Weekly Witness for Facebook & Friends

February 27, 2025

This Sunday, March 2

Transfiguration Sunday

Sermon Text: Luke 9: 28-36

Livestream worship. Bulletin.

Liturgist: Hazel Lathrop Psalm: Dave Shambach

Men's Breakfast - This Saturday, March 1, 8am

Please join us for a delicious breakfast prepared by our own Bill W, for fellowship, and for a timely and important program. Sgt Daisey Gomez of the Rio Rancho Police Department will be sharing "Scams and Fraud Aimed at Senior Citizens". Do join us!

Adult Christian Education

Our third class is this Sunday, Mar 2 after worship in Classroom A&B.

Frank Yates will continue our study of the "Short Books of the Bible." Our two texts will be II Thessalonians and Titus. So read ahead and come for a close look at these two epistles. Let's talk about the second coming of Jesus, the issue of work, the need for good church leadership, and the problem of heresy. Come and see!

Ash Wednesday Service — 5:30 Mar 5

We begin the season of Lent with a time of prayer and self-reflection on Ash Wednesday. This service is noted for the practice of imposing ashes in the shape of a cross on our foreheads as a reminder that we are entering a time when we seek to turn away from sin and toward God’s will for our lives and the world. Lent is a time when we work on spiritual practices, whether prayer, study of scripture, or service to others.

Church Women United (CWU), 9am, Friday, Mar 7

CWU will observe the annual WORLD DAY OF PRAYER mext Friday, Mar 7th, at First Presbyterian Church (215 Locust Ave., NE, ABQ). The women of the Cook Islands, (in the South Pacific near New Zealand), have prepared the worship service, “I MADE YOU WONDERFUL”. It invites us to recognize that God created each one of us with great attention and loving care. The morning begins at 9am with coffee, refreshments and good conversation, followed by the service at 9:30. There will be two offerings — one for the World Day of Prayer Committee and another for CWU in NM. ALL women are invited to join us, and bring a friend! Questions? Reach out to CWU President Shirley Nilsson or call her at 505-463-3657.

Mission Corner

Churchwide Yard Sale Coming April 25th and 26th!

Please save the dates and bring your donations in NOW!Money raised from this spring yard sale will go to the church operating budget, with a small percentage to Mission Committee programs. Your donations can be put on a cart located just inside the front doors in the narthex.

We won't be selling any books or clothing. You can take books to the Friends of Libraries and Literacy, (formerly Friends of the Library), 4300 Ridgecrest Drive #J/K, and clothes to Savers or Goodwill.

Thank you!

March 9 is Blue Shirt Sunday

Wear blue shirts to worshipnext week, and here's why...

Pastor to People

March 5 is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, the forty-day period excluding Sundays that brings us to Holy Week and Easter. We will gather on Ash Wednesday at 5:30 for a service launching us on our journey. The church has used this spring-time tradition to prepare for the celebration of Easter. Sometimes Lent has been the time for particular spiritual disciplines, often reflecting the fact that Jesus did not eat for forty days in the wilderness. So fasting, praying, and self-denial have been a part of our Lenten discipline from the beginning. Maybe there is something you would like to put behind you, some habit or some life-style that needs to change. Lent is a time to let go of whatever is hindering your spiritual journey to Easter.

Sometimes people have taken on particular ministries or acts of service during Lent. Maybe you have good intentions to serve others or to help others in very practical ways. Lent is a wonderful opportunity to actually reach out and be of service. A call, a card, a visit, an offer to help — these are all very practical ways we can enrich someone else's life. Or maybe to begin that volunteer work at Storehouse West or some other helping agency. Lent says, "This is the time to act," acts of mercy and acts of justice for others.

Lent is also a time to develop some spiritual practices you may have thought about for a long time. Perhaps you could read one of the Gospels straight through. Or begin a daily journey through the Psalms. Or pick up a devotional book. Our church library has a number of really good books for your spiritual growth. Maybe you can focus on your prayer life, praying for yourself, your family and friends, the church, and the world (which needs a lot of prayers these days).

By the way, the large candle to the left of the chancel area is a Peace Candle. It reminds us to pray for that peace that passes all understanding in our own hearts as well as for peace in the church and especially in our war-torn world. Maybe in this Lenten season we can all pray for Ukraine, Russia, Gaza, Israel, Sudan and the Congo, as well as other troubled areas.

So Lent is your opportunity to take your discipleship to Christ with deep seriousness. A time to practice self-discipline, do acts of mercy and justice, and follow spiritual disciplines that seek the peace of God in our souls and in our world. May your Lenten journey bring you closer to Christ.

Peace and hope,

Frank

February

Feb 02 - Why I am a Presbyterian

Feb 09 - Into the Deep Water

Feb 16 - Sinners

Feb 23 - Getting Even

Pastor Frank's February 2025 Sermons in One Place

Spring Ring Handbell Concert Next Saturday, Mar 8, 4pm

Where: Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 8600 Academy Rd, NE, Albuquerque

Featuring: Five RRPC JuBellation ringers!

Questions? Reach out to Nancy Leffler.

Book Club Selection for March

The Club will meet at 2 pm Tuesday, March 25.

Questions? Reach out to the club or call the church office.

Church Calendar for Mar 1 – Mar 8, 2025

Prayer Concerns

I think one thing (at this point in my life) is that prayer has become more useful, interesting, fruitful, and... almost involuntary.... ~Mary Oliver, 1933-2019

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