Caring for Kin 

Thank you for your generous donations during the month of April. This coming Sunday, April 27th, is the last chance to share with our kin at Hannah's House. Please check the list below and see if there is something you would like to bring to support this cause.

Hannah's House of Hope is a long-term transitional housing facility and program for homeless and at-risk children and their mothers. We would like to provide them with any size:

• hand soap
• laundry soap
• toilet paper
• paper towels
• bleach and other cleaning supplies
• blue or gray bath towel sets
• Arco gas cards (not currently available through RUCC's scrip program.)

Third Annual RUCC Blood Drive

RUCC's blood drive will be held Wednesday, May 14 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Covenant Hall

Flyers with detailed information, including how to make appointments, will be available at church this Sunday. If you have any questions, Kerry Dunn will do his best to help you. Thanks for supporting this life-giving effort!

Book Club meeting April 27. There will be no May meeting

The next RUCC Book Club meeting will be on April 27, 2025 at noon in Founders Room. There will be no May meeting. The book to be discussed in April is Feather Trails by Sophie Osborn. The presenter will be Mark Leggett.

May 16 - Game and Conversation Night

Enjoy an Ice Cream Sundae at Game and Conversation Night on Friday, May 16 at 5:30 p.m. in Covenant Hall. We will be playing a variety of games, seeing old friends and making new ones, and enjoying an art table. We will be partnering with Caring for Kin by collecting new socks of all sizes for children and adults - both fun socks and more basic socks. This event is for all ages so turn off the TV and come have some fun.

Kid/Youth Trip to see the Y Circus

The annual Y Circus is a treasured Redlands tradition, and two of our own will once again be performing! Please join us as we cheer on Cai Sternberg and Daniella Kirchner-Rose at the May 10 performance at 5 p.m.

The Education committee has purchased a block of tickets so we can all sit together.

 Please contact al_education@redlandsucc.org to RSVP. Let us know how many tickets you will need.

Youth Leadership Project on Schools in Palestine - Saturday, May 17

You're invited to an evening of information on the war in Israel/ Palestine and an opportunity to help the situation. Enjoy a light meal while receiving crucial information. This event will be hosted by Sophia Beardemphl as an effort to raise money for the YWCA of Palestine School. This is part of Sophia Beardemphl's Youth Leadership Symposium project through the United Church of Christ and Disciples of Christ. All are invited - this program is for youth and adults.

Date: Saturday, May 17th Time: 4:30-6:30

Place: Redland United Church of Christ in Covenant Hall 

RSVP to Sophia Beardemphl at beardemphlsophia@gmail.com

Environmental Justice message

Psalm 24: 1,2:

The earth is [God’s] and all that is in it,

    the world, and those who live in it,

for [God] has founded it on the seas

    and established it on the rivers.



(New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition (modified)

Racial Justice reflection of the week

“It’s important, therefore, to know who the real enemy is, and to know the function, the very serious function of racism, which is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining over and over again, your reason for being.”

- Toni Morrison, Portland State University keynote speech entitled ‘A Humanist View.’ https://www.mackenzian.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Transcript_PortlandState_TMorrison.pdf

Building Up, Reaching Out

RUCC maintained a building fund for years to eventually construct Sunday school classrooms. In 2017, the church began a capital funds and building project named “Building Up, Reaching Out.” A building committee was formed headed by Dan Abushanab, Carole Beswick, Jennifer Brainerd, Loring Fiske-Phillips, Stacey Greene, Ken Hurley, Reverend Jill Kirchner-Rose, Jim Sommer, and Mark Sternberg.

One aspect of the project was the remodeling of Covenant Hall. This included a redesign of the restrooms, creating separate rooms for more capacity and better usability by all people. The hall sections were remodeled to create a large meeting space called Founders Room, a nursery room with a half-bathroom, and a classroom. A hallway between the main hall and the office was designed with storage. Also, a new addition, later named Mosaic Hall, was designed to include a classroom, a youth room, a multipurpose space called Micah Room that included storage for choir robes and music, and two restrooms. A small kitchenette was designed in the hallway between the rooms. A new Covenant Hall atrium was built to replace the original curved glass one which had been leaking. The work began on June 5, 2018, and was completed on June 26, 2019.

When the Mosaic Hall addition was constructed, there was a large stucco exterior wall on the West side of the building. Using this area, stained glass artist, Thomas Medlicott, built a mosaic art wall. The mosaic art depicts the tree of life with a river running through. Careful study reveals many additional details. The construction involved several separate panels attached to the building, creating a large mosaic wall.

Rev. Joe's installation, May 4 at 4 p.m.

Rev. Joe may have been the pastor since July, but these installations often happen 3 months to a year after the official start date. It’s not just a celebration of the church and the new pastor – it’s about the work of the wider church in the area and the ties that bind us together. The service will have the Conference Minister Rev. Rachael Pryor preaching, and Rev. Joe will preside over communion. We plan on some special music and a reception afterwards in Covenant Hall. Save the date!

SCNC Annual Gathering

May 30 -31

For details about the logistics, speakers, and other information, click on the link below.

CLICK HERE

Upcoming Dates to Remember

• May 1 - The office will be closed
• May 4 - 4 p.m. Rev. Joe's installation as RUCC's Senior Pastor, followed by a reception in Covenant Hall
• May 5 and 6 - The office will be closed, but Veronica will be working from home and will respond to emails
• May 14 - 10 a.m.—3 p.m. Blood Drive in Covenant Hall
• May 16 - 5:30 p.m. - Game night
• June 21-22 - RUCC's 50th Anniversary Celebration

The complete church calendar is online at https://www.redlandsucc.org/calendar