In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (I Cor. 11:25)

Several of the metaphors we have studied carry the message of both threat and promise: Fire can both destroy and cleanse; wind can represent both God’s judgment and inspiration. Wine has a similar duality. As wine as an alcoholic beverage can both enhance celebration and destroy lives, so wine in scripture is used as a symbol of both God’s fury and ultimate love.

Wine was obviously very important in the life of the biblical cultures. It is used at times of blessing, offered as part of the sacrifices, and is associated with joyful celebrations (e.g., “wine gladdens humans’ hearts,” Ps. 104:15.) Since it is so important, abstaining from wine is an important act of devotion of God. Priests are not to drink wine before performing their duties (Lev. 10:8-10) and the Nazirite pledge involved not only no barbering but also no grape products (Num. 6; John the Baptist.) The planting of vineyards symbolized prosperity while their destruction was cause for despair. Many authors warn that wine can lead astray (Prov. 4:17) and distract imbibers from facing reality (Is. 22:13), effects still seen today. The Song of Solomon connects wine and love (5:1) and is the source of “kisses sweeter than wine” (7:9.) Jesus seems to approve of this link when he changes water to wine to ensure the success of the wedding at Cana.

The dual symbolism of wine extends most importantly when applied to God. Jeremiah describes how he is overcome with God’s holy words like he has had too much wine (23:9.) Jesus compares his own teachings to new wine so powerful they will burst the old wineskins (Matt. 9:17.) But both Jeremiah and Revelation compare God’s righteous fury to wine as well. Remember how the Battle Hymn of the Republic puts it: “He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored”?

But for Christians, nothing is more meaningful than the cup of wine Jesus shared at the Last Supper. He takes the symbolism of Passover with its sacrificial lamb and cups of wine and transforms them into the elements of a sacrament. The wine of His blood has been shed to cover our sins and show us that God is in solidarity with us in the midst of our suffering. Wine and blood are identified with the same dual symbolism we have been tracing: judgment and suffering, leading to a celebration of the new covenant of eternal life.

Have you experienced the dual effects of wine, the alcoholic beverage? Lessons learned? Is the phrase ‘the fury of God’ reflective of God’s love in some way (e.g., his anger at sin)? When you drink the wine (or Methodist grape juice) that represents Jesus’ blood during communion, does it communicate how costly God’s love for us is?

-- Jack Nuzum

Updated Unplugged: Afternoon Retreat Following the Governors’ PHO, we have transformed the Unplugged afternoon retreat from a group gathering at Elena Gallegos, to guided personal retreat outside and at home. Let us still commit to go out doors and connect with God in our backyards and on a neighborhood walk this Sunday November 22. Registrants will receive an email containing links to a series of contemplative spiritual practices created by Pastor Kelly, Susan Brumbaugh, and Jarrod Conyers that will serve as a guide along our separate yet collective contemplative endeavors. Please sign up HERE.

We regret that Wednesday's livestream concert with Oscar Butler has been POSTPONED. We look forward to welcoming Oscar when the schedule next permits!

"Incarnation" is a new 5-session Advent and Christmas study by Adam Hamilton, bringing a message of hope in the context of this complicated season of pandemic and elections. What can we learn from the names used for Jesus by the prophets, the shepherds, the wise men, and the angels? Let us reflect together on the significance of the Christ child for our lives and for the world today. This Zoom study will be held on Monday mornings (Nov. 30, Dec. 7, 14, 21 and Jan. 4), with a 10:00 am study led by CLM Mike Furnish (mdfurnish@comcast.net) and Tuesday evenings (Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22 and Jan. 5) at 7:00 pm led by CLM Joe Marshall (jmarshall62@gmail.com). Please contact either leader if interested. The study book can be purchased from Cokesbury.com.

Would you be interested in submitting a daily devotional for the Newsletter? If so, send an email to Pastor Pam at prowley@stjohns-abq.org!

Please include the following items when writing a devotion:

A Focus Word or Phrase

A Scripture (it can simply be referenced)

The Body of the Devotion (one page is a good guideline)

A Prayer or a Spiritual Practice

St. John’s will live-stream a worship service on Sunday morning at 9:30 am (Contemporary) on the Abide Facebook page and 11:00 am (Traditional) on our Youtube Channel. We hope you’ll worship with us! (Pastors Pam and Kelly will lead, along with Shea Perry, Jim Ahrend, and Matt Greer). We hope that you’ll participate by singing and praying at home! Any questions? Email Matt at mgreer@stjohns-abq.org.

Missing getting together with your St John’s family after church? Join us in the virtual Sonshine Coffee Zoom immediately following the 11:00 am Worship. Church Leadership Team members starting with Jim Hickman will be hosting with the Pastors Pam and Kelly joining if they are available. Zoom registration is HERE.

The class always welcomes new faces, whether they wish to become permanent members, are interested in a particular study, or need a Sunday School family while on temporary assignment in Albuquerque. We typically alternate between modern books and books of the Bible. We are currently nearing the end of I’d Like You More If You Were More Like Me, by John Ortberg. Contact Regina Hunter, drhunter@nmia.com, to be added to the invitation list on Sundays and to learn of the next book.

