Weekly Witness

January 22, 2026

Sunday, January 25, 2026

3rd Sunday after Epiphany

Congregational Meeting

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1: 10-18

Sunday: Livestream; Bulletin

Interim Pastor: Rev. Frank Yates

Last Week's Sermon: Taking the Witness Stand

Congregational Meeting: Docket; Annual Report

Liturgist: Nancy Shambach

Psalmist: Bill Cox

Greeter: Beth Miller

Ushers: Cip & Maria Chavez, Pat Gerlach, Joy Sternberg

Early Morning Security: Steve Sproul

January Sanctuary Stewards: Ginny O'Neill and Scott Roberts

February Sanctuary Stewards: Arlene Thomas/Joy Sternberg

Pastor to People

Dear RRPC Family and Friends,

In a Presbyterian congregation there is a required annual congregational meeting. What do we do in such a meeting? Well, here is the agenda. First, we will answer any questions regarding the Annual Report, which is attached to this Witness. Please look over it before Sunday's meeting. Second, we will hear an Overview of our Financial situation. The 2026 budget will be presented for information. Then we will elect the officers for our Corporation, which is required by the state of New Mexico. Then we will change our church by-laws so that we can have 10 elders on the Session (instead of the nine for 2025). Then we will hear update reports from our Tech Task Force and our Pastor Nominating Committee. Then we will end with a special celebration (to be revealed!).

I hope you will make every effort to come worship this Sunday and then stay for the Congregation meeting. I promise a short,pithy sermon on top of everything else! This is a great tradition in the Presbyterian family where we look back at the past year and then look with anticipation for what lies ahead, by the grace of God.

We are all excited to hear what the Tech Task Force has been up to. And we are all excited to hear what the PNC is currently doing to bring RRPC your new installed pastor.

So let's pray for our congregation, for all her leaders and all our hopes and plans for the coming year. The future is in God's hands so we are in good hands! Thanks be to God! 

Peace,

Frank

Giving Statements

2025 Giving Statements

Your 2025 Giving Statement will be available for you to pick up before and after the January 25th service.   

Statements that are not picked up on Sunday will be sent to you by email the following week. If you do not pick up your statement, please check your email after the 27th. The email address the statements are mailed from is RRPC1004NM@GMAIL.COM. Be sure to check your SPAM or JUNK folders!

Due to the rising cost of postage stamp, we are doing everything possible to limit what we mail. If you have any questions regarding your Giving Statements send a message to treasurer@rrpchurch.org.

Pam Scalco

Assistant Treasurer

We want to thank the congregation for your generosity during our stewardship campaign. Our pledged donations increased about 20% for 2026 which will afford the PNC flexibility in the hiring of a new pastor. We appreciate your prayerful consideration of increasing your pledges and will be good stewards of them.

As we begin the new year, we want to remind you that our per capita is also due. Per capita supports the work of our Presbytery which is important for all the churches and the mission at large. Our per member contribution continues to be $37 for the year, and you can pay this amount any time before November. Just a reminder that per capita is separate from your pledged donations. The total due to the Presbytery is based on our active membership at the end of the year, and we are basing this year's total on 189 active members at the end of 2025, or $6,993 total. Half of this amount ($3,497) is included in our church budget, and we ask the congregation to pay the other half. Please indicate on your check or cash donation that the funds are for per capita. If you have questions about this, please ask any member of the Finance and Stewardship Committee. 

Thank you, and we wish you God's blessings in the new year.

Finance and Stewardship Committee members: Beth Miller, Chair, Chuck Roth, Pam Scalco, Bill Shanklin, Verona Schmidt, Kevin Johnson, Pat Gerlach, and Nancy Shambach. 

Route 66 Centennial

Wheels Museum

THIS 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

THIS 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 THIS Sunday, 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

Women's Retreat

Saturday, February 7, 2026

St. Andrew Presbyterian Church

9:30am-12:00pm

Church Women United, an ecumenical Christian women’s group, invites you to join them in a retreat on Saturday, February 7th at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church (5301 Ponderosa Ave NE) from 9:30-12:00. 

Pastor Erica Lea-Simka of the ABQ Mennonite Church will lead us in a study of St. Julian of Norwich of the Middle Ages. Her writings, Revelations of Divine Love are the earliest surviving English-language works attributed to a woman.

Come join us! For more information, please contact Shirley Nilsson at (505) 463-3657.

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 25, 2026 - January 31, 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 

Luminosity Conference

January is often a season of planning and discernment, and we hope you'll take a moment to consider the Luminosity Conference as part of your year ahead. Luminosity offers space for reflection, learning, and engagement with others who share a commitment to thoughtful ministry leadership. 

Registration is open at both regular and reduced pastoral rates, and registration will close on February 20. Grants continue to be available for all attendees, and we encourage anyone who may benefit from financial support to explore that option. Full details, including workshop descriptions and answers to common questions, can be found on the Luminosity website. 

Additional questions? The Frequently Asked Questions section of the website offers helpful information as you plan. 

Email serving@presbyterianfoundation.org if you need assistance.

We're excited about Luminosity 2026 and hope you'll join us.

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.

Victoria Flick, surgery recovery

Dr. Meredith Beaton, 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