Annual Meeting this Sunday, January 24

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Thursday, January 21, 2021

Annual Congregational Meeting - This Sunday, January 24

Dear Church Family,

It is time for our annual meeting, an important moment of transition in our Church leadership. Please join us on Sunday the 24th via the Zoom link provided for a report on what went on behind the scenes in 2020, the projected budget for 2021, and appointing the new members of the Board. All are welcome!

Heather

On January 24, click here to join the annual meeting on Zoom

NOTE: The agenda and book of reports for the meeting have been sent through the Realm email system

A Message from Our Pastor and Teacher

Third Sunday after Epiphany - January 24 ~ "Coming through the night"

Dismay, terror, mourning, rage...these are the emotions I experienced as I watched our Capitol attacked on January 6th. I felt a deep pain that I knew could boil over into hatred if I let it. Yet, this past week I was reminded of MLK's words, "Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." These are words from one who had far more reason to hate his enemy than I ever will. What is it that Dr. King saw in his Jesus that turned hatred into love? As we turn the page, may we move from hurting to healing, from mourning to morning.

Sunday's Scripture

1 Samuel 3: 1 - 10

Worship for Sunday, January 24, 2021

Prelude: Melody by Arno Babajanian ___............_______________Sophia Ohanian

Welcome and Call to Worship:_________....__________. ....._______Janet Wilson

Opening Hymn:..#391 In the Midst of New Dimensions.__ Led by Jennifer Brainerd

Opening Prayer: __ ___________________._____________......... __...Janet Wilson

Children's Circle: __________________________________.....___Erin Beardemphl

Community Joys and Concerns: _________________ __Rev. Dr. Jill Kirchner-Rose

Special Music: Here I Am Lord. By Schutte

____________________________.._. Ecumenical Choir of the Redlands Community

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3: 1 - 10_______________.___________________

Message: "Coming through the Night" ____________________Rev. Kirchner-Rose

Offertory: God’s Eye is on the Sparrow arr. by James Michael Stevens ________________________________________________._______Sophia Ohanian

Prayer of Dedication:-________________.___....._-------------__-----------Janet Wilson

Closing Hymn: #181 You Are Salt for the Earth, O People .. Led by Jennifer Brainerd

Time of Reflection: Be Still, My Soul arr. by Evgeniya Kozhevnikova >..Sophia Ohanian

Joy:

Prayers for Sage, daughter of Joette Orman and Peter Tupou, whose health continues to improve in the NICU.

Concerns:

Carla Becerril requests prayers for Mary Ann Ramos who tested positive for COVID.
Rosemary Tuohy requests prayers for 93 year old Katie who is struggling with COVID.
Barbie Fiske-Phillips requests prayers for Juan who is hospitalized with COVID.
Prayers for Jerry Campfield, family member of Charletta Campfield, who is recovering from cancer and recently contracted COVID
Prayers for the family and friends of Mary Belle Carter who passed from life to Life January 13 at the age of 91. Cards can be sent to daughters, Casey and Linda, at: c/o Mary Belle Carter, 945 Salem Dr. Unit 27, Redlands, CA 92373.
Prayers for Keith, cousin of Maegan Hill, who is blinded by a blood clot.
Heather Abushanab requests prayers for the Capitol Police and their families.
Mary Lou Haney requests prayers for her cousin Virgil, who is recovering from surgery after an aneurysm.
Prayers for the friends and family of Mary Dropkin, principle harpist with the Redlands Symphony, who passed from life to Life January 8.
Prayers for Ross Thrasher and Miriam who are facing health challenges.
Prayers for Mary Belle Carter who is diagnosed with UTI, pneumonia, and COVID
Prayers for Lorna, mother of Erin Beardemphl, who shattered her kneecap.
Prayers for Claire, friend of Jennifer Brainerd, who is grieving the loss of sister Hilary and bringing into her family nephew Peyton.
Prayers for Loraine, friend of Rosemary Tuohy, who has been diagnosed with anal cancer.
Prayers for son and grandchildren of Ernie and Ruth Jordan who tested positive for COVID
Prayers for Kathy Blanchard, who has COVID
Prayers for Ruby Beck, mother of Carolyn Beck, who passed from life to LIFE January 8.
Prayers for Tracy and Sammy, sister-in-law and nephew of Denise Cain, who tested positive for Covid.
Prayers for Pam, mother of Maegan Hill, who broke her ankle.
Prayers for Claudine, grandmother of Paul and Dante Welsh.
Prayers for Mary, sister of Sue Hammond, who is facing some health challenges.
Prayers for Charlie Seek challenged by diabetes related foot issues.
Prayers for Greg Farrell, brother of Karen Walsh, who is undergoing radiation treatment for cancer.
Nan Root requests prayers for her brother Richard who has COVID.
Prayers for Susi Jacobsen who is recovering from surgery. Susi would appreciate cards and phone calls.
Prayers for Gloria Ebert who is facing heart challenges
Carla Becerril requests prayers for her cousin Sally who is hospitalized with COVID.
Carla Becerril requests prayers for Tim Brown who is hospitalized with COVID.
Elizabeth Welsh requests prayers for her kitty, Salem, who is recovering from surgery.
Lisa Dewey requests prayers for her father who sustained a head injury.
Barbie Fiske-Phillips requests prayers for Sonja, who was diagnosed with COVID
Judith Turian requests prayers for Jill Bressler as she undergoes treatment for lung cancer and for Judith's close friend Terri, who is unable to travel to be with Jill because of COVID.
Kenneth Lee requests prayers for his father and sister who contracted COVID-19.
Prayers for Armando, family member of Carla Becerril, who is diagnosed with COVID.
Prayers for Drew Morgan who underwent knee surgery on Nov. 23rd.
Prayers for Ruth Jordan who is facing health challenges.
Prayers for Millie Mahoney, friend of Chris Nicoloff, hospitalized with COVID.
Prayers for Gene, a friend of Bonnie Pierce, who is a Nurse Practitioner and contracted COVID.
Prayers for Sue Wallace who is recovering from surgery for the replacement of an aortic heart valve.
Ongoing prayers for parents, teachers, students navigating online school.
Prayers for Dick Ault, who is awaiting knee replacement surgery.

