COVID Update
Once again, COVID cases are on the rise across the United States. Since many of you live in other parts of the country, we thought you would like to know how McCurdy and the state of New Mexico are doing. Here are some numbers from early January 2022.
New Mexico COVID-19 update:
2,514 new cases, totaling 361,629
Thirty-six additional COVID-19 deaths,
7-day positivity rate 20.6%
SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Wednesday (1/5/2022) announced 2,514 additional COVID-19 cases. Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases by county are (list of area counties):
- 923 new cases in Bernalillo County
- 3 new cases in Los Alamos County
- 15 new cases in Rio Arriba County
- 15 new cases in Taos County
MMCC has had virtual schooling for Pre-K due to a broken water heater, so for this week, no cases reported.
McCurdy Charter School started back to school on Wednesday, January 5th. Several cases were reported on Monday and the charter school building was closed along with our after school care. McCurdy Charter School is currently providing virtual learning.
|
|
Spotlight
on Sarah Kraner Allen
On January 1, 2022, Sarah Kraner Allen joined the MMCC staff as the new Director of Development and Church Relations.
Sarah is a retired licensed local pastor and a previous health care and public heath director. She is skilled in working with all types of people to build community alliances.
Sarah has over 35 years of experience in writing grants and securing multiple extramural funding streams for ambulatory health systems, including Federally Qualified Health Centers, homeless programs, HIV/AIDS education and treatment and veteran, Native American, migrant and immigrant health and social concerns. Being able to secure funding has been a result of becoming knowledgeable about groups of people and their needs and concerns as well as presenting their stories in a way that encapsulates not only need but achievable outcomes.
Sarah has a Masters in Community Health Education from UNM and is halfway through her Masters of Divinity from United Theological Seminary. She became a Licensed Local Pastor so she could minister to others in that capacity as she completes seminary.
Sarah is carrying on the call to ministry and service that has been in her family multiple generations, which includes her aunt, Irene Cole, who served as a teacher, Home Missionary, and volunteer at McCurdy for more than half a century. Sarah is married to Terry Allen and has one adult son, Kenny.
Sarah shared, “I am very excited to join the McCurdy team and to be part of such meaningful work and mission. McCurdy has a special place in my heart, and I will do my best to enhance the long-term stability so McCurdy can continue to be ‘The Light in the Valley’ for future generations.”
Please join me in welcoming Sarah Allen to McCurdy!
|
|
If your church or VIM team would like to provide some support to McCurdy Ministries during the upcoming winter months, here is a short list of a items that are needed currently.
For Food Services:
- dish towels
- dish wash cloths
- dish rack to dry dishes
- paring knives
-
food storage containers (LINK)
For the After School Program
- play doh (small to medium sizes)
- glitter pens
- black and color computer printer cartridges HP61 (A9022A)
However, the easiest way for teams and individuals to help provide needed supplies is for folks to send Walmart or Lowe’s gift cards. That way, McCurdy staff can use them to buy materials when needed for any of the MMCC departments.
|
|
Recipe of the month
Here’s a great recipe to try during the upcoming months when you are homebound by some winter weather. It’s from McCurdy’s very own collection of recipes, Recipes of a Century Past, the recipe book that was published in 2012 to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ministry. This recipe was contributed by Doug (and Debbie) Hocking, Class of 1968. Enjoy!
Cashew Mole Chicken Enchiladas
Poached chicken:
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 3 whole chicken breast halves
- water
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon dried onion
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
Mole sauce:
- 1/4 cup sesame seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon cilantro
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 2 tablespoons orange rind
- 1/2 cup cashews
- 3/4 cup chili powder (medium, hot, or mild)
- 2 tomatoes, peeled
- 4 ounces bitter chocolate
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1-1/2 cups chicken stock
Other ingredients:
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 32 flour tortillas
To make poached chicken: In a large pot heat chicken stock to boiling. Add chicken and press down. Add enough water to just cover. Return to boil. Reduce to lowest simmer. Add salt, onion flakes, 1 tablespoon of chili powder. Cover. Simmer below boiling for 40 minutes. Move chicken occasionally to make sure all meat is submerged. Remove from heat. Remove chicken and allow to cool. Pour off all but 1-1/2 cups stock, reserve. Remove skin and bone. Break up chicken with a fork into long strands. Return to pot and stir. Add some of the reserved stock if chicken looks dry. Reserve.
To make mole sauce: Heat a dry skillet with a heavy bottom, add sesame seed, cinnamon, coriander, ground cloves, cumin, and cilantro. Toast a few minutes to release aromas. Remove from heat and reserve in a separate container.
In the same skillet, add olive oil and heat until very hot. Add minced onion and garlic and cook until soft. Add raisins, orange rind, cashews, chili powder, and reserved spices. Add tomatoes and heat thoroughly. Remove from heat and place in the bottom of a food processor equipped with a chopping blade. Add chocolate and brown sugar. Process until smooth. Add stock and process one minute. Return to pan and cook over low heat 5 to 10 minutes. Add more stock if too thick and cook a few minutes more.
To assemble: Reheat chicken. Open a tortilla on a plate and fill with about 3 tablespoons of chicken covering with hot mole. Fold up the sides over the middle. Cover with hot mole sauce. Repeat with second tortilla. Top with a little sour cream. Get another plate and tortilla and repeat the process.
|
|
Hymn of the month
Another favorite carol sung throughout the holiday season is “Joy to the World”. Following is an interesting story about the origins of this special hymn that reminds us of the true joy and glory of our Lord and Savior.
