Weekly Witness

January 15, 2026

Sunday, January 18, 2026

2nd Sunday after Epiphany

Dollars for Deacons Offering

Scripture: John 1: 29-42

Sunday: Livestream; Bulletin

Interim Pastor: Rev. Frank Yates

Last Week's Sermon: Calling and Equipping

Liturgist: Linda Hood

Psalmist: John Hood

Greeters: Leah & Pat Gerlach

Ushers: Mike & Liz Bushma, Sharon Glass, Karen Williams

Flowers: For Aloy & Marv Bamberg in honor of their many years of service to Storehouse West! From the Mission Committee

Early Morning Security: Pat Gerlach

January Sanctuary Stewards: Ginny O'Neill and Scott Roberts

Pastor to People

Dear RRPC Family and Friends,

This Sunday we will have a Minute for Mission about the Menaul Historical Library. Elder Sharon Prewitt from St. Andrew Presbyterian Church will give us some insights. This library in its new location in Allison Hall on the Menaul School campus was established in 1974 to preserve the records and artifacts from Presbyterian churches in the southwest. 

I have toured the new facility and it is amazing. There are books, pictures, and artifacts from the beginning of the Presbyterian mission to the Southwest beginning in the late 19th Century. And what a story it contains.  There are also research projects going on at the library. Many of the churches send the library their histories. And the library can help churches if they decide to record their history, including oral histories.

I hope that Sharon's Minute for Mission may inspire you to take a tour of the Menaul Historical Library. Maybe you would like to volunteer there or be a contributor. There is so much to like about this wonderful institution.

So let's welcome Sharon this Sunday and learn from her presentation.

Peace and hope,

Frank

Many Thanks

My name is Roger Ball. My wife, Nancy Harris-Ball of 54 years passed away on October 1st, 2025 from cancer. I would like to thank the congregation for all of the many cards, phone calls, invitations to lunch and dinner, Christmas gifts from the Deacons and especially all of the Prayers that I was included in. I would like to direct special thanks to the following people: our deacon, Joan Roschevitz, Joe and Linda Maddux, and Rev. Frank Yates for their help and guidance in getting me through this very rough time. It's been hard on this 80-year-old guy.

Sincerely, Roger Ball

As we celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., let us come together to honor a legacy of courage, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to justice and equality.

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

May his dream continue to inspire us to serve, to speak up, and to build a more just and inclusive world for all.

Route 66 Centennial

Wheels Museum

Saturday, January 24 at 11am

Hazel Lathrop is one of many presenters for The Route 66 Centennial

Speakers Series celebrating 100 years of the Mother Road. Her talk is

Tijeras Canyon: 5 Miles of Road and Hundreds of Stories will be given

at the Wheels Museum, 1100 2nd Street SW in Albuquerque on Saturday, January 24 at 11am.

If you don’t want to travel, she will be giving her presentation at the Loma Colorado Library on May 23. For more information about the series and the dozen locations for presentations go to https://www.facebook.com/Route66HistoryTalks.

Congregational Meeting

NEXT Sunday, January 25th, 2026

after worship (11:15am)

All members are encouraged to attend our 1st Congregational Meeting of 2026. This will take place in the sanctuary immediately following worship service.

2026 Soup ‘to go’ for Scholars

The Scholarship Committee will be offering 16 oz. and 32oz. Containers of homemade soup that can be reheated.

February 1 (Order by January 25)

                   Tomato Basil

                   Chicken Noodle

February 22 (Order by February 15)

                   Broccoli Cheddar

                   Chicken with Wild Rice

March 22 (order by March 15)

                    Split Pea with Ham

                    Creamy Potato

A 16 oz. container of soup is $8.

A 32 oz. container of soup is $13.

Order forms will be available in the church narthex before and after church service beginning January 11^th. You can also call Don Underwood at 505 903-9889 and place your order.

Thank you for your continued support.

Laura Gonzales

Don Underwood

Scholarship Committee Co-Chairs

Saturday, February 21, 2026

9:00 a.m - Noon

Join us for our annual Read and Ring, a fun morning of sight reading music with a chance to purchase music without paying shipping costs.

$15 – HMA Non-Members

$12 – HMA Members

$5 – Youth

Registration Deadline is January 23 to guarantee copies of the music are available.

January's Book:

The Last Devil to Die, by Richard Osman

We will be meeting at Nancy Henriksen's home on January 27th at 2pm. Her address is: 507 Cherish Street, Rio Rancho, NM. Feel free to contact her at nanscott4413@msn.com.

