May 22, 2026

Free Organ Concert

Saturday Evening, May 23

Matthew Greer will conduct a program of music for organ and string orchestra Saturday at 7:00pm at Keller Hall on the UNM Campus. Featuring four New Mexico organists: Edmund Connolly, Stephen Brodsky-Montoya, David Solem, and Maxine Thévenot, and two New Mexico composers: Frederick Frahm, and James Albert Yeager, the program will showcase a diverse repertoire spanning four centuries, encompassing both rare works and contemporary compositions.

Additionally, music for pipe organ and string orchestra will include pieces by Arcangelo Corelli, Michel Corrette, Alec Rowley, and Daniel Pinkham. The program highlights a world premiere, San Miguel Chapel, by Frederick Frahm, and a recent work, Birches for Organ and Strings, by James Albert Yeager. This is a free concert! 

Mountain Cathedrals Hike

North Crest Trail South of Placitas

 Saturday, May 23

Please join us on Saturday, May 23, at 7:30am in the St. Johns East Parking Lot to carpool to the Tunnel Spring Trailhead, or at the trailhead in Placitas at 8:10am (please let me know you're coming!)  We plan to climb about 1700 feet on this 7-mile round trip route, passing some interesting mining history as well as wonderful vistas of the valley and mountains beyond. This is a moderately strenuous hike. Plan to be back at St. John’s by 3:30pm. Bring lunch, water, sun protection, and possibly trekking poles.

On this, the day before Pentecost Sunday, we are reminded that the Holy Spirit is around us and within us like the very air we breathe.  Let us celebrate this, even if feeling a little out of breath at times!

Contact: Mike Furnish, CLM, 505-440-7292; mdfurnish@comcast.net

Future trips: June 13, July 11, August 8, September 12, and October 17.  Possibilities: Las Conchas, Jemez Fall – Battleship Rock (Jemez), Tree Springs (Sandias), Mt. Taylor, stargazing south of Tijeras - other ideas welcome! 

Omelet Bar Mix & Match

Sunday, May 24

Hungry for food and fellowship on Sunday before or after your worship service? Come by the SonShine Cafe between 7:45am and 1:00pm to get your made to order omelet that you can top with a variety of fillings of meats, cheeses, veggies, and salsas to make your omelet unique to you. Your choice of toast and a drink is included, all for just $8! 

We need volunteers to make Omelet Bar happen. If you would like to volunteer to be a cashier, omelet runner or toastmaster, etc... Please Sign Up Here or contact Nancy Douglas de Baca at squidgete@yahoo.com or Chef Tim at tnuzum@stjohns-abq.org or 505-883-9717.

Garden Talk ~ Soil Properties

Thursday, May 28



On Thursday, May 28 at 8:30am, please join us at the St. John's Community Garden, located in the NW corner of the church lot, for an engaging and informative talk on Soil and its Properties! We recently sent soil samples to Nebraska for testing, and our speaker will help us review and evaluate the results. Bernalillo County Extension Agent, John Garlisch will talk about what the soil analysis means, how soil properties affect plant growth, and what steps can improve garden health and productivity.

John is originally from rural Central Illinois where he grew up on a family farm. He was actively involved in 4-H. He earned his BS in Horticulture and an MS in Agriculture Consumer Economics from University of Urbana-Champaign.

This will be a great opportunity to better understand our garden soil and ask questions about soil care and management. Everyone is welcome!

Tai Chi ~ Class Change

Thursday, May 28

The Tai Chi class for Thursday, May 28 will meet in the Narthex at 10:00am. If you would like to join us for this gentle exercise session, please use the west parking lot and entrance. Class resumes back to the Family Life Center on Thursday, June 4. For all the details, please contact Dianna Muller at DLM_NM@MSN.com. 

UWF Zoom Reading Group

Thursday May 28

The United Women in Faith are doing our next Zoom Reading Discussion Group on Thursday, May 28 at 7:00pm.  The book discussion is entitled The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jake. This book is from the UWF 2026 book list under the category of Education for Mission. This is a remarkable memoir about Jake's amazing life as a Jew and an Auschwitz survivor. He talks warmly about the power of love, gratitude, tolerance and kindness. Jake believes, "Life can be beautiful if you make it beautiful." 

All are welcome to participate in this discussion group. If you are interested in joining, please contact Julie Bencoe at dabencoes@yahoo.com or Regina Hampton hamptonmason1@msn.com. An invite to the May Zoom meeting will be sent out on Monday, May 25.  



The next Zoom reading discussion will be in August.

Servers Needed for ADAC

Community Expressions Arts Festival

Come support inclusive arts and get a free admission to the show! Front of the house servers are needed to help serve drinks, bus tables and clean up for the meal during the Community Expressions Arts Festival on Saturday, May 30. There are two shifts: Shift 1: 3:30pm to 7:00pm and Shift 2: 8:30pm - 9:30 pm. 

