March 29, 2024

Josh's Jottings

Happy Easter to all! I hope the services and events surrounding Holy Week created an atmosphere where God could speak to you through worship, music, and prayer. Let the experience of resurrection fill you anew with God's goodness and grace! 

As we look to April, I wanted to issue an invitation. On April 20-21, St. John's will bring a group to Hobbs, NM to worship and spend time in fellowship with the United Methodist community that is forming in that city. As you may know, First UMC, Hobbs disaffiliated, but there is a strong group of people who did not wish to leave the UMC, and have formed the community we will be visiting. 

We are looking for 10 to 12 persons who would like to go to Hobbs for the worship and fellowship event. We will leave Saturday, the 20th, sometime in the late morning, arriving in time for a dinner event in Hobbs. Then we will get some rest, rise for Sunday school and worship. After worship, we will make the long drive home. 

If you would like to travel with the group going to Hobbs, please contact me ASAP. Some of the people in Hobbs are willing to host us overnight in their homes. Or, you may get a hotel in Hobbs, if that is more comfortable for you. Our plan is to take 3 or so cars and carpool. 

To sign up, simply email me at jkouri@stjohns-abq.org . We will take sign-ups on a first come, first serve basis. We will have a second trip later in the summer to continue our support, so if you are not selected for this trip, we will include you when we go back. 

Consider joining us for this quick but important trip to lift up and support this important group in Southeast New Mexico!

Good Friday Service

Join us for Good Friday worship today, at 7:30 p.m. in our Sanctuary. This is a powerful service of darkness, with the reading of the Passion narrative, featuring the St. John's Chancel Choir with special guest musicians.

Easter Sunday Services

March 31

Join us at St. John's to celebrate Easter! We will hold three services on Easter Sunday as we celebrate the resurrection, knowing that Jesus is alive. All of our services will be offered in-person. Services will also be livestreamed for those who cannot attend, or prefer to worship from home. Learn more about each of these services below.

Our 8:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. Easter services are traditional Methodist services held in our Sanctuary. They will feature choir, organ, and the UNM Faculty Brass Quintet.

Our 9:30 a.m. service is a contemporary Methodist service held in the Family Life Center. Our Praise Band will provide music for this service, playing current and classic contemporary Christian music and popular hits. Join us for an upbeat, energetic, and music-filled Easter worship.

Easter Sunday Lunch

March 31

On Easter, avoid the traffic of going out for your Easter meal, and come to lunch after the worship services. Chef Tim and his Kitchen Crew will be serving Slow-Roasted Honey Chipotle Ham, sliced to order from 11 am to 1 pm in the Family Life Center. $14 for adults, $8 for 12-17 years old, $5 for 5-12 years old, 4 and under free. 

Let us rejoice! Psalm 118:24

Mountain Cathedrals

March 31

Mountain Cathedrals Easter Sunday Sunrise Hike, March 31, Travertine Falls 

Logistics: Meet at 6:00 AM at St. John’s UMC east parking lot or 6:30 AM at the Grand Enchantment Trailhead just outside of Tijeras (Google Maps: "Canyon Estates - Grand Enchantment Trailhead"). Please RSVP in either case. We plan to be back to the cars by 8:30 AM and the church before 9:00. 1 mile round trip, elevation gain 300 feet, rocky trail, so moderate. Bring water, lights, and trekking poles if desired.  

Psalm 118 declares: 

"The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. 

This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. 

This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." 

Let us contemplate this while a new day dawns in the mountains. 

Organizer: Mike Furnish, 505-440-7292; mdfurnish@comcast.net. 

Save the date of April 20 for the next Mountain Cathedral (which will require most of the day). 

The Walk, Five Essential Practices of the Christian Life by Adam Hamilton

• Tuesdays, April 2 - May 7 (6 weeks)
• 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., IN-PERSON
• Facilitator: Dara Bell
• To register, contact Susan at teachersusan@comcast.net
• Participants will need to purchase their own study books

How do we walk with Christ—daily follow him, grow in him, and faithfully serve him? In the Gospels, Jesus modeled for us the Christian spiritual life. The apostles taught it in their writings. And the Church has, through the last 2,000 years, sought to pursue this Christian spiritual life. In The Walk, Adam Hamilton focuses on five essential spiritual practices that are rooted in Jesus’ own walk with God and taught throughout the New Testament. Each of these practices is intended as part of our daily walk with Christ while also being an essential part of growing together in the church. Deepen your walk with Christ as we explore the five essential practices of worship, study, serving, giving, and bearing witness to our faith.

