January 9 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, January 9, 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 Paradise Jacqueline Cordes INTROIT Ring Out the Old, Ring In the New CALKIN WELCOME Rev. Laurel Capesius CALL TO WORSHIP Maddox Park One: As weary travelers, we stumble into God’s embrace. All: Holy God, make us new. One: We come to seek the waters of grace. All: Holy God, make us new. One: We dream of transformation in this place. All: Holy God, make us new. OPENING HYMN #50 I Sing the Praise of Love Almighty ST. PETERSBURG SCRIPTURE Luke 3:15-16, 21-22 (CEB) Kaitlyn Young 15 The people were filled with expectation, and everyone wondered whether John might be the Christ. 16 John replied to them all, “I baptize you with water, but the one who is more powerful than me is coming. I’m not worthy to loosen the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 21 When everyone was being baptized, Jesus also was baptized. While he was praying, heaven was opened22 and the Holy Spirit came down on him in bodily form like a dove. And there was a voice from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.” PRAYER OF CONFESSION Maddox Park Merciful God, We do not always understand your words. Too often, we ignore your teachings. We prefer to stick with the status quo, instead of challenging unjust symptoms. Forgive us, Holy One, for the ways we turned our backs on love,

and open our hearts to your grace. Amen. ASSURANCE OF PARDON Maddox Park One: …In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! All: Thanks be to God! 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 (Section Leaders only) SERMON ON THE STEPS Bryan Frame OFFERING/ANTHEM Seasons of Love (from Rent) Jonathan Larson 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 Acts 8:26-39 (CEB) Parker Chindlund 26 An angel from the Lord spoke to Philip, “At noon, take ]the road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.) 27 So he did. Meanwhile, an Ethiopian man was on his way home from Jerusalem, where he had come to worship. He was a eunuch and an official responsible for the entire treasury of Candace. (Candace is the title given to the Ethiopian queen.) 28 He was reading the prophet Isaiah while sitting in his carriage.29 The Spirit told Philip, “Approach this carriage and stay with it.” 30 Running up to the carriage, Philip heard the man reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you really understand what you are reading?”

31 The man replied, “Without someone to guide me, how could I?” Then he invited Philip to climb up and sit with him. 32 This was the passage of scripture he was reading: Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent so he didn’t open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was taken away from him. Who can tell the story of his descendants because his life was taken from the earth? 34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, about whom does the prophet say this? Is he talking about himself or someone else?” 35 Starting with that passage, Philip proclaimed the good news about Jesus to him. 36 As they went down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look! Water! What would keep me from being baptized?” 38 He ordered that the carriage halt. Both Philip and the eunuch went down to the water, where Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Lord’s Spirit suddenly took Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing. SERMON New Year, New You: Transformation Rev. Laurel Capesius HYMN #166 Immortal Love, Forever Full SERENITY (verses 1-2, 4-5) 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 Jesus 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.

GUEST ARTIST Turn Jacqueline Cordes BENEDICTION CLOSING RESPONSE Go, My Children With My Blessing AR HYD Y NOS POSTLUDE Fugue on ‘How Brightly Shines the Morning Star’ Buxtehude ALTAR FLOWERS The flowers on the altar are sponsored by Man Dy and given as a gift to the congregation. May God bless you in this new year, bring you guidance through any obstacles standing in your way, and pave a road to peace of mind and prosperity. HYMN COMMENTARY \"I Sing the Praise of Love Almighty” Gerhard Tersteegen (1697-1769) wrote this text in 1757 as part of a longer poem. It was not used as a hymn until 1825 when Johannes Gosner selected only those stanzas that focused primarily on Christ.

