Fourth Sunday of Lent

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

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Thursday, March 11, 2021

A Message from Our Pastor and Teacher

Sunday, March 14 ~ “Beguiled by Beauty: Gratitude”

Our sermon series is entitled “Beguiled by Beauty.” Our Wednesday evening Lenten series is entitled, “Grateful.” This Sunday we combine both of these themes as we give thanks for the beauty and abundance of creation. Even as we walk in the wilderness with the Israelites we discover that God provides…in abundance!

Sunday's Scripture

Exodus 16:1-15

Worship for Sunday, March 14, 2021

Prelude: Tak (Gratitude) by Edvard Grieg_,.............................__.....Sophia Ohanian

Welcome and Call to Worship:______________.._______.................. Denise Cain

Opening Hymn: #73 Enter, Rejoice and Come In ._________ Led by Alexia Benson

Opening Prayer:__........_____________________________________ Denise Cain

Children's Circle: _____...____..............______________-._______...Kathleen Fox

Community Joys and Concerns: _______________...._Rev. Dr. Jill Kirchner-Rose

Special Music: It is God's Love .... Words by Thomas Merton, Music by Sue Hammond

Scripture: Exodus 16:1-15___________...................._______________Denise Cain

Message: Beguiled by Beauty: Gratitude_..............________...___Dr. Kirchner-Rose

Offertory: Grateful by Hezekiah Walker__________________.___ Sophia Ohanian

Prayer of Dedication: _______________________________........____Denise Cain

Closing Hymn: # 14 How Can I Say Thanks?_______......___ Led by Alexia Benson

Time of Reflection: Creation by Kevin G. Pace .............................._Sophia Ohanian

Concerns:

Prayers for Bob, cousin of Sue Wallace, who is transitioning from this life to the next.
Prayers for Mariane, mother of Kathie Blakley, who is facing health challenges.
Prayers for Patricia, sister of Michael Flores, who fell at a construction site and injured herself.
Prayers for Beth Welsh as she appeals the suspension of her driver’s license due to an epileptic seizure.
Prayers for the family of Carol Buchanan's brother Don who passed from life to Life.
Prayers for Jean Arnott, who is experiencing health issues.
Emma Malonelord requests prayers for her brigade and the family of SFC Octavio Araujo who passed from life to Life.
Prayers for Evan, son of Meagan Hill, who badly sprained his ankle.
Prayers for Mario and Maria Saucedo’s sister who died of leukemia.
Prayers for Kathy Peters whose father passed from life to Life.
Prayers for Evan, son of Margaret Paul, who is facing life challenges
Rosemary Touhy requests prayers for her friend Terri who is having major dental work.
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 Rosemary Whitmer who is facing health challenges.
Prayers for Ben Bohren who is recovering from outpatient surgery for the removal of a kidney stone.Prayers for Rosemary Tuohy who broke her ankle from a fall.
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 Loraine, friend of Rosemary Tuohy, who has been diagnosed with anal cancer.
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.
Prayers for Gloria Ebert who is facing heart challenges
Carla Becerril requests prayers for Tim Brown who is hospitalized 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.
Ongoing prayers for parents, teachers, students navigating online school.
Prayers for Dick Ault, who is awaiting knee replacement surgery.

Ongoing Concerns:

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

Amber McGuigan

Bill McIntyre

Amy McQulillian, friend of Gretchen Andrews

Larry Minor

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

Vasquez Family

Helga Vroom

Lent at RUCC

Lenten Series 2021—Continues Wednesday, March 10

It’s never too late to join in on the annual RUCC Lenten Series! The next session will take place online on Wednesday, March 17. We are studying the film series “Grateful” by Diana Butler-Bass. This week’s topic is titled “Grace, Gratitude, and Gifts.”

Wednesday March 17. Fellowship time begins at 6:45 p.m., Discussion begins at 7:00 p.m.

Here is the Zoom link for the meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83189260341

Meeting ID: 831 8926 0341

One tap mobile

+16699009128

Follow this link for more information about the film series:

https://www.theworkofthepeople.com/film_series/grateful

Palm Sunday - March 28- details to be announced

Maundy Thursday - April 1 Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service at 7:00 p.m.

Good Friday - Ecumenical Good Friday service at 7:00 p.m.

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Carol Robb is Co-Chair of the Worship Area

Introducing the 2021-2022 Board - Carol Robb

Carol is one of those rare individuals -- a native Californian. After completing a BA in history and Spanish, an MA in history, and her teaching credentials at the University of California, Riverside, she taught in local public schools for 38 years, most recently at the Continuation High School in the Alvord District in Riverside. While teaching, Carol was also involved in her union, political action, and served as a member or chair of many visiting teams for school accreditation.

Carol was surprised when she was approached about being co-chair of the Worship Area two years ago, but jumped at the chance to serve because she was impressed with the spontaneity and freshness of worship at the UCC churches she had attended. "I found I really preferred it to the "same old, same old ritual" found in other denominations," she recalled. Serving in the worship area is a great learning experience, and I hope I can help keep worship at RUCC vibrant and interesting.

