Midweek News - April 17, 2024 | |
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In this weeks issue:
- Message from Pastor John
- Worship News and Sermons
- Church News & Upcoming Events
- Update on Lee Weinland
- New Class for Family circle
- Book Groups
- Missing Book - I'm Black, I'm a Christian, I'm a Methodist
- McCurdy Day of Service highlights.
- Mission Opportunities
- Leadership Board
- Prayer Concerns
- Calendar and Celebrations
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
Today is Abigail’s 16th birthday. Due to some complications, she was originally going to be born on April 15th, but they sent us home from the hospital only to call us back and say let’s just get this done and so scheduled a c-section for today. Linda said of the three she was probably the easiest, or at least the one with the least amount of drama.
I always thought that April 15th would have been a good birthday, and at least it would be easier to remember for friends and family. I was reminiscing with them on Monday about the fact that it used to be that the post office would stay open until midnight on tax day, and would have special collection points to drop off your taxes to make sure they got postmarked in time. I can remember, maybe not fondly, of going to a local mall at 10 pm on tax day to drop my taxes off.
Now, 94% of individuals file their taxes electronically. That number spiked in this millennium as it became easier to do. Which means in the last 24ish years, we have gone from a few percentage points of people participating to nearly everyone. That might not seem dramatic since it happened over time, but really this is a significant change in a relatively short period of time. Let me give just one example. In 1890, 1% of people had phones. In 1957 it was up to 75%. Even that was quick adoption of technology, but not even to this rate of filing.
And, of course, technology gets adopted, and changes, even more rapidly today. In our first regathering of our family circle group, one of the questions we were asked was about what fears we have around raising our children and my answer was on technology. And the reason was because there is so much new coming out that I am not even aware of, let alone what I do know something about but not really anything to know anything about.
AI is currently all the rage, and I get reports about how the church should engage with AI and where it can be helpful and some of the pitfalls. But I will be honest and say I know very little, and I’m not even sure where to start. I know people who are using AI to help write newsletters and liturgies, and even someone who experimented with having AI writing a sermon (and she told the congregation what it was). And so I can see some benefits (although not the sermon writing part), and I also hear the stories about how scared we should be, although I tend to discount those as being overblown, although with probably a kernel of truth.
I know there are things that Samantha and Abigail know about, and are probably doing, technology wise that I am unaware of, and it’s just second nature to them. But Elizabeth is a step even further removed. She has not ever known a time in her life in which almost anything she has wanted to watch has always just been available on demand. This isn’t just about having hundreds of channels available, versus 3 or 4, but that she doesn’t even worry about channels. We have never had cable or network TV in her memory. Everything has always been streamed and on multiple devices.
And so, in eleven years when she gets to be 16, I will be in my early 60s and probably even more separated from the technology she has access to and just knows intuitively how to use, but that’s just a big mystery to me. And I cannot even begin to guess or predict what some of that technology will be, other than to say it will probably be a large jump in some areas from what we have today. And I guess that leaves me in a sense of fear in both understandings of that word as we have been talking about, a sense of fear fear and also a sense of awe. Because I know this will allow us to do some things we can only wish could be done now.
I know that I am preaching to the choir for many of you, and for those younger, unless you are a total tech geek, you’ll get there someday too. And that reality leaves many people unmoored and also unable to do some of the things that are just required by many/most companies to do anything, even simple things like having an email.
To help people in our community who are dealing with those issues, we are partnering with the Los Alamos Public Library to provide help at each branch for one hour each week to help people navigate some of these basic issues. And we need some more volunteers.
We will be offering training soon, and you do not have to be at the library every week. We hope to have enough volunteers that it would be once a month, or possibly even less. This is also open to anyone in the community who would like to volunteer. And, again, this is simple things like recovering passwords, logging on to a website and filling in forms, or even getting an email. You do not need to know how to do complex excel formulas.
If you would like to volunteer, or would like more information, please speak with Phillip Ortega at church or email him to be added to the list. This is a vital way that we can serve our community and to be God’s love in action.
Blessings,
John
What I'm Currently Reading
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Thunderstruck by Erik Larson
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Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout by Cal Newport
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Sunday, April 14, 2024
Prayer for the week:
Shepherd of all, by laying down your life for your flock you reveal your love for all. Lead us from the place of death to the place of abundant life, that guided by your care for us, we may rightly offer our lives in love for you and our neighbors. Amen.
