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A message from our Pastor and teacher
Sunday, March 9 ~ First Sunday in Lent~ "The Parable of the Good Muslim"
A couple of weeks ago, Rev. John Walsh preached on the parable of the Good Samaritan. This week will be the Good Samaritan Redux. It's one of those parables that is worth coming back to again and again. And every preacher has their own unique take. This Sunday I'll be focusing on the religious and ethnic identity of the Samaritan, and how it answers the question of "Who is my neighbor?" There is a parallel between 1st century Jews and Samaritans, and 21st Century Christians and Muslims. My sermon "The Parable of the Good Muslim" will hopefully get us to think about the meaning of the parable in a new light.
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Concerns:
- Prayers of hope and healing for Pope Francis, and for ecumenical cooperation between Catholics and Protestants wherever possible.
- Prayers of love and thanksgiving for the legacy of FCC San Bernardino, which is having its last worship service Sunday, March 9 at 2 p.m. Gratitude for the members of that church who have begun attending here.
- Ongoing prayers for Mary Lou Haney, and her daughter and caregiver Jennie, and Jennie’s fiancé Patrick.
- Ongoing prayers for Kathy Economen’s son Jeff and his mental health journey. Prayers for stability and healing.
- Prayers of growth and faithfulness for all those observing the season of Lent, through worship, prayer, service or fasting.
- Prayers for the victims of oppression and violence around the world. This week we pray for the people of Iraq and Afghanistan, who are still struggling with the aftermath of US-led invasions. Poverty, internal and international displacement, and political instability continue to plague the countries.
- Ongoing prayers for those affected by the Palisades, Eaton, Hughes, and other wildfires, and Altadena Community Church UCC, which was destroyed by the Eaton Fire. A reminder for all of us that recovery will be a marathon, not a sprint.
Ongoing Concerns:
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Fred Freeman
Dick Ault
Danny Anderson
Jerry Andrews
Bill Buchanan
Judith Gregory
Beki Hill
Harriet Holt, Beki Hill's mother
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Those affected by wildfires, including the UCC in Altadena
Amber McGuigan
Cynthia McGuigan
Dondon and Scott Mong
Floyd Orr
D. Seek’s great grandson Jaxson
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Paisley Parcell
Carl Parish
Robert Silver
Steffen family
Tom Miller
Janet Wilson’s great niece Amelia
Michael White
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In this week's issue of The View:
- Legacy service at San Bernardino UCC
- Lenten Series
- Rummage Sale Updated!
- Game Night New!
- Clean-Up Day
- Super Shepherd Sunday New!
- Bible Study
- Environmental justice New!
- Racial justice New!
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Lenten Series begins March 12
Dialogues on the Refugee Crisis
Dates: Wednesday nights March 12 through April 9
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Covenant Hall
As Christians, how do we respond to the Worldwide Refugee Crisis?
Follow this link to sign up to bring soup for week 1, March 6.
Childcare is available upon request. Please send an email to al_education@redlandsucc.org if you plan to bring a child to the event, or if you have any questions.
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Caring for Kin — Focusing on Youth Hope
For the Youth Hope Pantry ..... cereal, crackers, mac and cheese boxes, peanut butter and jelly, pancake mix
For Youth Hope after-school snacks ..... spicy chips (Taki's or Flaming Hot), sodas, juice boxes, crackers, fresh fruit (maybe oranges or tangerines would hold up best)
Regarding the Pantry items ...... Many of the kiddos at Youth Hope are not without a home, but they may still be food insecure. These requested items help to provide meals that they can prepare with their family or on their own.
Regarding after-school snacks .... These items have been requested to eat when the youth gather to chat, getting to know each other and the staff. In this way, connections are built that encourage participation in other services that may lead to self-sufficiency.
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RUCC Clean-Up Day, Saturday, March 15
Do you love our beautiful church grounds?! Do you want to make them even more beautiful?! Please mark your calendar for our spring RUCC Clean-Up Day on Saturday, March 15, 9 a.m.—2 p.m. Many hands make light work—it'll be a fun and productive day!
Contact Carole Beswick if you have any questions.
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Bible Study starts a new book on March 10!
Please join the RUCC Monday Night Bible Study March 10 as we begin a new book: The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach about Jesus’ Final Days in Jerusalem by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan.
This fascinating book will help guide us through the Lenten Series.
If you need to use one of our copies of the book, please contact the Education leaders at al_education@redlandsucc.org.
Bible Study meets every Monday from 7-8:30 PM in person at church OR online if that is more convenient for you. Here is the link if you’d prefer to join us online.
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March 16 - First Super Shepherd Sunday of 2025
Hello friends! Our 1st Super Shepherd Sunday of the year will be Sunday March 16th. Please be on the lookout for communication from your Shepherd Leaders about where your group will be meeting and what to bring. If you have any questions about the Shepherd groups and which one you are in, then please reach out to Maegan Hill at Maegan@redlandsucc.org or 909-658-4261.
