Midweek News - September 21, 2022

A Word from Pastor John

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

The Greek word for worship means “to encounter and praise God.” In Hebrew it literally means “to bow down" or "to fall down flat." Soren Kierkegaard said that worship is theater, but it’s not the people at the front putting on a performance for those in the “audience,” it’s all of us doing the performance for the audience that is God. I think that all serves as an important reminder that worship is not about us, it’s about God. But it does take all of us to do that work. The word liturgy, which is about the words we say, but also all that we do, means “the work of the people.”

I know I have said this before, but it’s a good reminder every now and then, that there are going to be things that happen in worship that you may not like. You might not like one of the songs that’s sung, or you may not like the direction I took with the scripture passage, or maybe even the whole worship series itself. But, there is going to be someone else for whom that song, that scripture, that message is going to be exactly what they needed to hear that day. And, I would also add, that if we put away our negative thoughts when something happens we don’t like, that there will be something in the service that will allow the Spirit to speak to us.

It’s also important to be open to new experiences, new expressions of faith, in worship. When we first started the invitation to come forward to light candles, there weren’t a lot of people who participated, but now there is much greater participation. I also know that some still aren’t happy or sure about it. And that’s okay. But I know some for whom lighting a candle is incredibly important and meaningful. We have even been asked by some who worship online to light a candle for them.

And that song you’ve never heard before that you don’t like - it may just become one of your favorites. Even the biggest of classics, like Amazing Grace and Silent Night, were brand new at one point, and I can be sure that when they were introduced, someone said “Why can’t we sing the old classics? Why do they keep making us sing these new songs?”

Additionally, especially in the traditional service, I try and choose songs that fit the overall theme of what’s happening that day. So even if you don’t like it, or are not sure how to sing it because it’s unfamiliar, take the time to pay attention to the words and what they are conveying. Or, at the very least, just take that time to shut everything else out and pray for those who are in worship, not just for those in person but also online, that they will be blessed and that the Spirit will be speaking to them through the time of worship. Praying for one another in worship is a very powerful way to connect ourselves not just to the community, but also to the movement of the Spirit.

Another key piece to keep in mind is that our primary goal as a church is to make disciples, which means we also want to be bringing new people into the community and into worship. In every worship service I am thinking about people who may be guests with us for the first time, or maybe even coming into church for the first time. And with a streaming presence, they can be anywhere around the world (how cool is that!). And that means that they have to be told how to do things and what things mean, because they don’t have the knowledge of insiders.

You may have heard me say the same thing a thousand times, like how to make the offering, but if we want first time guests to know what to do and to know that we have thought about them specifically, then it has to be conveyed to them. And so our instructions are not just for Sunday mornings, but also for the worship services that people may find online, even several years after it’s first done. And so, again, if you want to shut that out because you know it, simply offer up praise to God that we have an opportunity to reach new people for Christ, and to ask for the Spirit’s guidance in bringing them to church.

And finally, if you have suggestions of how to improve worship, or areas where you are struggling, please bring them to me directly. But also know that if you do so, I am probably going to ask you to become involved even more. I have been trying to form a worship team to help in all aspects of worship, including thinking of new ways to engage different learning styles, and in the liturgical arts, without much success, and so showing an interest in what happens in worship may just mean the Spirit is moving you to greater involvement in the whole thing.

Worship is really important. It’s at the heart of what WE do. It’s the only time in which the majority of the church is "together," and we are having to rethink what that means, and it’s how we learn not only to tell the story of God, but it’s also where we learn to tell our story of who we are and what we do. Worship is really important, because it’s how we learn to be the body of Christ, all of us together, and that ultimately means that worship is not about us as individuals, it’s about us as a people, us as the church.

Blessings,

John

What I'm Currently Reading:

The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For and Believe by Richard Rohr
Life on the Vine: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit by Philip D. Kenneson
Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit: Growing in Christlikeness by Christopher J.H. Wright
Neuroscience and the Fruit of the Spirit by Bryan Sppom
The Violence Project: How to Stop a Mass Shooting Epidemic by Jillian Peterson and James Densley

Worship News

Sunday, September 25, 2022

Scripture Readings: The scripture readings for Sunday, September 25, are Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15; Psalm 86; Galatians 5:13-17, 22-25 and John 15:1-17. This Sunday we will begin a new worship series on the Fruit of the Spirit, and the message, "Love", will be on the passage from Galatians and John. This Sunday is a contemporary service.

Questions to help you prepare: What do you think Paul means when he talks about love? Do you think it is significant that Paul lists love first? Why or why not? What does it mean that Jesus is the vine and we are the branches? Is the love that Jesus talks about the same as Paul? Why or why not?

Prayer for the week:

Faithful God, make our hearts bold with love for one another.

