March 3, 2023

Dr. Belinda Forbes, Missionary to Nicaragua, Presents on Monday March 6

One of the missionaries St. John's sponsors is Belinda Forbes, a dentist missionary to Nicaragua. We've just completed arrangements with Belinda to visit with St. John's while she is visiting in the US. She will give a presentation on her work in Nicaragua on Monday, March 6, at 3 p.m., in the Family Life Center. Please mark your calendars and plan to come meet Belinda and hear about how God is using her in Nicaragua. Questions? Contact Donna at donnabruce@comcast.net. Click here to read more about Dr. Forbes and her work.

Ladies Book Club Meets March 6

The Ladies Book Club meets Monday, March 6 at 1 p.m. in Room 245. We will be discussing “Miss Benson’s Beetle” by Rachael Joyce. This could very well be a comedic movie with Miss Benson, with no expertise, launching an expedition to New Caledonia to look for a golden beetle. All are welcome to see how the search ends. Questions, contact mapalook@comcast.net.

Celebration of Life for Kathleen Goodwin on March 11

The family of Kathleen Goodwin invites you to join in celebrating her life at St. John’s Family Life Center March 11 at 1 p.m. Light refreshments will be served, please click here to RSVP. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a homeless or animal shelter, or St. John’s Food Ministry, Garden Ministry, or Visual Arts Ministry. 

Mountain Cathedrals Hike on March 11

The next Mountain Cathedrals hike is Saturday, March 11 at Piedra Lisa Trail, Sandia Mountains.

Lent is a time to return to the core of our faith. That we depend on our Lord is beautifully expressed in the metaphor of the vine (John 15). Let us consider this as we ponder amazing views of the towering cliffs of the Sandias above us and the city of Albuquerque spread below us, all visible in a sweep of the eye. Please join us for this hike of meditation, sweat, and peace. 

Logistics: Meet at 8 a.m. (still Mountain Standard Time!) at St. John’s east parking lot or 8:30 a.m. at the Piedra Lisa Trailhead just outside of Albuquerque (Google Maps: Piedra Lisa – South; please RSVP in either case). Plan to be back to the cars by 2:30 pm. Hike is about 5 miles, elevation gain 1,300 feet, so moderate to strenuous. We may include a new-to-us spur hike. Bring lunch, water, and sun protection. Organizer: Mike Furnish, 505-440-7292; mdfurnish@comcast.net.

Save the Date for Upcoming Hikes

April 2 (Palm Sunday): Sunrise hike to Travertine Falls; return to church before 9 a.m. 

May 20: Paliza Canyon Goblin Colony (Jemez Mountains)?

Trinkets & Treasures Sale April 14-15

The Trinkets & Treasures Sale is sponsored by United Women in Faith (UMW) and will be held in the Family Life Center on Friday, April 14 from 3 - 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 15 from 9 a.m - 1 p.m.

Calling all sellers! Do you have all those trinkets and treasures laying around your house that you thought your kiddos might eventually take but you’ve found out they have no interest in them whatsoever! Or are you a crafter and are overflowing with your creations and want to sell them somewhere? Then the Trinkets & Treasures Sale is just for you!  Rental fee for an 11’ x 11’ booth space is $50; the fees collected will benefit local charities. You determine your own prices for your items, make your own change, bag or package the items sold and keep what money you make.

Calling all buyers! We know you will find some trinket or treasure you’ve been waiting for in your shopping excursions. You will not want to miss this sale! Chef Tim will provide a snack bar so you can grab something to eat while you browse and shop! All profits from the snack bar will benefit St. John’s Food Ministries.

Mark your calendars for April 14-15, dig out those trinkets and treasures to sell, and wear comfortable shoes while you shop for some wonderful bargains! Contact Regina Hampton at  hamptonmason1@msn.com  or Donna Bruce at donnabruce@comcast.net with questions. Click here for flyer and or here for registration form.

Plan Your Walk to Emmaus April 27-30

The Walk to Emmaus is a 72 hour cloistered weekend dedicated to spiritual growth and Christian teaching. Consider what can happen with this much time to focus on the grace of the Lord! There is a Men's Walk to Emmaus scheduled April 27-30 at Inlow Baptist Camp south of Tijeras in the Manzano Mts. A Women's Walk will be held later. If you have gone on a Walk before, this would be an opportunity to sponsor someone who has not. If you have not, and would like more information, please contact Linn or Mike Furnish at 505-884-6626. 

