Weekly Witness

August 20, 2026

Sunday, Aug 23, 2026

13th Sunday after Pentecost

Scripture: Matthew 16: 13-20; Psalm 138; Romans 16

Sunday: Livestream; Bulletin

Interim Pastor: Rev. Frank Yates

Last Week's Sermon: A Great Mystery

Liturgist: Ginny O'Neill

Psalmist: Thom Hinks

Greeters: Marie Fry & Ginger Wall

Ushers: Pat Gerlach, Victoria Flick, Steve Sproul, Joy Sternberg

Flowers: Given by Gerri & Linda Marousek, in honor of Pastor Frank!

Early Morning Security: Pat Gerlach

August Sanctuary Stewards: Birgitta Gustafson and Karen Williams

Director of Music: Nancy Leffler

Accompanist: Nathan Secrest

Farewell Brunch

Sunday, August 23rd

11:15am

Please join us THIS Sunday after worship for a farewell Brunch honoring our interim Pastor, Rev. Dr. Frank Yates! We love what he has done for our congregation and wish to thank him for his service and love!

Dear RRPC Family,

I approach my last Sunday with a heart filled with gratitude for you all. Grateful for these last two years. Grateful that you moved through this interim period with purpose and determination to sustain the good work that Pastor Kathy had done with you. Grateful that you finished up (almost!) the Capital Campaign with the stucco project nearing completion. Grateful that your Mission Study Team and then your Pastor Nominating Committee worked diligently to find us our new pastor, your "Second" Rev. Dr. Huggins. This time, her first name is Deborah! 

Grateful for all the work the Session and her committees did these last two years. Grateful for all the work the Deacons did for us as a community. And of course grateful for all the wonderful music that graces our worship services and all those who use their talents for the glory of God. I could go on and on about my gratitude for you as a congregation. I truly mean that.

But most of all, I am grateful to God for all the people I have met in this congregation of God's people. I am grateful for those who have joined the communion of saints, for those in our fellowship now, and for those who will be in the future. God has graced you with many gifts and talents and many wonderful people. It has been a privilege to serve you all. So thank you!

I conclude with a prayer of gratitude to God, the source of every good and perfect gift. "Gracious God, for all that has been, we say Thank you! For all that is, we say Thank you! And for all that will be, we say Thank you! Amen."

Progress on the Stucco Project!

Almost done!

From the Finance Committee

The graph below shows how we are doing financially for 2026 year-to-date. Thank you for being mindful of your tithes and offerings.

The per-Capita fee for each member is $37.00. This is like paying dues to be part of the PCUSA organization and is what we pay per year per member here at Rio Rancho Presbyterian Church. By remitting this, you save us this added expense on our bottom line and we are truly appreciative!

Our New Pastor Wants

to meet YOU!

COFFEE ANYONE?

Every Monday and Tuesday, starting Tuesday, September 8th, join Pastor Deborah in her office for coffee or tea. She would love to meet everyone in the church, and for those who work or are unavailable during the day, pop in for a morning drink get-together before work! Suggested time is 8am, but feel free to change to 7am or 7:30am to adjust to your schedule.

Signup sheet is in the church narthex. See Ginny with any questions.

NOT a

Morning

Person?



Let's Do Lunch!

Lunch with

Pastor Deborah

Every Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday at 12pm

Pastor Deborah wants to meet ALL

of our church members and friends!

Sign up sheet is available to join Pastor Deborah for lunch. Bring your lunch and join her in the library. Call Ginny in the office 505-892-6664 and she will gladly help you sign up!

Men's Breakfast

Saturday, September 5th

8am

Please join us for a great breakfast and fellowship!

ATTENTION: For the program please come with something to share that has had an impact on you in the past year.

That can be something you've read, listened to (e.g.. music, podcast) or something you experienced. Looking forward to 

hearing the great things happening in your lives.

Habitat for Humanity Benefit Concerts

A concert to benefit Habitat for Humanity at

St. Andrew Presbyterian Church

All are welcome!

