Fourth Sunday in Advent

Our Mission: "We are an inclusive Open and Affirming faith community reaching out with love, compassion, and justice."

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Thursday, December 16, 2021

A Message from Our Pastor and Teacher

December 19, Fourth Sunday of Advent ~ Angels Among Us: More Love Every angel seems to use “do not be afraid” as an opening line. But perhaps no one needed to hear it more than Joseph. What was happening to him was the stuff that ruins lives. As a man, he had all the rights to abandon Mary and preserve his dignity. The stakes were high– who would believe this? Worrying about what might happen in the future can rob us of sharing love today. Let us be messengers of encouragement and steadfast support, as Joseph was, for that which the Spirit is birthing in the world.

Sunday's Scripture.

Matthew 1: 18 -25

December 19 ~ Fourth Sunday of Advent

Prelude: Winter Wonderland arr. by Felix Bernard & Dick Smith .............................................................................................. Sophia Ohanian

Welcome, & Announcements: ...........................Rev. Dr. Jill A. Kirchner-Rose

Threshold Moment................................Dr. Kirchner-Rose and Covenant Choir

Opening Hymn #144 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Children's Circle:..................................................................\Dr. Kirchner Rose

Joys and Concerns:.............................................................. Dr. Kirchner Rose

Silent and Pastoral Prayer:...................................................Dr. Kirchner Rose

Special Music: Angels from the Realms of Glory Dan Forrest ..

....................Covenant Choir, Piano Four Hands, Lara Urrutia, Sophia Ohanian

Scripture: Matthew 1: 18 -25,.........................Connie Mitchell, Miko Tsukimoto,

.................................................................................................and Peter Tupou

Message: “Angels Among Us: More Love” ...........................Dr. Kirchner Rose

Offertory: (There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays by Robert Allen

& Al Stillman................................................... Zoe Petersen & Sophia Ohanian

Doxology:.................................................................................Sophia Ohanian.

Prayer of Dedication:................................................................Connie Mitchell

Closing Hymn: #125 Angels We Have Heard on High verses 1,2, and 3

Benediction: ..........................................................................Dr. Kirchner-Rose

Time of Reflection: Happy Xmas (War is Over) by John Lennon

..........................................................................Zoe Petersen & Sophia Ohanian

Concerns:

Prayers for the family and friends of Gloria Ebert who passed from life to Life on December 8.
Prayers for Eleanor Kemp who broke her hip and is currently recovering at Braswells.
Kathryn Gallagher requests prayers for her son, Andrew, who has been diagnosed with COVID
Cid Breyer requests prayers for her sister in law, Karen, who is going through chemo and radiation for blood / bone cancer and has just been diagnosed with COVID.
Prayers for all of those affected by the tornados.
Beth Welsh requests prayers for her niece Heather who is pregnant and has been diagnosed with COVID
Mary Lou and Jennie Haney request prayers for Lois, Mary Lou’s sister, who has COVID for a second time now and is not doing well.
Prayers for the brother-in-law of Sarah Montez whose brother-in-law tested positive for COVID. Sarah’s sister is in the early stages of pregnancy.
Prayers for Carole Beswick who is recovering from partial knee replacement surgery on Thursday, December 9^th.
Prayers for Marcia Taack who is recovering from knee replacement surgery and has been diagnosed with cellulitis.
Prayers for Glenda Bates, friend of Gretchen Andrews, who has been diagnosed with operable pancreatic cancer
Prayers for Carole Wesson who is currently in the Health Facility at Plymouth Village.
Rosemary Tuohy requests prayers for family and friends of Nancy Ruth White who passed from life to Life. Celebration of Life will be January 8, 2 p.m. at San Bernardino United Church of Christ, 3041 N. Sierra Way.
Nan Root requests prayers for her brother Gary who has dementia and has placed on hospice.
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.
Susan Kirkhart requests prayers for her 91 year old Aunt Helen who is struggling with health issues.
Prayers for Cynthia McGuigan undergoing chemotherapy treatment for 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 broke his hip and is currently in Heritage Gardens Rehabilitation Center in Loma Linda.
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 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.
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:

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

Michael Flores

Betty Gayle

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

Amber McGuigan

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

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.

