So, Arthur had Merlin, his trusted advisor, but also his friend Lancelot and wife, Guinevere. Harry Potter had Dumbledore, but also Ron and Hermione; Luke had his buddies Princess Leia and Han Solo. Batman and Robin, the Lone Ranger and Tonto…on and on: the hero on his quest has a friend, sidekick, or truelove, to assist him or her on the journey of life. Biblical characters are no different.

Adam had everything in Eden except a soulmate; hence, Eve. Moses had his sibling helpers, Aaron and Miriam, and then Joshua. Naomi had her faithful daughter-in-law, Ruth. Elijah had Elisha. Sometimes, the companions weren’t that helpful as when Rebekah helped Jacob fool her husband Isaac, or when the “Comforters” of Job reassured him that he was to blame for all his troubles! The most touching of friendships in the Old Testament, in my opinion, is that of David and Jonathan.

Jonathan is the son of King Saul, first king of Israel. He is a very brave warrior (read about the raid he led on the Philistines in 1 Samuel 14.) When his father becomes irrationally afraid of David, Jonathan defies the king, his father, and warns David about Saul’s threats at the risk of his own life. The two swear eternal friendship even though Jonathan knows that David will likely inherit the throne and not himself, the natural heir (1 Sam. 19-20.) When Jonathan is killed in battle, David mourns him in heart-wrenching terms: “I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women. How the mighty have fallen!” (2 Sam. 1). David adopts Jonathan’s crippled son Mephibosheth as his own. David depended on his friend for support during critical stages of his life as we do our friends.

In the New Testament, Jesus has the disciples (good examples of friends who care but who typically don’t get it.) Paul has Silas, Timothy, and many other friends and companions he identifies with affection and gratitude in his letters. The most touching friendship, though, is that of the family of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. We read about Jesus dropping by their home in Bethany several times. There is the conflict between the sisters when Martha is busy preparing lunch and Mary sits at Jesus feet to learn. Jesus gently chides Martha and commends Mary. And, of course, when Lazarus dies, Jesus weeps, reassures the sisters that their faith in him is not in vain, and calls Lazarus forth from the grave. My point is that Jesus, like all of us, needs friends he can just drop in on, who trust and can be trusted. Yes, he had the disciples, but they were at least as frustrating as they were helpful by my read (and, yes, our companions can certainly be frustrating as well.)

We’re on a journey and we can’t do it alone. As the Bible shows, we need peers who understand us, who both challenge us and have our backs, provide us chances to serve, and walk beside us in good times and bad.

-- Jack Nuzum

  Lent is the time of preparation, a time of sacrifice, a time of renewed focus on God, a time of giving.

Traditionally at St. John's, the Lenten Offering goes to support many and varied local ministries. In the past we have supported such ministries as, the Ramp Project, Mobile Food Pantry, Hopeworks, Asbury Pie Cafe, Wesley House, McCurdy Ministries, Barrett House, Silver Horizons , lunch bags for the homeless and many more.

   During the pandemic this past year, St. John's has been very generous in supporting ministries that help our community, the need being greater than ever this year. So as we think of Jesus great sacrifice for us, may we sacrifice in our own small way and continue to give generously to those in need.

Jesus & Women, in the first century and now by Kristi McLelland; facilitated by Donna Bruce

March 29 - May 17 (8 weeks), Mondays, 9:30 am - 11:30 am

Maximum number for class is 15

Registration deadline: March 14

Join biblical culturalist Kristi McLelland as she takes you back to Jesus' first-century world, explaining the historical and cultural climate of His day to help you know Him more dearly. "Jesus and Women, in the first century and now" is a thoughtful look at several of Jesus' interactions with women in the Bible that will fuel your worship of the Living God. This study will help you: explore how Jesus generously restores dignity and honor to women in the first century and now, learn how to study the Bible through a Middle Eastern lens, and gain deeper insight into the biblical world with a fresh perspective on familiar Bible stories. To register, contact Donna Bruce at donnabruce@comcast.net.

Our second Easter apart is approaching. Let's make something truly special for each other this year! Please send a video of yourself and friends and family members with the message "Happy Easter, St. John's!", and a short message if you'd like for your fellow congregants, to Shea at communicate@stjohns-abq.org! Deadline for video submissions will be Friday, March 26! :)

St. John’s will live-stream a worship service on Sunday morning at 9:30 am (Contemporary) on the Abide Facebook page and 11:00 am (Traditional) on our Youtube Channel. We hope you’ll worship with us! (Pastor Pam will lead, along with Shea Perry, Jim Ahrend, and Matt Greer). We hope that you’ll participate by singing and praying at home! Any questions? Email Matt at mgreer@stjohns-abq.org.

