April 28, 2023

Welcome New Senior Pastor Josh Kouri

Senior Pastor Randall Partin has been called to a new position as Superintendent of the Albuquerque District and Provost of the New Mexico Conference. In July, we will welcome our new Senior Pastor Josh Kouri. Josh has been a pastor for 11 years, 7 of them in the New Mexico Conference. Currently, he is the pastor of Mesa View United Methodist Church in Albuquerque. Previously, he served congregations in El Paso and Amarillo, TX. He was also a youth minister in Las Cruces, NM and Garland, TX. 

Josh’s faith story began in high school when his family made him start going to church because they were afraid he was getting “weird.” By chance, or luck, or grace, the people in that church were weirdos too. They completely changed his life by showing him that Jesus loves all of us and that Christian community is so very good for the soul. That church was St. John’s. 

Since then, Josh has been particularly passionate about spiritual formation and emerging expressions of Christian community – both online and in new monastic and missional settings. Josh believes that all people are sacred expressions of God’s creation and creativity. 

Josh is a graduate of Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. He was a Perkins Prothro Fellow, a Ministry Fellow with the Forum for Theological Education, and a Lewis Fellow with Wesley Theological Seminary’s, Lewis Center for Church Leadership. 

When he isn’t busy, Josh likes to ski, fish, watch baseball, or geek out on any sci-fi book or movie. Once, he did battle with a baboon who was trying to steal his breakfast. Fortunately, he was the victorious thanks to the timely assistance of a troupe of nuns skilled in the art of miming. (True story!)

Justin Roberts Children's Concert on Sunday

Join us for a fun family concert by five-time GRAMMY nominee Justin Roberts, and the Not-Ready-for-Naptime Players! This is a free concert for children and their grown ups; a free will offering will be received. This event will be held on Sunday, April 30, at 3 p.m. in the Family Life Center. Click here to learn more about Justin Roberts and listen to his music. Here's what people are saying about him:

“Among the best craftsmen of sweet and silly kid tunes out there, making irresistible music out of small, well-observed moments from the lives of children and parents.” -- LA Times

“On your feet fun and laugh-out-loud funny.” - People Magazine

Sweet Jazz Fundraiser on April 30 Postponed

The Sweet Jazz fundraiser benefitting Family Promise that was scheduled for Sunday, April 30, has been postponed. A new concert date has been set for Sunday, June 4. For more information contact Jenn Shields at jennshields200@yahoo.com.

Ladies Book Club Meets May 1

The Ladies Book Club meets Monday, May 1, at 1 p.m. in Room 245. We will be discussing “Shadows on the Rocks” by Willa Cather. The story line is from old Kebec in 1697, the families and their living conditions. For six months at a time there was no communication from the outside world.  All readers are welcome, contact mapalook@comcast.net for information.  

What is Compassion Services? Find Out May 4

Joanne Landry, pastor of Interfaith Bible Center and Director of Compassion Services, will be guest speaker at our May 4 meeting of United Women in Faith. Compassion Services provides warming shelters for about 50 people, meals for 700 people each week, and other thoughtful services. Join us and bring a friend on Thursday, May 4, at 10 a.m., in Room 245, as we learn more about this organization's goals and many acts of kindness. 

New MexiChords Concert May 5 & 6

New MexiChords present their spring a cappella show, "Heritage of Harmony," with two concerts on Friday, May 5 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 6 at 2 p.m., here, at St. John's main sanctuary with special guest quartet, "High Priority". Tickets at door for $15. Join us as we celebrate the roots of the uniquely American music style of Barbershop Harmony! 

Memory Café Meets on May 6

Memory Café Albuquerque is celebrating spring and Mother’s Day on May 6, from 1:30-

3 p.m. in the Sonshine Café. This is the first meeting on our new schedule. In the future, we will meet the first Saturday of each month from1:30-3 pm. St. John’s Joy Singers will bring special music and there will be a visit by Patricia Newman and the High Desert Therapy Dog. We will also do a little gentle stretching and, of course, eat great snacks! Click here to read our flyer for more information.

Memory Café is a supportive fellowship for anyone affected by memory loss/Alzheimer’s and their caring partners. For more information (505) 323-7522 or ssmjens@aol.com.

Online Safe Sanctuaries Training on May 6

Kevin Johnson of Discipleship Ministries will facilitate Safe Sanctuaries Basic Training via Zoom, Saturday May 6, 9:00 a.m. - noon. This class is open to everyone in the NM Conference. Click here to register.

Help Family Promise Host Week in May

We need your help for Family Promise host week from May 14 through May 21.

Family Promise is a national program that supports homeless families in cities across the United States including Albuquerque. For six weeks during the year, St. John's is responsible for meals brought to the Montgomery site. In addition, we are asked to stay on site for two hours to give relief to the permanent staff. If you would like to pair up with someone to provide a meal and stay for two hours, please contact Jenn Shields or Linn Furnish.

To volunteer, sign up at the Hospitality Center, at the Abide service, or contact Jenn at jennshields200@yahoo.com / 505-450-9978 or Linn Furnish at swimsew@comcast.net. To see more information about Family Promise click here.

Sign up for CPR/AED/1st Aid Class on June 10

St. John's is hosting a CPR/AED/1st aid class on Saturday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  This course offers life saving information/training that applies to everyone. You need to attend the entire time, with a short lunch break, to complete the course. 

