A message from our Pastor and Teacher

Sunday, January 14~ Second Sunday after Epiphany ~ "Known and Loved, Loved and Known”                                               

Sometimes we just feel lonely. Sometimes it is more than lonely, though. Sometimes we feel like we are all alone. Even in a crowd. Even with our family or with our best friends. But we aren't alone. God is with us all along the way. We are known by heart. We are known and loved.

Come and hear a special Children's Circle book - Jacob's Adventure - read by beloved church member and author Helga Vroom. 

Sunday's Scripture:

Psalm 139:1-6,13-18 

Annual meeting - Sunday, January 28

Reminder: The RUCC Annual meeting will be held Sunday, January 28. The agenda will include adoption of the 2024 budget, election of 2024 Board Members, and receipt of the Book of Area Reports for 2023. We must have a quorum to adopt the budget and elect Officers and Area Leaders. If you are unable to attend, you may get an absentee ballot here: www.uccredlands.org/ballot

Racial Justice reflection of the week

After two years of often-intense public hearings, the California Reparations Task Force voted in May to approve a more than 1,000-page document, including more than 200 recommendations for how to undo centuries of unfair treatment for Black Californians, especially descendants of enslaved people. It recommended California formally apologize for its role in enabling slavery, and for the many tentacles of white supremacy in its history.

It also recommended the state make cash payments to those whose ancestors were enslaved. CalMatters’ reparations calculator, based on economic modeling in the task force’s report, estimates an eligible Black resident who has lived seven decades in California could be owed up to $1.2 million. 

But while a majority of California voters surveyed support an official apology, they are wary of cash reparation payments. A September, 2023 poll by UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies showed them opposing payments by a 2-to-1 margin.

Source: https://calmatters.org/explainers/reparations-california/

From the Environmental Justice Team

According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service of the European Union, 2023 was the Earth’s hottest year on record (https://climate.copernicus.eu/global-climate-highlights?utm_source=press&utm_medium=referral&utm_id=gch23).

A statement from Samantha Burgess, deputy director of Copernicus: “2023 was an exceptional year with climate records tumbling like dominoes. Not only is 2023 the warmest year on record, it is also the first year with all days over 1 degree Celsius [1.8 degrees Fahrenheit] warmer than the preindustrial period. Temperatures during 2023 likely exceed those of any period in at least the last 100,000 years.”

Source: “Earth reaches grim milestone: 2023 was the warmest year on record,” Smith, H., Los Angeles Times, 1/9/24: https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-01-09/its-official-2023-was-the-warmest-year-on-record

It's easy to help supply meals to the women's cold weather shelter

"Take them a meal" is an easy way to sign up to provide dinner for the Redlands Cold Weather Women's Shelter! If you have questions about quantities or other logistics, contact Jean Pagdilao 909-206-4156. Use the link below to pick a date, and to see all delivery instructions. Easy, peasy!

Youth Sunday School news

Youth Sunday School class will resume this Sunday, January 14 in the Youth Room in Mosaic Hall. Rev. Erin Beardemphl will be the teacher. Many thanks, Erin!

Martin Luther King, Jr. commemoration activities at U of R, January 8 - 19

There are a number of activities scheduled at University of Redlands in celebration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Please note some of the events are accessible online; in particular, the interfaith service, Sunday, January 14, at 11:00 a.m. Remembering Dr. King, featuring Rev. Dr. Laurie Garrett-Cobbina, Dean of the U of R San Francisco Theological Seminary.

Click here for the complete schedule.

CARING FOR KIN IN JANUARY 

Brrrrr! We are collecting jackets, hats, gloves, and other cold-weather protection to share with our kin during these cold-weather months. Used items are most welcome, as long as they are clean and in good repair. Consider shopping Costco on-line and other stores that have currently marked-down winter-clothing items. Packages of new socks and new underwear are also in great need. Thanks again for your amazing generosity!

Please be thoughtful and selective when donating to help our kin. Our focus at this time is on clothing and other articles that are winter-appropriate. Thank you

These vacancies at RUCC need to be filled

These may be only part-time positions, but they are important to our church's mission. The Youth Director plays a key role in helping our young people understand why RUCC's values and theology are important to them as they prepare to go out in the world.

The Nursery Care Worker. provides a warm and loving environment for small children too young to participate in an hour-long church service. Parents feel free to concentrate on the service and do not have to worry that their small children are appropriately cared-for.

.......................~~ The RUCC Personnel Committee

Book Group - This Sunday, January 14

The RUCC Book Group will meet this coming Sunday, January 14, 2024, after church at noon in Founders Room. The purpose of this meeting is to share and discuss books that we have read, or are interested in, with the entire group. Then we will make our schedule of selections for the coming year. This is the organizational meeting for the year, so it’s a good time to join in if you haven’t been a part of the group recently. Or if you have!

The Rummage Sale is Back!!!! And We Need Volunteers!!!!

We will need volunteers before, during, and after the sale. The actual sale date is February 10, 2024. There are jobs you can do from home, there are jobs where you will mingle with the public, there are jobs that you won’t have to talk to anyone, and there are jobs that will make you tired and/or get you dirty! So, there is something for everyone! Here are some ways you can help:

Before the sale:

• Being on the Rummage Sale Committee
• Advertising—Putting up signs, getting articles on Facebook, etc.
• Contacting organizations that will take our “leftovers”
• Organizing the treasures that come in
• Hanging clothes 
• Providing boxes, bags, and hangers
• Collecting your donations (no furniture, please)

During the sale:

• Walking the floor
• Re-organizing

After the sale:

• Packing up
• Providing a vehicle to take leftover treasures to designated places

If any of these jobs appeals to you, please let us know ASAP. We will start having organizational meetings in January. Thanks so much! Pam Dunn (909) 963-8305 Claudia Tolar (909) 725-1794 Kathie Blakley (909) 213-9469

Pilgrim Pines Winter Camp

Join us on the mountain for WINTER WONDER CAMP 2024! 

This will be a fun event with some of the Pines' favorite camp traditions and activities. Enjoy outdoor crafts, games, conversations, workshops, hikes, and other fun and meaningful activities with your camp friends!

This retreat is for middle school and high school campers. 

Winter Wonder Camp Theme

Resilient

February 17-19

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Everyone loves a good "comeback" story! Let's make it yours! At Winter Camp we will be looking at what it means to keep going even in the face of challenges. Life gets so hard, sometimes it can feel like you are being knocked down on all sides. Micah 7:8 says "Though I get knocked down, I get up again". Let's explore some tools to help us do just that and become more "Resilient"!

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RUCC kids receive at least 50% off their tuition for all Pilgrim Pines programs—in many cases more than that! Also, grandkids of RUCC members receive 25% off—even though the grandkids themselves don’t attend RUCC.

For more information about these scholarship opportunities, please contact [email protected] before you log on to the Pilgrim Pines website to make your reservation.

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

• January 14 - Book Group - Founders' Room - 12 p.m.
• January 14 - Shepherd Leaders Meeting - Garden Room - 12 noon
• January 15 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - Office closed
• January 16 - Personnel Committee - 4:30 p.m. in the Office
• January 16 - Board Meeting - Founders Room, 7 to 9 p.m.
• January 21 - Wider Ministries Area organizational meeting
• January 23 - "Munch & Muse" Brown Bag lunch - 11 a.m.
• January 28 - Annual Congregational Meeting in Covenant Hall, following the 10:30 Worship Service.
• February 10 - RUCC Rummage Sale & Electronics Recycling

The church calendar is found at redlandsucc.org

Click on "calendar" in the red banner near the top of the page