August 22 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, August 22, 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 O God, Our Help in Ages Past Held INTROIT WELCOME CALL TO WORSHIP One: The world feels topsy-turvy, and all that we thought was sound has turned out to be broken. All: And yet, our God remains with us. One: The world feels out of control, and all that we had hoped was united has turned out to be divided. All: And yet, our God remains with us. One: The world feels topsy-turvy, and all that we had assumed was solid has turned out to be flimsy. All: And yet, our God remains with us. OPENING HYMN #25 O God, Our Help in Ages Past ST. ANNE Sung introduction: Melissa Givens ALL: verses 1, 3-6 PRAYER OF CONFESSION God of the Collective, we confess that we have not always worked to build loving community. Instead of taking risks and being vulnerable with one another and with You, we have spent time separating ourselves from others and living independently. We confess that it is often only in our times of need that we remember the blessing of connectedness and the gift of living intertwined lives with those around us. Help us to continue making our community a place of safety and belonging for all who encounter it. Help us to find the well-being that is inextricably linked to the well-being of others. Amen. ASSURANCE OF PARDON One: …We are forgiven. All: Let us live as redeemed people. Amen.

PASSING OF THE PEACE One: May the peace of Christ be with you. All: And also with you. SERMON ON THE STEPS Rev. Laurel Capesius OFFERING/MUSIC I Want Jesus to Walk With Me arr. Boatner Melissa Givens, soprano 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 Psalm 137:1-6 1 By the rivers of Babylon— there we sat down and there we wept when we remembered Zion. 2 On the willows there we hung up our harps. 3 For there our captors asked us for songs, and our tormentors asked for mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” 4 How could we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land? 5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither! 6 Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy. Isaiah 43:14-21

14 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: For your sake I will send to Babylon and break down all the bars, and the shouting of the Chaldeans will be turned to lamentation. 15 I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King. 16 Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, 17 who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: 18 Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. 19 I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. 20 The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, 21 the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise. SERMON Crossing Rivers: By the Rivers of Babylon Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz ANTHEM I Choose Love Miller Summer Choir 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 Maya’s Prayer for Peace Trenney Melissa Givens, soprano BENEDICTION CLOSING RESPONSE Shall We Gather at the River HANSON PLACE Shall we gather at the river, where bright angel feet have trod, With its crystal tide forever flowing by the throne of God? Yes, we’ll gather at the river, the beautiful, the beautiful river, Gather with the saints at the river that flows by the throne of God. POSTLUDE Toccata in G Eliot THANK YOU Many thanks to Rebecca McCallister, today’s substitute ASL interpreter, and Renee Gehlbach-Martinez, today’s substitute music director. ALTAR FLOWERS Today’s altar flowers are given by Man Dy and dedicated to those who are mourning the loss of loved ones. May you find peace I knowing that they are in the arms of God, who loves unconditionally.

HYMN COMMENTARY “O God, Our Help in Ages Past\" Isaac Watts (1674-1748) based this hymn on Psalm 90. He wrote it at a time when Queen Anne was near death and all of England was anxious about her successor. Watts, long considered the father of modern English hymnody, wrote more than 600 hymns and paraphrases. Ill health kept Watts a semi-invalid for the last 36 years of his life. William Croft (1678-1727) is thought to have written this tune. He served as organist at Westminster Abbey. 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 Randi McKee & Family, friend of Blair Aldworth Katrina Armienti, friend of Carolyn Barbera Christy Powell, friend of Ali Perreault Richard Blair, nephew of Virginia Bergfalk Mario Ramos, Adelanto detainee Casey & Sarah Boatman, Tatum & Everett, Gary Roswell, friend of Sandy Fasano Eric & David Sandberg, family of Ruth Sandberg Family of Sandy Wittwer & Galen Kenoyer Family of Robert Schreiber, friends of Carol Wiese Elaine Bumiller, CUCC member Penny Smith & Family, friend of Dona Turk Jill Carol, CUCC member Cynthia Chertos, CUCC member 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 Tran Family, friends of Ruth Sandberg CUCC member & her daughter Mark Watson, family of Roxanne Watson Charles Folks, family of Marsha Madison Victor Williams Family, friends of Linda Corbin Leventhal Family, friends of Francesco Barbera Tim McCann, Jasmine and Anna Gatto-McCann, Roger & Jeane, friends of Ruth Sandberg friends of Blair & Chris Aldworth FOR HEALTH AND HEALING:

