Friday, April 3, 2026

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Worship at RUCC

Easter Sunday, April 5

"Religious Experience"

Have we ever been loved when we expected to be hated? Have we ever been included when we feared that we would be shut out? The experience of the women at the tomb is crucial in our story this week…for women were associated with love and nurture in this culture, men with work and the law. It is those who traffic in love and who trust the power of nurture, who discover the empty tomb and then are the first witnesses to the resurrection. Can we trust the strength and reach of love and compassion, no matter what the circumstances in front of us? Come celebrate Easter with us in person or online at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Bring flowers to share, and we will have vases with water on the altar to receive those flowers! Rev. John H Pomeroy

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10

Last week's sermon: redlandsucc.org

Sacred Saturday, April 4

As we complete our journey through the Lenten Season of prayer and contemplation, we take deep breaths, center into our greatest truths and beliefs, and ready ourselves for what comes next. Sacred Saturday offers an opportunity to take a rest “in between” the chaos and uncertainty of the political world around us and connect to that which is "more," that which is holy. Tomorrow, Saturday, April 4, 9 a.m. - noon, we will gather for community, individual silence, and reflection. Whether you have attended every Sacred Saturday or are just learning about it, you are welcome! We will begin together in Micah Room in Mosaic Hall, and then you are free to use any part of our beautiful building and campus for your individual time. There will also be coffee, tea, and refreshments!

Caring for Each Other

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 the person’s relationship to our community.

Prayer Request:

• Prayers of healing for Mary Lou Haney after surgery this week.
• Prayers for Dick Ault's nephew with a cancer diagnosis.
• Prayers for Susi Jacobsen as she begins new treatments.
• Prayers for healing and support for the mental health of Christine and Orion.
• Prayers for Jon Herbert, who is receiving care at Kaiser Ontario.
• Prayers for healing for Eli, who has broken both her wrists. 
• Prayers for an end to the war in Iran and support for all families that have lost loved ones in the war.
• Prayers for healing and courage for the survivors of sexual violence. 

Ongoing concerns:

• Tom Miller
• Bill Buchanan
• Ruth Jordan
• Craig Wesson

Please send prayer requests to Pastor Jake at jake@redlandsucc.org

Transitions

Garden News

We have exciting news about our garden area! With the support of the Stewards Committee and the Board, our beautiful lower garden area, along with the top grassy area, is going to be refreshed and renewed. This space is not only a place of rest and sanctuary for folks wishing to spend time in a beautiful outdoor area, but also is a space for outdoor church services, weddings, and, of course, our annual Art, for Heaven’s Sake! festival. This work will make the ground safer and more level, will remove gopher holes, renew the irrigation system, and replant the grass with types that will thrive in that beautiful, shady space.

When the work begins just after Easter, we will need to wait to use this space for a couple of months to let the newly seeded grass get established. There will be temporary fencing surrounding the work to remind people and dogs to give the grass the time it needs. We are happy to see this work begin!

Patty Little

Groups & Gatherings

Next Chair Yoga, April 6

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. Donations appreciated.

RUCC Book Group, Sunday, April 19

The next meeting of the RUCC Book Group will be on April 19, 2026, (3rd Sunday of the month) and the selection will be My Friends by Frederick Backman. The presenter is Karen Walsh. The group will meet after church, at noon, in Founders Room.

   “The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Anxious People returns with an unforgettably funny, deeply moving tale of four teenagers whose friendship creates a bond so powerful that it changes a complete stranger’s life twenty-five years later.”

(Amazon Review)

Rhymes With Orange is competing in Costa Mesa!

Rhymes With Orange is excited to be competing in the 41st Annual Harmony Sweepstakes, April 11, 7:30 p.m., at the Costa Mesa Performing Arts Center. If you'd like to cheer for RWO and hear some other wonderful a cappella groups, click here for tickets.

