April 5, 2024

Josh's Jottings

As we transition from Lent into the Easter Season, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who worked hard to make Holy Week a beautiful, meaningful, and spiritual occasion. From the musicians and choirs that rehearsed and attended the special services, to the custodians who prepared our facilities, to all our staff who pitched in, to Rev. Molly Shannon who preached and assisted at the services, to so many of you who attended or viewed the service from home, I am so thankful for our shared devotion last week. 

Now, we transition to Easter, a season of celebration, newness, and resurrection. In that spirit, I want to encourage you all to pray for resurrection and revival in the newly-formed Hobbs United Methodist Community. We will be joining them for worship on April 21 in Hobbs. There are still available places for people who would like to travel with us to Southeast New Mexico that weekend. But all of us can pray for them as they start a new United Methodist church in Southeast New Mexico. They are living examples of resurrection and hope after the chaos of disaffiliation. 

Also pray for the community in Carlsbad, NM as well. They too are reviving the United Methodist witness in that region of the state. The last year has been a sad one, with so much loss from the United Methodist Church. But these two groups are living examples that resurrection is real, it is compelling, and it is happening before our eyes. I am looking forward to worshipping with them in a few weeks. You should come too!

-Josh 

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.

Jolly Elders

April 10

Jolly Elders will meet on Wednesday, April 10 at 11 a.m. Our musical guests this month will be "The Muldawers". Judy and Micheal will be performing Tin Pan Alley type songs on their "Kleinette Firefly Flapper Banjolele", ukulele, and guitar. Stories about the songs such as "When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob Bobbin' Along" and "Baby Face" will be shared.

Bring a dish to share after the performance.

Contact Carol Wiggins, 505-321-0603, for questions.

Orientation Class April 14 - May 5

Orientation Class: ORIENT/REORIENT: Learning about St. John’s: Starts soon!

What:

 Class 1: Christian Beliefs (April 14, 2024)

 Class 2: Methodist History and Beliefs (April 21, 2024)

 Class 3: St. John’s Programs and Organization (April 28, 2024)

Class 4: Where do I fit in? What can I contribute? (May 5, 2024)

When: Each Sunday 6 - 7:30 p.m.

Where: Rooms 149/151

Who: Anyone (visitors, prospective members, new members, old members) who want to know what we believe and do as members of St. John’s congregation.

How: Interactive discussion

Contact: Jack or Carol Nuzum (jcnuzum@juno.com; 505-265-5241) Call or email Jack or Carol soon so we can plan or sign up Sunday in the Hospitality Center.

"Music at St. John's"

Presents Kings Return in Concert

April 21

“Music at St. John's” will present the Grammy-nominated a cappella group Kings Return in concert in our sanctuary on Sunday, April 21 at 3 p.m. Deriving inspiration from gospel, jazz, R&B, soul, and classical singing, this quartet has racked up more than ten million views of their performances on social media. Tickets are available at musicatstjohns.org.

This event WILL sell out!

Safe Sanctuaries

As Christians sharing life together in community, we covenant to protect one another, particularly those who are most vulnerable. One of the best ways we can honor that covenant is by following the guidelines of Safe Sanctuaries, an important program which guards children, youth, and vulnerable adults. Broadly speaking, Safe Sanctuaries includes two important aspects. First, all volunteers with vulnerable persons, are required to undergo a criminal background check. Second, volunteers must also attend a periodic training on how to follow rules created to prevent abuse. 

This year, Safe Sanctuaries best practices are being revised. We are asking all volunteers to contact the church ASAP if you haven't already had a recent background check. This incudes volunteers beyond those who work with youth or children. Almost all of our volunteer positions involve some kind of interaction with a vulnerable person or population. The background checks remain confidential and they are important. Second, if you haven't had a recent Safe Sanctuaries training, please sign up ASAP, for the April 14 training offered by St. John's. 

Thank you for doing your part to make sure everyone at our church can encounter God's love in a safe and comfortable environment. 

