" Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ"
Galatians 6:2
 Serve calls us to action. A reading of the Gospels clearly shows that Jesus put his faith into action. At Central we believe that each person is called to serve others. 
Outside The Walls
Rev. Scott Sharp
Inside The Walls
Governance Team
PRAY, ENGAGE, ENERGIZE, UNIFY, FOCUS, RESPECT

Familiar words being discussed during our Governance Team meetings. Why? How do we put together a five year plan that does address our immediate needs and more importantly identifying what our needs will be over the next five years? In this process, we will utilize our Vision Pathway guide and present a plan for our next Church Conference to approve.
Since our last meeting:  Pastor Scott presented Ted Balph as the nominee to become the Chairman of the Compass Points Team. He was approved by email vote from the Governance Team members.
On the agenda for approval at our February 23 meeting:
  • Fund investment proposal from Ellen Skrak, Treasurer
  • HVAC repairs for the YMCA Children’s Center
  • Gathering Area modifications
  • PNM proposal to update the entire CUMC lighting configuration
In Process:
  • Developing Listening Points Topics and listening venues.
  • Does CUMC have ‘Movementum’?
  • Exploring opportunities for Sunday Lunch in and out of the church.
Transitions In Our Church Family
Sue M. Daulton, 91
a long-time member of Central, passed away February 4, 2017. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul, and active Centralities brother and wife, Marie and John Marshall.  She is survived by her son, Tom and family who live in Dallas, Texas. Tom says that she loved her church and thought the world of our Pastor Scott Sharp.  Sue and her ever present smile always graced the very back pew in the sanctuary. A Memorial and Celebration of her Life is planned for March 6 at Central.
Thank you to all who have been praying for Dodie and Art Hawkins' grandson, Kyle Cassidy. Kyle is an Army Ranger who has been deployed in Afghanistan. He returned home safe and sound on February 13 to his wife and 8 mouth old son!
Janet Norden: As of February 21, 2017, the New Mexico Board of Ordained Ministry has voted to approve Janet Norden for Ordination as Elder and Full Connection in the NM Annual Conference.  New Mexico will celebrate our Annual Conference May 30-June 2 in Las Cruces, NM.
Three and one-half year old McKinley welcomes her baby brother, Bradley! McKinley and Bradley are the children of Heston and Katie Fuller Procter; grandchildren of delighted Barbara and Randy Fuller; great grandchildren of Norma Bradley. They live in Fort Worth, Texas. 
Who Is?
Janet Norden
Serve Ministries
"YOU CAN!", "WHAT IF?", "SAFE SPACES ARE SACRED SPACES.", "I WANT TO BE A GOOD PERSON!"

Three statements and a question - if it's possible to capture a personality so briefly, these describe Janet Norden.

Janet has been at Central in the positions of intern and Provisional Elder since 2011. In that time, she has been primarily responsible for our Caring Ministries and Outreach Ministries, Helping Hands and Community of Hope. She has ties to Central that reach back to her membership at Bethel Moriarty UMC where Rev. Kelly Brooks' mother, Rev. Donna Kay Jackson, was her pastor and her attendance at Covenant UMC when Rev. Scott Sharp led that church. At present, she divides her responsibilities between Central UMC and University Heights UMC; a valuable, appreciated blessing for each of these Methodist congregations.

Janet speaks of a "life long, deep faith" nurtured in a loving, accomplished, Methodist, New York/Massachusetts/Connecticut family - including a father who was the driving force behind the Berlin Air Lift and a sister who was a soloist at the Metropolitan Opera. Her professional career has been (and continues to be) in response to God's "coincidences" and her experiential belief that opportunities are everywhere.  

She dropped out of college, leaving behind a 4.00 GPA, for lack of an interest in any particular course of study, became a legal secretary, moved to be closer to her family and found a job in a hospital as a patient tech/nurse's aide. Her instructions were to "find a patient and not hurt anybody!". Janet says taking this job was a definite 'trust moment" in her relationship with the Lord - never had she entertained the thought of the medical field. This experience led to her RN nursing degree, a Nurse Practitioner degree where she has served in a variety of specialty areas; geriatric, cardiology, ob/gyn/urgent care and emergency room.

