July 17, 2026

Mid-Year Finance Report

As we approach the halfway mark in the year, I wanted to share with you about the church's finances. So far for the year, we are in a strong position. We are thankful!

Amount Received in Tithes, Transfers, and Income for Budget

June 2026 - $106,676.28

YTD - $711, 751.97 (This is 52% of expected income for the year.)

Total Budget Expenditures

June 2026 - $95,299.11

YTD - $677,308.34

Total Income Less Expenses YTD: 34,443.63

What this means:

First, halfway through the year, we are running slightly ahead of where we estimated for giving. THANK YOU to everyone who generously supports the church. We are grateful that you give sacrificially to make ministry and outreach possible at our church. This is particularly a strong position considering we are in the middle of summer when finances can sometimes be a bit stretched for most churches. We are also just slightly ahead of where we were a year ago. 

At the same time, we still have a busy second half of the year, and have exciting opportunities for mission, worship, and community-building. So keep going strong, church! Thanks to your giving, lives are being changed every day, and in an environment where churches often struggle, we are cautiously optimistic. We have a chance to make 2026 a great year for St. John's. 

Thank you again, to everyone who shares their prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness at St. John's UMC.



~Josh

Join Us for Quintessence's Summer Choral Festival Concert

Sunday, July 19

Don’t miss Quintessence’s 14th Annual Summer Choral Festival Concert on Sunday, July 19 at 3:00pm at V. Sue Cleveland High School.

(4800 Cleveland Heights Rd, Rio Rancho)

The 180-voice Festival Chorus, with full orchestra under conductor Matthew Greer, will present the U.S. premiere of Taylor Scott Davis's Requiem, a moving work on remembrance, hope, and renewal. The concert opens with Quintessence's Choral Scholars performing contemporary works, plus a new premiere written by Davis for this year's festival.

Arrive early for a pre-concert discussion at 2:00pm with 95.5 Classical KHFM's Alexis Corbin, Matthew Greer, and Taylor Scott Davis. Save 10% with code SJUMC at checkout. Click here to get your tickets. We hope to see you there!

Ladies’ Book Club

Monday, July 20

The Ladies’ Book Club will meet on Monday, July 20, 2026, at 1:00pm in Room 241. Come share your love of reading. We will be discussing Evensong by Stewart O'Nan. What would it look like if a group of women selflessly helped their neighbors? The novel explores the power of community and chosen family. The July meeting is when we bring books, we are ready to exchange with others. Come join in the fun! For more details, please contact Sara Perovich: sjperov@yahoo.com.

September book pick: The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain

Social Concerns Committee

Tuesday, July 21

The Rev. Josh Kouri will be presenting some of the highlights of the recent Conference at our next meeting scheduled for Tuesday evening, July 21, at 6:30pm in the church library (Room 231).  All are welcome!

Tai Chi ~ Class Change

Thursday, July 23

The Tai Chi class for Thursday, July 23, will meet in the Narthex at 10:00am due to the Rummage Sale preparations in the FLC.  If you would like to join us for this gentle exercise session, please use the west parking lot and entrance.

Class resumes back in the Family Life Center on Thursday, July 30. For all the details, please contact Dianna Muller at DLM_NM@MSN.com. 

UWF Annual Rummage Sale

Friday, July 24 &

Saturday, July 25

Meet & Greet

Pizza & Play

Friday, July 31

Please join us for a Meet & Greet on Friday, July 31 at 6:00pm in the

St. John’s UMC Family Life Center.

Pizza & Salad will be served. Games will be provided or bring one to share & play. This is a great opportunity to meet and get to know people! We’ll fuel up on pizza and salads and play board games, card games and even cornhole! All are welcome!

Please RSVP to Fay.Barz@gmail.com by Thursday, 7/30/26 for pizza planning purposes.

Memory Cafe

Saturday, August 1

The next Memory Café meeting is Saturday August 1, at 1:30pm - 3:00pm in the Sonshine Café at St. John’s United Methodist Church.  It is the Dog Days of Summer, so our special guests are the High Desert Therapy Dogs. Join us for great music and sing-along with Tony Mora. There will also be other games and snacks.

