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THIS SUNDAY WE WELCOME BACK REV. JAKE
July 9, 2023 ~~ Sixth Sunday after Penecost ~~ “Stretching Our Welcome”
We are called to offer hospitality, even to those who do not thank us – with our friends and others we can often have a relationship that allows sharing the bill at dinner, or offering to drive, staying at one another’s homes, or exchanging gifts. In our faith, we are called to push outside of the confines of those who thank us, acknowledge us or care about us – to offer some kind of welcome and support, even if it is not reciprocal – because all of those who are strangers and/or less grateful are children of God. We are respecting God and acting in faith when we take our need for thanks out of the equation…
Our faith changes the way we are to value others – we are taught to work hard, save money, be responsible, take care of our health and to value appearance, education, and profession. The reference points for our faith are around hospitality, truth telling and sharing our resources – a very different set of values in relationships with others. This text asks where we are challenged by these different standards – what do we need to work through to see others as children of God instead of persons who have not met our society’s norms.
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Concerns:
- Prayers for the family, the members of this Congregation, and friends of Rev. Jill Kirchner Rose, who passed from life to Life late Friday night. We especially ask for God’s comforting presence and grace for Karen and Daniella. (7/1)
- Connie Mitchell asks for prayers for her uncle Chris Inglish who has serious health issues. (7/1)
- Val McGlasson asks for prayers for her sister who successfully had a malignant mass removed from her neck. (7/1)
- Prayers for Connie Mitchell who is scheduled for neck surgery in July. (7/1)
- Prayers for Pastor Elaine as she moves to Redlands next week. She will join us in the pews for worship on July 9 and her first Sunday as our Interim Pastor will be July 16. (6/28)
- Dick Ault asks for prayers for the friends and family of his niece who passed from life to Life this past week, and for his brother-in-law who is facing serious health concerns. (6/29)
- Cherie asks for prayers for her friend who has a serious leg infection and is awaiting positive news from the doctors. (6/29)
- Prayers for Georgia Sforza who is recovering from knee replacement surgery. (6/25)
- Patty Little asks for prayers for the family and friends of Christopher Brannon who passed from life to Life unexpectedly. (6/25)
- Prayers for the family and friends of Hank Kirchner, Pastor Jill's brother, who passed from life to Life. The family is grateful for all who included Hank in their prayers through each stage of his illnesses. (6/18)
- Savannah and Kat Ceballos request prayers for their move to Oregon as Savannah starts her law school journey at the University of Oregon. (6/18)
- Jayne Miller asks for prayers for her mother, Mary B. Rose, that her time in hospice allows a peaceful transition. (6/18)
- Sondra Hodson asks for prayers for Ken Weaver, the “birdhouse guy” from AFHS, who is experiencing serious health issues. (6/8)
- Prayers for Lori Michaels for upcoming back surgery. (6/4)
- Prayers for Stephen Arth as he recovers from successful Mohs surgery. (6/4)
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Traveling mercies for Carole Beswick as she recovers from knee surgery. (6/4)
- Prayers for Charlie Seek who is home from the hospital after being treated for a recurring infection. (5/28)
- Eliza Ames askes for prayers for her sister Diane and family; Diane's husband Glenn passed from life to Life very unexpectedly. (5/11)
- Prayers for Connie Mitchell as she copes with a foot injury as well as a painfully pinched nerve that caused shoulder and arm pain. (5/28)
- Prayers for Missy Blair Rucker’s mother Dorothy Blair as she recovers in a rehab facility from a broken hip after a fall. (5/4)
- Prayers for Sarah Breslaw and her family; her father is now in hospice care. (3/9)
- Ongoing prayers for Ian Naftzger undergoing cancer treatment.
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Jessica Lea asks for prayers for her friends Wilma and Carlos; Carlos has been diagnosed with lymphoma.
- Prayers for Janet Edwards, who is in the Plymouth Village Care Center following a fall with pelvic fractures.
- Prayers for Carla Becerril, who is on hospice and very much appreciates calls, visits, and notes.
- Prayers for Kathryn Gallagher, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
- Prayers for Cynthia McGuigan as she continues her health care journey.
- We continue to hold in our prayers the people of Ukraine.