It was Janet's experiences in the medical field and its hands-on, personal caring for vulnerable people that led, quite naturally, to her involvement in Ministry. The tremendous power of a safe space created for patients made her realize that a safe space is indeed a sacred space - and the rest is history. Janet believes she is called to minister to both the physical and spiritual needs of those God places in her path - a calling that has no division for her. She will always serve in a way that heals, as Christ is the source of all healing be that in pastor or nurse practitioner roles. A decision that has and will continue to be assurance that she is most certainly a "good person", blessed to be a blessing!

As of February 21, 2017, the New Mexico Board of Ordained Ministry has voted to approve Janet Norden for Ordination as Elder and Full Connection in the NM Annual Conference. New Mexico will celebrate our Annual Conference May 30-June 2 in Las Cruces, NM.

Wife of Sid Fendley; an accomplished musician, audio engineer and owner of Mountain Road Recording and creator and director of "all things creative"
Mother to Alisa; a 28 year old dancer and writer living in New York City
Delighter in Labrador Retrievers Alex, Carley and Lucy.
Did You Know?
At the request of Central United Methodist Women, the Governance Team has voted to make central a Styrofoam-free facility. The Styrofoam items we've been using do not decompose in the environment under normal conditions. By switching to biodegradable cups and plates, Central is relieving the landfill of a product that will never biodegrade. This is a great step in our Creation Care efforts here at Central, lead with great enthusiasm and success by Dodie Hawkins.
Adult Ministries
The season of Lent is nearly upon us. Please make plans to join one of the studies below.

LENTEN STUDIES 40 Days of Good News
  • Pastor Scott’s Lenten Bible study on Wednesday nights
  • Partnership Class click here
Friday Women's Bible Study will be studying the book of James, March 10 - May 5; we meet 9:30-11:30. We will be using a video based study, James, Mercy Triumphs by Beth Moore. See how one glimpse of the resurrected Savior turned an unbeliever into a disciple. Workbook cost $16.00. Joan Gustafson 615-2853
The Central United Methodist Women (CUMW) is an active group of women who have an upcoming mission project that they could use some donations and help!  Sole Hope Mission Project. CUMW will have a “shoe cutting party” on May 20 at 9:30 in Room 311-312. This mission will help people in Uganda who often walk barefoot which puts their health and comfort at risk. A story that illuminates the severity of this need is of a boy who had 1,500 jiggers and malaria who was quite ill and in extreme pain. He was nursed back to health after several months and given shoes!

Donations are being collected to help at this May 20 party: jeans and thin plastic (such as milk jugs, laundry detergent bottles, dish soap bottles, 2 liter soda bottles, etc.). Also, needed are cash donations ($10 for each pair of shoe) to help ship materials and pay Ugandan shoe makers to put the material together to make shoes. For more information, contact Betty Jo Nye at nmbjnye@yahoo.com

The Purpose of UMW: The organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose purpose is: (1) To know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ. (2) To develop a creative supportive fellowship. (3) To expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.

Who Can Join? United Methodist Women welcomes all women who commit themselves to our Purpose. You don't have to be a member of The United Methodist Church to join. Our membership is diverse: women of many races, cultures, languages, young and old. There is no minimum age requirement and no cost to join.

Why Join? You become part of a national membership organization that offers: a community of women, spiritual growth, a creative & supportive community, and education & transformation through programs.

What Members Do? Raise millions of dollars for programs aiding and empowering women, children and youth. Advocate for the needs of women, children and youth. Become equipped for service and action through education. Train to be leaders through events and workshops.
Women of the Word (WOW) are beginning a new study: A Grace-full Life--God's All-Reaching, Soul-Saving, Character-Shaping, Never-Ending Love by Jorge Acevedo and Wes Olds. We will start with the Introduction on February 22; if you don't have a book you can pick one up then. WOW is a welcoming group of women that meets on Wednesdays at 9:30am in Room 311 for bible study and fellowship. Questions, call Vera at 242-4061.
Service Ministries
Lowell Elementary Food Bank
Three years ago, we started our partnership with Lowell Elementary School and Roadrunner Food Bank. At the beginning (after several months of planning), we were a little scared of what we had gotten ourselves into. Would volunteers from the church show up? Could we set up a small "grocery store" in 30-45 minutes? Could we figure out communications with a majority Spanish-speaking family group? Could we conquer all those questions and keep this going after the first month? Well, we did and we do. For 36 months, we and our partners have shown up and distributed more than 120,000 pounds of food to more than 1800 families comprised of 3600 adults, 3600 children, and 430 seniors (based on average numbers per month). Our volunteers are not just Central members, although that's our largest group, but also from the Community of Hope, Lowell staff, and Lowell families. The count of volunteers varies per month from 30-50 (sometimes hard to get a firm number because children help and some volunteers do food unloading and then merge back into "shoppers"). In any case, whatever number it is, we always get it done. Always. No matter what. It feels like loaves and fishes sometimes - the truck might be late; not as many volunteers this week; our communication with the school didn't work so well; the food is not as varied as we would like it. It doesn't matter - we come, the families come, and families are fed. Amen.