Memory Cafe is a social support meeting for anyone affected by memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease along with their care partners and family. It is a setting free of stigma and offers an opportunity to form relationships and share with others who are traversing a similar journey. For more information contact Mrs. Jensen at (505) 323-7522 or ssmjens@aol.com. Join us for a fun time designed for you! 

Family Promise Dinners Needed!

August 2 - 8

St. John's host week is coming up. Family Promise is an organization that strives to end homelessness while still keeping families together. We partner with them to provide groceries and meals to the families currently staying at their residential location next to Montgomery Church of Christ.

Please click on the Family Promise Sign-up link Sign Up Here or visit the Hospitality Center to sign up. 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

Hygiene Kit Assembly Event RSVP Needed!

Friday, August 7

St. John's is partnering with Albuquerque Healthcare for the homeless to assemble hygiene kits for their staff to hand out. The event starts at 5:00pm with a presentation from the Development Director at Albuquerque Healthcare for the homeless.

After the presentation, there will be time for dinner and fellowship. Following dinner, we will assemble the hygiene kits. Since dinner will be provided, please email your RSVP to Jenn Shields at jennshields200@yahoo.com or text your RSVP to 505-450-9978 before Tuesday, August 4.

Family Promise Garage Sale

Saturday, August 8

Family Promise is selling the items currently in storage to get ready for the move to their new housing location. If you want various household items or clothing, check out the sale at the Montgomery Church of Christ's parking lot, located at (4121 Mesilla St NE) from 10:00am - 2:00pm. If you have any questions, please contact Jenn Shields at (505) 450-9978 or jennshields200@yahoo.com.

United Methodist College Campus Connections

Help connect your graduating high school seniors to a United Methodist Campus Ministry. Send an email to Campus Connections today!

Do you have graduating seniors headed to college or other institutions of higher education? Don't let them slip through the cracks. Send the following info to the New Mexico Conference Board of Higher Education and we will connect your young people to a United Methodist Campus Ministry or local United Methodist Church near their college campus. Be sure to get permission from students or their families before sending. 

Please return the following to Rev. Josh Kouri at jkouri@stjohns-abq.org.

Student's Name

Local Church

School they plan to attend

Intended major (if known)

Mobile phone #

Email

Home address



Any other notes about student interests that will help them connect with a Wesley Foundation or United Methodist ministry are also appreciated. 

Send information by Wednesday, July 15, 2026 so that contacts may be sent to campus ministries in time for the new school year.  

Memory Cafe is Looking for a Volunteer!

Memory Café meets the first Saturday of each month at 1:30pm-3:00pm in the Sonshine Cafe. It is a supportive fellowship for anyone affected by memory loss/Alzheimer’s and their caring partners. Meet and share with others on a similar journey. This is not a drop-off event. For more information contact Sharon Jensen at (505) 323-7522 or ssmjens@aol.com. You don’t need to pre-register and there is no cost for the event. Join us for a fun time designed for you! 

Please Note: Memory Cafe is looking for a volunteer for a Registrar/Attendance position. This person must be able to send/receive emails and print forms plus attend our meetings on the first Saturday

of each month. If interested, please contact Sharon Jensen @505-238-2586 or ssmjens@aol.com.

Did You Know?

Asbury Pie Cafe is a Long-Standing Tradition

Since 1994, St. John's has proudly participated in the Asbury Pie Cafe at the State Fair. This long-standing tradition has become a wonderful way for our church to serve the community while supporting the mission of our church.

Although we are grateful to receive a portion of our funding each year from the Lenten offering, those funds do not cover all of the expenses involved. Donations from our church family help us to continue this worthwhile ministry and ensure its success.

If you would like to support the Pie Cafe, monetary contributions are always appreciated. Every gift, no matter the size, helps us continue this meaningful tradition of service to our community. Please contact Doris Bowen. (bowen_g@msn.com)

      "Keep calm and eat more pie." 

