Second Sunday after Epiphany

Our Mission: "We are an inclusive Open and Affirming faith community reaching out with love, compassion, and justice."

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Thursday, January 7, 2021

This Sunday we will have a guest preacher: Rev. Michael Lewis

First Sunday after Epiphany, January 10 ~~ “The Gift of Sacred Revenge.”

Reverend Michael Lewis has a Bachelor’s degree from Graceland University in speech communication and a juris doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law. He received the final year of his legal education at Harvard Law School. Michael has been active in various forms of ministry for over 30 years, originally as an ordained minister in the Community of Christ before making his way to the UCC almost 10 years ago. Michael is a lifelong student, especially of process theology, and focuses his ministry now on worship leadership and preaching.

Sunday's Scripture

Genesis 4: 1-16

Worship for Sunday, January 10, 2021

Prelude: Morning Has Broken arr. by Renee Hyche Mckee

................................................................................Sophia Ohanian

Welcome and Call to Worship:_________..........____Denise Cain

Opening Hymn: #161 Amen, Amen............... Led by Zoe Petersen

Opening Prayer: __ ___________________.....____ Denise Cain

Children's Circle: ___________________.. _..__ Val McGlasson

Community Joys and Concerns:__ __Rev. Dr. Jill Kirchner-Rose

Special Music: Que Será, Será by Jay Livingston

--------------------------------------------------------- Val McGlasson, Guitar

Scripture: Genesis_4: 1 - 16 4______________..__ Denise Cain

Message:“The Gift of Sacred Revenge”............ Rev. Michael Lewis

Offertory: How Can I Keep From Singing? arr. by Lorie Line .................................................................................Sophia Ohanian

Prayer of Dedication:-________________.___.....__Denise Cain

Closing Hymn: We Shall Overcome ........ ...Led by Zoe Petersen

Time of Reflection: It Is Well With My Soul arr. by Sharon Wilson ................................................................... .............Sophia Ohanian

Joy:

Congratulations to Joette Orman and Peter Tupou on the birth of their daughter, Sage. Sage Akanesi Laurnalie Ana Tupou was born on Christmas Day!

Concerns:

Prayers for Ross Thrasher and Miriam who are facing health challenges.
Prayers for Mary Belle Carter who is diagnosed with UTI, pneumonia, and Covid.
Prayers for Lorna, mother of Erin Beardemphl, who shattered her kneecap.
Prayers for Claire, friend of Jennifer Brainerd, who is grieving the loss of sister Hilary and bringing into her family nephew Peyton.
Prayers for Loraine, friend of Rosemary Tuohy, who has been diagnosed with anal cancer.
Prayers for son and grandchildren of Ernie and Ruth Jordan who tested positive for Covid.
Prayers for Kathy Blanchard, who has COVID
Prayers for Ruby Beck, mother of Carolyn Beck, who has tested positive for COVID.
Prayers for Tracy, sister-in-law of Denise Cain, who is diagnosed with COVID.
Prayers for Pam, mother of Maegan Hill, who broke her ankle.
Prayers for Claudine, grandmother of Paul and Dante Welsh.
Prayers for Mary, sister of Sue Hammond, who is facing some health challenges.
Prayers for the family of Carol Bishop, sister of Rosemary Whitmer, who passed from life to Life.
Prayers for Vera, aunt of Jennie Haney and sister of Mary Lou Haney, diagnosed with COVID
Prayers for Charlie Seek challenged by diabetes related foot issues.
Prayers for Greg Farrell, brother of Karen Walsh, who is undergoing radiation treatment for cancer.
Nan Root requests prayers for her brother Richard who has COVID.
Prayers for the family of Tim Best, son of Sally Cummings, who passed from life to Life on Dec. 12^th. Sally requests prayers for the Best and Cummings families.
Prayers for Mary Lou who is recovering from surgery.
Prayers for Susi Jacobsen who is recovering from surgery. Susi would appreciate cards and phone calls.
Prayers for Gloria Ebert who is facing heart challenges
Carla Becerril requests prayers for her cousin Sally who is hospitalized with COVID.
Carla Becerril requests prayers for Tim Brown who is hospitalized with COVID.
Elizabeth Welsh requests prayers for her kitty, Salem, who is recovering from surgery.
MaCall Potter requests prayers for her kitty, Lucy, who is facing health challenges
Lisa Dewey requests prayers for her father who sustained a head injury.
Prayers for Danny and family, cousin of Jennie Haney, who has been diagnosed with COVID.
Barbie Fiske-Phillips requests prayers for Sonja, who was diagnosed with COVID
Judith Turian requests prayers for Jill Bressler as she undergoes treatment for lung cancer and for Judith's close friend Terri, who is unable to travel to be with Jill because of COVID.
Kenneth Lee requests prayers for his father and sister who contracted COVID-19.
Prayers for Armando, family member of Carla Becerril, who is diagnosed with COVID.
Prayers for Drew Morgan who underwent knee surgery on Nov. 23rd.
Prayers for Lois, sister of Mary Lou Haney, who has COVID.
Prayers for Ruth Jordan who is facing health challenges.
Prayers for Millie Mahoney, friend of Chris Nicoloff, hospitalized with COVID.
Prayers for Gene, a friend of Bonnie Pierce, who is a Nurse Practitioner and contracted COVID.
Prayers for Sue Wallace who is recovering from surgery for the replacement of an aortic heart valve.
Ongoing prayers for parents, teachers, students navigating online school.
Prayers for Dick Ault, who is awaiting knee replacement surgery.

