A message from our Pastor and Teacher

Transfiguration Sunday, February 11 ~ "Bedazzled, Bewildered, and Blessed"

How do we handle unexpected change? Are we brave enough to ride the waves that the tides bring? Might we, like the three with Jesus on the mountain, need a blessing of assurance that God is still with us when we don't like the direction we must travel? Come and receive a blessing as we prepare to enter Lent.

Sunday's Scripture:

Mark 9: 2-10

CARING FOR KIN - Souper Bowl

Sunday, February 11^th

Sunday, February 11th is the last day to "vote" for your favorite Super Bowl team:

           Kansas City Chiefs ...... all varieties of soup

        San Francisco 49ers ...... rice-a-roni and other rice products

Our hungry kin will be very thankful for your generosity.

UPDATE FROM THE PASTORAL SEARCH COMMITTEE

We’re happy to report that the Search Committee is moving toward the next significant step in our process. Some strong candidates have surfaced, and we will be arranging video conference interviews for us to get to know them, and for them to learn more about RUCC. We will continue to review profiles as they come in but thought it would be good to start this next phase now. 

Please know that candidates are attracted to RUCC because we’re such a strong and vibrant community. So our Committee's work is made easier because of all that you have contributed to RUCC. We ask for your prayers (and patience) as we continue on this important journey.

Members of the Search Committee include Sophia Beardemphl, Loring Fiske-Phillips, Keith Osajima (Chair), Samantha Sanchez-French, Dee Dee Seek, Diana Steele-Jones, Minori Tsukimoto, John Walsh, and Janet Wilson.

Special Book Club event on March 3

On March 3rd at noon, all are invited to join the RUCC Book Group as we welcome Inlandia author Ellen Estilai as she leads a discussion about her memoir, Exit Prohibited.

So you can read it in advance, Judith Turian will be selling copies for $15.00, below Inlandia’s cost. Exit Prohibited is also available in Kindle format through Amazon.

Ash Wednesday Service at RUCC February 14, at 7 p.m.

Music by Rhymes with Orange, reading of scripture, offering of prayers and the marking the forehead or hands with Ashes – We will offer traditional palm ashes as well as Glitter Ashes honoring the eternal and gritty hope of our faith, (which, like glitter, never disappears) and our love and support for the LGBTQIA communities and all who face rejection in the world, and welcome in our Beloved community.

ASHES TO GO - downtown Redlands from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Ash Wednesday Feb. 14, clergy from eight Redlands churches will be on street corners on State Street between Orange Street and Redlands Boulevard to bless passers-by with the mark of ashes (Pastor Elaine will offer Glitter Ashes as a witness to our Open and Affirming Faith). Clergy will also pray with anyone who requests prayer. “Ashes to Go” is part of an ecumenical attempt to promote Lent and Holy Week that concludes with Easter Sunday on March 31st at the participating churches. An ecumenical Good Friday service will be offered at 7 p.m. March 30 at First Presbyterian Church, 100 Cajon St.

Seekers Adult Study Group Sunday at 9:20 a.m.

Due to an email address error, information about the Seekers' new book study was not reported in last week's View. The group just began reading The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life last Sunday. The book lays out how we can learn to integrate ethical living to achieve personal happiness and a happier life.

Seekers gather at about 9:20 for a brief social time, and the discussion begins at 9:30 on Sunday mornings in Founders Room.

RUCC Dinners for 8ish 2024

Have you been coming to Redlands United Church of Christ for a while but feel like you still only know a handful of people? Are you looking to make new friends and deepen existing friendships at RUCC this year?

RUCC Dinners for 8ish is back after a successful launch last year. Participants will share four meals over the course of a year. Your “set” will coordinate one meal and you’ll attend three meals coordinated by others, each time with three different sets of people. You’ll end up having a meal with a total of twelve sets of people.



If you are interested in participating in RUCC Dinners for 8ish 2024, please scan the QR code or click here to sign up and we will be in touch in the coming weeks. If you have any questions, please send an email to [email protected] or contact Minori Tsukimoto at 585-808-5006.

Please sign up by February 9th

This vacancy at RUCC needs to be filled!

This may be only a part-time position, but it is 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 RUCC Personnel Committee

From the Environmental Justice Team

128 years ago, Högbom and Arrhenius came up with an estimate of the warming effects of a doubling of the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) that agrees well with modern estimates. We’ve known about this problem for a long time - it's long past time to get serious about it.

Source: Randall Munroe, “Greenhouse Effect” XKCD (online comic):

https://xkcd.com/2889/

Racial Justice reflection of the week

“Artists are the gatekeepers of truth. We are civilization’s radical voice.”

    – Paul Robeson (1898-1976) Concert artist, actor, athlete and activist

Source: https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/initiatives/black-history-month-2024

New Worship Bags now available for children

We have new Worship Bags for kids to use during worship time! Many thanks to Kathie Blakely, who acquired these new bags and all the wonderful new books and fun items to go inside them!

There are suggested age groups for each color bag, but it’s just a suggestion! Enjoy the bags and please remember to put them back in the Gathering Area when you’re done.

Chapman University’s 40th Annual Founders Day - Saturday, March 9

Chapman University will hold its 40^th Annual Founders Day, Saturday, March 9, 2024. We are pleased to bring to campus prolific writer and acclaimed speaker Diana Butler Bass, Ph.D. She is an award-winning author, popular speaker, inspiring preacher, and one of America’s most trusted commentators on religion and contemporary spirituality. The theme of her morning presentation will be GRATITUDE, helping us translate gratitude into a deeper spiritual practice than simply feeling thankful. The afternoon worship will also feature Dr. Bass’s preaching, Disciples on Campus students and the excellent Chapman University Singers. The day will end with a Disciples on Campus alumni party.

Online registration can be found at www.chapman.edu/founders-day. Questions or needing assistance with online registration? Please call University Tickets at (714) 997-6812. For all other Founders Day questions please contact the Office of Church Relations at (714) 997-6760.

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

• February 10 - RUCC Rummage Sale & Electronics Recycling
• February 13 - Stewards meeting 7:00 p.m.
• February 14 - Ash Wednesday "Ashes to Go" 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. See article above for details & location
• February 14 - Ash Wednesday Service at RUCC at 7:00 p.m. More details in article above
• February 18 - Memorial service for Carla Beceril - 1:30 p.m. at RUCC
• February 20 - Board meeting - 7:00 p.m.
• February 25 - Wider Ministries Area meeting at 12:00 p.m. - Founders' Room
• March 3 - Book group - Noon - Founders' Room - see article above
• March 9 - RUCC Founders day featuring Diana Butler Bass. See article above
• March 10 - Super Shepherd Sunday

The church calendar is found at redlandsucc.org

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