The Art of Worship: Second Sunday of Advent
The second Sunday of Advent is when we light the candle of peace. This is a time of coming together, of building a community of faith that is open to all.
My sister, mother and I all like to watch the sappy Hallmark Christmas movies. I know, they are predictable, innocuous and a bit corny. However we all three know the ending is a good one. They are all stories of restoration, of broken relationships that are healed.
In the Second Advent candle being lit our journey home comes a step closer to the Christ candle. The call to come home means overcoming our fears that it won’t work the way we hope. When thinking of family, it is not only nuclear families we want to be working on their sense of home, but the whole community, the church, and the surrounding neighborhoods. There is division; there is unwelcome. Who is being left out? Who is not being welcomed, whether intentionally or not? Who is not here, and what would it take for them to feel welcomed, included, invited? For St. John’s it means committing to be an example of God’s Kingdom in our life together here on earth... Click here to read the full article.
Click here to read all the articles in this series by Melanie Amend.
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Blessing Tree For Our Neighbors at Zuni
We have a special opportunity to bless Kids at Zuni and our community this Christmas with gifts. There will be Christmas Trees in the narthex and the FLC the next 2 Sundays (Dec 5 and 12) with gift tags of needs and gifts for specific children at Zuni Elementary and others in our community at St. John’s. Please purchase the gift ($30 or less and please only what is listed to ensure each child receives equal gifts), wrap it, put the tag on the gift and return to the Blessing Tree no later than Sunday, December 19. Questions, please contact Pastor Tiffany (thollums@stjohns-abq.org). Also, if you are interested in helping to deliver these gifts, contact Pastor Tiffany. And most importantly, pray for these children and their families-that they would know in a new way this season that God loves them, and so do we!!
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Help Us Re-Stock Silver Horizons
Let's re-stock for Silver Horizons! We've heard that the shelves at Silver Horizons are looking a little "sparse", so let's work together to remedy that situation! In December, we're collecting the following items: mac-and-cheese (both stovetop and microwave), coffee, dry milk (shelf-stable powdered milk), toiletry items such as shampoo, toothpaste, disposable razor blades, etc., and paper goods such as paper towels, facial tissue, and bathroom tissue. In addition, cat food is in demand, since we know that seniors will often buy food for their pets, rather than themselves, when money is tight. As always, any non-perishable food donations are always welcomed and appreciated by Silver Horizons. Please place your donations in the wire bins, located in the Hospitality Center, throughout the month of December. We thank you!
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Note From the Church Treasurer
It's not too late to turn in your commitment card to support St. John's budget for 2022. During Sunday worship in October, the Invitation to Give moment highlighted many ministries supported by our congregation. To date, we have received 150 cards. Your commitment helps us to plan for the new year. Not only to support these many ministries but to provide for salaries, utilities, building upkeep, etc. You can send in your commitment card by mail, place it in the plate on Sunday morning, or email the information to treasurer@stjohns-abq.org. By working together, we can continue to fulfill St. John's mission - Loving God, Loving Others, Changing Lives.
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Christmas Food Boxes 2021: For the John Marshall Community Center
Once again interested church members are invited to participate in our program of providing Christmas Food Boxes to needy families served by the John Marshall Community Center in the South Broadway area of Albuquerque. The Center will be reaching out to families in the area who use their services. The need is tremendous and our participation is much appreciated. This year’s timeline looks like this:
*By Sunday, December 12 or sooner, commit to Jack Nuzum (tel. 265-5241, jcnuzum@juno.com) as to the number of boxes which will be provided and by whom. You can also sign up in the Hospitality Center and pick up a list of suggested contents.
*On Saturday, December 18, bring the completed boxes to the WEST parking lot of St. John’s between 8 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
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Group Leaders: Schedule Your Classrooms for 2022 by December 29
We are now booking our resource rooms and classrooms out into 2022. If you are a group leader or Sunday school teacher who needs a room each week, contact Debbie Brown in the church office by December 29 to reserve your room. Requests can be submitted by email to reception@stjohns-abq.org or over the phone at 505-883-9717, ext. 138.
You will need to submit the following information:
- Name of event/class
- Date(s)
- Start time and End time
- Room(s) requesting
- Classroom setup
- Contact person’s name, phone number and email address
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Sonshine Cafe Temporarily Closed
For the time being, we will suspend our coffee and donut services on Sunday mornings and ask everyone to refrain from eating or drinking while in common/shared areas. We sincerely hope that this will be a short-term accommodation that we will be able to reverse as soon as COVID cases begin dropping in our community again. Thanks for your understanding!
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Youth Event Saturday December 4 at Community of Hope
Youth Group will meet Saturday, December 4 from 12:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. (in lieu of our regularly scheduled time on Sunday from 4 - 6 p.m. just this week) at Community of Hope, which is a homeless ministry at First UMC downtown. WE WILL MEET THERE-so parents, please drop off and pick up at First UMC!