United Women in Faith

April 4

United Women in Faith meets on Thursday, April 4, at 10 a.m. in rooms 241 and 243. Amy Berman, the development director from Mandy’s Farm, will present the program. She has requested UWF members bring donations of some dry good items and some fun activity items for the residents at Mandy's Farm. Dry goods:  toilet paper, cleaning wipes, paper towels, tissues, laundry detergent, and dish soap. Fun activity items: large piece puzzles, large paint by number sets, large plastic bouncy balls, and sidewalk chalk.

Celebration Circle will serve as hostess and Fellowship Circle will furnish items for the baby layette.

Please Help Family Promise Host Week in April

We need your help for Family Promise host week April 14-21, 2024.

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 taking meals 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 or Linn (see below.)

To volunteer, click the LINK HERE. Or sign-up at the Hospitality Center, at the Abide service, or contact Jenn Shields jennshields200@yahoo.com 505-450-9978 or Linn Furnish swimsew@comcast.net.

To see more information about Family Promise click here.

Orientation Class April 14 - May 5

Orientation Class: Learning about St. John’s

“What is special about being a Methodist?” “What is going on at St. John’s?” “Where do I fit in?”

These are key questions that newcomers ask about our church, and we are having a class to discuss the answers. Visitors and new members are the primary focus for the class, but those who have been around awhile may want to reorient and re-energize themselves by entering the discussion. It's a great place to get to know others at St. John's as well.

The class will take place on four consecutive Sunday evenings in April and May. The first class will start Sunday, April 14, 2024, and we’ll end on Sunday, May 5. We will meet in Rooms 149/151 from 6-7:30 PM, get to know each other and discuss the topics (our Christian faith, Methodism, St. John’s, my place.)

To register for the class, sign up in the Hospitality Center or contact Jack and Carol Nuzum at 265-5241 or jcnuzum@juno.com. 

Memory Café Albuquerque

April 6

The next meeting of Memory Café Albuquerque is Saturday, April 6, at 1:30-3:00 p.m. in the SonShine Café at St. John’s United Methodist Church. We are celebrating National Garden Month with gardening time. Our musical entertainment is Friends Forever (Michael & Donna Coy), and David Ring is bringing April Fools jokes. Snacks and information for caregivers and loved ones will be available.

Memory Café meets the first Saturday of each month at 1:30-3:00 p.m. in the SonShine Café. It is a supportive fellowship for anyone affected by memory loss/Alzheimer’s and their caring partners. Meet and share with others on a similar journey. This is not a drop-off event. For more information (505) 323-7522 or ssmjens@aol.com. 

Sweet Jazz

April 7

Join us at Sandia Presbyterian Church for great music, light snacks, and a silent auction as Sid Fendley and Friends dazzle us with their jazz delights on April 7 at 4 p.m. All proceeds from this event benefit Family Promise of Albuquerque and help further its mission to assist unsheltered families in Albuquerque. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased in advance. You can purchase them online by clicking the link HERE, or reach out to Linn Furnish for tickets at swimsew@comcast.net or 505-884-6626.

Click HERE for flyer details.

Acts of the Apostles?

Or of the Holy Spirit?

Over the years in the St. John’s email Bible study, we’ve read now and then from Acts, but until now we’ve never read the book from beginning to end. Acts is Volume 2 of Luke’s work; the book of Luke is Volume 1. The four Gospels tell us about the ministry of Jesus, and the letters of Paul, Peter, James, John, and Jude contain a fair amount of theology and also tell us about problems in the early Church, but only Acts tells us the history of the early Church.

The title of the book is “Acts of the Apostles,” but some commentators have said it could just as easily be titled “Acts of the Holy Spirit.” We’ll see why as we read along. Also watch for a gradual shift from a focus on Peter to a focus on Paul, for periodic updates on the size of the Church, and for the spread of the Church “in Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”

Pick up a study guide in the Hospitality Center, or write or call Regina Hunter at drhunter@nmia.com or (505) 294-2877 to receive daily study tips by email. 

St. John's Missions Team Needs Your Input

The Missions Team would like to find out if there are St. John's congregants who volunteer at organizations outside St. John's. If you do, we would love to hear that! Please contact Donna at donnabruce@comcast.net with a brief email stating your name, the organization at which you volunteer, and approximately how many hours per week. Thank you!

Safe Sanctuary Training - St. John's

April 14

Safe Sanctuaries training is for anyone who works with youth, children or vulnerable adults here at St. John's UMC. We have a holy and sacred calling as Christ's church to love, disciple, and nurture children, youth and vulnerable adults. This training is required, along with a background check every 2 years, for those of us who serve with the vulnerable among us. It is also a wonderful and important training for all of us as we seek to live out our calling to Love God, Love Others, and Change the World. 

The next Safe Sanctuary training here at St. John's UMC ABQ is scheduled for April 14, 3 p.m., in rooms 245/257. 