Sunday Community Activities: Click HERE to view all Sunday School Classes & groups! Join us in the virtual Sonshine Coffee Zoom immediately following the 11:00 am Worship with church Leadership Team members hosting. Zoom link is HERE

What their pantry needs:

Monetary donations welcomed: bring to drive-in, drop-off event; mail to the church; online giving

Please write "CASA ESPERANZA" in the memo field of your check

Weekly Lenten Zoom Study, based on the book Wind in the Wilderness: A Lenten study from the Prophets (D. J. del Rosario; available from Cokesbury). Tuesdays at 7 PM, led by our Certified Lay Ministers, beginning Feb. 16th. The chapters: Building a skyscraper, Sticks and stones, Worst baby names ever, Nine words that changed everything, Present in the waiting, A taste of the good life, and If a tree falls in the woods... . The first chapter raises interesting questions about when we find ourselves in a deep hole as the Israelites did during the Exile and how the experience changes us, drawing on texts from Isaiah 9 and 53. It goes from there. There are daily Scripture readings as well. To register please contact Michael Furnish (mdfurnish@comcast.net ). We are exploring continuing this after Easter with Adam Hamilton’s The Walk, led by Joe Marshall, CLM.

The Family Spirit Sunday School Class welcomes EVERYONE! We currently meet on Sundays from 9:30 am to 10:45 am using video conferencing on Zoom.us. We are a small group of friendly adults who like to study, watch educational videos about books, and then discuss questions, pray and socialize.

We are currently studying this book and video series: Sermon on the Mount: a Beginner’s Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5 to 7, contains some of Jesus most profound and most memorable teachings. What might these teachings have mean to his disciples, and to the others who first heard them? How do they enhance our reading of the rest of the Gospel of Matthew, and how do they speak across the centuries to listeners today? How, if we pay careful attention to his words, does Jesus provide us a road map to living as God would have us live?

In Sermon on the Mount: A Beginner's Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven, author Dr. Amy-Jill Levine introduces the major topics in the Sermon on the Mount, explains historical and theological contexts, and shows how the words of Jesus echo his Jewish tradition and speak forward to reach hearts and minds today.

This book provides a rich and challenging learning experience for the individual reader and also makes a wonderful, multiple week group study with the additional Leader Guide, a DVD of Dr. Amy-Jill Levine speaking (a series of 6 lessons, to be watched and discussed over a series of weeks). Plus, the option of daily readings for 40-days if you want to go in depth.

Discover new insights – watch this quick (94 second) introduction video, to hear from Dr. Amy-Jill Levine the author of the book.

Do you like videos? Want to learn more? Watch Session 1 in the 6-part series about the book.

And to view the rest of the video series, please join us in class to watch on Sundays. This class is taught by Rev. Doug Sweet. For more information on this free class, including the zoom video conferencing link, please contact Brian A. Eagan by email: eagan.brian@gmail.com

“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 Zoom orientation class to discuss the answers. Visitors and new members are the primary focus for the class, but those who have been around awhile are invited 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 four Thursday evenings at 7 PM. The first class will start Thursday, March 4, 2021, and we’ll end on Thursday, March 25. We will meet on Zoom to get acquainted and discuss the topics (our Christian faith, Methodism, St. John’s, where's my place.)

  To register for the class and for any questions, contact Jack and Carol Nuzum at 265-5241 or jcnuzum@juno.com.

Paul and Lois Volchansky (friends of Joyce and David Apple) are the recipients for the prayer quilt on display for March 5 - March 18.

In lieu of tying knots, please pray this prayer (or your own prayer): “Lord, we place Paul and Lois before you and ask for your blessings of peace and strength in their lives. Amen”

Stephen Ministers are members of St. John’s who have gone through 50 hours of training to provide high quality, confidential Christian care to individuals experiencing a crisis or life challenge such as divorce, grief, job loss, hospitalization, relocation, or loneliness.

If you or someone you know could benefit from the care of a Stephen Minister, please call the office 505-883-9717 or email stephenministry@stjohns-abq.org

www.stjohns-abq.org

(505) 883-9717

2626 Arizona St NE | Albuquerque, NM 87110

Office Hours (call only): Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm