Join us for a series of concerts live-streamed from the St. John's sanctuary! Concerts are a benefit for Albuquerque Healthcare for the Homeless. Musicatstjohns.org

Join vocalist Michael Herndon and pianist Jim Ahrend for an hour of Christmas jazz!

Irene Garvin, a long time member, is celebrating her 100th BIRTHDAY on December 2nd!!! Let’s shower her with some old fashion birthday cards. She loves getting mail. Cards should be mailed to her address posted in the Church directory. Please write out a special memory of some church activity you shared with Irene. She will surely treasure the warmth and kindness through this simple gesture of recognition of her milestone Birthday!

As part of the Unplugged Afternoon Retreat in November, I put together the following video to help our faith community engage in the practice of doing a Prayer Walk. Many of us walk for our health, and many of us just need to get out of the house during COVID shutdowns. Whenever and wherever you walk, you can add a few elements to make it a spiritual practice that benefits your soul as well as your mind and body. There are so many clues and cues to the needs of our neighborhood and our city that you can take its when you do a Prayer Walk. The video is one you can watch ahead of time, or it is one you can take with you and listen to during your walk on your smart phone; either way, I hope it blesses you and your neighborhood when you are out and about next, and helps you to open your eyes to the small miracles of Gods’ work around you and draws you into the presence of God’s spirit. —Blessings, Jarrod Conyers

 DECEMBER SPECIAL OFFERING: Two Ministries for Children

This month, we have the opportunity to support two wonderful ministries dealing with children. The Methodist Children’s Home in Waco, Texas, has helped troubled children (ages 12-18) find a place to heal and grow in a loving Christian environment for over 125 years. Younger children thrive in homes of loving foster parents. “They (MCH) are here for me when no one else is.” “They never give up on us.” “I now know that God’s going to be there for me.

      A second Methodist-supported haven for children is Providence Place in San Antonio, Texas. Its motto says it all: “Giving God’s Children a Faith, a Family, a Future.” “Providence Place loved me and helped me make the best decision for my child without any pressure,” said one birth mother in the open adoption program. And, as an adoptive couple puts it, “It is indescribable the joy that Abby has brought into our lives.” Providence Place also helps young adults with physical and/or cognitive disabilities develop their full potential and learn to live on their own with minimal assistance.  Both of these fine ministries rely on our generous donations.

During Advent you are invited to participate in personal Advent Evening Prayer and Worship in the comfort of your home at the close of each day. Download this guide HERE.

Let’s share the spirit of Advent and Christmas by sharing photos of our at-home altar spaces, the lighting of Advent candles, and our holiday decorations! Please also consider sharing a favorite Advent & Christmas memory! Email your photos and a description to Shea at communicate@stjohns-abq.org.

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:

We don’t know the exact dates of travel, for Mary and Joseph south across the flatlands of the Jordan River, then over the hills surrounding Jerusalem and on into Bethlehem. It is believed it was during the winter months. They were forced to take this journey, due to an edict from the Roman government, in the late stages of Mary’s pregnancy with Jesus. The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, depending on the route taken is between 70-90 miles. (Read Luke 2)

Come join Mountain Cathedrals THIS Saturday December 5th. We will be exploring several major biotic zones in New Mexico at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge includes pinon-juniper woodlands, Colorado Plateau shrub-steppe, Great Plains grassland, and Chihuahuan desert zones.

Our journey will take us south on Hwy 25, approximately 60 miles from the Big I. We will be hiking the Mesa View Trail, which is a 5.5 mile loop. The trail difficulty is rated easy to moderate, an elevation rise from 4839 to 5096.

Please plan to meet at St John’s parking lot on Saturday December 5th at 7:30 am. The hike itself will be about 4 hours, the travel time will be 2 hours: one out and one back. Plan on being back in Albuquerque by 2pm, perhaps a little earlier.

Mountain Cathedrals will be making 2 hikes in December. The next one will be Saturday December 19th. Be looking for more details about this hike.

This is a difficult season for many, and this year our grief is even more tender and apparent. You are invited to join Pastor Pam in a Holiday Grief Workshop on December 12th, 12:00-4:00 pm by Zoom as we go through some helpful tools to acknowledge our grief, to help us better understand our feelings and emotions, and as we take sweet care of ourselves during this “unusual” holiday season. Please make a reservation by emailing Debbie at reception@stjohns-abq.org so that some materials may be sent to you. A Zoom invite will then be emailed to you.

The Youth and Children’s Ministries are hosting the movie “Elf” on a jumbotron in the large East St. John’s Parking lot on Sunday, December 13th 5:00-7:00PM. The HD 13’x23’ screen, courtesy of “db Production Services,” will be a perfect Drive-in movie set up for all of us socially distant in our cars. We will give away 1 Free Pizza to each family registered. We will also be hosting the first ever “Tacky Christmas Mask Contest” which could win you a $30 Amazon Gift Card. The event is free, and we are doing a Sock Drive to benefit ABQ Healthcare for the Homeless, so please bring a pack if you can. The current RED COVID LEVEL restricts the event for 10 cars, so RSVP soon HERE and let us know if your plans change.

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.

Click HERE to view all Sunday School Classes & groups! 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 with church Leadership Team members hosting. Zoom registration is HERE.

The Gruen family in the passing into glory of Marge

Ann Boland and family in the passing into glory of Bob

Roger and Donna Eaton in the passing of sister Virginia Davis

Donna Bruce in the passing of her brother

Karen and Hal Tidler in the passing of their brother-in-law

Elaine Montague is the recipient for the prayer quilt on display for November 23 - December 7.

In lieu of tying knots, please pray this prayer (or your own prayer) for Elaine: “Father, we ask that Elaine will know that you are by her side and that she will feel your deep tender love every moment of every day."

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