Our Mission: "We are an inclusive Open and Affirming faith community reaching out with love, compassion, and justice."
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A Message from our Pastor and Teacher |
First Sunday after Pentecost, May 30 ~~ "That's the Spirit!"
What an extraordinary celebration we shared in last Sunday! What a joy to behold your presence in our sacred space, especially after being apart 440 days! A huge thank you to all who helped to create an unforgettable reunion. Tears of gratitude flowed throughout the service as glorious music blessed our souls. Also, thank you to Carol and Nan, our Worship Area leaders, for the beautiful stole. Every time I wear the stole I will remember May 23rd, 2021 with much love and fondness in my heart.
While sitting in the worship service last Sunday, I was struck by how much our faith community brings strength and hope to our lives. This Sunday we will continue the Pentecost celebration as we reflect on the ways the Holy Spirit knits our beloved community together even in the midst of a pandemic. Yes, Pentecost is more powerful than a pandemic! Hallelujah!
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Sunday's Scriptures.....
Ezekiel 37: 1 - 14,
Acts 4: 32 - 37
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First Sunday after Pentecost - May 2 |
Prelude: Battle Hymn of the Republic by Julia Ward Howe ..............Sophia Ohanian
Welcome and Call to Worship: ................./////............…........................Janet Wilson
Opening Hymn: #293 Sweet, Sweet Spirit .......................................led by Jim Tong
Opening Prayer:.............................................................................. .......Janet Wilson
Children's Circle: ....................................................................................Lisa Dewey Following the Children's Circle, children from age 4 through Grade 5 are invited to exit through the back of the Sanctuary to attend Sunday School, outdoors.
Community Joys and Concerns: .....................................Rev. Dr. Jill Kirchner Rose
Silent and Pastoral Prayer
Scripture: .. Ezekiel 37: 1 - 14, Acts 4: 32 - 37........................................Janet Wilson
Special Music: Beautiful City by Stephen Schwartz............................. Zoe Petersen
Message:..That's the Spirit!......................................................Rev. Jill Kirchner-Rose
Offertory:The Crossing by Ola Gjeilo.................................………........... Sophia Ohanian
Prayer of Dedication:............................................................… .............Janet Wilson
Closing Hymn: #471 What a Covenant............................................Led by Jim Tong
Benediction: ..........................................................................Rev. Jill Kirchner-Rose.
Time of Reflection: When You Believe by Stephen Schwartz
..................................................................................Zoe Petersen & Sophia Ohanian
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Concerns:
- Prayers for Jeff Bonadiman, friend of Carole Beswick, who has been diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer.
- Prayers for Shirley Glass who is facing multiple health challenges
- Prayers for strength and wisdom for the Malone-Lord family as they discern next steps following the adverse reactions they received from Emma's army commercial.
- Prayers for Richard Ault who is now home recovering from knee surgery.
- Susan Kirkhart requests prayers for her sister, Cyndi Kuran, who is recovering from hip replacement surgery.
- Mark Janz is recovering from knee replacement surgery.
- Norma Erickson is facing multiple health challenges.
- Bob Sheets, husband of Office Administrator Nancy Sheets, is recovering from eye surgery.
- Dee Dee Seek requests prayers for family member, Pieter, who is recovering from major surgery in Atlanta.
- Beth Welsh requests prayers for her brother, Michael, who is recovering from surgery following a work accident.
- Prayers for India as Covid-19 ravages the country.
- Prayers for peace in the Middle East as violence continues to erupt between Israel and Palestine.
- Prayers for Sue Hammond who is facing a serious medical diagnosis.
- Rosemary requests prayers for her friend Jill K, who is recovering from COVID.
- Prayers for Ronan Godfrey who is recovering from surgery for the insertion of a feeding tube.
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Prayers for the father of Ryan Zappia who is having knee replacement surgery on May 5th.
- Prayers for Serena Morgan who fell off her scooter and has a hairline fracture
- Melinda Sewer Muganzo, Music Director at Mentone UCC, requests prayers for her brother, Miguel Sewer who just went through a second liver transplant.
- Mary Mortensen requests prayers for Joe Adcock, father of Mary’s children, who has been diagnosed with advanced bladder cancer.
- Prayers for Ronan Godfrey, who has been diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis.
- Prayers for those in the congregation who are struggling with mental health challenges.
- Prayers for Connie Roener who has been diagnosed with breast cancer and is currently going through chemotherapy.
- Prayers for Caroline, mother of Karin Blad, who has been diagnosed with colon cancer.
- Prayers for Patricia, sister of Michael Flores, who fell at a construction site and injured herself.
- Prayers for Evan, son of Margaret Paul, who is facing life challenges.
- Inez Diggs requests prayers for her friend, Penni Pierce, who suffers from Pulmonary Fibrosis, and needs a double lung transplant to help her breathing capacity.
- Prayers for Keith, cousin of Maegan Hill, who is blinded by a blood clot.
- Prayers for Lorna, mother of Erin Beardemphl, who shattered her kneecap.
- Prayers for Claudine, grandmother of Paul and Dante Welsh.