The Story Behind “Joy to the World” by Isaac Watts
“‘Joy to the World’ is a popular hymn that was inspired by Psalm 98 as paraphrased by Isaac Watts. Isaac Watts wrote ‘Joy to the World’ as a poem under a tree at the Abney Estate near London while meditating on Psalm 98. He first published it in 1719 as part of his hymns and spiritual songs in his book called ‘The Psalms of David’. The Hymn appears on page 253 of the book as Psalm XCVIII second part. Also, it was tagged the ‘Messiah’s Coming and Kingdom’.
Actually, the hymn was not written for the Christmas purpose which marks the first coming of Christ. Obviously, it was written for the glory of the Lord and his second coming. In fact, the people of that era started celebrating Christmas in 1856. Before that time, Christmas was considered a criminal offense because they believed the Bible did not command them to do so. And the Hymn was written around that era of Christianity.
Moreover, Psalm 98 and ‘Joy to the World’ connected nothing with the birth of Christ and the Christmas celebration. The lyrics of the hymn do not relate anything to Christmas other than Joy it brings to the World. In particular, ‘Joy to The World’ is the focal point of the hymn that sticks with the Christmas celebration. In addition, part of the first line also declares that the Lord has come. But in general, it describes neither the birth of the Lord nor other elements of Christmas like a manger, wise men, and Angel.
In the words of the hymn, much attention was given to nature in the body of the first and second verse to shout and sing joyfully for Christ. In addition, the third and fourth verses declare His victory over sin and sorrow, as well as His righteousness and love. Again, rather than proclaiming the birth of Christ, the Hymn focuses on the triumphant comeback of Christ in glory. Generally, the Hymn advocates how Christ will rule and establish his judgment in his second coming. And when he considered how glorious and righteous that would be, it declared ‘Joy to the World’. In short, the hymn proclaims the joy for all mankind in his first coming that will manifest in his second coming.”
To read the full article: LINK
Do you have a favorite hymn or scripture that helped you through a difficult time? If so, would you be willing to share your story with me and with our readers? If so, please email it to me at lpolson1966@gmail.com.
|
|
Beautifully Shaken
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight."
“I am in a season of renewal.
At first, that might sound refreshing and full of hope, but the truth is, renewal is only necessary when something needs to die.
I'm going through a time where nothing makes sense. And in this confusion, God is walking me through the funeral of my own understanding.
It all started with the sudden loss of my brother-in-law that has left a gaping hole in our family. Next, I had to leave a 12-year career I loved. Then my daughter left for college, leaving my husband and me to reconnect and rediscover ways to fill up our newly emptied nest.
Often, I compare what is going on in my life to a snow globe. I'm the figurine standing at the bottom of the globe. God has picked me up off of my stable shelf and started shaking me, releasing all the colorful particles of my life. They taunt me as they swirl past me and bounce off of my skin. I try to hold on to them, but they are moving too fast for me to grasp. They cloud my vision, and I find myself waking up each morning feeling as if I am living someone else's life.
And in this time of upheaval, meditating on Proverbs 3:5-6 has shown me the source of my cloudy vision. The verses read, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight."
These verses instruct me to know Him, not understand Him. Now I see that my desire for clarity has been blocking all opportunities for me to trust God and to know Him more deeply. I have been mistakenly focused on trying to make sense of how all the particles will fall on this proverbial path God has for my life.
A close friend of mine often says, ‘When it's odd, it's God.’ And in this odd season, I'm humbly learning His ways will never come down to the level of my understanding. I'm finding that, as I let go of my need to figure everything out, my trust is being renewed.
God has designed each one of us, like a snow globe, to be shaken. And when we feel ourselves being pulled off of our stable shelf, we don't have to fear or figure it out. We just need to keep our focus on the One who has us firmly in His hand. Once secure in this trust, we can lean back and watch in wonder as the particles of our lives fall where they may.
A snow globe is the most beautiful right after it has been shaken, and as we learn to die to our need for understanding, so are we.
Jesus, thank You for holding us so securely as we wrestle with the ‘whys’ of life. Help us to keep our eyes on You and know that Your plans for us are far better than anything we could imagine. Replace our need to understand with the desire to know and pursue You above anything else. We praise You that You are a God who desires to be known and experienced. In Jesus' Name, Amen.”
To read the full article: LINK
|
|
Happy New Year!
McCurdy Ministries Community Center creates hope and empowers the lives of children, youth, adults and families through education, life skills, and faith-based programs in Española, New Mexico.
We invite you to join us in creating hope and empowering the lives of the children and families in Española Valley in 2022.
On behalf of the McCurdy Ministries Community Center Board and staff as well as the children, youth, adults, and families MMCC serves in the Española Valley, we wish you and your family a Happy New Year!
|
|
Through our Volunteer Newsletter, we are providing the latest information about volunteer opportunities at McCurdy Ministries Community Center and sharing helpful tips about planning a mission trip to Española. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or suggestions about articles or resources. Send your suggestions or questions to Linda Polson at lpolson1966@gmail.com. Linda is an MMCC Board Member and experienced VIM Team Leader.
|
|
McCurdy Ministries Community Center creates hope and empowers the lives of children, youth, adults and families through education, life skills and faith-based programs
in Española, NM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
