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Weekly Witness
April 23, 2026
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Sunday, April 26, 2026
4th Sunday of Easter
Dollars for Deacons Offering
Scripture: John 10: 1-11
Sunday: Livestream; Bulletin
Interim Pastor: Rev. Frank Yates
Liturgist: Lisa Wengerd
Psalmist: Bill Cox
Greeters: Ginger Wall and Karen Williams
Ushers: Victoria Flick, Betty Gobeille, Steve Sproul, Joy Sternberg
Early Morning Security: Dave Sternberg
Flowers: Given by Crystal & Michael Hughes, in honor of the life & love of our daughters, Ariel & Ryanne
April Sanctuary Stewards: Russ & Betty Gobeille
May Sanctuary Stewards: Crystal Mitchell and Karen Williams
Director of Music: Nancy Leffler
Accompanist: Nathan Secrest
To view Sunday morning service, simply click on the word Livestream above. You can always go to the church website;
Main page; scroll down to Next Livestream Service to access
the upcoming Sunday service.
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Exciting News!
With gratitude and great joy, we are excited to share that Rev. Dr. Deborah Huggins has been called as the next pastor of Rio Rancho Presbyterian Church following a unanimous congregational vote of 88–0.
Pastor Deborah brings a heart for listening, a commitment to inclusive and welcoming community, and a collaborative spirit shaped by her experience in preaching, pastoral care, and leadership. She currently serves as Associate Pastor at Central Presbyterian Church in Summit, New Jersey, and previously served in Rio Rancho as a special education teacher.
She holds a Master of Divinity from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico. She also pursued additional training in preaching through Princeton Seminary and is completing certification as a Christian educator in the PC(USA). Deborah is married to Jeff, and together they enjoy spending time outdoors with their three children, Fritz, Bessie, and Catherine.
We look forward with hope and excitement to the ways God will work through her ministry in the life of our church. Please join us in welcoming Pastor Deborah and keeping her and her family in your prayers as we begin this new chapter together.
Just a closing note: Pastor Deborah’s start date will be September 1st.
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Pastor to People
Dear RRPC Family and Friends,
So exciting around here these days knowing by God's grace who your new pastor will be come September 1st. I am truly thrilled that Rev. Dr. Deborah Huggins has been called to become your
new pastor. What a gift for this congregation!
At Tuesday's Session meeting, I shared what my main three goals will be for my remaining time with you. (For those of you counting down the days, I will be with you about four more months, my last Sunday being August 23rd.) So here are my three goals:
1. Continue to reach out to prospective new members. At the Session meeting, we welcomed into our congregation Jim Leonard and Scott and Sharon Patrick, whom you will meet this Sunday in worship. I hope to encourage others to join the congregation this summer. I hope you will invite friends and family to worship. I would love to meet them.
2. Help to make the stucco project a reality by getting bids and encouraging generosity to make a one time donation for its completion. The good news is that we already have about $60,000 in the bank for this final project. We hope to have more information ready for our big 40th Anniversary Celebration on Pentecost which is Sunday May 24, Watch for news about our luncheon celebration after worship that day. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could complete the stucco project this fall? What an accomplishment that would be for you!
3. Offer an Adult CE class beginning May 3 on the life and writings of C.S. Lewis. I have done seminars on Lewis all over the country and really enjoy looking at his writings. Lewis was probably the first theologian I ever read as a high school student. He continues to interest me and I hope he will interest you. The exact schedule of classes will be coming out hopefully in May. But if you want to read ahead, we will begin with Surprised by Joy on May 3. I hope this is a wonderful experience for all of us.
OK, so let's do some good ministry together during these next four months. And let us prepare the way for your new pastor!
Blessings and hope,
Frank
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New Members
Join us THIS Sunday as we welcome three new members to our congregation:
- Jim Leonard
- Scott & Sharon Patrick
We are so excited to have you join our church family!
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Help Needed on Sunday
Worship Committee needs a few strong backed folks to help move the Easter cross back into the shed. It resides at the back so all the Christmas trees must come out first. If you can help before or after worship
on Sunday, we would be so grateful!
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FLOWERS OR PLANTS
FOR CHURCH SERVICES
Our church is enhanced with flowers on Sunday. If you would like to provide flowers or a plant for a particular occasion such as birthday, anniversary, or to honor or remember an important person in your life, there is a signup sheet on the counter in the Narthex.
You bring one or two bunches of flowers or plants on Sunday morning to place on the stands at either pulpit or lectern and then take them home with you to enjoy all week. Or you could give them to a deacon to bless one of our shut-in members. Thank you for helping us beautify our sanctuary!
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May 10th is
Mother's Day and
Youth Sunday
All youth and young adults (including college age) are welcome to join us on Sunday, April 26th and Sunday, May 3rd from 5:00-7:00pm in the fellowship hall to plan our service on May 10th. Dinner will be provided. Contact Amanda Ball, 505-269-6902 or Scott Roberts, 310-429-1715
with questions. Hope to see you there!
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Matthew Black is an indie-folk singer-songwriter known for incisive lyrics and singable melodies. The literal son of a preacher man, Matthew left his job as a mild-mannered IT manager in 2022 to make music full-time. His songs are honest, earnest, questioning, and provocative. Humorous to deeply serious. Profane to sacred. Simple, melodic tunes that can transport you and make you believe there might be meaning and kindness in a chaotic world. And you’ll still be humming the chorus days later.
