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

Trouble viewing the newsletter?: try this View as Webpage Thursday, February 11, 2021

February 17 is Ash Wednesday On Ash Wednesday, we receive the imposition of the ashes as we hear the words, “From dust you come and to dust you will return.” On this Ash Wednesday, we invite you to receive the imposition of the ashes in one of two ways: Create your own ashes or your own mud. (Mix homemade ash with a drop or two of oil or mix dirt and water.) During the virtual service, you or a family member make the sign of the cross on the forehead and say the words, “From dust you come and to dust you will return.” Participate in the “Ashes on the Go.” This is a drive-thru experience in our own church parking lot from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Ash Wednesday where you will receive the imposition of the ashes on your forehead / or hand from Pastor Jill. You must be masked to be marked! We will hold our virtual Ash Wednesday worship service at 7 p.m. on our RUCC youtube page: www.youtube.com/RedlandsUCC

Dee Dee and Charlie Seek will be our preachers this Sunday Sunday, February 14 ~ "God, Our Creator, Don’t Do Color!" The classification of persons by skin color or ethnicity as been used for a multitude of purposes since biblical times. On Valentine's Day Sunday, the second Sunday of Black History Month, Charlie and I wish to explore the parallels between the interracial marriages of the past as well to those  of today. Our Creator has held a watchful eye over the whole concept of interracial marriage, occasionally speaking, as with Moses and Zipphora and later,  the Richard and Mildred Loving family. Remembering that God created all of us equally, by design in one image, what words would our God be saying to us, as we move forward, in peace and love today?

Sunday's Scripture 1 Corinthians 13: 1-7 (New International Version)

Worship for Sunday, February 14, 2021 Prelude: L-O-V-E arr. by Susan Staples Bell ____.........._.__............Sophia Ohanian Welcome and Call to Worship:_________....__________. >>.........Sondra Hodson Opening Hymn: When Love is Found ___________________.Led by Zoe Petersen Opening Prayer:..------------------------------------------...-----------------...--Sondra Hodson Children's Circle: MLK to Valentine's Day____________..................Kids Zone Kids Community Joys and Concerns: _______________...._Rev. Dr. Jill Kirchner-Rose Special Music: What a Wonderful World by Bob Thiele __....._ Rhymes with Orange Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13: 1-7 (New International Version) _____ ..Sondra Hodson Message: "God, Our Creator, Don’t Do Color!"________.....Charlie & Dee Dee Seek Offertory: Unity of Love by Randall Hartsell .....................................Sophia Ohanian Prayer of Dedication:-________________.___......_-----_>------.......-Sondra Hodson Closing Hymn: #223 What Wondrous Love Is This ____________..Led by Jim Tong Time of Reflection: Theme from How To Train Your Dragon by John Powell ______________.____________________._______....________.....Sophia Ohanian  Thank you to Rhymes with Orange Dan Abushanab, Heather Abushanab, Jennifer Brainerd, Loring Fiske-Phillips, Sue Scheirer, Peter Tupou

Joy: Prayers of thanks for Sage, daughter of Joette Orman and Peter Tupou, who has been released from the NICU and is now at home with her parents. Concerns: 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 Don, brother of Carol Buchanan, who is recovering from surgery for aggressive prostate cancer. Prayers for Rosemary Tuohy who broke her ankle from a fall. Carla Becerril requests prayers for Mary Ann Ramos who tested positive for COVID. 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 Claire, friend of Jennifer Brainerd, who is grieving the loss of sister Hilary and bringing into her family nephew Peyton. 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 her cousin Sally who is hospitalized with COVID. Carla Becerril requests prayers for Tim Brown who is hospitalized with COVID. Barbie Fiske-Phillips requests prayers for Sonja, who was diagnosed 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.  Kenneth Lee requests prayers for his father and sister who contracted COVID-19. Prayers for Armando, family member of Carla Becerril, who is diagnosed with COVID. Prayers for Drew Morgan who underwent knee surgery on Nov. 23rd. Prayers for Millie Mahoney, friend of Chris Nicoloff, hospitalized with COVID. Prayers for Sue Wallace who is recovering from surgery for the replacement of an aortic heart valve. Ongoing prayers for parents, teachers, students navigating online school. Prayers for Dick Ault, who is awaiting knee replacement surgery. Ongoing Concerns:

Barb, friend of Carla Becerril 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 Leslie, sister of Barbie Fiske-Phillips 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

Introducing the 2021-2022 Board This is the next in a series of brief profiles designed to make everyone better-acquainted with the RUCC Board Members. This week features Shepherd Area Leader Ken Hurley. I grew up in a military family which resulted in many family moves. In 1960 my family moved to Redlands, where my Dad worked at Norton and Vandenberg Air Force Bases. I am a founding member of the Redlands United Church of Christ. My wife Janie and I raised our two daughters Kelly and Debbie in the church. In 2014, Janie passed away after a two-year battle with cancer. Over the years I have held numerous positions in our church, I am excited to represent the Shepherds this year. The shepherds serve a vital role in our congregation especially during this pandemic and our separation from each other. Please know your shepherd groups are ready to offer you assistance as we spread light and love to each other. Blessings, Ken Hurley Shepherd Area Leader__

