Our Mission: "We are an inclusive Open and Affirming faith community reaching out with love, compassion, and justice."
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Thursday, December 2, 2021
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A Message from Our Pastor and Teacher |
December 5 ~ Communion and Second Sunday in Advent, ~~ Angels Among Us: #more peace
Mary’s acceptance of the angel’s message is extraordinary because being pregnant before marriage could have resulted in a severe and humiliating sentence if Joseph rejected her. We spend so much of our time wishing things were not the way they actually are. Peace comes, however, when we accept what is and are able to use our energy to live into what’s next. Instead of waiting for things to be more peaceful, how can we be the ones to offer more peace?
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Sunday's Scripture.
Luke 1: 26 – 56
(selected verses)
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December 5 ~ Communion and the Second Sunday of Advent, |
Prelude: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus arr. by Mark Hayes
....................................................................................................Sophia Ohanian
Welcome, Announcements, & Celebrations.....Rev. Dr. Jill A. Kirchner-Rose
Threshold Moment...............................................Dr. Kirchner-Rose and Choir
Opening Hymn #131 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (v. 1,2, and 3)
Joys and Concerns:.............................................................. Dr. Kirchner Rose
Silent and Pastoral Prayer:...................................................Dr. Kirchner Rose
Anthem: Mary, Did You Know? by Jack Schrader .....................Covenant Choir
Scripture: Luke 1: 25 - 56.....................Jessica Morgan,Dee Dee Seek, Minori .......................................................................................Tsukimoto, Peter Tupou
Message: Angels Among Us: More Peace............................. Dr. Kirchner Rose
Offertory:.The Hands That First Held Mary’s Child arr. by Dan Forrest
..................................................................................................Sophia Ohanian
Doxology:.................................................................................Sophia Ohanian.
Prayer of Dedication:................................................................Jessica Morgan
Invitation to Communion......................................................Dr. Kirchner Rose
Closing Hymn: #126 Angels from the Realms of Glory, v. 1
Benediction: ..........................................................................Dr. Kirchner-Rose
If you are participating virtually, we will share together Holy Communion in our online interactive worship. Before the time of the service, you will want to prepare some bread - a slice, a small loaf, a tortilla, a rice cake - a wheat product is not necessary. Let it be something you alone, or your with others in your household, may break and share. Prepare a cup or cups of juice or your choice of wine-with or without alcohol.
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Concerns:
- Prayers for the family and friends of Jerry Greenfield, husband of Janet Greenfield, who passed from life to Life.
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Prayers for Carole Beswick who is having partial knee replacement surgery on Thursday, December 9th.
- Prayers for Nancy Sheets, our Office Administrator, who has gout.
- Prayers for Marcia Taack who is recovering from knee replacement surgery.
- Prayers for Glenda Bates, friend of Gretchen Andrews, who has been diagnosed with operable pancreatic cancer
- Prayers for Carole Wesson who is currently in the Health Facility at Plymouth Village.
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Carla Becerril requests prayers for her son-in-law and family. His brother passed from life to Life on Nov. 20th.
- Rosemary Tuohy Requests prayers for family and friends of Nancy Ruth White who passed from life to Life. Celebration of Life will be January 8, 2 p.m. at San Bernardino United Church of Christ, 3041 N. Sierra Way.
- Nan Root requests prayers for her brother Gary who has dementia and has placed on hospice.
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Ryan Zappia requests prayers for his father who is hospitalized with severe pneumonia.
- Prayers for Carol Buchanan who is recovering from pelvic prolapse surgery
- Prayers for John, cousin of Virginia Cruz, who is hospitalized with COVID
- Carla Becerril requests prayers for her friend, Edward, who works for a small business in which 7 of the 10 workers have been diagnosed with COVID
- Prayers for Helen Hurley, mother of Ken Hurley, who fell and fractured her vertebrae.
- Prayers for Reva, friend of Judith Turian, who is currently undergoing treatment at City of Hope.
- Susan Kirkhart requests prayers for her 91 year old Aunt Helen who is struggling with health issues.
