Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, February 8
"New Rules"
When we leave home for the first time as a grown up, or when we stay with another family for a little bit as a child, we learn that there are different rules in different places in our lives. The rules are different from one school to another, one workplace to another, just as the layout and parameters of word processing software can be different from one product to another. In our text for worship, we learn that Jesus aims to fulfill rather than destroy Jewish law - albeit with a different image of God. Come join us for worship in person or online Sunday at 10:30AM as we look at what “fulfilling the law” means in our daily lives!
Scripture: Matthew 5:13-20
Last week's sermon: redlandsucc.org
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Susan Rodgers Hammond's funeral service, Tuesday, February 17
Susan Rodgers Hammond was a long time member and friend of RUCC. A Memorial Mass and Reception for her will be held on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 3:00 p.m. at El Carmelo Retreat House, 926 E. Highland Ave., Redlands, CA 92374. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Sue Hammond Memorial Scholarship Fund: scholarships.rcsf@gmail.com - https://www.redlandsscholarships.org/
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Bring Your Prayers
During worship, we are trying something new for our prayers - there will be a sheet at the back of the sanctuary with space for prayer concerns and joys…please write LEGIBLY whatever you would like to share with the community that day, and it will be shared during our prayer time together. Prayers may be edited for length, and it helps if you identify a person’s relationship to our community. Worship area will meet in January to see if this is a helpful tool for us going forward in the new year! Thanks!
Prayer Request:
- Prayers for Diane Campbell, Beth Welsh’s sister, who is recovering from ankle surgery.
- Prayers for Mary Lou Haney, who is healing from an infection.
- Prayers for Rick Napier’s brother-in-law Bob with stage 4 cancer.
- Prayers of healing for all with broken family relationships.
- Prayers for Jon Herbert, who has contracted pneumonia.
- Prayers for healing for Craig Wesson, at home recovering from heart issues.
- Prayers for Mary Melcher, recovering slowly from surgery.
- Prayers for safety and care for all who are under threat from ICE enforcement - may our elected officials act with care and compassion around immigration.
Ongoing concerns:
- Tom Miller
- Bill Buchanan
- Ruth Jordan
Please send prayer requests to Pastor Jake at jake@redlandsucc.org
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Church Kitchen Remodel & Temporary Closure, January 2026
The kitchen is almost complete! The floor is finished, and the base tile has been installed. All the appliances are in place, and the freezer and refrigerator have been reinstalled. This week, the ADA-compliant hand-washing sink on the island was installed. We are waiting on inspections on the fire suppression system and from the gas company for the stove. After that, we can move all our things from the Garden Room and open for business!!!
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Settled Pastor Search Committee Update
Our meeting last Sunday with Rachael Pryor was very helpful to our committee. As she shared her experience and wisdom, we all developed a deeper understanding of what it takes to be a strong pastor. She also helped us to see how well our process and deliberations have been working. Inspired by our time together, we completed a couple of more first interviews with candidates. More updates to follow. Thanks for your support.
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RUCC A2A (Accessible to All)
The RUCC A2A (Accessible to All) Team will meet this coming Sunday, Feb. 8, after church (around 11:45 a.m.) in the Micah Room in Mosaic Hall. They will be discussing progress, priorities, and plans to continue increasing accessibility at RUCC. This will be the first meeting of 2026, and everyone interested is invited to join.
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Next Chair Yoga, February 9
Jeanne Andrews is a gifted yoga instructor. We thank her for leading us toward health and wellness on Mondays at 10 a.m. in Covenant Hall. There is no chair yoga on February 16, but it will resume on the following Monday, February 23. Donations appreciated.
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“Dinners for 8ish” is back again for 2026!
Participants will share a meal at four dinners over the course of a year. Your “set" (see below for what that means) will host one meal and get hosted three times, each time with three different sets of people. When you host, you provide a main course and beverages. The other three times you'll be assigned to bring an appetizer, a salad, or a dessert. You’ll end up having four nice meals with a total of twelve sets of people.
EVERYONE can participate in this great activity for the church! Feel like your house is too small to host? You can host your meal at the church or borrow a larger hosting home from someone else. This is a beloved activity, and we don't want anyone to be left out!
A “set” of people of your choosing may consist of an individual, a couple, a small group of friends (approx. 2-3), or a family. The point is to keep the total number of guests at the meals manageable (8ish).
