Weekly Witness

May 13, 2026

Sunday, May 17, 2026

7th Sunday of Easter

Scripture: John 17: 1-11

Sunday: Livestream; Bulletin

Interim Pastor: Rev. Frank Yates

Liturgist: Linda Hood

Psalmist: Dave Shambach

Greeters: Leah & Pat Gerlach

Ushers: Cip & Maria Chavez, Sharon Glass, Karen Williams

Early Morning Security: Bill Cox

May Sanctuary Stewards: Crystal Mitchell and Karen Williams

Director of Music: Nancy Leffler

Accompanist: Nathan Secrest

To view Sunday morning service, simply click on the word Livestream above. You can always go to the church website;

Main page; scroll down to Next Livestream Service to access

the upcoming Sunday service.

Pastor to People

Dear RRPC Family and Friends,

In 1972, Peter O'Toole starred in a quirky movie called The Ruling Class. Although not a commercial success, it has since become something of a cult classic. It is the story of a rather strange British nobleman (O'Toole) who inherits an estate though he is decidedly unfit. One reason is that he thinks is Jesus Christ. One of his memorable lines is this: "I must be God. For whenever I pray, I discover I am talking to myself."

That line stopped me in my tracks when I first heard it. It still does, even to this day. It got me wondering, "What exactly happens when I pray?" Am I just "talking to myself", even my "higher self" (whatever that is)? So what do you think is happening when and if you pray? Is it just a conversation with yourself? I hope not. 

So this Sunday's sermon is based on Jesus' High Priestly Prayer in John 17, where he prays for his disciples before his departure. Was Jesus merely talking to himself? I really hope not! 

Every Sunday, we lift up people and situations before the Lord in prayer. It is my fervent hope that we trust God to hear our prayers and answer them in His wisdom and mercy. Otherwise, why should we pray? Praying together is very powerful and that is what makes worship an experience of the holy and the sacred. Praying "in our closet", that is, alone, can also be a holy moment of reverence before God...if we trust that God hears us and cares about our prayers. 

So this Sunday, I invite you to contemplate with me the meaning of our prayer life. To whom are we addressing our prayers? Does God hear and care about our prayers? Was Peter O'Toole correct when he said, "I must be God, for whenever I pray, I discover I am talking to myself"? I hope not!

Lord, hear our prayers,

Frank

Service of Justice and Hope

TONIGHT, May 13th

Service of Justice and Hope

Wednesday, May 13, at 6:30 p.m.

Rio Rancho Presbyterian Church

The church of Jesus Christ serves as the radiant light that creates the blueprints for a new world,

    transforming strangers into neighbors who share a horizon of hope,

    shaping every beam into a beacon of truth,

    bending every ray toward human dignity,

    and illuminating a future wide enough for every life to flourish.

You are invited to join us for this time of worship to be led by Rev. Dr. Rob Woodruff, as we seek to offer to the presbytery and to the world a place of welcome and inclusion where we are inspired and encouraged to persevere in shining God’s light and to embody the truths and teachings of Jesus Christ for the good of all humanity. If you are unable to worship with us in person, you can still participate through the livestream link at https://youtube.com/live/Qw6c9CDx1ZM. 

It will be a blessing to worship with one another.

FLOWERS OR PLANTS

FOR CHURCH SERVICES

Please remember to sign up to enhance our sanctuary with flowers on Sunday! If you would like to provide flowers or a plant for a particular occasion such as birthday, anniversary, or to honor or remember an important person in your life, there is a signup sheet on the counter in the Narthex.

You bring one or two bunches of flowers or plants on Sunday morning to place on the stands at either pulpit or lectern and then take them home with you to enjoy all week. Or you could give them to a deacon to bless one of our shut-in members.

Thank you for helping us beautify our sanctuary!

May's Book:

The Covenant of Water,

by Abraham Verghese

We will be meeting at Cyndie Tidwell's home on Tuesday, May 19th at 12pm. This is a lunch and book meeting. Attendees need to get your food order from Hannah & Nate's in Corrales to Cyndie by Sunday, May 17th. Email: cyndiectidwell@gmail.com.

Her address is: 312 Dixon Rd., Corrales, NM.

Please join us! All are welcome!

This is our last book until September. Enjoy the summer break!

CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF ROUTE 66

IN NEW MEXICO

Hazel Lathrop will be giving her Route 66 presentation:

Tijeras Canyon: 5 Miles of Road and Hundreds of Stories

at the Raymond Sanchez Community Center

9800 4th St NW

Loma Colorado Library

Saturday, May 23^rd at 11am

For more information about the series and the dozen locations for presentations go to:

New Mexico Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series: Home

Birthday Celebration               

& Pentecost Sunday

NEXT Sunday, May 24th

Join us on Sunday, May 24th after worship to celebrate the birthday of the founding of our church and also Pentecost Sunday! We will be wearing fire colors (reds, oranges) for Pentecost. The menu includes pulled pork and pulled turkey sliders, various salads and two huge celebration cakes of chocolate and vanilla. This is a great day to invite neighbors and friends. See the sign up sheet in the narthex to let us know you're coming!

PLEASE SIGN UP SO WE KNOW HOW MANY TO EXPECT!!!

Church Calendar

May 17, 2026 - May 23, 2026

May Birthdays



15 Erin Carrasco

16 Chris Dyer

19 Rodger Kane

24 Pat Gerlach

25 Tori Van Sweden

29 Ndingsa Fomukong

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. Sarah Dimmick - Navy, serving in Kyiv, Ukraine

Sgt. Kevin Lomeli - Army National Guard in Kenya

Kevin A. Baker - US Air Force in England

If you have family members serving here or overseas, please call Ginny at the church office to add them to our list. Church Office: 505-892-6664.

Prayer Concerns

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

Linda Maddux - further treatment

Pat McCreary - recovery at home

Beth Miller - cancer treatments

Sheila Malmo's daughter, Alice

Protection for Everyone against our dreaded allergy season!

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

Office email: manager@rrpchurch.org