Please join us! All are welcome!

February's Book: Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Kimmerer.

For those who would like a head start.

Church Calendar

January 18, 2026 - January 24, 2026

25 Bob Simpson, 90th

27 Ginny O'Neill, 60th

28 Valerie Mishos

29 Linda Maddux

30 Betty Gobeille, Bill Wehner

31 Hayden Smith

Milestone Birthdays

Please join us for cake in the fellowship Hall after church on Sunday, January 25th as we celebrate Bobby Simpson's 90th birthday and Ginny O'Neill's 60th birthday!

Storehouse West

Current needs:

• Soup
• Fruits & vegetables
• Meat or meat pouches
• Tomato products
• Pasta Sauce & Pasta
• 1 lb. or 2 lb. bags of Rice
• 1lb. bags of Dried Beans
• Ramen noodles
• 16 oz. plastic jars of Peanut Butter
• Breakfast Cereal
• Shelf stable Milk of all types No GLASS JARS, please!

From the Worship Service Technical Team 

We appreciate and thank you for your support.  

The following technical stations are located near the entrance to the Sanctuary. 

Sound Booth: Responsible for sound volume and sound balance being sent through the speakers in the Sanctuary, Narthex, Fellowship Hall, and to Livestream via soundboard. 

Computer Station: Responsible for running the Livestream (online worship service) via broadcast software setting and adjusting the Sanctuary cameras for different segments of the worship service and ensuring the sound going to the Livestream is neither too loud nor too quiet. 

Please be aware that these stations are busy immediately before, during, and after the service.  



Please save conversations until the technicians have finished their worship service and weekly tasks. 

Thank You and Blessings,  

Worship Service Technical Team 

Dignity Mission Update

Looking ahead, the Dignity Mission will not be renting a truck to transport donations to the border in the near future. For that reason, we are no longer able to accept material donations at Las Placitas Presbyterian Church. If you wish to continue supporting humanitarian efforts at the border, you are encouraged to order items directly from the Dignity Mission Wish List using the Amazon link below.

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3A8N584B37L61?ref_=wl_share

And have them shipped directly to

           Dignity Mission

       c/o Dr. Eva Moya

           6520 La Cadena Drive

           El Paso, TX 79912

If you wish to make a monetary donation, you may do so in one of two ways:

1.    A check written to Las Placitas Presbyterian Church with Dignity Mission in the memo line and mailed to Las Placitas Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 768, Placitas, NM 87043.

2.    Online giving by going to www.lasplacitaschurch.org. Click on "More" in the top right-hand corner of the Home Page, click on "GIVE" on the drop-down menu, click on "CLICK HERE TO GIVE", click on the box next to Dignity Mission on the Donation page, enter an account, frequency and start date, and click "Continue." Complete the form and submit. 

Peace,

Jack & Cheryl

Jack and Cheryl Ferrell 

17 Sunset Blvd., Placitas, NM 87043  

505-681-0289

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."    --Martin Luther King, Jr.

Luminosity Conference

What does it look like to lead with courage, compassion, and conviction?

At the Luminosity Conference, we are bringing together prophetic voices who are reshaping what it means to lead in today’s world. One of the most compelling among them is Rabbi Sharon Brous, founding rabbi of IKAR in Los Angeles and author of The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend Our Broken Hearts and World.

Rabbi Brous is known for her bold, faith-filled leadership in moments of national significance. She has offered blessings and prayers at presidential inaugurations and White House gatherings, and her TED Talk “Reclaiming Religion” has inspired more than 1.5 million viewers around the globe.

But more than her public presence, Rabbi Brous brings a deep spiritual grounding and a profound sense of hope. Her work invites us to imagine faith not as something static, but as a living, healing force that can bring people together and mend what is broken.

Her voice will challenge, inspire, and stretch us to consider how the Church can respond to this moment with courage and humility.

Come to Luminosity and engage with Rabbi Brous and other visionary leaders who listen to God’s call with fresh ears and faithful hearts.

The Luminosity Conference Team

Presbyterian Foundation | Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Prayer Concerns

“And whatever you ask in Prayer, you will receive, if you have Faith.” Matthew 21:22.

Dr. Meredith Beaton, surgery recovery & healing

Ona Mitchell, healing

Sheila Malmo's daughter, Alice

Protection for Everyone against Flu virus

For DR Congo, Gaza, Iran, Israel, Sudan, Afghanistan, 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