March 4, 2022
St. John's Jammers Meets on Sunday

St. John's Jammers will get together this Sunday, March 6, at 2:30 p.m. in room 149-151. All instruments and all levels of players are welcome, we hope you can join us!
Quintessence Presents Concert Sunday and Monday at St. John's

Quintessence, directed by Matthew Greer, will present "Beyond Silence: Music of Loss, Hope, and Celebration" this Sunday at 5 p.m. and Monday at 7 p.m. in the St. John's sanctuary. The Sunday concert will also be available by livestream. Tickets are available at quintessence-abq.com, and St. John's members can receive a 25% discount by purchasing online and using the code "SJUMC" at checkout. Live attendees must show proof of vaccination at the door, and masking is encouraged.
Healing Journey Prayerful Art Experiences Will Be Held on Sunday & March 13

Healing Journey Prayerful Art Experiences will be held in the grassy area outside of the Sonshine Cafe on Sunday March 6 and Sunday, March 13 from 9:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m. The Joie De Vivre art ministry will set up an art studio in the grassy area outside where there will be prayer guides and art supplies to guide you on a creative exploration of Christ's journey to the cross. The art will help to lead us on the healing journey to the cross as we also explore this journey through the sermon series: The Healing Journey. Supplies will be available to take home as well to finish any pieces. The art will then be on display the weeks leading up to Easter, so please submit your art pieces as soon as possible to be framed and ready to display leading up to Holy Week. Any questions, please contact Paul Chandler. 
Jolly Elders Meet on March 9

Our next meeting of Jolly Elders will be on Wednesday, March 9, 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 Associate Pastor Tiffany Hollums as our program speaker. Her program topic will be: “The Latest Status of the Children’s Ministry and the Youth Ministry at St John’s". 

So, what’s up at Children’s Church? When will Vacation Bible Church be this summer and what will be its theme? How are the seven grades of students from the 6th to 12th grade currently organized in the Solid Ground Youth Group? What themes on what future Sunday nights are being planned for Solid Ground? What about upcoming camps and retreats? All of these questions and more may be answered by Pastor Tiffany during her program. 

The meeting will end by noon to allow everyone to depart church for lunch elsewhere. Wearing facemasks are now optional in Room 245 at the meeting. But if you wish to visit the church office, wearing a facemask is still required there. 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. 
Strikes For Seniors on March 19

Silver Horizons will hold a fun bowling event to help struggling seniors on Saturday, March 19, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Skidmore's Holiday Bowl (7515 Lomas Blvd NE). Bowlers of all ages and skill levels are welcome to this family-friendly event. Even if you're not a bowler, please come show your support by cheering on your friends and family. Cost is $20 per bowler; sign up as a single bowler or be part of a 5-person team. Proceeds from the event support Silver Horizons' programs for seniors including free groceries, household bill assistance, and minor home repairs. Click here for brochure and registration form.
Women's Bible Study on The Names of God, His Character Revealed Begins March 29

Our next Women's Bible Study class will be on The Names of God, His Character Revealed by Melissa Spoelstra.

  • March 29 - May 10 (7 weeks), Tuesdays, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. via Zoom
  • Facilitator: Donna Bruce
  • Register by emailing donnabruce@comcast.net

It can be hard to make sense of God with all the injustice and suffering in the world. Sometimes He seems elusive, and His instructions in Scripture are often confusing. With so many questions about God, how can we really know Him better? By learning more about His names! In this study, you will explore many of the names of God found in the Bible: Elohim, El Elyon, Yahweh, Abba, Jesus, Messiah, Holy Spirit, and so many more. This study will not just give you facts about God; it will help you know Him personally as you learn about His character. The more you discover His heart toward you, the more you can trust Him with the issues you face every day. By the time you've turned the last page, you'll be drawn into deeper love and greater worship of the God who sees you - and knows you by name. 
Easter Egg Hunt Date Changed to April 9

That date of our annual Easter Egg Hunt has changed to Saturday, April 9, at 1 p.m. We will meet in the Family Life Center, but weather permitting, we will hold the hunt outside. All children are welcome! Bring your baskets, friends, and cameras! 
Palm Sunday Journey to Chimayo on April 10

Palm Sunday journey to Chimayo - Please join the youth as we take a holy journey to the Sanctuario Chimayo on Palm Sunday. We will leave the church at 2 p.m., Sunday April 10. Please contact Pastor Tiffany (thollums@stjohns-abq.org) if you are interested in joining us. There will be no Youth Group at 4 p.m. that Sunday.
St. John's One of Six National Winners of $1,500 in Interfaith Power and Light Cool Congregations Annual Award for Leadership and Sustainability

OAKLAND, Calif., February 2022 — St. John’s United Methodist Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico is one of the six national Interfaith Power & Light (IPL) 2022 Cool Congregations Challenge winners. Click here to visit the website dedicated to this award.

