A message from our Pastor and Teacher
December 1 ~~ First Sunday of Advent and Communion ~~ "Women of Christmas"
The First Sunday of Advent is considered the "Liturgical New Year" and I'm so excited to be embarking on my first Advent with RUCC. Advent brings a lot of changes to worship and some great traditions. This Sunday will see many familiar traditions: the lighting of the Advent wreath (this week is "Hope"), the Hanging of the Greens, Kids decorating the tree with "Chrismons" and the singing of carols. There will also be some new and unique things -- we will begin a 3-part series on "The Women of Christmas." Advent 1 is Mary, Advent 2 is Elizabeth, and Advent 4 will be the prophetess, Anna. Our scripture will be "Mary's Song of Praise" also known as the Magnificat found in Luke 1:46-56, and our closing hymn will be based on Mary's Song, titled "The Canticle of the Turning." Hope you will join us for this Communion service that starts a New Year!
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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.
- Jules Rattray’s sister Jennie had reconstructive surgery on Nov. 27. Prayers for healing and recovery.
- David Salvaggio is having heart surgery at Loma Linda hospital on Dec. 5. Prayers of healing for a successful surgery and quick recovery.
- David Ruff is having spinal surgery on Dec. 5. Prayers of healing for a successful surgery and quick recovery.
- 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.
- Lori Glass had a successful tonsillectomy and is now recovering at home. Prayers for healing and recovery.
- We continue to hold in our prayers the victims of violence and oppression around the world. With Christmas approaching we pray for the people of the Holy Land, both in Israel and Palestine. We lift up our Palestinian Christian siblings in Bethlehem and the West Bank observing another Advent under war and oppression.
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
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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Angel Tree donations continue until December 8 - this is a one-week extension for giving!
Angel Tree donations will continue until Dececember 8. The groups receiving donations this year are Family Service Association of Redlands, Steps4Life, and an anonymous church family or individual designated by our pastor. You can choose to give to any or all of these groups. The process is as follows:
• Take an envelope from on, or under, the tree and put your $ inside.
• Fill in the front and be sure to designate the recipient.
• Turn it in to the offering plate or scrip table.
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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.
Don't you just love the feel of new, soft socks and underwear?
Let's share this delight with those who have not!
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Book Group meets Sunday, December 1
The next RUCC Book Group selection is An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz. The group will meet after church, at noon, in Founders Room on Sunday, Dec. 1. The presenter will be Nan Root. As always, everyone is welcome.
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It’s almost time for the Gingerbread Houses! Decorating day is December 15
Again this year Barb and Heidi Malone-Lord will turn Helen Arth’s magical gingerbread recipe into perfect little houses! But we need YOU to help make them gorgeous!
Decorating day is Sunday, December 15, after the service, so please bring
*candy, *frosting, *pretzels, *colorful cereals, *anything edible that would make the houses beautiful before then. Items can be left in the kitchen by the microwave and the outside door.
Thank you for your continued generosity to our kids!❤️
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Holiday Tea Potluck December 15
Join us on December 15th for a Holiday Tea Potluck, held in Covenant Hall following the Christmas Pageant service. There will be Gingerbread House decorating for the kids, holiday music, games and fellowship. If you would like to bring something for the Potluck please sign up here: https://www.PerfectPotluck.com/TBHS5128.
A selection of Teas and Hot Chocolate will be provided!
If you signed up your child for the Secret Santa Gift exchange, it will take place on the 15th as well.
We look forward to seeing you all there!
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The Glory of Christmas is the new name for Feastings, debuting Dec. 15!
The Glory of Christmas (formerly Feastings) will be on Sunday, December 15 at 2 p.m. We will be holding a fundraiser called Friends of Feastings (the Glory of Christmas)
You may donate to our choir program every Sunday through December 8 after service in Covenant Hall. Anyone who donates will have their name on our Glory of Christmas program. No donation is too small or too big!
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Here we come a-carolling...
Among the leaves so green,
Here we come a-wand'ring,
So fair to be seen.
Love and joy come to you,
And to you glad Christmas too,
And God bless you and send you a Happy New Year,
And God send you a Happy New Year.
