March 22, 2024

Josh's Jottings

Since the beginning of Lent, we have focused on the theme of prayer. Now, as the season gives way to Holy Week, I want to invite you to make it a week of prayer. Holy Week is a formational event. We experience Jesus' journey from the triumphal entry of Palm Sunday, to Jesus' servant spirit, devotion to prayer, and betrayal on Maundy Thursday, to Jesus' crucifixion and burial on Good Friday, and finally his resurrection and victory at Easter. Along the way, we pray with Jesus and experience his passion. 

Therefore, I want to encourage, and in-fact urge you to attend all the Holy Week services. Maundy Thursday will be a service of prayer, music, and imagery. Good Friday will offer opportunities to journey to the cross. Both services are at 7:30 p.m. 

Also be sure to attend the children's Easter egg hunt on Saturday morning, March 30. And support our youth as they pray during the Easter vigil. All are good opportunities to grow your spirit. 

See you there!

Easter Decorating March 30

It's time to decorate for Easter services. Saturday, March 30, we will be decorating the Sanctuary at 10 a.m. and the Family Life Center at noon. Hope you can join us. Questions? Please contact Anita Hallstrom at anitah1@comcast or 505-400-1777.

Holy Week Services

Palm Sunday, March 24, we will have our three Sunday services at 8:15 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11 a.m.

Join us on March 28 at 7:30 p.m. in our Family Life Center for Maundy Thursday Worship. This special service of Holy Communion will feature music from St. John's Praise Band.

We will also have worship on Good Friday, March 29, at 7:30 p.m. in our Sanctuary. This is a powerful service of darkness, with the reading of the Passion narrative, featuring the St. John's Chancel Choir with special guest musicians.

Easter Sunday Services

March 31

Join us at St. John's to celebrate Easter! We will hold three services on Easter Sunday as we celebrate the resurrection, knowing that Jesus is alive. All of our services will be offered in-person, services will also be livestreamed for those who cannot attend, or prefer to worship from home. Learn more about each of these services below.

Our 8:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. Easter services are traditional Methodist services held in our Sanctuary, they will feature choir, organ, and the UNM Faculty Brass Quintet.

Our 9:30 a.m. service is a contemporary Methodist service held in the Family Life Center. Our Praise Band provides music for this service, playing current and classic contemporary Christian music and popular hits. Join us for an upbeat, energetic, and music-filled Easter worship.

Easter Sunday Lunch

March 31

On Easter, avoid the traffic of going out for your Easter meal, and come to lunch after the worship services. Chef Tim and his Kitchen Crew will be serving Slow-Roasted Honey Chipotle Ham, sliced to order from 11 am to 1 pm in the Family Life Center. $14 for adults, $8 for 12-17 years old, $5 for 5-12 years old, 4 and under free. 

Let us rejoice! Psalm 118:24

Mountain Cathedrals

March 31

Mountain Cathedrals Easter Sunday Sunrise Hike, March 31, Travertine Falls 

Logistics: Meet at 6:00 AM at St. John’s UMC east parking lot or 6:30 AM at the Grand Enchantment Trailhead just outside of Tijeras (Google Maps: "Canyon Estates - Grand Enchantment Trailhead"); Please RSVP in either case. We plan to be back to the cars by 8:30 AM and the church before 9:00. 1 mile round trip, elevation gain 300 feet, rocky trail, so moderate. Bring water, lights, and trekking poles if desired.  

Psalm 118 declares: 

"The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. 

This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. 

This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." 

Let us contemplate this while a new day dawns in the mountains. 

Organizer: Mike Furnish, 505-440-7292; [email protected]. 

Save the date of April 20 for the next Mountain Cathedral (which will require most of the day). 

The Walk, Five Essential Practices of the Christian Life by Adam Hamilton

• Tuesdays, April 2 - May 7 (6 weeks)
• 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., IN-PERSON
• Facilitator: Dara Bell
• To register, contact Susan at [email protected]
• Participants will need to purchase their own study books

How do we walk with Christ—daily follow him, grow in him, and faithfully serve him? In the Gospels, Jesus modeled for us the Christian spiritual life. The apostles taught it in their writings. And the Church has, through the last 2,000 years, sought to pursue this Christian spiritual life. In The Walk, Adam Hamilton focuses on five essential spiritual practices that are rooted in Jesus’ own walk with God and taught throughout the New Testament. Each of these practices is intended as part of our daily walk with Christ while also being an essential part of growing together in the church. Deepen your walk with Christ as we explore the five essential practices of worship, study, serving, giving, and bearing witness to our faith.

Good Medicine Way and Mesa View UMC Present RAIN SONG in concert

March 23

A free concert by RainSong, a Grammy nominated and Nammy Award winning duo. Starts at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, at Mesa View UMC, 4701 Montano, NW (Corner of Taylor Ranch Road and Montano). 

RainSong is led by Terry and Darlene Wildman. Terry is of Ojibwe and Yaqui ancestry and Darlene is an honorary member of the Miami Indians of Indiana. Terry is the lead translator and project manager of the First Nations Version of the New Testament. He also serves as the Director of Spiritual Growth and Leadership Development for Native InterVarsity. 