Tersteegen is recognized as one of the most significant hymnwriters of the German Reformed Church. Dimitri Bortniansky (1752-1825) may have included this melody in a mass he composed in 1822. Bortnianshy studied in Bologna, Rome, and Naples, Italy, before returning to his home in Saint Petersburg, of the Russian Empire, in 1779. GUEST ARTIST Jacqueline Cordes is a 19-year-old student attending Pomona College. She and her family are members of CUCC. She recently released “Chroma,” her fifth album of original music on soundcloud.com. She has synesthesia, which enables her to see music in color, and she aims to create “vivid” compositions. In her spare time, she enjoys studying languages (including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Tibetan), learning classical piano pieces, playing chess, and listening to Radiohead. This is her first public performance of her original work. 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 Tim McCann, Jasmine and Anna Gatto-McCann, Jennifer Araujo, friend of Carolyn Barbera friends of Blair & Chris Aldworth Katrina Armienti, friend of Carolyn Barbera Linda Hodson & Family, CUCC member Francesco Barbera & Family, CUCC member Randi McKee & Family, friend of Blair Aldworth Casey & Sarah Boatman, Tatum & Everett, Margaret Merhoff, CUCC member Family of Sandy Wittwer & Galen Kenoyer Valeria Pizzetti, friend of Dona Turk Elaine Bumiller, CUCC member Christy Powell, friend of Ali Perreault Jill Carol, CUCC member Mario Ramos, Adelanto detainee Irma Castaneda, CUCC attender Gary Roswell, friend of Sandy Fasano Cynthia Chertos, CUCC member Sandra Spiker, friends of Tim & Peggy Constantine, The DiMitri Family, family of the Barbera’s Denise Spooner, & Joe Marino 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 Debbie Mitchell, CUCC member Robert Apodaca, friend of Lydia de los Rios Patricia Molina, aunt of Beatriz Roman Castellanos Tony Araunz-Martinez, friend of Maureen Moorman Mila Moncayo, friend of Francesco Barbera Stacey Ballard Jeffrey Mulder, son of Sheri Mulder Lori Barbera, mother of Francesco Barbera Cynthia Munos, daughter of Juan Munoz Cristina Bergfalk, mother of Benjamin & family of Linda Murray, CUCC member Virginia Bergfalk Steve Murray, extended family of Judith Bayer Stephanie Bertleson, Betty Frank’s niece Myles Nielson, grandson of Bea Gallegos Charles Blickenstaff, brother of Judith Bayer’s Barbara Patch, friend of Ruth Abel neighbor Madeline Patane, CUCC member Debbie Brown, friend of Judi Bayer Greg Pavlik, friend of Marsha Madison Carlene Cable, friend of Sherry McCauley Jessie Colby Pryce, friend of Linda & Craig Cummings Linda Carney, niece-in-law of Linda Corbin Whitney Relf Alice Chin, CUCC attender Jenna Robinson, friend of Rita Dixon Denise Christopoulos, friend of Sandy Fasano Xochitl Romero, neighbor of Judith Bayer Barbara Coates, CUCC member Margo Rouette, CUCC member Hazel & Claudia Corbin, aunt and cousin of Linda Lawrence Randall Rutt, father of Christopher Rutt Corbin Bernadette Sarver, cousin of Judith Bayer Russell Corbin, cousin of Linda Corbin Jay Sharp, CUCC member Linda Cummings, CUCC member Cheryl Sims, friend of Marsha Madison Toni de los Rios, cousin of Lydia de los Rios Bo & Wayne Sims, brother and sister in-law of Marsha MaryAnn Delgadillo, mother of Christopher Madison Delgadillo Nancy Skidmore, cousin of Judith Bayer Margaret Duffy, extended family of Dali Podenski Todd Songer, friend of Diana Miller Erica & Haley Enos, CUCC member & sister Joyce Sorrento, family of the Barbera’s Matthew Enriquez, friend of Scott Bohlender Larry Starkweather, friend of Sandra Wittwer Levi Entereso, CUCC member Kathy Starr, friend of Sherry McCauley Sandy French, friend of Marsha Madison Martha Stephenson, CUCC member Laurie Giesenhagen, CUCC member Julius M. Steubing, CUCC member James Golubic, brother of Judith Bayer Lorraine Telles, friend of Marta D’Anda Jennifer Grande, CUCC member Jennalee Thurston, mother of Wayne Thurston Kimberly Griffin, CUCC attender Michael Toomay, son of Bea Gallegos Iris Harleman, friend of Shirley Jones Jocelyn Tuchon, daughter of Merritt Verrill Bill Hodson, father of Linda Hodson Teresa Tulcan, friend of Anne Forburger Joan Hunter, Granny of Zoe Estrada Dakota Van Fossen, friend of Peggy Kelly David Jamieson, CUCC member Sandi Walter, CUCC member Sarah Jones, mother of Carolyn Barbera Shirley Washington, CUCC member Terri King, CUCC member Chris Weldon, friend of Christopher Fairchild Michal Kohout, husband of Anne Bennett Kathy Widmer, friend of Cynthia Moreno Courtney Koverman, daughter of Briggs Gamblin Donna Williams, extended family of Shirley Jones Diana Krumme, friend of Dali Podenski Rev. Maria Wilson, CUCC attender Olivia Lakner, family friend of Carolyn Barbera Catherine Yamasaki, friend of Sandy Fasano Kathleen Leo, CUCC member Troy Zeleny, nephew of Anne Stromberg Nola Lewallen, mother of John Lewallen Ava & her father, Mike, friend of Ruth Abel Marlene Lobb, friend of Anne Stromberg Benjamin, grandson of Virginia Bergfalk Frank & Barbara Malone, friends of Judith Bayer Brian, friend of Tina Kambarian Jim Marino, brother of Joe Marino Chad, friend of Christopher Fairchild Jan Marshall, CUCC attender Esperanza & Hector, extended family of Siliva Sherry McCauley, CUCC member Giordano Leslie McLouhlin, extended family of Diana Miller Ruthie, friend of Valerie Carrick Joseph Mikesell, nephew of Sandy Gabel Scarlet, granddaughter of Judith Bayer Josephine Miller, mother of Deborah Castillero Simolena, grandmother of Sherry McCauley’s nurse

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