October 23, 2026

Josh's Jottings

Dear St. John’s Family,

I am writing to share some deeply sad news about a member of our staff. This week, Abiel Diaz, our Director of Spanish Language Ministries, and his family lost their son, Lucas, to cancer. Lucas was in High School and fought bravely for over a year. 



In a short amount of time, Abiel has already given so much of himself to this congregation. We are excited about his work with us, and heartbroken for him and his family. n that spirit, we want to surround Abiel and the Diaz family with love and care as they grieve. 

.

We ask that you hold Abiel and his family in your prayers in the days and weeks ahead. Grief does not follow a schedule, and Abiel will need our support long after the funeral has passed. Please pray for comfort, for strength, and for the peace of Christ that passes all understanding.



We also want to provide a way to support the Diaz Family if you want to help. To ease the financial burden during this difficult time, St. John’s has established a fund for the Diaz family. Gifts will help cover funeral expenses as well as the costs of Lucas’s hospital care during his treatment.



If you would like to give, you may do so through the church in either of these ways:

• Online: Give through our online giving portal and write “Diaz Family” in the memo or note field.

• By check: Make your check payable to St. John’s and write “Diaz Family” in the memo line and bring it or mail it to the church.

100% of the gifts will be given to the Diaz family. This is entirely voluntary, and because these gifts go directly to support a specific family, they are not tax-deductible.

If you would like to send a card or note of sympathy to the Diaz family, you are welcome to mail or drop it off at the church office, and we will make sure it reaches them. Likewise, if you see Abiel, please let him know that the St. John’s family loves him and stands with him. He does not walk this road alone. 



“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18) I am thankful for the compassion of our congregation and trust you to extend sympathy and love to Abiel at this time. 



With love and in Christ’s peace,

Josh Kouri, 

Sr. Pastor

Mars:Smith Returns with Protected

Tonight at 7pm

Mars:Smith, Grammy-nominated flutist Daniela Mars and VOCES8 founder Paul Smith, will perform the score of Protected alongside its U.S. premiere screening. Protected, Swiss filmmaker Joel Espi’s 30-minute documentary, follows Ukrainian artist Halyna Andrusenko, who, like the Ukrainians wrapping monuments in cloth and sandbags against the bombs, wraps her own family as living sculptures and sketches them.

Director of Music and Worship Arts Matthew Greer had the pleasure of interviewing Daniela Mars (who composed the film score) and filmmaker Joel Espi about their process. Click here to watch the interview.

This is a free event, no tickets are needed, and a free will offering will be received.

Mountain Cathedrals

Sunset Hike in the Bosque

Saturday, October 24

Let's combine the beauty of fall colors, the Bosque sunset, and moonlight! Meet in the East Parking Lot at 4:30pm on Saturday October 24 to carpool to the Cambell Rd. Bosque trailhead (Campbell and Trellis). Alternatively, join us there a few minutes ahead of 5:00pm. Bring a sack dinner, walking shoes, water, and headlamps. We should be back to the church by 8:30pm (sunset is at 6:20pm). This will be a fairly easy walk (3-4 miles, level paths).

Psalm 19 leads us to consider God's divinity and how it appears in our own lives.  Let us explore this as we walk in the beauty of this bottomland.

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

The next trips:

1. November 15 - Sunday afternoon, with St. John’s Adulting Group locating historic trees on the Faulty Trail above Tijeras.
2. December 12 - We hope to explore some new fronts in the near future, such as portions of the Continental Divide Trail and the wilderness of White Rock Canyon. 

Help Serve Soup

at the Empty Bowls Event

Saturday, October 24

St. John’s is hosting the amazing annual fundraiser for the Storehouse, Empty Bowls, and we need servers to help serve the soup, bread, desserts and drinks. If you are interested in helping with this event, that raises thousands of dollars to help feed people who are food insecure, sign up Sign Up Here - Empty Bowls Volunteers or contact Chef Tim at tnuzum@stjohns-abq.org or 505-883-9717 x 141. 

50/50 Concerts Presents

Singer/Songwriter Lara Manzanares

Thursday, October 29

On Thursday, October 29, we continue our 50/50 concert series with singer-songwriter Lara Manzanares in support of Enlace Comunitario, which will receive half of the evening’s proceeds. Seating is limited – Click here to reserve your seat. Want a preview? Click here to see Lara perform "Guantanamera", which was filmed as part of our “Music at St. John’s” series during lockdown. (Fun Fact: This video has been viewed over 49K times on our YouTube channel!).

50/50 Concerts are a series of intimate Happy Hour performances held on Thursdays in the St. John’s Choir Room. A free will offering is received at each concert. Half of the proceeds support the performers, and the other half goes to a local charity they select. Each evening concludes with food and drink and a chance to connect with friends old and new.