- John Hancock requests prayers for John Drage’s mother, Mary, and the staff and residents of Cherry Valley Healthcare who have been exposed to COVID.
- Prayers for Cynthia McGuigan who has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer.
- Prayers for 7 members of Janet Wilson’s family, including 3 year old niece, who tested positive for COVID.
- Continued prayers for Kathy Blanchard who is recovering at home.
- Prayers for Richard Ault who fell and broke his hip. Richard is recovering at the VA Hospital in Los Angeles.
- Prayers for Bob Sheets who is recovering from eye surgery.
- Prayers Angie, sister-in-law of Sue Hammond, who has been diagnosed with COVID.
- Prayers for Eber, brother of Lara Urrutia, who is undergoing tests for a mass in his neck
- Prayers for the family of Irene, identical twin sister of Norma Erickson, who passed from life to Life.
- Prayers for Laurie, dear friend of Caroline McAllister, who is in hospice with end stage breast cancer.
- Prayers for Lisa, friend of Beth Welsh, who is recovering from emergency surgery.
- Prayers for Mary Lou Haney who is recovering from surgery.
- Johanna Ballard requests healing prayers for her dear friend, Lana.
- Prayers for Margaret Barnett who is now on Hospice.
- Sue Hammond requests prayers for her sister-in-law, Linda, who is receiving treatment for multiple myeloma.
- Prayers for Burt, family member of Johanna Ballard, who is facing severe health challenges.
- Prayers for Susi Jacobsen for health concerns she is facing.
- Eliza Ames requests prayers for her brother Coyne who is hospitalized and is very ill.
- Beth Welsh requests prayers for her brother, Michael, who is recovering from surgery following a work accident.
Ongoing Concerns:
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Joe Adcock, family member of Mary Mortensen
Anden, nephew of Michelle McNevin
Jerry Andrews
Jeff Bonadiman
Les Budai
Burt, family member of Johanna Ballard
Diane Campbell
Diane, Sister-in-Law of Heather King
Dave, brother of Johanna Ballard
Carol Chaney
Caroline, mother of Karen Blad
Claudine, grandmother of Paul & Dantae Welsh
Precia Gwenhwyfer Courtney-Hveen
Cousin of Rick Cruz
Norma Erickson
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Michael Flores
Betty Gayle
Jerry Greenfield
Emma Grimauld
Katia Hage
Beki Hill
Jody Hoelle
Harriet Holt, Beki Hill's mother
Mark Alan Johnson, friend of Nancy Hotaling
Kim Johnson, friend of Gretchen Andrews
Jenny, Sister of Jules Rattray
Emily Jones
Hank Kirchner
Amber McGuigan
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Sara Montez
Bill McIntyre
Maria Montana
Carmen & Jim Neafsey
Ryan and Evan Paul
Rick Peetz, Sr.
Kristin Farmer Preslica
Nancy Rojas
Adolph Romero
Joan Roth
Spencer, friend of Stacey Greene
Miguel Sewer
Doris Stockton, Kathi Roth's Grandmother
Heather Tee
Arika Torres
Rosemary Tuohy
Vasquez Family
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Special note regarding the Prayer List: Please review the list for any prayer requests you made that are outdated or that may be removed. Please notify both [email protected] and [email protected] of any changes that are needed. Thank you. |
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Sacred Saturday, December 4 at 9:00 a.m. |
We will gather for Sacred Saturday on December 5 at 9:00 a.m. All are welcome and encouraged to come for a time of slowingdown, breathing deeply, and sharing time with one another and God. May this sacred time help us to continue the journey toward Christmas. Weather permitting, we will meet outside on the patio for our opening and closing times together. If you need any encouragement or additional information, please feel free to reach out to Georgia Sforza or Barbie Fiske-Phillips. |
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RUCC 2021 Angel Tree -- This will be the last Sunday to bring donations to church. Donations can be made online or by mail as long as we receive them by the December 10.
