Weekly Witness for Facebook & Friends

March 20, 2025

This Sunday, March 23

Third Sunday in Lent

Sermon Text: Luke 13: 1-9

Livestream worship. Bulletin.

Liturgist: Pam Shanklin Psalm: Thom Hinks

Nominating Committee Update on Our Pastoral Search

The Nominating Committee is ready to recruit the Pastor Nominating Committee! We are hoping to recruit 7 people to serve on the PNC that will be tasked with calling our next installed pastor. This pictured denim box is on the counter in the narthex. You can nominate yourself or others for the PNC by writing their name on the paper slips and putting them in the box.

This Sunday After Fellowship — Educational Opportunity — More with Pastor Frank on the Short Books of the Bible

Pastor Frank will offer another in the series, "Short Books of the Bible", Sunday after worship. We will examine II Peter and Jude and their close relationship. You will learn everything you have ever wanted to know about the Archangel Michael contending with the devil over the body of Moses (Jude 9). No kidding! And other fascinating stuff as well. So mark your calendars for Sunday Mar 23 (the 4th Sunday this month). And read up on II Peter and Jude — see if you can see the relationship between the two!  

Mission Corner

If you'd like to join Storehouse West's fight against food insecurity as a volunteer or have any questions, please email SHW or call 505.892.2077 for information about their services.

SHW needs right now are:

• Breakfast cereal (not the sugared kind, if possible)
• Pasta (any shape)
• Peanut butter (16-oz. plastic jars are good)
• 1-lb. bags of dry beans (any kind)
• Canned fruit
• Canned veggies
• Plastic shopping bags

Monetary donations are always welcome! In fact, we're doing that next Sunday in our every fifth Sunday, 2 Cents a Meal offering dedicated to a hunger mission, and this month, to SHW. Thank you for your support!

Standing Up for Our LGBTQ Community

Want to learn about how the recent actions and executive orders of this administration are impacting the LGBTQ community? Or find out who’s organizing to push back? To learn how can we support our LGBTQ neighbors, friends, and family? St. Andrew is involved! Please attend our upcoming community forum happening at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 5301 Ponderosa Ave., Albuquerque, on Saturday, Apr 5, 3-4:30. Panel members include Adrien Lawyer from the Transgender Resource Center, Marshall Martinez from Equality NM, and a representative from ACLU-NM. 

A Presentation on Immigration by Rev. Russ D.

Next Sunday, Mar 30, Russ will be the first speaker in a new RRPC series called 'The Fifth Sundays Forum', which will be held at 11:15 in the four months a year we have five Sundays. For the rest of the year, those months are June, August, and November.

Building and Grounds Corner

Church Clean-Up Day Apr 5 10-1p

Spring is officially here! It is time for all church members and friends to help us clean and get ready for the Easter season. On Saturday, Apr 5th, (after the men's breakfast) between 10am and 1pm, please join us to wash windows, dust furniture, polish woodwork, and clean up our outside grounds. Please bring your tools. Building & Grounds will provide refreshments and make sure that everyone has a lot of fun.

Pastor-to-People

I have a dear friend who is a successful professional, loved and admired by his peers. He loves his family and they love him. He loves his friends and we all love him dearly. He loves his church and the members there love and respect him.

However, he loves his hard liquor, but it does not love him back. He is an alcoholic, goes to AA meetings faithfully. He's been to rehab a couple of times, but he simply cannot shake the disease that is alcoholism. So his beloved wife, who loves him dearly, has moved out and is living with relatives for the time being. His beloved daughter will not let her dad drive the grandchild in his car without blowing into a breathalyzer. It is a very sad and poignant situation. I care deeply for this family, since I have been friends with them for over 40 years.  

Which brings me to this Sunday's sermon entitled "The Care and Nurture of Your Soul." During Lent we are asked to walk with Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem, shedding things that hinder our spiritual journey. Hebrews 12:1 says it like this: "Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and sin that clings so closely and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us." This Sunday, the third in Lent, let us consider the things that build up your soul and nurture your

spirit. As well as the things that hinder your spiritual journey, the things you need to shed. I am thinking of my dear friend who struggles so mightily against the disease of alcoholism.

What are you contending with? What are some things you would like to see in your rear-view mirror? I hope you will pray about all this and come with an open heart on Sunday. Most of all, let's take with deep seriousness the care and nurture of your soul.

God be with you all,

Frank

Church Calendar for Mar 23 – Mar 28, 2025

Prayer Concerns

I spend a lot of time in prayer. God doesn't always show up on my time, but he always shows up! ~Rachel Boston 

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