A message from our Pastor and Teacher

May 26, 2024 ~ Trinity Sunday/First Sunday after Pentecost ~ "Omnes Pro Uno"

Our God is the Gatherer, who calls us into community with others, to love and work, support and heal.

Our God is the Gatherer who calls us into community with all people, to bring justice and hope, freedom and truth. Our God is the Gatherer who calls us into community with the whole of creation, to live in harmony, to cherish, and renew.

Editor's note: Pastor Elaine was unanimously accepted as settled pastor at The Christian Church of Pacific Grove, California, just a few blocks from Monterey's Cannery Row. We send congratulations to her and prayers for her successful transition and new ministry. 

Sunday's Scriptures:

 Jeremiah 31:10

Pilgrim Pines Camperships available

RUCC has a generous Campership policy: all RUCC members automatically receive 50% off their tuition at Pilgrim Pines! 

The first session of the summer begins June 30, so use the button below to learn about all the programs scheduled at Pilgrim Pines this summer. Do it NOW. Don’t miss the chance to enjoy summer camp at Pilgrim Pines this summer!

Also: it is very important that you contact admorics@redlandsucc.org before registering your child on the Pilgrim Pines website: we need to complete the campership paperwork here before you register with Pilgrim Pines.

Caring for Kin - Peppermint Ridge

For the rest of May, Caring for Kin will continue collecting for Peppermint Ridge, including new or gently-used kitchen utensils and appliances as well as new linens such as sheets for twin or double beds, and kitchen and bath towels.

Looking ahead to June, Youth Hope recently put out a call for groceries on social media. Let's help restock their pantry shelves with items such as cereal, granola bars, canned goods, macaroni and cheese, crackers, and peanut butter and jelly!

Start reading now! Next Book Group meeting is June 2

The current book selection for the RUCC Book Group is Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan.

The book discussion will be after church at noon on Sunday, June 2, in Founders Room, and the discussion leader will be Toni Momberger. Everyone is welcome to join.

Click here for the book group schedule for the rest of 2024

Racial Justice reflection of the week

Alfredo Gutierrez is one of the most influential Latino leaders in Arizona. The 78-year-old has been recognized for a lifetime in public service. He was an Army private in Vietnam then a civil rights activist and state lawmaker. In the 1970 and 80s, he served as Arizona Senate majority leader. 

But one accomplishment had eluded Gutierrez all these years: a college degree. He was kicked out of Arizona State University in 1968 for leading student protests on campus.

Gutierrez kept his lack of a degree mostly to himself over the years, even as he encouraged young people to go to college and fought to increase college pathways for disadvantaged students. Now Gutierrez can finally say he, too, is a college graduate. He graduated with a bachelor of liberal arts last week from ASU's College of Integrative Sciences and Arts.

Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/05/11/alfredo-gutierrez-graduates-after-1968-college-protests/73613424007/

From the Environmental Justice Team

“With record construction of solar and wind in 2023, a new era of falling fossil generation is imminent,” the London, U.K.-based think tank [Ember] writes in a report [released May 8]. Renewable energy growth is “breaking records and driving ever-cleaner electricity production,” bringing the world to “a turning point where solar and wind not only slow emissions growth, but actually start to push fossil generation into decline.” … Consistent with other recent analysis, the Ember report shows renewable energy surging from 19% of global electricity supply in 2000 to 30% in 2023, powered mainly by an increase from 0.2 to 13.4% for solar and wind. 

Source: “’Turning point in energy history’ as solar, wind start pushing fossil fuels off the grid,” Beer, Mitchell, Yale Climate Connections, 5/16/2024: https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2024/05/turning-point-in-energy-history-as-solar-wind-start-pushing-fossil-fuels-off-the-grid/

Wider Ministries Report from May 19

The Wider Ministries 2nd Quarter meeting was held Sunday, May 19, after church and the following church donations were approved: Angel’s Closet $800, Youth Hope $800, Women of Faith $800, Guide Dogs of the Desert $800, Carol’s Kitchen $500.

Patty Little was approved as our second church representative to the Southern California Nevada Conference of the UCC, and her name has been submitted, along with that of John Walsh, to the RUCC Board for approval.

Please mark Sept.15 on your calendars for the 3rd Quarter Wider Ministries meeting.

Southern California Nevada Conference Annual Gathering, June 7 & 8

Use this link to register for Annual Gathering.

This will be the first opportunity to welcome in person Rev. Rachael Pryor, the newly elected Conference Minister. Rev. Traci Blackmon will be the keynote speaker on Friday afternoon and will preach the closing worship service on Saturday. Rev. Blackmon served in the national UCC as the Associate General Minister for Justice and Local Church Ministries.

Please note there is no walk-in registration the day of the meeting.

The cost for this two-day gathering is $175 which includes lunch and dinner on Friday, and breakfast and lunch on Saturday. 

All Annual Gathering information (schedules, workshops, speakers, etc.) is posted on the website. Click here for more information. Registration closes May 31 at 4:00 p.m.

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

• May 26 - Kick off the Summer with Rhymes with Orange. (see article above)
• May 27 - Church office will be closed for the holiday
• June 1 - Sacred Saturday and E-waste Collection
• June 2 - Music Sunday! Book Club after church. (see article above)
• June 7-8 - Southern California Nevada Conference of the UCC Annual Gathering at Chapman University and online
• June 23 - 27 - Western Regional Youth Event

The church calendar is found at redlandsucc.org

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