Our Mission: "We are an inclusive Open and Affirming faith community reaching out with love, compassion, and justice."
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Peter Tupou Is Preaching this Sunday |
March 20, Second Sunday of Lent ~ The Unproductive Fig Tree
This Sunday, we look at how this one tree can show us all we need to know about being productive. How we can hoard precious resources by only watering two days a week, how we can exploit labor to increase profits, and how we can climb those barren and brittle branches to the top! Or maybe Jesus meant something else?
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Sunday's Scripture
Luke 13: 1-9.
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March13 ~ Third Sunday of Lent |
Prelude: Do Not Fear, Do Not Be Afraid by James Michael Stevens Sophia Ohanian
Threshold Moment:...............................................Re v Rev. Erin Beardemphl
Opening Hymn: #476 - My Life Flows on in Endless Song (verses 1-4)
Opening Prayer:............................................................... ..................Nan Root
Childrens' Circle:........................................Susi Jacobsen & Mark Sternberger
Joys and Concerns:................................................................Erin.Beardemphl
Silent and Pastoral Prayer:.....................................................Erin Beardemphl
Prayer Response.......................................................................Covenant Choir
Scripture: Luke 13: 1-9. ......................................................................Nan Root
Special Music: God of the Sparrow by Craig Courtney.............Covenant Choir
Sophia Huang, Violin
Message: The Unproductive Fig Tree..............................................Peter Tupou
Offertory:.Vocalise by Sergei Rachmaninoff.................. Sophia Huang, violin & .........................................................................................Sophia Ohanian, piano
Doxology:.................................................................................,Sophia Ohanian
Prayer of Dedication...........................................................................Nan Root
Closing Hymn: # 295 Forty Days and Forty Nights
Benediction: ...................................................................................Peter Tupou
Time of Reflection: Don’t Let Go by Jeremy Christensen
Dan Abushanab. Loring Fiske-Phillips and Peter Tupou
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Concerns:
- Eliza Ames requests prayers for Jennifer, Nicole, and Brody who are struggling with a changing reality.
- Floyd Orr requests prayers for Zelda Faye Smith who is facing health challenges.
- Caroline McAllister requests prayers for Mark.
- Prayers for Heather Abushanab who has experienced the sudden onset of swelling and pain in her knees.
- John Michael Rudik is recovering at home from pneumonia.
- Prayers for the family of Maggie, mother of Beth Welsh, who passed from life to Life.
- Prayers for the mother of Dawne Simmons who is recovering from surgery on her vocal cords.
- We continue to hold in our prayers the people of Ukraine.
- Prayers for Karen Walsh whose brother, Greg, passed from life to Life..
- Prayers for Dick Ault who broke his femur and is at Redlands Health Center.
- Rosemary Tuohy requests prayers for her neighbor, Lorenzo and his family. Lorenzo’s house burned down this past week.
- Prayers for Inez Diggs who grieves the loss of her dear friend, Ann
- Sue Hammond requests prayers for her sister-in-law, Linda, who will begin her bone marrow transplant for multiple myeloma cancer.
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Prayers for Cid Breyer who fell and broke her femur in several places. She would welcome calls and cards! You may send cards to her home.
- Jennifer Brainerd requests prayers for her father, Gary, who is in the hospital with extreme confusion and agitation. Cause unknown.
- Kenneth Lee requests prayers for his mother, Melinda, who has had complications following surgery.
- Debra Van Engelen and Mark Janz request prayers for grandson, Johnathan, who is in the army stationed in Germany during this time of Russian build-up outside Ukraine.
- Prayers for Maegan Hill who faces challenges with MS.
- Prayers for Cynthia McGuigan who faces complications with her chemotherapy treatments. Cynthia and medical staff are determining next steps.
- Jolene Barrow requests prayers for her mother, Karen Barrow, who has been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and is in significant pain.
- Rosemary Tuohy requests prayers for her friend Holly, who is recovering from surgery.
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Prayers for Eleanor Kemp who broke her hip and is recuperating at Mission Commons.
