Weekly Witness

October 2, 2025

Sunday, October 4, 2025

World Communion Sunday

Sermon Text: Matthew 16: 13-18

Livestream.. Bulletin

Last week's Sermon

Communion Servers: Beth Miller, Bill Cox, Ginger Wall, Joan Rochevitz, Marie Fry and Sharon Hovey

Psalmist: Cyndi Pitts

Greeters: Leah Gerlach, Craig Kelley, Camise Kettner, Beth Miller

Ushers: Ginger Wall, Joan Roschevitz, Marie Fry, Pat Gerlach

Flowers: Given by Ginger Wall, in memory of her parents:

Herschel & Jeneva Wall

Early Morning Security: David Sternberg

October Sanctuary Stewards: Beth Miller and Denise Baker

Pastor-to-People

This Sunday's joint service will symbolize the connectional system within the Presbyterian Church. We are joined to sisters and brothers in Christ in our Reformed Family of Faith. That means we are not just separate congregations

but linked together by our polity, our theology, our worship, and our mission. 

Worshiping together on World Communion Sunday is a wonderful way to recognize our interconnections.

We will be joined by our siblings in Christ from Cuba, Jemez and Placitas, three congregations with whom we have worshiped in the past. This will be a terrific opportunity for you to meet their pastors and their members. Our preacher will be Elder Stephen Rhoades, the Stated Clerk of our Presbytery. Members of those three congregations have been invited to sing with our choir on Sunday.

After worship we will have a luncheon prepared by our very own Shirley Underwood and crew. Shirley, thank you again for your willingness to serve in this role. I know it will be a wonderful meal and time of fellowship. If you would like to bring a dessert, feel free to do so!

So let's join with Christians throughout the world on this World Communion Sunday at the Table of the Lord and then around the lunch table. You are cordially invited.

Peace and hope,

Frank

P.S. This coming Sunday will mark my one-year anniversary with you. Thanks for a marvelous journey with you!

Our sister in Christ Nancy Harris-Ball joined the church triumphant Wednesday

morning, October 1st. We give thanks for her life and faith and offer our prayers of

support for her husband, Roger. Currently, there are no plans for a memorial service.

In the sure and certain hope of life eternal, we commend Nancy into God's eternal arms of love.

Men's Breakfast - THIS Saturday, October 4th, 8:00am

Please join us for fellowship and a hearty breakfast by Bill Wehner.

This is a great opportunity to invite friends to church in a relaxed and fun atmosphere! All are welcome!!

On World Communion Sunday, October 5, we celebrate that Christ’s peace extends throughout all creation. Whenever the church gathers for worship, we are assured of Christ’s peace. We celebrate that we are connected, we are loved and we are not alone. Through participation in the Peace & Global Witness Offering, our church is extending Christ’s peace throughout our community and our world. We begin at the communion table, with our siblings in every time and place, and we celebrate the peace we find there and commit to building a more just and peaceful world. God is with us ... and God in Christ is with us through the Sacrament of Communion celebrated on World Communion Sunday. Peace begins with each of us.

The Peace & Global Witness Offering will be collected on World Communion Sunday, October 5 at the four church gathering (Las Placitas, Jemez Springs, Cuba and RRPC) at our church.

25% of this offering stays with our congregation to support peacemaking and reconciliation in our own community. The recipient is Dignity Mission.

25% of this offering goes to our mid-council to join with other congregations to support peacemaking work in our region.

50% of this offering supports the work of Presbyterians across the globe. We have designated the Cuba Network as the recipient.

PLEASE GIVE WHAT YOU CAN.

IF WE ALL DO A LITTLE, IT ADDS UP TO A LOT.

From your friendly neighborhood

Mission Committee

Please see our display in the narthex.

Thank you!

Ongoing Fundraiser for Bells' Refurbishment

Sue Phillips will have a display of silk flower arrangements for a freewill offering in the Narthex before and after church for the next two weeks:

October 5 & 12.

The arrangements include Fall, Christmas, Spring, and Easter themed baskets and vases.

Donations will go towards the cost of refurbishing the bells for our Bell Choir. Any donations are greatly appreciated!

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner and visit with our Mission co-workers Leith and Carol Fujii!