Sign up now, and we’ll get you dining with your new RUCC friends in no time. If you have questions, please contact Hospitality Area Leader Kim Lara-Kane or Loring Fiske-Phillips at D48ish@redlandsucc.org.
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Save the Date: Valentine's Day Potluck and Party in Covenant Hall on February 14, at 6 pm. All are welcome.
Caring Hearts Outreach: Caring Hearts is an outreach project to the elderly and differently abled adults who no longer live at home due to their daily living and medical needs. For the last month, small groups at church (Youth Movie Night, Game Night, Nursery, Sunday School, Fellowship, etc.) have been making Valentines to give out as a token of our caring. Activities are now arranged at local nursing home facilities during the week of February 7 to 14. The locations are in Redlands, Yucaipa, and Angelus Oaks. The facilities can only accommodate small groups due to space issues. If you are interested in participating, please contact Ginny Cruz. Caring Hearts will be part of the Valentine's Day Potluck and Party at church on Saturday, February 14, at 6 pm.
Valentine's Day Potluck and Party: All are welcome at the Valentine's party at the church in Covenant Hall on February 14, 2026, at 6 pm. This is a time for the church family to come together and truly be grateful for all that we have. The church will provide green salad, dessert, and drinks. Please bring a side/hot main dish to share. There is no RSVP required.
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Silent Retreat, 2 spots open, Friday, February 20 to Sunday, February 22, Prince of Peace Abbey, Oceanside
An Invitation to SILENCE - a great way to deeper communication with your God. Come join us on a Silent Retreat. Even the noisiest of us who can't imagine being silent for an hour, let alone a whole weekend, are amazed by the grace we receive during this holy time. Five meals, single room - $300.00. Payment is due February 1. If financial help is needed, let Pastor Jake know. Contact Judith Turian or Pastor Jake for more information and to reserve your space.
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THE RUMMAGE SALE IS COMING! Start collecting your treasures!
THE RUMMAGE SALE IS TWO WEEKS AWAY!!!
This year the Rummage Sale will be held two days--Friday, February 20 and Saturday, February 21 from 8:00-1:00. E-waste collection will ONLY be on Saturday, February 21 from 8:00-1:00 in the RUCC parking lot. Take your e-waste directly to them on Saturday only.
We will be taking sign-ups for helpers this Sunday before and after church. We will need helpers to collect the treasures and set them up in Covenant Hall the week before the sale. We will need helpers on the two days of the sale and we will need helpers to pack up and deliver any leftovers and get Covenant Hall back in order on Saturday afternoon. Please go to the sign up table for details.
This year we are looking for clothes, household goods, small working appliances, holiday decorations, linens, toys, pet items, sporting goods, etc. Yes we will take books, but we cannot take furniture or car seats.
We will begin taking your donations for our annual Rummage Sale on Sunday, February 15. NOT THIS SUNDAY!!
Items can be brought in:
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15: BEFORE AND AFTER CHURCH
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16 AND TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17: 9:00-3:00
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18: 9:00-8:00
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19: 9:00-12:00
Thank you for your support in every way!
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RUCC Book Group, Sunday, March 8
The RUCC Book Group will next meet on March 8, 2026, at noon in Founders Room. This is the second Sunday of March. The selection will be The Peacekeeper by B.L. Blanchard, and the presenter will be Judith Turian.
“Against the backdrop of a never-colonized North America, a broken Ojibwe detective embarks on an emotional and twisting journey toward solving two murders, rediscovering family, and finding himself.” (Amazon review)
| | RUCC Community Garden help wanted, small garden tools donation needed. | | When our community 🪴 was started 12 years ago we had some great success! | |  | |
More folks are needed to adopt a plot, help with weed control, or help plant/maintain a garden with produce to share with our neighbors. Wonderful way to get some fresh air and exercise. Anyone interested in lending a hand 🖐️, please contact Gretchen Andrews.
If you have small garden tools to donate, it would be greatly appreciated.
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RUCC Kids and Youth: Light Bringers/First Readers Needed
Attn RUCC Families: Please sign up to have your child(ren) participate in our Light Bringer/First Readers program during worship.
- Children and youth will bring the light to our altar, (with parents/guardians helping if you wish), at the beginning of each service.
- Children and youth will also read our First Reading from the pulpit. (Again, with parental assistance if desired.)
- Please sign up by email with the date(s) you are available to: al_education@redlandsucc.org.
- Open to all ages grade 12 and under (even the very youngest can participate with parental assistance!)