St. John’s United Methodist Church won the Sacred Grounds Steward award for their newly constructed food gardens that feed over 500 food-insecure adults and children each month, and for their educational outreach to their neighborhood. Inspired by the belief that gardening is “tending the soil, and tending the soul,” volunteers at St. John’s transformed the church property into a huge food garden with hoop houses and raised beds to feed the hungry through various food programs in their community.  

The fresh grown produce is prepared on-site for the meals sent outside the church, which eliminates fossil fuel emissions from buying produce that is trucked or flown in from all over the world. They also are reaching out to teach about gardening and healthy eating to their members and neighbors, including an elementary school across the street through projects in the garden.

“St. John’s is so honored to receive this award for our garden. What started as a dusty, underutilized corner of our property has blossomed into a beautiful witness of how God’s creation works to support and sustain life and community if it’s paid just a little bit of attention. We hope that others will see this and pay attention to the land and its potential in their communities as well,” said Rev. Dr. Randall W. Partin, Senior Pastor of St. John’s United Methodist Church in Albuquerque.

 “I accept this award on behalf of all the people at St. John’s on Garden Ministry Team and the Food Ministry Team who have all put in so much time, labor and money to help us build our garden that feeds the food-insecure, educates the community and reduces our carbon footprint,” said Tim Nuzum, director of the Food and Garden Ministry’s at St. John’s United Methodist Church.

Click here to read the official press release.
Kids at the Table

Beginning this first Sunday of March, we are inviting all children and youth to join the family here at St. John’s UMC for communion during worship services. Children and youth are ALWAYS welcome and we want our ministries to reflect this core belief. Children’s chapel is available the other weeks of the month and children dismiss to chapel following the offering, but we are experimenting with having children stay in worship on Communion Sundays. Kids bags and activities will be provided, so please grab one on your way into worship. And if you would like for your child to learn more about this important sacrament, Pastor Tiffany would love to sit with you and your child to talk about this important way we experience Jesus. Please read below to hear more about why we believe that children joining us for communion is so important.  
 
My favorite Sundays growing up were Communion Sundays. The memories are so clear to me….I can close my eyes and see, hear, taste….remember. Walking with my Mama and Papa up to the center of the church. My godmother, Duff, playing the hymns that I can sing by heart. The pastor bending down to give me a piece of yummy bread that I lovingly named ‘Josie’s bread’ after the dear saint who baked the bread each week. Josie learned how much I loved the bread and would bake me an extra loaf each month... Click here to read the full article by Associate Pastor Tiffany Hollums.
The Art of Worship: Lent

During Lent we think about our lives. Our testimony of the healing power of grace and love can be a big help to others in comprehending this gift. Perhaps you have a story from serving with ministries of the church, one who was loved and accepted and served, even while feeling unworthy of such a gift. These stories are ways of letting folks know that grace abounds and still has the power to change lives. 

My “Year of which we do not speak” was followed by a long, arduous road of recovery, humbleness, and trust in God. I was tired, broken, and still had to face FEMA, insurance adjusters, architects, contractors, my neighborhood association, county government, the bank, and even argue with the Red Cross. I was trudging along in faith, but found myself exhausted of being “one of the houses that burnt down”. All three of us just wanted to be normal, in the background, unknown people. My church was very supportive and sent me to an Emmaus Walk right here in Albuquerque... Click here to read the full article.

Click here to see all the articles in this series by Melanie Amend.
Time for Spring Spruce-Up Around St. John's

Spring is coming and Easter is right around the corner so it will soon be time to polish-up our church campus for us and our Easter visitors. There are several projects that we could take care of with a few people willing to get their hands dirty and spend a Saturday with friends from St John’s.  

We are targeting the 2nd of April because it is 2 weeks before our Easter celebration and the weather is more likely to be comfortable than earlier in the month. We are working on the list of projects that we’d like to accomplish on a church-wide work day and here are some of the preliminary “things-to do”… 

  • Clean up the grounds - leaves, trash, weeds  
  • Paint the red/blue curbs and yellow parking blocks  
  • Clean up the vegetable and Prayer Gardens 
  • Clean, patch and paint some interior walls  
  • Replace some ceiling tiles in the education wing 
  • Cleanup the youth room  
  • Clean out children’s ministry supply closet  
  • Stuff Easter egg stuffing for our upcoming egg hunt for the kids 
  • Rehang the big quilt in the SonShine Café 
  • And more to come 

We’ll start early, and enjoy working together to spruce up our facilities, enjoy a Chef Tim cook-out lunch and finish up mid-afternoon. We anticipate the list of projects will grow and there will be tasks for all ages and levels of skill.   

Please consider reserving at least part of the day on April 2 to join in the fun, work and fellowship. Look for the opportunity to sign up later in March – that will allow Tim to plan for lunch and for us to get the supplies and tools rounded-up.   

