Community Weekly Witness

August 28, 2025

Sunday, August 31, 2025

12th Sunday After Pentecost

2¢ a Meal


Sermon Text:  Luke 13: 22-30

Livestream. Bulletin.

Liturgist: Victoria Flick Psalmist: Dave Shambach

Ushers: Cip and Maria; Christie; Russ

Longer version link for the livestream: https://youtube.com/live/4T_iGwmnB64

Pizza and Puzzles

The Scholarships Committee will host pizza and puzzles next Saturday night, Sep 13, at 5pm. Flyer.

Report From the PNC

The Pastor Nominating Committee continues its work faithfully, guided by prayer, our Commission on Ministry (COM) liaison, and each other.


We are in the later phases of discernment with candidates; and while our process requires confidentiality, please know that we are moving forward with diligence and care.


We ask for your continued prayers as we seek the pastor God is calling to serve our congregation. We will share more details as soon as we are able.

One table: Karen, Lorna, Liz, Marjorie, and Victoria (photographer).

The menu

The lovely 'spread', including beautiful roses!

About the Fabulous Ladies' Tea Last Saturday...

About 24 women and guests were treated to a superb afternoon tea! Many kinds of tea, fresh berries, Chantilly cream, a variety of scones and small sandwiches, beautiful flowers, and a relaxed atmosphere. One fascinator and several hats were seen. Thank you to our hosts and the women serving tea at each table!

From the Worship Committee

We are in great need of new teams of communion preppers! This is a pretty straightforward task that involves cutting up bread and pouring grape juice into small cups on the Saturday before Communion Sunday, putting the trays on the sanctuary table Sunday morning before worship, and cleaning them after worship. We would love to have 4 teams of 2 people each. Then each team would only have to prep 3 times a year! If you are interested in helping in this way, please reach out to Birgitta or Joy.

From Mission Committee

We are taking up offerings for 2 cents-a-meal Aug 31 and Sep 7 because this coming Sunday falls during Labor Day weekend. Since a lot of people travel during the holiday, we want to give everyone an opportunity to participate.

Pastor-to-People

Jesus was a carpenter and Paul was a tentmaker. That means they both worked with their hands. These days we would say they had a craft. We might even say they were blue-collar workers. That was not unusual in Israel. Most everyone had a trade or worked with their hands,

and many worked on small farms raising animals and growing crops. In Israel working with your hands was expected. After all, God put humanity "in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it" (Genesis 2:15). Working and caring for the garden was God's plan from the beginning.


So on this Labor Day Weekend let's celebrate the work that God has given us to do. The talents and gifts that we have used in our jobs and our vocations. The many ways our work brings glory to God and meets the needs of the world. And let's give thanks for how you have used your gifts in the life of the church to build up the people of God. You are a talented congregation with so many gifts and for that I am very grateful.


Last week Beth Miller, who is a member of the Rio Rancho School Board, took me to Rio Tech (on Zenith Ct. off 550). We met Dr. Kris Johnson, the principal, who took us on a tour of this magnificent structure. He said they were about two-thirds finished with installing all the equipment needed to instruct our students. There were classrooms where students earn their regular high school credits as well as labs of all kinds: carpentry, plumbing, electricity, welding, and labs for every kind of computer skill you can imagine! And right next door, CNM is building a large facility for auto mechanics instruction.


OH MY! I was deeply impressed. I am so grateful that the Rio Rancho community realizes the value of the trades and the technical fields. Students can graduate at age 18 and go right into a vocation that pays well and will lead to a successful career. And I noticed that just this week CNM is opening four brand-new buildings on the main campus also designed for vocational training.


This is such a positive step in our community and our state to give students the training they need to live a productive life. It is as though we are saying collectively to our students: "till it and keep it". Our labor is a gift from God. Our talents are a gift from God. Let us use them for the glory of God and meeting the needs of others.


So come to the Adult CE class this Sunday morning after worship, and we will talk more about our gifts and our vocations.


Happy Labor Day weekend,


Frank

Healing Music

Does the phrase ‘healing music’ ring a bell?


Our handbells need some TLC (tender loving care). Many of our bells are 30 years old and they are showing their age. Their joints aren’t as limber as they were and, from time to time, their springs break. We have purchased additional bells over the last 30 years (BIG ONES and small ones). We’ve noticed a slight dissonance between the new and old bell when they play the same note (say a ‘C’) and, all of the bells, new and old, need a professional cleaning. Refurbishing our bells will cost $7,500 (including shipping).


There will be a benefit concert at the church Sunday Sep 21 at 3pm to raise money for the refurbishment. Our handbell choir will play as well as some small groups and soloists.


Please 'come with bells on' to support the handbells.

From Presbyterian Women

Our fall Women's Bible Study is about to kick off for the season. Our guide this year is "Finding Resilience, Joy, and Our Identity in Jesus Christ".


Our first meeting is Tuesday, Sep. 9, 10-11:30am in the church library. Please join us, all women welcome! Questions? Hope to see you there.

Christian Women's Fellowship Opportunity Next Friday, Sep 5

Church Women United will gather for their World Community Day celebration on Friday, Sep 5th at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 6901 Wyoming NE. The morning will begin at 9:30 a.m. with coffee fellowship, followed by the program at 10:00. Rev. Anne Morawski will be our featured speaker. She was the Lutheran Campus Pastor at UNM/CNM for 15 years. Since her retirement in 2017, she has been volunteering with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Budapest, Hungary. She is “home” now, but has plans to return to Hungary in November. She will share what it's like living in Hungary in an authoritarian country, as well as the story of her journey, knowledge and experience and how it might relate to what’s happening in America today. In addition, CWU women will collect school supplies.

Capital Campaign News

The final flooring project will begin Sep 2 in the nursery. Denise and crew will be working to move all items from the areas getting new flooring before worship on Sunday, Aug 31.

Church Calendar Aug 31 - Sep 6, 2025

Sunday, Aug 31

10 Worship

11:15 Fellowship

11:30 Frank's AE Class (Cl A&B) & 5th Sunday Forum


 Monday, Sep 1

Office closed for Labor Day

7 AA



Tuesday, Sep 2

10 New Horizons Band rehearsal


Wednesday, Sep 3

7 Al Anon



Thursday, Sep 4

Library in Use 9-4, CASA

10 Gentle Exercise

11:30 Yoga

6:25 Bells Rehearsal

7:30 Chancel Choir Rehearsal


Friday, Sep 5

Library in Use 9-4, CASA

9:30 CWU, Holy Cross Lutheran

7 AA


Saturday, Sep 6

8 Men's Breakfast

All rooms in use 1-6, Healing Harmonies

Prayer Concerns

(Photo: Richard Tsong-Taatarii/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

For victims' families and survivors of the Annunciation School mass shooting in Minneapolis (MPLS) Wednesday morning, and of the 3 separate shootings in downtown MPLS the night before.

For DR Congo, Gaza, Iran, Israel, Sudan, and Ukraine.

For all victims of gun violence, war, and unrest.

 Rio Rancho Presbyterian Church

1004 24th Street, SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124

505.892.6664

Office Hours

Monday – Thursday | 9am–3pm