Special Edition
Quarterly Update From the Board
Monday, April 28, 2025
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RUCC Quarterly Gathering, print-style
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Dear church family,
With so many extra church services and events in recent weeks, the board felt like the calendar was too crowded to hold our typical quarterly gathering for the first quarter. Instead, we provide this written review of the state of the church and progress on our goals for this year.
The short summary - we are doing great! We continue to see new people coming through our doors, drawn to this place that's "rooted in love, and striving for justice." We have a long tradition of accepting people as they are, and of advocacy for the marginalized. Now, more than ever, Redlands needs a place like RUCC, and we who provide it are grateful to have the opportunity to do so.
We continue to be financially healthy, blessed by giving and funds from building use that allow us to pay our staff fairly and maintain our property.
Finally, we're getting stuff done! Read on to hear about the good work being done in each of the seven areas of the church as laid out in our bylaws.
With gratitude,
Dan Abushanab, Board President
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From Rev. Joe
I will let the various area reports speak to how vibrant and full our church life is together. I’m very proud of the work the lay leadership of this church is doing, and the energy that is in church life right now.
Instead, I want to take this space to thank everyone for the outpouring of support Sara and I have received so far, and the way we are feeling intensely supported by RUCC. It wasn’t easy to postpone the installation again, but I have experienced only unwavering support and kindness from this church.
We have been experiencing challenges as a family, and my father-in-law’s recent hospitalization and release to home hospice has been especially hard given the distance. Given that this is an extended hospice, Sara now plans to travel Mother’s Day weekend to see her parents. The kids and I plan to go as soon as school lets out, but everything feels like a moving target these days.
I appreciate the love and grace shown to us. I will be continuing my pastoral duties to the best of my ability and appreciate the understanding.
Blessings,
Rev. Joe
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As a community centered in faith, RUCC has begun the year with many opportunities for worshipping together. Each of those services take hours of planning, prepping and coordinating. The Worship Area, along with Rev. Joe, David, Sophia and the entire staff, have all worked together to provide meaningful spaces and times for worship. We are thankful for all the heart, thought and love that are given for each one!
Along with the seasonal and regular worship services, the worship area has been busy in other ways. We have written several documents that will be available soon to everyone outlining the responsibilities for each of the lay leaders' roles in worship. We also held a training for each of those positions – Greeters, Ushers, Worship Leaders and Children's Circle presenters. More than 30 people attended. Sacred Saturdays continue each first Saturday of the month.
We also blessed Prayer Shawls that were created by a new ministry called "Threads of Love". Many of the shawls we blessed as a part of worship were created and donated by San Bernardino UCC and we are grateful.
It is said, “A picture is worth 1,000 words” – here’s a 10,000+ word report on worship at RUCC!
Respectfully submitted,
Barbie Fiske-Phillips, Worship Area Leader
| | Lent began on Ash Wednesday with a contemplative service. | Seder & Tenebrae Service on Maundy Thursday. | Good Friday: Sanctuary open for prayer and contemplation. | The return of Easter Sunrise Service. | | The choir looking almost as good as they sound! | Rev. Joe presiding at communion. | Blessing the Prayer Shawls. | | |
Welcoming & Incorporating Visitors
Church Growth coordinates greeters and manages name tags for members and guests. Recent Sunday greeters have included Caroline McAllister, Cid Breyer, Ann Davis-Schultz, Lisa Dewey, Michael Dewey, Kerry Dunn, Pam Dunn, Mark Janz, Kim Lara-Kane, Mary Melcher, Bob Schultz, Dawne Simmons, Debra Van Engelen, John Walsh, and Karen Walsh. Our name tag process has been streamlined with a promise of new name tags on the first Sunday of the month. The first Sunday is also when stickers are available to personalize one’s name tag.
“Pizza With the Pastor” is our church’s orientation and membership class. On February 16, 2025, we hosted nearly 20 people for pizza and learning more about church membership. We are looking at the calendar for an open Sunday for the next “Pizza With the Pastor” event.
Communication, Publicity, and Media
We reviewed the existing connection card and Loring Fiske-Phillips finalized a simplified one-sided card that is now in the pews.
The list of administrators for our Facebook group, “RUCC Members and Friends,” was updated. If you are on Facebook, you are encouraged to join the group and post there. Please avoid posts on the Members and Friends group that advocate for or against political candidates, as RUCC’s tax-exempt status forbids involvement in partisan politics. We also added language to comply with our Board’s policy that fundraisers at church, including those publicized on the Facebook page, require pre-approval by the Board.
Church Growth has recently been given the task of creating banners that can be posted at church to invite the public to events. Through discussions with the City of Redlands, the board got answers to questions about what we can display while still complying with the city sign code.