Read "Word a Day" Lenten Series by Pastor Tiffany Hollums

Pastor Tiffany Hollums decided that each day during Lent, she would choose a word to prayerfully reflect upon. A volunteer suggested reading the lectionary texts and then choosing a word that stood out to her from those passages. Tiffany is sharing her Lenten reflections here and hopes to inspire our readers to join in her journey. Click here to see all of articles in this series, and read a recent article below:

Day 6:  SACRIFICE

READINGS:  Psalm 32; Genesis 4:1-16; Hebrews 4:1

REFLECTION 

What does God want me to sacrifice?  What could I possibly give that would come close to all God has sacrificed for me?  But is that the point?  

Could it be that what matters to God is not the specifics of ‘what’ we give, but ‘why’ we give.  What is our heart motivation?  Did Cain really give freely to God?  Or was Cain upset because the offering was for Cain rather than for God?  

God knows why we give what we give (or don’t give, for that matter).  We can’t stand and wait to see what everyone around us is giving.  God wants the first fruits of our heart-the very best we have regardless of how it might compare with others sacrifices.  God is focused on our ‘why’.  Our heart.  

What can you give to God this season that truly comes from your love of God?

Invite a Friend to Easter Worship

Invite a friend to worship with us during Holy Week and on Easter Sunday! In addition to having invitation cards available for the congregation to handout, we would like offer to mail invitation cards to family and friends. Whether they are in Albuquerque, or would join us online from far away, send us an address for someone you would like to invite to Easter worship and we will mail them an invitation. To have an invitation mailed out on your behalf, email the address(es) to Communications Director Nicole Creaturo at ncreaturo@stjohns-abq.org.

Fish Fry Announcements

Fish Fry Week 1

We had an exciting first Fish Fry Dinner on Friday, February 24! That night:

• 421 Meals were served
• 14 Firefighters who were donated tickets joined us
• 96 Volunteers helped make the event possible (including 4 Boy Scouts)

Friday Evening Workers Needed

Because of unforeseen events we may lose workers on Friday nights, so if you did not sign up to work but are available to work, please stop in and see Wayne. He will fit you in where help is needed This is most needed for the late shift which is from 5:15 to 7:30 p.m.

Dish Washing Crew Needed

The dish washing crew (Dish Dawgs) need at least 3 more people on the remaining Friday nights (late shift) to help keep up with the dirty dishes and kitchen cooking items. If interested see Wayne at the Hospitality Center on Sunday mornings or contact him through email at  jwshirleyabq@gmail.com.

Donate Tickets to Zuni Elementary Families, Police & Fire Departments

Donations for firefighters and police officers are coming in at a good pace but support for Zuni school needs additional funding. Please consider giving to families in need at Zuni.

How to Get Involved

If interested in volunteering to serve, or in donating tickets to Zuni families or first responders, please see Wayne at the Hospitality Center on Sunday mornings or contact him through email at jwshirleyabq@gmail.com.

Family Spirit Class Lenten Study on Luke: Jesus and the Outsiders, Outcasts and Outlaws

Please join us during the Season of Lent, as we study and discuss the lessons from the newly published book by Rev. Adam Hamilton on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to Saint Luke. The name of the book is Luke: Jesus and the Outsiders, Outcasts, and Outlaws.

The Family Spirit Class will be discussing this book from now to a week after Easter Sunday. We will also make use of a DVD player to watch some instructional video clips from the author Adam Hamilton, as well. We can watch the video clip and then discuss it. The Family Spirit Class meets in person on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in room 257.

Jesus came to lift up the lowly. Throughout his ministry to his final days on the road to the cross, we find stories of his relationships with ordinary, flawed, and unexpected people. He met, dined, and traveled with people who were not perfect. Many of them were struggling, some were outsiders or even outlaws. Whoever they were, from those he healed to the outlaws with him at his crucifixion, Jesus brought the good news of God’s kingdom to those who most needed to hear it. Read more here.

