The Organ Committee "pipes" up

Hello Church Family! A quick update on the organ project. We are not seeing the progress that we have expected, so we have started a process of setting specific activities (in the scope of the project) for our organ builder to meet. We believe hitting target dates on small manageable parts of the organ build will help us achieve installation by the spring of 2025. As of today, the builder has agreed to meet the initial schedule we've provided for the next several weeks. The organ committee co-chairs, Mark Sternberg and Richard Steffen, will continue to closely monitor the project. The board will be updated regularly regarding milestones and any concerns. We look forward to bringing you more updates as we progress!

A message from our pastor and teacher

Sunday, August 25 ~ Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost ~ "Freedom and the Cross"

"Ball and Chain" is a song by Southern California punk band Social Distortion, although it's got a slower melody and translates better to the acoustic guitar than most punk songs (I will be playing it on the acoustic). It's a song of loneliness, weariness and longing for freedom. It's always made me think of Jesus' call: "Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest … my yoke is gentle and my burden light." Yet, Jesus also tells us that those who wish to follow him must pick up the cross and follow him -- doesn't exactly sound like a light and gentle burden. This week, we are going to celebrate the healing and restorative power of God, while exploring the paradox of finding rest through picking up the cross. 

Sunday's Scripture

Matthew 11: 28 - 30

Caring for Kin - Help Angels' Closet

This Sunday is the last Sunday we'll be collecting for Angels' Closet. Some of their most-needed items include new toiletries, such as shampoo, soap, and deodorant, as well as underwear, socks, and new or gently-used clothing appropriate for teens.

Looking ahead to September, we will be collecting for Yucaipa Animal Placement Society (YAPS). Their most needed items include towels and blankets (used but clean OK), bleach, dish soap, canned/dry food for dogs or cats, and toys.

Environmental Justice Team meets this Sunday

There will be an environmental justice meeting on Sunday August 25 at noon in the Garden Room.

We will discuss our postcard project (New cards about voting rights) and the climate hope card project... and also talk about any other work you would like us to do.

Rev. Joe Wants to Meet with You!

Rev. Joe wants to meet as many people from the church as he can in these first few months. He's open to invitations to coffee, lunch, or dinner or other gatherings, but there's also an opportunity to set up a 30-minute "Welcome Meeting" with him online using this link: https://calendly.com/jdzarro/30min. This is an informal meeting with no agenda other than to get to know each other better. If the times don't work, or you would like to make other arrangements (like a home visit), just email Rev. Joe at joe@redlandsucc.org or call the church office at 909.793.3520.

Next book group meeting is September 1

The RUCC Book Group selection for the September 1 meeting is We Should Not Be Friends by Will Schwalbe, and the presenter is Mark Leggett. The group will meet after church on Sunday, September 1, at noon in Founders Room.



Labyrinth Stickers available again for a limited time

If you’d like to support the RUCC Youth group Labyrinth Sticker fundraiser, act now before they’re gone! (This will be our final sticker order).

We have a limited number of stickers available in the church office for a donation of $1 each (or more!)

100% of the proceeds goes to the Youth Fund.

Stop in the church office (during office hours) to purchase your stickers or contact admorics@redlandsucc.org.

Racial Justice reflection of the week

“To be occupied by Caucasian race”—Experts believe millions of homes nationwide still have "Racial Covenants", which are legal clauses in property deeds that prevent people of color from owning homes. Use the link below to hear Mounds View, Minn., residents talk about how they fought to remove these harmful covenants from deeds in their city.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/now/video/mounds-view-minnesota-fights-to-remove-harmful-covenants-from-housing-deeds-217353285621

From the Environmental Justice Team

… What if you suddenly saw

that the silver of water was brighter than the silver

of money? What if you finally saw

that the sunflowers, turning toward the sun all day

and everyday – who knows how, but they do it – were

more precious, more meaningful than gold?

From “How Would You Live Then?” by Mary Oliver

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

• Aug. 23 - 7 p.m. - Women's AA Meeting
• Aug 25 - Noon Environmental Justice meeting
• Aug. 26 - The Church office will be closed all day
• Aug. 27 - All day - Life Line screening in Covenant Hall
• Aug. 29 - Re-scheduled showing of Social Justice movie "Bad Faith"
• Sept 1 - 12 p.m. - Book Group (see article above)
• Sept 7 - 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. - Sacred Saturday
• Sept 9 - 4 p.m. - Church Growth area meeting;

7 p.m. - Bible Study

• Sept 10 - 7 p.m. - Stewards meeting
• Sept. 17 - 7 p.m. - Board meeting
• Sept 15 - 12 p.m. - Wider Ministries meeting to consider donations

The church calendar is found at redlandsucc.org

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