Martin Luther King Jr. / Ecumenical Sunday

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, January 14, 2021

Rev. Craig Hadley Will Be Our Guest Preacher

January 17, Martin Luther King / Ecumenical Sunday ~ The Blessing and the Curse of the Mirror

What is the difference between healthy and unhealthy religion? This is one of the most important questions that practitioners of faith must ask themselves in the year 2021. We will be discussing this question on January 17, and we will frame this discussion with a parable from Jesus Christ, the metaphor of a mirror, and a writing from Martin Luther King, Jr.

On this Ecumenical Sunday, pastors in Redlands will be participating in a virtual pulpit exchange. Pastor Jill will be preaching for the First United Methodist Church. Rev. Craig Hadley from Paradox Church will be preaching in our virtual worship service. Craig Hadley graduated from Montana State University, and immediately enrolled at La Sierra University. After a few years, he earned his Masters of Divinity degree. After a few more years, Craig and the Founding Board established Paradox Church. At Paradox, Craig's greatest joy is to walk through life with others as he and they experience the ever-expanding-and-overflowing-excess of God's love.

Sunday's Scripture

Luke 18:9-14

Worship for Sunday, January 17, 2021

Martin Luther King Jr. / Ecumenical Sunday

Prelude: Deep River arr. by Jeffrey L. Nall____________________Sophia Ohanian

Welcome and Call to Worship:_________....__________. .....__ __ Sondra Hodson

Opening Hymn:...#282 Every Time I Feel The Spirit

___________________...____ _._.__Led by Loring Fiske-Phillips

Opening Prayer: __ ___________________._____________....____ Sondra Hodson

Children's Circle: __________________________________________Nancy Sheets

Community Joys and Concerns:__ __Rev. Dr. Jill Kirchner-Rose

Special Music: Shed A Little Light by James Taylor __________Rhymes with Orange

Scripture: Luke 18: 9-14________________.___________________ Sondra Hodson

Offertory: Precious Lord by Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey_____._______Sophia Ohanian

Prayer of Dedication:-________________.___....._------------------------Sondra Hodson

Closing Hymn: #604 Hush, Hush, Somebody’s Calling My Name

______________________________..______.___Led by Loring Fiske-Phillips

Time of Reflection: Steal Away – Traditional African-American Spiritual

___________________________________________________.____Sophia Ohanian

Joy:

Prayers for Sage, daughter of Joette Orman and Peter Tupou, whose health continues to improve in the NICU.

Concerns:

Prayers for the family and friends of Mary Belle Carter who passed from life to Life January 13 at the age of 91. Cards can be sent to daughters, Casey and Linda, at: c/o Mary Belle Carter, 945 Salem Dr. Unit 27, Redlands, CA 92373.
Prayers for Keith, cousin of Maegan Hill, who is blinded by a blood clot.
Heather Abushanab requests prayers for the Capitol Police and their families.
Mary Lou Haney requests prayers for her cousin Virgil, who is recovering from surgery after an aneurysm.
Prayers for the friends and family of Mary Dropkin, principle harpist with the Redlands Symphony, who passed from life to Life January 8.
Prayers for Ross Thrasher and Miriam who are facing health challenges.
Prayers for Mary Belle Carter who is diagnosed with UTI, pneumonia, and COVID
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 son and grandchildren of Ernie and Ruth Jordan who tested positive for COVID
Prayers for Kathy Blanchard, who has COVID
Prayers for Ruby Beck, mother of Carolyn Beck, who passed from life to LIFE January 8.
Prayers for Tracy and Sammy, sister-in-law and nephew of Denise Cain, who tested positive for Covid.
Prayers for Pam, mother of Maegan Hill, who broke her ankle.
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.
Nan Root requests prayers for her brother Richard who has COVID.
Prayers for Susi Jacobsen who is recovering from surgery. Susi would appreciate cards and phone calls.
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.
Elizabeth Welsh requests prayers for her kitty, Salem, who is recovering from surgery.
Lisa Dewey requests prayers for her father who sustained a head injury.
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 Ruth Jordan who is facing health challenges.
Prayers for Millie Mahoney, friend of Chris Nicoloff, hospitalized with COVID.
Prayers for Gene, a friend of Bonnie Pierce, who is a Nurse Practitioner and contracted 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

Missy, friend of Rosemary Tuohy

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

Rosemary Tuohy

Vasquez Family

Helga Vroom

Reflection of the Week from the RUCC Racial Justice Team

“Charles McKinney, associate professor of history at Rhodes College in Tennessee, said Wednesday’s events in Washington were a reminder of the ‘gross disparities’ in how Black people and white people are treated by law enforcement. ‘The response from law enforcement was a blatant display of systemic racism. It was a display of white privilege, the disparities in policing in this country,’ he said.”

