Weekly Witness

Community Version

May 29, 2025

Sunday, June 1, 2025

Seventh Sunday of Easter

Sermon Text: John 17: 1-11

Livestream worship. Bulletin.

Liturgist: Hazel Lathrop Psalmist: Cyndi Pitts

A Note About Serving Communion to Those Who Prefer to Remain Seated

This Sunday is our monthly communion. A couple of servers take the elements out into the congregation. If you would prefer to receive communion in your seat, please raise your bulletin next Sunday so the servers can see you.

Thanks so much.

Pastor Frank

New Flooring Before & Afters

Thank you to everyone who has donated to the Campaign so far and for the now-almost-three-year fundraising and planning work of the Capital Campaign Committee! The fellowship hall is now complete; and the two SYC bathrooms, the 'dish room', and the hallway from SYC's exterior door are in progress and should be finished by the weekend. (Photos by Denise.)

Flooring Update as of Today

The contractor will complete this project today, May 29. What's left is to complete installation of the vinyl cove base and to clean any scuffs and smudges. Share Your Care will move back to the Fellowship Hall Friday.

Kitchen report: The stove has been reconnected after checking for gas leaks. The new stainless steel worktable has been put in the middle of the kitchen. The kitchen items in the classrooms will be put back over the weekend.

Pastor Frank's Sermons, May 2025

May 04 The Man Nobody Knows

May 11 No Sermon - Youth Sunday

May 18 What I Learned in Seminary

May 25 The Destination

All May, 2025 Sermons

Is This Yours?

This book, Prayers and Promises for Depression and Anxiety, was found on the Care Notes rack just outside the library. Size is 7" x 4" with a 'leatherette' cover. Please let the church office know.

From Menaul School Faculty and Staff

As you probably know by now, Menaul School held their baccalaureate ceremony and reception in our sanctuary and Fellowship Hall May 16. Sounds like they were as delighted to be here as we were to have them!

Thank You from Faculty & Staff

Pastor to the People

The Session approved my proposal for Adult CE this summer to focus on the Christian in the World. Below you will find the outline of our classes. We will meet as before after Fellowship on Sundays in Classrooms A&B.

We will begin our study with the relationship of the Hebrew Prophets to the Kings of Israel and Judah, often a contentious affair. Then we will consider Jesus' relationship to the Romans, then Paul's relationship to the Romans and John of Patmos's relationship to the Romans as seen in the book of Revelation. Then we will ask what our relationship to the American government should be in our time. We will also have four different presentations that look at our relationship to the world.

First, Kathy Mitchell, who is Crystal's and Ona's sister and Ruthie's daughter, will describe her ministry among the Diné/Navaho community. Second, we will examine the social ethics of Dr. James Gustafson,

the late father of Birgitta, who was a well-respected Christian ethicist. Third, we will also look at two of our Presbyterian Confessions that deal

with the German Church's relationship to the Nazis (Barmen) and the South African Church's relationship to the Apartheid government (Belhar). Fourth, we will consider the relationship of Israel and the Palestinians when Dr. Lane Leckman, a retired psychiatrist and elder at First Presbyterian Church here in Albuquerque, will help us understand this difficult issue.

So I invite you to come this summer as we struggle with this question: How shall we as followers of Jesus relate to our government and our neighbors in the world? You'll find the schedule below.

Hope you can join us. 

Peace and hope,

Frank

Class schedule:

Jun 1   Prophets vs. Kings

Jun 22 Jesus and the Romans  

Jun 29 Kathy Mitchell's Ministry with the Diné Community

Jul 6  Paul, the Book of Revelation, and the Roman State

Jul 20 The Writings of Dr. James Gustafson  

Aug 3  The Barmen and Belhar Confessions (with a bit of Bonhoeffer thrown in )

Aug 17 American Christians and the State

Aug 31 Dr. Lane Leckman, Israel and the Palestinians

Financial Status as of April 30

Mission Corner

Hygiene Kits - Mission in Action

Please join us to assemble 50 Hygiene Kits next Sunday, June 8th, after Pentecost worship in the Fellowship Hall! All the kit materials will be provided! See you there!

Pentecost Offering June 8

Next Sunday the RRPC Pentecost offering will be received with 40% designated for at-risk youth in the Republic of Cuba. The country is in an economic crisis, and the future for many of its youth is dim. Our gifts will be sent through the Cuba Partner Network to give hope to our young neighbors.

Please give as you are able. The Mission Committee thanks you for your support for all of the above.

Sandia Mountain Retreats Annual Meeting

Location: Las Placitas Presbyterian Church

Time/Day: 10am, Saturday, June 7

An update on the Sandia Conference grounds (owned by the Presbytery of Santa Fe) will be presented. All are invited. For more information, call John Husler, 505.898.0334.

The Book Club meets 4th Tuesdays, Sep-May, and will resume with Erik Larson's The Demon of Unrest Sep 23.

Book Club Reading List, 2025-26

Calendar

June 1 — June 7, 2025

Prayer Concerns

'Thank you' is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding. ~Alice Walker

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