Midweek News - June 22, 2022 |
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
First, thank you for your prayers and thoughts of concern following my surgery last week. I had originally planned to be here last Sunday, but I didn’t expect my right eye to swell shut and to be lots of pretty colors. While I was probably capable of still preaching, I knew that if I did so everyone would be paying much more attention to my face than anything I said. So, a huge thank you to Phillip for stepping up with his “sermon in the pocket” and allowing me more time to heal. (And make sure to read his note below.)
I had a follow-up with the surgeon yesterday and the surgical pathology report was that the margins were clear and that while the cancer was a little deeper than they expected it had not spread and what they removed was the exactly the same type as the original biopsy, which was a very early stage cancer. She said that I shouldn’t have anymore issues at that spot. So good news all around.
Second, this week represents my 3rd year with this congregation, which has been a very eventful three years, and we are still very glad to be here. It is also the end of my 15th year in appointive ministry, meaning the bishop has sent me to serve a particular church. With around 15 years, or so, remaining until I think about retiring, that also means I am halfway through my ministry, and that causes lots of thoughts and reflections.
Many of you know that I love winter; it’s my favorite season. I like cold and I like snow. I like turtlenecks and warm fires. And, of course, I love Christmas lights. Perhaps growing up in Phoenix has something to do with my feelings about winter as I have had enough heat to last me a lifetime.
And so, the Vernal Equinox, which happened yesterday, is an important day for me as it means that winter is on the way. We are nowhere close to it yet, and perhaps the warmest days are still ahead of us, but it’s coming. And the fact that it’s chilly and rainy today is a reminder, as rain and 50 degrees is Christmas weather for me because that’s Phoenix on Christmas day.
With that background, I could then talk about seasons of life and that there is a “time for every matter under heaven”, but something someone wrote yesterday also got me thinking about perspective. Because while we will now be moving towards fall and winter, for half of the planet, they will be doing the exact opposite. They are moving towards spring and summer. The same event, the equinox, brings out very different realities and expectations. And the same can be true in most areas of our lives.
My daughters, or the two who have an opinion about it, don’t like the cold. They want to live somewhere warm, like Phoenix, when they get older. Two different experiences, two different realities, two different preferences. I could look at the fact that my career is halfway through and perhaps lament that, or I could look at the fact that I have a half more to look forward to and get even better and celebrate. I could bemoan the fact that we still have to get through summer to get to the fall and winter, or I can appreciate all the things that summer has to offer in anticipation of what comes after.
Because without winter we wouldn’t have summer and vice versa. And how we choose to approach it and think about it, the perspective we have on these things, is entirely up to us. Life is a bunch of seasons: Some good, some bad, some just sort of indifferent, but we get to choose how we will think about them and how we will live in them.
I am the last person in my family of origin to have had cancer, and I’m glad it was not severe and I can put it behind me. I’m also going to learn from the experience and appreciate what it brought to me. And while I look forward to winter coming, I’m also going to enjoy the sunshine and time spent at the pool, and long evenings with brilliant sunsets knowing that this is just a season. But, if you’ll excuse me now, I think I might just enjoy the weather today and go turn on some Christmas music.
Blessings,
John
What I'm Currently Reading:
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Putin's People: How the KGB Took Back Russia and Then Took on the West by Catherine Belton
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Los Alamos: A Novel by Joseph Kanon
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Speaking Christian: Why Christian Words Have Lost Their Meaning and Power -- and How They Can Be Restored by Marcus Borg
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Sunday, June 26, 2022
Scripture Readings: The scripture readings for Sunday, June 26, are 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14; Psalm 72:1-2, 11-20; Galatians 5:1, 13-25 and Luke 9:51-62. Next week Pastor John will give a state of the church address, along with Philip Ortega, and the message will be on the passages from Galatians and Luke.
Questions to help you prepare: What does freedom in Christ look like for disciples? How far do we come close to that or fall from that? How do we celebrate where things are going right? How do we improve the other areas? Why does Jesus seem to be harsh towards those who are seeking to accomplish daily tasks? How does that fit into the idea of freedom in Christ?
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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Would you like to become a member of the church or be baptized or have a child baptized? Please contact Pastor John at pastor@lafumc.org. Pastor John will be performing baptisms and welcoming members on Sunday, July 17, at our 10 a.m. worship service. |
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Prayer for the week:
God, you call us to go where Christ leads.
Turn us from the ways of the world;
guide us to fullness of joy in the Spirit,
where bodies and souls rest secure;
and grant us strength to follow the way of the cross,
which frees us to love one another for the sake of all creation. Amen.
