Weekly Witness

December 12, 2024

Dec 15, 2024 - Third Sunday of Advent

Livestream worship and bulletin.

Liturgist: Karen Payne Psalm: Bill Cox

Advent Candle Lighters: Dave and Nancy

Dollars for Deacons This Sunday

Our monthly Dollars for Deacons offering is taken on 3rd Sundays every month. Donations are used for emergency assistance to church members, to help with the deacons' operating costs, and with the deacons' regular monthly donation to Storehouse West for assistance with their clients' utility bills. Your continued generosity in supporting the ministry of the deacons is greatly appreciated. Envelopes for donations are with the regular-size print bulletins, and for large-print copies, an usher will hand you one.

Special Worship Opportunities This Month

• The Longest Night - this Wed Dec 18, 7 (6:40) pm.
• Christmas Eve - Tuesday Dec 24, 7pm (one service). There will be extended gathering music starting at 6:40.

Finance & Stewardship Corner

Thank you to all who submitted pledge cards for 2025. If you haven't submitted yours yet, pledge cards are still available in the front of the small red locked box on the narthex counter; and you can drop completed ones into the slot at the top. You can also mail or email your pledge card if that's easier.

The Finance and Stewardship Committee would very much appreciate your generous help as we come to the end of this calendar year in two additional areas. First, if you are able to pay your 2025 Per Capita of $37 per person, we would appreciate it. This money helps fund the administrative costs of our presbytery. Second, we hope you can complete your 2024 pledge by the end of December.

In all things, we are grateful for God's grace and generosity to us. And we are grateful to all of you, our beloved church family.

Donations to RRPC for Calendar Year 2024

As 2024 is rapidly coming to a close, there are a few dates to keep in mind concerning your donations to RRPC that you want counted in your 2024 year-end statement.

• Cash or check donations for the Sunday offering or brought to the church office must be received no later than Dec 29, 2024.
• Checks that are mailed to the church must be postmarked no later than Dec 31, 2024.
• For donations that involve stocks or other financial instruments, the donation must be made through a licensed brokerage company or other qualifying financial institution. (NOTE: RRPC is not licensed to handle the sale of stocks, bonds, or other financial instruments ).
• For donations of non-monetary items such as clothing, furniture, etc., download Publication 526, Charitable Contributions, for detailed IRS guidelines and forms.

Blessings,

The Finance and Stewardship Committee

Best Phone Number to Use for the Church Office

is Our Landline, (505) 892.6664

They're Clean!

Building and Grounds and Pastor Frank had the sanctuary chairs cleaned Thursday...all 184 of them...and it really brightens the room. Thanks to the New Horizons Band for donating half of the cleaning cost.

Come Caroling With Us!

A group from the church will be going caroling to some of our church members who are unable to come to church regularly next Sunday, Dec 22, 2-5 pm. No singing talent required, only a heart for bringing the good news of the Christ Child to part of our church family. Meet at church at 1:45; we will leave from the church parking lot promptly at 2 pm. It is a great way to experience the joy of the season through the gift of your time.

The Book Club will Meet this Tuesday, Dec 17, at 2 pm The book this month is The Marlow Murder Club. The normal meeting day is the 4th Tuesday, but that falls on Christmas Eve this year so they moved the date up a week.

Holiday 'Office-Closed Days' (Correction) and Witness Schedule

The church office will be closed Dec 25 through Jan 1. (Last week's Witness had Jan 2.) The final Witness in 2024 will come out Thursday, Dec 26, and the next one will be out two Thursdays later, Jan 9. Articles for the Dec 26-Jan 9 edition should be sent to the office by noon Monday, Dec 23.

Mission Corner

Feedback from Storehouse West (SHW) and the Mission Committee. In Nov, SHW provided food for 697 households —the highest number they've ever served.  OUR donations of Thanksgiving mashed potatoes and gravy packets met all that was needed, and more. RRPC was given a round of applause recently for a great job at a morning meeting of the Friday volunteers. The Mission Committee can be so proud and thankful for all that our church family give and give. Praise the Lord!

Adopt-a-Family. (Gifts are due this Sunday.) This year we have adopted two large families from a local elementary school. Here's how it works:

1. Look for the small white Christmas tree on the counter in the narthex. 
2. Take a slip from one of the lettered stockings. 
3. Sign the space for your person on the sign-up sheet. 
4. Bring your wrapped gifts to the church (with the slip attached) this Sunday and put them under the Giving Tree display table by the front doors. 

There's also an option to buy gift cards for the parents and siblings of our adopted families who are not covered by the program. There's a box next to the angel tree to drop gift cards. Questions? Please reach out to Amanda Ball, 505.269.6902.

Storehouse West (SHW) Kids Clothes Closet (SHWKCC): Dressing Children with Dignity and Care. SHWKCC believes every child deserves to feel confident and comfortable in the clothes they wear. SHWKCC understands that kids can quickly outgrow their clothes and they are dedicated to helping families cope with that among other things. RRPC is collecting new underwear and socks for children (ages birth through high school) this holiday season. Look for the green and red tubs in the narthex!

Giving Tree. This Christmas, RRPC is supporting the work of Compassion International's Giving Tree program. See the display at the Christmas tree near the front doors.

Here’s how it works:

1. Select a Giving Tree recipient from the narthex display.
2. Place your check or cash in the envelope provided and then in the donation box.
3. Fill out your name on the back of the corresponding ornament and hang it on the tree.

Christmas Joy Offering. This is the traditional Christmas Eve PCUSA offering. The Joy Offering has been a cherished Presbyterian tradition for 140 years. This year, the giving period has been expanded and runs through Advent, ending next Sunday Dec 22.

There are two programs that receive Christmas Joy offering proceeds from PCUSA:

1. Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions. God has blessed the Church with incredible leadership in every time and place, but those leaders often need support from their communities as well. This offering is how they get help.
2. Presbyterian-related schools and colleges, which provide education and leadership development to students while nurturing racial and ethnic heritage.

For supporting all of the above and for all you give and do, The Mission Committee is grateful.

'Lights of Remembrance' Open House at Daniels

Next Wednesday, Dec 18, 5-7pm, at Daniels Family Funeral Services, our 'backyard neighbor' to the north on Southern Blvd. RSVP by tomorrow, Fri, Dec 13, 5pm. Refreshments will be served.

 Church Calendar for Dec 14 – Dec 20, 2024



Prayer Concerns

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. ~John 1:14



For all victims of gun violence.

For the citizens of Gaza, Lebanon, Israel, and Ukraine.

For all victims of war and unrest.

 Rio Rancho Presbyterian Church

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

505.892.6664

Email the church office

Office Hours

Monday – Thursday | 9am–1pm

Closed Dec 25 - Jan1