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This years Angel Tree collection has begun! Join us in supporting our community this Holiday season as people continue recovering from the hardships of the COVID-19 Pandemic. It would be wonderful if you can give what you can so that we can show our support to these groups as they navigate challenges both old and new. We will be delivering donations just in time for Christmas. Our groups are:
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Steps 4 Life – Our own RUCC Member Cynthia McGuigan mentors six homes with the mission to “empower individuals and families to receive necessary training, education and life-skills that will allow them to reenter society as positive individuals in our community”
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Redlands Unified School District Case Carrier Program – Helping homeless, foster, and other at-risk students and families to succeed.
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A family in our congregation as determined by Pastor Jill
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Village Elementary – Each year we try to help these hard-working families at Barb Lord’s school to have a better holiday season. This year they are facing many new challenges with the loss and hardship suffered as a result of COVID-19.
To contribute online, log on to www.redlandsucc.org. Click on "GIVE" in the red banner at the top of the page. That takes you to a "pull down" menu of options, one of which is “Angel Tree”. You can also access it online through realm. If you have any questions please let me know [email protected].
We appreciate your kindness and generosity.
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RUCC CHURCH NURSERY IS OPEN! |
This Sunday, December 5, the Nursery will open at 10:30 a.m., not at 9:15 a.m.
KIDS' ZONE - Sundays at 9:15 a.m.
All kids* through 8th Grade are encouraged to join Kids' Zone each Sunday from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Kids Zone will be held in the classroom adjacent to Covenant Hall, next to the nursery.
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Blue Christmas Service, Wednesday, December 8th at
7 p.m. in the Sanctuary
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For those who have experienced loss, the holidays can be a particularly painful time, stirring up grief in acute ways. As a result, churches around the world have adopted the practice of having a “Blue Christmas” service during the Advent season. A Blue Christmas service is designed to provide space for prayer, reflection, and remembrance amidst the holiday hustle and bustle. In this pandemic season of life, we imagine that grief and loss will be magnified and nearly universal, and a service like this may be needed now more than ever. We hope that this service will provide a space of calm, quiet, and healing as we offer prayers, light candles, and listen to Sophia’s meditative music.
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The Christmas Pageant will be December 12 during the 10:30 Service |
Don’t miss this year’s Christmas Pageant which will take place during worship on Dec 12.
Take a look at this star-studded cast!
Miriam Beardemphl, Sophia Beardemphl, Olivia Branch, Fallon Branch, Sarah Breslaw, Lenna Breslaw, Eddie Clampitt, Evan Hill, Daniella Kirchner-Rose, Sylvia Mitchell, Serena Morgan, Joette Orman, Joey Perricone, Jules Rattray and Maria, Bea Rouse, Evie Siimmons, Sarai Simmons, Cai Sternberg, Jim Tong, Sage Laumalie Tupou, Beth Welsh, Dante Welsh, Paul Welsh.
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Gingerbread Time! -- December 12 |
What: A beloved RUCC tradition, our kids will once again be decorating Gingerbread Houses!
Where: Covenant Hall
When: Dec 12, after worship
How: After worship, kids will head to the Founders Room where they will receive a Gingerbread House. They will then take their house to one of the tables which will be set up in Covenant Hall where they will find all the supplies needed to create their masterpiece!
Masks are required.
We have a limited supply of Houses, so we will distribute one house to each child grade 5 and under. Youth grades 6 and older will be able to help their younger friends and siblings decorate their houses.
IF there are houses left over after all the young kids have received theirs, we will begin to distribute houses to the Youth in grades 6 and older.
Many, many thanks to Barb Lord and Heidi Malone for lovingly baking all these houses for us to decorate!
Volunteers needed for a delightful “Light Construction” project! You can help and have fun, too.
We need your help putting this year’s Gingerbread Houses together. The walls and roofs will be already baked—we just need to build the houses using Royal Icing.
Where and when: Covenant Hall, 10 a.m. Saturday December 11
The more volunteers we get, the quicker it will go!
Come be a part of this festive and beloved 25+ year old tradition at RUCC.
