Weekly Witness

December 23, 2025

Sunday, December 28, 2025

1st Sunday after Christmas

Dollars for Deacons Offering

Scripture: Matthew 2: 13-23

Sunday: Livestream; Bulletin

Last Week's Sermon: That's Just Impossible!

Christmas Eve Service: Livestream; Bulletin

Interim Pastor: Rev. Frank Yates

Liturgist: Adam Pitts

Psalmist: Cyndi Pitts

Greeter: Ginger Wall

Ushers: Leah & Pat Gerlach, Crystal Hughes, Michael Hughes

Flowers: Given by Joan Roschevitz in memory of her husband, Larry

Early Morning Security: Pat Gerlach

December Sanctuary Stewards: Birgitta Gustafson and Camise Kettner

January Sanctuary Stewards: Ginny O'Neill and Scott Roberts

Pastor to People

Dear RRPC Family and Friends,

It is such a blessing to spend a second Christmas with you. Looking back I had just begun my time with you last year. This year's Christmas season feels very different. I have gotten to know you so much better and to appreciate you even more. You really are a lovely congregation and it has been my pleasure to serve you.

So I wanted to wish all of you a blessed Christmas. And on behalf of our entire staff, I wanted to say "thank you" for all your kindness and support. All of us on the staff feel cared for and loved in this congregation. What a Christmas gift that is!

I look forward to seeing many of you at our 7pm Christmas Eve Service. This year I am happy to announce we already have the candles out and ready for our final hymn "Silent Night"! (Those of you here last year know what I am talking about!) Then we will gather on Sunday December 28 to continue our celebration of the birth of our Lord. Christmas season, as you know. continues until Epiphany on January 6. So more Christmas joy to come.

My prayer for us all this Christmas season is truly for "peace on earth," as the angels promised over Bethlehem. May the Prince of Peace rule in our hearts and in our families, in our church and in our world!

Merry Christmas!  

Frank

Last Sunday's Choir Anthem

Let it be made known that last Sunday's anthem entitled: I Too Shall Walk to Bethlehem, by John Rutter was purchased by Cyndie Tidwell in memory of her husband, Norris Wayne Tidwell (1938-2023) who loved music.

Thank you, Cyndie, for your wonderful donation to our music program!

Attention:

Come on Sunday morning to fellowship and share with Tina Resner, (our very first Child Care Worker and Kitchen Staff), as we celebrate her retirement with CAKE!!!

She officially took a leave of absence to see about having her knee replaced; but one thing lead to another - no replacement yet... But she officially retired recently. Tina is excited to see everyone! So let's all sing, "For she's a wonderful lady!" Cards are welcome!

Dr. Meredith Beaton

Sunday Send Off!

Please join this Sunday in “sending off” three of our beloved members as they embark on new adventures in 2026.

Tina Resner is retiring after 35 plus years as our childcare and hospitality provider. She became a friend to many over the years and served this congregation with dedication and kindness. There will be a cake in her honor during hospitality time.

Xander Mishos  is moving to Georgia in January. He has been raised in our church and served in many capacities: youth VBS volunteer, Youth Deacon member, and sound booth operator. And many may not know this, but, he and his father built the beautiful cross that we add flowers to on Easter morning.

Riley Bushma got a job at the ABQ BioPark and is looking forward to using her biology degree. She begins in January and will be working Wednesday through Sunday in the animal clinic and commissary at the zoo. She also has been raised in our church and has, since 2019, been our Sound and Streaming specialist.



Please join us Sunday, December 28^th as we bless, and with gratitude, send off these three wonderful people!

LAST CHANCE!

The Capital Campaign will continue until December 31st for last minute donations (for tax year 2025)!

We are very appreciative of the congregation's and friends' generous support for the 3-year campaign to upgrade our HVAC cooling/heating units, install a new roof, replace the parking lot and improve the lighting; and our ongoing last project to upgrade our building's stucco. The stucco project will be completed in 2026. The campaign began October 2022 and concludes December 2025. Our current pledge balance (pledges still due) is about $26,000. The Capital Campaign will continue to accept donations through the end of the year. 

