Weekly Witness

October 30, 2025

Sunday, November 2, 2025

21st Sunday after Pentecost

Sermon Text: Luke 19: 1-10

Livestream; Bulletin

Interim Pastor: Rev. Frank Yates

Last Week's Sermon: Disdain

Liturgist: Ginny O'Neill

Psalmist: Bill Cox

Greeter: Victoria Flick

Ushers: Cip and Maria Chavez, Betty Jarous, Ginger Wall

Communion Servers: Denise Baker, Liz and Mike Bushma, Birgitta Gustafson, Hazel Lathrop, Pam Scalco

Flowers: Given by Denise Baker in honor of All Souls' Day

Early Morning Security: Pat Gerlach

November Sanctuary Stewards: Liz Bushma and Sharon Glass

Pastor-to-People

Dear RRPC Community,

A church, like a person, needs to know what they believe in order to have an identity. To answer the question, "Who am I?" I must know what I believe and what I stand for.

For the church to answer the question, "Who are you?" we need

to know what we believe and what we stand for.

So for three Sundays in November (Nov 2, 16, and 30) we will explore in the Adult Christian Education class at 11:15 our beliefs. That is to say, our

identity as Presbyterians. We will be using two books by Donald K. McKim. One is Presbyterian Questions, Presbyterian Answers as well as More Presbyterian Questions, More Presbyterian Answers. Both are available for purchase online.

I highly recommend them.

This Sunday, November 2, we will consider this question: What do Presbyterians believe about God, Jesus Christ and Humanity? (Chapters 3-5 in Presbyterian Questions). I hope you will come with your questions and your insights. 

Let's all try to get clear about our identity, who we are, what we believe, and what we plan to do in the world for the sake of Christ our Lord.

I want to extend a special invitation to all our officers, especially those who will be elected during our congregational meeting on November 9.

Peace and hope,

Frank

 “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:18-19) 

The older I get, the less I take things and people for granted and the more I naturally seem to practice gratitude. I try to be grateful for many things every day: my life and health, and the lives and good health of my loved ones; and the beauty and complexity of this amazing earth and all of its inhabitants. I’m also so grateful for the church home I’ve found at Rio Rancho Presbyterian Church. 

When I was younger, I took ‘church’ for granted - I believed that the Church would always be there if and when I needed it, that the Church as an institution was a permanent fixture in American society. As an older, ‘wiser’ person, I have realized that the Church is by no means a given in our society, that each church is only as strong as its current congregation, and that no institution can be assumed to be permanent in today’s society. 

This is worth taking a moment to think about. It means that as our society changes, so must we, the Church, continue to change. For some congregations, these changes include no longer being able to afford a full time pastor or sharing a pastor with other congregations. For some congregations, it means having to give up their building or sharing a building with other organizations. 

We are blessed here at RRPC to not have to face some of those hard decisions. For us though, it means that we need to be able and willing to support a new pastor, which in 2025 in the PCUSA includes being able to help a pastor and their family pay for medical insurance. 

We are a strong, vibrant and generous congregation and I have no doubt that we will step up to do whatever it takes to make that happen. As we approach this season of stewardship, I would invite you to prayerfully consider your pledge for 2026. Our church does not have an endowment to fall back on in lean times. We depend on the generosity of the folks who pledge and give in order for us to make our yearly budget, each and every year. Please consider pledging if you haven’t done so in the past. Pledging makes planning for the future so much easier. And if you can, consider increasing your pledge - for the future of RRPC.

God is calling us to ‘a new thing’ - and I have faith that we will meet that call. 

In peace, 

Birgitta

The Nominating Committee has completed its work for the year and we have the following members to put forward for office.

Elders for Class of 2028:

Crystal Mitchell

Nancy Shambach

Karen Williams

David Sternberg

Deacons for Class of 2028:

Karen Beaton

Lyn Kulk

Hazel Lathrop

Lisa Wengerd

Congregational Meeting

Sunday, November 9th

after worship service

Please plan to attend this very brief meeting after worship service. We will be electing the Elders and Deacons for the Class of 2028. Thank you!

It's a Small World!

I attended the Presbyterian Women of the Synod of the Southwest Fall Gathering in Scottsdale, Arizona on October 24-25. Pictured are Kathy Mitchell, me and Ruthie Mitchell. It was so very nice to walk in, know someone, and worship with them! There were 120 women from all over the Southwest in attendance, including Conrad Rocha, our honorary member of Presbyterian Women. Our theme was from Colossians 3:14;

"And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity."

And we did just that! - Liz Bushma

Church Women United

Friday, November 7th

starting at 9:30am

Central United Methodist Church, 201 University Blvd. NE

The theme is “Help Others at All Times.” The guest speaker will be Anna Trillo, Director of Community Engagement, at the Immigrant Law Center. They will also be the recipient of our CWU Human Rights Award. 