We are a small group of people. Carol Robb and Loring Fiske-Phillips edit The View. Loring also administers the redlandsucc.org web page and social media. We rely on Larry Rose for professional photographs. Other Church Growth members are Mary Fung, Dan Wacks, and Karen Walsh. We meet on the first Monday of the month at 4:00 p.m. in whatever room is available at church. The next meeting is May 5, 2025. We will plan “Pizza With the Pastor” and make decisions about banners for the church.
Please join us if you are interested!
Michael Dewey, Church Growth Area Leader
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Hospitality has had a great Q1 and finished with a beautiful Seder meal and Easter brunch!
The focus moving forward will be to put some much needed love into the kitchen to ensure all equipment is functioning properly, food safety is a priority, and items in need of replacement are thoughtfully considered.
Equipment that will be replaced include the dishwasher and garbage disposal. The swing of the door closest to the sanctuary will be changed to ensure the safety of someone doing dishes, and we will repair all of the faucets in the kitchen that are currently not working.
We are very excited to have a complete kitchen that can be utilized for larger church events.
Fellowship hour has been abundant to say the least and we are so very blessed to have multiple members of our congregation willing to help in all areas. Many have asked how to sign up to bring food or help with set up and clean up. We will be sending out a digital sign up sheet to the congregation soon. If you would like to sign up sooner, please send me an email kim@redlandsucc.org or we can have a chat at church. Hospitality will need help with our 50th Celebration, so if you would like to lend a hand please let me know.
| | The Seder meal and service were tasty and meaningful! Diane and Kim click in the kitchen. | | Hospitality outdid themselves for the Easter Brunch! | | Dinners for 8ish is in full swing. | | |
We have had many wonderful kids and youth activities this year!
- Morning in the Garden—fun in the great outdoors in the RUCC garden and patio on January 18.
- Valentine's Day Kids' Night In—Ratatouille plus make-your-own-pizza.
- Eggstravaganza—our annual Easter party. Dyeing eggs, Bingo and more!
- Easter Sunday festivities—after church we had our annual egg hunt plus a special activity for the Youth Group!
- April 25—field trip to see our own Celeste Ellison as the Wicked Witch in the Riverside Children's Theater production of The Wizard of Oz.
Our adult education offerings:
- Lenten Series 2025 — every Wednesday evening during Lent we shared a soup supper, followed by an educational program "Dialogues on the Refugee Crisis."
- Continuing every Monday evening — RUCC Bible Study from 7-8:30 p.m. During Lent we studied the events of Holy Week in the Gospel of Mark, using the Borg and Crossan book The Last Week as our guide.
- RUCC Youth and Middle Adult Group (YMA!) — this fun new group held its 2nd meeting this year, at Redlands Public Market.
- Seekers (adult Sunday School) continues every Sunday morning in the Founders Room beginning at 9:15. (This is a book-group style Sunday School, all are welcome!)
- RUCC Book Group continues to meet monthly (contact Kathie Blakley for more information.)
New and Noteworthy this year:
- Kids' Zone/Early Care starts each Sunday morning at 9:15—anyone who wants to attend Seekers Sunday School or Covenant Choir Sunday morning rehearsal is welcome to drop their kids off in the Nursery/Kids' Zone Classroom during this time.
- Our wonderful choir director, David Wells, has been leading the kids in a fun Music Exploration time during Sunday School on the first Sunday of each month. (Communion Sunday)
Mark your calendars:
- May 10 at 5PM: RUCC trip to the Redlands Y Circus. Our own Cai Sternberg and Daniella Kirchner-Rose will be performing again this year! Contact al_education@redlandsucc.org if you'd like to join us.
- May 12: Bible Study begins a new book! If you've been thinking of joining Bible Study, this would be a perfect date to drop in! If you want to help us pick our new course of study, join us on April 28 and bring your suggestions!
Andrea Morics & Jules Rattray, Education Area Co-Leaders
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Take a walk around our grounds and find yourself smiling!
Our gardeners have been busy clearing up debris and trimming trees. Low hanging branches have been removed for safety. Individual trees and plants are more defined and showing off their colors. The Community Garden is being monitored by Gretchen Andrews and Jolene Barrow. Several plots are being used. Spring has sprung at RUCC!
General maintenance continues to happen behind the scenes...fire and roof inspections, electrical and plumbing repairs. Thank you to those who have responded to our "Odd Job" requests in The View. Many hands make light work. Some very visible improvements will take place in the near future... the sails on the back patio will be cleaned in time for the 50th Celebration and watch for a "mini" renovation in the kitchen.