Sponsored by Good Medicine Way, a Native American ministry that embraces our indigenous lifeways to honor Creator Sets Free/Jesus. For more information, call Pastor Casey Church at (505)350-1390.

Click the LINK HERE to view the flyer.

United Women in Faith

April 4

United Women in Faith meets on Thursday, April 4, at 10 a.m. in rooms 241 and 243. Amy Berman, the development director, from Mandy’s Farm, will present the program. She has requested UWF members bring donations of some dry good items and some fun activity items for the residents at Mandy's Farm. Dry goods:  toilet paper, cleaning wipes, paper towels, tissues, laundry detergent, and dish soap. Fun activity items: large piece puzzles, large paint by number sets, large plastic bouncy balls, and sidewalk chalk.

Celebration Circle will serve as hostess and Fellowship Circle will furnish items for the baby layette.

Please Help Family Promise Host Week in April

We need your help for Family Promise host week April 14-21, 2024.

Family Promise is a national program that supports homeless families in cities across the United States, including Albuquerque. For six weeks during the year, St. John's is responsible for taking meals to the Montgomery site. In addition, we are asked to stay on site for two hours to give relief to the permanent staff. If you would like to pair up with someone to provide a meal and stay for two hours, please contact Jenn or Linn (see below.)

To volunteer, click the LINK HERE. Or sign-up at the Hospitality Center, at the Abide service, or contact Jenn Shields [email protected] 505-450-9978 or Linn Furnish [email protected].

To see more information about Family Promise click here.

Orientation Class April 14 - May 5

Orientation Class: Learning about St. John’s

“What is special about being a Methodist?” “What is going on at St. John’s?” “Where do I fit in?”

These are key questions that newcomers ask about our church, and we are having a class to discuss the answers. Visitors and new members are the primary focus for the class, but those who have been around awhile may want to reorient and re-energize themselves by entering the discussion. It's a great place to get to know others at St. John's as well.

The class will take place on four consecutive Sunday evenings in April and May. The first class will start Sunday, April 14, 2024, and we’ll end on Sunday, May 5. We will meet in Rooms 149/151 from 6-7:30 PM, get to know each other and discuss the topics (our Christian faith, Methodism, St. John’s, my place.)

To register for the class, sign up in the Hospitality Center or contact Jack and Carol Nuzum at 265-5241 or [email protected]. 

McCurdy Ministries Day of Service

April 11

New Mexico Conference United Women in Faith and the Albuquerque District request your help for the: Day of Service, April 11, 2024. Starting at 9:30 am at McCurdy Ministries, 362A S. McCurdy Rd, Espanola NM.

McCurdy Ministries is getting ready to demolish several older buildings in preparation for a new Program Building. These buildings are FULL of items that need to be removed and sold. An estate sale will be held on May 17 – 19. The stored items need to be cleaned and moved to the McCracken Gymnasium for the estate sale. Lighter tasks include washing and cleaning/polishing items especially the lab equipment and band instruments.

Lunch will be provided; please bring water bottles and extra water for the day.

If you’ve never been to McCurdy, it’s been a while, or you’re just interested, we’ll have someone there to give a quick tour of the campus.

The Day of Service is open to all who would like to help. Please let me know if you or your group will be coming so we can plan for lunch and tasks to be accomplished.

Please let Peggy know by April 5 how many will be coming so she can order lunch. Contact Dave or Angie Young to coordinate carpooling/ caravanning. Dave Young: 505-715-2030

Angie Young: 505-715-0292

Questions or for additional information contact:

Peggy Arensdorf, (505) 301-1978, [email protected]

Celebrating 69 Years of Marriage

Dale and Nancy Amend celebrated their 69^th wedding anniversary on March 20. They joined SJUMC in November 1984 and have been active participants in or supporters of governing bodies, church committees, the music program, Sunday Schools, the Asbury Pie Café, and much more. When you see Dale and Nancy, congratulate them!

Acts of the Apostles?

Or of the Holy Spirit?

Over the years in St. John’s email Bible study, we’ve read now and then from Acts, but until now we’ve never read the book from beginning to end. Acts is Volume 2 of Luke’s work; the book of Luke is Volume 1. The four Gospels tell us about the ministry of Jesus, and the letters of Paul, Peter, James, John, and Jude contain a fair amount of theology and also tell us about problems in the early Church, but only Acts tells us the history of the early Church.

The title of the book is “Acts of the Apostles,” but some commentators have said it could just as easily be titled “Acts of the Holy Spirit.” We’ll see why as we read along. Also watch for a gradual shift from a focus on Peter to a focus on Paul, for periodic updates on the size of the Church, and for the spread of the Church “in Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”

Pick up a study guide in the Hospitality Center, or write or call Regina Hunter at [email protected] or (505) 294-2877 to receive daily study tips by email. 

