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Turn your clocks back one hour before going to bed Saturday, November 2.
Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, November 3
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A message from our Pastor and Teacher
November 3, 2024~~ "All Saints' Sunday, Covenant Sunday and Communion" ~~ 24th Sunday after Pentecost ~~ "Covenant to Collaborate"
This Sunday is both All Saints' Sunday and Covenant Sunday, which I believe go together beautifully. For All Saints' Sunday we are asking you to bring a memento or "artifact" of a loved one(s) who has passed from life to life. It can be a picture or a possession. I plan to bring a picture of my grandmother and one of my grandfather's tools. For Covenant Sunday, we ask that you bring your covenant booklet. There will be a time to bring them forward and bless them. There will also be a recognition of those covenanting for the first time! In honor of such a special service, we will have unique music, from trumpet to harp! My sermon will be on how in free, multicultural churches like ours, voluntary covenants are the basis of creating and sustaining the local church.
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Concerns
- Mary Lou Haney is home after two months of hospitalization. There is still a lot of recovery to take place, so ongoing prayers are appreciated, as are our visits and notes.
- Debra Van Engelen had knee repair surgery this week and is home recovering. Prayers for a speedy and complete recovery.
- We continue to hold in our prayers the victims of violence and oppression around the world. This week we say a special prayer for the people of Mexico affected by violence and cartel corruption. More than 30,000 people have been killed in the criminal violence since 2018.
Ongoing Concerns:
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Kimberly and Danny Anderson, and their children Charles and Julia
Jerry Andrews
Johanna Ballard's brother
Andrew Barrow
Bill Buchanan
Denise Cain
Kathy Economen’s son Jeff
Judith Gregory
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Sue Hammond
Beki Hill
Harriet Holt, Beki Hill's mother
Paisley Parcell
Jules Rattray’s sister, Jenny
Amber McGuigan
Cynthia McGuigan
DonDon and Scott Mong
Floyd Orr
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Carl Parish
Dee Dee Seek’s great grandson Jaxson
Charlie Seek
Robert Silver
Steffen family
Sforza family
Tom Miller
Janet Wilson’s great niece Amelia
Michael White
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Special Note: Our dear friend and longtime RUCC member Floyd Orr would love to have people come to visit him at his board and care place in Grand Terrace. If you’d like to go, need information or have questions, please contact Keith Osajima. | |
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Heart to Heart is being re-activated
Heart to Heart is re-forming in response to the high degree of emotional stew many of us are experiencing regarding the upcoming election and the escalating crises around the world.
You can flag any one of us down at church. You can contact us by going to the Heart-to-Heart Group on Realm, click on the member you want to walk with you and send a message. You can also find each of our contact information in the Directory in Realm.
We are your Heart-to-Heart team members: Judith Turian, Cherie Bogel, Patti Little, Michelle McNevin, and Keith Osajima.
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It's Covenant Season at RUCC
Covenant Sunday is Nov. 3rd (All Saints' Sunday)
At Redlands UCC, every member makes an annual covenant with the church. Whether you’ve been here since its inception in 1975, or are covenanting for the first time, the expectation is that membership is intentionally renewed each year with reflection and prayer. Our 2025 Covenant Booklets are now available, and I highly encourage you to have them ready for our special Covenant Sunday service on November 3rd, when we will also be observing All Saints' Sunday and Communion.
At this service, there will be a time to bring your covenant forward and place it in a basket in front of the altar, where they will be blessed. We will also have a ceremony to celebrate and welcome our first-time covenanting members. If you cannot be here on Nov. 3rd, you can turn in your covenant to the office beforehand (by hand or by mail) and we’ll place it in the basket and bless it with the others.
What happens to my covenant? Your financial covenant goes directly to the Treasurer without the pastor or any church leaders knowing your giving. Your spiritual covenant goes directly to the pastor, again held in confidence. Your time and talent covenant goes to the office administrator who processes the survey and shares the information with the relevant area leaders.
Please contact me if you have any questions or would like to discuss this important time in the life of our church. Here are some dates you may find helpful:
- Sacred Saturday, Nov. 2, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. - a time for contemplation and discernment
Reverend Joe
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Sacred Saturday this Saturday Nov. 2nd, 9:00 a.m.-noon
Note: The plan was to extend the time until 2:00 p.m., but because of a scheduling conflict, we will keep it to our regular 3-hour time.)
All are welcome and encouraged to spend a few hours in contemplation, meditation and prayer this Saturday on the beautiful campus of RUCC. This mini-retreat will focus on Covenants. Hebrew scriptures are filled with them and the New Testament reminds us we are embraced by a “New Covenant” through Jesus. We each have myriad covenants in our lives—individually and communally—how do they shape us? How do they impact our faith journeys? As we each consider our specific covenant with RUCC this year, may we also consider all the covenants we are a part of.
While this time is not specifically a covenant-writing workshop, please feel free to bring your covenant booklet with you if you’d like to spend time with it. We will have additional ones available as well. Please join us in Mosaic Hall, in Micah Room, at 9:00 a.m. this Saturday. Questions? Please reach out to Barbie Fiske-Phillips.
