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A message from our Pastor and Teacher
Sunday, December 22 ~ Fourth Sunday of Advent ~~ "Women of Christmas: Anna"
Not a lot of people know Anna or Simeon, two holy people who spent a lot of time at the Temple in Jerusalem. When Jesus was a baby, he was presented in the temple along with a sacrifice, according to the laws of Moses. Simeon and Anna recognized Jesus as the coming Messiah and prophesied about him. We are told Anna is a widow and a prophet who was always at the temple, and she will be the third "Woman of Christmas" in our series. I hope you come as we light the candle of love and remember that powerful faith that waited for the birth of a Savior.
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Concerns
- Prayers for those grieving during the holidays, whether from the loss of loved ones, loneliness, or another heartache. Bring healing and hope.
- Mary Lou Haney is back at Loma Linda Hospital. Prayers for healing and progress so she can return to home care.
- Prayers for Kimberly Anderson who passed from life to Life on Friday, Dec. 13. Her service will be 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11 at RUCC. Prayers of comfort and healing for her husband Danny, her children Charles and Julia, and all those who knew and loved Kimberly.
- Prayers for Mary Mortenson who is recovering from an illness and hospitalization. She is home and making progress. Prayers for her healing and for her husband Larry.
- Nancy Ternasky’s cancer has returned. Prayers for healing and recovery.
- We continue to hold in our prayers the victims of violence and oppression around the world. As Christmas Day approaches, we pray for Bethlehem and the West Bank and the people living there under occupation and apartheid conditions. With the ongoing violence, few pilgrims will be able to visit the Church of the Nativity this year.
Ongoing Concerns:
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Jerry Andrews
Johanna Ballard's brother
Judith Gregory
Sue Hammond
Beki Hill
Harriet Holt, Beki Hill's mother
Paisley Parcell
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Jules Rattray’s sister, Jenny
Amber McGuigan
Cynthia McGuigan
Dondon and Scott Mong
Floyd Orr
Carl Parish
Dee Dee Seek’s great grandson Jaxson
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Charlie Seek
Robert Silver
Steffen family
Sforza family
Tom Miller
Janet Wilson’s great niece Amelia
Michael White
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Special Note: If you would like to send a Christmas Card to Floyd Orr, his address is:
Terrace View Gardens
....22626 Flamingo Street
.... Grand Terrace, CA 92313................ ~~ Thank you
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Christmas Eve at RUCC
We have a wonderful service of lessons and carols planned for 5:30 p.m. on December 24 in the RUCC sanctuary. We will have strings and special music, including Steve Morics on trumpet. We will sing beautiful arrangements of classic carols, hear readings of the Christmas story, share a children’s message and a reflection from Rev. Joe. We will also have candlelight that takes us from darkness to light. A special thank you to David Wells for leading the special music and playing piano at the service (to give Sophia her first vacation during Christmastime). After worship, folks will be gifted cookies and wished farewell for their evening plans. There will be a few reserved spots at the sit-down, RSVP dinner after worship for newcomers or those who had plans fall through, but we are near capacity already. We are looking forward to a meaningful and holy night at RUCC!
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Rev. Joe's New Year Vacation
Rev. Joe and family are returning to Massachusetts to visit Sara’s family and their friends in the Boston area. They will be leaving Dec. 26 and returning Jan. 8. Rev. John Walsh will be preaching on Sunday, Dec. 29 and Rev. Erin Beardemphl will be preaching on Sunday, Jan. 5, which is also the day for our tradition of Epiphany Words. Shepherd leaders and pastors affiliated with RUCC will be providing pastoral coverage the best they are able while Rev. Joe is away.
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Kimberly Anderson Memorial and Obituary
We will be having a celebration of life for Kimberly Anderson at 11 a.m. on January 11, 2025 in the RUCC Sanctuary with Rev. Joe officiating. Kimberly and her husband Danny retired to Redlands in 2022 to be near their children and start a new chapter of life. Her brain cancer was discovered in August of this year, and she passed on Friday, December 13. A lovely obituary with pictures of her and her family is available here: https://www.trinity.edu/news/trinity-remembers-kimberly-anderson. Cards are welcome and can be sent to Danny Anderson at his home address in Realm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to charity, especially those listed in the obituary (which includes The Sierra Club and Redlands AAUW).