The Ladies’ Book Club

Monday, November 2

The Ladies’ Book Club will meet on Monday, November 2, at 1:00pm in Room 241. Come share your love of reading. We will be discussing Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. We’ll explore what makes this children’s classic one of the best-loved books. Contact Sara Perovich: sjperov@yahoo.com.



December book sharing: Members will read a Christmas-themed book of their choice and share a short synopsis with the group.

 Tuesday Evenings

Incarnation ~ Bible Study

Beginning Tuesday, November 3

All adults interested in preparing their hearts for the Christmas Holidays are invited to join our Bible study as we explore Incarnation: Rediscovering the Significance of Christmas by Adam Hamilton.

His parents named him Jesus, but the prophets, shepherds, wise men, and angels knew him by other names: Lord, Messiah, Savior, Emmanuel, Light of the World, and Word Made Flesh. What do these titles reveal about the child whose birth we celebrate at Christmas—and what do they mean for our lives today?

Together, we’ll use Hamilton’s book to reflect on the significance of the Christ-child for our lives and our world. Our discussions will cover:

· The Royal Titles: Lord and Messiah

· The Deliverer’s Title: Savior

· The Incarnate Title: Emmanuel

· The Light of the World

· Epilogue: The Word Made Flesh

Whether you’re familiar with Bible study or joining a group for the first time, you are welcome. We look forward to sharing thoughtful conversation, fellowship, and a deeper appreciation of the meaning of Christmas.

When: Tuesday Evenings Nov. 3, 10, 17 and Dec. 1 from 5:30pm - 7:00pm

Where: St. John's United Methodist Church, Room 245

Book details: Use this link to order the book through Amazon

RSVP: To join the study, you may use the sign-up sheet at the Hospitality Desk or email: debabqq@gmail.com. We hope you’ll join us!

UWF Meeting

Thursday, November 5

The United Women in Faith will meet on Thursday, November 5 @ 10:00am in rooms 241/243. A graduate of Florida State University College of Law, Kevin Beck will speak on his volunteer work with the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center. Many of you may know Kevin as he serves on the Spanish Worship Center here at St. John's. Kevin is a retired USMC and semi-retired in 2023 from a long law career. He lives in Albuquerque and has 2 children.

The New Mexico Immigrant Law Center provides free legal assistance and resources for immigrants in New Mexico. Their mission is to advance justice and equity by empowering low-income immigrant communities through collaborative legal services, advocacy, education and community resources.

Please join us for our monthly meeting and hear what Kevin is doing to facilitate the work of the NM Immigrant Law Center.

Memory Cafe

Saturday, November 7

The next meeting of Memory Café is Saturday, November 7, from 1:30pm-3:00pm in the Sonshine Café at St. John’s United Methodist Church. 

In November, we honor our veterans and celebrate Thanksgiving. We will have special music, crafts, games, and snacks. Join us for a fun afternoon! 

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 (505) 323-7522 or ssmjens@aol.com. Join us for a fun time designed for you! 

The Next POLO Outing 

Origami in the Garden

 Friday, November 13

Origami in the Garden” is a traveling exhibition of large-scale metal sculptures inspired by paper origami, on view at the Albuquerque BioPark Botanic Garden from October 8, 2026, through March 28, 2027.

St. John’s church member, Michele Mals will lead a tour of this traveling collection. 

• Tour date and time:  Friday, November 13 from 10:30am – 12 noon.

• Meeting location:  The Albuquerque BioPark Botanic Garden, 2601 Central Ave NW 87104

• Tickets can be purchased at the Biopark Botanic Garden:  Adults:  $10.00 - Seniors (65+): $5.50

• Sign-up:  Hospitality Desk before November 10



• Lunch to follow tour:  D.H. LesCombes Winery & Bistro 901 Rio Grande Blvd NW 87104 ($12.00 lunch choices)

Created by Santa Fe artists Jennifer and Kevin Box, this exhibition features 14 outdoor sculptures and 4 indoor works, each modeled from real paper origami. Themes include cranes, horses, butterflies, and other wildlife, with pieces ranging from a 7-inch mouse to “Hero’s Horse”, a 12-foot-tall, 1,350‑pound white Pegasus. 

The sculptures are made using lost‑wax casting and fabrication techniques, preserving the precision of origami in high‑quality metals.  The collection includes the Box family’s own works and collaborations with renowned origami artists Tim Armijo, Te Jui Fu, Beth Johnson, Michael G. LaFosse, and Robert J. Lang. 

October is Pastor

Appreciation Month

Letting someone know they are appreciated for what they do can make a huge difference in that person’s life. SPRC would like to extend an invitation to the congregation of St. John’s UMC to show our love and appreciation of our pastor, Josh Kouri, who continues to lead us faithfully in all that he does, and we encourage you to send a card or a letter to Josh to express your appreciation for his work. Cards and/or letters should be mailed to Josh care of St. John’s UMC, 2626 Arizona NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110.