If you have questions or would like to add a project to the list, please contact Les Bruce lesbrucenm@gmail.com. Hope you can make it!! 
SonShine Cafe Returns this Sunday with Coffee, Tea, Ice Water and Donuts

Come by the SonShine Cafe this Sunday, March 6, between 7:45 a.m. and 11 a.m. for the return of coffee, hot tea, ice water, and donuts! The cost will remain pay-what-you-can. 

With the return to inside food and drinks at St. John’s, look for the return of receptions including after Jazz Vespers, Music at St. John’s, and other celebrations. The Food Ministry Team will meet next week to examine what meals will be returning and when. We will be needing volunteers to join in the fun, so keep an eye out for announcements in the newsletter for future meals and ways you can participate!
Marilyn Donovan Has Passed

Marilyn Donovan passed away on January 28. She was a member of St. John's and was preceded in death by her husband Dick Donovan, who was also a member. A memorial celebration is planned for Marilyn and Dick this summer. Click here to read her obituary.
Rosemary Rogers Memorial Service

A memorial service for Rosemary Rogers has been scheduled for March 23 at 1 p.m. It will be held at La Vida Llena, 10501 Lagrima de Oro Rd NE, in Albuquerque. All are welcome to come and celebrate her life. 
Changing Lives... Together!

As we continue to "live into" our church's motto --- "Loving God, Loving Others, and Changing Lives", let's focus on the things we give, individually, that when combined with the donations of others in our congregation, have a greater impact toward our goal of "changing lives". In March, we're collecting in-kind donations, as follows, for our ongoing Weekend Meal Bags for Zuni students in need: (all items in single-serving sizes, only) tuna salad with crackers; chicken salad with crackers; cheese cracker packets; goldfish crackers, and shelf-stable white or chocolate milk. Please place your donations in the wire bins located in the Hospitality Center. If you'd prefer to make a monetary donation for this project, please write "Zuni bags" on the memo line of your check made payable to St. John's UMC. Together, we are "changing lives"! Thank you.  
Celebrating Our High School Seniors

Calling all Seniors-we are having Baccalaureate this year and want to honor the seniors. Please contact Pastor Tiffany (thollums@stjohbs-abq.org) to share your information and get more details.
New St. John's Information Line

Do you you have questions about St. John's and you're not sure who to ask? We now have an information email, info@stjohns-abq.org, where you are invited to send any and all questions related to our church. Whether you have a questions about services, class times, ministries, or small groups, send them to the information email to get a quick answer.
3rd (4th and 5th) Grade Bibles For Bible Sunday

Please email Pastor Tiffany at thollums@stjohns-abq.org if you would like to receive a 3rd grade Bible. We are offering this also to 4th and 5th graders who missed receiving their Bibles due to COVID!  Bible Sunday will be Sunday, April 24 during all 3 services, so please also let Pastor Tiffany know at which service your child would like to be presented with their Bible. 
A Letter From Our Preschool Director

Greetings Church Family! 

Construction for our new Infant/Toddler rooms will begin this month. We are excited for our school to serve families with infants. The Preschool will now serve the developmental spectrum of birth thru age 5!! We are also putting sinks in the 3-year and 4-year-old classrooms! Busy month ahead. Stay tuned for further developments.  

Blessings and Peace, 
Cathy Lubold
Preschool Director
March Special Offering: Four Corners Native American Ministry

For many years St. John's has heeded the command to love our neighbor by supporting the Four Corners Native American Ministry in developing churches, supporting pastors, providing Sunday schools and Vacation Bible schools and more.

This winter there has been a new need. There is no homeless shelter in the Shiprock area, and every year people die of exposure. Recently more women are among the homeless. Last fall two doctors who work with the homeless asked the Four Corners Ministry if they could open their dorm area for a winter shelter from October - April and provide some meals, give out hygiene supplies and more. This shelter has made a huge difference for "the least of these" in our state, and our financial donations will continue to make all of these ministries possible. Please give generously.
Virtual Prayer Quilt

Rosa Sipler (friend of Jean Jones) is the recipient for the prayer quilt currently on display.

In lieu of tying knots, please pray this prayer (or your own prayer) for Rosa: "Loving Father, we pray that Rosa finds refuge and strength in You in the midst of her illness. Amen.”
Watch the Livestream of Our Sunday Services
Submission Deadline for Disciple Connections is Wednesday evening for the Friday weekly edition. Click here to send your articles to editor Nicole Creaturo.
St. John's United Methodist Church
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.
Pastor 24-Hour Hotline | (505)585-5435 
Pastor care is available for after hours emergencies. Any congregational care needs, please send those to Pastor Tiffany at thollums@stjohns-abq.org as we all work together to love one another well. Also, if you are interested in being a part of a congregational care team, please contact Pastor Tiffany.