Guest Speaker- Loretta Downs

Thank you very much to Loretta Downs, for providing such a wonderful seminar on end of life issues. She spoke on how we need to think about what we would wish to happen at the end of our life, how much medical intervention we want and urged us to have conversations with our family and friends about our final wishes.

There are several handouts available from her various talks:

• What if I Had Dementia? Planning for the Future
• Preferences For Care worksheet
• New Mexico Advance Directive
• NM Medical Orders For Scope of Treatment
• Designation of Healthcare Decision Maker
• Letter of Intent For a Future (Estate) Gift
• Eight Practices for Creating Peaceful Transitions
• The Elizabeth Whitefield End-of-Life Options Act: Information for New Mexico Residents
• Keeping Vigil, Creating Sacred Space, and Honoring the Final Transition

Contact Ginny in the church office if you would like hard copies of the above brochures: 505-892-6664 or manager@rrpchurch.org.

Virginia Kelley has a new address:

10700 Fineland Drive NW

Apt. 113

Albuquerque, NM 87114

Phone: 505-994-4996

Cell: 505-522-8689

Cuba Update

Susan Smith, a member of the Cuba Network, is attending a CPN Gathering in Fort Worth, Texas on October 2-5, 2025 which will include 10 pastors from Cuba.

She will “hand off” the following gifts from

Rio Rancho Presbyterian Church,

to be given to Pastor Edelberto in Caibarien, Cuba

·        $650 from offerings

·        $280 cash (anonymous donor)

·        $200 in medical products (anonymous donor)

Thank you for your generosity!

Building and Grounds

We all know that there are Sanctuary Stewards each month dedicated to ensuring that the sanctuary is ready for Sunday and special services each month. The building and grounds committee is starting a stewardship program to ensure that our church grounds are kept welcoming and beautiful throughout the year.

There are many ways to participate, including such tasks as watering potted plants, picking up trash, weeding, and raking leaves. There is a poster in the narthex with more details, along with a sign-up sheet.

Once we have a list of those willing to serve, we will meet to organize our team. If you have questions talk to Pat Gerlach, Dave Sternberg or Leah Gerlach. To date, four people have signed up and more are welcome. Thank you for helping to care for our beautiful church. 

Church Calendar October 5 - 11, 2025

01  Arlene Thomas 

03  Cyndi Pitts 

04  Marv Bamberg 

05  Meredith Beaton 

09  Beverly Norman 

12  John Husler

14  Nancy Shambach 

15  Isabel Cato 

17  Joan Roschevitz

18  Shawn Campbell 

20  Kay Peters Johnson 

21  Ciprano Chávez 

21  Margaret Crowl 

23  Roger Ball 

24  April Kron, Aksel Strommen 26  Amber Pardue 

28 Camise Kettner 

30  Aiden Warren

2025 Christmas Poinsettias

Christmas (and Advent) are coming early this year! Order Forms for poinsettias are available on the table in the narthex.

Deadline: October 26, 2025

Cost: $10 each

Color Choice: Red, white, pink & cinnamon

Make checks payable to: RRPC

Memo line: poinsettias

Thank you for enhancing our sanctuary!

New Horizons Band

performing at

Old Town Farm Bike in Coffee

949 Montoya St. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104

Friday, October 24, 2025

12pm - 2pm

All are invited for free live music! Food and drink are available for purchase but not required. Family and pets welcome!

Website: oldtownfarm.com

Brrrrr! It's starting to get cold out there!

Do you have any loose change you'd like to donate to those less fortunate? Remember to clean out suit pockets and out-of-season wallets and purses. This jar will be available in the narthex throughout the colder months to benefit everyone at

Storehouse West!

Thank you for your donations!

It's never too late to say Thank You! This year's Presbyterian Women's Birthday Offering totaled $782.24. This money went to support the ministry and mission of Presbyterian Women of the church worldwide.

Thank you for your generosity!

Thank you for last Sunday…for the wonderful flowers, the cake, and all your good wishes.

I have not opened your cards yet…just the mailed ones…so I can stretch out the good feelings!

I will reply to all separately. To have a child’s lunch box full of cards waiting to go through is something to savor! 

You have to know, I loved working with all of you!  

Karen

Prayer Concerns

The point of prayer is not to get answers from God, but to have perfect and complete oneness with Him. ~Oswald Chambers

Roger Ball, on the loss of his wife, Nancy

Pam Shanklin

Dick Pederson

Sheila Malmo's daughter, Alice

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