Racial Justice Reflection for the Week Adjusted for age, Indigenous Americans are nearly three times as likely to have died of COVID-19 than White Americans.   COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic: 1 in 475 Indigenous Americans has died 1 in 645 Black Americans has died 1 in 665 Pacific Islander Americans has died 1 in 825 White Americans has died 1 in 835 Latinx Americans has died 1 in 1,320 Asian Americans has died    - Source: https://www.apmresearchlab.org/covid/deaths-by-race

From the Environmental Justice Team “Forest air is the epitome of healthy air. People who want to take a deep breath of fresh air or engage in physical activity in a particularly agreeable atmosphere step out into the forest. There's every reason to do so. The air truly is considerably cleaner under the trees, because the trees act as huge air filters. Their leaves and needles hang in a steady breeze, catching large and small particles as they float by. Per year and square mile this can amount to 20,000 tons of material. Trees trap so much because their canopy presents such a large surface area. In comparison with a meadow of a similar size, the surface area of the forest is hundreds of times larger, mostly because of the size difference between trees and grass. The filtered particles contain not only pollutants such as soot but also pollen and dust blown up from the ground. It is the filtered particles from human activity, however, that are particularly harmful. Acids, toxic hydrocarbons, and nitrogen compounds accumulate in the trees like fat in the filter of an exhaust fan above a kitchen stove. But not only do trees filter materials out of the air, they also pump substances into it. They exchange scent-mails and, of course, pump out phytoncides.”  ― Peter Wohlleben, The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World

ThankScriping Day – February 18-19 = Easy Gift Giving, Plus Bonuses that Mean More Earnings for RUCC! Several times a year, the gift card program holds a ThankScriping Day where 60+ eGift cards and reload gift cards are available with bonuses – that means even more money for RUCC as you do your shopping or give gifts. You can get a sneak peek at all bonuses through the RaiseRight app on Wednesday, February 17. All eGift card purchases must be made online, either through the website (shopwithscrip.com) or through the mobile app (RaiseRight). This is a great time to stock up on scrip you use often.   Next Physical Card Order – We’re postponing the February order date one week to Feb. 21. We hope that you will take advantage of the ThankScriping Day and at the same time place orders for any gift cards that only come as physical cards (like Stater Bros.).    Please contact Jennifer at [email protected] if you need help placing an order or want to learn more about the program.

Book Group, Sunday, March 7  The next RUCC Book Group meeting will be on March 7 at noon on Zoom. The group will be discussing Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi and the presenter will be Deborah Rada. The meeting will be at noon, on Zoom, on Sunday, March 7. Zoom information is found elsewhere in the View.   “Yaa Gyasi’s extraordinary novel illuminates slavery’s troubled legacy both for those who were taken and those who stayed—and shows how the memory of captivity has been inscribed on the soul of our nation.” Amazon review

Lent at RUCC

Lenten Series 2021—Mark Your Calendars! This year’s Lenten Series begins Wednesday Feb. 24, 7-8 PM. For a sneak peak at what we have planned this year, follow this link and watch the featured trailer for a beautiful series of short films based on the work of noted author Diana Butler-Bass: https://www.theworkofthepeople.com/film_series/grateful Palm Sunday March 28- details to be announced Maundy Thursday April 1 evening service, details to be announced.

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER February 12 - Youth Group February 13 - New/Old Board Retreat on Zoom February 14 - Valentine's Day February 15 - Presidents' Day February 16 - Board - 7:00 p.m. on Zoom February 17 - Ash Wednesday - Please see article above for details. February 18 - Prayer Polygon February 24 - Lenten series begins at 7 p.m. and continues each Wednesday in Lent. March 3 - Lenten series continues March 7 - Book Group: Discussion of Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. Discussion facilitator will be Deborah Rada. March 14 - One Great Hour of Sharing special offering. March 28 - Palm Sunday April 1 - Maundy Thursday

This week at RUCC...Virtually on almost every device!

CLICK HERE FOR ZOOM AND YOUTUBE INSTRUCTIONS FOR SERVICES AND MEETINGS Group and activity leaders: Please make sure your zoom link is up to date. Send new links to [email protected]

Calendar for February 14 - February 21, 2021

Sunday, February 14 9:30 a.m. Seekers - on Zoom 9:30 a.m. Kids Zone - on Zoom 10:30 a.m. Worship Service on YouTube 11:30 a.m. Virtual Coffee Hour on Zoom Monday, February 15 5:00 p.m. Staff Meeting Tuesday, February 16 Board Meeting- 7 p.m. on Zoom Wednesday, February 17 12:00 The Pastor is In - Zoom Ash Wednesday Drive-Through Imposition of Ashes Ash Wednesday Service on YouTube Friday, February 19 4:00 p.m. Youth Group on Zoom Saturday, February 20 Sunday, February 21 9:30 a.m. Seekers - on Zoom 9:30 a.m. Kids Zone - on zoom 10:30 a.m. Worship Service Click here for Zoom login instructions Group and activity leaders: Please make sure your zoom link is up to date. Send new links to [email protected]

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   Website:  www.uccredlands.org Phone: (909) 793-3520   Staff and Other Emails [email protected]          [email protected]         [email protected]      [email protected]          [email protected]   [email protected] [email protected]