Weekly Witness

September 3, 2026

Sunday, September 6, 2026

15th Sunday after Pentecost

Communion Sunday

Scripture: Matthew 18: 15-20 (Message); Psalm 119:33-40; Matthew 18: 15-20 (NRSV)

Sunday: Livestream; Bulletin

Pastor: Rev. Dr. Deborah Huggins

Liturgist: Savannah Ball

Psalmist: Thom Hinks

Communion Servers: Paige Furlano, Pat & Leah Gerlach, Thom Hinks, Camise Kettner, Crystal Mitchell

Greeters: Meredith Beaton and Karen Williams

Ushers: Cip & Maria Chavez, Sally Shirley, Ginger Wall

Flowers: Given by Joe & Linda Maddux, Praise for our new pastor, and Joy as we celebrate our anniversary!

Early Morning Security: Steve Sproul

September Sanctuary Stewards: Sharon Hovey & Hazel Lathrop

Director of Music: Nancy Leffler

Accompanist: Nathan Secrest

How is God calling us to treat one another in our homes, church, and community?

Dear Church Family & Friends,

Thank you all for the warm and wonderful welcome. Jeff and I are thrilled to be here, and I look forward to getting to know each of you over lunch, coffee, and dinner in the weeks ahead.

During this transition, I encourage our entire community to use this time to connect and reconnect with one another. I invite you to reach out to someone new during coffee hour, or perhaps invite an acquaintance to join you for a hike or dinner. If there are any past hurts within our community, this is also a perfect time to pray for reconciliation. Over the next three months, I am committed to spending time getting to know all of you, and I hope you will enjoy growing closer to one another as well.

On Sundays in September, I will be preaching on different aspects of our relationships: conflict, forgiveness, equity, and commitment. I hope we can all reflect on the question: How is God calling us to treat one another in our homes, church, and community?

To prepare for worship next week, 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, we will focus on Matthew 18:21-35. If you cannot join us in person, I invite you to participate from home using the practice of lectio Divina:

 - First reading: Get a feel for the passage—what do you see, hear, smell, or feel?

 - Second reading: Listen for a word or phrase that resonates with you.

 - Third reading: Ask God how this passage is calling you into action, whether big or small.

For more information on Lectio Divina, you can check out: https://www.upperroom.org/resources/lectio-divina-praying-the-scriptures

Pastor Deborah

To Our Wonderful Congregation,

We thought it was an impossible goal…to get the church re-stuccoed, and paid for, by the time Pastor Deborah arrived. It was Pastor Frank’s dearest wish to get this accomplished before his time with us was finished. SURPRISE!!! It’s DONE. How did this happen? People stepped up with creative ideas for fund raisers, donating time and talent.  Two others offered matching funds totaling $15,000. Many folks who had already given generously to the Capital Campaign dug deeper into their pockets and gave more. We not only raised enough money to complete the stucco, we have some left to remain designated for future building improvements and repairs. We give God the glory for God’s great and wonderful works. We also acknowledge that this could not have been done without the support and generosity of this congregation as well as the guiding wisdom of the Project Management Team.

With Love and Gratitude, 

The Stucco Fund Committee

BIll Wehner

Margaret Crowl

Men's Breakfast

THIS Saturday, Sept. 5th

8am

Please join us for a great breakfast and fellowship!

ATTENTION: For the program please come with something to share that has had an impact on you in the past year.

That can be something you've read, listened to (e.g.. music, podcast) or something you experienced. Looking forward to 

hearing the great things happening in your lives.

R.E.A.D. IN BEAUTY BOOKMOBILE

(Reading Empowers Adventures & Dreams)

The bookmobile is one of the programs of Chinle Planting Hope, an organization dedicated to building community, living with hope, and walking in beauty.

Through the month of September, the Mission Committee asks for donations of children’s books. Suggestions are as follows:

1.    Dog Man

2.     I Survived, series (including the new graphic novels)

3.     Ninja Cat books

4.     Captain Underpants

5.     The Baby-Sitters Club (new additions and graphic novels)

Books are always a priority for us, followed by incentives for children who return their books. …. While these are particularly popular with elementary students, any donations are greatly appreciated and help the Bookmobile tremendously. 

Please consider donating books to the Planting Hope Bookmobile in Chinle, AZ. You can place your donations on the display table in the narthex. At the end of September, the books will be blessed by Pastor Deborah.

Our New Pastor Wants

to meet YOU!

COFFEE ANYONE?

Every Monday and Tuesday in September, 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!

Attention Bell Choir

Fall Tune-Up is scheduled for Saturday, September 19th from 9am-12pm at Central United Methodist Church in Albuquerque. Cost is $12.00 each. This is a great opportunity to brush up on skills and learn new techniques. Please let Nancy know if you can attend. We will submit one check for our group.

And there will be plenty of time to rest before coming to church for puzzle night!

Hope to see you there!

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

From the Presbytery

Please forward this invitation to your finance leaders:

Join church finance leaders for a day of learning and sharing best practices. Hear about trends, tools, and stewardship methods to help build your church's financial sustainability. 

Saturday, September 26 from 9 am – 2 pm

La Mesa Presbyterian Church

7401 Copper Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM

This workshop is for pastors, elders, staff, and finance leaders; teams are more than welcome. The event is free and lunch will be provided. Those with long travel times can contact the Presbytery office to arrange hotel accommodations.

Church Calendar

Sept 6, 2026 - Sept 12, 2026

Book Club

Our Book Club resumes in September! Newcomers welcome!!

Our book for September is Theo of Golden by Allen Levi.

We will meet at Nancy Henriksen's home on Tuesday, September 29, 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'd like a headstart; our October book is Best American Short Stories 2024 edited by Lauren Goff.

HAPPY READING!

September Birthdays

3 Ben Wakashige

4 Rebecca Isaacs

5 Aloy Bamberg

5 Roger Phillips

7 Tyler Landon

9 Carolyn Sinclair-Shaw

15 Genevieve Dykehouse

16 Pegge Emery

18 Sue Phillips

19 Rachel Wirth

22 Socorro Tafoya

23 Kevin Cambell, Jack Mishos

25 Scott Henriksen

25 Grace Warren

30 Bob Crowley

30 Carol Nieling

New Email Address

Birgitta Gustafson has a new email address: bgustafson61@pm.me

Please update your directory or request one from Ginny in the office. manager@rrpchurch.org.

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

Prayer Concerns

Romans 8:28 – "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him..."

Bob Kettner - pulmonary embolism

Camise Kettner - as she starts school

Birgitta Gustafson - starting radiation Sept 3

Deb Clamente, friend of Bob & Sue Scott - her husband, Rick, passed on Friday evening.

Bill Wehner - continued recovery

Beth Miller - prayers, surgery recovery

Anne Kinney - chemo treatments

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!!!

Praying for RAIN!!

 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