- Prayers for Greg Farrell, brother of Karen Walsh, who is undergoing radiation treatment for cancer.
- Prayers for Gloria Ebert who is facing heart challenges
- Ongoing prayers for parents, teachers, students navigating online school.
Ongoing Concerns:
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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
Jerry Greenfield
Emma Grimauld
Katia Hage
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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
Amber McGuigan
Bill McIntyre
Amy McQulillian, friend of Gretchen Andrews
Larry Minor
Sarah Montez
Mary Mortensen
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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
Vasquez Family
Helga Vroom
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Recognition of Our Graduates on June 13 |
Are you, or is someone in your family about to Graduate? We will be celebrating our RUCC Graduates on Sunday, June 13.
Please make sure that all names are submitted to both Nancy Sheets ([email protected]) and Carol Robb ([email protected]) by Tuesday, June 8 so that we have the information in time for the service, and to place the names in The View.
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Almost, but not quite, back to "normal." Here are a few things to remember:
1). Please wear your mask at all times and maintain physical distance. Hand sanitizer is available in the Narthex.
2). We will initially limit seating capacity in the Sanctuary to about 100 persons with an additional ten persons in the Narthex. There will be an overflow section in Covenant Hall where the service will be livestreamed. Doors will be propped open to create a cross breeze. Families may sit together, and vaccinated individuals may also sit together.
3). Families with children:
- At this time, children who are three years and younger will stay in worship with their families.
- Children who are four years and older will leave after the Children's Circle with Ms. Susi for outdoor Sunday School.
- A virtual Sunday School class will be held at 9:30 a.m. with Ms. Susi for those unable to attend in-person worship. Youth Group participants will also remain in the Sanctuary with their families as Youth Group meetings will be held on Zoom, Fridays at 4:30 p.m.
4). Due to restrictions, there will be no coffee or goodies. You may socialize outdoors.
5). We will continue to livestream the service for those who are unable to attend or who prefer to worship at home.
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We’re all excited to be meeting in person again for worship, but it does present the Education area with one difficulty: we have an acute need for volunteers. Specifically, we need people to serve as a “2nd Set of Eyes” during our kids’ activities.
What does this mean? It means you will not be called upon to plan curriculum or lead a class: we simply need people who are willing to join the group as a second adult in the room.
We will need people to go out with Susi and the kids (Grades 5 and under) during the worship service, after the Children’s Circle is finished.
P.S. Eventually we will also need volunteer Sunday School teachers, so please indicate in your email if that is also something you would be called to help us with in the future. We have a great group of kids at RUCC and we would love to have you join us in this terrific ministry!
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Reflection of the Week from the Racial Justice Team |
“Carlette Duffy's tidy, three-bedroom home is in a historic Black neighborhood in Indianapolis. It has been completely renovated and sits across the street from a park and lush greenspace. She bought it four years ago for $100,000. With a hot housing market and low interest rates, Duffy wanted to refinance her mortgage to help fix up her late grandmother's home right around the corner.
“The first appraisal came back at $125,000 and she was shocked. After an independent market analysis estimated her home at $187,000, she tried again.” That appraisal came in at $110,000.
"Duffy said, ‘There was just a nagging voice in my head that was saying that there is something wrong, there's something wrong.’ Duffy wanted to put her theory to the test so she left her race and gender off the application. One of her friend's husbands, who is white, agreed to stand in during the third appraisal. Before he did, she took out everything that might indicate her race and left her home. She got another shock when she got that appraisal back.”
“The number, $259,000. More than double the original appraisal.
“A number of studies have found that Black-owned homes are undervalued when compared to those of white homeowners. This is especially true in historically Black neighborhoods. A 2018 report by the Brookings Institution finds that adds up to $156 billion in cumulative losses for Black homeowners.”
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From the Environmental Justice Team |
June 4: Tour of gardens at 9 a.m. - Betty Richards and Linda Richards have graciously invited us to tour their gardens, which are landscaped with native and drought resistant plants. Betty and Linda were our guides through Caroline Park in April. They have asked that we limit the tour to those who are fully vaccinated. If you are interested in touring the gardens, please contact Dianne Landeros or Chris Nicoloff for Betty's address where we will start the tour.
Dianne: 909-792-4839
Chris: 909-792-6082
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2021 Annual Gathering of the SCNCUCC |
A Virtual Meeting of the Southern California Nevada Conference will be held on June 11 and 12, 2021. You do not need to be a Delegate to be able to view the Gathering. Please use the link below for more information and for registration details.
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UCC Virtual General Synod - July 11-18 |
Registration is now open for this year’s all virtual General Synod. The fee for non-delegate attendees is $100, which will provide access to all plenaries, worship, keynotes, workshops and the virtual exhibit hall. To register, visit https://www.generalsynod.org/
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The Tulsa Race Massacre, 100 Years Later - Premieres on the History Channel on May 30 |
By the early 1920s, the Greenwood district of Tulsa was a thriving center for Black business and culture, popularly known as “Black Wall Street.” But on May 31st and June 1st, 1921, white mobs killed hundreds of black citizens and burned the neighborhood to the ground. A coverup and news blackout kept the story buried for decades, but the survivors would not be silenced forever. Now, on the 100th anniversary of the horrific massacre, hear their stories.