Last Sunday, Joan and Liz visited with Doug Thomas at an assisted living residence in Albuquerque where he has been living for 2 months. He was in good spirits and said that he feels so blessed to be living there. 

His new address is:

Doug Thomas

6001 Roger Avenue NE

Albuquerque, NM 87110

January's Book:

The Last Devil to Die, by Richard Osman

We will be meeting at Nancy Henriksen's home on January 27th at 2pm. Her address is: 507 Cherish Street, Rio Rancho, NM. Feel free to contact her at nanscott4413@msn.com.

Please join us! All are welcome!

February's Book: Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Kimmerer.

For those who would like a head start.

Church Calendar

December 28, 2025 - January 3, 2025

Church Office Hours

The church office will be closed for Christmas Eve, December 24, Christmas Day, December 25, New Year's Eve, December 31, and New Year's Day, January 1st.

December Birthdays

26 Bill Cox

28 Birgitta Gustafson

02 Yassine Kamel

03 Sheila Malmo

06 Matuke Fomukong

07 Ron Schmidt

08 Blake Osburn

13 Scott Roberts

25 Bob Simpson

27 Ginny O'Neill

28 Valerie Mishos

29 Linda Maddux

30 Betty Gobeille, Bill Wehner

31 Hayden Smith

Memorial Service for Dick Pederson

A memorial service is being planned for Dick Pederson on Saturday, January 3rd at 1pm. Rev. Kathy Westmoreland will be officiating. Light refreshments will be served in the Fellowship Hall afterwards.

Storehouse West

Giving

So far in December our congregation has given

$332.86 for the December 7th 2cents a Meal Offering

$84.54 from the collection jar in the narthex

and around 200 pounds of food.

Thank you so much for your generosity!

Please note we are still in need for people to transport goods from the church to Storehouse West. Right now, we have two people signed up and are looking for three more. Please call the church office at 505-892-6664.

---Your Mission Committee

Current needs:

• Soup
• Fruits & vegetables
• Meat or meat pouches
• Tomato products
• Pasta Sauce & Pasta
• 1 lb. or 2 lb. bags of Rice
• 1lb. bags of Dried Beans
• Ramen noodles
• 16 oz. plastic jars of Peanut Butter
• Breakfast Cereal
• Shelf stable Milk of all types No GLASS JARS, please!

Music Ministry Christmas Party!

Sue & Roger Phillips home

Thank you to Sue & Roger for hosting this year's Music Ministry Christmas Party! We were so happy to celebrate your first Christmas party in your new home! What joy (and relief) you must feel to be finally (almost?) moved in! The food and fellowship were excellent. Your hospitality and the home tours were greatly appreciated.

Season’s greetings!

As we approach Christmas week, many of us are putting the final touches on our holiday “to-dos”– Here is one additional item to add to your list:

Register for the Luminosity Conference and finalize your workshop selections before early-bird registration ends on December 31.

A few things to keep in mind as the month winds down:

• Workshops are open and filling quickly
• Early-bird savings end 12/31
• Scholarships and group discounts are still available
• You can modify your registration at any time to add workshops

We hope Luminosity will be a bright spot in your plans for the new year—a time to learn, rest, and connect with others seeking renewed energy in ministry.

To learn more and register, please visit the Luminosity Conference website. If you have any questions about registration, workshops, or scholarship support, you can contact us at serving@presbyterianfoundation.org.

We would be delighted to see you at Luminosity 2026!

Wishing you a peaceful and joyful Advent season,

The Luminosity Conference Team

Presbyterian Foundation | Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Prayer Concerns

“And whatever you ask in Prayer, you will receive, if you have Faith.” Matthew 21:22.

Pastor Frank, eye surgery & recovery

Ona Mitchell, Healing

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