A message from our Pastor and Teacher

Sunday, February 18 ~ "Wandering Heart – Jesus Sought Me"

This Lent, we will focus on the life and faith of one Simon Peter, a disciple both steadfast and unsteady, a dear friend and a betrayer, a follower and a wanderer. By following Peter’s journey, we'll see the story of Jesus unfold through the life of a normal human trying to figure it all out—just like us. 

To guide our journey we will turn to phrases from the beloved hymn, Come Thou Fount. Each Sunday we will experience Visio Divina with Rev. Erin Beardemphl.

Sunday's Scripture:

Luke 5:1-11

Caring for Kin

February 18 and 25

For the next two Sundays, Caring for Kin would like to collect new or “seems new” scrapbooks and photo albums for a local foster child agency. The agency is encouraging all foster parents to take photos and write memories of the time a child spends in their care. The hope is that the scrapbook or album will be sent along with each child, so that even those who, unfortunately, experience several different living situations, will have a book of memories, a book of love, to hold tight.

Please continue to show your generosity as you help our foster kin along their journey.

Church Office Closed Monday

The RUCC church office will be closed on Monday, February 19, for Presidents' Day.

Seekers Adult Study Group Sunday at 9:20 a.m.

Seekers is reading The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life about learning to integrate ethical living to achieve personal happiness and a happier life. Seekers gather at about 9:20 for a brief social time, and the discussion begins at 9:30 on Sunday mornings in Founders Room.

We're still looking for a Youth Director!

This may be only a part-time position, but it is important to our church's mission. The Youth Director plays a key role in helping our young people understand why RUCC's values and theology are important to them as they prepare to go out in the world.

......................~~ The RUCC Personnel Committee

From the Environmental Justice Team

The California desert ecosystem and the desert tourism economy that depends on it are important to our region. For decades, Cadiz, Inc. has been seeking to pump water from the aquifer beneath the Mojave Desert with the goal of profiting from the sale of the water to California water districts and from charging the Metropolitan Water District to store its excess water in the aquifer, a plan whose potentially serious environmental damage has resulted in fierce opposition from environmental groups and from elected officials. (Source: Hiltzik, Michael, "California's most improbable water project rebrands itself as a crusader for environmental justice," Los Angeles Times, 1/25/24)

Especially notable among the opponents of Cadiz’s plans was the late Senator Dianne Feinstein. With the loss of her powerful advocacy for the California desert, we need to let candidates seeking to replace her know that desert protection is very important to us. The Environmental Justice Team is conducting a postcard writing campaign to urge Senate candidates to support desert protection. Over the next two weeks, we will have a table set up in Covenant Hall after church. We will have further information on desert protection and we will have post cards that you can sign to send to Senate candidates. Since Senator Padilla supported desert protection in the past, we have cards thanking him and also asking if he will continue to work to protect the desert.

Below is the text of the postcards to be sent to major Senate candidates:

 “I live in the Inland Empire of Southern California. The desert ecosystem is very important to me and to our region. As a Senate candidate, I strongly urge you to protect our desert environment and economy. Reject the efforts by Cadiz Inc. to pump the aquifer beneath the Mojave for its own profit. The front group, Groundswell, is supporting Cadiz Inc. in this campaign. Where do you stand on this vital issue of desert protection?”

And a second event for you to consider: On Wednesday, February 21, from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m., Accelerate Neighborhood Climate Action Redlands (ANCA Redlands) will be hosting a presentation on the vulnerability of our food supply in the face of climate change. This presentation will take place at the Redlands Community Center, 111 W. Lugonia Avenue, Redlands, and you can register for the event here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-vulnerable-is-our-food-supply-tickets-778862788567?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios

Racial Justice reflection of the week

A proclamation by the City of Redlands, recognizing Israel Beal, Second Baptist Church, Music Changing Lives, and Dawn Wright; declaring the month of February 2024 as Black History Month; and encouraging residents to fight racism, intolerance, and prejudice through education, kindness, compassion, and understanding.

Chapman University’s 40th Annual Founders Day - Saturday, March 9

Come hear prolific writer and acclaimed speaker Diana Butler Bass. Register at www.chapman.edu/founders-day.

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

• February 18 - Memorial service for Carla Becerril - 1:30 p.m. at RUCC
• February 20 - Board meeting - 7:00 p.m.
• February 25 - Wider Ministries Area meeting at 12:00 p.m. - Founders' Room
• February 26 - Lenten Series
• March 2 - Sacred Saturday 8 a.m. to 12 noon
• March 3 - Book group - Noon - Founders' Room - with Inlandia author Ellen Estilai
• March 4 - Lenten Series
• March 9 - Chapman University Founders day featuring Diana Butler Bass. See article above
• March 10 - Super Shepherd Sunday
• March 11, 18, and 25 - Lenten Series
• March 28 - Seder and Tenebrae

The church calendar is found at redlandsucc.org

Click on "calendar" in the red banner near the top of the page