April 10, 2026

We Care Support for Caregivers

 Saturday, April 11

We look forward to meeting new caregivers (and our returning ones!) at our We Care Support Group for caregivers. This month's meeting is this Saturday, April 11 from 10:00am - 12noon in the church library - Room 231 (please park in the West church lot on Arizona St NE).

Topics discussed include Caregiver Burnout and thoughts on creative responses to stress. We offer a safe and confidential place to ask questions, share concerns, maybe cry a little, and laugh a little. This group is facilitated by Carol Dolan and Virginia Worrell. Call the church office or reach out to one of them for more details. 

Thanksgiving in April

Spring Luncheon

Sunday, April 12

Come celebrate the gratitude we feel as Easter people with a Thanksgiving in April Feast, Sunday, April 12. We will have a Slow Roasted Turkey Lunch with all the Fixing's in the Family Life Center starting at 11:00am. All are welcome, no reservation required!  Adults $16, 12-17 years old $10, 5-11 years old, 5 and under are FREE!

The Food Ministry needs volunteers to help serve the Sunday lunch. If you can help, please click here Spring Lunch - Sign-Ups or contact Nancy Douglas de Baca at squidgete@yahoo.com or Chef Tim at tnuzum@stjohns-abq.org or 505-883-9717.

Mobile Food Pantry

Saturday, April 18

So far this year we have given food to 118 seniors, 119 adults, and 41 children. If you want to make a big difference in a small amount of time, please come join us! 

The next MFP is scheduled for Saturday, April 18. Volunteers should arrive at the Family Life Center about 8:00am-8:30am and distribution begins about 9:30am, depending on the time the Roadrunner truck arrives. We are usually finished by 11:00am.

Please contact me if you are interested in volunteering. Debby Smith 505-554-4238 or dysmith0427@gmail.com. If you have small to medium boxes, you can drop them off during the MFP at the Family Life Center or contact me to pick them up. Thank you for your continued support!

New Women's Bible Study

Monday, April 13 - Monday, May 18

Questions Jesus Asked

by Magrey deVega

A new Women's Bible study will begin Monday, April 13, and runs through Monday, May 18. Class is from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm in rooms 245/257 for a total of 6 weeks.

The study will be led by Barbara Stanfield. Please remember to bring your brown bag lunch. To register, contact Susan Perry at 505-350-9633 or teachersusan@comcast.net.

What does Jesus want to know about us? Jesus was fond of asking questions, many of which cut right to the heart of what it means to be human. Why are you terrified? What do you live for? Who do you say that I am? In this study you will explore six of the most provocative questions Jesus posed to others and guides us in answering them for ourselves.

Asking these questions takes courage. Not only do they reveal what Jesus really cares about, they open a window into our hearts. We all have questions for God, but growth happens when we turn things around and ask what Jesus wants to know about us. When we dare to raise them, these questions bring us a fuller appreciation for the wisdom, power, and presence of God in our lives. Are you willing to step out in faith? Are you ready to answer the questions Jesus asked?

Mark Your Calendars for the Upcoming

United Women in Faith

Annual Summer~Rummage Sale

July 24 - 25

Got Jewelry You Don't Wear? Donate It Today! Our jewelry team is already busy getting ready. If you have jewelry you're not using, we'd love to give it a second life - just label it "ATTENTION: Donna Bruce - Jewelry Donation" and drop it off at the Hospitality Center on Sundays or the Church Office during the week.

We're collecting JEWELRY ONLY right now; other sale donations will be gathered closer to the event.

Early donations help our volunteers sparkle up those displays and make the most for mission work. Thanks so much for your generosity!

The Apostles’ Creed

The three great Christian creeds – Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian – set forth orthodox Christian belief as determined by the Church. They were not written at one sitting, but rather they developed as the mind of the Church took its time in coming to a conclusion, and they were adopted in more-or-less final form only after considerable debate. A simple (and inadequate) division is that the Apostle’s Creed lays out the fundamentals of the faith and asserts the humanity of Jesus Christ, the Nicene Creed asserts the divinity of Jesus Christ, and the Athanasian Creed asserts the nature of the Trinity. All three creeds appear to have existed by the end of the fifth century. The Apostles’ Creed, in some form, may be the earliest, with roots in the second century. It’s certainly the simplest and most clearly supported by scripture. In this study we will examine that scriptural basis, using a version of the creed from one of the older Methodist hymnals.

Pick up a study guide in the Hospitality Center or write or call Regina Hunter at drhunter@nmia.com or (505) 294-2877 to receive daily study tips by email.  A scripture passage and a brief study tip will be distributed to most study participants by email five days a week.

Family Spirit Class,

New Study for April & May

Adults, come join us, starting Sunday, April 12, 2026 at 9:30 to 10:30 A.M. at St. John's UMC in room 257 as we study a new book and DVD series,

UMC's Adult Bible Studies (ABS) series for Spring 2026. Unit 2: Psalms of New Life (April 12 to May 10) to explore the theme of rebirth, and Unit 3: Acts of the Spirit (May 17 to May 31) Cultivate a deeper relationship with God.

How do you speak to God? How does God speak to you? For Spring 2026, we’ll consider the depths of our words to God, before considering how God uses the Church to speak to the World. You and our class will be challenged to grow in faith.