Servers will get free admission to the dinner and the performances of Ken Medema and all the other artists in show. Please Sign Up Here or contact Chef Tim at tnuzum@stjohns-abq.org or 505-883-9717 x141 with any questions!

ADAC Presents

Community Expressions

Saturday, May 30

WHAT:

ADAC Community Expressions Inclusive Arts Festival & Fundraiser,

with the one and only Ken Medema! Supporting ADAC arts programs!

WHERE:

St. John's United Methodist Church Family Life Center and classrooms.

WHEN:

10:00am-3:00pm FREE Art Show with FREE workshops provided by amazing artisans and instructors. *Free all day

5:00-8:30pm Dinner and Variety Showing Starring Ken Medema and a variety of sensational artist performances. *28 dollars per person (ask us if you want a ticket and can't afford it --- info@adacnm.org or 505-451-4175)

WHY?

We are fundraising to expand ADAC's programming and find a new full-time space where we can do ADA Cafes daily, classes, workshops, more Open Mics, a theater company, art shows, expressive arts therapies, and much much more! Help us get there!

Go to www.adacnm.org for a variety show tickets or to become a sponsor! Or call/text 505-451-4175.

Ladies' Book Club

Monday, June 1

The Ladies’ Book Club will meet on Monday, June 1, 2026, at 1:00pm in Room 241. Come share your love of reading. We will be discussing The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. What if you had the chance to visit a library allowing you to see other lives you could have lived based on your choices along the way? Contact Sara Perovich: sjperov@yahoo.com.

June book pick: Evensong by Stewart O'Nan

Men's Summer Bible Study

Paul's Later Letters

Monday, June 1

The last four letters of Paul (1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon) are addressed to specific persons. They seem to have been written late in Paul's life and largely concern the situation of the churches he's founded. The new believers, he feels, are being misled in both the content and the practice of their faith, and he is instructing his co-workers on how to get them back in line.

Some of his advice is easy to understand, but his instructions to women and slaves to keep their place will tend to rub us modern readers wrong. Paul was in a place that is familiar to us today: How to be true to the Gospel and therefore distinctive, but not so different that we are considered weird. He is both critical of the surrounding culture, but concerned about church's reputation in that culture. These are ancient issues that are still relevant.

If you are interested in discussing these scriptures, please join us Mondays, both morning and evening, from June 1 through July 6, 2026. Morning sessions will be from 10-11:30am both in person in the church library and on Zoom; evenings will be 7:00pm - 8:30pm on Zoom only.

To sign up or for more information, please contact Jack Nuzum at jcnuzum@gmail.com.

UWF Field Trip

Thursday, June 4

"Mending women's lives one stitch at a time, Tenderlove's mission is to help homeless, near homeless and low-income women, including survivors of domestic abuse and previously incarcerated women achieve stable, self-supporting lives for themselves and their families." 

UWF will take a field trip to Tenderlove Community Center on Thursday, June 4. We will meet at 10:00am in the church parking lot (east side) and will carpool to the location at Girard and Indian School. Afterwards, we will enjoy lunch at Padilla's, located next door to Tenderlove. All are welcome!

If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Regina Hampton at hamptonmason1@msn.com 

Memory Cafe

Saturday, June 6

The next meeting of Memory Café is Saturday June 6, at 1:30pm - 3:00pm in the Sonshine Café at St. John’s United Methodist Church. We’re celebrating Fathers, Dads, Grandfathers, and Grampas and the other special men in our lives! Jill Frankel is our musical guest and we will play bingo! 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, please contact Sharon Jensen at (505) 323-7522 or ssmjens@aol.com. Join us for a fun time designed for you! 

Adulting is Adjusting to a Summer Schedule

with Lots of Activities, Fun, and Ways to Serve

This Summer, Adulting (a group for folks in their 20's, 30's, and 40's) is shifting to a more relaxed and connection-focused rhythm. Every other week we will gather for dessert and conversation at Sawmill Market. During alternate weeks, we'll have activities that help us grow and learn as a community.

For more details, contact pastor Josh at jkouri@stjohns-abq.org. 

Every other Sunday at 6:30pm Sweet Dessert & Discussion at Sawmill Market. May 31, June 14 & 28, July 12 & 26, and August 9. 

Special Summer Activities: 

June 7 @ 6:30pm - Movie night at Pastor Josh's

June 21 (time tba) - Service night at the Rock @ Noonday 

July 5 @ 6:30pm - Art and creativity night led by Viv

July 19 @ 6:30pm - Murder Mystery at Pastor Josh's

August 2 @ 1:00pm - Hike & mountain picnic

August 16 @ 4:00pm - Game Gathering

Be sure to contact Pastor Josh or

contact the Church Office for more info!