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Social Justice and Witness Workshop - Saturday, March 22
Joe will present a Wider Ministries Social Justice & Witness Workshop from 10:30 to 12:30 in Covenant Hall on Saturday, March 22. The workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to envision what we can accomplish as a church in the areas of social justice and witness, and specific ways that RUCC can work together to accomplish this.
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Game night - March 29 - save the date
Game and Conversation night will be on Saturday, March 29, at 5:30 p.m., in Covenant Hall. Friday night was not convenient for everyone so we will try this one on Saturday night. Bring your favorite game. An art table will be available. We will introduce BUNCO, an easy and social game. Come, relax, see old friends and make new ones. All ages invited. And we will be serving our famous root beer floats.
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Environmental justice message
All eyes have been on the nest belonging to Big Bear’s famous bald eagle couple, Jackie and Shadow, and their trio of eggs once two of them started showing signs of hatching.
Update Tuesday, March 4, 7:30 a.m.:
We have eaglets! Friends of Big Bear Valley confirmed that a chick was hatched about 11:30 p.m. Monday and another around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Source: “Jackie and Shadow welcome two new chicks, their first hatchlings in three years,” Makenna Sievertson, LAist, 2/28/25, updated 3/4/25: https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/jackie-and-shadow-nest-pip-watch
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Racial Justice reflection of the week
“I’m here once again to represent the lingering traumas and the repercussions of war and systematic oppression, and of antisemitism and racism and of othering and I pray for a healthier and a happier and a more inclusive world. And I believe if the past can teach us anything, it’s a reminder to not let hate go unchecked.”
Source: Actor Adrien Brody’s acceptance speech at the Oscars, March 2, 2025. Quoted in The Standard: https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/adrien-brody-oscar-georgina-chapman-harvey-weinstein-jewish-b1214276.html
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RUCC - A Moment in Time...
3 a.m. - August 9, 1998
“In August of 1998, a fire consumed the Church House and almost all of its contents. Some church records were saved. Many beloved and irreplaceable personal items of our staff and members were lost. A Phoenix Committee worked with the insurance company on the details of replacing the building. The pastor was James Vuocolo. The President was Bettye Wheeler.”
(Carol Buchanan in the RUCC History Project I)
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Upcoming Dates to Remember
- March 9 - 2 p.m. - Legacy Service and reception at First Congregational UCC, San Bernardino (see article)
- March 12 - 6 p.m. - Lenten Series on Refugee Crisis, Covenant Hall (see article; continues Wednesdays through April 9)
- March 15 - RUCC Clean-Up Day, 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
- March 16 - Super Shepherd Sunday
- March 22 - 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Social Justice Workshop
- March 30 - The UCC's Special Offering "One Great Hour of Sharing" will be received
- June 21-22 - RUCC's 50th Anniversary Celebration
The church calendar is online at http://www.redlandsucc.org/calendar
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This Week at Redlands United Church of Christ | |
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Sunday, March 9
- Seekers ~ 9:15 - Social and 9:30 - Discussion - Founders Room.
- 9:30 a.m. – Kids’ Zone
- 10:30 a.m. – Worship service & Sunday School
- 11:30 a.m. - Fellowship time, Covenant Hall
- 2:00 p.m. - Legacy Service and reception at First Congregational Church, San Bernardino
Monday, March 10 -
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7:00 p.m. - Bible Study at church or online
Tuesday, March 11
Wednesday, March 12
- 1 p.m. - Mahjong, Mosaic Hall
- 6:00 p.m. - Lenten series begins
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Thursday, March 13
- 7:00 p.m. - Covenant Choir rehearsal in Micah Room
Friday, March 14
- 7 p.m. – Woman’s AA Meeting - Founders Room
Saturday, March 15
- 9 a.m -2:00 p.m. - RUCC Clean up day
Sunday, March 16
- Seekers ~ 9:15 - Social and 9:30 - Discussion - Founders Room.
- 9:30 a.m. – Kids’ Zone
- 10:30 a.m. – Worship service & Sunday School
- 11:30 a.m. - Super Shepherd Sunday / Fellowship time, Covenant Hall
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RUCC Staff
Senior Pastor: Rev. Joe Zarro
Music Director: David Wells
Associate Music Director: Sophia Ohanian
Children's Education Director: Susi Jacobsen
Director of Youth Ministries: Kathy McCool
Office and Property Manager: Veronica Bermudez
Child Care: Caitlin Walsh
Website: www.redlandsucc.org
Phone: 909-793-3520
Staff and Other Emails
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pastor@redlandsucc.org
musicdirector@redlandsucc.org
childrenseducation@redlandsucc.org
youth@redlandsucc.org
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office@redlandsucc.org
weddings@redlandsucc.org
theview@redlandsucc.org
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