of National Association of Negro Musician (NANW), the oldest African-American national musical organization.

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