living god’s love, justice, and inclusion...april 20 holy week and easter adult forums april 23...
TRANSCRIPT
Newsletter Title
Special Events:
Project Share
April 20
Adult Forums
April 23 & 30
Living God’s Love, Justice, and Inclusion
April 1, 2017
Volume 44, Issue 4
Inside this issue:
From the Pastor 2
Scriptures 3
Congregational
Preschool
3
SW Conference
Annual Meeting
4
Adult Forums 5
Prayers 5
SWC Mission Board 6
Around the Parrish 6
Signposts
Holy Week and Easter
April 9, 10:30 a.m.
Palm Sunday Worship with Procession of Palms
April 12, 7:00 p.m.
Maundy Thursday Service
April 16, Easter Sunday
8:30-10:00 a.m. Easter Breakfast
10:30 a.m. Worship
After worship: Easter Egg Hunt
Flowers for Easter
Help us transform the Dark Wood into a beautiful flower garden!
Join us after worship on Sunday April 9th to make flowers that
will decorate our trees in the sanctuary. Everyone is welcome to
help make flowers.
March 20, 2017
Dear Beloved,
During this Lent season, we are asking important questions about how we follow Jesus
in the world today. Immigration is high on our list. We wonder what people of faith can
do to help immigrants and refugees in our community. We are meeting after worship
on April 2 to continue this conversation. It is a potluck day, so please grab a plate and
head to the library as we continue to discern God’s call for us.
A group of us will be traveling to El Paso and Juarez April 20-23 to learn more about
the life of immigrants and to gain a deeper understanding about ways we can help.
You will hear from us as we return.
We have been exploring the theme “Gifts of the Dark Wood” during Lent and we will
have a beautiful service on Maundy Thursday in the Chapel at 7 pm. This service will
feature monologues from those who were closest to Jesus. We will sit around tables
and experience what it was like for those were with him in those last days. The service
ends with candlelight prayers in the sanctuary. Join us as we reflect together.
Easter Sunday will be a joyous celebration! Our youth will serve a pancake breakfast
from 8:30-10:00 am. Donations from the breakfast will support the youth trip to
Chicago. Worship will be fabulous with special music and brass. Following the service,
our children will hunt Easter eggs on the playground.
On Sunday, April 23rd we will celebrate Green Justice and Creation. Joan Brown,
director of New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light will be preaching. The following
Sunday, we will celebrate Youth Sunday. The youth will provide leadership and I will be
preaching. I am sure you will be hearing about our Border Immersion trip the previous
weekend.
Our Ministry Leadership Team and Paul Hook are working together to put together
ministry teams and would like to help you offer your gifts in a way that makes a
difference. Talk to one of the Ministry Leadership Team members, Sue or Paul Hook to
discover opportunities to serve in the coming year. You are welcome and needed to
help us live our mission in the world.
Finally, an invitation to help us fund ministry. As we prepare to add a new staff
member, we are looking for additional ways to generate revenue. We welcome your
energy and ideas for this. Please talk to Sue if you have thoughts about this.
I am so grateful for all of you. Together, we are God’s people in the world.
Blessings,
Sue
From the Pastor
Page 2
From the
Pastor
April 14—Good Friday
Isaiah 52:13—53:12; Psalm 22;
Hebrews 10:16-25; John 18:1—19:42
April 15—Holy Saturday
Job 14:1-14; Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16;
1 Peter 4:1-8; Matthew 27:57-66
April 16—Easter
Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24;
Colossians 3:1-4; Matthew 28:1-10
April 23—Second Sunday of Easter
Acts 2:14a, 22-32; Psalm 16;
1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31
April 30—Third Sunday of Easter
Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19;
1 Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35
April 2—Fifth Sunday in Lent
Ezekiel 37:1-14, Psalm 130;
Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45
April 9—Sixth Sunday in Lent
Palm/Passion Sunday
Palm Readings: Matthew 21:1-11;
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
Passion Readings: Isaiah 50:4-9a;
Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11;
Matthew 26:14—27:66
April 13—Maundy Thursday
Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14;
Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19; 1 Corinthians
11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35
Scriptures for April Page 3
April we are collecting
change for groceries for
Emma, a woman who is
in Sanctuary at the
Albuquerque Friends
Meeting House.
Change for Change
Congregational
Preschool
Jefferson Middle
School Collaboration
We are so grateful to be able to
spend time with our neighbors
across the street. Jefferson
Middle School Leadership Group
visited our preschool on March
15, 2017, CrAzY HaT dAy. Our
students listened to stories,
participated in a project, played
on the playground, ate snack
together, and danced! This is
our second visit this year and we
look forward to many more in the
future. Thank you to Ms. Elena,
Mr. Ryan, and the Jefferson
Leadership Group.
Page 4
COUNTDOWN TO HOSTING THE UCC SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE ANNUAL MEETING - 1 MONTH
As you know, we are hosting the United Church of Christ Southwest Conference's Annual Regional
Meeting on May 5th and 6th, and WE NEED YOU! We are looking for three general volunteers on
both Friday, May 5th and on Saturday, May 6th; you don't have to do both days. If you can join our
happy team, please let Steve Winton know at 505/554-2008 or [email protected].
Thanks so much!
House Hospitality
We are looking for a few members that would be
willing to host an attendee to the Southwest UCC
conference. The dates housing is being
requested are Thursday May 4 through Saturday
May 6. One of our members has used house
hospitality in the past and reports it is a
wonderful experience. The host may or may not
choose to provide breakfast on Friday and
Saturday mornings. For some attendees the cost
of traveling to Albuquerque and paying for a hotel
stay is financially difficult. If you are interested in
hosting a fellow UCC member, please contact Pat
Maben at 504-2466 or [email protected].