Freezer Space Still Needed (Update)

Thank you to everyone who has volunteered their freezer space! I still need a few more volunteers. The pies will stay in your freezer until we start baking during the State Fair. I don’t have our exact bake days yet; but stay tuned. You can either just freeze pies, and I will pick them up before the State Fair, or you can bake your frozen pies (instructions provided). Both roles are crucial to reaching our goal of delivering 320 pies to the Asbury Pie Café. If you have questions, or would like to volunteer, please contact Debby Smith 505-554-4238 dysmith0427@gmail.com

Promotion Sunday &

Blessing of the Backpacks

We will be celebrating Promotion Sunday on August 2 during the 11:00am service. If your child is promoting to either Kindergarten or grade 6, we would love to include them in this time of recognition! If you have not already received an email about including your child, please contact Angela Lybarger at childrensdirector@stjohns-abq.org as soon as possible.

We will also be offering Blessing of the Backpacks during all services on August 2. This is a time when people of all ages are encouraged to bring their backpacks to be blessed before the new school year begins. Whether you are in elementary school, middle school, high school, homeschooled, or attend college, please come join us for this special blessing!

Free School Supplies!

Believe it or not, the back-to-school season is approaching quickly! Families are invited to participate in the City of ABQ’s event happening on August 1.

Register today using the link provided below to access free backpacks, school supplies, and lots of other giveaways. Children of all ages are eligible, but each child must be individually pre-registered to participate.

Click Here-Cruzin' Back to School

Sunday Schedule Change

Please note ~ This Sunday, July 19, the Youth will not be meeting for Reel to Real in the afternoon. There will still be Sunday School during the 11:00am service in the morning, but no afternoon activities. Reel to Real will resume the following Sunday, July 26.

Sweet~Sweet~Summer!

This Thursday, July 23, all youth are invited to spend an hour at Bahama Buck’s, located at 4411 San Mateo Blvd NE, Suite E12, at 5:30pm for some refreshing, shaved ice and some time to just hang out and play games. This fun activity will continue each week throughout the entire summer. See you there!

Prayer Quilts



Becky Davidson 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 Becky.

Won't be in the Center this week? No worries, either way please pray this prayer (or your own prayer) for Becky. "Father, we ask that you wrap Becky in your unshakable peace when the days feel heavy; fill her heart with courage when her body feels weary; surround her with compassion, understanding, and the right care; and grant her a spirit that remains unbroken, rooted in love and faith. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen."

July Special Offering

Human Relations Ministries 

This is a United Methodist church-wide offering to support programs that work in local neighborhoods to build justice, offer hope, and walk beside those who need a second chance.

Examples would include community basics such as after school programs, help with food insecurity, and providing urgent home repairs. But for the long haul, there are also places like Exodus House in Oklahoma that provide a safe space for those leaving prison, feeling forgotten and unworthy, with no place to go, and often with untreated substance abuse. They are in great need of help to overcome their pasts, their addictions, and become productive citizens.  When we give, we help church-based programs and volunteers across the US to show God's love to the least of these.  

  July Special Collections

Toiletry Items for Silver Horizons

Silver Horizons' Mission is to provide critical help to extremely low-income senior citizens, and the family members living with them, with life's basics: groceries, household bills and home repairs/retrofits. Each month, these three core services assist about 4,000 senior citizens.

Most of the Silver Horizon clients are eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) designed to help low-income individuals and families buy food intended for home consumption - fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, breads, cereals, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. It's mandate is to supplement food budgets, not to cover non-food necessities such as feminine hygiene products, personal care items or baby wipes, diapers, and other hygiene supplies.

This is where we can help! During the month of July, we will collect toiletry items: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, bars of soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, body lotion, razors, shaving cream, men and women deodorants and antiperspirants. Please place your donations in the bins in the Hospitality Center.

Let's shower them with our generosity! THANK YOU, St. John's! You're the best!   

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.