Midweek News - August 3, 2022 |
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
One of the things that seminary is supposed to train clergy to do is to think theologically. That is to take situations and apply biblical principals or stories to them. When people come to me for counseling, they aren’t just looking for a person to talk to, or answers, they want some explanation of where God is in the midst of everything or what a Christian answer might be. They can get the first of those things from a counselor, but the later they want from their minister.
I can say that this is an always evolving process. Like most things, I’m better at it now than I was, but I still have room to get even better. What this means for me as that I am often looking at things through the lens of theology. Looking for those things that I will come across and respond “that will preach” even if, and maybe especially if, it’s not specifically “religious.”
One of the reasons for the movie series we do, besides for being fun, is for this reason. And its not just so I can explicate Biblical themes using “secular” items, but also to help you begin to see these things yourself. To help you indirectly begin to think theologically, not through a step-by-step instruction, but through witnessing the ideas I pull out, and perhaps also witnessing ideas that I didn’t discuss or highlight, of which there are many.
The theologian Karl Barth said, in a rough paraphrase, we should keep the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. That is we cannot separate the religious from the secular, church life from regular life. They are inherently linked and intertwined, and they really need to be.
Now I will warn you that once you start thinking this way it becomes hard to turn off, even if you occasionally want to. Sometimes it would be nice to just be able to watch something without thinking about it theologically, and this especially true for me when I worship in other churches. But, it’s also good to know that my faith is the lens that helps me see and understand the world.
So, as we approach our last two musicals I would strongly encourage you, if you aren’t already, to look at the stories and look for Biblical themes, or Christian themes, or ways that the story has some impact on our faith. And then begin practicing this in other areas of your life, and if you want to talk about what you’ve discovered, or difficulties you might be having, I would love to talk with you about it.
Blessings,
John
What I'm Currently Reading:
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Brother of Jesus, Friend of God: Studies in the Letter of James by Luke Timothy Johnson
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The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in an Age of Disasters by Juliette Kayyem
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Freezing Order: A True Story of Money Laundering, Murder and Surviving Vladimir Putin's Wrath by Bill Browder
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Sunday, August 7, 2022
Scripture Readings: The scripture readings for Sunday, August 7, are Isaiah 1:1, 10-20; Psalm 126; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-23 and Luke 12:32-40. Next Sunday the message, "Best Days of My Life", will be on the movie In the Heights and the passages from 1 Thessalonians and Luke.
Questions to help you prepare: Usnavi wakes up every morning looking at a picture of "home" and says it was the best days of his life. How much does looking backward affect our lives? How does it affect how he looks at the present? How does that compare to Abuela Claudia and how she lives? How does that compare with being told to rejoice always?
Prayer for the week:
God of judgment and grace, you ask not for sacrifices
but lives of trusting faith that acknowledge your power and mercy.
Give us faith as deep and strong as Abraham's and Sarah's,
that we may follow you through all our days as did Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
10 a.m. Worship
For those worshiping in-person masks are optional.
We will have KN-95 masks available for those who wish to wear a mask.
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Sunday, July 31
"You Were in Love, or So You Said"
Rev. John W. Nash
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Did you miss a Sunday or just want to here the message again, you can view previous Sundays on YouTube. |
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In July, our worship series will be “The Gospel in Musicals.” We will show the movie on the Wednesday evening prior to the Sunday we are discussing that video at 5:30 pm.
Please bring snacks and/or dinner with you. All the movies will also be streamed to our website, under Music tab and use the password: musical. Once streamed to the website the movies will also be available to watch at your own schedule.
The Los Alamos Library also has copies of the movies, except for Hamilton, and they will be available in the church library after they have been presented.
August 3: In the Heights (2:22)
August 10: Into the Woods (2014 Disney Version – 2:05)
Looking forward to seeing you “at the movies” and we dare you not to sing along.
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Blessing of the Backpacks
Sunday, August 7
Let's kick off the start of a new year with a blessing! We invite students, teachers, and support staff to bring a backpack, computer or something they would take to school with them this Sunday morning at 10 a.m.