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We make beautiful music together! | |
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Celebration Ringers
The Celebration Ringers bell choir rehearses Wednesdays at 6 p.m., in the sanctuary. We are hoping to find new ringers! No experience needed. Try something new and ring in the holiday season!
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Covenant Choir
Covenant Choir meets Wednesdays, 7 p.m., and is seeking new singers to join as we begin to prepare for All Saints' Day, Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas. A perfect time to join!
If you're interested, please contact David Wells.
Together, we'll make a joyful noise unto God.
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Young- and Middle-Aged Adult Group is kicking off Nov. 7
We are expanding our programming for young- and middle-aged adults at Redlands UCC! The vision for our “YMA” group is to have social gatherings, theological discussions and mutual support for adults in our congregation who are *roughly* ages 21-55. There is no strict age requirement or limit. As an inclusive and intergenerational church, we are committed to making room for everyone, and sometimes that also means programming that supports particular demographics, whether it is youth group, LGBTQIA+ Faith Group, or activities geared towards seniors.
Our kickoff event will be a social gathering at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7, at Escape Brewery (440 Oriental Ave.) with the light-hearted check-in question “Do you think we should begin Christmas music and decorations before Thanksgiving?” We’ll also be polling other ideas and activities for the future. Save the date and invite your friends! Contact Rev. Joe with any questions.
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“No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.”
We can all put that ideal into action by introducing ourselves to people at church that we don’t know and engaging them in conversation when we meet them. If you want to play a more formal role in welcoming visitors to RUCC, you might want to join the Church Growth area or take part in our new Welcome Team. Contact our Church Growth area leader Michael Dewey if you’re interested. The next Church Growth meeting is Tuesday, November 4 at 4 p.m. And let’s all remember to wear our name tags!
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Introducing Our New Youth Director!
Rev. Joe and the Education Area are excited to announce that the board has approved and hired a new Youth Director who will start this Sunday. Her name is Kathy McCool, and perhaps you already know her; not only has she collaborated with the RUCC youth group in the past, she was a chaperone to our four youth who attended the Western Regional Youth Event this summer, and she even visited us in worship on August 4 to share her experience (alongside our very own Rev. Erin Beardemphl). We hired Kathy because of her experience, love of working with young people, and trustworthiness. She is passionate about church life in general, and youth work specifically and has been engaged with Pilgrim Pines, the Conference and the National level with youth work. She is very experienced with the kinds of events and activities we would like to offer: overnights, mission trips, service projects, and Christian education (she also has experience in Sunday School and Christian formation for children). She runs an afterschool tutoring program for elementary students in the City of San Bernardino school district.
Kathy will start this Sunday but is still getting oriented. She will help us with existing programming for the next two months, and in the new year, help us expand and strengthen our youth programming. This includes offering a regular youth gathering and discussion on Sunday mornings (during Sunday School), and regular events and activities. Our big goals for the coming year are to have regular collaborative events with other youth groups, engage camp (Pilgrim Pines) and service activities, and to offer a confirmation program.
But first, Kathy needs to meet everyone and get to know our community! So be sure to greet her and welcome her as she begins. Especially if you have youth, please make an effort to bring them to worship this Sunday or another Sunday soon so they can meet her.
A Message from our Youth Director
"I am excited to be the new Youth Director of Redlands United Church of Christ. For those who don’t know me, I was honored to be the Youth Director at San Bernardino UCC for 10 years. I am very active in the life of the church. I have attended every National Youth Event, Western Regional Youth Event (WRYE) and Pilgrim Pines Summer Camp session for more than a decade. Following my calling, I was led here. I am now blessed to be a part of the spiritual growth of these amazing young people here at RUCC, several of whom I worked with at the last WRYE event. I look forward to worshipping and sharing in community with this congregation. Let the good times begin!
~Blessings~
Kathy McCool
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Bible Study Update
Join us this Monday, November 4 at 7 p.m. in Founders room, as we begin a new study. We will be using both the Bible and the book “The First Christmas” by Borg and Crossan to take an in-depth look at the stories of Jesus’ birth as written in Luke and Matthew.
You can find the book description and purchase The First Christmas here; we will also have several copies available, so please come on Monday even if you don’t have the book. All are welcome, we would love for you to join us.
Bible Study dates for the rest of the year are November 4, 11 (Garden Room), 18 and 25, and December 2, 9 and 16. We will resume again January 6, 2025.
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Caring for Kin - Fern Lodge and Casa del Sol
For the month of November, we will be collecting holiday gifts for residents at Fern Lodge and Casa de la Vista, which provide affordable housing for seniors in Redlands. Gifts may be used for a holiday raffle, so items that are suitable for any resident are preferred. Ideas include throw blankets, insulated mugs, and puzzles or card games.
