A message from our Pastor and Teacher

Sunday, August 13 ~ "When Stormy Seas Come"

Have you ever found yourself so wrapped up in anxiety or grief, or fear or some other uncomfortable feeling, that no matter what happened next, you just couldn’t let those feelings go? In this Sunday's reading from Matthew’s gospel, we find the disciples in a real muddle. They are emotionally exhausted, are still grieving for John, who was recently executed by King Herod, and overwhelmed by a full day with Jesus as he healed and then led them to feed thousands. It was just too much to process in one day.   

Then, when Jesus sends them on ahead of him, they are met with a terrifying occurrence. How would you react in their shoes? Come and see.

Sunday's Scripture

Matthew  14: 22-33

August 13 - Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

CLICK HERE FOR BULLETIN FOR AUGUST 13

Reflection of the week from the Racial Justice Team

Days later, a separate set of activists from Nashville, Tennessee, slipped their last wills and testaments into envelopes and prepared to restart the Freedom Rides. When Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy learned of their plans, he called his assistant, John Seigenthaler, and implored him to dissuade the ten students from continuing their potentially deadly campaign. The first words out of Kennedy’s mouth: “Who the hell is Diane Nash?”

A co-founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and leader of the 1960 Nashville sit-ins, 23-year-old Nash was the one guiding the new Freedom Riders on their journey to Birmingham, Alabama. Despite Seigenthaler’s efforts to convince her otherwise, Nash and her colleagues decided to move forward with the protest. When Birmingham civil rights leader Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth asked Nash whether she realized Freedom Riders had almost been killed in the city, she reportedly replied, “Yes. That’s exactly why the ride must not be stopped. If they stop us with violence, the movement is dead. We’re coming. We just want to know if you can meet us.”

Source: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/diane-nash-presidential-medal-freedom-civil-rights-180980380/

From the Environmental Justice Team

The Amazon rainforest accounts for about one fourth of all the carbon dioxide absorbed by land-based carbon sinks (1) and releases about 20 billion metric tons of water into the atmosphere per day, making it critical to the water cycle (2). Deforestation is an ongoing threat to the survival of this environmentally critical ecosystem, so an August 8-9, 2023 meeting of leaders of the Amazon rainforest nations to negotiate issues of economic development and environmental protection could be vital to the fight against climate change. As Indigenous leader Raoni Metuktire told the AP, “They have to make this deforestation stop. What I am going to say is that if the presidents do not take any measure, they are going to have serious environmental problems. Natural disasters will be a problem for all us human beings.”

Sources:

1. National Geographic Education: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/amazon-deforestation-and-climate-change/

2. World Wildlife Foundation: https://www.wwf.org.uk/where-we work/amazon#:~:text=Not just for food%2C water,regional carbon and water cycles

3. Fabiano Maisonnave and David Biller, Associated Press, “Brazil leader hopes Amazon summit will bring back protections that the world needs,” Los Angeles Times, 8/8/23: https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2023-08-08/brazil-leader-hopes-amazon-summit-will-bring-back-protections-that-the-world-needs

Congregation-wide Survey - It's not too late!

The Church Profile Committee has compiled a survey to gather information to write a well-informed church profile. We want to make sure to represent the voices of everyone at RUCC, so we would love a response from each and every one of you! This survey will take 10-20 minutes of your time. Please access the survey at this link.

The deadline to participate is Tuesday August 15. Feel free to contact Chuck Zamaria, Diana Steele, Dan Wacks, or Paul Welsh with any questions or for technical assistance.

RAISE RIGHT/SCRIP CARDS

If you shop (and we know you do!) Raise Right can help you help RUCC! This is the perfect time to take advantage of Back-to-School Bonuses at Old Navy/Gap, Bath and Body Works, L.L. Bean, DSW, Staples, Instacart+ and Door Dash to name just a few. Gift cards are available for almost any place you shop!

E-cards are available immediately and physical cards are ordered each month. Our next ordering date is August 15 with cards delivered to you on August 20.



Stop by the Raise Right table in Covenant Hall with your check, cash, or cell phone and Jennifer or Pam will get you started!

Help us Promote Art, for Heaven’s Sake! Fine Arts Festival

Art, for Heaven’s Sake! is switching to electronic postcards and we need your help. Please help us reach more people by getting your friends and colleagues to sign up for our electronic mailing list. We plan to send out electronic postcards a couple of weeks before the show. If you make it your goal to get 10 or more to sign up it would be a great help. You can use the QR code here or pick up a QR sticker in the gathering area at church. People can also email artforheavensake@gmail.com and ask to be put on the list. All we need is a name and an email address.

Wider Ministries' latest actions

The RUCC Wider Ministries group met Sunday, July 30, and approved the following donations for the 3rd Quarter:

• Pilgrim Pines Camp- ($1000) UCC Camp in the Oak Glen mountains
• Refresh & Renew Redlands Mobile Showers-($1000) free shower service to the unhoused community at two Redlands locations
• Carol’s Kitchen-($500) Provides food and other services in the Beaumont/Banning area
• Peppermint Ridge- ($1000) UCC sponsored housing and other services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

If you have a recommendation for a non-profit organization that you can recommend for a donation, you may submit it to either Kathie Blakley or Carol Robb by filling out the form HERE.

Caring for Kin focuses on Family Services

Thank you for your incredible generosity in collecting school supplies for Women of Faith! These supplies will go to immigrant and refugee families in and around Redlands.

For the month of August, we will be collecting again for Redlands Family Services, who are in great need of food collections. As before, their high-priority items include PB, jelly, cereal, oatmeal, and granola bars. Let's keep up the excellent work!

PRAYERS FOR PEACE

We continue to meet each Monday at 4:05 p.m. at the labyrinth at the University of Redlands. Bring a friend and your thoughts, readings, artwork, etc. supporting peace in our world and your heart. We will pray together. Open to all!!!

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

• August 11 - Closed women's AA meeting - 7 p.m.
• August 14 - Church Growth Area Meeting
• August 15 - Board Meeting - 7 p.m. Live and Virtual
• August 19 - Celebration of Life for Rev. Dr. Jill Kirchner-Rose - 10 a.m.
• August 26 - Heartspace workshop on coping with and honoring grief- for ages 8 and up. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. - Covenant Hall
• September 2 - Sacred Saturday - 9 a.m.



The church calendars for August and September are found at uccredlands.org

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