- Cid Breyer requests prayers for her sister in law, Karen, who is going through chemo and radiation for blood / bone cancer.
- Prayers for Carole Beswick who is recovering from partial knee replacement surgery.
- Prayers for Marcia Taack who is recovering from knee replacement surgery and has been diagnosed with cellulitis.
- 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.
- Prayers for Bob Sheets who is recovering from eye surgery.
- Prayers for Eber, brother of Lara Urrutia, who is undergoing tests for a mass in his neck.
- Prayers for Lisa, friend of Beth Welsh, who is recovering from emergency surgery.
- Johanna Ballard requests healing prayers for her dear friend, Lana.
- Prayers for Burt, family member of Johanna Ballard, who is facing severe health challenges.
- 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
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Norma Erickson
Michael Flores
Betty Gayle
Emma Grimauld
Katia Hage
Beki Hill
Jody Hoelle
Harriet Holt, Beki Hill's mother
Mark Alan Johnson, friend of Nancy Hotaling
Susi Jacobsen
Kim Johnson, friend of Gretchen Andrews
Jenny, Sister of Jules Rattray
Emily Jones
Hank Kirchner
Amber McGuigan
Sara Montez
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Bill McIntyre
Maria Montano
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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On February 24, the Russian military attacked Ukraine. Hundreds of thousands of persons have already sought refuge outside of Ukraine. Others have remained in the country but are displaced from their homes. The humanitarian crisis is accelerating in Ukraine and in neighboring countries as the violence escalates and the number of people on the move multiplies. The United Church of Christ is appealing for support for refugees and for elderly and other vulnerable people who are displaced within Ukraine and unable to leave. If you would like to provide financial assistance you can write a check to “Redlands United Church of Christ” and write in the memo, “Ukraine relief.” Or you can give through your Realm account under “Ukraine relief.” All financial donations collected will be sent to help Ukraine refugees. |
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LENT EVENTS
at Redlands United Church of Christ
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Mid-week Lenten Study Wednesday, March 23
Lenten Series: this Wednesday March 23 at 6PM. You can join us in one of two ways:
- In Person in Covenant Hall! We will gather for a soup supper at 6 p.m. and we will begin our study together at 7 p.m. Kids program will also be provided!
- For those unable to meet in person, we will be offering an online meeting from 6 p.m.-6:45 p,m,. Zoom link attached.
Our leader this week is Loring Fiske-Phillips who will be leading us in a discussion of the mystic Hildegard of Bingen.
We are using the book The Mystic in You by Bruce Epperly as the basis for our Lenten Series this year. If you would like to borrow a copy of this book, contact [email protected]. However, reading ahead of time is not a prerequisite to attending the meeting on Wednesday.
We look forward to seeing you in person or on Zoom this Wednesday the 23rd at 6 p.m.
Redlands United Church of Christ invites you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
We try to limit our use of plastics and one-use items, so if you can bring your own soup bowl, cup, spoon, and any other utensils for supper, that would be great.
Maundy Thursday - April 14
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Seder Dinner - there are tentataive plans for a traditional Seder Dinner. Watch this section of The View for more details to come.
Good Friday - April 15
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Community Good Friday Service - Details to be announced.
Saturday, April 16
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Easter Eggstravaganza with fun, activities, and an Easter Egg hunt! See article for sign-up information. All are welcome, but we want to ensure that we have enough supplies.
Easter Sunday - April 17
- Gala Easter Service with Trumpets and Brass. Its also it's just not Easter without a lavish display of Easter lilies. Watch this space for ordering information so you can contribute to the Lily display, and then take "your" lily or lilies home to enjoy.
- We will also follow the RUCC tradition of bringing flowers from our own gardens to decorate the altar Easter morning.
- Easter Sunday Egg Hunt will take place in the garden for kids in grade 6 and under. Youth in grades 6 and older will have their traditional Scavenger Hunt.
