A message from our Pastor and Teacher

Sunday, June 23 ~ Fifth Sunday after Pentecost ~ "Who Are You?"

"Who are you? Whoo-oo? Whoo-oo? I really wanna know!"

But seriously, though... Who are you? What makes you who you are? Is it how you look? Your sense of humor? Your smarts or compassion? Is it your profession, or your gift, or talent? Let's travel with Jesus to the village of Gerasa and see how a certain man there was identified and what that might say about us.

Sunday's Scripture

Luke 8: 26 - 38

Caring for Kin for June - Youth Hope

Youth Hope recently put out a call for groceries on social media. Let's help restock their pantry shelves with items such as cereal, granola bars, canned goods, macaroni and cheese, crackers, and peanut butter and jelly!

Can you help? Are you handy?

Can you paint? Do sprinkler repairs? Get on a ladder to change lightbulbs? Clean pews or spot clean carpets? Do grounds clean-up? We are looking for a few good men or women who would be willing to be on a "Handyperson Call List" to do odd jobs at the church. Please contact Veronica in the office or Pam Dunn if you can help out. Materials will be provided, and you can set your own schedule!

Bon Voyage to our Youth Event Participants 

This Sunday, June 23rd, four of our youth, along with their chaperone Erin Beardemphl, will head to Long Beach for the UCC Western Regional Youth Event. 

They will attend workshops, service projects; they’ll get a chance to meet the President of the UCC… plus enjoy a day at Disneyland!

Thanks for representing RUCC at this important event: Eli Baker, Erin Beardemphl, Miriam Beardemphl, Sarai Simmons, and Cai Sternberg!

RUCC Kids and Youth Family Bowling Trip

Kids and Youth (and their families) are invited to Empire Bowl in Redlands for a fun afternoon of Bowling June 30 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.!

There's a bumper lane for bowlers 10 years and younger.

RSVP to admorics@redlandsucc.org — let us know how many bowlers will be in your party. (Parents are invited to come but we won’t make you bowl unless you want to!)

Next Book Group Meeting is July 7

The RUCC Book Group's next meeting is Sunday, July 7, at noon in Founders Room. The book is Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno Garcia and the presenter is Charletta Campfield.

"A spellbinding fairy tale rooted in Mexican mythology...Gods of Jade and Shadow is a magical fairy tale about identity, freedom, and love, and it's like nothing you've read before." (Bustle)

Two-Week study—Abortion in Historic and Biblical Context—to begin July 11 at RUCC

Please join us for two sessions starting next month: in person or online: Thursdays, July 11 and July 18, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

We will begin each session by watching a 30-minute video lecture from Westar Institute, followed by discussion, as we reflect on the various ancient precedents which are presented in each lecture.

Week 1: “In Context: Woman and Body in the Ancient World”

Week 2: “Immortal Soul and Abortion”

For more information, contact education@redlandsucc.org

Racial Justice reflection of the week

“I just felt a heavy responsibility as a teacher to really present a much more accurate picture of the history of the United States.” Juneteenth has been recognized for years within the Black community and history. Now, the day has become more publicly known. "In recent years, Juneteenth has gained a much wider recognition. It's only been since 2021 that it became designated as a federal holiday. Many Black people and Black communities around the country have celebrated Juneteenth. It's just becoming much more wider and much more visible now."

Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/06/16/juneteenth-2024-federal-holiday/74088612007/

From the Environmental Justice Team

This May, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide, a major contributor to global climate change, reached a record of almost 427 parts per million, the result of a steady increase from the 313 parts per million observed in 1958, when routine measurements of atmospheric CO₂ concentrations began. The 1958 value was already an increase from the atmospheric concentrations existing prior to the ramp-up in consumption of fossil fuels caused by the Industrial Revolution.

“Over the past year, we’ve experienced the hottest year on record, the hottest ocean temperatures on record, and a seemingly endless string of heat waves, droughts, floods, wildfires and storms,” said Rick Spinrad, administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in a statement. “We must recognize that these are clear signals of the damage carbon dioxide pollution is doing to the climate system and take rapid action to reduce fossil fuel use as quickly as we can.”

Source: “There is more carbon dioxide than ever in the atmosphere. That’s bad for the climate,” Rebecca Hersher, National Public Radio, 6/6/24: https://www.npr.org/2024/06/04/nx-s1-4992290/carbon-dioxide-record-high-atmosphere

When did social media stop being fun?

On July 13, the Inland Empire Braver Angels Alliance will hold a new, important workshop called Skills for Social Media. It is designed to help you improve the culture of posts and conversations in social media and provide a constructive alternative to the polarized and judgmental exchanges that dominate the current discourse. This can lead us all to more productive conversations and possibly pave the way for joint action with people of all political leanings.

 “Social media used to be fun. Then it became a dysfunctional place where family and friends turned into enemies. A surprisingly large number of us have felt that sting. But what if there was a way to bridge the rifts and divides? Braver Angels Social Media workshop is focused on the skills we need to do just that.” –Debbie Velasquez, So.California Braver Angels State Coordinator

PLEASE JOIN US!

Location: United Church of Christ, 168 Bellevue Ave., Redlands, CA 92373.

Date: Saturday, July 13, 2024

Time: 10AM - 1PM

How to register: Click on this link to register, or if you have questions, please reach out to Holly Highfield, co-chair of the Inland Empire Braver Angels Alliance, at hhighfield@braverangels.org.

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

• June 24 - Monday Bible Study
• June 29 - Memorial service for David Raley, folowed by a reception at RUCC
• June 30 - Thank You & Farewell to Elaine
• June 30 - Kids, youth and family Bowling (see article above)
• July 7 - Book Group (see article above)
• July 11 and18 - Two-week study on abortion. (see article above)
• July 13 - Braver Angels Social Media Workshop

The church calendar is found at redlandsucc.org

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