For more information, contact: Claudia Ryan 505-237-8177
A bible study class: SERVICE

Jesus gave us a beautiful example of three important aspects of Christian service in John 13 when He washed the feet of His disciples.

Humility is NOT thinking too highly or lowly of yourself but thinking of yourself less. Here was Jesus the Messiah, Son of God, humbly stooping to wash the filthy feet of the disciples – one known by Him to be a traitor. He made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant…He humbled Himself – Philippians 2:7-8.

Presence – Jesus was less than 24 hours away from His painful death on the cross. John tells us that He knew this and yet He was able to be present with His disciples and see to their needs. He knew they needed their feet washed not only because they were dirty but for the symbolic anointing of their feet in the later following of His example.

ActionJesus got up, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel…John 13:4-5. Imagine the impact this had on the disciples – Jesus kneeling at their feet, looking them in the eye, speaking quietly with each of them, loving them.
Imagine the impact we can have, for Jesus’ sake, on others with our humble, present and active service.
HOMEBOUND COMMUNION                          
Contacts: Janet Norden  janetn@centraltolife.org  Jeanne Dailey   abqdailey@q.com          

This very important ministry serves communication, care and compassion to our homebound members the first Sunday of each quarter.   It involves picking up a basket at the altar with communion elements, communion bulletin, and a gift and reading material for delivery to the homebound member during a time that is convenient for both of you. This wonderful ministry is deeply appreciated by our members who are no longer able to attend church - and needs your help!
The Helping Hands Ministry of Central United Methodist Church demonstrates God’s love and presence by providing compassion, personal contact, and assistance to homeless people in need. Everyone who seeks help has the opportunity to talk to the volunteers about their problems and needs. All people are welcomed in the name of Jesus Christ

We offer a sack lunch or bus pass, snack crackers, coffee, water, a bible, phone access for local telephone calls, restrooms, a place to sit and rest in a safe environment, prayer, and a helping hand.

The Helping Hand can range from directions to their next meal or to the nearest shelter or a ride to a treatment facility.  Referral sheets are available that list information on the programs in Albuquerque. We have a referral file and provide handouts on locations and phone numbers for job placement assistance, Native American services, legal assistance, healthcare, shelters, etc.
        
We distribute anything that the congregation and community donate to include rescued milk and food, clothing, toiletries, socks, backpacks, sleeping bags, blankets, coats, etc.
        
All of these services provide the volunteers an opportunity to get to know street people and speak with them about Jesus Christ. We maintain a prayer list and pray with our friends (clients) weekly.
        
The Helping Hands Ministry is open from 9:00 am to 10:00 am Wednesday and Friday and is staffed solely by volunteers. Helping Hands is partially funded as a budgeted program of Central United Methodist Church: the balance of the funding is from donations and grants designated for this ministry.
        
Volunteers pack lunches, shop for the ministry, work the table when the program is open and pray for our friends on a daily basis.
        
The Ministry averages 40-80 visitors each day they are open.  No child is ever turned away hungry.
STEPHEN MINISTRY                                                                         
For more information, contact: Judy Williams 505-400-5216
Calendar
We have not yet received any events to place in the calendar. If you have any study group, meeting, book club, etc. Please submit the information to the communication team. We are trying to build a strong platform for communication; however, this is a two way street. We need the information from ALL group leaders.

Thank You
The Communications Team
Co-Chairs: Chris Briggs  &  Pat Briggs

Current Team Members:
Donna Faulhaber, Jesus Valdez, Keith Smith,
Barbara Fuller,  Rev. Scott Sharp, Rev. Kelly Brooks
Visit the Welcome Desk in the gathering area for: answers to your questions from a member of the governance team, printed copies of the newsletter, other written information, cards to update your contact information for the church and so that we can email the newsletter to you or mail, if you indicate your preference in writing.
Communications Team Contact Information

Phone #: (505) 268-1009

or you can drop off information in writing at the church office
(please include contact name, email or phone number)