Weekly Witness

June 19, 2025

Sunday, June 22, 2025

2nd Sunday After Pentecost

Sermon Text: Luke 8: 26-39

Livestream worship. Bulletin.

Liturgist: Helen Huntley Psalmist: Bill Wehner

Pastor Frank's May Sermons

• The Man Nobody Knows - May 04
• No sermon - May 11, Youth Sunday, Birgitta Gustafson
• The Destination - May 25

3 May Sermons

Pastor-to-People

Dear RRPC Family

This Sunday, I would like us to delve into two very puzzling issues in the New Testament. 

First, the issue of demon possession and exorcisms. Our Scripture text during worship is Luke 8:26-39, a very challenging text indeed.

I invite you to read this text and meditate on what it means. What do you make of demon possession? Exorcisms? Jesus' foray into Gentile country? The reaction of the people to this amazing sign? Jesus' command to the man to tell everyone what happened to him? And what are we to do with the pigs?

What do you do with such a story? Hope you can spend some time thinking about all this before Sunday morning. A puzzling and challenging text indeed!

Second, the issue of Jesus' relationship to the governing authorities during his ministry. In Galilee Jesus would have dealt with the Pharisees in the synagogue as well as the local puppet ruler Herod Antipas. You remember his conflicts with these local religious leaders and the threat Herod Antipas posed to Jesus, especially after he beheaded John the Baptist. In fact, Herod Antipas threatened to kill Jesus. In Jerusalem Jesus encountered for the first time the high priestly rulers of the Temple and then the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. As you know, that encounter did not end up so well. Now Jesus had some pungent words about the religious and political leadership of his time. Most of it is quite critical. Jesus was not afraid to speak up and speak out. 

So what do you make of Jesus' encounters with the religious and political leadership of his day? What can we take from those encounters for our times? That will be the topic of our Adult CE after worship this Sunday. Hope you will give these questions some thought.

Hope to see you in worship and class this Sunday.

Peace and hope

Pastor Frank

Did you know? (Thanks, Nurse Sharon!)

7 tips for a more accurate blood pressure reading:

1.  Don't have conversation -- talking can add 10-15 mmHg
2.  Support your back -- unsupported adds 5-10 mmHg
3.  Put cuff on skin -- over clothes adds 10-40 mmHg
4.  Support arm at heart level -- unsupported adds 10 mmHg
5.  Empty bladder before -- full adds 10-15 mmHg
6.  Keep legs uncrossed -- crossing adds 5-10- mmHg
7.  Support feet -- unsupported adds 5-10 mmHg

Source: New Mexico Blood Pressure Program

Calendar

June 21 — June 27, 2025

Prayer Concerns

Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts. – Mother Teresa 

For DR Congo, Iran, Israel, Sudan, 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