Save the date - December 20, 5 p.m., for the annual all-church caroling event! We'll meet in the church parking lot to carpool around to various RUCC members' and friends' houses to share some musical Christmas cheer. We'll return to the church afterwards for hot chocolate and cider.
A sign-up list will be available soon for people of all ages who would like to join in the singing or in the listening. Yule be welcome! There’s noel time like the present! Never sleigh never! Contact Loring Fiske-Phillips with any questions (like "Why are those puns so bad?").
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RSVP for Christmas Eve Dinner after Worship
Hospitality will be hosting a dinner after worship on Christmas Eve. Worship is at 5:30 p.m. In the past this has been an open-serve Tamale Dinner, or light refreshments. This year will be different: We will have both to-go cookies as a gift for friends and visitors heading off to other plans, and a sit-down dinner for those who want to share Christmas Eve with church family! There will be extra seats for newcomers and people whose plans may have fallen through, but we are asking church members and friends to RSVP. This will help us order and prepare the right amount of food, ensuring enough and cutting back on waste. The menu is chicken parmesan with a pasta and salad bar, along with garlic bread. Please RSVP to Minori at Minori@redlandsucc.org. Please share the number of your guests and any dietary restrictions they may have
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Environmental Justice Message
The US Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency have set a national goal of cutting food loss and waste in half by 2030, and the EPA has tips to help us prevent food waste at home. Here’s an abbreviated version of the suggestions on the EPA food waste prevention site:
1. Shop mindfully – plan your meals, make a shopping list, stick to your list, and don’t buy more than you can use or safely store.
2. Store your food properly. Got questions? Check out the Foodkeeper app. Pay attention to the contents of your refrigerator – label and date leftovers, put food that needs to be eaten soon in a special location, freeze leftovers that you won’t be eating for a while.
3. Be creative and cook with produce that’s getting past its prime (banana bread, anyone?), odds and ends of leftovers, and produce parts that are safe and healthy, but that you don’t usually use. Learn how to safely preserve and store produce that’s abundantly available in season.
Sources: U.S. E.P.A., “Preventing Wasted Food at Home,” https://www.epa.gov/recycle/preventing-wasted-food-home
Image: https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/blog/2018/09/03/the-best-bananas-for-banana-bread
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Racial Justice reflection of the week
Since California’s Racial Justice Act of September 2020, defendants can put bias from any brush with the criminal legal system — from arrest to sentencing — on the stand. Analysis has found only about a dozen successful cases in which judges took action on racial bias in the legal process, an indicator of the “uphill battle,” as one attorney called it, to convince judges to bring these challenges.
There is no systematic way to track cases. Successes tend to spread by word of mouth, while the details of rejections are buried in court filings. A review of court documents, appellate rulings, and interviews with defense attorneys indicate the true power of a Racial Justice Act proceeding: the ability to add evidence of bias to the court record through motions.
Source: https://calmatters.org/newsletter/racial-justice-california-law/
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Upcoming Dates to Remember
December 15 is a BIG day for Advent/Christmas activities including:
- December 15 ~ Christmas Pageant presented by our youth and children during the worship service
- Children decorate their Gingerbread houses in Covenant Hall after the service
- Holiday Tea Potluck
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2:00 p.m "The Glory of Christmas" (formerly known as Feastings) in the Sanctuary.
- December 20, 5 p.m. - All-church caroling, meet in parking lot
- December 24 - 5:30 p.m.- Christmas Eve Service, followed by dinner. (see article above)
- December 25 - Merry Christmas to all!
The church calendar is online at redlandsucc.org/calendar
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Sunday, December 1 - First 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 with Communion and Sunday School
- 11:30 a.m. -Fellowship/Coffee Hour - Covenant Hall
- Noon - Book Group in Founder's Room
Monday, December 2
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7 p.m. – Bible Study, Founder's Room, or online, newcomers welcome; prior participation unnecessary.
Tuesday, December 3
Wednesday, December 4
- 1 p.m. - Mahjong, Mosaic Hall
- 6 p.m. - Celebration Ringers, Sanctuary
- 7 p.m. - Choir practice, Micah Room
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Thursday, December 5
Friday, December 6
- 7 p.m. – Woman’s AA Meeting - Founders Room
Saturday, December 7
Sunday, December 8 - Second 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 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: 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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