Share Your Art and Creativity with the Congregation and Community

"You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen!" (Mark 16:6)

The Spring art is up and growing like our gardens in this season of Lenten observance! As we draw nearer to Easter, we would like to celebrate the resurrection. The St. John's Visual Arts Ministry is inviting artists who have made creations that celebrate Easter resurrection to submit their works to be displayed in the Narthex. We would love to share your talent with others. For more information contact Amber Giffin, [email protected], 564-201-8944.

We are excited to praise the King of Kings through our creativity and work!

St. John's Missions Team Needs Your Input

The Missions Team would like to find out if there are St. John's congregants who volunteer at organizations outside St. John's. If you do, we would love to hear that! Please contact Donna at [email protected] with a brief email stating your name, the organization at which you volunteer, and approximately how many hours per week. Thank you!

Safe Sanctuary Training

April 14

Safe Sanctuaries training is for anyone who serves with youth, children or vulnerable adults here at St. John's UMC. We have a holy and sacred calling as Christ's church to love, disciple, and nurture children, youth and vulnerable adults. This training is required, along with a background check every 2 years for those of us who serve with the vulnerable among us, but it is also a wonderful and important training for all of us as we seek to live out our calling to Love God, Love Others and Change the World. 

The next Safe Sanctuary training here at St. John's UMC ABQ is scheduled for April 14, 3 p.m., in rooms 245/257. 

Please RSVP to Angela Lybarger at [email protected]

Safe Sanctuary Training

April 6

The New Mexico Conference is hosting a Safe Sanctuaries Training that specifically goes over elders and vulnerable adults. The presenter is Rev. Dr. Kevin Johnson, author of the new Safer Sanctuaries book. He will be focusing on chapters 15 and 16 in this ZOOM training. This will qualify for a yearly Safer Sanctuaries training. He will cover: Who is a vulnerable adult, what does abuse look like, how to report, and creating a culture of safety at church. Safer Sanctuaries is not only for children and youth, it is also for the elders and vulnerable adults that are in our mission field!

This training is offered on Zoom, April 6, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Click THIS LINK to register.

Fish Fry Announcements

Fish Fry Week 5

We had an exciting Fish Fry Dinner on Friday, March 15! That night:

• 559 meals were served (Second Highest Attendance)
• $398 was collected in the Tip Jars for Silver Horizons
• A total of 136 workers worked on Thursday and Friday
• 8 Boy Scouts worked the Fish Fry

Tonight is the last Fish Fry Dinner for 2024. If you haven't attended yet, you still have time! It's in the Family Life Center and the time is 4 - 7 p.m., $16 per person and $8 per child (10 and under).

Children's Easter Celebration and Egg Hunt

March 30

Find your Easter baskets and plan to join us as we play games, eat breakfast snacks, have lots of fun, and celebrate the season! Easter egg hunting will take place March 30 at 9:30 for kids in pre-school through fifth grade (beginning with the youngest kids).

When: Saturday, March 30, from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Where: St. John's UMC Family Life Center

Who: Kids, parents, grandparents, cousins, friends from school, kids who live next door to you - all are welcome.

Prayer Quilt Recipient

Kay Houck 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 Kay. Won't be in the Center this week? No worries! Either way, please pray this prayer (or your own prayer) for Kay: "Lord, we pray for Kay and the struggles she is going through in this season. You know exactly what she needs in this moment. We ask that you draw near to her and let her feel your presence. Amen.”

Lenten Offering: March Special Offering

The six weeks of Lent are a time of preparation, sacrifice, renewed focus on God, and giving.

Traditionally, this offering has supported many and varied local ministries. Such ministries have included: Mobile Food Pantry, Hopeworks, the Ramp Project, Asbury Pie Cafe, Zuni School, Family Promise, lunch bags for the homeless, and many more.

As we remember Jesus' sacrifice for us, may we also sacrifice in our own way by continuing the St. John's long tradition of giving generously to those in need during this Lenten season.

Snack Items for

Tierra Adentro New Mexico (TANM)

During the month of March, we will collect "snack items" for Tierra Adentro New Mexico (TANM) Arts Charter School, located in NW Albuquerque, and serving mid- and high-school students. We currently provide weekend meal bags each week for five of their students who are homeless/food insecure and will continue to do so. They have also identified an additional 50 students who are food insecure. This month we are collecting snack items which will be distributed by the counselor as needed at TANM.

Suggested SINGLE-SERVE items are: cheese and crackers, beef jerky, applesauce, pudding, fruit cups, granola bars, power bars, cereal bars, ravioli, spaghetti-os, macaroni and cheese, soups (pull tab openings), ramen noodles, trail mix, fruit snacks, boxed drinks and juices, chips, pretzels, Goldfish, Vienna sausages, pop tarts, or oatmeal.

Please place your donated items in the bins in the Hospitality Center.

THANK YOU, St. John's! You're the best!

Our worship services are livestreamed so you can watch them from home. To watch a worship service live, click on the service that you would like to watch on Sunday morning at its scheduled time.

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.

Pastoral Care 24-Hour Hotline | (505) 312-3763

Pastoral care is available for after-hours emergencies. Please send any congregational care needs to Rev. Molly Shannon at [email protected] as we all work together to love one another well.