Saturday, September 19, 3 PM: Sweet Jazz, headlined by Allison Davis, the host of the Jazz Hour on KUNM

From the Presbytery

Please forward this invitation to your finance leaders:

Join church finance leaders for a day of learning and sharing best practices. Hear about trends, tools, and stewardship methods to help build your church's financial sustainability. 

Saturday, September 26 from 9 am – 2 pm

La Mesa Presbyterian Church

7401 Copper Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM

This workshop is for pastors, elders, staff, and finance leaders; teams are more than welcome. The event is free and lunch will be provided. Those with long travel times can contact the Presbytery office to arrange hotel accommodations.

Brought to you by the Presbytery’s Finance and Property Commission

Presenters:

Joseph Moore, Ministry Relations Officer- Presbyterian Foundation

Rev. Joseph Moore works with congregations to create a culture of generosity, offers seminars and workshops, develops gifts and fundraising plans for ministries, and provides coaching to finance, stewardship and endowment committees. Prior to joining the Foundation, Joseph served as pastor at several churches in Texas and Colorado. He is a graduate of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Trinity University (TX).

Phil Prevender, Principal- Prevender Financial Services

Phil attended the Anderson School of Management at the University of New Mexico, majoring in Finance. Phil began his career as a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch and later at Banc of America Investments. In 2007 Phil started his own investment practice, Prevender Financial Services, LLC. Phil is very active in the community and currently serves as the Board President of the Central New Mexico Community College Foundation (CNM Foundation) and as a member of the Ronald McDonald House Finance and Investment Committee. For a number of years, Phil has helped churches with investments, including the Presbytery.

Church Calendar

Aug 16, 2026 - Aug 22, 2026

Thank You!

Thank you all for participating in the Manual Therapy fundraiser for the Stucco/Building Fund. Almost $1,100 was raised! I am grateful that I could help participants while contributing to God's House!. As well, I am thankful for being a part of such a generous and loving congregation.

Peace, Love and Joy,

Lisa Wengerd

Book Club

Our Book Club resumes in September! Newcomers welcome!!

Our book for September is Theo of Golden by Allen Levi.

We will meet at Nancy Henriksen's home on Tuesday, September 29, to discuss the book and have a time of fellowship. All are invited! Nancy lives at 507 Cherish St. SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124. Nancy: 505-306-1047.

For those who'd like a headstart; our October book is Best American Short Stories 2024 edited by Lauren Goff.

HAPPY READING!

August Birthdays

18 Doug Thomas, Cyndie Tidwell

20 Kristen Henriksen

25 Virginia Kelley

27 Estela Roberts

28 Jim Langwell, Lea Manuel

31 Kaitlyn Landon

Thank you from Nancy Leffler

Just a note to thank everyone for their prayers for my Dad.

The surgeons were able to get all of the cancer by removing a portion of the colon and spleen. Dad is now cancer-free and is recovering well. In fact, we had to get after him because he was up on a ladder cleaning out a gutter!

Our Service

Men & Women

Please keep the following people

in your thoughts & prayers:

Christopher Ryan - US Marine Officer

RJ Van Sweden - US Marines

Tyler Warren - US Marines

Hayden Smith - Army

Cdr. Sara Dimmick - Navy, serving in Kyiv, Ukraine

Sgt. Kevin Lomeli - Army National Guard, home!

Kevin A. Baker - US Air Force in England

Sgt. Herison Garcia - US Air Force, Florida

Sgt. Jerry Allard - US Army, Ft. Bliss, Texas

Sgt. Joseph Nolancola - US Air Force, overseas

Prayer Concerns

Romans 8:28 – "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him..."

Birgitta Gustafson - starting radiation Sept 3

Joyce O'Neill, Ginny's m-i-l, cancer diagnosis

Bill Wehner - broken femur & recovery

Beth Miller - prayers, upcoming surgery

Anne Kinney - chemo treatments

Margaret Crowl's sister, Ellen - treatments

Sheila Malmo's daughter, Alice

For all victims of the fires across Canada and the United States. We are at an all-time high: Level 5 Fire Preparedness!!!

Praying for RAIN!!

 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