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
- United Women in Faith give out Special Recognition Pins
- Create & Discover / Martha Circle
- Book Groups
- Mission Opportunities
- Leadership Board
- Prayer Concerns
- Calendar and Celebrations
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
In 2017, we went to Nebraska to be in the path of the total solar eclipse that year, and it was amazing. I know that many of you traveled this week to see the eclipse, and I look forward to hearing your experiences. I’ve even met someone who has traveled around the world to experience them. If I remember correctly, he had been to 17 (not counting Monday).
On Sunday, I said that a better definition for the word Hebrew word for fear, as it’s sometimes used in scripture, is a sense of awe or wonder. The example I gave was standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon and just being overwhelmed by the majesty of it all, and in some ways feeling small. There is a humbleness in being there. There can also be a sense of fear in our normal understanding, of quaking or trembling, because it’s so awesome.
I probably, and maybe should have, put seeing an eclipse in that category. It’s a reminder of all the things that are totally outside of our control, and something that can put us back into place in the grand scheme of things. And no it does not represent God giving us a warning about anything. And while the popular idea is that we are only now able to do predict them, the Greek philosopher Thales accurately predicted an eclipse in the year 585 BCE, or 2600 years ago.
But one of the things about these “awesome” events is that they are fleeting. The eclipse that many people spent many hours to get to lasts only a few minutes, and then there are many hours to get home, without taking traffic jams into account. The Grand Canyon, or Niagara Falls, and whatever natural wonder we may be looking at, are spectacular when witnessed, but the more we stand there, or the more time we spend around it, the more ordinary it becomes. Or, perhaps, its that we might even try and take it for granted.
This even seems to happen to Moses. In his first encounter with God, he is terrified, in all meanings of that word. But it appears, at least as I read the story, that this dissipates, and the more he meets with God the more regular, or ordinary, it becomes. I don’t know that there is a way to avoid or overcome this except to first realize it happens and the second is to pay attention to it so we can notice it.
As I’ve said, mountaintop moments, those awesome encounters, as spectacular as they are, are fleeting because we live in the valleys. Not that those moments cannot also happen in our valleys, but we have to be open to them. To be willing to move from the explicable, ordinariness of life, into the inexplicable, awe-filled moments (even if they are ultimately explicable).
And perhaps even to seek them out when we can, like going to someplace to witness it. Or, more importantly, taking time out to seek them out. Taking time off from the hecticness of life, which is true even if you are retired, in order to find the space to encounter the divine. That’s one of the things that Sabbath did, besides for giving people a time for rest. It allowed space to open up to allow for moments for our breath to be taken away metaphorically.
What I can also say is that after those moments are gone, there is a desire to seek them out again. I would love to see another eclipse. I had hoped to see the northern lights when we were in Alaska in November, and the fact that we didn’t only leaves me wanting them more. And I am always wanting to have more grace filled moments, or to encounter those thin spaces, that bring me closer to God, although I sometimes find myself too busy to focus on finding them.
But I encourage you, as I encourage myself, to find those spaces of time and to know they are fleeting, which is what I think makes them so dazzling; they make the ordinariness of life a little less ordinary.
Let me close with a comment from a clergy friend from New England who drove to Maine to see the totality, and he wrote: “For two minutes, we stand on a strange planet, merely beholding, citizens of the kingdom of awe.” May we all seek to be citizens of that kingdom.
Blessings,
John
What I'm Currently Reading
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Kate Remembered (A biography of Katherine Hepburn) by A. Scott Berg
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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: Living God, long ago, faithful women proclaimed the good news of Jesus' resurrection, and the world was changed forever. Teach us to keep faith with them, that our witness may be as bold, our love as deep, and our faith as true. Amen.
Next Sunday: The scripture readings for Sunday, April 14, are Acts 3:12-19; Psalm 4; 1 John 3:1-7 and Luke 24:36b-48. Next week's message, "Dance with Joy", will be on the passage from Luke. Sunday is a contemporary service.