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Feastings Returns Sunday, December 12, at 2 p.m.
Feastings is an RUCC tradition dating back to the beginnings of our church. Each year the Covenant Choir and the Celebration Ringers put together a Christmas program of music. Though this year we are unable to serve food, the choirs will still serve up a feast of music on December 12 at 2 p.m. in the church sanctuary.
Admission is free. A free-will offering will be taken though.
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White Elephant Gift Exchange December 18 |
Come join the fun! The LGBTQ Allies Faith Group is hosting White Elephant Gift 🎁 exchange Saturday December 18th at 3 PM location to be determined. If you have any questions please contact Jennie Haney 949-573-8400
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The Christmas Fund, a UCC Special Offering will be received on December 26 |
Every year, the United Church Board for Ministerial Assistance receives dozens of letters, cards, emails, and phone calls saying “thank you” for much-needed financial assistance funded by your gifts to the Christmas Fund for the Veterans of the Cross. Donations of any amount to the Christmas Fund truly do bring “great joy” to so many people, year after year. The assistance and connection provided by your gifts lets these servants of the church know that they are not forgotten.
In 2020, gifts to the Christmas Fund enabled:
- Monthly pension supplementation for 276 retired clergy and lay employees ($1,180,187)
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Health benefits supplementation for 89 retired clergy and lay employees ($274,008)
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Emergency grants for 96 individuals and families ($214,649)
- Christmas “Thank You” gift checks to 504 retired clergy and lay employees ($252,000)
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Reflection of the Week from the Racial Justice Team |
“In the Serrano language, the word “yaamava’” means the spring season. We hope the name change unifies our people’s voice and identity to the broader world. Adopting a Serrano-based name will serve as a beacon of understanding by sharing more of our true nature and as a means for us to honor our ancestors. Without our land, identity, and language, we cease to be the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel. Being known for who we are is the basis for securing the future for our next seven generations."
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From the Environmental Justice Team - Reflections on Advent and the Earth
The term ‘Advent’ is Latin for ‘that which is coming’. This is a time of preparation, of waiting in the dark for the return of the light at Winter Solstice and the birth of “the Sun/Son at Christmas.” We can use this Advent time to deepen our connection to the earth, as well as to each other and to all of creation. Following are some poetic reflections to share with our families as we gather around our Advent wreaths or however we gather to reflect on our place as humans in this sacred universe. May we move toward a deeper understanding of and gratitude for all that supports us, and all that needs our care, protection, and love.
The first light of Advent is the light of stones,
Stones that live in crystals, seashells, and bones.
The second light of Advent is the light of plants,
Roots, stem, leaf, flower, and fruit
By whom we live and grow.
The third light of Advent is the light of beasts,
Animals of farm, field, forest, air, and sea.
All await the birth and the blessing to be free.
The fourth light of Advent is the light of humankind,
The light of love, the light of thought,
to give and to understand.
~Adapted from Rudolph Steiner
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November 28 is the first Sunday in Advent. The Worship Committee wants to borrow your angels to display in the sanctuary during the 4 Sundays of Advent. If you have a "special angel" to share, please bring it to church, labeled inconspicuously and carefully packed. We know they are fragile and may hold great meaning for you. If your angel has a special meaning for your family, please share that story with us. |
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SCRIP MAKES FUNDRAISING EASY |
Scrip/Gift Card Program is still ongoing! – When you purchase gift cards to pay for your day-to-day expenses or provide as gifts, RUCC receives a rebate that helps fund our missions. It’s an easy way to raise some money for RUCC.
Small denomination cards – For a limited time, you can purchase $5 or $10 gift cards to more retailers, like Target, Amazon, Starbucks, Barnes & Noble, Home Depot, Walmart, Panera, Chipotle, fast food restaurants, and more. Perfect for a thank you or holiday gift during this season.
Order Deadlines – For the remainder of 2021, here is the ordering schedule for physical gift cards. We will increase the order frequency as we get closer to the holidays. Be sure to get your orders in early enough for all of your holiday shopping or giving (groceries and gifts).