- Source: “If rioters were Black, 'hundreds' would have been killed: Washington reflects on Capitol rampage”- January 8, 2021 article from Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-inequality/if-rioters-who-stormed-capitol-were-black-hundreds-would-have-been-killed-idUSKBN29D1HM

From the Environmental Justice Team

“A tree’s most important means of staying connected to other trees is a 'wood wide web" of soil fungi that connects vegetation in an intimate network that allows the sharing of an enormous amount of information and goods.”

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

Volunteers needed—upcoming Lenten Series!

We need your input! Please consider joining the work of the Lenten Series Planning committee.

Contact [email protected] if you are able to join this group, and help shape this year’s RUCC Lenten Series.

Annual Congregational Meeting - Sunday, January 24

Dear Church Family,

It is time for our annual meeting, an important moment of transition in our Church leadership. Please join us on Sunday the 24th via the zoom link provided for a report on what went on behind the scenes in 2020, the projected budget for 2021, and appointing the new members of the Board. All are welcome!

Heather

On January 24, click here to join the annual meeting on Zoom

It's SOUPER Bowl Season! January 31 from 1 to 2 p.m.

This year's Souper Bowl will be a Drive Through event where you can come and drop of your packaged food items for donation to the local community. Not only will you get to donate items for families in need, but you will also be able to see real life human beings (in a mask, from a distance!) and receive some yummy baked treats. So please come along and join us at RUCC parking lot Jan 31st between 1-2 pm and help us predict the 2021 Super Bowl Winner!

All items will be delivered to Family Services Association of Redlands. Currently, they are in need of non-perishable items that families can use to make meals from. In Particular they are asking for Peanut Butter, Jelly, Instant Oatmeal, Instant Potatoes, Pancake Mix, Beans, Rice, Cereal, Tuna, Canned Chicken, Canned Fruit, Spaghetti Sauce, and Spaghetti Noodles. If you would rather donate cash or check please place it in an envelope and bring it along, all monetary donations received will be used to purchase scrip cards and donated along with the food items.

Please Note: This will be a socially distanced drive-through event, masks are a necessity. Thank you for your cooperation and generosity!

Special Message from Barb Lord

Dear RUCC Family,

I am once again overwhelmed with gratitude for the generosity you have shown to my school and families! You generous gifts allowed us to support 16 different families, 15 of which are homeless. Your gifts brought tears of joy to their faces and grand smiles of appreciation. I am deeply grateful and honored to be a part of this community.

Many Blessings,

Barb Lord

Ready for a Good Cup of Coffee or Tea?

Organic Ethiopian Coffee – drip, full city roast

Organic Midnight Sun Coffee – drip, dark roast

Organic Love Buzz Coffee – drip, Full City/ French Roast

$7.00 each

Herbal Tea - Peppermint or Chamomile

Irish Breakfast, black tea

$3.00 each

If you would like to purchase or if you have a special request, please contact Chris Nicoloff (909)831-3025 or [email protected]

Coffee and tea products sold at RUCC come from Equal Exchange. Equal Exchange is a for-profit Fair trade worker-owned, cooperative headquartered in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Equal Exchange distributes organic, gourmet coffee, tea, chocolate bars and food products produced by farmer cooperatives in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

When you purchase these products, you support small farmer cooperatives and help them to build pride, independence and community empowerment.

Next Book Club is Sunday, February 7

The RUCC Book Group's February selection is Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. The next meeting is Sunday, February 7, after church at noon on Zoom. The discussion leader will be Diana Sommer.

Club members also recommend the important and interesting book, Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, as a challenge book, and hope that members of the church and other friends will join us in reading it for the next few months. A group discussion will be scheduled when enough people have read it to discuss.lace article copy here.