A Heartfelt Thank You!

Thank you, St. John’s congregation, for making Lenten Fish Fry Season 13 such a wonderful success! Whether you attended, volunteered, invited friends, donated, prayed, or supported us in any way, we are truly grateful for your generosity and spirit.

A limited number of Fish Fry Dinner Reports are available in the Hospitality Center for anyone who would like a copy.

Now it’s time to rest up… because Lenten Fish Fry Season 14 will be here before we know it! 😉

Thank You for All the Non-Perishable

Food Items ~Helping the Recipients of

the NM Ramp Project

A shout out to the congregation of St. John’s United Methodist Church for its amazingly generous offering of non-perishable food items collected for recipients of the New Mexico Ramp Project. 

Twenty-five (25) food boxes were assembled from the Missions Special Collection for April. It was heart-warming to witness the generosity of the St. John’s community and the willingness of volunteers from the Mobile Food Pantry to package the bounty of food provided.

The positive impact of the mountain of food collected is a tribute to the outstanding spirit of benevolence that is alive in the St. John’s community. 

THANK YOU!!!!

Missions Team and Greg Hallstrom, Executive Director of the New Mexico Ramp Project.

Church Office Closed

Monday, May 25

Please note the Church office will be closed on Monday, May 25, in observance of the Memorial Holiday. Please conduct any church office business before or after this date or email reception@stjohns-abq.org for any inquiries, and someone will be in touch with you the next business day.

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!

St. John’s Prom

Saturday, May 23

Why should dances only be reserved for the years we are in school? Come join us on Saturday, May 23, in the Family Life Center for a church wide prom!

The Youth Group will be putting on the event as a fundraiser for our mission trip to Georgia in just a couple months.

The dance will take place from 5:30pm to 7:30pm in the evening with light hor d’oeuvres and refreshments. Come dressed to impress and have a fun night dancing with our community!

For all the fun details - please contact our Youth Director, Brett Reece at breece@stjohns-abq.org.

Tickets will be sold at the door!

$25 for single tickets or $45 per couple.

Christmas Trees Needed!

Children in VBS this summer will be going north to the Alaskan wilderness to explore God’s love, and we need your help to create the “wilderness.” If you have an artificial Christmas tree we can borrow, please contact Angela Lybarger at childrensdirector@stjohns-abq.org. Trees can be dropped off to the front office any time between now and June 6. Please be sure to clearly label boxes with your first and last name.

Come Join the Party on

VBS Decorating Day! 😊

We will be setting up for True North VBS on Sunday, June 7. Activities will start at 1:00pm and go until we’re done. A “forest” will be created and multiple rooms decorated to make the camp experience special for our kids. If you are available to help for any amount of time, all volunteers will be greatly appreciated. We’ll meet in the FLC at 1:00pm for a light lunch before we start decorating. Please RSVP to Angela Lybarger at childrensdirector@stjohns-abq.org so we’re sure to prepare enough food. Thanks in advance for your help!

Prayer Quilts

Ron Nelson 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 Ron. Won't be in the Center this week? No worries, either way please pray this prayer (or your own prayer) for Ron. "Heavenly Father, as Ron embarks on this treatment journey, we pray for your healing touch.

Please restore his body, mind, and spirit throughout this journey. Let your peace fill his heart and may he feel your presence every step of the way. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen." 

   May Special Offering

Albuquerque Disability Arts Collaborative (ADAC)

ADAC fills a special need in our community, offering supportive, safe, accessible and inclusive activities for people with varying needs.

Such activities include arts workshops and classes with opportunities to sell their arts, very popular open mic nights, a cafe and special events. An upcoming special event is at St. John's on May 30th.

It includes an arts workshop, crafts, vendors and a silent auction. In the evening Chef Tim will prepare a fundraising dinner which features Ken Medema as the entertainment. You won't want to miss it!  Have a fun day and a great way to support this fine organization financially as well.

  May Collections: Weekend Meal Bags

for Zuni Elementary School

As the 2025–2026 school year comes to a close, we’re already looking ahead. Our Weekend Meal Bag team will resume packing in July to prepare for the 2026–2027 school year—and you can help us get a strong start!

This important program supports food-insecure students at Zuni Elementary by providing weekend meal bags filled with breakfast, lunch, and dinner options when school meals aren’t available.

We’re currently collecting single-serve, kid-friendly items, including individual oatmeal packets, shelf-stable milk (white or chocolate), breakfast or granola bars, cereal cups, chicken or tuna packets with crackers, Chef Boyardee products, macaroni and cheese cups, vegetables in a cup, applesauce, fruit cups, pudding cups, and individual packages of cookies.



Donations can be dropped off in the collection bins located in the Hospitality Center. Your support helps ensure that every child has access to nutritious meals over the weekend. Thank you for making a difference!

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.