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Mid-Week Lenten Study is for the Kids, Too |
Children are included in each mid-week study: We will all gather together with our families and friends for supper and fellowship time in the beginning of the evening. At 7 we will move into the Sparrow classroom and spend some time together learning about Mystics, their spiritual practices, and the ways in which we can incorporate their wisdom into our daily lives.
This week’s topic: A String and a Prayer. We will learn about the spiritual practice of prayer beads and we will create a prayer bead string to take home with us.
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Reflection of the Week from the Racial Justice Team |
“Humankind must put an end to war or war will put an end to humankind.”
- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., (inclusive language substituted)
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From the Environmental Justice Team |
Environmental justice in the California legislature:
According to Sammy Roth, who writes the L.A. Times newsletter on environmental issues, The Boiling Point, there are a (very) large number of upcoming environmental justice bills in the California legislature. Here are some interesting bills focusing on the resource extraction involved in the transition to cleaner energy for transportation. If you wish to contact your state legislators about these or other environmental justice issues, you may find them at http://www.legislature.ca.gov/your_legislator.html)
“AB 2851, AB 2887, AB 2903 and AB 2929: All four bills deal with lithium and geothermal energy production at the southern end of the Salton Sea, in California’s Imperial Valley — a topic [Roth has] covered extensively. While the bills still need to be filled out with details, their goal is to ensure that low-income Imperial Valley residents see real benefits from lithium extraction. Imperial County supervisors, for their part, want to see a four-year university campus to train local engineers and chemists. This issue was also discussed by President Biden this week at a White House event on critical minerals, as my colleague Anumita Kaur reports.”
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Actions of the Church Board at March 15 Meeting |
1. The Board approved the hiring of Giulia Bratison as our choir intern. Welcome, Giulia!
2. The Board will be meeting for their retreat 3/19/22. They'll be discussing goals for this year.
3. Valet parking on Sunday morning is being fine-tuned.
4. Our next quarterly gathering is Sunday April 24, 2022. Please come and hear about the progress of the Organ Committee, which is a subcommittee of our Worship Area. Also learn about what the Sabbatical Planning Committee has in the works for when Jill is on sabbatical this summer. And, as always, you'll hear our financial report and reports from our seven Area leaders.
If you have any questions about the work of our Board, please talk with Larry Rose, who is our Board's member-at-large, or any of our Board members.
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Valet Parking Service Available |
Valet parking service is now available on Sunday mornings for those who find it difficult to park in the parking lot and make the walk up the hill to the Sanctuary doors. One of the greeters is acting as a valet. Pull up in the circular driveway and the valet will take your keys and park your car for you. If you plan on using the valet service, please park on the left side of the drive and give your keys to the valet. If you have questions, please contact Sue Wallace, chairperson of Church Growth.
If you want to drop off someone or something in the circular drive, please do not park in front of the curbless area in front of the Sanctuary doors. That is the only location where people who use wheelchairs or walkers can access the doors to the narthex. Please pull forward and park temporarily or park behind that curbless area temporarily to drop off something. If you are dropping off a person who is using a wheelchair or walker, pull to the left side of the drive across from thecurbless area so they can cross the circular drive and use the curbless area without blocking it. .
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Mark your calendars for our second discussion session of the 1619 Project on Monday, April 11
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The next 1619 Project discussion session will be Monday, April 11 at 5 p.m. online.
We will discuss the preface and the first chapter, titled “Democracy; Sue Hammond will be the leader.
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Silent Retreat - May 12-15 |
Each year a group from RUCC participates in a weekend-long silent retreat. Silent retreats help us to slow down, enjoy nature, and listen to the wisdom of the Divine. This year our silent retreat will take place in Los Altos.
When: May 12 – 15
Cost: $495 for three nights with your personal bedroom, personal bathroom, and 3 meals a day.
RUCC has reserved 12 spaces for this Silent Retreat. If you are interested in attending or have questions, please contact Pastor Jill, [email protected]. Scholarships are available.