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Caring for Kin during December
December's collection is new socks and underwear for men. Your donations will be distributed among various organizations who serve our kin in need.
We will continue to collect new socks and underwear for men for two more Sundays: December 22 and 29.
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RUCC will receive the Christmas Fund on Sunday, December 22
For over one hundred years, The Christmas Fund has provided direct financial assistance to the healers in all our lives: retired and active UCC ministers, church workers, and their families. You are part of the community of The Christmas Fund, whether you donate at Christmastime, benefit directly from our grant or leadership programs, or simply believe in our mission to help secure the financial foundation of those engaged in the life of the church.
Please consider donating on Sunday, December 22, to ensure more healers receive the loving support of the Church in their moment of deepest need. The Christmas Fund was there for them.
Your gift is a critical lifeline for those who depend on our grant programs for care and support. Thank you again for your generosity.
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Bible Study on hiatus December 23 & 30
The group will resume on January 6 at the usual time: Mondays 7-8:30 p.m. in person at church, or online.
Please consider joining us on the 6th; don’t worry about jumping in mid-stream! We are currently looking at the Gospel stories of the Nativity in Matthew and Luke, with guidance from the book The First Christmas by Borg and Crossan.
Contact al_education@redlandsucc.org for more information or if you need help sourcing a copy of the book.
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Secret Santa Word Cloud
This year, many of our kids and youth, 12th grade and younger, participated in a Secret Santa gift exchange. In preparation for the exchange, we asked the participants to provide some information about themselves to aid in their shopping: favorite color, animal, game, candy, hobbies, favorite sport, favorite book/movie/tv characters, “things I collect”.
Here’s a word cloud depicting their responses. We have fun (and active) kids here at RUCC!
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Environmental Justice Message
Some Indigenous advocates at this year's international climate negotiations [COP29] in Baku, Azerbaijan say the deals made fall short of what's needed to stave off the worst impacts of a warming planet … [A] group within COP known as the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform came to Baku with a set of priorities, which included advocating for a formal seat at the negotiating table for climate initiatives, … [incorporating] more Indigenous knowledge into climate science and policies, … protecting the human rights of Indigenous people, and [safeguarding] tribal nations feeling the most adverse effects of climate change.
"Broadly speaking, the COP outcomes failed on all four of those [priorities]," explains Graeme Reed, who is Anishinaabe from the Great Lakes region [and is a] North American representative to what's called the Facilitative Working Group, which carries out the platform's climate priorities by advising state party representatives that are willing to listen.
Brazil hosts next year's United Nations climate summit and already some are calling it the "Indigenous Peoples COP." … “Brazil's gonna definitely be the largest Indigenous participation in COP history," [Janene] Yazzie says. [Yazzie, who is Diné (Navajo), is also a North American representative to the Facilitative Working Group.]
Source: Perez, Nate, “Disappointed by this year’s climate talks, Indigenous advocates look to Brazil in 2025,” National Public Radio, 11/29/24: https://www.npr.org/2024/11/27/nx-s1-5193317/disappointed-cop29-indigenous-advocates-brazil-2025-climate-summit
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Racial Justice reflection of the week
As a scientist who studies prejudice and strategies to reduce bias and promote inclusion, I was curious to see the recent film by Matt Walsh, “Am I racist?” which takes on the $8 billion per year DEI training industry and mocks its usefulness. His core message is that the best way to be unbiased is to be colorblind, treat each other as individuals, not dwell one another’s racial or ethnic identity, and not to assume that “white” equals “racist.”
On the liberal side of the spectrum, the “do the work” proponents of DEI training in the film emphasize the importance of self-education, learning about American history and policies that created racial inequality across generations — policies that in some cases continue to maintain inequality today. Proponents of this position want people to sit with this knowledge, and if they are white, to reflect on how they benefit from this system and feel guilty.