Cost is: $60.00 + tax including the card and textbook or $25.00 + tax for no card and no textbook. Sign up by email to Linn Furnish RN at swimsew@comcast.net or call 505-884-6626.

We Recognize our Members of Over 50 Years

God has blessed St. John's with 73 years of ministry, and in that time we have had a number of faithful members who have been with us through each new chapter. We would like to recognize those members of St. John's who are reaching 50 years of membership and beyond this year. Thank you for all of the ways that you have enriched our church community!

• Doris Bowen, 66 years
• Barbara Bear, 65 years
• Donnie Martin, 65 years
• Ruth Vermillion, 64 years
• Marilyn Little, 64 years
• Mary Burnham, 63 years
• Sheila Willet, 63 years
• Vonnie Lehman, 62 years
• Maralyn Nelson, 62 years
• Kathy Ritterbush, 62 years
• Charles Williams, 61 years
• Jean Jones, 60 years
• Edith Elsik, 59 years,
• James Brandenburg, 59 years
• Kari Brandenburg, 59 years
• David Raybould, 59 years
• Dan DeAngelis, 59 years
• Flossie DeAngelis, 59 years
• Betty Reece, 59 years
• Merle Reece, 59 years
• Millie High, 59 years
• Gordon Walhood Jr., 58 years
• Mick McMahan, 57 years
• Diana McMahan, 57 years
• Dick Reinert, 57 years
• Billie Broemmer, 57 years

• Carol Pardo, 57 years
• Sam Trolley, 57 years
• Pat Trolley, 57 years
• Sam Dillow, 57 years
• Roger Eaton, 57 years
• Donna Eaton, 57 years
• Barbara Spates, 57 years
• Kay Richards, 57 years
• Dorothy Kutarnia, 56 years
• Sara Perovich, 56 years
• Carolyn Quinn, 56 years
• Jill Aubrey, 55 years
• Jane Perry, 54 years
• Steve Maggart, 54 years
• Marty Sullivan, 54 years
• Lillian Kanaly, 54 years
• Roy Johnson, 52 years
• Helen Johnson, 52 years
• Marianne Keith, 52 years
• Elizabeth Cox, 51 years
• Barbara Lindig, 51 years
• Robert Cudney, 51 years
• Beth Cudney, 51 years
• Carol Wiggins, 51 years
• Tony Argo, 50 years
• Norma Argo, 50 years

Music Ministries Collaborate with APS Schools

This year, St. John’s Music Ministries has been involved in a very exciting project at four APS elementary schools. St. John’s music staff, including Matt Greer, Therese Macali, and Garrett Medlock, have been bringing enrichment activities to music classrooms at Edward Gonzales, Governor Bent, Sierra Vista, and Lew Wallace Elementary Schools. The project, “Sing Together Albuquerque,” is a partnership with Quintessence A Community of Singers and the VOCES8 Foundation in the UK. Albuquerque schoolchildren have been paired up with children in London to become pen pals and to learn songs together along with members of Apollo5 and VOCES8. 

Apollo5 enjoyed going to these classrooms when they were in Albuquerque in February. Here they are singing "The Bear Missed the Train" at Lew Wallace Elementary.

Give a Shawl From the Ladies Needle Arts Group

The Needle Arts ladies have a heart for those who need a little extra warmth in their lives, whether yarn or love. Every Sunday in the Hospitality Center is a basket of shawls, there for those who need to know that St. John’s cares. Don’t hesitate to share with someone. Blessings.

New History Page: Sharing St. John's Memories

Using information collected by our Church Historian Norma Argo, we have created a new church history page on St. John's website. Here, you can find a brief history of St. John's, a digital version of the Memory Book written for our 50th anniversary in 2000, memories, letters and poems from church members and former pastors, and photographs.

We would love to have your memories of St. John's become a part of our history! If you have a memory of St. John's you would like to share, email your free form writing and/or photographs to Communications Director Nicole Creaturo. There are no requirements for this writing. We would love to hear your stories - long or short, and from any time period in our church.

Opportunity for Academic Year Exchange Student Housing

Linn and Mike Furnish have hosted four students from abroad for the full year (three with this program), and numerous others for shorter periods, and invite other St. John's families to consider this opportunity to enlarge their horizons. Contact them (505-884-6626 or swimsew@comcast.net) for more information or use the contacts below to directly contact the New Mexico AFS team. 

AFS New Mexico is looking for Host Families for 11th-grade level exchange students who will be attending schools in the Albuquerque area. Families complete the AFS Hosting Application process, provide a bed, three meals a day, and the same care and support that they would give to their own child. AFS Students may be a part of any domestic travels your family has planned. All families are welcome and you don't have to have a teenager to host! If you are interested in such a hosting opportunity, contact Anne Downing at drdavrome@gmail.com. For more information visit www.afsusa.org/host. 

Bringing the world closer together two families at a time!

Register for Youth Mission Trip to El Paso

The Youth mission trip will be July 23-29 to El Paso, TX. There is a $50 non-refundable deposit. Total cost will be $200-$250 depending on additional activities. We will be doing a Vacation Bible school for Tobin Park UMC-we will be staying at the church also! Click here to download the registration form and return to Pastor Tiffany or the church office.

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.