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Welcoming a Special Guest: YouTube and Instagram Star Shannon Downey! |
On Sunday, April 3 at 12:30 p.m. we will welcome Shannon Downey, who is a You Tube and Instagram Star and a “Craftivist” and is better know as “Badass Cross Stitch.” A self-described Queer Art Activist, Shannon will share with us some of her recent experiences traveling the country spreading her art and her “craftivism.” She will teach us about Craftivism and lead us in creating our own embroidery-based Craftivist art project.
We will meet in the Founders' Room (Shannon will be Virtual, we will be in person!)
Please rsvp to [email protected] by Sunday March 27 if you would like to attend so that we can make sure to have enough supplies on hand. Don’t miss this fun, energizing event! For more information about Shannon and her movement, take a look at this short video:
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Your generous gift to One Great Hour of Sharing – United Church of Christ enables our church and our worldwide partners to make a difference in the lives and communities around the world. Together, we are responding to disasters, supporting sustainable farming, education, and health initiatives, as well as pitching in to assist people fleeing violence from their home communities.
OGHS will be received the fourth Sunday of Lent (March 27) and come prepared to be as generous as you are able.
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Save the Date: RUCC Eggstravaganza April 16 10 a.m.-noon |
Don’t miss this year’s Eggstravaganza—a long standing RUCC tradition filled with lots of fun and games.
We have lots of plans in place: games, Easter cookie decorating, and of course, an Easter egg hunt!
Got CANDY?
The RUCC bunny needs individually wrapped Easter candies. Please take the candy to the kitchen.
Follow this link to pre-register:
The event is FREE, but please register so that we are sure to have enough supplies.
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Beginning Tai Chi Starts Thursday, April 7 |
Are you interested in learning the basic movements and benefits of Tai Chi? Pam Dunn will teach a beginner Tai Chi class for church members in Covenant Hall on Thursdays, 6:00-7:00 p.m. from April 7-June 9. Please text Pam at (909) 963-8305 or e-mail at [email protected] if you are interested or want additional information.
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Rummage Sale - April 30th |
The RUCC Rummage Sale is back! The date is April 30. Please start saving your treasures at home. We will collect them at the church the last week of April. No furniture, please, but we will have a truck taking e-waste. If you would like to be a part of our Rummage Sale crew, let Kathie Blakley, Claudia Tolar or Pam Dunn know. |
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UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER |
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March 19 - Board Retreat
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March 23 - Midweek Lenten Study
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March 27 - One Great Hour of Sharing - Special Mission Offering
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March 30 - Midweek Lenten Study
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April 6 - Midweek Lenten Study
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April 7 - Beginning Tai Chi class starts
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April 10 - Palm Sunday
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April 13 - Midweek Lenten Study
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April 11 - Second discussion session of The 1619 Project
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April 16 - Eggstravaganza - See article above for details
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April 17 - Easter Sunday
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April 24 - Quarterly Gathering
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April 30 - Rummage Sale
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May 12 - 15 - Silent Retreat at the Jesuit Retreat Center in Los Altos, CA
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June 10 - 11 - SCNC Annual Gathering
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Sunday, March 20
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9:15 a.m. Seekers
- 9:30 a.m. Virtual -Sunday School
- 10:30 a.m. Worship Service & Sunday School
- 11:30 a.m. Youth Group
- 11:30 a.m. Fellowship on the Patio
- 12 p.m. Maj Jongg on Sundays
Monday, March 21
Tuesday, March 22
Wednesday, March 23
- 6:00 p.m. Mid-week lenten study. See all details above. Both in-person and on Zoom. Special section for the children
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Thursday March 24
Friday, March 25
- 7 p.m. Closed women's AA meeting in the Founders' Room.
Saturday March 26
Sunday, March 27
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9:15 a.m. Seekers
- 9:30 a.m. Virtual -Sunday School
- 10:30 a.m. Worship Service & Sunday School. We will receive the special offering for One Great Hour of Sharing
- 11:30 a.m. Youth Group
- 11:30 a.m. Fellowship on the Patio
- 12 p.m. Maj Jongg on Sundays
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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 and Facilities Manager: Karen Hester
Child Care: Joette Orman
Phone: (909) 793-3520
Staff and Other Emails
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