Decades of social psychological research show that neither this conservative nor liberal approach will solve the problem of bias reduction or greater inclusion. Walsh’s position ignores the weight of history in shaping individuals’ outcomes today, while standard antibias training forgets that “doing the work” in the form of self-education and good intentions are not enough. The norms and traditions of the places in which we live and work, the roles we occupy, and the opinions and actions of other people around us steer our own beliefs and behavior in powerful ways.
Source: https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/5039313-dei-racism-bias/
| Poinsettias that decorate the sanctuary were given by: | |
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Given By
Scott and Ephaim (Dondon) Mong
Paul and Sondra Hodson
Carole Beswick
Mark Janz & Debra Van Engelen
Janet Greenfield
Given By
Ken and Claudia Tolar
Ken and Claudia Tolar
Kathie Blakley
Ruth and Jon Herbert
Henry & Simon Smith
Piper, Jack, Finnegan Bolar
Sondra and Paul Hodson
Jolene Barrow
Sue Wallace
Michael and Lisa Dewey
Carol Robb
Stacy Kaiser
Bob and Ann Schultz
Scott and Ephaim (Dondon) Mong
Jayne and Thomas Miller
Ken Hurley
Danny Anderson
Caroline McAllister
Inez Diggs
Mary and Steve Moore
Johanna Ballard
Amy Wiles
Janet Greenfield
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In Honor Of
Barbara Mong and Claire Anne
Mara Dee Hodson
Doug, Michelle, and Brad
Martini Janz
Robert & Florence Rich
In Memory Of
Jeanne and Hank Knippert
George, Lois, and Karl Tolar
Rich Blakley and Grace Nord
George and Lila Grant
Grandpa Allen Killpatrick
Richard and Connie Hodson
Baba, Pops, and Sistah Vickey
Walter, Ruby and Max Wallace
James, Evelyn Dewey
Joseph Alfano & Johanna Alfano
Phil Robb and David Raley
Dorothy and Pauline
Art and Betty Schultz
Colleen and Kenneth Davis
Robert Mong and Cristeta C. Perez
Mary and Stan Rose and Nicolas Miller
Janie and Kelly Hurley
Kimberly Anderson
Mom, Dad, Peggy, John, and Bill
Paula Reece, Michele Henderson, and Lawrence Diggs
My father Bob
Edward and Bernie Sanderson
Carl Wiles
Jerry Greenfield
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Upcoming Dates to Remember
- December 20, 4:45 p.m. - All-church caroling, meet in church parking lot
- December 24 - 5:30 p.m.- Christmas Eve Service, followed by dinner.
- December 25 - The RUCC Office will be closed Christmas Day. Merry Christmas to all!
- January 1 - The RUCC Office will be closed New Year's Day, Happy New Year everyone!
- January 4, 9 a.m.-noon - Sacred Saturday
The church calendar is online at redlandsucc.org/calendar
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Sunday, December 22 - Fourth Sunday of Advent
- Seekers ~ 9:00 a.m. Social; 9:15 to 10:15 - Discussion - Founders Room.
- 9:30 a.m. – Kids’ Zone
- 10:30 a.m. – Worship service
- 11:30 a.m. - Fellowship in Covenant Hall
Monday, December 23
- Bible Study is on hiatus and will resume Jan. 6.
Tuesday, December 24 - Christmas Eve
- 11 a.m. - Munch and Muse Lunch Group
- 5:30 p.m. - Christmas Eve Service followed by dinner
Wednesday, December 25 - Christmas Day
- The office will be closed today.
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Thursday, December 26
Friday, December 27
- 7 p.m. – Woman’s AA Meeting - Founders Room
Saturday, December 28
Sunday, December 29 - First Sunday After Christmas
- Seekers ~ 9:00 a.m. Social; 9:15 to 10:15 - Discussion - Founders Room.
- 9:30 a.m. – Kids’ Zone
- 10:30 a.m. – Worship service
- 11:30 a.m. - Fellowship in 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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