Coffee fellowship will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the program beginning at 10:00. A collection of feminine hygiene items for St. Timothy Lutheran’s "Period Cupboard" will be taken. 

Come, and bring a friend! For more information, contact Shirley Nilsson at 505-463-3657.

Filled to Overflowing!

The Mission Committee would like to thank everyone who donated to our Socktober Mission which took place during the month of October.

381 pairs of socks!

We collected 381 pairs of socks for the Storehouse West Kids Clothes Closet.

Storehouse West Collection Jar

Thank you so much to everyone who contributed change and dollars to our collection jar which benefits Storehouse West. The amount collected last month is $79.60.

This is an ongoing mission.

Thank you!

Thanksgiving Pies 2025

It’s time for the annual Thanksgiving Pies To Go sale that supports Scholarships of Grace. Pies will go on sale Sunday, November 2nd. Fill out a form at the ‘Pie Table’ before or after church or, starting November 6th, pies can be ordered by emailing Don Underwood at donunm@gmail.com or calling at 505 903-9889.

Pies will be ready for pickup after church November 23, 2025, until 1pm.

Orders must be placed by Sunday November 16, 2025.

Choice of whole pies which feature homemade crust.

(15 pies of each type are available to order):

Laura’s Mom’s Heirloom Pumpkin Pie by Laura Gonzales: $18

                       A Thanksgiving Tradition

Decadent Maple Pecan Pie by Victoria Flick: $18

                     Real maple syrup makes this a special pie

Old Fashioned Chocolate Meringue Pie by Nancy Leffler: $18

         Homemade chocolate custard and fresh meringue

                 Definitely a favorite of chocolate lovers

Classic Apple Pie by Shirley Underwood and her team: $18

Ready to bake pie so you can enjoy the smell. The pie has a mixture of several varieties of apples. Serve it warm with Ice Cream



Whole Pies: Pumpkin, Pecan, and Chocolate pies are baked and will be ready to eat after thawing. Enjoy the aroma of the apple pie as you bake it in your oven at home.

Pie Slices: Fresh slices of Pumpkin and Chocolate pie can also be ordered.



Old Fashioned Chocolate Meringue Pie by Nancy Leffler: $5                 

Laura’s Mom’s Heirloom Pumpkin Pie by Laura Gonzales: $5

There will be a limited number of pies and pie slices available, so order early. 

Scholarships of Grace are awarded each summer to youth who are continuing their education on a certificate program or college and who were active or their families were active in our church during their high school careers. Scholarships are $600/year for up to five years. If we have a good fund-raising year, scholarships may be larger.

Church Calendar November 2 - 8, 2025

November Birthdays

2 RJ Van Sweden

3 Angela Resner

5 Gerry Benz, Pat Dipprey

5 Ron Kron,Cathryn Weisenhaus

6 Savannah Warren

14 Thom Hinks

17 Addyson Landon

18 Dave Sternberg

19 Wandalea Henson

20 Ona Mitchell

25 Josh Landon

26 Pam Scalco

29 Maria Chávez, Priscilla Landon

We are about one month away from our Presbytery of Santa Fe Fall Retreat, November 22-23, at Covenant Presbyterian Church, ABQ. We are excited to welcome back the Austin College ACtivators for 2 days of worship, fun, and fellowship together! We'll meet at 9:30 am Saturday morning and wrap up around 10:45 am after the conclusion of Sunday worship on the 23rd.

Please have your youth register, share the flyer and encourage your youth to sign up. We'd love to have another great crew present!

More updates and a packing list will go out to those registered as the dates approach. 

Deadline: Sunday, November 23rd

It's that time of year again when the Worship Committee asks our RRPC family to volunteer to write a page of our Advent Devotional. The theme this year is Gifts of the Spirit: the gifts of hope, peace, joy and love. You can reflect on when you have experienced those gifts, or how we can give those gifts to others in this dark time. You can also share a holiday recipe, craft or tradition for this devotional! If you signed up on Sunday, thank you! If you would like to participate, please email Birgitta at birgus61@gmail.com. I will also have a table set up this coming Sunday. The deadline for all submissions is Sunday, Nov. 23. 

Prayer Concerns

“Prayer is asking God to align you with His will rather than asking Him to be aligned with yours.”

Jim McInroy

Sheila Malmo's daughter, Alice

For DR Congo, Gaza, Iran, Israel, Sudan, Afghanistan, and Ukraine.

For all victims of gun violence, war, unrest

and all those in the path of Hurricane Melissa.

 Rio Rancho Presbyterian Church

1004 24th Street, SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124

505.892.6664

Office Hours

Monday – Thursday | 9am–3pm