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I have much catching up to do with you as I haven’t submitted a report in awhile. So my apologies for a long report .
First, I would like to say a long overdue thank you to Justin Caldwell and all those who helped him with last June’s Youth Jazz Festival. This year’s event was even more successful that last year’s and it was a pleasure to see and hear such great music from today’s youth. What a gift to the community! Thank you, Justin, from all of us at RUCC and from Step by Step. The $700 raised for Step by Step is much appreciated.
Thank you also to Janelle Bradford for successfully coordinating Step by Step’s Get on the Bus program in May. She did a fantastic job of organizing this event which is so meaningful to female prisoners and their children. This is a monumental job and many of you helped with it, so thank you to you also. Janelle, you are awesome!
As many of you know, the Camera Club holds its monthly meetings in Covenant Hall. They have purchased a high quality projector which will be ceiling mounted in Covenant Hall. In July, the Board approved the purchase of a screen, mount, wiring, speakers, etc., the cost to be shared by the Camera Club and Citizens Action for Peace. With this new high quality equipment, we look forward to showing films of interest to the congregation and community on a variety of topics and issues.
Speaking of films, FaithActs has spent the summer previewing films for our film series. We now have a line up of films on such topics as the Iraq War and global warming. Look for a flyer soon on the film series schedule. If you have any suggestions for the series, please let us know – or join FaithActs and help us put this together!
In July, the Board also voted to support a Congregational Covenant initiated by California Interfaith Power and Light to “protect the earth’s ecosystems, safeguard public health, and ensure sufficient, sustainable energy for all.” We were asked to pledge to support one or more of the goals listed. These included education of our congregants on environmental stewardship, conducting an energy audit, and making energy efficiency improvements, to name a few. To see the entire covenant, go to http://www.interfaithpower.org/covenant.htm. You can also check the bulletin board for a hard copy of the covenant. I hope you will all participate in helping us to meet these goals. Unfortunately, our hopes to install solar energy have been dashed by the experts who were consulted. Evidently, the amount of shade surrounding our church structure prevents us from benefiting from solar systems. Do you have any other ideas for how we can be more energy efficient?
Step by Step is well on its way to becoming a 501C3 nonprofit organization. The board is planning a community event at
First
Baptist
Church
on November 11,
3 pm
, to bring greater awareness of the program to the community. In September, I joined Shawn in making a presentation to the City’s Human Relations Commission on the Step by Step program. Their response was very positive and they have offered to help us in any way they can. Our congregation still sponsors the bike workshop to work with parolees in repairing bikes which they then can keep. This is a popular program run by Richard Blakley, but volunteers are still needed to help with the bike repair. Workshops are held once every two months on a Saturday morning. If you can help, please contact Richard Blakley. If you are interested in helping with other projects, please contact me. It is gratifying to see the Step by Step program grow and to see the positive impact it is having on parolees.
The General Synod in June issued an immigration policy stating UCC’s position on immigration. At the September board meeting, the board decided that this was an important issue that warranted our involvement. It was agreed that we all needed more information on this complex issue, perhaps in the form of films, speakers, dialogue. Look for more specifics in the coming months.
RUCC has joined in coalition with other churches and concerned community members to form the Redlands Good Neighbor Coalition. This group is currently involved in opposing the construction of a new Wal Mart supercenter. Because of the low wages and poor treatment of their employees and the environmental effect of such a large center on the community, we consider this a matter of economic and environmental justice. If you are concerned about this, please get involved – join the Coalition!
The board continues to discuss how we can improve our communication with you. We believe that it is important to keep you informed and involved and to keep the communication going both ways. What can we do to improve communication with you? Your suggestions are welcome.
There is always much to be done. We at RUCC continue to speak out against injustice, to to take action to help our brothers and sisters in the local and greater community, and to welcome all. Please join us in putting your faith into action. There is much to be done.
Blessings to all,
Dianne Landeros
President
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