Friday, October 2, 2026

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Worship at RUCC

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost, October 4,“Freed from Our Prisons” 

I participate in an organization with this vision: “Freeing people—all over the world—from the prisons of our own making.” The Enneagram Prison Project (EPP) offers a program of self-awareness, self-compassion, and self-regulation in prisons in California and several other states and countries. Sunday’s scripture passage from Paul’s letter to the Philippians has inspired to me to share with you my experiences with EPP in Sunday’s reflection. Paul is in prison when he writes this letter, and it reveals that he has discovered “the path to freedom” that EPP celebrates. Come and discover what that path is for all of us—on both sides of the bars. Pastor Michael Schiefelbein 

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-14

Last week's sermon: redlandsucc.org

Caring for Each Other

Bring Your Prayers

There is a prayer request sheet at the entrance of the Sanctuary before worship each Sunday. Please write down any prayers that you would like to have included in our worship. The prayers we have received in the office will already be on the sheet.

Prayer Requests:

• Prayers for pain relief for Carole Beswick, preparing for back surgery
• Prayers for Alicia Thompson and Michelle McNevin as Alicia begins her next round of chemotherapy
• Prayers for successful eye surgery for Edward Schreur on Oct. 9 and for calmness as he awaits the surgery
• Prayers for Jade and his family as he recovers from a mental health crisis.
• Prayers of blessing on the Interfaith Pilgrimage of Witness and Solidarity, as participants call attention to cruel conditions inside detention centers.
• Prayers of blessing on the work of the Enneagram Prison Project (www.enneagramprisonproject.org)

Please send prayer requests to the office at office@redlandsucc.org

Transitions

RUCC Orientation, this Sunday, October 4, 11:45 a.m.

Come to the RUCC Orientation if you have questions about the church, are looking for information about how to get involved, or are considering church membership. We’ll begin by getting to know each other, and then there will be a group presentation on some of the basics of the church, with lots of time for your questions. The session will take place in Founders Room and last approximately one hour. No RSVP required.

If you have friends or family who might be interested in RUCC, this would be a great day to bring them to church.

The new Covenant booklets are here!

The Covenant booklets for 2027 will be available this Sunday. Making a new covenant with the church each year helps us know that we are here for each other as members of a spiritual community. Personally, I love thinking about my covenant each year because the process helps me focus on why I am here, the ways in which my life is blessed by being in this community, and the kinds of things that I can do to help strengthen our connections between our members and our larger community. Together, we can do so much more than we can accomplish alone.

Covenant Sunday is November 8. This is a special Sunday where we have an opportunity to bring our covenants forward in a sacred space together. Doing this together is such a special experience that affirms our love and connections to each other and our commitment to our church family. I encourage you to participate in this joyful moment in church. If you will not be able to attend that day, it is fine to submit them to the church office early or late. Together, we are the church. Covenants are a beautiful way to affirm that.

-Patty Little, RUCC President

Groups & Gatherings

Seekers group resumes this Sunday, October 4

It's a pleasure to resume our Seeker group after the summer hiatus. This Sunday, we will be discussing chapter three of Beyond Theology by Alan Watts. We hope you can join us for an invigorating and thoughtful discussion.

We begin at 9:30 a.m. in Founders Room. Come a little early for socializing. Hope to see you there!

-Johanna Ballard

Neighbors in Need, Sunday, October 11

We will have Neighbors in Need offering in church or you can donate online through Realm.

Bible Study, Monday, October 5

Please join us in Garden Room from 7-8:30 for Bible Study. We are beginning a series on the Parables of Jesus: this week we are discussing the Parable of the Lost Sheep. Luke 15:3-7 and Matthew 18:10-14. Hope to see you there!

Sacred Saturday, 9 a.m., October 3

Sacred Saturday will be held Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to noon in Micah Room/Mosaic Hall. We’ll begin our morning gathered together in community, setting the tone with thoughts and reflections. Then, we’ll gently move into a spacious time of individual silence, contemplation, and rest—an opportunity to step away from the noise of daily life and simply be in God’s presence.

During this time, you are invited to read, journal, walk, or simply sit quietly, allowing your heart and spirit to breathe. We’ll then gather again as a community to share in a brief closing, bringing us back together before we return to our day.

If you’ve been longing for a pause, a breath of fresh air for your soul, or a moment to reset, this is for you. Sacred Saturday is a gift of rest and renewal, and all are welcome.

Chair Yoga, Monday, October 5

Have you ever gotten out of bed in the morning feeling stiff and achy? Then done something you weren't sure you wanted to do and felt so much better? Well, that is the experience of many of us that look forward to Chair Yoga every Monday at 10 a.m. in Covenant Hall with Jeanne Andrews, a certified Yoga teacher,  Come join us and start your week with more energy and optimism! 

Donations appreciated.

League of Women Voters Forum on the Propositions - October 8 at 7 p.m. in Covenant Hall

The social justice team is hosting this informational forum so you can learn about the propositions on this year's November ballot.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy. We empower voters and defend democracy through advocacy, education, and litigation, at the local, state, and national levels. (from lwv.org)

Please join us. Invite your friends and feel free to share the flyer linked below. 

Voter Information Event

Mark Your Calendars! Art, For Heaven's Sake! 47th Annual Show October 16, 17, and 18

IT’S COMING UP FAST!!! 