Pour out your Spirit upon all people, that we may live your justice and sing in praise the new song of your marvelous victory. Amen.

10 a.m. Worship

streamed online at Facebook.com/FirstInYourHeart,

our website at FirstInYourHeart.org

http://lafumc.churchcenter.com/

For those worshiping in-person masks are optional.

We will have KN-95 masks available for those who wish to wear a mask.

Sunday, September 18

"Faith an Works"

Rev. John W. Nash

Did you miss a Sunday or just want to here the message again, you can view previous Sundays on YouTube.

Church Community

All are welcome!

Annual Charge Conference

Sunday, October 2 at 3 p.m.

St. John's United Methodist Church

1200 Old Pecos Trail

Santa Fe, NM 87505

See the mission opportunity below

beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Programing Night Mission Opportunity

As a part of our new Programming Night, everyone is invited to join us for an exciting opportunity. On Sunday October 2nd at 4:30pm, at St. John’s UMC Santa Fe, we will be in mission with other United Methodist Churches as we make Blessing Bags and Seed Balls. The Blessing Bags are Zip-Lock bags with water, snacks and other items that will be carried in people's cars to be given to people in need across the Northern New Mexico area. The Seed Balls are dense grass and plant seed material that will be given to the Forest Department to be spread along some of the burn scars from this past wildfire season. Following our mission, we will be eating together at Dion’s.

For more information, or to participate in a car-pool, contact Phillip at [email protected] or by contacting the church office.

Club house Knitters

Monday afternoons at 1:30

Ridge Park Clubhouse at 505 Oppenheimer Dr.

Calling knitters and crocheters! We invite you to bring a project and come enjoy the fellowship. If you would like to learn how feel free to join us and learn a new hobby.

Questions: Peggy Goldman at [email protected]

Martha Circle

Tuesday, September 27th

at 1:15 p.m.

We invite you to join the Martha Circle Tuesday, September 27 at 1:15p.m. We will meet at the home of Harriett Zickert, 2251 37th Street in Los Alamos. Ann LePage and Lynn Kluegel will present the program.

Wednesdays

6:30 p.m. Bell Choir

7 p.m. Choir

We invite new voices and new ringers to join us. If you have any questions please email Valerie Collins at [email protected].

Sermon Review Series

Every Sunday at 4:00pm until the end of November we will be doing a Sermon Review Series. We will, as a community, help each other understand, review, and dig deeper into Pastor John’s Sermon. This class is an adult opportunity as a part of our Programming Night.

Prescription Pick Ups

Waiting in line at the Smith’s pharmacy either in White Rock or in Los Alamos is especially hard on our friends who have problems standing for long periods of time. You can help!

Let’s say “Gloria” needs to fill a prescription. She calls Julie in the church office (505-662-6277) to let her know. “Paul” needs to pick up a prescription of his own. He calls Julie and finds out that Gloria needs a pickup at his pharmacy. He calls Gloria to get her date of birth, the name of the prescription, how the payment is going to work, and how he will get the prescription to Gloria. Problem solved. If no one calls in time, Gloria will, alas, have to stand in line as usual.

Faith Development

Join us Sunday for our afternoon programs!

As we re-launch all of our children’s programs, one of our goals is to equip and grow the faith of all people, not just the children and leaders in the programs, but parents and adults too. So, every week the whole church body will split up into age-appropriate classes and end by coming together for dinner and a moment of worship. This time will include new and existing adult small groups, large format lectures and studies, and service opportunities in which the whole church can participate, depending on the season.

Little Ones

Who: Newborn - Kinder. Led by our Nursery staff as well as Carol Mead.

What: A safe time of fun, friendship, and faith, for our youngest people.

When: 4:00 - 6:00 pm, Sunday evenings ending with dinner.

Where: The “Puppies” Classroom

Little Ones Registration

Mission Kids

Who: Kinder - 4th Grade. Led by Norma Covington

What: A great group of children who learn how to put their faith into action.

When: 4:00 - 6:00 pm, Sunday evenings ending with dinner.

Where: Mid-High Room

Mission Kids Registration

Mid-High

Who: 5th - 8th Grade. Led by Crystal Dale.

What: Our Mid-High program is a vital time to build the foundations of faith and community.

When: 4:00 - 6:00 pm, Sunday evenings ending with dinner.

Where: Youth Room

Mid High Registration

Youth

Who: 9th - 12th Grade. Adult Leadership by Phillip Ortega and Youth Leadership by William Dale

What: Striving to provide youth with the tools for faith and a deeply critical and personal understanding of Christ.

When: 6:30 - 8:00 pm, beginning with dinner.

Where: Youth Room

Youth Registration

Adults

Who: Everyone is welcome.