Pastor John will have a blessing over the new school year.
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Spiritual Retreat
Saturday August 20, 2022
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Our United Women in Faith invite you to join us on Saturday, August 20, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. for a Spiritual Retreat, Digging Deeper into Psalm 71: A Psalm of Continual Hope; Amid turmoil, how do we pray for God’s help in a way that finds continual hope? presented by Zena Kinne from Central United Methodist Church in Albuquerque.
The retreat is $25 and includes a box lunch from Jason's Deli in Albuquerque.
We will be carpooling down to Albuquerque together, contact Carol Mead.
See the attached flyer for more information and registration form.
UNM Valencia Campus Workforce Development Center
1020 Huning Ranch East Loop SW, Los Lunas
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The Social Justice Task Force
Tuesday, August 9 at 7 p.m.
Friendship Center and Zoom
Our next meeting will be the second Tuesday of August, 8/9/22, at 7 pm will be at the church in the Friendship Center or via zoom. To accommodate more attendance we will be offering hybrid access to the Task Force meetings.
For the August meeting, let's discuss the social issues that we would like to discuss as a group. All thoughts and ideas will be welcomed! Let's find ways to make the social change we want for our community and our country.
Please watch this 90 minute video on the History of Racism in America so we may discuss it at our next meeting.
John Nash is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Zoom Meeting Link
Meeting ID: 867 9259 1471
Passcode: 994068
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Choir Coming in September
Is the spirit urging you to join our music ministry?
If so, we have a place for you!
Look for more info coming soon...or speak with Valerie anytime.
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AV Training
Our you interesting in joining our AV team on Sunday mornings during worship? We will be doing two AV training classes coming up August 21 - Camera and August 27 - Easy Worship.
The trainings will be after the service on those Sunday mornings.
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Lost Air Fryer Grill Plate
If you attended the United Women in Faith picnic last Tuesday and happened to bring home a 8X8 black Air Fryer Grill plate please call
Sheila and Don, 505-672-1335.
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Called to the Fire
by Chet Bush
As the key witness to take the stand in the trial famously dubbed the “Mississippi Burning” case, Dr. Johnson, a young preacher fresh out of Bible college, became a voice for justice and equality in the segregated South. Overcoming fear and adversity and offering clarity to the event that led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Johnson’s story of love, conviction, adversity and redemption is a riveting account of a life pursuing the call of God and the fight for justice and equality.
All Booked Up will discuss this book on Wednesday, September 14, at 10 a.m. The book is available in the UMW/United Women in Faith library in the church library, and as a Hoopla eBook and Hoopla audio book at Mesa Public Library.
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Please Pray for Emmaus Walks
One of the biggest parts of the walk to Emmaus is the prayer that surrounds the entire weekend from Thursday straight through until Sunday evening, someone is praying over the team and pilgrims.
You can participate in the prayer vigil by signing up for a 30 minute time slot. Go to the website newmexicoemmaus.org on the front page of the website near the button, look under Prayer List Men's Walk and Prayer List for Women's Walk. |
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As we come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is easy to believe that life will return to how it used to be. Unfortunately, this is not the case for everybody. Many will leave the pandemic not better or the same as they were, but worse off than they used to be. Because of this, when FUMC approached Troop 2 to help establish a community food pantry, I was happy to undertake it as my Eagle Project. As a part of my project, me and some wonderful volunteers built shelves to put inside a bear-proof storage cabinet, and I will later be holding a food drive.
The establishment of an open-access food pantry in a central location in Los Alamos will help the homeless and food insecure families in our community. Anyone looking to donate food or other essentials can drop off food directly in the red cabinet outside of FUMC.
- Willow Chartrand, Life Scout
Ideas for items to donate for the summer:
bottled water bars of soap
cold cereals toilet paper
healthy snacks toothpaste
mac & cheese deodorant
pasta other than spaghetti
4 lb. bags of sugar
Tuna, hamburger, or chicken helpers
peanut butter
Please NO GLASS containers.
Items can be dropped to the Food Pantry.