Next Sunday: The scripture readings for Sunday, April 21, are Acts 4:5-12; Psalm 23; 1 John 3:16-24 and John 10:11-18. Sunday our youth will be leading worship and will be talking about what it means to dance in love. Sunday is a traditional service.
Questions to help you prepare: Love can sometimes be a four-letter word. What are the downsides to love? What are the upsides to love? What does love mean to you? What are some things that often get associated with love that probably shouldn't be? How do we truly love our neighbor? How do we be enveloped in God's love?
10 a.m. Worship
streamed online at Facebook.com/FirstInYourHeart,
our website at FirstInYourHeart.org
http://lafumc.churchcenter.com/
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Sunday, April 14, 2024
Rev. John W. Nash
Did you miss Sunday's sermon or perhaps want to share it with a friend?
You can find other sermons in this series on our website.
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Lee Weinland
Continued prayers for Lee Weinland who had surgery to amputate his leg on Thursday. The surgery was successful and Lee has moved to Advanced Healthcare,2701 Richmond Dr NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107, where he will be for several weeks.
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Graduates
Graduation time is here! If you have a child or relative who is graduating this spring from high school or college we would like to recognize them. Please send a note to the church office at office@lafumc.org and include their name, where they are graduating from, what degree they will be receiving.
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New Book - All Booked Up
Cousins by Bett Kilby Baldwin & Phoebe Kilby
May 8th at 9:45 a.m.
Connected through slavery, a Black woman and a White woman discover their past―and each other by Betty Kilby Baldwin and Phoebe Kilby. What happens when a White woman, Phoebe, contacts a Black woman, Betty, saying she suspects they are connected through slavery? First surprise? Betty responds, “Hello, Cousin.” Betty had fought for an education and won. She broke through the concrete ceiling in the workplace and succeeded. A documentary of her life was about to debut. Without thinking, she invites Phoebe to a family dinner and the premiere of the documentary. Second surprise? She forgot to tell her family who was coming to dinner. Betty finds an activist partner in Phoebe. Cousins indeed, they commit to a path of reconciliation. In alternating chapters, each tells her dramatic story—from Betty’s experience as one of the first Black children to attend her desegregated school, to Phoebe's eventual question to Betty: “How do I begin to repair the harms?” Piercingly honest. Includes a working reparations project which the two women conceived together.
There is a copy on the UWF Kindle, found in the church office, and a paper copy in the UWF library.
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Missing Library Book
I'm Black, I'm Christian, I'm Methodist.
Missing from the United Women in Faith library. I'm Black, I'm Christian, I'm Methodist. If you just forgot to check it out, let Carol Mead know, cjmead@ansr.biz
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McCurdy Day of Service
The New Mexico United Women in Faith (NMCUWF) gathered in Espanola NM on April 11, 2024, for a "Day of Service" to help McCurdy Ministries prepare for their estate sale which is scheduled for May 17 - 19, 2024. We had around 30 women and men from Albuquerque area churches: Asbury, Central, Mountainside, St. John's, and First Los Alamos and First Capitan/Ruidoso. There was also a VIM group from Kansas helping. Tasks included washing and drying chemistry tubes and beakers, cleaning microscopies band and orchestra instruments, sorting drama costumes and other cloths, cleaning out the Teacherage building in preparation for installation of a Locker 505 at McCurdy. Locker 505 will allow school age children (kindergarten through high school) to get new cloths, socks, underwear, school supplies, snacks and other items). Numerous other tasks were accomplished to support the NMCUWF National Mission Institute (NMI). Thanks to everyone who came and participate
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Computer Training Rescheduled
Tuesday, May 2, at 6 p.m.
Our computer training for our library computer assistance has been rescheduled to Tuesday, May 2, 6:00 p.m. with services starting the following week. The training will be held at the Mesa Public Library in Los Alamos. If you would like to sign up there is still time contact camilleswescott@gmail.com or faith@lafumc.org.
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Community Food Pantry
Our food pantry continues to get use when you're at the grocery maybe consider picking up a few items. You can either place them in box outside or in the basket in the entry. Thank you for helping us to be God's love in action.