Please RSVP to Angela Lybarger at childrensdirector@stjohns-abq.org

Safe Sanctuary Training - NM Conference

April 6

The New Mexico Conference is hosting a Safe Sanctuaries Training that specifically pertains to elders and vulnerable adults. The presenter is Rev. Dr. Kevin Johnson, author of the new Safer Sanctuaries book. He will be focusing on chapters 15 and 16 in this ZOOM training. This will qualify for a yearly Safer Sanctuaries training. He will cover: Who is a vulnerable adult, what does abuse look like, how to report, and creating a culture of safety at church. Safer Sanctuaries is not only for children and youth, it is also for the elders and vulnerable adults that are in our mission field!

This training is offered on Zoom, April 6, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Click THIS LINK to register.

Fish Fry Announcements

Fish Fry Week 6

We had an exciting Fish Fry Dinner on Friday, March 22! That night:

• 578 meals were served (set a new record)
• $642 was collected in the Tip Jars for Silver Horizons
• A total of 126 workers worked on Thursday and Friday
• 7 Boy Scouts worked the Fish Fry
• 5 youth from St. John's UMC worked the Fish Fry

Let's Celebrate Spring Break and Skate

All children and youth through grade 12 are invited to join us for an afternoon of roller skating on Friday, April 5. We will meet at Skate-O-Mania (aka Roller King) for some fun on the rink from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. The cost is $15 per person. The admission price is good for the entire afternoon from Noon to 5:00 p.m., but we will only have St. John's supervision between 1:00 - 3:00. Please RSVP by Wednesday, April 3, so we can get a count of those attending this event. Contact Brett Reece, youthdirector@stjohns-abq.org, or Angela Lybarger, childrensdirector@stjohns-abq.org, to RSVP, ask questions, or if you need help with the cost.

Monumental

Vacation Bible School

St. John's will be hosting a "Monumental VBS" this summer from June 24 - 28 for children age 3 through 5^th grade. It truly does "take a village" to create a meaningful and fun VBS experience for the kids who will join us in June. If you are interested in helping with the planning, decorating, teaching, etc. for this exciting week, please come to the first VBS meeting on Sunday, April 7th. We will meet in the SonShine Café at 1:00 p.m. Go grab some lunch after church, put on some comfy clothes, bring your enthusiasm and great ideas, and join us for some VBS brainstorming. Hope to see you there!

Prayer Quilt Recipient

Cindy Moores is the recipient for the prayer quilt currently on display in the Hospitality Center.

If you pass through the Hospitality Center this week, please tie a knot in the quilt while praying for Cindy. Won't be in the Center this week? No worries! Either way, please pray this prayer (or your own prayer) for Cindy: "Father, we ask that you give Cindy the healing, courage and strength she needs during this difficult time. We also ask that you guide those who have her in their care. In your precious Son's name, we pray. Amen.”

Lenten Offering: March Special Offering

The six weeks of Lent are a time of preparation, sacrifice, renewed focus on God, and giving.

Traditionally, this offering has supported many and varied local ministries. Such ministries have included: Mobile Food Pantry, HopeWorks, the Ramp Project, Asbury Pie Café, Zuni School, Family Promise, lunch bags for the homeless, and many more.

As we remember Jesus' sacrifice for us, may we also sacrifice in our own way by continuing the St. John's long St. John's tradition of giving generously to those in need during this Lenten season.

Snack Items for

Tierra Adentro New Mexico (TANM)

During the month of March, we will collect "snack items" for Tierra Adentro New Mexico (TANM) Arts Charter School, located in NW Albuquerque, and serving mid- and high-school students. We currently provide weekend meal bags each week for five of their students who are homeless/food insecure and will continue to do so. They have also identified an additional 50 students who are food insecure. This month we are collecting snack items which will be distributed by the counselor as needed at TANM.

Suggested SINGLE-SERVE items are: cheese and crackers, beef jerky, applesauce, pudding, fruit cups, granola bars, power bars, cereal bars, ravioli, spaghetti-os, macaroni and cheese, soups (pull tab openings), ramen noodles, trail mix, fruit snacks, boxed drinks and juices, chips, pretzels, Goldfish, Vienna sausages, pop tarts, or oatmeal.

Please place your donated items in the bins in the Hospitality Center.

Thank you, St. John's, you're the best!

Our worship services are livestreamed so you can watch them from home. To watch a worship service live, click on the service that you would like to watch on Sunday morning at its scheduled time.

St. John's United Methodist Church | (505) - 883-9717

2626 Arizona Street NE | Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

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

Pastoral Care Emergency Hotline | (505) 312-3763

Pastoral care is available for after-hours emergencies. Please send any congregational care needs to Rev. Molly Shannon at care@stjohns-abq.org as we all work together to love one another well.