Our Mission: "We are an inclusive Open and Affirming faith community reaching out with love, compassion, and justice."
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Thursday, November 25, 2021
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The staff at RUCC wish you a very happy Thanksgiving! We love our
church family and are grateful to serve such an amazing congregation!
With Love, Jill, Jim, Maggie, Nancy, Sophia, and Susi
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A Message from Our Pastor and Teacher |
First Sunday in Advent, November 28 ~~ Angels Among Us: #morehope
We begin a new Advent sermon series entitled “Angels Among Us.” As we look at the stories of these winged messengers to Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, and the Shepherds, we will contemplate what messages we can offer to bring more hope, more peace, more joy, and more love to the world. For you are counted among the angels!
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Sunday's Scripture.
Luke 1: 5-25
(selected verses)
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First Sunday of Advent, November 28 |
Prelude: Do You Hear What I Hear? arr. by Doug Hammer......Sophia Ohanian
Announcements:................................................ Rev. Dr. Jill A. Kirchner-Rose
Threshold Moment: ..............................................Dr. Kirchner-Rose and Choir
Opening Hymn: #116 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Presentation of the Sanctuary Evergreens............Janet Wilson and Children
Song: Deck the Halls
The Pointsettia:........................................................Janet Wilson and Children
Song: #128 In the Bleak Midwinter vs. 1, 4
Children's Circle:........................................................................Susi Jacobsen
Song: O Christmas Tree
Lighting of the Advent Candle
Advent Song: One Candle is Lit
Joys and Concerns:.............................................................. Dr. Krichner Rose
Silent and Pastoral Prayer:...................................................Dr. Krichner Rose
Anthem: Pachelbell Noel Heather Sorenson...........................Covenant Choir
.......................................................Andrea Morics, Cello; Vincent Francis, Violin
Scripture: Luke 1: 5 --25......................................Dee Dee Seek, Charlie Seek,
.............................................................................Peter Tupou and Janet Wilson
Message: Angels Among Us: More Hope ............................. Dr. Krichner Rose
Offertory:Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming arr. by Sally DeFord ...Sophia Ohanian
Doxology:.................................................................................Sophia Ohanian.
Prayer of Dedication:.....................................................................Janet Wilson
Closing Hymn: #135 Adeste Fideles, O Come All Ye Faithful
Benediction: ..........................................................................Dr. Kirchner-Rose
Time of Reflection: .The Huron Carol arr. By Dan Forrest.......Sophia Ohanian
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Concerns:
- Prayers for Carole Wesson who is currently in the Health Facility at Plymouth Village.
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Carla Becerril requests prayers for her son-in-law and family. His brother passed from life to Life on Nov. 20th.
- Rosemary Tuohy Requests prayers for family and friends of Nancy Ruth White who passed from life to Life.
- Nan Root requests prayers for her brother Gary who has dementia and has placed on hospice.
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Ryan Zappia requests prayers for his father who is hospitalized with severe pneumonia.
- Prayers for Carol Buchanan who is recovering from pelvic prolapse surgery
- Prayers for John, cousin of Virginia Cruz, who is hospitalized with COVID
- Carla Becerril requests prayers for her friend, Edward, who works for a small business in which 7 of the 10 workers have been diagnosed with COVID
- Prayers for Helen Hurley, mother of Ken Hurley, who fell and fractured her vertebrae.
- Prayers for Reva, friend of Judith Turian, who is currently undergoing treatment at City of Hope.
- Susan Kirkhart requests prayers for her 91 year old Aunt Helen who is struggling with health issues.
- John Hancock requests prayers for John Drage’s mother, Mary, and the staff and residents of Cherry Valley Healthcare who have been exposed to COVID.
- Prayers for Cynthia McGuigan who has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer.
- Prayers for 7 members of Janet Wilson’s family, including 3 year old niece, who tested positive for COVID.
- Continued prayers for Kathy Blanchard who is recovering at home.
- Prayers for Richard Ault who fell and broke his hip. Richard is recovering at the VA Hospital in Los Angeles.
- Prayers for Bob Sheets who is recovering from eye surgery.
- Prayers Angie, sister-in-law of Sue Hammond, who has been diagnosed with COVID.
- Prayers for Eber, brother of Lara Urrutia, who is undergoing tests for a mass in his neck
- Prayers for the family of Irene, identical twin sister of Norma Erickson, who passed from life to Life.
- Prayers for Laurie, dear friend of Caroline McAllister, who is in hospice with end stage breast cancer.
- Prayers for Lisa, friend of Beth Welsh, who is recovering from emergency surgery.
- Prayers for Mary Lou Haney who is recovering from surgery.