Ongoing Concerns:
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Jerry Andrews
Scott Ault
Dave, brother of Johanna Ballard
Bev Ching
Cousin of Rick Cruz
Norma Erickson
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Katia Hage
Mary Lou Haney
Beki Hill
Jody Hoelle
Harriet Holt, Beki Hill's mother
Jenny, Sister of Jules Rattray
Amber McGuigan
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Floyd Orr
Ryan and Evan Paul
Jim Sommer
Spencer, friend of Stacey Greene
Robert Silver
Arika Torres
Rosemary Tuohy
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Starting July 15, Summer Series is now a Saturday brunch series!
The dates for this year's Summer Series are July 15, July 22, July 29, and August 5 (Please note the new August date) from 10:00 a.m. to Noon in Covenant Hall and on the Patio.
The theme is the same: Widening our Welcome. Each week will be devoted to an exploration of the following: Welcoming: All persons with Disabilities, All races and Cultures, All Genders, and All Worshipers.
This is a fully intergenerational activity--all ages are encouraged to attend. There will be games and activities for All! We will also have the sursery open for the very littlest ones
Please bring a delicious brunch dish to share! You can help minimize clean-up by bringing your own dishes, cups, and cutlery. We look forward to seeing you there.
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Reflection of the week from the Racial Justice Team
While the Patriots were ultimately victorious in the American Revolution, choosing sides and deciding whether to fight in the war was far from an easy choice for American colonists. The great majority were neutral or Loyalist. For black people, what mattered most was freedom. As the Revolutionary War spread through every region, those in bondage sided with whichever army promised them personal liberty. The British actively recruited slaves belonging to Patriot masters and, consequently, more blacks fought for the Crown. An estimated 100,000 African Americans escaped, died or were killed during the American Revolution.
Many African Americans, like Agrippa Hull and Prince Hall, did side with the Patriot cause. 5,000 black men served in the Continental Army, and hundreds more served on the sea.
Had George Washington been less ambivalent, more blacks might have participated on the Patriot side than with the Loyalists. When he took command of the Continental Army in 1775, Washington barred the further recruitment of black soldiers, despite the fact that they had fought side by side with their white counterparts at the battles of Lexington, Concord and Bunker Hill.
Source: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2narr4.html
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From the Environmental Justice Team
It’s a time-honored tradition to celebrate the 4th of July with fireworks, and there’s a lot to be said for the beauty and excitement of a well-orchestrated display. But there are also environmental costs associated with fireworks, especially here in Southern California. There’s the risk of fires, of course, but we also have to deal with the dirty air resulting from the explosions. In a move that should reduce the environmental impact of celebrations of the 4th, some communities have replaced fireworks with drone light shows. As an editorial in the L. A. Times says, “Call it the rise of the drones, Independence Day. While displays of unmanned aircraft painting colorful pictures in the sky might not deliver the same primal experience as bombs bursting in air, they also don’t leave us with dirty air, terrified dogs and scorched earth.””
Source: “Editorial: Rise of the Drones, Independence Day,” Los Angeles Times, 7/2/23: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-07-02/rise-of-the-drones-fourth-of-july-edition
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The Church will be closed Friday, July 14, for Carpet Cleaning.
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Nominations now being accepted for the Settled Pastor Search Committee
Our bylaws have instructions for calling a settled pastor, which start with the formation of a pastoral search committee. That committee is designated as having nine members, proposed by the church board, and formally elected by the congregation.
The board would like to involve the whole congregation in this process, similar to the way we did in 2014. If you feel that someone would make a good member of the committee, please nominate them for the board to consider. Here are some of the key things we'll be looking for in the committee:
Adequate time to commit: The committee will be able to dedicate the time needed to do the job right. When we called Jill in 2015 the committee had over 60 applicants to consider. In some ways the search process has gotten easier as most candidates will have online videos of prior services for the committee to watch, but it's still going to require a significant investment of time to consider all the candidates and come to consensus on which ones to interview and propose.
Diverse perspectives: The committee will be well-rounded, reflecting all the members and interests of the church.
Deep knowledge of RUCC and Redlands: The committee will have a solid understanding of how the church works, and how we interface with our neighbors in town.
Confidentiality: The committee will keep their discussions and process private. Many of the candidates will be serving another church currently and will expect confidentiality. The committee members also need to be able to speak candidly in their meetings without worrying about what they have to say getting back to a candidate or others outside the committee.