He’s been compared to songwriter heroes like Cat Stevens and Paul Simon, along with contemporaries Jason Isbell, Sufjan Stevens, and Joe Pug. His sophomore album, A Little Closer, was released in 2024. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky.
The concert is free and all are invited!
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CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF ROUTE 66
IN NEW MEXICO
Hazel Lathrop will be giving her Route 66 presentation:
Tijeras Canyon: 5 Miles of Road and Hundreds of Stories
at the Raymond Sanchez Community Center
9800 4th St NW
Saturday, April 25th at 11am
and
Loma Colorado Library
Saturday, May 23rd at 11am
For more information about the series and the dozen locations for presentations go to:
New Mexico Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series: Home
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May's Book:
The Covenant of Water,
by Abraham Verghese
We will be meeting at Cyndie Tidwell's home on Tuesday, May 19th at 12pm. This is a lunch and book meeting. Attendees need to get your food order from Hannah & Nate's in Corrales to Cyndie by Sunday, May 17th. Email: yndiectidwell@gmail.com. Her address is: 312 Dixon Rd., Corrales, NM.
Please join us! All are welcome!
This is our last book until September. Enjoy the summer break!
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May Friendship Day
Friday, May 1st
9:30am
St. Paul Lutheran Church
1100 Indian School, Alb.
Please join us!
If you need a ride, please call the church office: 505-892-6664.
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National Day of Prayer
May 7 | 4:00 - 9:00 PM
Albuquerque Civic Plaza
FREE Event
Your congregation is invited to join churches from around Albuquerque for a powerful National Day of Prayer as we come together to pray for our city, community, and nation. Hosted by Steve Stucker, this evening is all about hope, unity, and faith.
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Men's Breakfast
Saturday, May 9th
8:00am
For the Men’s Breakfast in May we will be meeting on Saturday, May 9th (the second Saturday). Speaking will be Leah Gerlach on “Living with Visual Impairment “. Always delicious and a great opportunity to invite neighbors and friends! Please join us!
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Birthday Celebration
& Pentecost Sunday
May 24th
Join us on Sunday, May 24th after worship to celebrate the birthday of the founding of our church and also Pentecost Sunday! We will be wearing fire colors (reds, oranges) for Pentecost. The menu includes pulled pork and pulled turkey sliders, various salads and two huge celebration cakes of chocolate and vanilla. This is a great day to invite neighbors and friends. See the sign up sheet in the narthex to let us know you're coming!
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Church Calendar
April 26, 2026 - May 2, 2026
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Sunday, April 26
4th Sunday of Easter
Dollars For Deacons Offering
10:00am Worship Service
11:15am Deacons, Classroom C
5-7pm Youth & Young Adults, fellowship hall: dinner provided.
Monday, April 27
7pm AA
Tuesday, April 28
10am New Horizon Band Practice
7-8pm Al Anon
Wednesday, April 29
7-8pm Al Anon
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Thursday, April 30
10am Gentle Exercise
11:30 am Yoga
6:30pm Bell Practice
7:30pm Chancel Choir
Friday, May 1
7pm AA
Saturday, May 2
5pm Pizza & Puzzle Night!
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With Deepest Sympathy
Gerry Benz, wife of Bill Benz, passed away on February 15th. She was an ordained Elder and Deacon and served the Presbyterian Women as a Circle leader, moderator and speaker. She also served as president of Church Women United and on several boards of community organizations: People In Need, Habitat for Humanity, Chambers of Commerce in Denver, CO and Ashland, OH, and was president of the Ashland Symphony Orchestra.
She will be placed alongside her husband in an inurnment ceremony in our Memorial Garden; date to be announced.
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April Birthdays
24 Katie Kuechmann
25 Ariel Whitesinger
26 Jennifer Hall
28 Tim Morris
29 Ryanne Hughes
29 Jadelyn Van Sweden
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May Birthdays
2 Cliff Gibbons,
2 Velina Chavez
4 Carol Wagner-Adams
4 Rob Van Sweden
4 Lyn Kulk
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Something New
Last month Pastor Frank introduced the idea of Liturgist stoles to the Worship Committee.
The committee approved the creation of stoles modeled in size after those of the Bell Choir.
Liturgists are invited to wear a stole celebrating the color of the Liturgical season.
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Our Service
Men & Women
Please keep the following people
in your thoughts & prayers:
RJ Van Sweden - US Marines
Tyler Warren - US Marines
Hayden Smith - Army
Cdr. Sarah Dimmick - Navy, serving in Kyiv, Ukraine
Sgt. Kevin Lomeli - Army National Guard in Kenya
Kevin A. Baker - US Air Force in England
If you have family members serving here or overseas, please call Ginny at the church office to add them to our list. Church Office: 505-892-6664.
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Prayer Concerns
“And whatever you ask in Prayer, you will receive, if you have Faith.” Matthew 21:22.
Birgitta Gustafson - cancer treatments
Pegge Emory - continued recovery
Pat McCreary - recovery at home
Don Underwood - radiation treatments
Beth Miller - cancer treatments
Sheila Malmo's daughter, Alice
Protection for Everyone against our dreaded allergy season!
For DR Congo, Gaza, Iran, Israel, Sudan, Afghanistan, and Ukraine.
For all victims of gun violence, war, and unrest.
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Rio Rancho Presbyterian Church
1004 24th Street, SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124
505.892.6664
Office Hours
Monday – Thursday | 9am–3pm
Office email: manager@rrpchurch.org
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