Questions to help you prepare: What does it mean to have joy? What is the difference between joy and happiness? How does fear impact joy? How does sorrow impact joy? How does doubt impact joy? How does wonder impact joy? What role does God play in our joy? What joy do you have in your life? Where do you need joy?
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 7, 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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Congratulations!
Sunday, Carol Mead, president of United Women in Faith, presented special recognition pins to Jeannie Gibson, Linda Nash, and Joe Richardson for their examples of leadership and caring for our community and First UMC of Los Alamos. We thank them for the parts they play as the body of Christ.
Jeannie Gibson has a unique gift of compassion and helping those in need. If you've notice an example of her artwork in the back of the sanctuary, she has had an unique encounter with each one. Thank you Jeannie for helping us to see others and their needs.
Linda Nash has shared her gift of leadership in many ways. For almost four years Linda worked as the assistant Ark Director, she leads the STARS Narcotics Anonymous group, and works as a Coach. Her leadership is making a difference in many peoples lives. Thank you Linda for your leadership.
Joe Richardson is the man to call when you need help. Joe has been so helpful in many ways to our church family. He is always eager to help when something needs done around the church, or when someone needs help he cheerfully helps when he can. Thank you Joe for your servants heart.
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Create & Discover
2403 Club Road, Los Alamos
Thursday, April 11 at 7:15 p.m.
We invite you to join us and learn about Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Jolene Hatler has put together a very interesting program about Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Martha Circle
Friendship Center
Tuesday, April 16 at 1:15 p.m.
It's time to send care packages for our college students as they prepare for finals. Join us on Tuesday, April 16th at 1:15 p.m. in the Friendship Center. Bring an ingredient to add into the mix and come enjoy Christian fellowship.
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New Study for Inquirer's Class
What Would Jesus See? By Aaron Rosen
Begins on Sunday, April 14 at 11:30
What would Jesus see if he looked at the world around us today? Aaron Rosen, one of the world's leading experts on art and religion, tackles this question by considering Jesus as a visual thinker.
Rosen brings a fresh lens to the Gospels, informed by his experience as an art curator and scholar, as well as his life as a practicing Jew married to an Episcopal priest. He examines Jesus's eye for spectacle, his strategies for attentiveness, and his tools for discerning truth amid the flurry of false appearances.
At the core of Jesus's ministry, Rosen finds, is a call to look at our world--especially those who are most disadvantaged--with radical empathy. In a time when our eyes have grown weary and unfocused, Rosen argues, Jesus offers us the chance to see the world with renewed vision, focused on those who need us most.
The study will begin on Sunday, April 14 at 11:30. The Inquirers is a hybrid class, meeting both in person in the Teacher's Lounge in the Education Wing and by Zoom. Contact Carol Mead, cjmead@ansr.biz for a Zoom invite. The book is available at Amazon, Ebay, and at Mesa Public Library as a Hoopla ebook . This is a fragrance free class.
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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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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 for the LAPS Odyssey of the Minds team they won first place last weekend.
- Praise for Jeannie Gibson, Linda Nash, and Joe Richardson for the example they are for Christian leadership and caring.
New and Ongoing Prayers:
- Prayers for Ed Payne whose wife, Sharon, passed away yesterday.
- Prayers for Lee Weinland he will be having surgery to amputate his leg just above the knee on Thursday.
- 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 10
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 11
7 p.m. Troop 122 in Fellowship Hall (C5)
7:15 p.m. Create and Discover at 2403 Club Road
Sunday, April 14
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. Program Night Activities
5:30 p.m. Dinner in Fellowship Hall (C5)
6:30 p.m. Youth Group in Youth room (B9)
Monday, April 15
1:30 Club House Knitters at 505 Oppenheimer Drive
Tuesday, April 16
1:15 p.m. Martha Circle in Friendship Center
Wednesday, April 17
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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