Weekly Witness

August 6, 2026

Sunday, Aug 9, 2026

11th Sunday after Pentecost

Scripture: Matthew 14: 22-33, Psalm 85: 8-13, Romans 10: 5-15

Sunday: Livestream; Bulletin

Interim Pastor: Rev. Frank Yates

Last Week's Sermon: A Passion to Serve

Liturgist: Cyndi Pitts

Psalmist: Dave Shambach

Greeters: Birgitta Gustafson & Karen Williams

Ushers: Bill Cox, Marie Fry, Craig Kelley, Virginia Kelley

Early Morning Security: Pat Gerlach

August Sanctuary Stewards: Birgitta Gustafson and Karen Williams

Director of Music: Nancy Leffler

Accompanist: Nathan Secrest

Dear RRPC Family,

One of the many things I will miss about your congregation is the music.

First of all, I am so grateful that Nancy and Nathan bring so many gifts to our worship that really lifts up our spirits every Sunday morning. So glad to have the "pickup choir" back last Sunday. You all add so much to our worship experience. Truth be told, a lot of people (including me) look forward to the music more than anything else in the worship experience. 

Second, I want to commend your congregational singing. Ever since Martin Luther wrote "A Mighty Fortress" for his Wittenberg congregation to sing, congregational singing has been an integral part of the Reformation movement. During the Civil Rights Era in our country, it was said that the marchers "sang their way to freedom". For instance, "We Shall Overcome" lifted their hearts when the going got rough. Our congregational singing needs to be robust and joyful. Thank you for participating with heart and soul and song.

The Book of Revelation suggests that the end point of our spiritual journey is to join the heavenly choir and sing forever "Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" (Rev. 4:8). So our singing on earth will join the singing in heaven to give praise and glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit eternally.

Our present worship is "practice", or "prelude" to singing with the hosts of heaven, "Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen."

Peace and hope,

Frank

Progress on the Stucco Project!

THANK YOU FOR THE SCHOOL SUPPLIES!

The Mission Committee wants to thank you for donating all "the basics" to our friends at Cochiti Elementary/Middle School. I have seen this congregation donate freely every year to an educational institution. This is a passion you can all be proud of. Your love will be experienced every time a student uses one of your colored pencils or crayons. To know the Cochiti students better, here is a photo of the entrance door of Cochiti School and also an outdoor view of students boarding their buses with the mountain in the background. 

Manual Therapy Fundraiser

We have two more Sundays (the 9th, 16th) to sign up for manual therapy with proceeds going to the Stucco/Building fund. We will not

be having the Sunday fundraiser

on the 23rd due to it being

Pastor Frank's last Sunday.

There are a few more times available, so if you are interested, the sign up sheet is in the Narthex. Hope to see you! Lisa Wengerd, CST

Did You Miss the Demonstration of the

German Enigma cipher machine?

THIS Saturday, August 8th

3pm - 6pm    

A new signup sheet is now available:

Calling all history buffs and computer nerds! 

During World War II, a major allied effort was crackng the codes produced by the Nazi’s Enigma machine.  A team of British and American code breakers worked together on this secret operation at Bletchley Park, near London.  Alan Turing, an English mathematician and cryptologist, played a key role in breaking the Enigma machine.  He developed a computer-like devise that could find the keys needed to decipher messages. Dave Levenson’s father, Arthur Levenson, was on the team that worked with Alan Turing.  He obtained an original German enigma machine, which is now Dave’s. He is pleased to show it, explain how it was used, answer questions, and even let you press the buttons and spin the rotors. 

As a benefit for the stucco project, Dave (assisted by Margaret Crowl), will give a program on Saturday, August 8, from 3 to 6 pm. The program will consist of:

1. Afternoon tea with light refreshments 
2. Viewing of the award winning movie, The Imitation Game (2014) starring Benedict Cumberbatch, based on the Alan Turing story. 
3. Dave’s talk and demonstration of his Enigma machine.  