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Bible Study, Monday, February 9
Bible Study is on Mondays from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m in the youth room.
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CARING FOR KIN, February 8
This coming Sunday, February 8th, is your last chance to fill the cart with soup and vote for your team of choice! Whether you prefer the SEATTLE SEAHAWKS or the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, Family Services and Youth Hope will be pleased to put all those cans of soup to good use!
** Planning ahead ....
Caring for Kin will not be asking you for donations during the last two weeks of February.
INSTEAD, please do a little early spring cleaning and bring your no-longer-needed treasures
to church for filling the tables at the annual Rummage Sale to be held on Feb 20 and 21.
You may start bringing treasures on Sunday, February 15th, after church, and throughout the next week.
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Racial justice message
Marketplace reports that the administration’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for roughly 350,000 Haitians will trigger a severe staffing crisis in elder‑care facilities, where Haitian immigrants make up a large share of the workforce. The story follows Haitian workers who now face losing their jobs, legal status, safety, and educational opportunities—revealing how immigration policy directly shapes racialized labor markets and economic vulnerability.
Source: https://www.marketplace.org/story/2026/01/15/end-of-tps-for-haitians-could-devastate-elder-care
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Environmental justice message
Valentine’s Day is coming soon, and for many of us, this means chocolate. Unfortunately, chocolate production often involves exploitive labor practices, including slavery and child labor, and serious ecological problems such as deforestation. The Sierra Club and Green America have published articles discussing ethical chocolate choices. One source of responsibly produced chocolate highlighted in each article is Equal Exchange, and you can buy Equal Exchange chocolate right here at RUCC! Look for it in the hallway between the sanctuary and Covenant Hall on the right as you head into Covenant Hall.
Sources:
1. “What Is the Best Sustainable and Ethical Chocolate?,” Jessian Choy, Sierra Magazine, 10/27/23.
2. “Put Down That Big-Name Chocolate - Grab These Fair Trade Chocolate Bars Instead!” Green American Magazine, 2/3/22.
| | Bless & Be Blessed is a space for our church family to share new or gently used items they no longer need. Whether you’re looking to pass something along or find something useful, this is a simple way to care for one another and practice good stewardship within our community. Contact the office or send the information to the View when you have an item to offer or an item you need. | |
Office Closed February 9-12
Veronica will be working from home on Monday, February 9; February 10; and Thursday, February 12. She is taking a personal day on Wednesday, February 11. So the physical office will be closed, but you can contact her by email. Pastor Jake will be in the office Monday, February 9, from 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Tuesday, February 10, from 10 a.m. to noon. Thank you for your understanding, and sorry for any inconvenience.
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This week at RUCC
Saturday, February 7
- 9:00 a.m. - Sacred Saturday
- 1:00 p.m. - Search Committee
Sunday, February 8
- 9:15 a.m. -10:30 a.m. - Kids Zone early care
- 9:30 a.m. - Seekers group (social time 9:15)
- 10:30 a.m. - Worship in the Sanctuary (Fifth Sunday after Epiphany)
- 11:45 a.m. - A2A meeting
- 12:00 p.m. - Environmental Meeting
- 12:00 p.m. - Shepherd Meeting
Monday, February 9
- 10:00 a.m. - Chair Yoga
- 7:00 p.m. -8:30 p.m. - Bible Study
Tuesday, February 10
- 7:00 p.m. - Stewards meeting
Wednesday, February 11
- 9:00 a.m. - Office Closed all day
- 1:00 p.m. - Mah Jongg
- 6:00 p.m. - Bells practice
- 7:00 p.m. - Choir practice
Thursday, February 12
- 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Life Line Screening
Friday, February 13
Saturday, February 14
- 9:00 a.m. -5:30 p.m. - Set up Valentine's event
- 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - Valentine's potluck
Sunday, February 15
- 9:15 a.m. - Kids Zone
- 9:30 a.m. - Seekers group (social time 9:15)
- 10:30 a.m. - Sunday School (kids start in Sanctuary)
- 10:30 a.m. - Worship in the Sanctuary (Sixth Sunday after Epiphany)
- 12:00 p.m. - Wider Ministries meeting
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Upcoming Dates to Remember
- February 18 - Ash Wednesday
- February 20-22 - Silent Retreat
- February 20-21 - Rummage Sale
- February 21 - E-Waste
- February 24 - Lenten Series
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