November 14 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, November 14, 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 Variations on “O Waly Waly” Linker INTROIT Communication is the Answer Oliver Holden/Secretary Michael WELCOME CALL TO WORSHIP One: We gather this morning to be assured that life’s hardships do not define us. All: Heal us, Gentle God. One: We gather this morning ready to hear God’s fresh Word. All: Speak to us, Loving God. One: We gather this morning ready to see God’s new vision for us. All: Open our eyes, Holy One. One: We gather this morning ready to be changed by God’s Holy Spirit. All: Transform us, Living God. OPENING HYMN #572 When Israel Was in Egypt’s Land GO DOWN, MOSES PRAYER OF CONFESSION God who listens when we pray, We confess we are sometimes unconcerned with your will. You desire us to proclaim your name, but often we remain quiet. You call us to work for justice, but often we remain idle, hoping others will do our work. You invite us to live faithfully, but often we choose to live as we please. Forgive us, Creator. Fill our hearts with renewed courage and commitment to you. Draw us close to you once again and remind us whose we are. Amen. ASSURANCE One: Our God stands with us in love and covers us with mercy for the ways we have fallen short. All: In Christ, we are made new. Praise God! Amen. GUEST ARTIST Ringo Bushi Traditional - Aomori, Japan The Wagaku Collective

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 How Can I Keep From Singing Quaker Hymn arr. Daniel H. Graves 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 Numbers 33:50-56 50 In the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 51 Speak to the Israelites, and say to them: When you cross over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 52 you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their figured stones, destroy all their cast images, and demolish all their high places. 53 You shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess. 54 You shall apportion the land by lot according to your clans; to a large one you shall give a large inheritance, and to a small one you shall give a small inheritance; the inheritance shall belong to the person on whom the lot falls; according to your ancestral tribes you shall inherit. 55 But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides; they shall trouble you in the land where you are settling. 56 And I will do to you as I thought to do to them. SERMON Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz

You Ask, We Preach: Your Biggest, Burning Questions “Did God really ask the Israelites to wipe out everyone in the promised land?” “How do we know what we believe about God is true?” HYMN #316 We Limit Not the Truth of God OLD 22nd 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: … Hear us as we pray together using the words Jesus taught us… All: Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth. With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and for ever. Amen. (A version of The Lord’s Prayer from The New Zealand Prayer Book) GUEST MUSIC Kokiriko-Kuroda Samba Traditional - The Wagaku Collective Toyama & Fukuoka, Japan BENEDICTION CLOSING RESPONSE Now Thank We All Our God NUN DANKET Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices, Who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices, Who, from our parents’ arms, has blessed us on our way

With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today. POSTLUDE Praeludium in G Major Bach ALTAR FLOWERS Today's altar flowers are given by Art and Sandra Parker in honor of all creators of music everywhere. \"Nature teaches us harmony. May you create beautiful harmony as your life's purpose.\" -Yogi GUEST ARTIST The Wagaku Collective is a small performance ensemble of multi-ethnic, multi- generational, classically trained musicians of the Japanese traditional performing arts. Having studied with masters in our respective art forms for many years, the members of The Wagaku Collective have joined forces in re-imagining some of the most beloved traditional Japanese minyo (folk) and popular tunes, using traditional Japanese musical instruments such as shakuhachi, shamisen, shinobue, taiko, and more. HYMN COMMENTARY When Israel was in Egypt's Land This text kept hope alive for those Africans living in slavery in the United States. It recalls the time of bondage endured by the nation of Israel as recorded in the Hebrew scriptures. African American spirituals were often based on the stories of the Hebrew people found in the Scriptures. The preservation of songs and melodies that had been sung ever since the first slaves had been brought from Africa began to take place when musicians began writing down traditional words and melodies--ones we continue to sing today.