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Sunday, June 19
Why I Am a United Methodist
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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, the first movie will be shown Wednesday, June 29.
Please bring snacks and/or dinner with you. All the movies will also be streamed to our website, with a password, at the same time except for Hamilton, which is not yet released on DVD. 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.
July 3: Hamilton (2:42)
July 10: The Greatest Showman (1:46)
July 17: Encanto (1:52)
July 24: Guest Preacher
July 31: West Side Story (2021 version – 2:38)
August 7: In the Heights (2:22)
August 14: Into the Woods (1991 Original Broadway Version – 2:33)
Looking forward to seeing you “at the movies” and we dare you not to sing along.
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Worship Volunteers
We have other opportunities to participate in worship on Sunday mornings. Training will be provided. Please prayerfully consider how you might become involved. If you need a break for a season please let us know also, the worship volunteer sheet is below you can click that link and fill out a form and send it to the office.
Acolytes - Lay Readers - Communion Servers - Inventory Coffee Supplies - Greeters - Lay Readers - AV Tech team - Camera/Slides - Ushers
Any questions you can contact the church office at 505-662-6277 or email office@lafumc.org. You can speak to Pastor John, Phillip or Julie and we would be happy to share more about these areas of service.
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Clubhouse Knitting Ministry
Mondays at 1:30 p.m.
Do you knit or crochet? We have a group that meets on Monday afternoons to fellowship and work on projects. This group is made up beginners to those who have been doing this for a long time. If you would like to bring a project or perhaps learn; join them on Monday afternoons at 1:30 p.m. they meet at Ridge Park Clubhouse at 505 Oppenheimer Dr.
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Estate Sale Saturday
The DeVries family will be holding an estate sale on Saturday, June 25, at the family home,
119 Sherwood Blvd.
Time TBA
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Ripe Cherries to Pick
Don and Kathy Siebe have cherries at the peak of ripeness on their tree that anyone is welcome to come and pick. A step ladder is available by the tree.
203 Venado St. on Barranca Mesa
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The Ark and Church office will be closed on July 4th.
We wish a safe and fun holiday.
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What’s the Metaphor?
This past Sunday, I was blessed with the opportunity to share my testimony. The Sermon in My Pocket. I was happy with how it came out and grateful for the kind words people shared with me after the service. This past weekend was spent preparing the sermon and covering for Pastor Jon at a community event. So, my typical weekend of household chores was disrupted. Fortunately, I was given some time off to catch up, which I am very grateful for.
Our washing machine broke down a couple of months ago. So, I have been going to Espanola to wash my family's clothes every Friday. There is a part of me that prefers doing it this way. Instead of laundry taking me all day to do, I finish about 12 loads of laundry in an hour and a half. Unfortunately, this is an unsustainable model as the gas to get down there costs more than buying a new machine, not including the cost of using the machines. Yes, I know there are machines at the Film Festival, but they are tiny and costly.
I usually go on Fridays in the afternoon, and the place is empty. I get to use 6 machines without being bothersome to anyone because plenty are left. I couldn’t go down this past week, so I went yesterday. As my daughter and I unloaded the clothes from a washer, I noticed a small yellow ball in the machine. It was the literal figurative “sermon” I left in my pocket! The papers I used as a prop to signify the sermon in my pocket was left in my shirt from Sunday.
Now, God has a funny way of letting me know whether or not I am doing what I need to do. This is obviously one of those. I was happy to be able to support Pastor John and this church community, and I was blessed in return. Now I have the crumpled-up prop smelling like the ocean breeze. As my daughter and I played chess and eventually folded the dry clothes, I prayed and thought of what this could mean. What was God trying to tell me? I drew blanks. I knew something was trying to be said to me, but I couldn’t figure it out. So, after we got home, I asked my wife as we put the clothes away.
“God’s probably telling you to stop leaving stuff in your clothes.” I laughed at her pragmatism. But I did find some truth in that statement as I pulled my clean I.D. out of a pair of pants. As I thought and prayed more and more, I knew I needed to share this story, and I realized I could ask you! What do you think the metaphor is?
A couple of weeks ago, Pastor John preached on the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. He used a stool as an illustration and added the fourth leg to the stool. Community. Suppose we use tradition, experience, reason, and community to interpret scripture. Why not use those same legs to interpret something like this?
So, what do you think God is trying to tell me? I would love to hear from you because I am stumped. Email me at faith@lafumc.org.
