December 19 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, December 19, 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 (A Not So Silent) Silent Night Olesh arr. Anousis Carol of the Bells Susan Achuff, piano Carey Robertson, organ Christopher Rutt, percussion INTROIT Lift Up Your Heads, O Mighty Gates TRURO CALL TO WORSHIP One: The prophet Isaiah tells us a child is coming to heal us! He shall be called: All: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Parent, Prince of Peace. One: So many expectations for a baby that will enter the world between the stars and the straw. All: Let us draw closer to this ancient story of God With Us. OPENING HYMN My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout STAR OF (see pages 6-7) COUNTY DOWN WELCOME ADVENT WREATH LIGHTING The Young Family PASSING OF THE PEACE One: May the peace of Christ be with you. All: And also with you. OFFERING Ode (from Musical Alphabet) Soulima Stravinsky Alexandra Grabarchuk & David Rentz, piano 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! 2

DEDICATION JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM Gabriel Greets Mary HYMN #133 O Little Town of Bethlehem (verses 1-2) ST. LOUIS Angels Proclaim Good News to the Shepherds HYMN #124 Away in a Manger AWAY IN A MANGER (verse 1: Pageant Singers, verse 2: ALL) HYMN #125 Angels We Have Heard on High GLORIA (verse 1: Pageant Singers, verse 2: ALL) Shepherds Find the Holy Child HYMN #139 The First Nowell THE FIRST NOWELL (verse 1: Pageant Singers, verse 2: ALL) Wise Ones Travel from the East CHORAL ANTHEM We Three Kings John H. Hopkins arr. Russell Robinson Sharing the Christmas Story HYMN #154 Go Tell It On the Mountain African-American spiritual (Pageant Singers: Refrain x2, verses 1-2: ALL) SERMON Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz King of Kings: Jesus vs. The Great Rulers of History “Jesus vs. Vlad the Impaler” HYMN People Look East (see pages 8-9) BESANÇON 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. 3

One: … We pray for these things, O Jesus, using the words you teach us… 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. BENEDICTION CLOSING RESPONSE #116 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel VENI EMMANUEL (verse 6) POSTLUDE Sleigh Ride arr. Edwards Susan Achuff, piano Carey Robertson, organ Christopher Rutt, percussion 4

ALTAR FLOWERS This morning’s flowers are sponsored by Diana Miller and Catherine Curtis, in honor of Howard Kirschner. HYMN COMMENTARY O Little Town of Bethlehem Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) based this text on his trip to the holy land in 1865. On Christmas Eve he sat in the field where the angels appeared to the shepherds and attended services at the Church of the Nativity. Two years later he wrote this hymn. Brooks was an eloquent preacher, renowned in both the U.S. and England. He was ordained in the Episcopal Church and rose to the position of Bishop of Massachusetts. A statue of Brooks stands next to Trinity Church in Copley Square, Boston, where he served for 27 years. Lewis Henry Redner (1831-1908) may have been the driving force behind the creation of this beloved Christmas hymn. It was on Christmas Eve that Redner produced this tune. 5

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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]. OUR NEWEST SAINT: Hedy Hom, sister of Loretta Gromo 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 Margaret Merhoff, CUCC member Jill Carol, CUCC member Valeria Pizzetti, friend of Dona Turk Irma Castaneda, CUCC attender Christy Powell, friend of Ali Perreault Cynthia Chertos, CUCC member Mario Ramos, Adelanto detainee The DiMitri Family, family of the Barbera’s Gary Roswell, friend of Sandy Fasano Ellen Feyk, CUCC member Jennifer Stephenson, CUCC staff Victoria Findlay & Allison Thomkins, Lucy, Claire, & John Stover, friends of Linda Tajima CUCC member & her daughter Paul Towne, family of Howard Towne Charles Folks, family of Marsha Madison Carol & Linda, friends of Kay Brand Leventhal Family, friends of Francesco Barbera Roger & Jeane, friends of Ruth Sandberg FOR HEALTH AND HEALING: Caitlin Antrim, friend of Jean Marston Jennifer Grande, CUCC member Robert Apodaca, friend of Lydia de los Rios Kimberly Griffin, CUCC attender Tony Araunz-Martinez, friend of Maureen Moorman Iris Harleman, friend of Shirley Jones Stacey Ballard Bill Hodson, father of Linda Hodson Lori Barbera, mother of Francesco Barbera Joan Hunter, Granny of Zoe Estrada Cristina Bergfalk, mother of Benjamin & family of David Jamieson, CUCC member Virginia Bergfalk Terri King, CUCC member Stephanie Bertleson, Betty Frank’s niece Michal Kohout, husband of Anne Bennett Debbie Brown, friend of Judi Bayer Courtney Koverman, daughter of Briggs Gamblin Carlene Cable, friend of Sherry McCauley Diana Krumme, friend of Dali Podenski Linda Carney, niece-in-law of Linda Corbin Olivia Lakner, family friend of Carolyn Barbera Alice Chin, CUCC attender Elaine & Ed Larson, friends of Dona Turk Denise Christopoulos, friend of Sandy Fasano Kathleen Leo, CUCC member Barbara Coates, CUCC member Nola Lewallen, mother of John Lewallen Hazel & Claudia Corbin, aunt and cousin of Linda Marlene Lobb, friend of Anne Stromberg 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 10

Myles Nielson, grandson of Bea Gallegos Lorraine Telles, friend of Marta D’Anda 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 Jenna Robinson, friend of Rita Dixon Sandi Walter, CUCC member Margo Rouette, CUCC member Shirley Washington, CUCC member Lawrence Randall Rutt, father of Christopher Rutt Chris Weldon, friend of Christopher Fairchild Jay Sharp, CUCC member Kathy Widmer, friend of Cynthia Moreno Cheryl Sims, friend of Marsha Madison Donna Williams, extended family of Shirley Jones Bo & Wayne Sims, brother and sister in-law of Marsha Rev. Maria Wilson, CUCC attender Catherine Yamasaki, friend of Sandy Fasano Madison Troy Zeleny, nephew of Anne Stromberg Nancy Skidmore, cousin of Judith Bayer Ava & her father, Mike, friend of Ruth Abel Todd Songer, friend of Diana Miller Benjamin, grandson of Virginia Bergfalk Joyce Sorrento, family of the Barbera’s Brian, friend of Tina Kambarian Mickey & Sandra Spiker, friends of Tim & Peggy Chad, friend of Christopher Fairchild Constantine, Denise Spooner, & Joe Marino Esperanza & Hector, extended family of Siliva Larry Starkweather, friend of Sandra Wittwer Giordano Kathy Starr, friend of Sherry McCauley Martha Stephenson, CUCC member Ruthie, friend of Valerie Carrick Julius M. Steubing, CUCC member Simolena, grandmother of Sherry McCauley’s nurse 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 [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. Rita Dixon [email protected] Director of the ECC Ms. Kristy Knight Pastor Emeritus [email protected], x226 Rev. Dr. Homer “Butch” Henderson 12