Ongoing Concerns:

Barb, friend of Carla Becerril

Gretchen and Aaron Andrews

Carla Becerril

Les Budai

Diane Campbell

Diane, Sister-in-Law of Heather King

Carol Chaney

Precia Gwenhwyfer Courtney-Hveen

Cousin of Rick Cruz

Gloria Ebert

Norma Erickson

Betty Gayle

Ronan Godfrey

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

Leslie, sister of Barbie Fiske-Phillips

Amber McGuigan

Bill McIntyre

Amy McQulillian, friend of Gretchen Andrews

Larry Minor

Missy, friend of Rosemary Tuohy

Sarah Montez

Mary Mortensen

Maria Montana

Carmen & Jim Neafsey

Kristin Farmer Preslica

Steve, Brother of Julie Phillip

Nancy Rojas

Adolph Romero

Joan Roth

Spencer, friend of Stacey Greene

Doris Stockton, Kathi Roth's Grandmother

Heather Tee

Arika Torres

Rosemary Tuohy

Vasquez Family

Helga Vroom

Reflection of the Week from the RUCC Racial Justice Team

"This is not the time where people just come together and sing 'Kumbaya' and shake hands and move along. This is the beginning of a 3-year, 5-year, 20-year [process] where race relations move forward."

- Phil Armstrong, project director for the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission. This year is the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre. Learn more at https://www.tulsa2021.org/

From the Environmental Justice Team

“When you know that trees experience pain and have memories and that tree parents live together with their children, then you can no longer just chop them down and disrupt their lives with larger machines.”

― Peter Wohlleben, The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World

February Book Club Selection Announced

The RUCC Book Group's February selection is Anxious People by Fredrik Backman.. Their next meeting is February 7, after church at noon on Zoom. The discussion leader will be Diana Sommer.

“Rich with Fredrik Backman’s ‘pitch-perfect dialogue and an unparalleled understanding of human nature’ (Shelf Awareness), Anxious People is an ingeniously constructed story about the enduring power of friendship, forgiveness, and hope—the things that save us, even in the most anxious times.” (Amazon Review)

Club members also recommend the important and interesting book, Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, as a challenge book, and hope that members of the church and other friends will join us in reading it for the next few months. A group discussion will be scheduled when enough people have read it to discuss.

Annual Congregational Meeting - Sunday, January 24

RUCC's annual Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 24 following the Sunday Service.This will be a virtual meeting -- Details will be announced shortly.

Ready for a Good Cup of Coffee or Tea?

Organic Ethiopian Coffee – drip, full city roast

Organic Midnight Sun Coffee – drip, dark roast

Organic Love Buzz Coffee – drip, full city/French ........................................... ..roast

$7.00 each

Herbal Tea - Peppermint or Chamomile

Irish Breakfast, black tea

$3.00 each

If you would like to purchase or if you have a special request, please contact Chris Nicoloff (909)831-3025 or [email protected]

Your Scrip Tip for the Week

eGift Cards Still Available

Schedule a special delivery: Send an eGift card right to a loved one’s email inbox. When you check out on Shop.ShopWithScrip.com, select the box next to “Make this a gift?” and you’ll be prompted to enter the recipient’s name and email address, and add a personalized note. They’ll get the email with a link to view and print their eGift card.
Get eGift cards instantly (for your own shopping): They’re immediately sent to your account and you can access them right on your phone with the RaiseRight™ mobile app.

Next Physical Card Order – Orders for physical gift cards are due January 10. Please contact Jennifer at [email protected] if you would like to place an order, but cannot place the order online. If there is enough interest, we can setup a table to accept in-person orders outside the church doors on January 10. But only if there is interest!

Thanks to everyone who has supported RUCC through the scrip/gift card program this year!

To learn more about the scrip/gift card program, which allows RUCC to benefit while you do your regular gifting and shopping, please read the

holiday edition newsletter.

Contact Jennifer Brainerd at [email protected] with any questions