Blessings,
Phillip
P.S. I have a repair tech coming today to hopefully fix my washing machine.
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Sunday night was our second night of VBS. We learned about the man whose friends dug through the ceiling so he could be healed by Jesus, based on the story in Luke 5:17-39. We made friendship bracelets and played some fun games.
Sunday is our last day but, it's not to late to come and join us.
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The Los Alamos Faith & Science
Wednesday summer lecture series have returned. A free dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and the lecture starts at 7 p.m.
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Walk to Emmaus
Men's Walk August 4-7
Women's Walk September 8-11
Preparations are being made for the next Emmaus Walks at Inlow Baptist Camp.
Are you ready for a spiritual renewal? How about a chance for spiritual growth with other Christians? The Walk to Emmaus just might be for you. We have a men’s walk and a women’s walk coming up this fall at Inlow Baptist Camp in the beautiful Manzano mountains of Central New Mexico. The walk takes place over 4 days, beginning on Thursday evening and ending on Sunday afternoon. If you would like to participate or learn more about the Walk to Emmaus you can go to the Emmuas website to learn more about the Walk to Emmaus or you can contact James Barefield, Nels Hoffman, Julie Risch or Camille Wescott and we can help you apply and get a sponsor.
The cost to attend is $200 and food and lodging are Included. A $50 deposit is required with your application. Scholarships are available.
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Food Depot Mobile Truck
Friday, June 24 at 10:30 a.m.
3700 Canyon Road
Next Friday the mobile food truck will be in Los Alamos, if you know someone who is need of food let them know. Volunteers can register online at https://thefooddepot.org/volunteer/. |
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June Missions Collection for
Transgender
Resource Center of NM
Due to discrimination and minority stress, 41% of transgender people attempt suicide. According to the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing (Nov 2010), family acceptance and a safe home is the number one predictor of health and well-being in LGBTQ+ youth.
The Transgender Resource Center fills the needs that families cannot provide, and provides for the needs of transgender individuals whose families do not support them.
In honor of Pride month, First United Methodist Church asks for your contribution to the Transgender Resource Center of NM. The center, located in Albuquerque, provides services for transgender men and transgender women, nonbinary folks, and gender divergent people. They offer separate support groups for transgender people and for their loved ones. Many of their clients are homeless, so they offer showers, laundry, storage and clothing. The Transgender Resource Center of NM also provides health services. They accept all donations, and can sell items at their thrift store.
They could particularly use:
-Underwear, sizes small to large (“women’s” styles are the most popular)
-Bottled water and other shelf stable drinks
-Shelf stable snacks (chips, crackers, cookies, granola bars, etc.)
-Shelf stable proteins (Vienna sausage, tuna- pouches or salad mixes,
beef jerky)
Items may be dropped off in the bin outside the front door.
Thank you for your donations!
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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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June 1 Landon Burk
June 3 Andie Bishofberger
June 9 Baird Brandow
June 13 Cindy Little
June 14 Gail Little
June 16 Hailey Bishofberger
June 18 Alex Morgan
June 19 Trudy Filer
June 30 Rebecca Scott
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June 6 Brad and Camille Wescott
June 19 John and Geniece Courtright
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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 for the rain and beginning of monsoon season.
New/Ongoing Prayers:
- Prayers for Trudy Filer and the Filer family. Trudy was placed into hospice care.
- Prayers as Pastor John recovers from his surgery.
- Prayers for Chris Caudill's brother, Les Cornett, who has just been diagnosed with cancer. He lives in Florida.
- Prayers for the Pastor at Mora Baptist church who has severe COVID.
- Prayers for all those who are sick with COVID.
- Prayers for Amy Cross, Debbie Trimmer's sister, who was diagnosed with peripheral vascular disease due to her lupus.
- 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, Brenda Finch, Sarah Kelly, Herald Kruse, Fred Navier and Martin Reeves.
- Prayers for United Methodist missionaries in Russia and the Ukraine.
- Prayers for the war in Ukraine.
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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Thursday, June 23
7 p.m. Troop 122 in Fellowship Hall
Sunday, June 26
9 a.m. Bible History Class in Friendship Center and Zoom
10 a.m. Contemporary Worship
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
4 p.m. Inter-generation VBS
6 p.m. Dinner in Fellowship Hall
7 p.m. S.T.A.R.S. support group in Fellowship Hall
Monday, June 27
3:30 Country Club Knitters at Ridge Park Clubhouse
505 Oppenheimer Dr.
Tuesday, June 28
NO One Board meeting
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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