What: Seasonal studies and lectures. With excellent opportunities for connecting small groups as well as church-wide service opportunities. As we begin, we will choose our topic during our first session with the input of those who attend.

When: 4:00 - 6:00 pm, ending with dinner.

Where: Friendship Center

Sowing Seeds Registration

Missions Update

The Food Depot Mobile Food Truck

Friday, September 23 from 10:30 a.m.- Noon

Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church

3700 Canyon Drive

Do you know anyone who need assistance with food? If so share with them the Food Depot Mobile Truck will be here next Friday. Volunteers can click on the link below.

Volunteers

First United Methodist

Community Food Pantry

The establishment of an open-access food pantry in a central location in Los Alamos will help the homeless and food insecure families in our community. Anyone looking to donate food or other essentials can drop off food directly in the red cabinet outside of FUMC.

Ideas for items to donate for the summer:

bottled water bars of soap

cold cereals toilet paper

healthy snacks toothpaste

mac & cheese deodorant

pasta other than spaghetti

4 lb. bags of sugar

Tuna, hamburger, or chicken helpers

peanut butter

Please NO GLASS containers.

Giving

There are several ways you can make your

tithe and offering payments.

Go to our website then click on "Give Securely Online" at the top right-hand column. Set up a one time or a reoccurring gift.
"Text any dollar amount to 84321 to give."
In-person drop off your check
You can mail your checks to the church office: 715 Diamond Drive, Los Alamos, NM 87544

We thank you for your faithfulness!

IGive.com

Did you know that you can donate money to the church when you shop online? Sign up at IGive.com and a percentage of your purchases from participating businesses will go to the church. After you join, if a business is an IGive.com participant, an activate banner pops up that you click on before you start shopping. There are an amazing number of online stores in the system that you probably already use- several car rental companies, many hotel chains, Travelocity, Walmart, Cokesbury, Bed, Bath and Beyond.

igive.com

Steps to setup Online Giving

Have you download the Church Center App?

Through Church Center, you and your family can participate in worship, find information about events and opportunities, and deepen your faith.

Church Center is available for Apple and Android phones and tablets, and newer Kindle fire devices. You can also use a computer, through a web browser, to interact with all the same features.

For more information about the app click on the red Church Center App tab.

Church Center App

Church Celebrations

Sept. 2 Howard Granzow

Sept. 3 Janet Frensdorf

Sept. 3 Opal Lee Gill

Sept. 5 Yolanda Ortega

Sept. 9 Valerie Collins

Sept. 12 Indie Schultz

Sept. 14 Timothy Dale

Sept. 15 Loren Hatler

Sept. 15 Carol Mead

Sept. 15 Celina Morgan

Sept. 15 Shelley Morris

Sept. 18 John Courtright

Sept. 20 Allison Koehn

Sept. 21 Joy Beery

Sept. 24 Norma Covington

Sept. 27 Jerry Beery

Sept. 28 Braelyn Ami

Sept. 1 Jay and Deana Carnes

Sept. 2 Jim and Gail Little

Sept. 15 Loren and Jolene Hatler

If you see your name missing or the date needs corrected

please email church office at [email protected].

Prayers of the Church

Praise:

Praise for our church leaders and Pastor John for their leadership.
Praise the Lord for the fun of our homecoming celebrations. Appreciation for all those who made it possible for the parade, the game, and the dance.

New/Ongoing Prayers:

Prayers for those in the path of Hurricane Fiona.
Prayers for Clark Thompson and family.
Prayers for David Dailey.
Prayers for Sarah Kelly, our former pianist and choir director, she had a stroke 9/14 and is hospice care at the Montebello on Academy in Albuquerque.
Kim Granzow's sister-in-law, Lisa, whose breast cancer has returned. Prayers for a good path forward.
Prayers for Gretchen Wenger, who just been diagnosed with breast cancer. Prayers of guidance as she meet with her Doctors about treatments.
Prayers for Lind Collier and the family of, Donna Joy, who passed away 9/16.
Prayers for healing for Anna Marie.
Prayers for health and wellness for Carl & Ellen Bailey.
Prayers for the communities experiencing flooding.
Prayers for those who suffer from addictions.
For those dealing with mental illness.
War in Ukraine that is now six months old.
Our church family and friends at Aspen Ridge: Helen Benson and Earlene Seay.
Health: Carl Bailey, Karen DeVries, Barbara Hendricks, Sarah Kelly, Herald Kruse, Frances Naffziger, Fred Navier, Amy Cross and Trudy Filer.

If you have a prayer or concern you would like to add to the prayer wall please feel free to stop by and fill out a card, call the church office, or email office and we'll add your prayer to the wall. Don't forget when the prayer is answered to stop by and stamp the back it has been answered.