- Johanna Ballard requests healing prayers for her dear friend, Lana.
- Prayers for Margaret Barnett who is now on Hospice.
- Sue Hammond requests prayers for her sister-in-law, Linda, who is receiving treatment for multiple myeloma.
- Prayers for Burt, family member of Johanna Ballard, who is facing severe health challenges.
- Prayers for Susi Jacobsen for health concerns she is facing.
- Eliza Ames requests prayers for her brother Coyne who is hospitalized and is very ill.
- Beth Welsh requests prayers for her brother, Michael, who is recovering from surgery following a work accident.
Ongoing Concerns:
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Joe Adcock, family member of Mary Mortensen
Anden, nephew of Michelle McNevin
Jerry Andrews
Jeff Bonadiman
Les Budai
Burt, family member of Johanna Ballard
Diane Campbell
Diane, Sister-in-Law of Heather King
Dave, brother of Johanna Ballard
Carol Chaney
Caroline, mother of Karen Blad
Claudine, grandmother of Paul & Dantae Welsh
Precia Gwenhwyfer Courtney-Hveen
Cousin of Rick Cruz
Norma Erickson
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Michael Flores
Betty Gayle
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
Keith, cousin of Maegan Hill
Hank Kirchner
Amber McGuigan
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Sara Montez
Bill McIntyre
Maria Montana
Carmen & Jim Neafsey
Ryan and Evan Paul
Rick Peetz, Sr.
Kristin Farmer Preslica
Nancy Rojas
Adolph Romero
Joan Roth
Spencer, friend of Stacey Greene
Miguel Sewer
Doris Stockton, Kathi Roth's Grandmother
Heather Tee
Arika Torres
Rosemary Tuohy
Vasquez Family
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Special note regarding the Prayer List: Please review the list for any prayer requests you made that are outdated or that may be removed. Please notify both [email protected] and [email protected] of any changes that are needed. Thank you. |
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Blue Christmas Service, Wednesday, December 8th @ 7 p.m.
in the Sanctuary
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For those who have experienced loss, the holidays can be a particularly painful time, stirring up grief in acute ways. As a result, churches around the world have adopted the practice of having a “Blue Christmas” service during the Advent season. A Blue Christmas service is designed to provide space for prayer, reflection, and remembrance amidst the holiday hustle and bustle. In this pandemic season of life, we imagine that grief and loss will be magnified and nearly universal, and a service like this may be needed now more than ever. We hope that this service will provide a space of calm, quiet, and healing as we offer prayers, light candles, and listen to Sophia’s meditative music.
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Feastings Returns Sunday, December 2, at 2 p.m.
Feastings is an RUCC tradition dating back to the beginnings of our church. Each year the Covenant Choir and the Celebration Ringers put together a Christmas program of music. Though this year we are unable to serve food, the choirs will still serve up a feast of music on December 12 at 2 p.m. in the church sanctuary.
Admission is free. A free-will offering will be taken though.
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Reflection of the Week from the Racial Justice Team |
"I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice"
- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" - April 16, 1963.
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From the Environmental Justice Team
The time has finally come: the House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act. Now we need to ensure that the Senate pushes this bill across the finish line- with all of its critical climate justice provisions intact.
If passed by the Senate and made into law, the Build Back Better Act will provide critical investments in clean energy, transportation electrification, climate-resilient agriculture, and environmental justice, while creating good paying jobs for working families.
We have seen how the climate crisis has worsened over time, made clear repeatedly this year with extreme weather events, but we still have choices, and the Senate must quickly pass the Build Back Better Act to help curb US heat-trapping emissions and advance environmental and economic justice. Urge your senators to pass the most robust version of the Build Back Better Act today to benefit people across the country. Our future is at stake.
--Excerpt from Union of Concerned Scientists article
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This years Angel Tree collection has begun! Join us in supporting our community this Holiday season as people continue recovering from the hardships of the COVID-19 Pandemic. It would be wonderful if you can give what you can so that we can show our support to these groups as they navigate challenges both old and new. We will be delivering donations just in time for Christmas. Our groups are:
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Steps 4 Life – Our own RUCC Member Cynthia McGuigan mentors six homes with the mission to “empower individuals and families to receive necessary training, education and life-skills that will allow them to reenter society as positive individuals in our community”
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Redlands Unified School District Case Carrier Program – Helping homeless, foster, and other at-risk students and families to succeed.
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A family in our congregation as determined by Pastor Jill
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Village Elementary – Each year we try to help these hard-working families at Barb Lord’s school to have a better holiday season. This year they are facing many new challenges with the loss and hardship suffered as a result of COVID-19.
