Psalm 42 & 43

Whenever I hear the phrase “Speaking Truth to Power,” I think of the prophets: Isaiah to Hezekiah, Elijah to Ahab and Jezebel, Jeremiah to Jehoiakim, Nathan to David. They were called upon by God to speak truth to the rulers of the land. And often not just once, but again and again. They were brave and relentless – they spoke Truth to Power.

Well, one day years ago I had my own prophet standing in front of me – my little three year old son Andy. Over the few years of his life, he had learned big-time how to push my buttons to get a reaction. And this day whatever he was doing pushed me over the edge. I got so angry at him and out of anger gave my little boy his first spanking. When I had given him the three wacks on his bottom that my anger said he deserved, he turned to face me, looking like one of those Biblical prophets I imagined – his eyes filled with righteous rage, face red and contorted, his veins bulging in his neck – and, looking me square in the eye, he yelled:

“PARENTS SHOULDN’T SPANK CHILDREN!”

I was speechless. He didn’t tell me he hated me or run to his room crying. He didn’t even say I shouldn’t spank him. At three, he came out with a global imperative – on his own. He spoke his truth to the most powerful person he knew – me.

This week I have been speaking my truth to power too. But first – the back story:

My daughter Emily and her family live in Washington State, and when I talked to her this week, for the first time the west coast fires became real. They are presently not in any danger as they live 30 minutes north of Vancouver, WA and while there are no fires in their area, there is a monster fire south across the Columbia River, creeping up close to the suburbs of Portland, OR, just south of the river from Vancouver. Winds blowing north from this fire are making their air quality hazardous. Emily told me they had friends who live south of Portland in a “get ready to evacuate any minute” zone whom they had invited to come to their place if

the need arose. Emily showed me a picture taken from her friend’s house – the sky was dark red. I found the interactive fire map with the evacuation zones and over the next day saw the spot where my daughter’s friends lived turn from a yellow “get ready” to a red “go now” zone. My heart sank. And when I talked to my daughter, I found that her friends had evacuated to her house that day. And there they will wait – safe but not knowing.

This hit me hard. Now I couldn’t ignore the news – I began reading it obsessively. I couldn’t get the sight of those flames out of my head - a wall of flames coming closer and closer. I cried over the many who have lost all and the many who have died. I cried over the horrible, messy uncertainty so many have to live with – fire burning and burning and burning. And I was furious with God.

So I began to speak my truth to Power – God Himself.

My heart screamed words from the Psalms:

“Answer me when I call, O God of my right!” (Ps 4:1)

“Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning” (Ps 22:1)

“Why do you stand afar off, O God? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Ps 10:1)

“Do not forsake me, O Lord! Oh my God, be not far from me!

Make haste to help me, O God of my salvation!” (Ps 38: 21- 22)

I let all my feelings hang out. In the vernacular, I let God have it. For I have found it true – just as David did – that God is the one Power who wants us to speak our truth to him. Maybe this truth is ugly; maybe excruciatingly painful; maybe dispiriting; maybe even heretical. Never mind – God wants to hear it. David, who had Truth spoken to him by Nathan, also spoke his truth to God. He freely spoke to God about how he felt, how he thought – angry, sad, forsaken – it all came out. And God did not punish David for saying how he felt, how he saw things. In fact, it often seems that when David voices to God how he sees things, how he feels – only then can he praise God again.

And so I spoke my truth to Power – God Himself. And I discovered what David had discovered long ago: telling God what is pulling me away

from Him, what is making me angry at Him doesn’t alienate me from God. It just lets the walls come down and makes room in my heart for His grace.

And just as how I swept my son up in my arms after he poured his heart out to me, so God came back to me when I honestly poured out my soul to Him.

Truthfully, He had never left.

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.”

(Ps 42:5)

-- Lyn Fitz

A big Thank You to the entire congregation for the July special offering in support of Zuni Elementary School, our community partner! In the past, St John’s volunteers would purchase actual school supplies (binders, pencils, paper, etc.) for the school counselor to distribute to the students on opening day. This year, with the uncertainty of Zuni’s re-opening date for in-person learning, the offering was used to purchase $1,500 in gift cards for the school administration’s use in obtaining needed equipment and supplies to support distance learning and social emotional learning at the school! Our giving and continued community support is deeply appreciated by all at Zuni Elementary. Thank you congregation for your faithful witness!

Click HERE to view the poll!

Would you be interested in submitting a daily devotional for the Newsletter? If so, send an email to Pastor Pam at prowley@stjohns-abq.org!

