January 12, 2024

Josh's Jottings

A few reflections from the Gather Event.

Thanks to all who attended last week’s Gather Event hosted here at St John’s. In the words of one congregant, "last weekend felt like a modern version of the church revivals of old". Here are a few reflections I have on the event.

1. God is doing something new in the world. We can and must do some new things too. Whether it’s a house-church worship gathering, online small groups, or meeting in a bar or community space, to minister to our neighbors, we have to always be starting new things. If you feel called to begin a small group - even one that is a little non-traditional - come see me, especially if it will reach beyond our walls.

2. The future is bright, if we stay focused on the big picture. One benefit of this event is that several of the presenters challenged us to take on big ideas and bold new ministries. Some will fail, but we can learn from failure, and fruitful ministry only really happens when it goes beyond what is safe and manageable. It is my intent to periodically sponsor “big idea” events that challenge us to grow in our witness. The next will be on Saturday March 16, when Mark Holland, the director of a national advocacy group, Mainstream UMC, will be coming to share about the future of the United Methodist Church. Make plans to attend and participate. Let’s stay focused on the future.

3. St John’s has the warmest, kindest, hardest-working volunteers out there. From the friendly greeters at registration, to our amazing kitchen ministry, to those who helped pack envelopes, to all who hosted a ministry table, thank you for sharing your gifts. It was the glue that held all the other pieces of Gather together.

It’s a new year, it’s a new chapter at our church. More to come soon. God is so faithful. 

-Josh 

Lenten Fish Fry Dinners 2024

Lenten Fish Fry Dinners start soon at St. John's! Chef Tim and his crew will serve up fried or baked fish and all the fixings every Friday night in the Family Life Center starting February 16 until March 22, six Fridays, from 4 - 7 p.m.

Because of the increase in food costs, the ticket prices this year will be $16 for an adult and $8 for a child, 10 and under. Reservations are not required and gluten-free menu options will be available.

Wayne Shirley will be in the Hospitality Center beginning Sunday, January 21, with volunteer sign-up sheets, advanced tickets you can purchase to give away to family and friends, donations you can make for fire and police dinner tickets and to answer any questions.

Come on out and get your "fish fix" and enjoy the fellowship! Contact: Wayne at jwshirleyabq@gmail.com.

Pretzel Day

February 3

Save the date for the annual Pretzel Day event, held on Saturday, February 3, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at St. John's Family Life Center. This is a great activity for all ages. Come make pretzels (including gluten free), hear their history, and make Lenten crafts. You will have your crafts and your pretzels to take home and enjoy!



Questions? Linn Furnish 505-884-6626 

Mountain Cathedrals Hike

Saturday

(Note change of time because of weather)

In this chilly month, let us walk a loop through the La Cieneguilla petroglyphs near the Santa Fe airport. Looking at the signs from an earlier civilization gives us pause to consider what life was like in the past and what our lives will look like to those in the future. What are the signs and symbols that Jesus used?

Logistics: Meet at the St. John's UMC (Albuquerque) East parking lot at 12 noon, or at the trailhead (Google Maps: Petroglyphs Parking, Santa Fe NM) at 1 p.m. Plan to be back at the trailhead by 4 and St. John's by 5. The hike is relatively easy, but includes some rocky trail (2.7 miles, a few hundred feet of climb). Bring sturdy walking shoes, warm clothing (may be walking in snow), lunch, water, sun protection and enthusiasm!

Please join us for this hike of meditation, wilderness, and time apart from our normal schedules.

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

Save the date: The next Mountain Cathedrals hike will be joint with the St. John's youth group, and will be a starlight / constellation walk the evening of February 10, most likely on Tecolote Peak (east side of the Sandias). Bring stories and interesting tidbits of knowledge about the firmament! 

Church Women United (CWU) Retreat

Saturday

The Voice of CWU in New Mexico is hosting a retreat on Saturday, January 13, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Susan Brumbaugh will be the retreat leader. The theme is "Reset, Refresh, Restore", suggesting that New Year's resolutions are popular this time of year, but what if we need more self-acceptance and self-compassion than self-improvement? Susan will focus on reflection, acceptance and intentionality. It promises to be a good start to a New Year! Mark your calendar and bring a friend, no registration required.

Location: St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1100 Indian School NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Women's Bible Study

Sermon on the Mount by Jen Wilkin

• Tuesdays, January 16 – March 19 (10 weeks)
• 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., IN-PERSON, rooms 245/257
• Facilitator: Shanlii Payment
• To register, contact Susan at teachersusan@comcast.net



What if we navigated these three chapters in Matthew as they were originally heard? What if we read them as one cohesive, well-ordered message, intended to challenge us to think differently about what it means to be a follower of Jesus? This study will give you the opportunity to do just that. Come and learn from Jesus, just as His disciples did. First released in 2014, this study is now updated with new teaching videos from Jen Wilkin.

St. John's Jammers

January 18

If you're looking for a New Year's resolution to learn a new instrument, or if you have an instrument and would like to join a jamming group, then we invite you to join the St. John's Jammers. This is a small group event focused on fellowship, playing instruments, and singing. All levels are welcome. If you have an old guitar with only three strings, or if you used to play the banjo and want to try polishing those forgotten skills, this ministry is for you. We will meet on the first and third Thursdays in room 149-151, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Contact Chuck Phillips at chuckphillips2086@gmail.com to get on an email list or for questions.

Young Adult Mixer

January 19

The Asbury United Methodist Church here in Albuquerque is hosting a Young Adult Mixer with free food and entertainment on Friday, January 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. This is a registered event, to RSVP click the LINK HERE.

Location: Asbury UMC, 10000 Candelaria Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112

Time: January 19, 6-8 p.m.

Mobile Food Pantry

January 20

Our next Mobile Food Pantry is Saturday, January 20. Volunteers arrive about 9:00-9:30 a.m. and distribution begins at 9:30 - 10:00 a.m., depending on the time the Roadrunner Food Bank truck arrives. We are usually finished before noon. For more information, please contact Debby Smith at 505-554-4238 or dysmith0427@gmail.com.

Souper Bowl 2024 is Saturday, February 3, from 11:00 - 2:00. This is a yearly fundraiser for Roadrunner Food Bank. Enjoy savory treats from local restaurants, a live band, the ability to select the People’s Choice restaurant winners, and a silent auction. For more information click here. 

Family Spirit Class

Please join us at St. John's UMC on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in Room 257 as we study a book and DVD published in Fall 2023, God Provides. This study is Volume 32, number 1, in Adult Bible Study Series of the UMC, published by Cokesbury.

Each week we will watch a short 10 minute video in class with comments from the author and then discuss questions from the book. In January 2024, we will study Unit 2: Water. Then in February 2024, we will study Unit 3: Shelter. Folks are welcome to drop by any week to sample the class and try it out. Free admission and open to all adults. Questions about the class? Email: eagan.brian@gmail.com.

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 United Methodist Church Foundation. If you have any questions about the St. John’s UMC Foundation, or how to include it in your Will, please contact Jamie Davidson at JDavidson@stjohns-abq.org or 505-883-9717.

Nursery Help Urgently Needed

We are in desperate need of folks to help in the St. John's nursery on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. If you have current Safe Sanctuaries training and enjoy working with our youngest kids, here are a few ways you can help.

1. Volunteer 1-2 Sunday mornings a month during the 9:30 and/or 11:00 a.m. services

2. Volunteer 1-2 Wednesday evenings a month from 6:15 - 8:15 p.m. during Chancel Choir rehearsals

3. Apply to be a paid Nursery worker on a regular schedule for Sundays and/or Wednesdays

If we can get a group of 6-8 volunteers/workers, then we can create a rotating schedule to help cover the needs of our families with children ages 6 weeks through 4 years old.

Please contact Angela Lybarger at (505) 250-3875 if you would like to help with this part of the Children & Family Ministry at St. John's.

Please Help Family Promise

Host Week in January

We need your help for Family Promise host week January 14-21.

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 or Linn (see below.)

To volunteer, go to this link: Family Promise: January 2024 Family Promise Meals (signupgenius.com) 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.

Security Awareness

We would like to remind you to be aware of potential scams imitating Pastor Josh. If you receive a text or email from a sender claiming to be Josh or staff from St. John's asking for a favor, delete and block the message.

Know that neither Pastor Josh, nor anyone else at St. John's, would ever solicit for gift cards or money through individual text or email.

Thank you!

A big thank you to those kids, parents, and grandparents who joined us last Thursday at Locker 505 to help with unpacking, checking, and sorting clothes for kids in need. It was a fun time, and we will have more volunteer opportunities with Locker 505 in the coming year. 

Families of Faith

January 17

Hello, St. John's Families of Faith. New Sound Choir, Kids' Bible Club, and weekly dinners will start again on Wednesday, January 17. Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Parents Day Out

February 10

Children's & Family Ministry will host a Parents' Day Out on Saturday, February 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Kids in grades Kindergarten through 5th can hang out with us at St. John's for games, crafts, food, and a movie. Who knows what fun shenanigans we can create! Stay tuned for more information & and RSVP date.

(Note: We hope at some time in the future to be able to expand this opportunity to include infants & preschoolers too, depending on the availability of nursery care workers.)

Children' Easter Celebration

March 30

St. John's will host a Children's' Easter Celebration on Saturday, March 30, from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. This event will include face painting, crafts, cookie decorating, Easter egg hunts, and more.

Vacation Bible School

June 24-28

Crazy as it may sound for the first week in January, please be sure to mark your calendars for Vacation Bible School! This summer, St. John's will host VBS from June 24th - 28th, from 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. daily. Stay tuned...LOTS more more information coming your way between now and then!

Prayer Quilt Recipient

Dave Hunter 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 Dave. Won't be in the Center this week? No worries. Either way, please pray this prayer (or your own prayer). "God, you are the Divine Healer. We trust in your healing and your time for Dave's recovery. Guide him toward a life with less pain and more of your love. Amen.”

January Special Offering

St. John's Youth Mission Trip

In July, our youth are headed to Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, Louisiana to volunteer with the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). Every year more than 2,000 volunteers prepare approximately $4 million in relief supplies for shipment from Sager Brown to disasters all over the US. We can start the new year by helping the youth in their fund-raising efforts for this trip. Please give generously.

You may place your check in the offering plate with Youth Mission Trip in the memo line, or donate on the church website designated as Youth Mission, and memo as Trip.

Hygiene Items for Silver Horizons

We're starting off the new year collecting hygiene items for Silver Horizons during the month of January. These items include, but are not limited to, any of the following: toothpaste, mouthwash, men's and women's deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, soap, lotions, men's and women's razors, and shaving cream.

Silver Horizons is committed to helping struggling seniors (age 50+) in Albuquerque, and from Santa Fe to Belen, and the grandchildren many of these seniors are raising. The goal at Silver Horizons is to do more than help “keep the lights on” or help a struggling senior “survive”. They work to help seniors feel safe and secure…and remain in their own homes. They work diligently to improve the quality of life of seniors in our community.

You may leave your donations in the wire basket in the Hospitality Center.

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

2626 Arizona Street NE | Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110

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

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

Pastor 24-Hour Hotline | (505) 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.