We need your help to make this event a success. During the next three weeks, the art show committee will be recruiting members and friends to help with the show.  

WE ESPECIALLY NEED HELP: 

• Setting up the show (Thursday, October 15, and Friday, October 16) 
• Setting up pop-up canopies, helping with lighting and decorating, assisting artists in setting up their booths. 
• Making appetizers or cookies for Friday night. 
• Serving cookies and appetizers Friday night. 
• Friday night; Saturday 11:00-1:00 and 3:00-7:00; and Sunday 1:00-3:00 
• Providing brief breaks for artists during the show, checking the bathrooms for supplies, wiping down tables in the eating area, emptying trash, greeting, etc. 

Sign-ups will be available before church in the Narthex and after church in Covenant Hall. 

You can also help us advertise the Art Show. QR codes and posters are available at the sign-up table and in the church office for you to notify your colleagues and friends.  Also, please “like” us on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/artforheavenssake. Every time you “like,” comment on, and/or “share” the Art Show posts, you introduce potential guests and community members to our annual art festival. 

Or you can sign up to be a sponsor to our show. Look for the form at the AFHS table. 

Art Show Hours 

Friday, Oct. 16, 6-9 p.m. 

Saturday, Oct. 17, 10-7 p.m. 

Sunday, Oct. 18, 11:30-5 p.m. 

Next Game and Conversation Night, Saturday, October 24

The next fun and friendly Game and Conversation Night will be on October 24 at 5:30 p.m. in Covenant Hall. See you then!

UCC Women's Retreat at Pilgrim Pines, November 6-8

First Congregational Church of Long beach is hosting a women's retreat November 6-8, at Pilgrim Pines Camp in Oak Glen. The theme is Learning to Walk in the Dark, based on a book of the same name by Barbara Brown Taylor. See flyer to register by October 16th.

Women's Retreat flyer

Children and Youth

Children and Youth Pumpkin Painting, October 10

See flyer for information. Contact Kathy McCool or Kara Tolan.

Helping Hands

Caring for Kin, October 2026

In the month of October, we will be collecting food for the Family Service Association of Redlands Thanksgiving food drive. They have provided the following list of recommended shelf-stable food items:

Thanksgiving Staples:

• Boxed stuffing mix
• Instant mashed potatoes
• Gravy packets or jars
• Canned green beans
• Canned corn
• Canned yams / sweet potatoes
• Canned cranberry sauce
• Canned pumpkin
• Cornbread mix

Additional Items:

• Boxed pasta/boxed rice
• Macaroni and cheese
• Cake mix
• Evaporated milk
• Boxed / shelf-stable milk
• Cooking oils
• Flour/sugar

Thanks for all you do to support our neighbors in need!

Environmental justice message

Eight actions you can take to protect birds where you live:

1. Reduce or eliminate pesticide and herbicide use.

2. Create or protect water sources in your yard.

3. Identify the non-native invasive plants in our region and work to remove them from your yard.

4. Make your windows visible to birds to prevent collisions.

5. Let your yard get a little messy - leave snags for nesting places and stack downed tree limbs - it's a great source of cover for birds during bad weather.

6. Close your blinds at night and turn off lights you aren't using. The lights can disrupt their steering senses.

7. Plant native plants to provide birds with food in the form of fruit, seeds, bugs and spiders.

8. Attract hummingbirds with sugar water.

Source: The National Audubon Society

The Wider Church

Third Quarter Donations for Wider Ministries

In the third quarter of 2026, RUCC Wider Ministries sent a donation to Heaps Peak Arboretum, Rim of the World Interpretative Association, Lake Arrowhead. Using Heaps Peak Arboretum as their laboratory, the Rim of the World Interpretative Association is a long -standing (40 years), volunteer, environmental group in the San Bernardino Mountains that introduces children to the environment, guides bird and nature walks, maintains trails, sponsors concerts, staffs the information booth at the Arboretum, and holds fall and spring native plant sales.

https://hparboretum.com/about/

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.

Around Town

• Redlands Events for October 2026

Calendar

This week at RUCC

Saturday, October 3

• 9:00 a.m. - Sacred Saturday
• 1:00 p.m. - Private Funeral

Sunday, October 4

• 9:15 a.m. - Kids' Zone
• 9:30 a.m. - Seekers (Founders Room)
• 10:30 a.m. - Sunday School (kids start in Sanctuary)
• 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. - RUCC Orientation (Founders room)

Monday, October 5

• 10:00 a.m. - Chair Yoga
• 3:00 p.m. - Church Growth Meeting (Founders room)
• 6:00 p.m. - Private meeting ( Micah room)
• 7:00 p.m. - Bible Study (Founders room)

Tuesday, October 6

• 11:30 a.m.- Artistic Journey Group

Wednesday, October 7

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

Thursday, October 8

• 7:00 p.m. - Social Justice group presents a League of Women Voters Forum on the Propositions in Covenant Hall (see article above)

Friday, October 9

• 7:00 p.m. - AA Meeting (Founders room)

Saturday, October 10

• 2:00 p.m. - Education children and youth pumpkin painting

Sunday, October 11

• 9:15 a.m. - Kids' Zone
• 9:30 a.m. - Seekers (Founders Room)
• 10:30 a.m. - Sunday School (kids start in Sanctuary, then Mosaic)
• 12:00 p.m. - Environmental Group (Youth room)

Useful Information

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