Weekly Witness

January 30, 2025

For This Sunday, February 2

Livestream worship (with apologies for the audio issues last Sunday). Bulletin.

Liturgist: Steve Sproul Psalm: Dave Shambach

Sanctuary Flowers: From Linda and Joe, given to the glory of God.

Men's Breakfast This Saturday, Feb 1

Please join us as we enjoy the final breakfast prepared by Shirley, who has delighted us with a delicious varied menu for over two years. She is now retiring from that role. Let's celebrate her! Bill will be stepping in as our chef. Our program this month will be two of our members sharing examples of their hobbies and how they got started on them. You don't want to miss this meeting!

Pastor Frank's Sermons, January, 2025

Pastor Frank's Adult Christian Ed Class After Worship

Beginning this Sunday and continuing the first and third Sundays from 11:30-12:15, an after-worship adult education class will meet in classrooms A&B. Sunday we'll look at the shorter Psalms in the Psalter, starting with 117 (the shortest); and at the next class, Feb 16, the shorter books in the Bible —Obadiah, Haggai and Jonah. You are all invited.

Ladies Who Lunch: Feb 17th, 11:15am

Our next lunch will be at the Rio Grande Social, 10127 Coors Blvd., NW, Albuquerque 87114. Look for it at the corner of Old Airport and Coors Roads near Albertsons & Marshalls.

You may recall my telling you that this building took 4 years to build! It's really spacious with a large fully stocked bar, tables and chairs, plus lots of gracious seating to include easy chairs and sofas if you want to have a drink and quiet conversation.

I have posted the menu and put the sign-up sheet in the narthex already.

If you remember, the food is incredible, and the prices are extremely reasonable. Example... all burgers and fries, regularly $14-17, are $10 on Monday and Wednesday 11-3 where on the menu they range from $14-17 normally. Tuesday and Thursday 11-3 all pizzas are $10, where they are regularly $13-19.

I think we were all impressed; and what a great get-together we shared back in November, celebrating Pegge's 93rd birthday! I am sure you will be impressed again.

Any questions, please email or call 505.363.4841. Sign up, come out, and let's socialize again!

Meredith

Sues' Saturday Jewelry-Making Classes to be Held at

9:30, Feb 8th and 15th; and 1:30, Feb 22nd

Sue will have three jewelry-making classes benefitting the Capital Campaign on the dates and at the times above. Suggested donation: $15+ supplies. Call the church office for information.

Yoga-in-the-Sanctuary Thursday Mornings

The instructor is our own Erin (Cato) Carrasco, PA-C, CHC, CYT. In addition to holding these credentials, Erin is a Certified Breathwork and Meditation Teacher, NASM-CPT, a Heartmath Certified Practitioner, and an EFT/TFT Tapping Practitioner .

Gentle Movement: 10-11am

The Gentle Movement Class is great for anyone who is interested in improving strength, balance, and flexibility! Stretches and exercises are done while comfortably seated in a chair. Then we progress to balancing and strengthening exercises while standing. If you're unable to stand, the entire class can be done while seated. Breathwork and mindfulness techniques are incorporated throughout the class to help relax the mind and body. The class wraps up with time in guided meditation.

Yoga for Balance and Flexibility: 11:30-12:30

Erin's gentle mat yoga class focuses on improving balance, increasing flexibility, and relaxing the body and the mind! This is a great class for all skill levels; especially beginners or those who have never tried yoga.

Please bring a yoga mat, towel or blanket, and a water bottle to class. 

Cost for each class: $10. **Please text or call Erin (505) 379-4131 by Wednesday evening if you plan to attend. This helps her know how many chairs to set up and how much floor space to clear. Thank you!**

When either class is in session, please do not interrupt or enter the sanctuary (between 10-11 or 11:30-12:30).

An Excellent Example of a Computer Scam

From an email to the church office from a gareth.whitehead@virginmedia.com:

Greetings, I recently change to another banks. I'd like to update my DD information on file before the next payroll is processed. Please let me know of any further information that has to be submitted for this update.

Blessings,

Nancy

Three of the things to consider when evaluating if an email is legit:

1. The incoming email address, which in this case has nothing to do with Nancy.
2. The domain name--virginmedia isn't available in the USA. Often it's a made-up domain name.
3. Grammatical errors.
4. Accuracy: RRPC doesn't have direct deposit.

This email comes through the office frequently, always naming Nancy, always with the same request.

Pastor to People

Dear RRPC Community

The Worship Committee and the Session have agreed to reinstitute the Passing of the Peace at the beginning of worship, right after the announcements. We will resume it this Sunday morning, Feb 2. So why are we doing this? 

First, it is a very Biblical notion to "greet one another with a holy kiss" (2 Cor. 6:16, Rom. 16:16) or to "extend the right hand of fellowship" (Gal. 2:9). The Christian community is a family where we treat one another as sisters and brothers in Christ. So we embrace or shake hands or in some way acknowledge the other person as part of my spiritual family. 

Second, this is a way to "welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you" (Rom. 15:7). We can say "I am glad you are here" or "I hope you are doing well" or simply "the peace of Christ be with you" and the appropriate reply is, "And also with you." The Passing of the Peace is not so much a time to have a long extended conversation, but simply a way to greet one another and share a moment of grace and friendship in Christ. This ancient practice reminds us that we belong to Christ and we are connected to our sisters and brothers in a fellowship of love.

Many congregations discontinued the Passing of the Peace because of the pandemic. We did, too. We are aware that some of you have health issues that must be respected, so any kind of physical contact should be avoided. This Sunday morning we hope to demonstrate some ways that we can abide by a need for social distance and yet still greet one another in the name of Christ. We will surely honor anyone who has qualms about these issues, and yet we can still acknowledge each other with

love and respect. If you have any questions about all this, please contact me.

So let us come together for the Lord's Supper this Sunday, and let us first pass the peace of Christ with each other.

Grace and peace with you all, 

Frank

Church Calendar for Feb 1 – Feb 8, 2025

Prayer Concerns

Prayer begins where human capacity ends.

~Marian Anderson

For the families of those 67 people who died in a mid-air collision last night over Reagan National.

For our divided country.

For the people returning home to Gaza.

For 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