This Week at St. Stephen's | August 21, 2025

Worship & Ministry: Fruitful Living Worship Series image

August Worship Series

Join us this Sunday as we continue our August fruit for the month in our Fruitful Living Worship Series, Generosity. Pastor Damon will guide us through Matthew 5: 43–48.

Family Directory Pickup

Haven’t picked up your Family Directory yet? You can pick up your binder at the church office during regular hours (Mon. - Th. 8 am to 3 pm) or on Sundays between services.

Worship online?

Email Kristy at ktownsend@ststephensabq.org to request your directory, and we will work with you to get it to you.

Not listed in the directory?

Be part of our next update by completing the St. Stephen's Directory Form.

September Youth Events

Our next youth event is Sunday, September 7. The youth will be enjoying pie in the park from 3:00 - 5:00 pm!

Please contact Heidi Barnes for more information.

Pie Party Success!

Thank you to everyone who attended a pie party this summer! We reached our goal of making 300 pies to support the Asbury Pie Cafe mission.

What's Next?

Start baking! Volunteers can sign up for a specific baking date and then return their baked pies to the church the following day. From there, the pies will be delivered to the Asbury Pie Café at the fair.

Sign-up sheets will be available in Fellowship Hall this Sunday.

First baking date: September 3 (return pies on September 4)
Last baking date: September 9 (return pies on September 10)

All money raised as part of the Asbury Pie Cafe mission supports programs in the community that provide food to those in need.

McCurdy Book Drive

Reading opens the world to a child. LEER (leh-EHR, to read), a Children’s Literacy Program for the Española Valley through McCurdy Ministries, aims to improve children’s reading proficiency through access to books with vetted and trained caring adults (Reading Buddies) who read one-on-one with elementary students.

LEER’s goal is to instill a love of reading and to improve the overall reading proficiency of the children it serves by 10 percent annually.

How to Help

Donate gently used or new children’s books: Drop them off in Fellowship Hall at St. Stephen’s UMC.

Shop the Amazon wishlist: Visit our Amazon Wishlist to purchase books from LEER’s curated list. Any books you purchase will be shipped directly to McCurdy.

Please make your donation by August 31, 2025.

There is a Place for You in a Small Group

Small Group Study: Friday 40 Group

Leaders: Martha Benn

Study Title: Christianity’s Family Tree – What Other Christians Believe and Why

By Adam Hamilton

Date: Begins Friday, September 12

Time & Location: Fridays at 10:00 am in the Resource Room

Description:

Adam Hamilton presents a welcoming, inspiring vision of eight Christian denominations and faith traditions. Comparing the Christian family to our own extended families, he contends that each denomination has a unique, valuable perspective to offer on the Christian faith.

The traditions he examines are Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Lutheranism, Presbyterianism, Anglicanism, Baptists, Pentecostalism, and Methodism. For each group, Hamilton gives a brief history, outlines major beliefs, and describes some things we can learn from that tradition to strengthen our own Christian faith.

If you would like to connect with this group or learn more about their current study, or any other small group, please visit the Welcome Center or contact Martha Benn.

St. Stephen's Spotlight: Our Community

ADAC Events for August 2025

Check out all of the upcoming Albuquerque Disability Arts Collaborative (ADAC) events at: https://adacnm.org/?page_id=155.

Memory Café Hosted by St. John's United Methodist Church

Memory Café is a supportive fellowship for anyone affected by memory loss/Alzheimer’s and their caring partners. It offers an opportunity to meet and share with others on a similar journey and receive information for caregivers and loved ones.

Next meeting: Saturday, September 6, from 1:30 to 3:00

Location: Sonshine Café at St. John’s United Methodist Church

What to expect: We are going to the fair this month! Our special music is Swingrass. We will also have fair games, snacks, and prizes.

This is not a drop-off event. For more information, call (505) 323-7522 or email ssmjens@aol.com.

Soul Care Retreat

Asbury United Methodist Church, along with the United Women in Faith organization, is hosting this event filled with numerous healing elements, including music, prayer, study, good food, crafts, community, conversation, and an abundance of inspiration!

When

Saturday, September 20, 2025 from 8:30 – 4:30 pm

Where

Asbury United Methodist Church

Registration

Details

Events kick off at 8:30 am with refreshments, and close at 4:30 pm with praise and worship. In between, participants will explore how prayer can refresh as well as sustain, create a custom praise-and-prayer Bible, discover their spiritual gifts, and find new energy together with other women seeking God’s renewing touch.

Learn more at Asbury Soul Care Retreat.

Have Something to Share?

We encourage you to share your stories and celebrations with us by emailing i nfo@ststephensabq.org!

There are several ways to give here at St. Stephen's. Text an amount to 833-657-0054 (1st time requires registration). Donate in person using our offering plates or boxes. You can also mail your donation to the church office or donate online at ststephensabq.org/GIVING.

Access Past Newsletters Online

Missed a recent newsletter? You can now view the last three months of newsletters anytime on our website. Visit our archive and stay up to date:

https://www.ststephensabq.org/services-2.

S T . S T E P H E N ' S

U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H

4601 Juan Tabo Blvd. NE

Albuquerque, NM 87111

info@ststephensabq.org

505.293.9673

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 8 am - 3 pm

CLOSED Fridays