Youth will meet at First UMC, downtown (315 Coal Ave SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102) at 12:30 p.m., and will be picked up at 2:45 p.m.
Directions and Info:
Enter from Church Parking lot on 4th Street SW at Coal Ave. Worship & Lunch start time is 1:00 p.m. with a quick orientation time and a chance to get people into service opportunities (kitchen duties, serving the meals as people come in, serving at the dessert table, and minor clean-up afterwards).
Important COVID Guidelines:
With COVID, we won’t serve at tables or bus tables. There are plexiglass shields at all serving stations, in addition to masks and gloves.
There WILL be youth choir at 3 pm at church on Sunday!
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Ladies Book Club Meets December 6
The Ladies Book Club will meet December 6 at 1 p.m. in Room 245. We will be discussing “The Lions of Fifth Avenue” by Fiona Davis. Three generations of women are tied to long buried secrets, will these personal and professional secrets destroy them. If you enjoy reading and sharing your thoughts, please come join in.
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Jolly Elders Meets December 8
On Wednesday, December 8, beginning at 11 a.m. in Room 245, we will enjoy a musical program of songs with a Christmas theme by a women’s a capella singing group. They are the local chapter of Sweet Adelines International, called the Enchanted Mesa Show Chorus. Besides listening to their wonderful a capella Christmas songs, there may be a portion of the program where the audience can participate in singing as well! The meeting will end by Noon to allow everyone to depart church for lunch elsewhere. Wearing facemasks are 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 UMC on the west side (the Arizona Street side) of the church. We are an adult group, usually over 50 years in age, but adults of all ages are welcome. Come join us!
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Usher Training on December 11
On Saturday, December 11 from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. in the Family Life Center, we will be having a training for ushers. As we regather for on-site worship and look ahead to the new year, we will brush up on our ushering roles at all three worship services. If you have ushered in the past, we could use your attendance at this gathering as we make sure we cover all our bases. If you haven’t ushered before, you are also very welcome to join us as we hope to invite others to help serve in this vital role of hospitality and welcoming. We are especially hoping to build up our ushering team for our new Mosaic Service at
8:15 a.m. Ushering is a relatively low-stress way to be in service to your community and get to know people in the congregation. All are welcome.
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Youth Ring 'N Wrap on December 11
Youth Christmas ‘elf’ wrapping day will be on Saturday, December 11 from 10 a.m.-noon. Come and bring your wrapping skills to bless kids in need as we will help wrap Christmas gifts for Angel Tree and other kids in need. We will gather in the FLC entrance and be upstairs in Room 248. Elf hats and jingle bells are recommended.
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Youth Gift Exchange on December 12
A gift exchange for our Youth Group will be held on December 12 from 4 - 6 p.m. Please bring a $10, wrapped gift to exchange. Youth Alumni are also invited!
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Quintessence Holiday Concert on December 12
Join the singers of Quintessence and director Matthew Greer for “A Star Still Shines,” our first live concert in two years (also available by livestream) on Saturday, December 12 at
3 p.m. Quintessence will perform gorgeous music of the season, including works of Sarah Quartel, Morten Lauridsen, Marques Garrett, and others. Go to quintessence-abq.com for tickets. (All live attendees must remain masked, and must show proof of full vaccination for COVID-19 at the door.)
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Zuni Family Promise Shopping Fundraiser December 17-18
Not sure what to get that special someone for Christmas, check out Kendra Scott Jewelry. Bonus- When you buy beautiful jewelry, you also support a charity that is working to end homelessness. Check out the flyer for more information. Merry Christmas and Happy Shopping!
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New MexiChords Concert on December 18 with Special Guest Quartet Southwest Edition
New MexiChords presents their holiday concert "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" in St. John's Sanctuary on Saturday, December 18 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. General admission is $10, and children under 6 can enjoy the concert for free! There are senior and group discounts available. For tickets and information call 505-803-4904, click here to download the full concert flyer, or click here to visit the New MexiChords website.
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Lessons & Carols on December 21
Lessons & Carols will be held on Tuesday, December 21 in our Sanctuary (masks are required) and will also be available to watch over livestream. Come and experience the Christmas story through songs and scripture, with choral anthems, and congregational carols accompanied by orchestra. If you are joining us in-person, please bring canned goods to be donated to Silver Horizons.
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December Special Offering: Methodist Children's Home and Providence Place
This month we have the opportunity to support troubled children, teen mothers, adoptive parents, and young adults with special needs. The Methodist Children's Home and Providence Place, both in Texas, rely on our support. As one child put it" They (MCH) are here for me when no one else is. They never give up on us. I now know that God is always there for me too" Please give generously.
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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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