Here are some ideas of items you can bring:
● Shelf-stable milk
● Canned fruit, vegetables, beans, meat and soup with pop tops
● Packaged meals, such as Macaroni and Cheese, Rice-a-roni, or Tuna Helper
● Individually packaged snacks (granola bars, nuts, dried fruit, cheese and crackers…)
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News from Leadership Board
Our Endowment Committee has done lots of work over the past year to make ensure the future of our church. This month they moved our endowment fund to Century Bank from TMF were they purchased CD's with the $31,000 which will gain more interest than previously at TMF.
Our Mission Team reported that the funds for Aaron's Kids are continuing to be used to feed students, supply items for our food pantry and to aid other projects like providing money to El Calvario to provide snacks and needed supplies to asylum seekers. They voted to take $10,000 from the Aaron's Kids fund, which is currently a little more than $20k, and purchase CD's to grow the fund.
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Available in apple store and google play! | |
There are several ways you can make your
tithe and offering payments.
- Go to our website then click on "Give Securely Online" at the top right-hand column. Set up a one time or a reoccurring gift.
- "Text any dollar amount to 84321 to give."
- In-person drop off your check
- You can mail your checks to the church office:
715 Diamond Drive, Los Alamos, NM 87544
We thank you for your faithfulness!
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Praise and Thanksgiving:
- Praise for Pastor John and our church leadership.
- Praise that Lee Weinland's surgery was successful! Continued prayers for pain relief and healing.
New and Ongoing Prayers:
- Prayers for Ed Payne whose wife, Sharon, passed away.
- Prayers for Jan Fernsdorf and Katie as they care and support Lee Weinland.
- Prayers for Jim Little in loss of Gail and continued healing and strength.
- Prayers for Chris Caudill who is in extreme pain with her shoulder.
- Prayers for Margot and her family.
- Prayers for Eric Multer as he continues his fight against leukemia.
- Prayers for healing for Ryder Armes, Terry Barnes, Amy Cross, Ashley Johnston, Sandra Jo Rudloff, and Lee Weinland.
- Prayers for our world.
**If you have a prayer request or praise that you would like to share please call, 505-662-6277 or email, office@lafumc.org, the church office. If you would like your prayer to be confidential just let us know.
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Wednesday, April 17
6:30 p.m. Bell Choir Practice in Sanctuary
7 p.m. Troop 2 in Fellowship Hall (C5)
7 p.m. STARS NA meeting in Library(C1)
7:15 p.m. Choir Practice in Sanctuary
Thursday, April 18
7 p.m. Troop 122 in Fellowship Hall (C5)
Sunday, April 21 Youth Sunday
9 a.m. Bible History Class Hybrid Friendship Center (A16) and Zoom
10 a.m. Traditional Worship
In-person and Online
11:30 a.m. Inquirer's Class Teachers Lounge (B12) on Zoom
4 p.m. Programing Night Activities
5:30 p.m. Dinner in Fellowship Hall (C5)
6:30 p.m. Youth Group in Youth room (B9)
Monday, April 22
1:30 Club House Knitters at 505 Oppenheimer Drive
Tuesday, April 23
1:15 p.m. Cup of Friendship 5:30 p.m. Ark Staff meeting in Fellowship Hall (C5)
6 p.m. Leadership Board in Friendship Center (A16)
Wednesday, April 24
3 p.m. Sr. High Youth Bible Study (B9)
6:30 p.m. Bell Choir Rehearsal in Sanctuary (A1)
7 p.m. Troop 2 in Fellowship Hall (C5)
7 p.m. STARS NA meeting in Library (C1)
7:15 p.m. Choir in Sanctuary (A1)
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If you see your name missing or the date needs corrected
please email church office at office@lafumc.org.
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April 2 Linda Leschnitzer
April 3 Kim Granzow
April 7 Camille Wescott
April 8 Lee Weinland
April 11 Iris Hoffman
April 17 Abigail Nash
April 19 Don Casperson
April 21 Mary Keller
April 21 Tina Varela
April 23 Yelena Mealy
April 23 Kathy Siebe
April 24 Cathy Hinojosa
April 24 David Janecky
April 25 Mary Courtight
April 25 Asher Wescott
April 27 Rose Riglin
April 27 Camille Rousculp
April 30 Randy Morris
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Monday through Friday
9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
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