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Now that we have returned to in person church services in the sanctuary, I want to remind everyone that you can dedicate flowers for the services. There are several possible ways to do that: 1. Contact me at [email protected] or (909) 798-4347 and I will arrange for the flowers. The cost is $60.00. You can drop the money or check in the collection plate, mail it to the church office, or pay on-line through Realm. Make the check to RUCC and put “flowers” in the memo line. If you pay on Realm, choose “flowers” as the fund. If you put money in an envelope, write a note designating it is for flowers. 2. You can provide your own flowers from your garden or from another vendor. Just make sure you send me the dedication information and have the flowers there by 10:00 a.m. on the Sunday you choose. If you have questions do not hesitate to email or call me.
Sue Wallace
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For the time being, the RUCC Youth Group (Grades 6 through 12) will continue to meet online on Fridays at 4:30 p.m. (Contact [email protected] if you’d like to join us!)
In-person worship at RUCC began on May 23, and the Youth will remain with their families in the worship service. (Ages 4 through Grade 5 will be meeting with Suzi for instruction outdoors.)
The Youth Group will also be incorporating periodic in-person activities, as our various schedules allow. For example, we recently had an outdoor fun day in the RUCC garden, following our current RUCC small-gathering protocols. Going forward, these gatherings will always be in compliance with the most current Federal, State and Local COVID guidelines.
If you’d like any more information about the RUCC Youth Group, please contact [email protected].
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Special Words from Last Sunday's Reopening |
WELCOME
Welcome clicks of keyboards on electronic devices
echoing from afar.
Welcome squeaky narthex door that sounds like a stapler
when you push it ajar.
Welcome sounds of tires from bicycles, cars, chairs, walkers, and strollers
gripping ground.
Welcome murmurs of greetings, rustling of bulletins
lost then found.
Welcome shuffling of feet
as we make our ways to our seats.
Welcome creaks of pews sighing in contentment
as people sit.
Welcome choir entering
with robes a swish.
Welcome bell ringing
wherever we have roamed.
Welcome music
of a people coming home.
A PENTECOST PRAYER
O divine presence
lighting the fires within
hearts bursting open
pulsing with sacred knowledge
each beat and breath is a prayer
--- Original poetry by Jessica Morgan
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UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER |
- June 3 - Prayer Polygon at 7:30 p.m.
- June 4 - Garden Tour - See Environmental article above.
- June 5 - Sacred Saturday on Zoom due to scheduling conflict.
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June 6 - Book Group will meet to discuss Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain. The Zoom discussion will be led by Toni Momberger.
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June 11 & 12 - Southern California Nevada Conference Annual ........................Gathering, which will be held virtually. Details to follow.
- June 13 - We will recognize this year's graduates this Sunday.
- July 11-18 - UCC's first Virtual General Synod. See article above.
- June 17 - Prayer Polygon at 7:30 p.m.
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August 20-22 - Silent Retreat at Serra Retreat Center. Contact Pastor ........................Jill if you are interested in attending.
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This week at RUCC...Virtually on almost every device! |
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Group and activity leaders: Please make sure your zoom link is up to date. Send new links to [email protected]
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Calendar for May 30 - June 6, 2021 |
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Sunday, May 30
- 9:15 a.m. Seekers - in the Founders' Room at Church
- 9:30 a.m. Virtual Sunday School - on zoom
- 10:30 a.m. Worship Service - In person from the Sanctuary and also livestreamed from the Sanctuary on YouTube
Monday, May 31
Tuesday, June 1
Wednesday, June 2
- 12:00 "The Pastor is in" on Zoom
Thursday, June 3
- 6:15 p.m. Bell Choir rehearsal
- 7:30 p.m. Prayer Polygon
Friday, June 4
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4:30 p.m. Youth Group NOTE TIME CHANGE - See article above.
- 9:00 a.m. Garden Tour - see article above.
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Saturday, June 5
- Sacred Saturday- on Zoom due to a scheduling conflict
Sunday, June 6
- 9:15 a.m. Seekers - Founders' Room
- 9:30 a.m. Kids Zone - on zoom
- 10:30 a.m. Worship Service - In person from the Sanctuary and also livestreamed from the Sanctuary on YouTube
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Book Club on Zoom Necessary Lies, Discussion faciltated by Toni Momberger
Group and activity leaders: Please make sure your zoom link is up to date. Send new links to [email protected]
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RUCC Staff
Senior Pastor: Rev. Dr. Jill Kirchner-Rose
Honorary Minister of Arts and Worship: Rev. Erin Beardemphl
Music Director: Jim Tong
Accompanist: Sophia Ohanian
Children's Education Director: Susi Jacobsen
Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries: Vacant
Office Manager: Nancy Sheets
Child Care: Vacant
Caretaker: Vacant
Phone: (909) 793-3520
Staff and Other Emails
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