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, friend 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 Valeria Pizzetti, friend of Dona Turk Jill Carol, CUCC member Christy Powell, friend of Ali Perreault Irma Castaneda, CUCC attender Mario Ramos, Adelanto detainee Cynthia Chertos, CUCC member Gary Roswell, friend of Sandy Fasano The DiMitri Family, family of the Barbera’s Jennifer Stephenson, CUCC staff Ellen Feyk, CUCC member Lucy, Claire, & John Stover, friends of Linda Tajima Victoria Findlay & Allison Thomkins, Paul Towne, family of Howard Towne CUCC member & her daughter Carol & Linda, friends of Kay Brand Charles Folks, family of Marsha Madison Roger & Jeane, friends of Ruth Sandberg Leventhal Family, friends of Francesco Barbera FOR HEALTH AND HEALING: Caitlin Antrim, friend of Jean Marston David Jamieson, CUCC member Robert Apodaca, friend of Lydia de los Rios Terri King, CUCC member Tony Araunz-Martinez, friend of Maureen Moorman Michal Kohout, husband of Anne Bennett Lori Barbera, mother of Francesco Barbera Courtney Koverman, daughter of Briggs Gamblin Cristina Bergfalk, mother of Benjamin & family of Diana Krumme, friend of Dali Podenski Virginia Bergfalk Olivia Lakner, family friend of Carolyn Barbera Stephanie Bertleson, Betty Frank’s niece Elaine & Ed Larson, friends of Dona Turk Debbie Brown, friend of Judi Bayer Kathleen Leo, CUCC member Carlene Cable, friend of Sherry McCauley Nola Lewallen, mother of John Lewallen Linda Carney, niece-in-law of Linda Corbin Marlene Lobb, friend of Anne Stromberg Alice Chin, CUCC attender Bob Lominska, brother of Susan Lominska Denise Christopoulos, friend of Sandy Fasano Frank Malone, friend of Judith Bayer Barbara Coates, CUCC member Jim Marino, brother of Joe Marino Hazel & Claudia Corbin, aunt and cousin of Linda Jan Marshall, CUCC attender Corbin Sherry McCauley, CUCC member Russell Corbin, cousin of Linda Corbin Leslie McLouhlin, extended family of Diana Miller Linda Cummings, CUCC member Joseph Mikesell, nephew of Sandy Gabel Toni de los Rios, cousin of Lydia de los Rios Josephine Miller, mother of Deborah Castillero MaryAnn Delgadillo, mother of Christopher Debbie Mitchell, CUCC member Delgadillo Patricia Molina, aunt of Beatriz Roman Castellanos Tom Dixon, brother of Jerry Dixon Mila Moncayo, friend of Francesco Barbera Margaret Duffy, extended family of Dali Podenski Jeffrey Mulder, son of Sheri Mulder Erica & Haley Enos, CUCC member & sister Cynthia Munos, daughter of Juan Munoz Matthew Enriquez, friend of Scott Bohlender Steve Murray, extended family of Judith Bayer Levi Entereso, CUCC member Myles Nielson, grandson of Bea Gallegos Sandy French, friend of Marsha Madison Barbara Patch, friend of Ruth Abel Laurie Giesenhagen, CUCC member Madeline Patene, CUCC member Jennifer Grande, CUCC member Greg Pavlik, friend of Marsha Madison Kimberly Griffin, CUCC attender Jessie Colby Pryce, friend of Linda & Craig Cummings Iris Harleman, friend of Shirley Jones Whitney Relf Dixie Hegg, mother of Wendy Anson Jenna Robinson, friend of Rita Dixon Bill Hodson, father of Linda Hodson Margo Rouette, CUCC member Joan Hunter, Granny of Zoe Estrada Lawrence Randall Rutt, father of Christopher Rutt

Jay Sharp, CUCC member Dakota Van Fossen, friend of Peggy Kelly Sandi Walter, CUCC member Cheryl Sims, friend of Marsha Madison Shirley Washington, CUCC member Bo & Wayne Sims, brother and sister in-law of Marsha Chris Weldon, friend of Christopher Fairchild Madison Kathy Widmer, friend of Cynthia Moreno Donna Williams, extended family of Shirley Jones Nancy Skidmore, cousin of Judith Bayer Rev. Maria Wilson, CUCC attender Catherine Yamasaki, friend of Sandy Fasano Todd Songer, friend of Diana Miller Troy Zeleny, nephew of Anne Stromberg Ava & her father, Mike, friend of Ruth Abel Joyce Sorrento, family of the Barbera’s Benjamin, grandson of Virginia Bergfalk Mickey & Sandra Spiker, friends of Tim & Peggy Brian, friend of Tina Kambarian Chad, friend of Christopher Fairchild Constantine, Denise Spooner, & Joe Marino Esperanza & Hector, extended family of Siliva Larry Starkweather, friend of Sandra Wittwer Giordano Ruthie, friend of Valerie Carrick Kathy Starr, friend of Sherry McCauley Simolena, grandmother of Sherry McCauley’s nurse Martha Stephenson, CUCC member Julius M. Steubing, CUCC member Lorraine Telles, friend of Marta D’Anda Michael Toomay, son of Bea Gallegos Jocelyn Tuchon, daughter of Merritt Verrill Teresa Tulcan, friend of Anne Forburger

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 [email protected], x226