If you would like to contribute to this years Angel tree, we ask that you do so by Friday December 10th so that we can order scrip gift cards in time for delivery before Christmas. You may write a check payable to Redlands United Church of Christ and then, if you wish too, in the memo or on a separate note, you can specify which group the donation is for.
You may also make your contribution online. Log on to the church's web
page www.redlandsucc.org. Click on "GIVE" in the red banner at the top of the page. That takes you to a "pull down" menu of options, one of which is “Angel Tree”. You can also access it online through realm. If you have any questions please let me know [email protected].
We appreciate your kindness and generosity.
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November 28 is the first Sunday in Advent. The Worship Committee wants to borrow your angels to display in the sanctuary during the 4 Sundays of Advent. If you have a "special angel" to share, please bring it to church, labeled inconspicuously and carefully packed. We know they are fragile and may hold great meaning for you. If your angel has a special meaning for your family, please share that story with us. |
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RUCC CHURCH NURSERY IS OPEN! |
The nursery will be open every Sunday starting at 9:15 a.m., to accommodate parents and guardians who are taking part in any RUCC before-worship-service activity on our campus. And the nursery will remain open until 12:15 p.m. each Sunday.
KIDS' ZONE - Sundays at 9:15 a.m.
All kids* through 8th Grade are encouraged to join Kids' Zone each Sunday from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Kids Zone will be held in the classroom adjacent to Covenant Hall, next to the nursery.
*For infants and toddlers, nursery care is available starting at 9:15 a.m. each Sunday.
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SCRIP MAKES FUNDRAISING EASY |
Scrip/Gift Card Program is still ongoing! – When you purchase gift cards to pay for your day-to-day expenses or provide as gifts, RUCC receives a rebate that helps fund our missions. It’s an easy way to raise some money for RUCC.
Small denomination cards – For a limited time, you can purchase $5 or $10 gift cards to more retailers, like Target, Amazon, Starbucks, Barnes & Noble, Home Depot, Walmart, Panera, Chipotle, fast food restaurants, and more. Perfect for a thank you or holiday gift during this season.
Order Deadlines – For the remainder of 2021, here is the ordering schedule for physical gift cards. We will increase the order frequency as we get closer to the holidays. Be sure to get your orders in early enough for all of your holiday shopping or giving (groceries and gifts).
November 29 – available for pickup on December 5
December 13 – available for pickup on December 19
Scrip/Gift Card Table on Sundays – Come to the scrip/gift card table after worship to buy Stater Brothers gift cards in stock, place orders for gift cards from hundreds of brands/companies, and learn more about this fundraising program and how you can help.
eCards – Remember that you can buy eGift cards, available to you immediately, to use for online or in-person shopping or to send as a gift. Every time you buy, RUCC gets a small rebate.
Please contact Jennifer at [email protected] if you need help placing an order or want to learn more about the program.
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Applicants Still Sought for Office and Property Manager |
The remaining position to be filled is that of Office and Property Manager. Our current Office Manager has announced her retirement. Click here for the job description and application instructions.
Please share this information freely with qualified people who may be interested.
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UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER |
- November 25 - Thanksgiving Day
- November 28 - First Sunday in Advent
- December 4 - Sacred Saturday
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December 5 - Book Group at noon. While Justice Sleeps
.................................. by Stacey Abrams. Presenter: Diana Sommer
- December 8 - Mid-week Blue Christmas Service 7:00 p.m.
- December 12 - Feastings 2 p.m. in the sanctuary
- December 14 - Board at 7:00 p.m.
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December 24 - Christmas Eve Service at 5:30 p.m with "grab and .........................go tamales."
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January 2 - Epiphany Sunday -- Be sure to get your "Epiphany ...................Word" for 2022!
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This Week at RUCC
Calendar for November 28 to December 5, 2021
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Sunday, November 28 - First Sunday of Advent
- 9:15 a.m. Seekers
- 9:15 a.m. Kids' Zone
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10:30 a.m. Worship Service & Sunday School
- 11:30 a.m. - fellowship hour on the patio
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11:30 a.m. Youth Group
Tuesday, November 30
Wednesday, December 1
- "The Pastor is In" Weekly zoom gathering
Thursday, December 2
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Friday, December 3
- 6 to 7 p.m. Closed women's AA meeting in the Founders' Room
Sunday, December 5 - Communion and Second Sunday of Advent
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9:15 a.m. Seekers
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9:15 a.m. KIds' Zone
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10:30 a.m. Worship Service & Sunday School
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11:30 a.m. Youth Group
- 11:30 a.m. Fellowship hour on the Patio
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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: Maggie Taylor
Caretaker: Vacant
Phone: (909) 793-3520
Staff and Other Emails
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