The Art of Worship: Christmastide
Welcome Home…
The blue of the sanctuary has changed into white. The church remains in white colors for the next 12 days, and yes, the 12 days we sing about in that crazy song, are a real season, called Christmastide. Christmastide is held from sunset Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) through Epiphany (Jan. 6).
When my kids were little I wrapped our family Bible in the prettiest paper, and put a large bow on top of it. That was to be the first present opened Christmas morning. Then we all took turns reading the Christmas story in the book of Luke to start the day with our minds on Christ. We lit the Christ Candle and sang Joy to the World... Click here to read the full story.
Click here to read all the articles in this series by Melanie Amend.
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Christmas Eve Offering
This past Sunday, Pastor Randall invited us to consider what corners of our community needed to be invited to hear or experience good news this Christmas. As we gather to celebrate Christmas Eve at St. John’s this year, 100% of our Christmas Eve offerings (from all three services: 4 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 11 p.m.) will be designated for our ministry partner, Silver Horizons, as we hope to extend some very good news to Silver Horizons and the people they serve.
Silver Horizons is an Albuquerque-area organization committed to helping low-income seniors (age 50+) with some of the most basic things of life: food and utilities assistance and home repairs/retrofits. Many of the seniors receiving support from Silver Horizons are also helping to raise their grandchildren. Earlier this year, Silver Horizons had to move to a much smaller facility (the space they were leasing was sold), and they are in desperate need for additional storage options. About $5000 would help them purchase a shipping container for reliable, short-term storage, and even more would boost them even further. This is an incredible opportunity for St. John’s to support one of our partners, help to change the lives of people in our community, and share some incredibly good news.
NOTE: if you are giving a year-end gift at one of our Christmas Eve services or would like for your offering to be designated for something other than Silver Horizons, please be sure to indicate that on the memo line of your check or the offering envelope.
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Sixty Families Gratefully Receive Food Boxes
It was quite the scene last Saturday as a stream of vehicles unloaded box after box of food to be delivered to the John Marshall Community Center on Walter SE. We filled up seven pickups with the boxes and drove them to the Center, where the staff was waiting to distribute them to families in the area. The director was astonished at the volume, and families were scheduled to start arriving to pick up their food within the hour.
Many thanks to the truck drivers/loaders and especially to the dozens of St. John's families who took the time to shop and pack up the food.
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Lettuce Be Thankful For Our Winter Bounty
The Garden Ministry harvested its first crop of lettuce and chard for the December 19 Community of Hope Meal. Four full fresh salads were made from a raised bed overflowing with mixed salad greens in Hoop House 1 of the St. John’s Community Garden. Chef Tim and his Sous Chef Chance also harvested and cooked fresh chard from the garden with a mix of ham, green beans, red wine vinegar, and seasonings to make a spicy southern side dish for 80 people experiencing homelessness at Community of Hope. Thanks to Regina Hampton and Jay Mason for doing the planting of the lettuce and chard. We’re eagerly waiting the arrival of two full beds of broccoli and a bed of cauliflower (in the background of the picture) who’s crowns have already begun to sprout!
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There Will Be One 10 a.m. Service on December 26 (It's Ugly Sweater Sunday!)
On December 26, the Sunday following Christmas, we will have one all-church service at 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary. This is the only service we will have that Sunday and it will also be available to watch over livestream. It will be ugly sweater Sunday, so join in the fun and wear your best ugly sweater to church!
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Church Office Closed December 27 and December 31
In observance of the Christmas and New Year's holidays, the church office will be closed on Monday, December 27 and Friday, December 31. We will resume our regular office hours on Monday January 3.
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Confirmation 2022
We are wanting to offer a Confirmation class in early Spring 2022 for any youth, grades 6th-12th, who are interested in ‘confirming’ their faith through a special Confirmation experience. It will be a 12 week class with mentor experiences and concluding in a special Confirmation service during Sunday morning worship. If you have a youth interested, please contact Pastor Tiffany (thollums@stjohns-abq.org).
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Church Women United Meets January 7
Church Women United, an ecumenical Christian women’s group, will meet on Friday, January 7 at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom. The theme will be “Empowering Refugee Women” and focus on the mission of Umoja Abq. Chantal Muhumure, founder of Umoja Abq, will share her experiences of growing up in Rwanda, then moving to ABQ in 2017, where she found other refugee women who were having the same challenges as she did. She is now a leader of this women’s empowerment organization that is working with community organizations across the city. Volunteers are needed, especially young women who are looking for specific volunteer ways that make a difference in people’s lives. A Zoom link will be sent out by Jan. 5th. If you would like to participate, contact Marilyn Stoops at 505-265-8358 or email her at mstoops@swcp.com.
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Men's New Year Bible Study on Isaiah Starts January 10
Isaiah is a rich, sprawling book, often called the 'Fifth Gospel' because of its message of hope and the many passages about the coming Savior. New Testament authors quote Isaiah more than any other Old Testament book except Psalms. It is very long and repetitious as well, so we're going to do an edited version that hits the highlights over six weeks.
The study will be on six Mondays, January 10, 2022, through February 14, at both 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Classes will be on Zoom and perhaps live as well through hybrid technology. If you are interested, contact Jack Nuzum at jcnuzum@juno.com or 505-562-5241 to sign up or more information.
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Jolly Elders Meets on January 12
Our next meeting of Jolly Elders will be on Wednesday, January 12, beginning at 11 a.m., in Room 245. Adults of all ages are cordially invited to come to our next meeting of Jolly Elders, where we will have Anna Sanchez, Director of the City of Albuquerque Department of Senior Affairs (or a designated representative) speak to us on the topic of “The Mission of the Department of Senior Affairs.” Did you know that among other programs that the City of Albuquerque Department of Senior Affairs operates six senior centers and two multigenerational centers for the City’s residents? Please attend with your comments and questions about what is going on at the Department of Senior Affairs. The meeting will end by Noon to allow everyone to depart church for lunch elsewhere. Wearing face masks is required at the meeting.
Due to new church security regulations for this weekday mid-day meeting, everyone must park their vehicles and enter St. John's United Methodist Church on the west side (the 2626 Arizona Street NE side) of the church.
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Women's Bible Study on Chasing Vines, Starts January 18
Women’s Bible Study: Chasing Vines, discover the true meaning of a fruitful, God-pleasing, meaning-filled life by Beth Moore.
- January 18 – March 1 (7 weeks)
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Class meets over ZOOM on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
- Maximum number for class is 16
- Facilitator: Gina Rivera
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Register by emailing donnabruce@comcast.net
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If you’ve ever tended your own garden, you know that the fruit is the most delicious when you’ve seen it grow. Beth Moore explores the ways God delights in watching things grow—and how the vineyard holds the secret to a more abundant and meaningful life. As she traces the metaphor through Scripture, Beth uncovers how every part of our own lives—even the rockiest soil—can be used by God to make a difference for His Kingdom.
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Watch the Livestream of Our Sunday Services |
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SUBMISSION DEADLINE for Disciple Connections is Wednesday evening for the Friday weekly edition. Click here to send your articles to editor Nicole Creaturo.
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St. John's United Methodist Churc
2626 Arizona Street NE | Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110
Office Hours (call only): Monday - Thursday, 9a.m. - 4 p.m.
Friday, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
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