Watch a quick two minute intro video with Rev. Dr. Paula Smith, Spring Bible Study Link-2026 

See info about book on Bible-Studies-Spring-2026-Student

Come make new connections as we gather each Sunday. We will share joys and concerns as a small group, then pray, and then watch a short 10-minute video in class with comments from the author and then discuss questions from the Leader Guide. Folks are welcome to drop by any week to sample the class. Come try it out. Free admission. Open to all adults. Questions about this class? Please ask Brian Eagan, Email: eagan.brian@gmail.com  

Ask A Pastor

Sunday, April 19

This third "Ask A Pastor" event will be held from 4:00pm–5:30pm on Sunday, April 19 in the Youth Room (258/260). The main source of the questions will be the youth group, hence the time frame matching their usual meeting time on Sundays. All ages are invited, however Age doesn’t alter our individual interest in pursuing understanding of God and our faith.

Our pastors for this event will be Rev. Josh Kouri, Senior Pastor here at St. John’s, and Rev. Dr. Nancy Bowen who comes to St. John’s from Earlham School of Religion in Indiana, where she was a Professor of the Old Testament for 30 years.

We are aiming to have a space for anyone with questions to get answers from trained pastors. The Youth Director, Brett Reece, is collecting questions from the youth group for this event and there will be opportunities to ask questions from anyone attending during the event itself.

**If you plan to attend and will need childcare for children ages 6 weeks to 4 years, please call the church at 505-883-9717 or email the church at reception@stjohns-abq.org by April 13.

This new event has been created by the Look to the Future Work Group, and we would like to see it become a regular enjoyable event full of informative conversation. Please come and listen as well as ask questions in the great conversation we expect to create. Contacts are Donna Berry (505-604-4487) or Joan Shirley (505-238-1663).  

Family Promise Meals Needed

April 5th - 25th.

These dates do not have host churches and Family Promise would appreciate any help. You can provide the meal and eat with the families, drop off a meal, or provide groceries. Please click on the Family Promise Sign-up link - Sign Up Genius for more information. For information regarding families staying at Family Promise, or other questions, contact Jenn Shields at (505) 450-9978; jennshields200@yahoo.com or Linn Furnish at swimsew@comcast.net.  

Family Promise

Sweet Jazz Concert

& Silent Auction

Sunday, April 19

This is a wonderful concert and fundraiser that supports Family Promise's work to end homelessness. The concert is from 4:00pm - 6:00pm on Sunday, April 19th at Sandia Presbyterian Church and tickets can be purchased at Sweet Jazz Concert Tickets. If you have questions, contact Jenn Shields at (505) 450-9978; jennshields200@yahoo.com or Linn Furnish at swimsew@comcast.net.  

Volunteers Needed for Summer Camps

St. John’s summer camps start in just two months! This year we are offering half-day and full-day options during the week of June 8 – 12.

Quintessence Music camp will be held in the mornings, and True North VBS camp will take place in the afternoons each day. We will need volunteer help every day throughout the entire week.

If you’re available to support our camps and kids, please contact Angela Lybarger at childrensdirector@stjohns-abq.org. All volunteers must have current Safer Sanctuaries training certification. The next Safer Sanctuary Training session before camps start will be held on Monday, May 4. If needed, please contact the front office to sign up for the training session. Thank you!

No More Recycling Needed

WOW! Your response to the request for cardboard tubes & brown paper has been absolutely wonderful.😊 Thanks so much!! We are turning these items into projects for our summer VBS camp. Now we need some time to catch up with all the awesome donations, so we currently do not need any further donations of tubes or paper. Thanks again for your help!!

Prayer Quilts

Mackenzie Mulder (granddaughter of Anita and Greg Hallstrom) is the recipient for the prayer quilt currently on display in the Hospitality Center. 

If you pass through the Hospitality Center this week, please tie a knot in the quilt while praying for Mackenzie. Won't be in the Center this week? No worries, either way please pray this prayer (or your own prayer) for Mackenzie. "Father, hold Mackenzie close in your arms and fill her heart with courage, her mind with peace, and her body with strength. Protect her body during the procedure and bless her recovery with comfort, patience, and renewed health. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen." 

   April Special Offering

Four Corners Native American Ministry

This United Methodist Church Ministry provides for many needs in this area. For example, in the winter it operates the only homeless shelter in the Shiprock area. It also facilitates bi-weekly water deliveries to the many remote areas without a clean water source, and it coordinates emergency food boxes. 

The ministry also works with other non-profits to provide everything from school supplies to solar ovens. St. John's has a long history of supporting this ministry. Please continue to give generously.!

April Special Collection

Supporting Families Served by the

New Mexico Ramp Project

Throughout April, St. John’s United Methodist Church will collect non-perishable food items for families assisted by the New Mexico Ramp Project.

Founded at St. John’s, the New Mexico Ramp Project has become a vital statewide ministry. In the past seven years, volunteers have built more than 670 ramps to help individuals with mobility challenges safely enter and exit their homes. Last year alone, 170 ramps were completed. The need continues to grow, and many recipients also face food insecurity.

By donating non-perishable food items, we can help ease this additional burden for families already managing financial and mobility challenges.

The New Mexico Ramp Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, builds free ramps for New Mexicans with mobility issues, using volunteer labor and serving all people without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, age, or gender. Visit nmramp.org to learn more.

Requested Food Items:

Macaroni and cheese - Pasta - Soup - Oatmeal - Cereal - Creamy peanut butter - Canned chicken - Canned albacore tuna - Canned ravioli - Canned spaghetti sauce - Rice - Canned beans - Canned fruit - Canned vegetables. Please, no glass items.

Thank you for sharing in this effort to bless families in need!

St. John's United Methodist Church | (505) 883-9717

2626 Arizona Street NE | Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Friday, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

If there is an after-hours Congregational Care need, you may leave a message on Lauren Morgan-Smith’s church office phone 505-883-9717, ext. 127 – or email care@stjohns-abq.org and she will respond as soon as possible.