Youth Updates

Quarter Booklets for our Missionaries

Reminder for children to turn in their Offering booklets of quarters for our missionaries. Bring them with you to Children's worship the next 2 Sundays. 

Easter Prayer Vigil on Saturday evening, April 8 in the Sanctuary.

Baccalaureate Sunday Celebration

On Sunday morning, May 21, celebrate our High School and GED graduates at 11 a.m. worship service in the Sanctuary, and reception at lunch time.

Mission Trip to San Antonio

The youth mission trip to San Antonio Texas will be from Sunday, July 23 to Saturday, July 29. Click here to learn more about the trip, or here to watch a 2019 UMC trip recap video to see how it works. Groups will perform basic construction work depending on the group’s abilities. Construction projects include roofing, flooring repair, dry wall work and painting. Groups will also be establishing relationships with homeowners and mutually sharing in each other’s lives stories.

Questions? Contact Rev. Tiffany Hollums at thollums@stjohns-abq.org.

Easter Egg Hunt on April 2

Easter Egg party for Children will be Sunday, April 2 from 4-5:30 p.m.! Bring your baskets and get ready to hunt and celebrate!

Easter donations of candy, small prizes and Easter basket fixings would be a huge blessing as the youth are preparing to host a fabulous Easter egg hunt party the first of April for children in the community. Please drop off items at the hospitality center or church office. 

St. John's Preschool Plus Registering for Summer Camps and Fall 2023

Registration is now open for weekly Summer Camps--and we have added a class for children who have completed kindergarten through 2^nd grade. Each week, from June 12 through July 21,  students will focus on a different fun theme.  Registration for Fall 2023 is also open.  Preschool Plus has the highest possible rating and serves children 6 weeks old until 5 years old (pre-kindergarten).  Extended care is available on a limited basis.  See the fliers in the Welcome Center, go online to preschoolplus-abq.org or call Director Cathy Lubold at the Preschool office, 505-883-0496 for more information.

Lenten Offering: Special Offering for March

The six weeks of Lent are a time of preparation, of sacrifice, of renewed focus on God, and of giving. Traditionally, this offering has supported many and varied local ministries. Such ministries have included Mobile Food Pantry, Asbury Pie Cafe, the Ramp project, Barrett House, Hopeworks, Family Promise, Zuni school, lunch bags for the homeless and many more. 

In this time of inflation and shortages, our support of such ministries is even more important. So as we remember Jesus sacrifice for us, may we also sacrifice in our own small way and continue St. John's tradition of giving generously to those in need during this Lenten season.

St. John's UMC Foundation

The St John’s UMC Foundation was approved by the senior pastor and charge conference in 1986. It was incorporated as an independent body in that same year. The St. John’s UMC Foundation is governed by the board whose purpose is to manage the endowments established for long term growth and support of the church’s ministries. When you donate to St. John’s UMC Foundation via a gift, memorial or in your Will, you help to ensure the mission of St. John’s, “Loving God, Loving Others, and Changing Lives” continues throughout the years. Anyone can leave a gift no matter how big, or how small, to the Foundation and be assured your gift will make a difference in the continuing efforts of St. John’s UMC. We ask you to prayerfully consider gifting to the St. John’s Methodist Church Foundation. If you have any questions about the St. John’s UMC Foundation, or how to include St. John’s UMC Foundation in your will, please contact Jamie Davidson at JDavidson@stjohns-abq.org or 505-883-9717.

Silver Horizons

This month, let's collect paper products for our friends at Silver Horizons: toilet tissue, facial tissue, and paper towels. How's that for simplicity? Please place your donations in the wire bins located in the Hospitality Center, and we'll see that they're promptly delivered to Silver Horizons. As always, we appreciate your generosity, and so do the clients of Silver Horizons! 

St. John's United Methodist Church

2626 Arizona Street NE | Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110

Office Hours (call only): Monday - Thursday, 9a.m. - 4 p.m.

Friday, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Pastor 24-Hour Hotline | (505)808-1624

Pastor care is available for after hours emergencies. Any congregational care needs, please send those to Pastor Tiffany at thollums@stjohns-abq.org as we all work together to love one another well.