Christian Classics Sunday School Class is meeting by Zoom at 3:30 PM on Sundays. We are studying The Wisdom Jesus by Cynthia Bourgeault. Contact Jack Nuzum at jcnuzum@juno.com to join in.

Here are opportunities of ways you can help out during the Christmas season. We KNOW you CANNOT support all these organizations, so please pick and choose where your passion leads you!

Because of Bethlehem, Love is Born, Hope is Here, an Advent Study by Max Lucado, led by Karen Tidler

Canada del Ojo (~ 15 miles NW of Rt. 66 Casino; 47.5 miles from the church), Saturday, Nov. 21

Hidden in the desert and gentle mesas here are picturesque sandstone hoodoos and homesteads with interesting histories. This is set in the watershed of the Rio Puerco, an area with many stories of tribal conflicts and growth, histories of violent and gentle geologic events, and a stunning variety of living things. In this time of social distancing and stay-at-home, it is worth contemplating the many wonders that we share. (photos from this trip)

Moderate (5 miles, a few hundred feet of vertical; some rocky walking)

Meet in the east parking lot at St John’s UMC at 8:00 AM. Plan to return by 3 PM.

Contacts: Mike Furnish, CLM (884-6626; mdfurnish@comcast.net) or Rev. Kelly Giese (kellyg@stjohns-abq.org).

Angel Tree, the ministry where children of those incarcerated are given gifts at Christmas in the name of their parent(s), has been supported by St. John's for many years. Once again, it's that time of year, but in 2020, nothing is quite the same. We'll be having a “drive through” Angel Tree this year! You'll have two opportunities to pick your Angels, between 10 am and noon on Saturday, November 14th, and the same time again on Saturday, November 21st,. Volunteers will be in the east parking lot of the church in front of the entrance to the Family Life Center. There, in the comfort of your car, we'll provide you with information about the children, and suggestions for the gifts you so generously provide, year after year. A gift of clothing, and a gift for fun, with the suggested amount to be spent on each remaining at $20. You'll pick your Angel, (although not from the tree) and go off to do your shopping!

The individually wrapped gifts, with the “Angels” attached, will be returned via another “drive through” event at the same location, on Saturday, December 5th, once again between 10 am and noon.

If you are not comfortable doing the shopping during these covid-19 days, but still want to support the program, you can pick your Angel, and give us the $40 at that time. Volunteers will do the shopping and gift wrapping for you.

Should you be interested in volunteering in some way to help with this ministry, please call Kathy Scherlacher at 505-823-6692.

Each year this Christmas-time ministry brings great joy to the children and the love of Christ to their parents, and this year, perhaps even more, as we all deal with the pandemic. Thank you St. John's for your time, your gifts, and your support of Angel Tree.

St. John's Missions Team is answering an urgent call from COMMUNITY OF HOPE, a new church development of the NM Conference, to help provide non-food needs. As the winter months approach, many of the people who receive meals from Community of Hope are also in need of warm items to battle the cold weather. So, on Saturday, November 21, from 10 am - 12 noon, we will host another drive-in, drop-off at St. John's east parking lot and collect any of the following items:

Men's XL Coats or Jackets (new or gently used)

Men's XXL Coats or Jackets (new or gently used)

Blankets

Hats

Gloves

Scarves

If you have any of the above items (gently used) that you are no longer needing, or go shopping this month, or have products delivered to you, or just want to order some of these items on-line, think about the Community of Hope needs. We’ll collect all these items on November 21st!

If you’d rather give $$ instead of buying the products yourself, you can bring it that night, mail it to the church, or go to the St. John’s online giving. Be sure to write "COATS" in the memo field of your check.

The Missions’ Team thanks you so much for your generosity!!!

To better streamline all the ways we communicate, the Youth Group has adopted the Slack app to merge and integrate the our direct messaging, digital calendar, Zoom account, and all our online documents. It is easy to join the threads that apply just to you. Join in here: bit.ly/joinumyfslack1

Summer is past, and as we get back to school? Our Solid Ground youth group will resume meeting every Sunday at 4:00-5:15PM with new games, discussions, and faith-building activities plus new features of the student led Soap Box and Top 5s. Log-in. at: bit.ly/Fall2020UMYF (case sensitive).

While we are not yet allowed to sing together, stay informed about the activities of the Sonrise Youth Choir, including weekly Zooms on Thursdays at 4:00 pm (Jackbox games!!), and musical workshops in the Fall! Email Shea at sonrisechoir@gmail.com!

The announcements below include using the program "Zoom" to group-video chat. You can find a tutorial on how to use Zoom HERE!

Join St. John’s Music Director Matthew Greer as he talks about what’s going on in the music ministry, and about music he loves. Click here to join the session!

There are few more perplexing issues for people of faith than that of unmerited suffering. We understand when good people prosper and evil people suffer. But what about when good people suffer for nothing that they did? That is Job's situation and the book that bares his name is a complex examination of the issue.