Introducing the Art, for Heaven’s Sake! 2026 Featured Artist Jason Situ

The Art Show committee is pleased to announce they have chosen W. Jason Situ as our featured artist for our 2026 show. A few members of the committee met with him recently, and he said he is extremely excited to be the featured artist at our show. He is a plein-air painter and plans to create a series of paintings around Redlands.

W. Jason Situ was born in 1949 in Guang Dong, China. He began painting in high school during China’s “Cultural Revolution” and completed his art education at the Guangzhou Fine Arts Institute, one of China’s most prestigious and competitive art academies. In 1989, Mr. Situ immigrated to the United States with his family. He was fascinated by the beautiful California landscape and soon decided to become a plein-air painter. 

He has been a full-time artist since 1997 and has shown his work across the United States. He is a prolific, dedicated painter, receiving numerous awards in prestigious juried competitions, including many “Best of Show” and “First Place” awards. Many publications have featured Jason. He strives to keep contributing his best to the beauty of the art world, painting what brings him joy. You can learn more about him at https://www.jasonsitufineart.com/

Children and Youth

Bible Study, Monday, April 6

“Called to Journey, Called to Welcome: A Biblical Perspective on Immigration,” RUCC Bible Study will focus on pages 23 through 27 of the curriculum, which can be downloaded here, free of charge. This week’s reading turns to the New Testament, focusing on Matthew 25:31-46 and its implications for immigrant justice.

Please join us in Founders Room on April 6, 7-8:30 p.m., first-timers welcome! Contact Andrea Morics if you have any questions.

Helping Hands

CARING FOR KIN, April

This month, let's show Youth Hope that we care for the kiddos by donating some yummy snacks!

They need:

Takis

Chips

Crackers

Nuts

Cookies

Fruit (maybe some delicious local navel oranges?)

Fruit snacks

Applesauce

Juice

Gatorade

As the youth gather to snack, staff are able to get to know the individuals and their needs. Conversation leads to building relationships, and allows staff to begin guiding the youth with the help they need with school, jobs, housing, transportation, medical care, and more.

Thanks for your ongoing generosity.

The Wider Church

C&C Center for Healing

At the first quarter meeting of RUCC Wider Ministries in 2026, we decided to send a donation to four nonprofit organizations, including the C&C Center for Healing. The C&C Center for Healing was founded in 2018 and is a behavioral health clinic in Redlands that provides individual, couples, and family therapy, as well as medication and case management to various communities, including LGBT+, undocumented, and those struggling with housing. They also support the community in other ways, providing food boxes, clothing, and backpacks with essential items for the unhoused, resource fairs, and Christmas toy giveaways. RUCC prides itself on supporting anyone, regardless of where they are in their spiritual journey, and we provided $500 in Stater Brothers gift cards to support families who are struggling. The flyer is for an ongoing series on Protest with Power. It's an open group, so people can come to any or all of the sessions. Just sign up using the QR Code on the flyer. https://cccenterforhealing.com/

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.

Do you have extra gardening tools?

RUCC needs a good wheelbarrow to help keep the grounds in good shape.

Around Town

• Redlands Events April 2026
• Redlands Fire Dept CERT Classes 2026

Calendar

This week at RUCC

Saturday, April 4

• 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Sacred Saturday

Sunday, April 5

• 9:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. - Kids' Zone early care
• 10:30 a.m. - Worship in the Sanctuary (Easter Sunday)
• 11:30 a.m. - Easter egg hunt

Monday, April 6

• 10:00 a.m. - Chair Yoga
• 7:00 p.m. - Bible Study

Tuesday, April 7

• 11:00 a.m. - Artist Journey Group

Wednesday, April 8

• 1:00 p.m. - Mah Jongg
• 6:00 p.m. - Bells Practice
• 7:00 p.m. - Choir Practice

Thursday, April 9

Friday, April 10

Saturday, April 11

• 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Private Funeral

Sunday, April 12

• 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 (Second Sunday of Easter)
• 12:00 p.m. - Environmental Meeting
• 12:00 p.m. - Shepherd leader meeting

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