White Elephant Gift Exchange December 18

Come join the fun, in your Ugly Sweater! The LGBTQ Allies Faith Group is hosting a White Elephant Gift 🎁 exchange this Saturday, December 18th 3: p.m. at

Eureka

345 W. Pearl Ave.

Redlands Ca 92374

We will be dining on the heated patio. Hope you can join us.

If you have any questions please contact Jennie Haney 949-573-8400

"Seekers" Adult Study Group Plans Holiday Break

"Seekers" will resume meeting after the first of the year. Watch The View for details.

The Christmas Fund, a UCC Special Offering will be received on December 26

Last year, donations to the Christmas Fund helped pay the rent for low-income retired ministers and bridged the gap for one active minister’s family when her husband lost his restaurant due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Christmas Fund gifts took care of the unexpected expense of a major car repair, helped a retired minister attend his brother’s funeral, and assisted in paying for daunting medical expenses, prescriptions, and groceries.

When money is tight and stress is high, your gift to the Christmas Fund brings relief and hope to the clergy and church employees who have dedicated their lives to serving our churches and each of us. You help the people who have helped us. You make a huge difference and bring great joy!

If you are unable to be in Church on December 26, please consider making your donation online. From the church website, click on communications, select member resources and log into your Realm Account. Click on Community, and then go to Giving" Use the pull down menu to go to Christmas Fund."

In 2020, gifts to the Christmas Fund enabled:

Monthly pension supplementation for 276 retired clergy and lay employees ($1,180,187)
Health benefits supplementation for 89 retired clergy and lay employees ($274,008)
Emergency grants for 96 individuals and families ($214,649)
Christmas “Thank You” gift checks to 504 retired clergy and lay employees ($252,000)

Reflection of the Week from the Racial Justice Team

"Paul Williams was a Black architect who learned to draw upside down so he could sit across from clients, as many white clients in the twenties wouldn't sit next to him. He wanted to prove to himself that he "deserved a place in the world," and went on to win numerous awards and design houses for celebrities including Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball, built in neighborhoods he wasn't even allowed to live in."

- Source: History Hustle - https://historyhustle.com/black-history-facts/

From the Environmental Justice Team -

The Giving Season

As we think about what gifts we can give to our loved ones this season, gifts that express our love for the natural world and are both productive and rewarding—there is an important contrast to much of what is offered in our consumer culture. Let’s honor our own rising awareness of the climate catastrophe and environmental degradation, Let’s be part of regenerating and sustaining life in our own corner of the planet. Native plants not only provide a palette of wonderful colors, they support healthy insects, who in turn support local birds. All of this creates resilient ecosystems.

We can give the gift of native plants. Below is a lovely idea we can support, which also supports our Redlands Conservancy. Read on!

“Avoid cluttering up your closets with stuff you will put out on the yard-sale table later, and shop at Redlands Conservancy’s E-Store. Go to Shop E-Store (on the Redlands Conservancy website) and click on the native plant packages—Sage Scholar Package, Buckwheats for the Butterflies, California Oaks Package, and more. We will purchase the plants with your gift for someone special, and plant them at Gateway Garden. Or make an outright donation in your loved one’s name. Or, purchase a Redlands Conservancy Gift Card to give to someone you care about. You select the gift. We send a message to the person you are gifting to, and we plant the native plants in the garden. Cheers!”

Refugee Update from Women of Faith

Jean Arnott, from Women of Faith, reports that the group has moved more than 20 families into apartments/housing since late August. Nearly an equal number of families are waiting for housing to be found for them, and new families are added to the list almost daily.Housing isn’t the only issue: recently the group’s efforts resulted in a 2 year old girl being connected with a pediatric cardiologist for needed care.

There are many ways to participate. Click here for a list of specific needs we hope some of you can help with.

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.

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.

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

December 17 - 2:00 p.m. Celebration of Life for Jerry Greenfield
December 24 - Christmas Eve Service at 5:30 p.m. with "grab and go tamales."
December 26 - Worship with Mentone UCC at Redlands UCC. Pastor Rudy will be preaching. We will also receive our Christmas Fund Special Offering this day. The Christmas Fund supports our retired ministers and church workers.
January 2 - Epiphany Sunday -- Be sure to get your "Epiphany .Word" for 2022!
January 8 - 9:00 a.m. Sacred Saturday
January 30 - Annual meeting in the Sanctuary immediately following the 10:30 a.m. service.