Our buildings and grounds are being used more and more by both church members and outside groups. This reflects the beauty of our facilities, the welcoming of our staff and church members, and the diligence of the Stewards team.
Pam Dunn, Stewards Area Leader
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Wider Ministries held a Social Justice &Witness Workshop, led by Joe, on Saturday, March 22. The workshop provided an opportunity for participants to envision what could be accomplished in the areas of social justice and witness, and specific ways that RUCC can work together to accomplish this. Many ideas were generated for the group to continue working on, and these are in various planning stages. Two focus areas emerged: Immigration and Mission Trips. Joe will help Wider Ministries follow up on these. We also plan to continue communications in this area with features in The View and creating a rapid Response email group.
Caring for Kin donations in April went to Hannah's House of Hope which is a long-term transitional housing facility and program for homeless at-risk children and their mothers. The May donations will be to Redlands Family Services.
Donations from the congregation through the Wider Ministries budget have been sent to the UCC Response to the Southern California Fires ($1,000), Peppermint Ridge ($1,000), and Pilgrim Pines ($1,000). A very successful Rummage sale this year raised $5,600, and was donated to Angel’s Closet, Youth Hope and Southern California fire victims.
Kathie Blakley, Wider Ministries Area Leader
| Delivering to Hannah's House | | |
Shepherds is off to a really great start this year. In January we shuffled the groups up so everyone can hopefully get to know even more people in a smaller setting. Shuffling up the groups is something that is done every 2-3 years. There are 6 Shepherd groups and each group has a pair of leaders. The leaders this year are as follows:
- Group 1: Loring & Barbie Fiske-Phillips
- Group 2: Scott Mong & Joette Orman
- Group 3: Cid Breyer & Maryn Mineo-Wells
- Group 4: Maegan Hill & Jayne Miller
- Group 5: Heather Abushanab & Judith Turian
- Group 6: Kevin & Dawne Simmons
The Shepherd groups meet 4 times a year for a Super Shepherd Sunday. Our 1st gathering was on March 16th. Our future gatherings will be June 8th, September 14th and November 9th. If you are not in a Shepherd Group and would like to be placed into one, then please reach out to Maegan Hill, Rev. Joe or the church office and we can get you plugged into a group.
Last month in March, a group of individuals began knitting prayer shawls to be given out to members of our congregation who may be facing difficulties or are unable to be with us in person. These prayer shawls are blessed and are then given to those individuals who would benefit from them. This wonderful ministry is being delegated to the Shepherd Leaders who will keep a close eye on their flock to see when they feel one of their members should receive one of these shawls. If you feel like you are facing a difficult situation and would like to request one of these shawls, then please reach out to your Shepherd Leader or Rev Joe.
Finally, communion is going mobile! If you are unable to attend worship in person on communion Sunday and would like the elements brought to you, then please reach out to your Shepherd Leader, Rev Joe, or the church office. We will ensure that someone will bring them to you! Please let us know at least a few days beforehand so we can coordinate everything. ❤️
Maegan Hill, Shepherd Area Leader
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At the end of the first quarter we have income significantly above plan and expenses below plan, resulting in a net cash flow of just over $50,000. This is remarkable, as our budget plan has us slightly negative at this point in the year. Thanks to all for your faithful generosity!
First Quarter Income
- Overall income for the quarter is $139,880, which is well over our budget plan of $94,050.
- Giving is well ahead of plan at $124,549, due mainly to some larger covenanted annual donations made in full at the beginning of the year.
- Facilities rental is also increasing, and makes up the balance of the income for the quarter.
First Quarter Expenses
- Expenses are under budget, at $89,935, compared to our budget of $105,154.
- Most general operating expenses are in line with expectations. Several lines that can be lumpy, like our electric bill and maintenance expenses, are currently below budget. That will change as we get into the summer.
Future Impacts to Financials
- Fire relief donation
- Kitchen upgrades
- 50th anniversary celebration
Diana Steele-Jones, Treasurer
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RUCC Staff
Senior Pastor: Rev. Joe Zarro
Music Director: David Wells
Associate Music Director: Sophia Ohanian
Children's Education Director: Susi Jacobsen
Director of Youth Ministries: Kathy McCool
Office and Property Manager: Veronica Bermudez
Child Care: Caitlin Walsh
Website: www.redlandsucc.org
Phone: 909-793-3520
Staff and Other Emails
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pastor@redlandsucc.org
musicdirector@redlandsucc.org
childrenseducation@redlandsucc.org
youth@redlandsucc.org
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office@redlandsucc.org
weddings@redlandsucc.org
theview@redlandsucc.org
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