A message from our Pastor and Teacher

November 19, 2023 - Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost ~ Thanksgiving Sunday ~ "Give Thanks"

We may not always feel blessed, but we sure are. We have been given so much in this life. We have food to nourish us, the safety of warm, dry homes, and clothing that not only protects us but helps us express our individuality. We have skills and talents for making and doing and creating things that bring us joy and that provide for life. We have science and medicine to improve all aspects of life. But above all else, we have love. Love that is strong and that never ends. Love makes all things bearable, and all things possible. Let's give thanks together for God's unending love!

Sunday's Scripture:

Luke 17:11 - 19

Racial Justice reflection of the week

On November 14, 1960, a court order mandating the desegregation of schools came into effect in New Orleans, Louisiana. Six-year-old Ruby Bridges walked into William Frantz Elementary School, accompanied by federal marshals and taunted by angry crowds, instantly becoming a symbol of the civil rights movement, an icon for the cause of racial equality and a target for racial animosity.

The Supreme Court ordered the end of segregated public schools in Brown vs. Board of Education just a few months before Bridges was born, but it was not until after her kindergarten year that the City of New Orleans finally assented to desegregation. African American children in New Orleans were given a test, and only those who passed were allowed to enroll in all-white public schools. Bridges passed the test and became the only one of the six eligible students to go ahead with desegregating Frantz Elementary. Her father opposed the idea at first, but Bridges’ mother convinced him that sending Ruby to Frantz was both right for their daughter and an important moment for all African Americans. Bridges entered the school along with her mother and several marshals on November 14, and images of the small child and her escorts walking calmly through crowds of rabid segregationists spread across the country. Bridges later recalled that she had initially thought the crowds were there to celebrate Mardi Gras.

Source: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ruby-bridges-desegregates-her-school

From the Environmental Justice Team

The fifth edition of the National Climate Assessment, a report evaluating the impact of climate change on American life, has recently been released. For the first time the assessment draws heavily on the social sciences, including Indigenous studies, to address economic effects of climate change and the social factors driving both our contribution and our responses to climate change. Besides putting the scientific findings about climate change into the broader context of American society, this aspect of the report highlights the disproportionate damage done by climate change to marginalized communities, the elderly, and the economically disadvantaged. Climate scientist Katharine Kayhoe (an author on the report) points out that, “Climate change affects us all, but it doesn't affect us all equally,” and that the report illustrates ways “climate action can create a more resilient and just country.”

Source: Borunda, A., Sommer, L., and Hersher, R., “Climate change affects your life in 3 big ways, a new report warns,” NPR Morning Edition, aired 11/14/23: https://www.npr.org/2023/11/14/1206506962/climate-change-affects-your-life-in-3-big-ways-a-new-report-warns

The Alternative Christmas Faire is this weekend! November 18 & 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.

The Alternative Christmas Faire is this weekend! Saturday, November from 10 a.m/ to 2 and Sunday November from 12 noon to 2 p.m. With the rainy weather, we need your support more than ever. We would love to see you there.



Twelve church artists and crafters will be selling their goods, plus a bake sale run by the youth and a wonderful book sale too! What could be better?

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.

Sharing our blessings with Caring for Kin

In the month of November, we will be collecting food items for Steps4Life, which provides transitional housing to individuals and families in Redlands. Examples of items to donate include traditional holiday items (e.g., Stovetop stuffing, canned yams) as well as items such as boxed milk, canned vegetables, oil, spices, coffee, sugar, and flour. Keep up the great work, RUCC!

Updates from your Settled Pastor Search Committee

This week we met with Kris Bergstrom, who has been supporting us from her position as Conference Minister.  We learned about candidate profiles and what to expect in the materials people will submit.  We also talked about the process and criteria we will use to evaluate potential candidates.  The useful nuts-and-bolts focus of the meeting helped to make our work more real, as we are nearing the time when candidate profiles will be coming in!  It’s getting exciting!



Finally, if we lose track of what we’re doing, we can always be inspired by this drawing Ronan Godfrey sent the 2015 settled pastor search committee.

Committee members include: Sophia Beardemphl, Loring Fiske-Phillips, Keith Osajima (Chair), Samantha Sanchez-French, Dee Dee Seek, Diana Steele-Jones, Minori Tsukimoto, John Walsh, and Janet Wilson.

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.

Seekers to start new book December 3

Seekers will finish the current book this Sunday, and then resume meeting on December 3. They will begin with reading “Man’s Search for Meaning”  by Victor Frankl. 

Do you find thoughtful conversation intellectually stimulating? Come be a part of the dialogue! We meet on a weekly basis to explore theological perspectives selected from a diverse range of scholars. We welcome your participation wherever you are on your journey. All points of view are respected. 

Nan Root: Co-Leader/Facilitator

Johanna Ballard: Co-Leader/Communications

Book Group News - Meeting December 3

The RUCC Book Group will meet on December 3, after church at noon, in the Founders' Room. The book selection is "The Art Thief" by Michael Finkel. The discussion leader is Mark Leggett.

“One of the most remarkable true-crime narratives of the twenty-first century: the story of the world’s most prolific art thief, Stéphane Breitwieser. In this spellbinding portrait of obsession and flawed genius, the best-selling author of The Stranger in the Woods brings us into Breitwieser’s strange world—unlike most thieves, he never stole for money, keeping all his treasures in a single room where he could admire them.

…This is a riveting story of art, crime, love, and an insatiable hunger to possess beauty at any cost.” Amazon Review

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

• November 18-19 - Alternative Christmas Faire - See article above.
• November 23-24 - Thanksgiving Holiday - OFFICE CLOSED
• December 2 - Sacred Saturday 9 a.m. - noon
• December 2 - Electronics Recycling
• December 3 - First Sunday of Advent
• December 3 - Special Congregational meeting and vote on new roof
• December 3 - Book Group at noon in the Founders' Room
• 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