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Emergency Response Team Training
With all the fires (and now floods) in New Mexico this year, we have an opportunity to Be "good neighbors" and help some of those who have lost their homes and livelihood. As Early Response Teams (ERT), we can clean up debris, sift through ashes for family memories, and clean up after floods so that those so badly affected an see their way to begin again.
The United Methodist Church assists with clean up after disasters through ERTs. Hap Escue will be teaching basic classes for ERT this summer, so that we can be certified by the church as members of an Early Response Team. So far, there are three classes scheduled:
- Albuquerque on August 20
- September in El Paso
The classes are scheduled for 8am - 5pm. The registration fee is $20.
If you have suggestions for other class locations and dates, please contact Hap.
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There are several ways you can make your
tithe and offering payments.
- Go to our website then click on "Give Securely Online" at the top right-hand column. Set up a one time or a reoccurring gift.
- "Text any dollar amount to 84321 to give."
- In-person drop off your check
- You can mail your checks to the church office: 715 Diamond Drive, Los Alamos, NM 87544
We thank you for your faithfulness!
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Have you download the Church Center App?
Through Church Center, you and your family can participate in worship, find information about events and opportunities, and deepen your faith.
Church Center is available for Apple and Android phones and tablets, and newer Kindle fire devices. You can also use a computer, through a web browser, to interact with all the same features.
For more information about the app click on the red Church Center App tab.
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August 1 Abbie Burk
August 7 Molly Morris
August 9 Emily Schulze
August 16 Don Enemark
August 23 Jamie Schulze
August 24 Nathan Johnston
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August 16 Tito and Cathy Hinojosa
August 23 Don and Sheila Enemark
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If you see your name missing or the date needs corrected
please email church office at office@lafumc.org.
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In our thoughts and prayers |
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Praise:
- Praise for our church leaders and Pastor John for their leadership.
- Praise that Carl & Ellen Bailey's home remodeling is on schedule and should be ready for occupancy by Labor Day!
New/Ongoing Prayers:
- Prayers for health and wellness for Carl & Ellen Bailey.
- Prayers for Judy Williams, Julie mom, as she heals and does habitation for her broken leg.
- Prayers for the communities in Kentucky who were experienced flooding and those communities going through heat waves.
- Prayers for Barbara, Gail Little's sister, for healing and relief of pain.
- Prayers for Chris Caudill's brother, Les Cornett, who has just been diagnosed with cancer. He lives in Florida.
- Prayers for Jeannie Gibson's sister, Charlene, who is ill with COVID.
- Prayers for those who suffer from addictions.
- For those dealing with mental illness.
- Our church family and friends at Aspen Ridge: Helen Benson and Earlene Seay.
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Health: Carl Bailey, Karen DeVries, Sarah Kelly, Herald Kruse, Fred Navier, Amy Cross and Trudy Filer.
If you have a prayer or concern you would like to add to the prayer wall please feel free to stop by and fill out a card, call the church office, or email office and we'll add your prayer to the wall. Don't forget when the prayer is answered to stop by and stamp the back it has been answered.
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Wednesday, August 3
5:30 p.m. Movie In The Heights shown in Sanctuary and online through our website
Thursday, August 4
7 p.m. Troop 122 in Fellowship Hall
Sunday, August 7
9 a.m. Bible History Class in Friendship Center and Zoom
10 a.m. Traditional Worship - Blessing of the Backpacks
In-person and Online
11:30 a.m. Inquirer's Sunday School Class via Zoom
3 p.m. Little Sunday School Class via Zoom
3:30 p.m. Youth Group at Church
7 p.m. S.T.A.R.S. support group in Fellowship Hall
Monday, August 8
1:30 p.m. Clubhouse Knitters
Ridge Park Clubhouse - 505 Oppenheimer Drive
Tuesday, August 9
7 p.m. Social Justice Task Force - Friendship Center/Zoom
The choir will take a break over the summer and resume practice in the fall.
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Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
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Communications:
Please send articles for midweek and bulletin by Tuesdays at NOON.
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