To nominate someone, please speak with them first to confirm their willingness to be nominated, then use this form to provide your suggestion to the board by July 31. The board will assemble a proposed committee in August, for a congregational vote at a special meeting on September 10.
Finally, a note about this role and Pastor Elaine, who starts with us on July 16 in a Designated Term Interim assignment, for a one-year period. Unlike an Intentional Interim assignment, the Designated Term designation allows Elaine to be a candidate for the settled pastor role if she wishes.
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Caring for Kin continues with Women of Faith
Thanks for your support of Youth Hope throughout the month of June!
In July, we will be collecting school supplies for Women of Faith, a local organization that assists refugee and immigrant families in resettling. In particular, Women of Faith need college-ruled notebooks and loose-leaf paper, watercolor markers, pink erasers, highlighters, and small pencil sharpeners.
In addition, Women of Faith are always collecting new and gently used household supplies. While we won't have room on our Caring for Kin cart for such items, if you have things from the attached list that you'd like to donate, please contact Jean Arnott at [email protected] to learn how you can donate household supplies.
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Raise Right - Gift Cards make shopping and fundraising easy
Bonuses – Some brands will offer higher than normal rebates periodically. You can always see the current bonuses in the RaiseRight shop at https://www.raiseright.com/shop. Current bonuses include Vons/Albertsons, Red Robin, AutoZone, Delta Airlines, and H&M.
New Brands – Just added:
Victoria’s Secret (5.5%)
Hanna Anderson (8%)
About RaiseRight: When you purchase gift cards through the RaiseRight program to pay for your day-to-day expenses or provide as gifts, RUCC receives a rebate that helps fund our missions. It’s an effortless way to raise some money for RUCC. Hundreds of retailers participate, including grocery stores, gas stations, home improvement stores, department stores, online retailers, and much more. Please contact Jennifer and Pam at [email protected] if you need an enrollment link, need help setting up/accessing your online account or placing an order, have any questions, or want to learn more about the program. This video will give you an overview of how to get started: https://youtu.be/c-v65F0xr2c
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Order Physical Gift Cards
Physical Gift cards ordered monthly
- Order by July 10 – available for pick up July 16
- Order by Aug 15 – available for pick up Aug 20
In Stock Now
We have a limited number of $100 and $25 Stater Bros. gift cards in stock! Come visit us at the table in Covenant Hall on Sundays after worship.
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UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER
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July 9 - Pastor Elaine will join us as a part of the congregation for the Sunday Service. Please take time to greet and welcome her during Fellowship Time after the service.
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July 10 - Church Growth Area Meeting - 7 p.m.
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July 11 - Stewards Meeting - 7 p.m.
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July 14 - The church will be CLOSED for carpet cleaning.
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July 15 - Summer Series begins - 10 a.m. to noon. - See article above.
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July 16 - Pastor Elaine joins us as our Interim Pastor.
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July 18 - Board Meeting - Virtual/Live hybrid - 7:00 p.m.
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July 22 - Summer Series - 10 a.m. to noon.
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July 29 - Summer Series - 10 a.m. to noon.
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August 5 - Concluding session of the Summer Series - 10 a.m. to noon.
The church calendar for July is found at uccredlands.org
Click on "calendar" in the red banner near the top of the page
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This Week at Redlands United Church of Christ | |
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Sunday, July 9
- 9:15 a.m. - Seekers
- 9:30 a.m. - Kids' Zone
- 10:30 a.m. - Worship Service
- 11:30 a.m. - Fellowship time
Monday, July 10
- Church Growth Area Meeting - 7 p.m
Tuesday, July 11
- Stewards meeting - 7 p.m.
Wednesday, July 12
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Thursday, July 13
Friday, July 14
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7 p.m. Closed women's AA meeting in the Founders' Room.
Saturday, July 15
- Summer Series brunch begins - 10 a.m. to noon. See article above
Sunday, July 16 - Rev. Elaine Schoepf begins as our Interim Pastor
- 9:15 a.m. - Seekers
- 9:30 a.m. - Kids' Zone
- 10:30 a.m. - Worship Service
- 11:30 a.m. - Fellowship time
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RUCC Staff
Beginning July 16,
Interim Paster: Rev. Elaine Schoepf
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 and Property Manager: Veronica Bermudez
Child Care: Joette Orman
Website: www.redlandsucc.org
Phone: (909) 793-3520
Staff and Other Emails
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