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Racial Justice reflection of the week
While terms such as “ethnic minority” and “people of color” are still routinely used, another appears to be building momentum - people of the global majority. Global majority refers to people who are black, Asian, brown, dual-heritage, indigenous to the global south, and or have been racialized as “ethnic minorities” and represent approximately 80% of the world's population.
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c981g43vmmro
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From the Environmental Justice Team
In 2024, the United Church of Christ (our national denomination) is in the midst of its second campaign called Vote for Climate Hope. The first phase of the campaign was an art contest for children and youth. The winning art is now on voter pledge cards that congregations are collecting between now and November 1st. In the UCC campaign's second year, we have witnessed a notable growth in the number of participating churches …
The final phase of the UCC's campaign will be for teams of church members to visit their elected officials after Election Day. We know that voter mobilization and government accountability are strongest when they are linked together!
Take our Climate Hope Voter Pledge!
Source: United Church of Christ, Climate Hope Campaigns: https://www.ucc.org/climatehopecards/
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Game and Conversation Night, Nov. 1
Come join the fun in Covenant Hall and the Founders Room. We are having a fun-raiser for our youth. Actually, it is a toy raiser! Game and Conversation Night – Friday, November 1, 5:00 to 8:00 pm. It is for all ages. Games, Good Conversations, Create Art and RELAX. We will start with Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Sorry, Uno, Yahtzee, Five Crowns, Scrabble, Mexican Train Dominos, Twister, Bingo, Maj Jong and Pickle Ball (bring your bat). Two Conversation tables – Let’s talk (Barbie F-P) and How did life get so crazy? (Michelle M.) A Coloring Table with Mandalas.
We are asking each person/family to bring a new or very gently used toy, art supplies or accessories for teens. These donated items will be part of the Kids' Store at the Christmas Faire, and all proceeds will go to the Youth Fund.
We will have the World Series on. Eat before you come. We will be serving Root Beer Floats to add to the fun. I am hoping for 80 people. If you can help set up, please come at 4:30. We will need clean up help too. Questions? Contact Ginny Cruz.
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Book Group meets Sunday, November 3
The RUCC Book Group will meet at noon on Sunday, Nov. 3, in Founders Room to discuss The Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. Heather King and Diana Sommer will facilitate the discussion. Everyone is invited to join in the discussion, even if you do not normally attend the Book Group.
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Save November 16 and 17 for the Christmas Faire
The Fun and Friendly Christmas Faire is Saturday, November 16, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. and Sunday, November 17, noon-2:00 p.m. Over 15 vendors (most are church members) will present their arts/crafts and collectables. This year we are adding two ways to support the RUCC Youth Fund: A Good Reads area and a Kids/Youth store. We are asking for donations of:
- Fiction/nonfiction, hard/soft cover, children/adult books that would interest the public
- New (and almost new) toys, art supplies and puzzles
There is a box in Covenant Hall marked Christmas Faire. Contact Ginny Cruz for more information.
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ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
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Upcoming Dates to Remember
- Nov. 1 - 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. - Game and conversation night (article above)
- Nov. 2 - 9 a.m.-noon - Sacred Saturday, Micah Room
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Nov. 5 - Election Day, 2024 General Election
- Nov. 10 - Super Shepherd Sunday - groups in various locations
- Nov. 15-17 - Silent Retreat, Serra Retreat House, Malibu. Signups open until November 8. Cost is $310. Contact Judith Turian for details.
- Nov. 16-17 - Christmas Faire (article above)
- Nov. 17 - Wider Ministries meeting has been postponed. New date TBD.
- Dec. 15 - Christmas Pageant presented by our youth and children during the worship service
The church calendar is online at redlandsucc.org/calendar/
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Sunday, November 3 - Daylight Saving Time Ends - Turn your clocks back Saturday night!
- 9:20 a.m. Social/9:30 a.m. Meet – Seekers, Founders Room
- 9:30 a.m. – Kids’ Zone
- 10:30 a.m. – All Saints' Day Worship service with Communion and Sunday School
- 11:30 a.m. - Fellowship/Coffee Hour - Covenant Hall
- 12:00 p.m. - Book Group
Monday, November 4
- 4:00 p.m. - Church Growth Meeting
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7 p.m. – Bible Study, Founders Room, or online, Newcomers welcome. Prior participation unnecessary.
Tuesday, November 5
- 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. - Election Day - Covenant Hall will be a polling place and will be closed to other activities.
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Wednesday, November 6
- 1 p.m. - Mahjong, Mosaic Hall
- 6 p.m. - Celebration Ringers, Sanctuary
- 7 p.m. - Choir practice, Micah Room
Thursday, November 7
Friday, November 8
- 7 p.m. – Woman’s AA Meeting - Founders Room
Saturday, November 9
- 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Sacred Saturday
Sunday, November 10
- 9:20 a.m. Social / 9:30 a.m. Meet – Seekers, Founders Room
- 9:30 a.m. – Kids’ Zone
- 10:30 a.m. – Worship service and Sunday School
- 11:30 a.m. -Fellowship/Coffee Hour - 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: Vacant
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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