One Great Hour of Sharing, this Sunday, March 14

One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) special mission offering of the United Church of Christ involves you in disaster, refugee/immigration, and development ministries throughout the world. When a disaster strikes or people are displaced or made refugees by violence or extreme poverty, you are part of the immediate response and of the long-term recovery.

Through OGHS you engage in holistic development programs including health care, education, agriculture, food sustainability, micro-financing and women’s empowerment. Because the UCC relates in mutual partnership to churches and organizations through Global Ministries and worldwide response & recovery networks, your contributions to One Great Hour of Sharing put you in the right place at the right time for the relief, accompaniment and recovery of the most vulnerable. You meet immediate needs and you address the underlying causes that create those needs in the first place.

This Sunday, March 14^th, we will receive our One Great Hour of Sharing offering. You can write a check to Redlands United Church of Christ and in the memo designate offering to OGHS or you can give through your Realm account.

Racial Justice Reflection for the Week

This was just 56 years ago. Many of the people are still alive today. Some of the perpetrators are still in power.

“On March 7, 1965, Alabama state troopers blocked civil rights demonstrators who had just crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. Boynton Robinson, then a middle-aged black woman, was tear-gassed and beaten and slumped unconscious on the side of the road. The troopers attacked the marchers in events that became known as "Bloody Sunday."”

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn6uQBDAr_U

From the Environmental Justice Team

But together, many trees create an ecosystem that moderates extremes of heat and cold, stores a great deal of water, and generates a great deal of humidity. And in this protected environment, trees can live to be very old.”

It appears that nutrient exchange and helping neighbors in times of need is the rule, and this leads to the conclusion that forests are superorganisms with interconnections much like ant colonies.”

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

Next Physical Card Order - March 14 Deadline

The March order date for physical cards will be March 15. Get your orders in (either through the website at shopwithscrip.com or through the RaiseRight app) by midnight, March 14 so that Jennifer can process the orders on March 15.

Please contact Jennifer at [email protected] if you need help placing an order or want to learn more about the program.

Annual Eggstravaganza on Saturday April 3

Save the Date! RUCC Eggstravaganza 2021 will take place on April 3. Following County guidelines, we plan to hold this event on the church patio with masks and social distancing. We are busy planning fun Eastertime activities for kids, youth and families on Saturday April 3. More details and specific time TBD.

Celebration of Life for Jay Grayson on April 10

We will hold a Celebration of Life Service for Jay Grayson, our beloved caretaker, on Saturday, April 10^th at noon on the patio. If you would like to attend this service, please RSVP to our Office Administrator, Nancy Sheets at [email protected] or call the church office at (909) 793-3520. All attendees are required to wear a mask.

February 16 Board Report by Jackie Patrick

As your Member-at-Large I am excited to have this opportunity to keep the congregation updated on the happenings of the Board!

Moment of inspiration: New and returning members were welcomed with a reading from 1 Corinthians 13.
Sabbatical: Pastor Jill receives a 3 month sabbatical every 5 years. Originally, Jill was scheduled to take her sabbatical in the summer of 2021; however, because of COVID-19 uncertainty, Jill will postpone her sabbatical to 2022.
For the good of the church: The Stewards will continue developing COVID-19 policies throughout the year. The goal is to be ready for a safe reopening when it is time.
Moment of Education: Dan A. and Heather K. began the journey of teaching the board how to utilize Teams in Office 365. Once formally adopted, this platform will be an efficient way for board members to communicate with each other, host meetings and share documents.

If you have any questions, concerns or inspirational thoughts you would like for me to share with the Board, please do not hesitate to email me: [email protected]om

Sincerely,

Jackie Patrick - Member-at-Large

Note: the next Board meeting is Tuesday, March 16, at 7 p.m. via Zoom.

Next Book Club Meeting - Sunday, April 11

The RUCC Book Group is reading The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd for the month of March. Our next group meeting to discuss this book will be on Sunday, April 11, at noon on Zoom, and Kathie Blakley will be the presenter. Please NOTE The DATE CHANGE from the first Sunday of the month to the second Sunday, because of Easter. Zoom information can be found elsewhere in the View.

“Grounded in meticulous research and written with a reverential approach to Jesus's life that focuses on his humanity, The Book of Longings is an inspiring, unforgettable account of one woman's bold struggle to realize the passion and potential inside her, while living in a time, place and culture devised to silence her. It is a triumph of storytelling both timely and timeless, from a masterful writer at the height of her powers.” Amazon review

SILENT RETREAT -- AUGUST 20-22

Redlands United Church of Christ is planning its first overnight adventure since the beginning of the pandemic! RUCC will hold a silent retreat at Serra Retreat Center in Malibu August 20^th – 22^nd. There are 12 spaces available for this retreat. The cost is $290 which includes lodging and five meals. If you are interested in attending this retreat, please contact Pastor Jill at [email protected]. Scholarships are available for those whom cost may be a challenge.