December 13 – available for pickup on December 19
Scrip/Gift Card Table on Sundays – Come to the scrip/gift card table after worship to buy Stater Brothers gift cards in stock, place orders for gift cards from hundreds of brands/companies, and learn more about this fundraising program and how you can help.
eCards – Remember that you can buy eGift cards, available to you immediately, to use for online or in-person shopping or to send as a gift. Every time you buy, RUCC gets a small rebate.
Please contact Jennifer at [email protected] if you need help placing an order or want to learn more about the program.
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My Work To Do is an online affinity group designed to help white people build stamina for discussing racism, systemic injustice, racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in their everyday lives. Black, Indigenous and People of Color allies are welcome with an understanding this is a white-centered, and therefore not always safe, space.
What can I expect?
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A weekly listening and learning circle that meets on Zoom for 60-90 minutes
- Resources around themes of housing discrimination, implicit bias, whiteness as a function, and systems of white supremacy — as well as where we go from here
- A space to learn, share, heal, and grow
FOR INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER
GETTING STARTED (The original My Work To Do series.)
Wednesdays Jan 5 / Jan 12 / Jan 19 / Jan 26 / Feb 2
4pm Eastern / 3pm Central / 2pm Mountain / 1pm Pacific
Thursdays Jan 6 / Jan 13 / Jan 20 / Jan 27 / Feb 3
8pm Eastern / 7pm Central / 6pm Mountain / 5pm Pacific
GOING DEEPER: For participants who have completed My Work To Do: Getting Started series.
Tuesdays Jan 4 / Jan 11 / Jan 18 / Jan 25 / Feb 1
8pm Eastern / 7pm Central / 6pm Mountain / 5pm Pacific
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UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER |
- December 4 - Sacred Saturday
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December 5 - Book Group at noon. While Justice Sleeps
.................................. by Stacey Abrams. Presenter: Diana Sommer
- December 8 - Mid-week Blue Christmas Service 7:00 p.m.
- December 12 - Gingerbread Houses 11:30 a.m. Covenant Hall
- December 12 - Feastings 2 p.m. in the Sanctuary
- December 14 - Board at 7:00 p.m.
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December 24 - Christmas Eve Service at 5:30 p.m with "grab and .........................go tamales."
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December 26 - The Christmas Fund Special Offering will be ........................ received during the 10:30 service
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January 2 - Epiphany Sunday -- Be sure to get your "Epiphany ...................Word" for 2022!
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This Week at RUCC
Calendar for December 5 to December 12, 2021
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Sunday, December 5 - Communion and Second Sunday of Advent
- 9:15 a.m. Seekers
- 9:15 a.m. Kids' Zone
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10:30 a.m. Worship Service & Sunday School
- 11:30 a.m. - fellowship hour on the patio
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11:30 a.m. Youth Group
Monday, December 6
- Shepherd Leaders Zoom meeting 7 p.m.
Tuesday, December 7
Wednesday,December 8
- "The Pastor is In" Weekly zoom gathering
- Blue Christmas service 7:30 p.m.
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Thursday, December 9
Friday, December 10
- 6 to 7 p.m. Closed women's AA meeting in the Founders' Room
Sunday, December 12 - Third Sunday of Advent
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9:15 a.m. Seekers
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9:15 a.m. KIds' Zone
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10:30 a.m. Worship Service with Children and Youth Christmas Play
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11:30 a.m. Gingerbread houses
- 11:30 a.m. Fellowship hour on the Patio
- 2:00 p.m. Feastings Concert
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RUCC Staff
Senior Pastor: Rev. Dr. Jill Kirchner-Rose
Honorary Minister of Arts and Worship: Rev. Erin Beardemphl
Music Director: Jim Tong
Accompanist: Sophia Ohanian
Children's Education Director: Susi Jacobsen
Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries: Vacant
Office Manager: Nancy Sheets
Child Care: Maggie Taylor
Caretaker: Vacant
Phone: (909) 793-3520
Staff and Other Emails
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