Join us for a Zoom study of this book (for four weeks) and then the delightful Old Testament stories of Ruth and Esther the final two weeks. The Bible study will take place on Mondays, October 19-Nov. 23, 2020, at either 10 AM or 7 PM. You may join either class or jump between them. If interested, or if you have questions, contact Jack Nuzum at jcnuzum@juno.com or 505-265-5241. Jack will be leading the discussion and will send out a Zoom invitation before each meeting.

Log in and have coffee (or tea) and chat with Pastors Pam and Kelly! Zoom link HERE.

Meet by zoom with Pastor Pam for a 30 minute spiritual practice every Thursday afternoon. We will explore different ways to pray, to commune with God, to nurture our spiritual lives with Christ through the Indwelling Holy Spirit. Space is limited, join the class HERE.

A few weeks ago, Matt began the announcements by saying, “In this particular time ... we feel sometimes like we’re a community in exile...” Well, we always have been, and always for the same few reasons: new opportunities; ostracism; spiritual renewal; the necessities of our profession; or escape from pursuit, persecution, or conditions. St. John’s email Bible study will begin a new topic on November 16 to visit with some of the individuals and communities that went before us in the faith, both as exiles and as refugees. To receive daily study tips by email, write or call Regina Hunter at drhunter@nmia.com or 294-2877. If you prefer to study on your own, download the study guide HERE.

Anyone is welcome--no experience is necessary. (And, yes! It's okay for Christians to meditate.) If you want to learn more prior to starting, the sessions will be similar to ones she leads and records on YouTube. Each session will be hosted on Zoom. HERE is the zoom link. Please contact Susan Brumbaugh, counselor@stjohns-abq.org, or 505-506-6716, if you have questions.

Richard Batt is the recipient for the prayer quilt on display for November 9 - November 22.

In lieu of tying knots, please pray this prayer (or your own prayer) for Richard: “Father, we ask that you shower Richard with blessings and health for a speedy recovery from surgery."

With the Church currently closed, the prayer shawls have taken up residence with Hunt and Ann. They are actually quite comfortable in the coolness of their new home but they would love to be of comfort to someone in need of God’s love. Please contact Ann at mapalook@comcast.net or 768-7013 if you would like a shawl. If you call, the basket will await your visit in their courtyard. Blessings -

It seems like a very long time since we have been able to be together as a church family. Our staff has worked hard to keep us connected through virtual worship services, drive-in or small in-person services, and some Sunday School classes and other groups have been able to continue via Zoom, meeting safely at the church, in homes or even in parks. The Leadership Team wants to make sure everyone in our church family is being contacted in some way, especially those of our members and friends who might not have regular contact with people. We are looking for volunteers to help us call a small number of members to find out how they are, to let them know we are thinking of them and to find out how the church can help them. If that sounds like something you would enjoy doing and sending information back to the church about these members, please contact Barbara Stanfield, barbarastanfield@comcast.net. Thank you for considering helping in this important ministry of reaching out to our St. John’s family.

How we support you and your family in prayer during this difficult time? Prayers for health, employment, peace? Please send your prayer requests to the Prayer Team: mapalook@comcast.net or submit them on our website HERE.

It is hard to get out and many people shouldn’t. Is there something you need delivered from the store? If we are able to help, we have a few volunteers who would like to serve as Go-fers for people who need something but cannot get it on their own. Please pass any requests on to Jarrod at c.care@stjohns-abq.org

The St. John's staff includes a licensed mental health counselor who is available to meet virtually (using a smartphone or computer) in a secure online platform during these anxious times. If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally, counseling is available. Click here or contact Susan Brumbaugh at 505-506-6717 or counselor@stjohns-abq.org for more details about session and cost information. Susan also has a Youtube Channel with mindfulness tips HERE.

   This month by giving to UMCOR we have a way of helping people and communities devastated by disasters. This year UMCOR is helping Louisiana communities recovering from not one but two hurricanes, Laura and Delta! And UMCOR is known for sticking around for the long haul after the headlines are gone and the world has moved on.

      This year, of course, we are also faced with the world wide disaster of Covid 19. Through the Sheltering in Love Campaign, UMCOR and Global Ministries have collaborated with health care professionals, missionaries, disaster management coordinators and faith leaders to help folks from the Philippines to Pennsylvania. UMCOR has helped isolate communities of Brazil who may receive no other help as well as the unemployed and hungry in the big cities of the US.

  St. John's people have been so very generous in helping those in need in New Mexico. Through UMCOR we can broaden our reach. Please give generously any time in November.

In accordance with the New Mexico Department of Health order, our facility will be closed until further notice. We will keep you apprised as things develop.

Your St. John's pastors and staff are still very much on the job, and are available to you during this time. Please reach out to us if we can help you in any way!

www.stjohns-abq.org

(505) 883-9717

2626 Arizona St NE | Albuquerque, NM 87110

Office Hours (call only): Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm