Devotionals this week are provided by Stephen Ministers in-training.
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MUSIC
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me - John 10:27
Pause for a moment and reflect and remember how God has chosen to speak to you. Has it been through a burning bush? Has it been in the stillness of a morning? Do you hear God’s audible voice as a mother speaks to her child?
There is no right or wrong answer here. Sometimes God chooses to speak to us through a friend. Imagine hanging up the phone and someone asking you “Who was that?” and you simply answer “God”.
One way that God speaks is through music. Music has been around since the beginning of time. Just listen as the wind rustles through the trees. Listen as the birds exercise their vocal cords sending melodious sounds for all to hear. Listen as a river flows. Listen as we use our own vocal cords to hum a simple tune. Listen as a child uses a stick to beat on a rock. Listen as a man blows air through a wood flute. Listen as a young lady presses her fingers on the keyboard of a piano. Listen as a full orchestra comes together to make a thunderous sound.
I can’t tell you how many times God has spoken to me through music, but allow me to share a few instances when He did. Recently I was in a bad mood. Something wasn’t going right and I went to God for answers. I was in my car driving toward the east in Albuquerque and looked up and saw a huge rainbow over the Sandia Mountains. In the midst of that rainbow my eye focused on two hang gliders. My initial response was to pull over and take a picture so that I could share this spectacular view. But at that very moment my play list played Laura Daigle’s song “I Will Rescue You”
I will send out an army to find you
In the middle of the darkest night
It's true, I will rescue you
Another time my prayers were blank. I didn’t know what you pray. So I didn’t. I remember asking God simply why He was silent in a time that I needed to hear Him the most? And the song “Word Of God Speak” by Mercy Me came through my ear phones.
I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say
Sometimes it can be difficult to find quiet time and listen for the voice of God, but I challenge you to find time that best fits for you. Maybe go for a walk or a drive by yourself. Find a few minutes after everyone has gone to bed or maybe get up a few minutes before everyone else. Maybe put your headphones on while you are working in the yard, washing the car or even washing the dishes. Find a genre of music that works for you. If you don’t like Gospel there is Classical. If you don’t like Praise music there is Rock & Roll. If you don’t like Ska there is Country (and western). There are a lot of free music apps available online. Maybe just turn on the radio or use this time to pull out your own collection of cassette tapes or CDs. Not every song that plays will be the voice of God, but what if in that moment He choses to speak to you and whispers through a song “I love you! I hear you! Everything is going to be OK!”
Loving God, thank you for the many ways that you speak to us. May my heart and ears be open and receptive to hear your words. Help me, Lord to find that time that I can be alone with you and be silent as you speak. - Amen
-- Joe Marshall, Stephen Minister In-Training
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JOIN US FOR WORSHIP LIVE-STREAMED FROM THE SANCTUARY
St. John’s will live-stream a worship service 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.
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ZOOM TUTORIAL
The announcements below include using the program "Zoom" to group-video chat. You can find a tutorial on how to use Zoom
HERE!
"COFFEE BREAK" WITH PASTORS PAM & KELLY
Wednesdays at 1:30 pm
Log in and have coffee (or tea) and chat with Pastors Pam and Kelly! Zoom link
HERE. Wednesdays at 1:30 pm.
"SPIRITUAL MOVEMENT" CLASS WITH PASTOR PAM
Thursdays at 1:30 pm
Join Pastor Pam for a 30-minute spiritual exercise. Space is limited, and the Zoom link will be provided to the first 15 people to sign up! Sign-up is
HERE. Thursdays at 1:30 pm.
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Worry for others
Praying for the whole wide world
Needing to find peace
Laura Sandison
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FROM THE DESK OF THERESE MACALI:
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ZOOM YOUTH GROUP
Youth group started meeting over Zoom on Palm Sunday; students, come join us for games, discussion, community, and faith-building every Sunday from 4:00-5:15 pm! Go to: bit.ly/UMYFSolidGround (case sensitive) with the password: 048658
A MESSAGE FROM THE LENTEN FISH FRY DINNER COMMITTEE
The Lenten Fish Fry Dinner committee wants to say “Thank You” for your generous support of the 2020 Lenten dinners. Both your volunteering and your support of the first responders and the Zuni & neighborhood contributions for free dinners were outstanding.
Because the Covid-19 virus shut us down after only two dinners, we will be very limited on the profits that we can give to organizations that feed the hungry of Albuquerque, including our very own St. John’s UMC Food Ministry.
We would like to use your donations for first responders, the Zuni school/neighborhood, and the donations from the online Bible study to add to the limited funds we have this year to help feed those in need throughout the coming year. However, we felt that if you donated as listed above, we need to ask your permission to take this course of action. So, if you agree with this approach, you do not need to do anything. If you would like your donation returned to you, please contact either Wayne Shirley at 294-1018 or jwshirleyabq@gmail.com or Doris Bowen at 299-6570 or bowen_g@msn.com
Please respond to us by April 28, 2020 if funds need to be returned. Otherwise we will add the remaining donations to the profits to be distributed as we normally do.
You all are indeed a blessing to St. John’s UMC and our Albuquerque community!!!
ONLINE BIBLE STUDY
While many of us are in a stay-at-home mode we can find both our emotions and faith challenged. Max Lucado has written a book "You'll Get Through This" based on the story of Joseph. He has opened up the video presentation online for no cost. I will be facilitating a Zoom discussion of this material and incorporating material from his book and study guide. If you would like to join me each week for the next 7 weeks starting Tuesday May 7th from 10 - 11 then email me for details (ktidler@comcast.net). If you would just like to watch the online video go to
Online Bible Study to sign up for the free videos.
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UPDATE FOR FOOD MINISTRY
St John’s Food Ministry will be providing an evening meal at Hopeworks on Tuesday April 28 at Hopeworks. Chef Tim and his crew will prepare a hot, homecooked meal for over150 people, and St. John’s “Go-phers” will drive the food to their mission on 3rd Street in Albuquerque.
The distribution of this food will be handled by staff at Hopeworks. St John’s staff will only prepare and deliver it. The Food Ministry will also provide hot, homecooked dinner for 30 people at Casa Esperanza on Thursday, April 24 and Thursday, April 30. We are able to fund this ministry through gracious gifts from Sunday school classes, individual donations from the congregation, and through a specific gift given to St John’s for use in our community and congregation for those in need. If you would like more information on this or other food ministry outreach meals contact Tim Nuzum at tnuzum@stjohns-abq.org or Kelly Giese @ kellyg@stjohns-abq.org .
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MUSIC FROM ST. JOHN'S
As part of our outreach during this unsettling time, the Music Ministry has launched “Music From St. John’s,” a series of video performances by local musicians. This is an effort to continue to provide beautiful music to our congregation and community, and also to provide work to local musicians who have been severely affected by cancelations. New videos will appear daily for the foreseeable future, and they are being created by Shea Perry. We hope you’ll enjoy and share the videos, and also consider making a donation to the
New Mexico Musicians Relief Fund. The easiest way to view the videos is to go to the
St. John’s Music Ministries Facebook page. Check back daily!
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VIRTUAL TAI CHI WITH KATHY:
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ST. JOHN'S FACILITY IS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
In accordance with the New Mexico Department of Health order, our facility will be closed until further notice. A re-open date is to be determined! 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!
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FAMILY PROMISE
Family Promise has decided to keep the families at Church of the Good Shepherd until May. Since we are not hosting in April, Family Promise is asking for money to help off set the costs. Checks sent to St. John's can be noted "Family Promise" or you can donate online directly to Family Promise
here. If you are willing to donate games, gift cards, lawn chairs, mini refrigerator, microwave, the use of an RV or rental home for housing families, please contact Jenn Shields. If you have other questions, please contact either Linn Furnish at swimsew@comcast.net - 505-884-6626 OR Jenn Shields at jennshields200@yahoo.com - 505-450-9978.
APRIL SPECIAL OFFERING: LENTEN OFFERING
Each year the funds we raise during the Lenten/Easter season go to many local ministries. A sample of those includes the following: Family Promise, Grace Meal, Asbury Pie Cafe, Wesley House, McCurdy Ministries, NM Ramp Project, Mobile Food Pantry, lunch bags for the homeless, Breaking Bread Meals, Silver Horizons and many more. In these difficult times these ministries need our help more than ever. Please give generously.
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ST. JOHN'S PRAYER LABYRINTH IS OPEN
Please come to pray in the labyrinth any time of day. Park in the east parking lot near the front doors of the sanctuary/narthex doors. Our prayer labyrinth is directly to the south of the front doors. It is advisable to have one person on the labyrinth at a time. Enter the prayer labyrinth with a personal prayer and then quietly and contemplatively experience what God has to share with you during this time.
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CONTACT US
Office Administrator, Debbie Brown, will be answering the phone at St. John’s every weekday from 9:00 am-2:00 pm. Please call the office if you have any concerns or pastoral care needs. Debbie will get messages to Pastor Pam and Pastor Kelly. The office number is 505-883-9717.
ONLINE COUNSELING SERVICE AVAILABLE
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.
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Congregational Care Corner
PRAYER SUPPORT
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
GO-FER TEAM
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
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Contact Us
www.stjohns-abq.org
(505) 883-9717
2626 Arizona St NE | Albuquerque, NM 87110
Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
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Questions? Contact Shea Perry at communicate@stjohns-abq.org
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