Charge Conference

Wednesday, October 28

The 2026 Charge Conference is called for October 28 at 6:00pm. This year Charge Conference will be held at St. John's. This is our annual business meeting where Lay Leadership is confirmed, pastoral compensation is set, and membership records are updated. Anyone may attend and all members may vote. For more info, contact the church office. 

Tai Chi Class Resumes

Thursday, October 29

Tai Chi class will resume its regular schedule on Thursday, October 29 at 10:00am in the Family Life Center. If you would like to join us for this gentle exercise session, please contact Dianna Muller at DLM_NM@MSN.comfor all the details.

Zuni Elementary

Asking for Help



St. John’s UMC works closely with Zuni Elementary (across the street north of St. John’s) helping supply weekend meal bags for students, donating food to use in their weekly cooking classes, & more. St. John’s is now also involved with Zuni as part of their Community School Council. During a recent meeting, faculty expressed a few more needs that the people of St. John’s might possibly be able to meet.

Please contact Angela Lybarger at childrensdirector@stjohns-abq.org if you are interested in helping Zuni in any of the following areas for grades K-5. Thank you!

• Math tutor during the school day
• Library volunteer helping kids find/check out books in their interest areas
• Playground volunteer during AM / lunch / PM recesses to help teach kids positive ways to interact with one another during playtime.
• Currently licensed substitute teacher
• Currently licensed substitute educational assistant (EA)

Les Misérables

November 27 - December 6

Illuminata Hime-Penasa, a St. John’s youth and choir member, is making her community theater debut in Musical Theatre Southwest’s Les Misérables. The show runs from November 27th to December 6th at the African American Performing Arts Center. Tickets are available at (505) 265-9119 or https://www.mtsabq.org and selling quickly.

The Annual Fall Festival

Sunday, October 25

The Annual Fall Festival will be held on October 25, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm in the Family Life Center. Please join us for some fun, games, treats, vintage cars, and of course costumes.

The festival is for toddlers and kids through elementary age and will be put on by our youth along with other volunteers. Candy donations would be very much appreciated leading up to the event and can be placed outside the office doors of Brett Reece, our Youth Director, or Angela Lybarger, our Children’s Director. Thank you for your continued support!

Trunk 'n' Treat

Sunday, October 25



Children’s Outreach Council is still looking for folks who can sponsor a Trunk ‘n Treat vehicle during the Fall Festival happening on Sunday, October 25 from 4:00pm - 6:00pm. Being a Trunk ‘n Treat participant is simple and fun. Just decorate your vehicle/trunk in the spirit of the season (and feel free to dress up in costume yourself 😊) come up with a game or activity kids can play near your space, and provide candy or other goodies to give away as prizes. Yours might be the vehicle to win a prize for best creativity, theme, decorations, or game! Contact Angela Lybarger at childrensdirector@stjohns-abq.org to sign up today!

Prayer Quilts

Megan Linford 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 Megan. Won't be in the Center this week? No worries, either way please pray this prayer (or your own prayer) for Megan. "Heavenly Father, we entrust Megan's recovery into your loving hands. May your healing touch bring complete restoration to her body and strength to her spirit. Grant her patience during this time of healing and resilience to overcome any challenges. Thank you for your unwavering faithfulness and mercy. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen."

October Special Offering

McCurdy Ministries

"The Light of Christ in the Valley of Espanola". McCurdy Ministries provides hope with dignity through many services. In addition to the very important food, clothing and diaper banks, it provides free counseling, a children's literacy program, and classes for adults, as well. McCurdy shares its campus and cooperates with other non-profits. For example, one helps grandparents raising grandchildren, and another provides emergency shelter for teens. AND we can help by giving generously both financially and in kind.



(See article below) 

Let's help spread God's love in the Espanola Valley.

October Special Collections

McCurdy Family Christmas Store

Once again, McCurdy Ministries will host a Family Christmas Store to bless families in their community. Parents will be invited to shop and choose free gifts for their children — and St. John's is proud to help make that possible.

Throughout October, we're collecting NEW, UNWRAPPED toys and items for children ages 0–18. Donation bins are available in the Hospitality Center.

Gift suggestions by age group:

• Infants & Toddlers (0–3 years): Board books, stuffed animals, musical toys, building blocks, bath toys

• Preschool & Early Elementary (4–7 years): Dolls & action figures, art supplies & coloring sets, puzzles, Play-Doh & craft kits, cars, trucks, trains

• Older Children (8–12 years): LEGOs & STEM kits, sports balls (soccer, basketball, football), craft sets, jewelry-making kits, remote control cars, board games

• Teens (13–18 years): Gift cards (Target, Walmart, Amazon, restaurants), headphones/earbuds, journals, sketchbooks, sports gear, personal care sets (lotions, body sprays, etc.)

We will also have the opportunity to support Enlace Comunitario Winter 2026 Gift Drive in November and Zuni Elementary Gift Drive in December.

As always, thank you, St. John's, for your generosity — you help make Christmas morning a little brighter for families who need it most.

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.