Suggested donation for the stucco project: $20 per person.  Sign up on the clipboard in the narthex. 

Our New Pastor Wants

to meet YOU!

COFFEE ANYONE?

Every Monday and Tuesday, starting September 7th, 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.

Morning

Schmorning!



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.

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

Church Calendar

Aug 9, 2026 - Aug 15, 2026

Music Notes

A new musical season is nearing. If you would like to participate in the music ministry of RRPC, we’d love to have you join us! (Please text or email me. My contact information is below.)

We combine hard work and singing intentionally with joy and laughter! 

“Pick-Up” Choir begins Sunday, August 2. Simply join us in the choir loft at 9:00 to learn an anthem to sing during the service.

We are very flexible with schedules realizing people have many different obligations for their time. If you would like to join the chancel choir and you have a special need, we can accommodate you! We love to solve challenges so that everyone can participate!

Rehearsals are Thursday evenings from 7:30-9:00 beginning August 27.

*Many choir members are willing to pick up folks who prefer not to drive at night, so join us!

JuBELLation Ringers (handbells) rehearsals also resume Thursday, August 27 from 6:25-7:25. We enjoy having new folks join our handbell choir! Not sure? Come try it out! You do not need to be able to read music because we can color code your part and teach you how to count in order to ring your bells. We are excited to have 6 new pieces to learn for our fall season!

Pastor Deborah, the worship committee, and I are planning through the Christmas season. Now is the time to let me know of a particular anthem you would like the choir to sing or the bells to play! Keep in mind that many favorite hymns have anthem or handbell arrangements. We appreciate your suggestions!

Thank you for the positive comments and continued support of our music program. We are blessed to have a worship family who enjoys making and hearing “a joyful noise!”

Peace, love, and joy,

Nancy Leffler, Director of Music Ministry

Text: (505) 263-2272, Email: Leffler_n@yahoo.com

2026 School Supply Drive



THANK YOU to EVERYONE who donated:

notebooks

loose leaf paper

pencils

colored pencils

crayons

markers

highlighters

Cochiti Elementary/Middle School in the Bernalillo School District will be so delighted to see all of these new supplies!!

Thank you for your constant support of education in our community.

Book Club

Our Book Club resumes in September! Newcomers welcome!! Here is our list for this year in case you'd like to get a head start:

Book Club List 2026-2027

Tuesday, September 29 Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

Tuesday, October 27 Best American Short Stories 2024 edited by Lauren Goff

Tuesday. November 24 Brave the Wild River by Melissa Sevigny

Tuesday, December 15 The Serviceberry by Robin Kimmerer

Tuesday, January 26 The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

Tuesday, February 23 The Last Gift by Abdulrazak Gurnah

Tuesday, March 23 My Friends by Fredrik Backman

Tuesday, April 27 The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd

Tuesday, May 25 Trust by Herman Diaz

We will meet at Nancy Henriksen's home on Tuesday, September 29, to discuss Theo of Golden, by Allen Levi. Nancy lives at 507 Cherish St. SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124. Nancy: 505-306-1047.

August Birthdays

2 Janet Lacy

3 Chrystal Mitchell

7 Rhonda Wehner

8 Camille Hennek

10 Lori Osburn

13 Nico Rodriguez

18 Doug Thomas, Cyndie Tidwell

20 Kristen Henriksen

25 Virginia Kelley

27 Estela Roberts

28 Jim Langwell, Lea Manuel

31 Kaitlyn Landon

Volunteers Needed

Are you interested in helping our AV team on Sunday mornings? We need someone to help run the computer for our online worship and to learn how to assist in the sound booth.

If this sounds interesting, WE NEED YOU!

Please visit with Kevin or Lisa on a Sunday morning. THANK YOU!!

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. Sarah 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..."

Nancy Leffler - Dad, surgery recovery

Beth Miller - prayers

Anne Kinney - chemo treatments

Sharon Patrick - surgery recovery

John Husler - heart issues & recovery

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!!!

Peace on earth!

 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