Weekly Witness for Facebook & Friends

April 10, 2025

Sunday, April 13, 2025

Palm Sunday

Sermon Text: Luke 19: 28-44

Livestream worship. Bulletin.

Liturgist: Birgitta Gustafson  Psalm: Bill Wehner

Mission Corner

One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS)

March 5 - April 20, 2025

The goals of OGHS are ending hunger, repair and restoration after disasters, and promoting the self-development of all people. The OGHS offering, which started Mar 5 and will be taken on Easter Sunday, contributes to the work of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), the Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP), and Self-Development of People (SDOP). Look for the display in the narthex. Thank you for your support!

Mission Corner

Donations Tallies (Pounds and $) for Storehouse West (SHW) From Our Food Drive and 2¢ a Meal

The Committee is happy to report that RRPC donations for SHW this month last month amounted to 229 pounds of much-needed non-perishable food.

Our 2 Cents-a-meal offering last Sunday was $500. (The Dollars for Deacons amount will be reported next week.)

A Note from Aloy and Marv

It's our pleasure to be able to transport RRPC's donations to SHW each week.  And we're grateful for any and all help lifting the items out of the brown storage bin in the narthex and into our car's trunk. On the receiving end, SHW volunteers are always happy to help get the items into the SHW donation center.

Pastor-to-People

In the Jewish tradition, a young child at the Passover Seder asks, "Why is this night different from any other night?" And of course the answer is yes, the Passover Meal is unique because it celebrates Israel's exodus from Egyptian bondage. 

In the Christian tradition, we could ask, "Why is Holy Week different from any other week in the church year?" And of course the answer is that during this week we remember the most momentous week in the life of Jesus our Lord. Beginning on Palm Sunday, we remember Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem with waving palms and shouts of "Hosanna!" Which means, "God save us!"

Jesus ramps up the tension by then overturning the money changers in the Temple, which solidifies the hostile reaction to him. Then during the week he teaches and then confronts his opponents mainly in the Temple. The verbal conflict grows daily into a conspiracy among the religious elites to do away with Jesus. Then Jesus celebrates the Passover meal with his disciples in an upper room where he reinterprets the meal to commemorate his self-offering and then sees Judas leave to betray him. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prays for strength to give of himself, is arrested and taken before the religious authorities who then accuse him before Pilate of being a rebel and threat to Rome.

We know how that trial turned out and Jesus is executed at Calvary, buried in a borrowed tomb, and lamented by his disciples. But then we celebrate the holiest day of Holy Week — Easter. Here we proclaim gladly, "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it." Jesus is risen, love triumphs over hatred, truth over falsehood, and light over darkness. The grandest day of all! The day Jesus overcame death and sin for us. He is risen! And that is why this week is different from any other week. It is Holy Week, our week to remember and celebrate and give thanks and be transformed. 

I look forward to observing Maundy Thursday with you at 7pm, and then celebrating the resurrection on Easter morning at both the 7am and 10am services. This is truly the best of all possible weeks!  

Peace and hope,

Frank

ARCA's Annual Geranium Celebration is in a Few Weeks

ARCA, the provider of our holiday flowers, offers lifelong services for individuals with intellectual, developmental, and cognitive disabilities. Their geranium sale is 9-11am at 181 E. La Entrada Lane in Corrales Saturday, April 26. View the flyer.

Holy Week Services

• Apr 13, Palm Sunday, 10am
• Apr 17, Easter Sunrise service, 7 am
• Apr 20, traditional Easter Service, 10am

Water is Life Workshop at New Life Pres

Creator God, you gave us water as a blessing. When the earth drinks, things grow. We thirst, and the Holy Spirit becomes living water within us, flowing out as a river of life to bless the lives around us. Thank you for this blessing. Amen

The Santa Fe Presbytery EarthCare Team invites you and your friends to participate in a half-day workshop for church members and leaders.

Water is Life – El Agua es Vida

Saturday, April 26, 2025

10am – 1pm

New Life Presbyterian Church

5540 Eubank Ave. NE,

Albuquerque, New Mexico

The Workshop Speaker will be Norm Gaume, President of New Mexico Water Advocates.

The day will include time for presentations on the nature of our water crisis, what’s being done, how we can help, and time for conversation, prayers, and refreshments. Everyone is welcome - there is no cost.

Registration opened April 1. Questions? email us. Flyer.

In this difficult time, we ask the Lord to grant us eyes to see and ears to hear the ways you’re moving among us. Help us seek your kingdom and righteousness, trusting you to sustain us. Help us learn and remember to invite you into every present moment.~Grace and Wesley Philips, students, Asbury Seminary, Wilmore, KY

For our country.

For Gaza, Israel, Sudan, Congo and Russia.

For Israel and Ukraine.

For all victims of gun violence, war, and unrest.

 Rio Rancho Presbyterian Church

1004 24th Street, SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124

505.892.6664

Office Hours

Monday – Thursday | 9am–3pm