Weekly Witness for the Community Beyond Our Church

June 6, 2025

Sunday, June 8, 2025

Pentecost

Sermon Text: John 14: 15-21 

Livestream worship. Bulletin.

Liturgist and Psalmist: Nancy and Dave

Why The Emphasis on Pentecost by We Presbyterians?

Pentecost signifies the birthday of the church, the moment when the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples to begin spreading the Gospel. Pentecost marks the transition from a small group of followers to a wider Christian movement, fueled by the Spirit's presence and the ability to share the message of Jesus. It's a time for celebrating the Holy Spirit's work in empowering believers, drawing them together, and enabling them to proclaim God's plan for reconciliation. It is also the anniversary of the founding of this church -- this year marks our 39th!

A Note from the June 3rd Called Session Meeting from the Clerk & Moderator

At the Special Session meeting held this past Tuesday June 3, it was decided that we form a Technology Task Force of the Session to review all the technological equipment in our church and to make recommendations for any enhancements or changes we need to consider. This Task Force will hopefully be formed at the June 24 Session meeting. If you are interested in serving on this Task Force, please contact Pastor Frank at the church office or Marie Fry, Session Clerk, (608) 553-2210.

The Task Force will examine our security system, our computers, our sound system, our streaming service, our website, and any possible changes to current technology in the sanctuary. One possible

change may be a screen in the sanctuary, but that is for the Task Force to consider. The Task Force will then recommend any changes to Session. You as a congregation will have input into any and all of these recommendations, if you choose to do so. Hopefully there will be a forum provided for your input either in person or through written comments. So stay tuned.

As always, the Session asks for your prayers as we discern the will of God for our congregation.

Thanks so much!  

Pastor Frank, Moderator of Session

Marie Fry – Clerk of Session

Hello From Our Phantom Member/Attendee and Most Exquisite Wardrobe Princess

This is how Diane comes to Erin Carrasco's Thursday morning exercise class! Note the purple anklets with purple ruffles. Even her tote matches. What an inspiration!

Men's Breakfast - This Saturday, June 7, 8am

Join us for a delicious breakfast, fellowship and the opportunity to get to know our new member, Michael Hughes. His presentation will be "My Story and What I've Learned Along the Way". This you don't want to miss!

Pastor to the People

This Sunday is Pentecost, sometimes called the Birthday of the Church. So Happy Birthday, Church, on this your 1,992nd birthday! (Assuming the first birthday was in the year 33 CE!)

So let's look at what happened in Acts 2. It all begins with the Spirit resting upon Jesus' disciples who began to speak in languages they had never known before. They spoke to the Jewish pilgrims coming to Jerusalem for the Pentecost festival. These folks heard the disciples in their own languages and were amazed.

Next, Peter preaches a sermon that has three main points (like any good preacher!). First, the prophetic hope of Joel 2 was being fulfilled in their midst, the promise of the Spirit given to all people. Second, Jesus crucified and risen is the fulfillment of Israel's hopes for a Messiah. Third, all the people are summoned to repentance, forgiveness, and the gift of the Spirit in baptism. That was the first sermon given in the new Christian community forming in Jerusalem.

But here is the amazing impact of that sermon. About 3,000 people were baptized! Imagine! Then they gather for fellowship, the breaking of the bread and prayer. Then, astonishing generosity broke out and people "had all things in common", sharing what they had with others. The text says they had "glad and generous hearts." And many more folks were attracted to this loving and gracious community, so the party grew larger and larger.

When I read Acts 2, my first thought is this, "Maybe we need a New Pentecost". When the wind of the Spirit catches our sails, then amazing things will happen. My prayer for RRPC and all our churches is that the Spirit of Christ will catch us up in a new enthusiasm, a renewed commitment to our life together, and that amazing things will happen in us and through us. For the glory of God and for the building up of our community for service in the world God loves. That is my Birthday

Prayer for the church. Hope to see you Sunday to celebrate. And remember to wear red to celebrate the Spirit coming like tongues of fire.

Peace and hope,

Frank

Finance Committee Corner

We thank you for your support of our church mission and operations. Overall, our financial status is good. Our per capita is better but still down from where we would like, so we are asking that you submit your donation ($37 per member) as soon as possible. 

We are also asking the congregation to consider assisting us with counting the Sunday offering. If you are interested, please reach out to the finance team. We will have an informational meeting in a few weeks to discuss the process, and we thank you for your consideration.

At the May 20 Session meeting, we discussed our need for volunteers to come in at 8am on Sundays and be available until 9:30 to provide back-up for our church staff who also come early every Sunday to prepare for worship. An great example of why early-morning volunteers are needed: on Mother's Day, we had a water incident in the bathrooms that required immediate attention. Fortunately enough people were there early that day to take the clean-up and response burden off Nancy, who arrives at 8. It is for that kind of situation that we need a volunteer to help us navigate a response. We will post a vendor contact list to help volunteers respond to any kind of concern, whether it be medical- or building-related, or any other safety issue.

Pat Gerlach and Frank Yates will join the rotation of folks coming at 8am. We hope to have about 7 or 8 volunteers who would come early only once every two months. You can sign up in the narthex for this early Sunday morning ministry.

We have the June slots filled. Your presence will be much appreciated. Please talk to Pat or Frank if you have questions.

Thanks much,

Frank

Mission Corner

Hygiene Kits - Mission in Action

Please join us to assemble 50 Hygiene Kits this Sunday, June 8th, after Pentecost worship in the Fellowship Hall! All the kit materials will be provided! See you then!

Storehouse West (SHW) Needs Financial Help

Food deliveries funded by Federal programs have been paused without any preparation or explanation, so that the total amount of food provided to food banks has declined significantly. "Your financial support is crucial now more than ever, as our Federal funding has been frozen". (SHW website)

The number of people SHW is serving has increased dramatically in the last few years. We had been averaging 55,000 people a year, but jumped to over 79,000 people in 2024. (From the SHW Facebook page)

Want to donate? PayPal , or a send a check to 1030-F Veranda Rd SE, Rio Rancho 87124.

Current non-monetary needs: 16 oz plastic-only jars of peanut butter, cereal (with minimal added sugar), canned meat, macaroni and cheese, canned vegetables, canned fruit, and ramen. 

Together, you and SHW can fight hunger and bring hope to local families who need it most.

Pentecost Offering This Sunday June 8

This Sunday the RRPC Pentecost offering will be received with 40% designated for at-risk youth in the Republic of Cuba. The country is in an economic crisis, and the future for many of its youth is dim. Our gifts will be sent through the Cuba Partner Network to give hope to our young neighbors. Please give as you are able.

The Mission Committee thanks you for your support for all of the above.

Calendar

June 7 — June 14, 2025

Prayer Concerns

Prayer in action is love, love in action is service. 

~Mother Teresa 

For Tim Morris, who was hospitalized this week.

For Verona Schmidt's niece, Carmen Green, as she battles leukemia.

For burn victims and their families after the attack in Boulder last Sunday.

For Ukraine, Israel, Sudan, Congo, and Russia.

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