Weekly Witness

October 8, 2026

Sunday, October 11, 2026

20th Sunday after Pentecost

Congregational Meeting

Scripture: Psalm 23; Matthew 22: 1-14

Sunday: Livestream; Bulletin

Pastor: Rev. Dr. Deborah Huggins

Liturgist: Linda Hood

Psalmist: Cyndi Pitts

Greeter: Birgitta Gustafson & Helen Huntley

Ushers: Bill Cox, Virginia Kelley, Craig Kelley, Ginger Wall

Flowers: Given by Hazel Lathrop to honor & bless animals

as St. Francis of Assisi did!

Early Morning Security: Pat Gerlach

October Sanctuary Stewards: Denise Baker & Beth Miller

Director of Music: Nancy Leffler

Accompanist: Nathan Secrest

Dear Congregation,

As we continue to focus on Matthew's Parables, we hear God's invitation and call to join in the Kingdom work of salvation. Throughout this month, we will focus on this theme during our Sunday morning services as we explore what it means to care for our church. All month long, we will ask God to help us better see, hear, and know how we are being invited to care for our community, both inside the church and beyond our walls.

If you would like to be a part of the sermon preview Bible Study, you are invited to gather in my office on Monday at 10:00 AM for an hour to read the scripture for the upcoming sermon. Next week, our focus will be on Matthew 22:15-22.

Blessings,

Pastor Deborah

Congregational Meeting

Sunday, October 11th

11am (after worship)

Please plan to attend a special Congregational meeting to elect a deacon and to discuss and vote on the Pastor's terms of call.

Youth Group Outing

October 11, 2026

11:00am (after worship)

Who: All Middle and High Schoolers, plus young adult

and parent chaperones

What: Lunch at the Mall and an Escape Room 

Time: We will meet at the church @ 11, and should be done and

back by 3:00pm.

Where: Albuquerque Escape Room (Near Cottonwood Mall)

Sign up here: Youth Group

Cost: Escape Room $27 & approximately $10 for Lunch

Friends are very welcome! Please note: We never want finances to stand in the way of anyone participating in our events. Due to the love and grace of many, scholarships are available for all of our events. 

Assisted Hearing at

Rio Rancho Presbyterian Church

We are pleased to announce that we have several options available to make our worship more accessible for all listeners. We have an FM hearing loop that can be used with a receiver or your device. We have voice over WiFi available to connect to your phone from Audiofetch, and we have printed copies of our sermon available from any usher. 

Our New Pastor Wants

to meet YOU!

COFFEE ANYONE?

Every Monday and Tuesday, 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.

Lunch with

Pastor Deborah

Every Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday at 12pm

Pastor Deborah wants to meet ALL

of our church members and friends! September is booked!

Sign up sheet for October is available now. 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!

A Service for Justice and Hope

Wednesday, October 14th

6:00pm

First Presbyterian Church,

208 Grant Avenue, ABQ

On Wednesday, October 14, at 6:00 p.m., the faithful disciples at First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe, 208 Grant Avenue, will host a Service of Justice, Hope, and Faithfulness to address the political realities in our nation.

At a time when our country faces threats to our democracy, ongoing environmental challenges, global conflicts, and growing pressures on election integrity, this service of worship is an act of solidarity that promotes the common good for all humanity, where our hymns reveal the truth of the gospel, where our prayers of love, dignity, and compassion resonate across the earth’s landscape, and where we participate in the liturgy that evokes a new reality for our world.

Because we believe that justice is a sacred calling, all people are invited to come together in unity, and, with the Old Testament figure Joshua, choose this day whom we will serve.

We hope that you will join us for this time of worship.

Stated Annual Meeting

Presbytery of Santa Fe

Saturday, October 17, 2026

Ghost Ranch

Abiquiu, NM

The Annual Meeting of the Presbytery will be held in-person at Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, starting at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 17 and ending around 4:00 pm.

Purpose of the Meeting

• To approve the Annual Reports and the 2027 Budget.
• To elect and install new leadership for the Presbytery and elect members of Presbytery commissions and committees.
• To hear reports and approve motions from commissions and committees of the Presbytery.
• To share and reflect on what makes our places sacred.
• To participate in worship and unite as a body of Christ including a time of remembrance for those who joined the Church Triumphant in the past year.

• Register online for the meeting, room reservations and meals at Ghost Ranch by clicking on the button below. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email. Instructions regarding payment for rooms will be sent to you by email in late September.

REGISTER

Questions?

Questions regarding meeting items can be directed to Tanya Blankinship at statedclerk@santafepresbytery.org or 505-345-5657. Questions about registration and accommodations can be directed to Tiffany Lo-Finch at admin@santafepresbytery.org or 505-345-5657



We all look forward to seeing you at this important meeting of our Presbytery.

We are excited to begin registration for our Presbytery of Santa Fe Fall Youth Retreat, November 21-22, this year held at Shepherd of the Valley Presbyterian Church, ABQ. 

This is a FREE 2 day, 1 night sleepover retreat for youth in grades 6-12. We'll begin with registration Saturday at 9:30 am, and wrap up after worship on Sunday (estimated around 10:45-11 am). Parents and families are also welcome to join us for worship on Sunday, if you'd like! 

All participants are required to register using our registration form. The form will close a week before the retreat so that we can finalize food plans. A packing list will be provided as the date approaches, after registration!

Church Calendar

Oct. 11, 2026 - Oct 17, 2026

Book Club

Our book for October is Best American Short Stories 2024 edited by Lauren Goff.

We will meet at Nancy Henriksen's home on Tuesday, October 27th, at 2pm 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 would like a head start; our November book is Brave the Wild River by Melissa Sevigny.

HAPPY READING!

It's that time Already?!?!

Yes, it's time to order your Christmas Poinsettias for the Sanctuary!

2026 Christmas Flowers Order Form

Orders and payment are due by

October 25, 2026

Cost: $10

Choice of Red, White, Cinnamon

(please circle)

Name ______________________________________________

Qty.                Color             In Memory of or In Honor of

_____ ___________________ ______________________________

_____ ___________________ ______________________________

_____ ___________________ ______________________________

Total # plants                     Amount Due

______________                       # plants x $10 ______________

Make checks payable to:   RRPC

Pick up plants after either service:

Christmas Sunday – December 20^th

Christmas Eve service – December 24^th

Name of person picking up plants _____________________

Thank you for your order!

and for enhancing our sanctuary!

Feel free to call in your order to Ginny

at the church office: 505-892-6664.

October Birthdays

1 Arlene Thomas

2 Reyes Chavez

3 Cyndi Pitts

4 Marv Bamberg

5 Meredith Beaton

9 Beverly Norman

12 John Husler

14 Anne Kinney

14 Nancy Shambach

15 Isabel Cato

17 Joan Roschevitz

18 Shawn Campbell

20 Kay Peters Johnson

21 Ciprano Chavez

21 Margaret Crowl

21 Roy Schoenneman

23 Roger Ball

24 Camise Kettner

28 April Kron

28 Aksel Strommen

30 Aiden Warren

With Sympathy

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Helen Pederson this past Thursday. A memorial service is being planned for Friday, October 23rd at 10am. There will be a reception in the narthex following the service.

Please keep her family in your prayers.

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

 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