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SNAP! Blessed are those who hunger . . .

they will be filled

Last Sunday, Andy launched our new goal: “We will reduce food insecurity by 30% by 2030 on the University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico Community College campuses.” I heard someone say, “That’s in FIVE years!?” Perhaps there was a little bit of disbelief that we could reduce food insecurity in five years. That same day, we launched our first action steps, a partnership with the UNM Social Workers to do SNAP-A-PALOOZA, an outreach to educate and help students enroll in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). So why does SNAP matter?

SNAP gives students the autonomy of choice to choose the food they would like, as well as the consistency to know they can get food for the weeks or months to come. During our first outreach event, we heard students say, “I can finally get groceries!” Another student said, “Oh, I did this last year, and it saved my life!” During our first SNAP-A-PALOOZA, other organizations approached us and asked how they could get involved. We were approached by notable people in the University community who said they wanted to work with US because we walk the walk. We heard stories of students who were experiencing homelessness and sleeping on campus outside. We also had great joy-filled moments of giving out stuffed animals and trading some of our donuts for a pizza with another student group. We believe we helped over 80 students enroll in SNAP and saw firsthand how it empowered and supported students. So, can we reduce food insecurity in the next five years?

I say, yes, we can! We can do it by continually leaning into community collaboration that makes us stronger. We can do it by showing up, being present, and showing we can make an impact. We hope to do three more SNAP outreaches, one more on the UNM campus and two on the CNM campus. Please stay tuned for more information, and feel free to contact Abbey(areed@centraltolife.org) if you’d like to participate in future SNAP events.                 

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

• US Eagle, thank you for your generosity in allowing this event to happen.
• The many restaurants who gave close to $2,000 in in-kind donations. Thank you, Roni Mac, Frontier, Olympia Cafe, Dunkin’ Donuts, Bandido, Los Victor’s, and La Urraca for participating.
• Thanks to Q and the UNM Social Work Interns for partnering with us.
• Thanks to all the Central volunteers and your willingness to be present with us.  

LENT 2025 - "NOURISH"

Dr. Andy Stoker announced at the 8:30 and 11:00 Sunday worship services on Sunday, March 9, a new partnership, focus, and vision to alleviate food insecurity in our neighborhood. Abbey Reed, our Director of Neighboring, has partnered us with the Basic Needs Consortium of New Mexico to discern with them (and many others) a way forward. (The images of the slides are below.)

With our providential position in our neighborhood, we believe God has uniquely called us to care for our neighbors at colleges and universities. Central is nestled in the most opportune neighborhood of Albuquerque to remain "central to life" in our beautiful city.

We are dedicating ourselves this Lenten season to discover pathways of holistic nourishment for our community in these ways:

Prayers :: We will be the spiritual refuge and safe space for CNM and UNM students, staff, and faculty.

Presence :: We will create a healthy community culture through trauma-informed care, attentive listening, and grace-filled compassion. (Presence)

Gifts :: We will offer our building as a gathering space for students to learn and grow. (Gifts)

Service :: We will serve those connected to the Universities with bridge-forming partnerships to equip them for job-readiness, housing knowledge, and relationship care. (Service)

Witness :: We will reduce food insecurity by 30% by 2030 on the University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico Community College campuses. (Witness)

Over the Lenten season, we will focus on the physical needs of our community and seek ways that our congregation can engage more fully with those around us, and even those within our church. See you Sundays!

this week @ central

MARCH 17-23, 2025

Church Office: Mon- Thurs, 9a-4p, Fri, 9a-12noon

SPRING BREAK FOR PATHWAYS ACADEMY, CNM, & UNM

Monday, March 17

9a : Helping Hands [Central to Life Center]

Tuesday, March 18

10a : Coffee Fellowship [Gathering Area]

5:30p : Leadership Board [Conference Rm.]

Wednesday, March 19

10a : ID Clinic [Gathering Area]

11a : Wednesday Bible Study [Lomas & Washington]

12noon : Volunteer Training Event [Gathering Area]

6:30p : Chancel Choir Rehearsal [Chapel]

Thursday, March 20

6p : MassApPeal Ensemble Handbells [Rm. 311]

Friday, March 21

Saturday, March 22

Sunday, March 23

8:30a : Chapel Worship

9:45a : Sunday School / Education Hour

11a : Sanctuary Worship

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LENT 2025 @ CENTRAL

We begin with Ash Wednesday Services at 12 noon (in the Chapel) and 6:30 p.m. (in the Sanctuary). 

Our Lenten Theme this year is “Nourish.” We will look closely at the Gospel stories of nourishment, satisfaction, and providence from Ash Wednesday, March 5, through Easter, April 20. Over the next 40 days, plus Sundays, we will lift up a path whereby our church can share in nourishing our community. What is God calling us to be, become, and do in this season? How do we respond to the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of our community?

Here is the Sunday worship series for you to pray, discern, and study with one another:

March 9, 2025

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

Sermon Title: Full-Filled

Theme: Well, Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and he is faced with the emptiness. So, if you are full, we must face the world's emptiness. All things held in balance. 

March 16, 2025

Scripture: Luke 13:31-35

Sermon Title: A Vision for a Well-Nourished World

Theme: Embracing emptiness enables us to hold the lament of a world of lack. What is Christ’s vision beyond the lament?

March 23, 2025

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9

Sermon Title: Rub a Little Dirt on It

Theme: When you first do not succeed, try and try again. What may not be working may need to be let go — and that is okay. Hungry in the US have been hungry generationally — it is time to cut that out.

March 30, 2025

Scripture: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Sermon Title: Toward True Reparation

Theme: The parable of the losts invites us to think and feel differently about scarcity. What happens when our sights are set on where God is guiding us?

April 6, 2025

Scripture: John 12:1-8

Sermon Title: Dining with Life

Theme: There is no sense in Mary’s generosity. It flips the world’s value system — when facing the world’s problems, we may need to adjust our values to Mary’s . . .

April 13, 2025 (Palm/Passion Sunday)

Scripture: Luke 19:28-40

Sermon Title: Nourishing Community

Theme: A parade toward Passover — liberation deserves a celebration, do you think?!

April 20, 2025 (Easter)

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12

Sermon Title: This is the Story

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RESOURCES

Berry, Thomas. The Great Work: Our Way into the Future and The Sacred Universe: Earth, Spirituality, and Religion in the Twenty-First Century; Chilton, Mariana. The Painful Truth about Hunger in America: Why We Must Unlearn Everything We Think We Know--and Start Again (Food, Health, and the Environment); Compton, John. The End of Empathy: Why White Protestants Stopped Loving Their Neighbors; Epperly, Bruce G. Walking with Francis of Assisi: From Privilege to Activism; MacAskill, William. What We Owe the Future (United Women of Faith book); Riches, Graham. Food Bank Nations (Routledge Studies in Food, Society and the Environment); Rieger, Joerg, and Rowe, Terra Schwerin. Liberating People, Planet, and Religion: Intersections of Ecology, Economics, and Christianity; and, Winne, Mark. Closing the Food Gap: Resetting the Table in the Land of Plenty.

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Albuquerque, NM 87106

www.centraltolife.org

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