This Sunday, November 12, is Animal Blessing Sunday

This Sunday, we'll move our worship service to the back patio for the annual blessing of the animals. Please make sure your pet is leashed, in a carrier or otherwise secured. You may also bring a photo or stuffed animal surrogate for your animal companion.

A message from our Pastor and Teacher

November 12, 2023 - Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost and Animal Blessing Sunday

"Bless the Beasts"

This week we invite you all to bring your beloved pets and animal companions to a special outdoor worship service where we will sing and pray and bless each fuzzy or scaly or feathered friend, giving thanks for all they give us. There will be treats for animals and humans after worship!

Sunday's Scripture:

Matthew 6:25-33

Racial Justice reflection of the week

When Lamotte Johns answered his door, he encountered a dozen Wilmington police officers and Delaware probation officers. They were looking for his former roommate, Javonte Waters, just as they had done three months earlier. Once again, Johns informed the officers that Waters had moved out more than two years earlier. But instead of leaving, Johns says one officer stuck his foot in the door, forced it open, and the officers barged inside. Then they searched Johns’ entire house, without success.

The fact that Waters was not inside should not have been a surprise to the officer who led the fruitless search. That’s because he knew city cops had arrested Waters that same day, and he was in their custody. The allegedly unauthorized search at Johns’ home is one of a series of allegations in a lawsuit filed by the ACLU on behalf of the NAACP. The suit accuses Wilmington police of systematically conducting unconstitutional and illegal searches of people, homes, and vehicles, as well as illegal traffic stops and arrests, almost entirely on Black residents, many of whom are on probation.

Source: https://whyy.org/articles/naacp-wilmington-police-aclu-lawsuit-unconstitutional-searches/

From the Environmental Justice Team

“When native plants are compared to non-native plants for landscaping in the Redlands area, native plants score much higher. They use significantly less water (thus helping reduce one’s water bills), they attract pollinators, they smell wonderful, and they look as or even more stunning than the Orange County-style landscaping plants. (Sherli Leonard, “Native plants use less water, attract pollinators and smell great,” Redlands Community News, 11/3/23)



Interested in getting a few native plants for your garden? Check out the native plant sale at Gateway Ranch (31313 Live Oak Canyon Road, Redlands, CA) this coming Saturday, November 11, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

https://redlandsconservancy.org/fall-native-plant-sale/

THE RUMMAGE SALE IS COMING BACK!!!!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024

Save the date and your treasures. We'll be collecting them the week before the sale.

Questions? Want to be on the committee? See Pam Dunn, Kathie Blakley, or Claudia Tolar.

ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS FAIRE SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 18 AND 19

Faire Hours: Saturday, November 18, 

Set-up 8 a.m., Faire 10 a.m. to 2 p.m..

Sunday, November 19,  Faire 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

We need your help with our book sale table. Please donate books related to topics including health and wellness, mental health, self-care, spirituality, social justice topics, diversity/equity/inclusion, environmental issues such as climate change, etc. We really would appreciate kids books too. The donation box is in Covenant Hall. Questions? Contact Ginny Cruz 720-308-7835.

AND...!

The Youth Group is leading the Bake Sale at the Alternative Christmas Faire! All proceeds will go to the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund. We will need volunteer bakers to help us!

Please get out your cookbooks and your baking pans to help us with this fun event.

Please contact Andrea Morics (admorics@mac.com) if you’re willing to contribute baked goods and for which day.

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

• November 11 - Mentone UCC Gospel Concert
• November 12 - Animal Blessing Sunday
• November 12 - Wider Ministries quarterly meeting
• November 12 - Annual Community Thanksgiving service at Trinity Episcopal Church
• November 18-19 - Alternative Christmas Faire - See article above.
• December 10 - The Youth Group's Annual Christmas Pageant - Contact Andrea Morics for more information. There are parts for children and youth of all ages
• February 10, 2024 - RUCC Rummage Sale



The church calendar is found at redlandsucc.org

Click on "calendar" in the red banner near the top of the page