Please include the following items when writing a devotion:

A Focus Word or Phrase

A Scripture (it can simply be referenced)

The Body of the Devotion (one page is a good guideline)

A Prayer or a Spiritual Practice

Hi there! I love showing you photos of what we are doing at the church, but what I think would be an even more amazing thing to share is a picture of you! Send me pictures and/or videos of you/your family/your pets/your garden/your cooking/etc with a short description. communicate@stjohns-abq.org

Please join us on Wednesday mornings & evenings for a worship service of praise and prayer. This service will take place in the Memorial Garden of St. John’s on the west side of the building. This services is designed to be thirty minutes and will be led by Certified Lay Ministers Larry Luna & Joe Marshall. Please bring your own lawn chairs and sit six feet from your neighbor. In an effort to keep all of us safe and healthy, masks are required. The last Wednesday prayer services will be on Wednesday, September 23rd. 

Join us for a new series of concerts live-streamed from the St. John's sanctuary! Concerts are a benefit for Albuquerque Healthcare for the Homeless. musicatstjohns.org

Aaron Howe, baritone

Jim Ahrend, pianist

Olga Perez Flora, mezzo-soprano

James Flora, tenor

Kristin Ditlow, pianist

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 the homepage of the website. We hope you’ll worship with us! (Pastors Pam and Kelly 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.

Missing getting together with your St John’s family after church? Join us in the virtual Sonshine Coffee Zoom immediately following the 11:00 am Worship. Church Leadership Team members starting with Jim Hickman will be hosting with the Pastors Pam and Kelly joining if they are available. Zoom registration is HERE.

The class always welcomes new faces, whether they wish to become permanent members, are interested in a particular study, or need a Sunday School family while on temporary assignment in Albuquerque. We typically alternate between modern books and books of the Bible. We are currently nearing the end of I’d Like You More If You Were More Like Me, by John Ortberg. Contact Regina Hunter, drhunter@nmia.com, to be added to the invitation list on Sundays and to learn of the next book.

Family Spirit Class meets by zoom on Sunday mornings, 9:30 to 10:30. They are studying John Ortberg’s book The Life You've Always Wanted. Brian Eagen and Doug Sweet lead this study. Please contact Anita Hallstrom at anitah1@comcast.net if you would like to join this zoom class.

Christian Classics Sunday School Class is meeting by Zoom at 3:30 PM on Sundays. We are studying The Wisdom Jesus by Cynthia Bourgeault. Contact Jack Nuzum at jcnuzum@juno.com to join in.

On September 25, the youth group is heading up to Grace Park @5:00PM for a Social Distancing campout. Parents will caravan up with us then either drop off & comeback or stay with us the weekend; pitch your own tents; Cost is $15 (Use discount code “Campingfree” if you need help with the cost); let’s get out of town & experience the great outdoors together, yet apart. https://conta.cc/2QxFRSx

To better streamline all the ways we communicate, the Youth Group has adopted the Slack app to merge and integrate the our direct messaging, digital calendar, Zoom account, and all our online documents. It is easy to join the threads that apply just to you. Join in here: bit.ly/joinumyfslack1

Summer is past, and as we get back to school? Our Solid Ground youth group will resume meeting every Sunday at 4:00-5:15PM with new games, discussions, and faith-building activities plus new features of the student led Soap Box and Top 5s. Log-in. at: bit.ly/Fall2020UMYF (case sensitive).

While we are not yet allowed to sing together, stay informed about the activities of the Sonrise Youth Choir, including weekly Zooms on Thursdays at 4:00 pm (Jackbox games!!), and musical workshops in the Fall! Email Shea at sonrisechoir@gmail.com!

We will be offering all our classes via ZOOM so you can attend from the convenience of your own home - perhaps even in your pjs if you want!

God of Covenant, a Study of Genesis 12-50 by Jen Wilkin, led by Donna Bruce

Deadline for registration: September 24

Maximum number for class is 11

Broken and Blessed, How God Used One Imperfect Family to Change the World by Jessica LaGrone, led by Barbara Stanfield

Deadline for registration: October 8

Maximum number for class is 11

Get Your Life Back, Everyday Practices for a World Gone Mad by John Eldredge, led by Karen Tidler

October 20 - November 24 (6 weeks), Tuesdays, 9:15 - 11:15 am

Deadline for registration: October 8

Maximum number for class is 11

Come join us for St John’s Blessing of the Animals. All God’s creatures are welcome! Chef Tim will have treats for us all and we will celebrate our relation to all creatures, as we worship with all creatures great and small, and witness to God’s goodness in creation.

Come receive communion in your car on Wednesday, October 7 and gather in safe community to worship and praise God. We encourage you to bring your own elements (bread & juice). If you do not have your own elements, we will provide individually-packaged elements. We will gather in the east parking lot of St. John's (2626 Arizona Street NE).

We're so happy to announce that Jazz Vespers will be resuming monthly, LIVEstreamed to your home on our YouTube Channel.

Dianna Hughes, vocalist

Robert Lah, pianist

Micky Patten, bassist

Jazz Vespers is a unique, meditative worship service that features some of New Mexico’s best professional jazz musicians. Jazz Vespers occurs on the 2nd Saturday of each month at 5:00 pm in the St. John’s United Methodist Church sanctuary.

Calling all Cars. Many children will not be able to trick-or-treat door to door this year because of Covid-19. Let's create a fun, safe, socially distant, costume-filled, and candy-laden option for children in our community on Oct 31st 2:30-4:30PM. To keep everyone safe, masks are required, gloves are needed, and individually wrapped candies are a must. We are looking for 25 people/families to participate. Can you join us? Please register to volunteer: https://conta.cc/3bPziEM

Photos from the 2019 Trunk or Treat:

St John’s Food Ministry continues to serve the people of Albuquerque--approximately 500 people per month!--with hot meals prepared in our kitchen,  Do you have a surplus of fresh produce from your garden that you would like to donate to St. John's to feed the hungry? If so, please contact Chef Tim at tnuzum@stjohns-abq.org.

The announcements below include using the program "Zoom" to group-video chat. You can find a tutorial on how to use Zoom HERE!

Join St. John’s Music Director Matthew Greer for a new weekly session in which he talks about the music ministry, explores hymns and choral music, and chats with the occasional guest about music they love. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Log in and have coffee (or tea) and chat with Pastors Pam and Kelly! Zoom link HERE.

Meet by zoom with Pastor Pam for a 30 minute spiritual practice every Thursday afternoon. We will explore different ways to pray, to commune with God, to nurture our spiritual lives with Christ through the Indwelling Holy Spirit. Space is limited, join the class HERE.

Remember to get started on your family-history manuscript with Terri Link and Regina Hunter, Saturdays from 10:00 to 12:00. If you have trouble connecting before 10:00, all Regina at 294-2877.

Most of us have read only read bits and pieces of the book of Daniel: “Daniel in the Lions’ Den” and “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the Fiery Furnace.” This brief episode of St. John’s email Bible study will examine what else happened to Daniel and his friends in Babylon. Download a study guide, or call or write Regina Hunter for daily scripture readings and study tips, at 294-2877 or drhunter@nmia.com.

Anyone is welcome--no experience is necessary. (And, yes! It's okay for Christians to meditate.) If you want to learn more prior to starting, the sessions will be similar to ones she leads and records on YouTube. Each session will be hosted on Zoom. HERE is the zoom link. Please contact Susan Brumbaugh, counselor@stjohns-abq.org, or 505-506-6716, if you have questions.

Larry Gurule (friend of Jean Jones) is the recipient for the prayer quilt on display for September 14th through September 27th.

In lieu of tying knots, please pray this prayer (or your own prayer): “Merciful Father, please hold Larry tight in your embrace as he faces medical challenges in his life. Show him your mercy, relieve his fears and anxieties and grant him a quiet mind and an expectant heart. Amen”

With the Church currently closed, the prayer shawls have taken up residence with Hunt and Ann. They are actually quite comfortable in the coolness of their new home but they would love to be of comfort to someone in need of God’s love. Please contact Ann at mapalook@comcast.net or 768-7013 if you would like a shawl. If you call, the basket will await your visit in their courtyard. Blessings -

How we support you and your family in prayer during this difficult time? Prayers for health, employment, peace? Please send your prayer requests to the Prayer Team: mapalook@comcast.net or submit them on our website HERE.

It is hard to get out and many people shouldn’t. Is there something you need delivered from the store? If we are able to help, we have a few volunteers who would like to serve as Go-fers for people who need something but cannot get it on their own. Please pass any requests on to Jarrod at c.care@stjohns-abq.org

The St. John's staff includes a licensed mental health counselor who is available to meet virtually (using a smartphone or computer) in a secure online platform during these anxious times. If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally, counseling is available. Click here or contact Susan Brumbaugh at 505-506-6717 or counselor@stjohns-abq.org for more details about session and cost information. Susan also has a Youtube Channel with mindfulness tips HERE.

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

   As summer winds up this year, let's pause and remember the church camp experiences of our lives, wherever they may be.

You may remember youth camps, women's or men's conferences, marriage retreats, lay speaker schools and many more events Some people made their first commitment to Christ in a camp setting. Most remember growing closer to God.

   Sadly, this year most events at Sacramento and other camps were canceled by Covid resulting in not only lots of disappointment, but also serious financial hardship. We at St. John's have the opportunity this month to support our beautiful camp in the Sacramento mountains south of Cloudcroft and ensure future opportunities with other Christians to pray, worship, play and study in God's beautiful creation. Please give generously.

In accordance with the New Mexico Department of Health order, our facility will be closed until further notice. We will keep you apprised as things develop.

Your St. John's pastors and staff are still very much on the job, and are available to you during this time. Please reach out to us if we can help you in any way!

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