If you plan to attend the Safe Sanctuaries training on April 14, please email Angela Lybarger at childrensdirector@stjohns-abq.org, or Joy Heaviland at reception@stjohns-abq.org.

Safe Sanctuaries 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 Sanctuaries 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.

Family Spirit Class

Encounters in Prayer and Love

Starting on April 7, 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 Unit 2 in a new book and DVD published in Spring 2024, Encounters in Prayer and Love, the newest book in the Adult Bible Study Series of the UMC, published by Cokesbury.

Each week we will watch a short 10-minute video lesson and then discuss questions from the book. In April and May, we will study Unit 2: Empowering Spirit. “With the hope of resurrection fresh in our hearts, the eight lessons in this unit flow naturally into a vision for peace, reconciliation, and healing in our fractured and polarized world.”

Click the LINK HERE to watch a quick intro video. Take a Look Inside to view a free sample of the book by clicking the LINK HERE. If you like the book, you can buy it online as a paperback book or as an eBook.

Folks are welcome to drop by any week to sample the class and try it out. Free admission and open to all adults.

Questions? Email Brian Eagan at eagan.brian@gmail.com.

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. 

Family Promise April Host Week April 14-21

St. John's volunteers are providing meals  April 14 - 21. We still need a few volunteers to make dinners and stay from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. on site with the families to give the staff a break each evening. 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.

12' Pews Available

The Trustees would like to thank the congregation for their patience while the project to better accommodate wheelchairs and walkers in the sanctuary was in progress. Except for a few wood trim strips yet to be installed, the project is now complete. We are pleased to hear reports that these accessible areas are being used as intended. 

We still have a couple of excess 12’ long pews available to good homes on a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact the church office by April 15 if you are interested.

About Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels New Mexico (formerly Meals on Wheels of Albuquerque) is a private 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation founded in 1972 by a group of women from Presbyterian Churches around Albuquerque. They began with 20 clients and 40 volunteers. Today they serve approximately 500 clients and have over 400 volunteers. They delivered 9,400 meals in 1972; today they are delivering over 140,000 meals a year. Meals on Wheels New Mexico provides nutritious meals and crucial social contact each day. Not only do we provide friendship and compassion but we also check the well-being of those we serve.

Meals on Wheels New Mexico is the only home delivered meal program in our area preparing special diets including diabetes, renal failure, heart issues, chewing and swallowing problems, etc. Their program is currently the only one of its kind in New Mexico. They provide services to anyone of any age. There are no restrictions for age or disability. They can provide meals for any duration whether they are needed during a period of recuperation or for many years.

St. John's member Debby Smith is a volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels on Fridays. She picks up the meals from the Meals on Wheels Presbyterian Northside location. It usually takes approximately 2 hours to deliver all the meals on her route. She would be happy to have someone ride along with her on any Friday. If you think you might enjoy volunteering for Meals on Wheels, riding along with Debby would be a great way to check it out. You can contact her at dysmith0427@gmail.com or (505) 554-4238 to find out more information about Meals on Wheels. This is a great opportunity to volunteer outside the walls of St. John's!

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 7. 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.”

April Special Offering: Cuidando Los Ninos

Poverty and homelessness hurt everyone in a community. The cost is borne by us all.

Cuidando Los Ninos goal is to help break the cycle of homelessness for children and families. They provide high quality early childhood education, case management, supportive housing and parent education.  

This month we can help them help our community with both our financial donations, and in-kind donations (see article below).

Please give generously.

Cuidando Los Ninos

In addition to our special offering for Cuidando Los Ninos, during the month of April we will be collecting "spring things" for the children. These items include: baby items (6 weeks - 1 year); lightweight baby blankets; spring-themed onesies; kids' sunscreen; sun hats; bubbles; sidewalk chalk; rain boots (children's sizes 4-13); rain jackets; flower/plant exploration kits; spring-themed picture books; kids' gardening tools; butterfly nets; bug catchers; flower seeds for planting; spring coloring books; and stickers. Please place your donations in the bins in the Hospitality Center. Questions? Donna at donnabruce@comcast.net.

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.