Christ Is Risen; Christ Will Come Again

Claremont United Methodist Church Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany February 7, 2021 9:30 a.m.

1 “God is Holding Your Life: We Wait, We Hope, We Stay”

PRELUDE Give Me Jesus arr. Marques L.A. Garrett

MINISTER’S WELCOME Rev. Karen Clark Ristine

THRESHOLD “GOD IS HOLDING YOUR LIFE” Narrator: Today’s Psalm comes late in the Book and offers a glimpse of a time when the exiled outcasts are gathering back together and seeing their world built back up. We too, yearn for a re-gathering and a day when we sing our praises and play our instruments with abandon together again. We wait, we hope, we stay firm in our faith, knowing as our ancient ancestors did, that God is indeed holding our lives.

OPENING COLLECT PRAYER Rev. Martha Morales Minister: God of our devotion, you are the one constant in our life. Open us this day to see the things that hold us in their grip, so that we might shed unnecessary distractions that keep us from seeing your reign on earth as it is in heaven. People: We praise you for being our rock, holding our lives together in the ways that matter most. Amen.

OPENING HYMN “When Jesus the Healer Passed Through Galilee” UMH No. 263 verses 1, 6-7 printed on the next page PSALM 147:1-11, 20 Rev. Ron Hines from A Lukan Psalter, According to the Usage of The Order of St. Luke

CHILDREN’S MOMENT Richard Bruxvoort Colligan

ANTHEM “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” Thomas A. Dorsey The Virtual Sanctuary Choir Quartet

SERMON Rev. Karen Clark Ristine 2

PRAYERS FOR THE WORLD AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD Rev. Martha Morales Minister: Let us continue our prayers…. …to be God’s love and peace in the world. Let us pray for the leaders of this world and our church community… People: God of Justice, hear our prayer. Minister: For those who live in conflict around the world… People: Prince of Peace, hear our prayer. Minister: For all those who are experiencing loss of any kind in the pandemics we face… People: Comforting Healer, hear our prayer. Minister: For those who are homeless, hungry, and alone… People: Emmanuel, God-With-Us, hear our prayer. Minister: For those who live in comfort, for Christ-like hospitality and generosity… People: Transforming Spirit, hear our prayer. Minister: We pray for those near and dear to us who have asked for our prayers….

PRAYER RESPONSE “Put Peace Into Each Other’s Hands” Fred Kaan, Irish Melody used by permission, OneLicense license no. A-725011

THE PEACE Rev. Karen Clark Ristine

SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION INVITATION TO HOLY COMMUNION Minister: Holy and Living One, as we gather to break bread once again, break us open to your love, to your peace, to your presence, to your transformative power. In the name of the One who invites us time and again, Jesus the Christ.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE Minister: We are all invited to the gift of this table of grace…. …We confess the ways we have placed hardship in the hands of others, rather than peace. When we place peace in each other’s hands, we place Christ’s love in all the hands of the world. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven! People: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

4 THE GREAT THANKSGIVING Minister: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Minister: Open your hearts, your minds, your lives to the Holy One. People: We long for this communion. Minister: Let us give our greatest thanks in the company of the beloved. People: It is a good and joyful thing to give our thanks and praise. Minister: God of Life, Creator of All That Is, you have breathed life into us, filled our emptiness, loved us through our resistance…. …. we breathe so we may live, we open so we may love. People: Holy , holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Minister: Holy are you God, and blessed be your work in Jesus, Peace-Giver, Life-Healer. Spirit-Anointer, do your work in us, as in him…. …. in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith. People: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. Minister: And so, Holy One, we ask that you pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and vine, on all of us…. Holy Spirit, breath of wind, People: fill us, transform us. Minister: Holy Spirit, lover of justice, People: fill us, transform us. Minister: Holy Spirit, maker of unity, People: fill us, transform us. Minister: And all of God’s people said, Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER Our (Mother, Father, Abba, God, Creator) who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom 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 those our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Minister: We who are many are one body, one loaf, rising in Spirit together…. …know that the hand that serves you is the hand of all Christ’s Body, through mystical union with the Divine. You are not alone. Amen.

CLOSING HYMN “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” UMH No. 139 printed on the next page BENEDICTION Rev. Karen Clark Ristine

POSTLUDE Interpretation on Psalm 108 Emma Lou Diemer “O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! Awake, my soul!”

*Worship series design and liturgy is copyright © Worship Design Studio by Marcia McFee. Used, adapted, and live-streamed with permission. www.worshipdesignstudio.com, www.worshipdesignstudio.com/life. Psalm 139 is read from A Lukan Psalter according to the usage of The Order of St. Luke, ed. Rev. Dwight Vogel, copyright 2020 by The Order of Saint Luke. Used with permission. “God is Holding Your Life” song, the song of the Children’s Moment, words and music, are by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan, © 2020 Worldmaking.net (ASCAP). All rights reserved. Used with permission. Licensed via OneLicense.net, CCLI, and Worldmaking.net. Images from Storyblocks.com, complied by worshipdesignstudio.com/life. Used with permission.

ALL OF KATIE’S PRELUDES for the month of February are by African American composers in honor of Black History Month.

ALL ARE WELCOME! Claremont United Methodist Church is a welcoming and reconciling congregation, affirming ministry with the whole family of God, regardless of age, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, economic situation, or marital status. Claremont United Methodist Church believes its diversity is a blessing through which persons are strengthened to love and serve.

INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE IN WORSHIP: Language has the power to shape our thinking about one another, Claremont United Methodist Church uses inclusive language for Bible readings. Some historical texts that are widely known and loved are left unaltered. This, we believe, in no way diminishes our commitment to inclusive expression. We invite persons to change the words of hymns deemed to be exclusive, so that the hymns might have meaning for all.

OUR PRAYERS Please keep the church office updated on your loved ones. NEW TO THE PRAYER LIST: Delphine (Lisa Campo-Poe’s sister); Joe & Cindy DeRoulhac; Jeff Gill (Jackie & Lisa Campo-Poe’s neighbor); Laura Lilley-Coles; World Council of Churches Countries of the Week: Andorra, Italy, Malta, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Vatican City.

WONDERFUL WORSHIP “TOGETHER” HYMN QUARTET: Haylee Coburn, Ayanna Lewis, Jared Pugh, Ryan Rose

VIDEO EDITING: Jared Pugh and Rev. Karen Clark Ristine:

https://www.youtube.com/c/ClaremontUMC

FAITHFULLY FORWARD Virtual Conversations with Dr. John B. Cobb, Jr. “Jesus’s Mission and Ours” is the theme of conversations each Sunday through February 14, 11:00 a.m. to noon. Dr. Cobb will be with all who are interested in conversation about his most recent book, Salvation. You may find details about the book at https://processcenturypress.com/salvation-jesuss-mission-and-ours/. You may order it from your favorite book dealer, or from Amazon.com.

The Men’s Enrichment Group continues to “meet” through a rotating buddy system, connecting via telephone, email, and post. The group also continues fellowship and devotional study via zoom the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month. The next Zoom gathering is Wednesday, February 10 at 8:00 a.m. You are invited and welcome to join in with us.

SAVE THE DATE! Virtual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper Tuesday, February via Zoom from 5:30 p.m. until 6:15 p.m. ALL ages are welcome at all times for the whole time. Come for the whole time, or come for some of the time! The evening will progress as follows: 5:30-5:40 p.m. Pancake Contest and Family Pancake Stories 5:40-5:50 p.m. Mardi Gras Mask Parade 5:50-6:10 p.m. Sierra Service Project Focus with Joseph Makunga 6:10-6:15 p.m. Closing Prayer with MYF Benediction

8 Special Adjourned Charge Conference Tuesday, February 16 via Zoom at 7:00 p.m. This is our adjourned charge conference to consider the 2021 church budget. All are invited to attend virtually. Zoom information will be sent out as we get closer.

Ash Wednesday Worship Wednesday, February 17 at 7:00 p.m. Let’s worship together “Live” on Zoom. We’ll find comfort in the practice of ritual with one another, even though it’s virtual. All are welcome to this time of holy reflection, worship, and preparation for the season of Lent.

A Lenten Dismantling Racism Study beginning Sunday, February 21 at 11:00 a.m. on Zoom CUMC’s Dismantling Racism Committee invites all to take part in this six-week study on the short, but powerful book, Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman. Let’s read together; let’s reflect on what this wise prophet is saying to the disinherited and to all of us today. You can purchase the book through Amazon, or your favorite book retailer. There is a powerful voice that comes through from the disinherited that we need to hear.

“LIFE GOES ON” returns on February 24 Part of the human experience is facing all kinds of challenges, dealing with loss, and working our way through grief that at times threatens to overwhelm us. In the last 12 months, the COVID-19 pandemic has left us with even more sadness. Life Goes On responds to our need for comfort and support at times like these. Watch for more information about our first Zoom gathering, which will be on Wednesday, February 24th, at 7:00 p.m. when we’ll talk about “Sadness and Resilience in the Time of COVID.” All are welcome. Questions? Contact Paula Hui.

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED Valentines for the Teachers CUMC’s Education Commission plans to gift Valentines to the teachers at Mountain View School. The teachers of Mountain View often purchase classroom supplies out of their personal budgets. Due to the ongoing pandemic and the stay-at-home order, we will purchase gift cards for the teachers. If you would like to contribute a Valentine, please send a check to Claremont UMC before February 12. The checks

9 should be made payable to CUMC with “Valentines for the Teachers” on the memo line. This is one way we seek to express God’s love and care for the children and teachers at Mountain View. Thank you for your generosity!

10 Clergy and Staff

The Rev. Karen Clark Ristine ~ Lead Pastor The Rev. Martha Morales ~ Minister of Education and Caring Ministries Jessica Johnston, M.Div. ~ Church Administrator Genaro Cordova ~ Facilities Engineer Dena Dissmeyer ~ Director of Children’s Ministry Joseph Makunga ~ Director of Youth Ministry Katie Franklin Ledsinger, M.A. ~ Organist; Director of The Circuit Ringers, CUMC Kids Choir, and Youth Chimes Jared Pugh ~ Director of The Sanctuary Choir Sajjad Alobaidi ~ Sunday Custodian Marie Soltero and Elizabeth Slater ~ Childcare Attendants Jeri Bollman, M.S. ~ Director, The Preschool at Claremont UMC

Located in the California-Pacific Annual Conference The Rev. Dr. Grant J. Hagiya ~ Resident Bishop The Rev. Melissa Roux MacKinnon ~ East District Superintendent

In Covenant with United Methodist Missionary Mozart Adevu ~ West Africa In Covenant with Dios es Amor Methodist Church ~ Tijuana, Mexico

Nurturing spirits…Working for justice… Serving others and creation…

www.claremontumc.org ~ [email protected] Office: (909) 624-9021; Fax: (909) 624-7308 211 W. Foothill Blvd., Claremont, CA 91711