What's Happening @ RUC

Here are some of the highlights of life at Rockville United Church.

For a more detailed look at our activities, please click here for a link to our calendar.

Garden Ministry

The RUC Garden ministry will Share the Harvest of vegetables and fruits from the RUC community garden and members own gardens on Sundays after the service. We will continue as long as the earth keeps providing. Pay what you can; all donations go to the Manna Food Pantry.

Begin Again Sunday is September 20th!

Attention Families of Children and Youth of RUC:

Mark your calendars for Begin Again Sunday on September 20th!

The Sunday School teachers and Youth leaders are excited to start another year of helping the children and youth to grow their faith!

Nursery: (Infants through 3-year-olds) care available beginning at 10:30 am each Sunday.
Sunday School: (Ages 4 through 5th grade) meet during the worship service each Sunday. The children go downstairs with their teachers to the classroom immediately following the Word for Children.
NOISY/Youth Group: (6th through 12th grade) youth gather on the 1st & 3rd Sundays each month, 12-2pm. Sunday, September 20, we will meet in the youth room downstairs immediately after service to enjoy lunch, catch up after the summer, and begin planning activities for the upcoming school year.

Children and Youth Registration
Please take a moment to fill out our required registration form for children and youth.
This essential form ensures that we have updated contact information, details about any allergies and accessibility needs, a photo release, and more. Contact Pastor Jennifer with questions.

Safe Church Training - September 20, 12:15-1:30pm

The Faith Formation team will offer Safe Church Training following worship in the Conference Room. A light lunch will be provided. Childcare will also be provided.

Safe Church training is encouraged and open to everyone in the congregation. The training is required and must be renewed at least every three years for all teachers, subs, helpers, and nursery volunteers.

Please RSVP to Pastor Jennifer at jennifer@rockvilleunitedchurch.org if you can attend the training and whether you need childcare. Please also RSVP if you would like to take the training, but cannot make this time, so we can accommodate you in our next training.

Our ministries to children and youth include nursery care, faith formation classes for pre-school through grade school, and youth activities for middle and high school students. We have a vibrant team of Sunday School teachers, youth leaders and nursery staff and volunteers. To help these ministries thrive, we need you to grow our ranks of leaders and substitutes.

Attending Safe Church training helps all of us ensure RUC continues to provide a caring and loving environment for people of all ages to grow in faith. Attending the training does not commit you to becoming a teacher or volunteer (unless you’d like to!).

Panel Discussion on Community Reach

On September 20 and September 27, there will be panel discussions on the history, present and future of Community Reach of Montgomery County in Kaseman Hall immediately following the worship service. Learn about the special role RUC played and continues to play in the critical mission of CR. Come hear Rev. Mansfield Kaseman, RUC Pastor Emeritus, discuss the history and mission of Community Reach along with Donna Perry, Chair of the Kaseman Medical Clinic and Sarah Basehart, the Executive Director of Community Reach. Hope to see you there!

New Date: Write to Get Out the Vote!
The next Get Out the Vote (GOTV) writing party will be on Sunday, October 4, in Kaseman Hall. Please join us after worship for writing and snacks. We are writing nonpartisan postcards with Reclaim Our Vote. We invite all to come write postcards, donate Forever postcard stamps or both. Materials, instruction and snacks will be provided.

Grow the Circle Wide: Progress on the kitchen renovation!

The kitchen renovation has been a much longer process that we had originally hoped. Last week’s health inspection revealed a couple of items that need to be fixed. Stay tuned for further developments. We very much look forward to a rededication and reopening!

On-going events

Meditation Groups at RUC

Please join us for meditation at the church. No experience necessary and instruction is offered. Meditation groups meet on three different days:

Sunday evening 7-8:30 pm meditation involves a more traditional Zen format.
Mondays 4:30-5:30 pm in the sanctuary.
Tuesday afternoon meditation from 4:45-6 pm.

All groups are led by RUC member Martine Palmiter, who is a Zen teacher. Email her with questions: mpalmiter@gmail.com.

Men's Meditation Group
The new season of the Men's Mindfulness Meditation group is underway - Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. Further information is available in the group newsletter or contact the group facilitator Vic Caldarola.

Women's Breakfast: (second Saturday of each month)

The Women’s Breakfast will be meeting at 8:30 a.m. each month at The Silver Diner, 12276 Rockville Pike.

Men's Breakfast: (third Saturday of each month)

The Men's Breakfast will be meeting at the Brooklyn Deli (1089 Seven Locks Road), to allow us to take advantage of the outdoor tables, weather permitting. We have not been able to provide a consistent Zoom connection, so the breakfast will be only in person. Hope you can join us at 8:15 AM for good food and fellowship.