Ongoing Concerns:

Barb, friend of Carla Becerril

Gretchen and Aaron Andrews

Carla Becerril

Les Budai

Diane Campbell

Diane, Sister-in-Law of Heather King

Carol Chaney

Precia Gwenhwyfer Courtney-Hveen

Cousin of Rick Cruz

Norma Erickson

Betty Gayle

Ronan Godfrey

Jerry Greenfield

Emma Grimauld

Katia Hage

Beki Hill

Jody Hoelle

Harriet Holt, Beki Hill's mother

Mark Alan Johnson, friend of Nancy Hotaling

Kim Johnson, friend of Gretchen Andrews

Jenny, Sister of Jules Rattray

Emily Jones

Hank Kirchner

Leslie, sister of Barbie Fiske-Phillips

Amber McGuigan

Bill McIntyre

Amy McQulillian, friend of Gretchen Andrews

Larry Minor

Missy, friend of Rosemary Tuohy

Sarah Montez

Mary Mortensen

Maria Montana

Carmen & Jim Neafsey

Kristin Farmer Preslica

Steve, Brother of Julie Phillip

Nancy Rojas

Adolph Romero

Joan Roth

Spencer, friend of Stacey Greene

Doris Stockton, Kathi Roth's Grandmother

Heather Tee

Arika Torres

Rosemary Tuohy

Vasquez Family

Helga Vroom

Reflection of the Week from the RUCC Racial Justice Team

“We shall have to do more than register and more than vote; we shall have to create leaders who embody virtues we can respect, who have moral and ethical principles we can applaud with enthusiasm.”

- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968), American Baptist minister and activist, and one of the most visible leaders in the Civil Rights movement. King was inspired by his Christian beliefs and the nonviolent activism of Mahatma Gandhi.

From the Environmental Justice Team

“But we shouldn't be concerned about trees purely for material reasons, we should also care about them because of the little puzzles and wonders they present us with. Under the canopy of the trees, daily dramas and moving love stories are played out. Here is the last remaining piece of Nature, right on our doorstep, where adventures are to be experienced and secrets discovered. And who knows, perhaps one day the language of trees will eventually be deciphered, giving us the raw material for further amazing stories. Until then, when you take your next walk in the forest, give free rein to your imagination-in many cases, what you imagine is not so far removed from reality, after all!”

― Peter Wohlleben, The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World

Volunteers needed—upcoming Lenten Series!

We need your input! Please consider joining the work of the Lenten Series Planning committee.

Contact [email protected] if you are able to join this group, and help shape this year’s RUCC Lenten Series.

It's SOUPER Bowl Season! January 31 from 1 to 2 p.m.

This year's Souper Bowl will be a Drive Through event where you can come and drop of your packaged food items for donation to through Redlands' Family Service Association. Not only will you get to donate items for families in need, but you will also be able to see real life human beings (in a mask, from a distance!) and receive some yummy baked treats. So please come along and join us at RUCC parking lot Jan 31st between 1-2 pm and help us predict the 2021 Super Bowl Winner!

Click here for a list of items most needed by Redlands'

Family Service Association

Please Note: This will be a socially distanced drive-through event, masks are a necessity. Thank you for your cooperation and generosity!

You Just Can't a Good Program Down

A Pandemic Didn’t Stop a Successful Scrip/Gift Card Program

• Thanks to everyone who supported the gift card (aka scrip) program during 2020. I especially want to acknowledge those who brought in more than $100 in rebates to RUCC through this program. Thanks go to: Dan and Heather A., Pam and Kerry D., Loring and Barbie F-P., Stacey G., Sue H., Jennie H., Jill K-R and Karen R., Connie and Ross M., and Mark and Suzi S.

• RUCCers most popular gift cards during 2020 were: Amazon, Arco, Best Buy, Safeway/Albertson’s/Vons, Starbucks, Stater Bros, Target, and Visa.

• The program brought in over $2,500 for RUCC ministries in 2020. Thank you!

Next Physical Card Order – Orders for physical gift cards are placed once a month. The next order is due February 14.

Please contact Jennifer at [email protected]

if you need help placing an order or want to learn more about the program.

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

January 21 - Prayer Polygon at 7:30 p.m.
January 24 - Annual Congregational meeting at 11:30 a.m.
January 31 - SOUPER Bowl - non-perishable food drive 1 - 2 p.m. in the Church parking lot.
February 2 - Ground Hog Day
February 4 - Prayer Polygon
February 6 - Sacred Saturday
February 7 - Book Group ~ Anxious People by Fredrik Backman at 12 p.m. on Zoom
February 13 - News/Old Board Retreat
February 18 - Prayer Polygon