Matt Alford, CUCC member Danielle Marquez, family of Carolyn Barbera Caitlin Antrim, friend of Jean Marston Sherry McCauley, CUCC member Robert Apodaca, friend of Lydia de los Rios Dean McCrumb, friend of Dorothy Wheat Tony Araunz-Martinez, friend of Maureen Moorman Catherine McIntosh, friend of Carol Wiese Lori Barbera, mother of Francesco Barbera Leslie McLouhlin, extended family of Diana Miller Cristina Bergfalk, mother of Benjamin & family of Wendy Mitchell, friend of Carol Wiese Virginia Bergfalk Josephine Miller, mother of Deborah Castillero Stephanie Bertleson, Betty Frank’s niece Patricia Molina, aunt of Beatriz Roman Castellanos Sylvia Brougham, grandmother of Tasha Ferrell Diaz Mila Moncayo, friend of Francesco Barbera Debbie Brown, friend of Judi Bayer Jeffrey Mulder, son of Sheri Mulder Stan Burwell, friend of Carol Wiese Cynthia Munos, daughter of Juan Munoz Tracy Buss, friend of Blair Aldworth Steve Murray, extended family of Judith Bayer Carlene Cable, friend of Sherry McCauley Nate Neumeyer, friend of Blair Aldworth Sedra Canjo, daughter of Nadr Canjo Grace Newkirk, friend of Carol Wiese Linda Carney, niece-in-law of Linda Corbin Myles Nielson, grandson of Bea Gallegos Alice Chin, CUCC attender Greg Pavlik, friend of Marsha Madison Char Craft, friend of Sandy Fasano Jessie Colby Pryce, friend of Linda & Craig Cummings Linda Cummings, CUCC member Jenna Robinson, friend of Rita Dixon Frank & Phylis DeLeo, friends of Carol Wiese Joseph Robinson, brother of John Robinson Margo Rouette, CUCC member Toni de los Rios, cousin of Lydia de los Rios Lawrence Randall Rutt, father of Christopher Rutt MaryAnn Delgadillo, mother of Christopher Eileen Schmalle, friend of Anne Forburger Griffen Schreiber, friend of Francesco Barbera Delgadillo Jay Sharp, CUCC member Dustin & Cristina Dickerson, family of Roxanne Cheryl Sims, friend of Marsha Madison Wayne E. Sims, R.N., brother of Marsha Madison Watson Todd Songer, friend of Diana Miller Paula DiMitri, family of Carolyn & Francesco Barbera Mickey & Sandra Spiker, friends of Tim & Peggy Margaret Duffy, extended family of Dali Podenski Erica & Haley Enos, CUCC member & sister Constantine, Denise Spooner, & Joe Marino Tom Esposito, family of Evy Morales Larry Starkweather, friend of Sandra Wittwer Esposito Family, cousin/family of Evy Morales Martha Stephenson, CUCC member Max & Kelsey Ferrell, Johnathan Diaz, Ana Alicia, Julius M. Steubing, CUCC member Jose, Elias, & Ana Villaseñor, family of Tasha Lorraine Telles, friend of Marta D’Anda Ferrell Michael Toomay, son of Bea Gallegos David Tortes, brother of Rebecca Tortes Sandy French, friend of Marsha Madison Teresa Tulcan, friend of Anne Forburger Laurie Giesenhagen, CUCC member VeBrad & Karen Visser, son & daughter in-law of Jim John George, son of Brenda Keith Kimberly Griffin, CUCC attender Visser Iris Harleman, friend of Shirley Jones Brenda & Michael Henry, CUCC member Dwight Vogel, friend of Jean Rosewall Joan Hunter, Granny of Zoe Estrada Sandi Walter, CUCC member David Jamieson, CUCC member Chris Weldon, friend of Christopher Fairchild Charlie Kalb, friend of Margaret Merhoff Rev. Anita White, UCC Pastor, friend of Jane Chuck Kelcher, friend of Carol Wiese Faith King, daughter of Jeanne King Gibbons Terri King, CUCC member Kathy Widmer, friend of Cynthia Moreno Rev. Maria Wilson, CUCC attender Diana Krumme, friend of Dali Podenski Troy Zeleny, nephew of Anne Stromberg Richard Kuchar, friend of David Moore Ava & her father, Mike, friend of Ruth Abel Olivia Lakner, family friend of Carolyn Barbera Benjamin, grandson of Virginia Bergfalk Elaine Larson, friend of Dona Turk Chad, friend of Christopher Fairchild Kathleen Leo, CUCC member Diane, friend of Kay Brand Nola Lewallen, mother of John Lewallen Jennifer, daughter of Laura Burt Marlene Lobb, friend of Anne Stromberg Marilyn, friend of Ruth Sandberg Frank Malone, friend of Judith Bayer Simolena, grandmother of Sherry McCauley’s nurse Jan Marshall, CUCC attender

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 Principal Organist Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz Dr. Carey Robertson [email protected], x230 [email protected] Rev. Dr. Jen Strickland [email protected], x 228 Director of the Early Childhood Center Finance & Payroll Administrator Ms. Kristy Knight Ms. Jocelyn Bocking [email protected], x226 [email protected], x225 Building Manager Office Manager Mr. Don Doughty Ms. Jasmine Tomita [email protected], [email protected], x240 x222 Technology Director Minister of Children, Youth, & Mr. Jon Van Families [email protected] Rev. Laurel Capesius [email protected] Technology Asisstant Mr. Josh Ngo Children, Youth, & Families [email protected] Assistant Ms. Elizabeth Zehm ASL Interpreter [email protected] Ms. Jennifer Stephenson Junior High Youth Director Moderator (Council President) Ms. Zoe Estrada Ms. Rita Dixon [email protected] [email protected] Director of Music & Fine Arts Dr. Jonathan Campbell [email protected], x242