Art Auction for Bus Passes
Vera Rice and Marcia Schreiner have each kindly donated a piece of original art that will be on
display in fellowship hall throughout March and until Easter. You can bid on these pieces during
that time and the winners will be announced Easter Sunday. Proceeds from the auction will help
fund our bus pass program for those who need them, which has distributed around 50 bus passes
over the last year. Each bus pass costs $2.
Meth, Spencer, Craig, Wesley, Glenn, Charles, Amanda, Boo, Tammy, Mike,
Tom, Vic, Deborah, Jay, Lisa, Dave, Laurie and all who mourn.
We Remember in Our Thoughts and Prayers
Page 5 Easter Egg Hunt
We will be having our annual Easter Egg Hunt after the Easter Breakfast
on April 16th. We are seeking donations of non-chocolate candies, small
toys, and fun stickers to put in the plastic Easter eggs.
There will be a donation box in the narthex on Sunday April 2nd & 9th in
which you can place these items.
Thank you for participating in this fun event!
Advance Directives/Medical Aid in Dying April 23
Carol Grisham from Compassionate Care will discuss the need for
every adult to execute advance directives to ensure that they
receive the care they desire at end of life. New Mexico has a very
good advance directive law. Carol will provide each attendee a
packet of information with New Mexico forms that will assist an
individual to consider what their options are for care at end of life
and how they can make those desires know to health care
personnel caring for them. Informing your loved ones through an
advance directive about what your wishes are for end of life care
is a gift that reduces the stresses on your loved ones.
Creation Myths April 30
In December, Krys Douglas presented a very interesting forum on
Celtic Christianity. At this forum she will talk about creation
myths. Societies create an oral tradition of how the world and
cosmos was created and how humans first inhabited the earth.
Those who attended her first forum know that this will be a
fascinating and interesting forum.
Page 6
Around the Parish…
This new part of the newsletter is a place to hear
what is happening in the lives of our members.
Please let us know if you have news to share:
births, baptisms, illness, recovery, retirement,
deaths of loved ones. Here we will share our lives
together. We will not publish news without your
permission and we hope you will submit
milestones so that we can let others know what is
happening in your life.
Mission and Church Vitality Committee (MCVC) met on Saturday, March 25, and approved for final vote at Annual
Meeting several changes to the by-laws including language adjustments to recognize new guidelines coming from
the National setting - such as including "Community" as a designated member of the Conference. This is to
recognize different types of settings within the community that agree with UCC polity and actions, and wish to be
an active part of our Conference. Also, one change will affect "Authorized Ministers" reflecting expected changes
coming from the National setting that creates a wider path to ordination, and will lump all types of ministry under
ordination.
MCVC also approved a new Conference Committee - the Endowment Fund Management Committee (EFMC)
which will consist of 4 members from the Conference and the Conference Treasurer as ex-officio with voice and
vote. The EFMC has become important due to an influx of several million dollars from the sale of property of two
churches that have closed. It is felt that these monies should be separate from the general budget of the
conference, and used for special projects, missions and other needs. Please note, that this does not indicate we
should drop our tithes to the OCWM or the Conference!!
Also, you will see our Conference Minister, Rev. Bill Lyons, voted on for change to Settled Conference Minister
from Designated Conference Minister. This simply gives Bill the job for the duration, instead of being a
contracted term with an end date. Now either side may simply say yes or no to continuing our relationship.
And if you're planning to come to Annual Meeting, there will be no packets available with all the reports, agenda,
actions, etc. available when you arrive. Technology changes make it greener and more proactive to not create
piles of paper. Now you may simply print out your own copies, or download to your device of choice to have all
this at your fingertips. Should you require a printed copy, you are now asked to get this from your own church.
We ended the meeting doing a Bible study based on a Justice and Witness Curriculum from several years ago
called JLED: Justice Leaders Engaging and Developing. We explored how when things got bad, prophets arose to
speak God's word to the people. Think about this question, in light of things going on now: "How is working for
justice related to our baptism promise?" Could be something for us to consider.
And finally, if you attend Annual Meeting, you'll get to hear our very own John Dorhauer, now General Minister and
President of the UCC, preach at the closing worship!
From Rev. Susy Gaffney, Our SWC Mission Board Delegate
The Rummage Sale is Coming
As you are spring cleaning, please remember to
bring items to the church for our Rummage Sale
on June 3. We will not be doing clothing this year,
but other items are welcome. Please mark
electronic items so we know what works. If you
are available to help, please be in touch with Sue.
Leadership
Marcia Harris
Moderator
J. T. Vaughn
Vice-Moderator
Janet McHard
Treasurer
Shawn L. Penman
Secretary
Rev. Gail Joralemon
Covenantal Partner in Ministry
Rev. Susy Gaffney
SWC Mission Board Delegate
Ted Harris
Building & Grounds
Pat Maben
Faith Development
Danny Eitingon
Congregational Life
Pastor & Staff
Rev. Sue Joiner
Senior Minister
Kris Nolan
Director of Congregational
Preschool
Paul Morbitzer
Administrative Assistant/
Bookkeeper
Tim Beach
Building Superintendent
Ruth Striegel
Director of Music
Venessa Vogel
Nursery Attendant
Max Bode
Nursery Assistant
Paul Hook
Sunday Assistant
Rev. Mary Browne
Social Justice &
Outreach
Ann Fenton
Preschool Committee
Spencer Hatcher
Web Master
God is Still Speaking.
2801 Lomas Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM
87106
Phone: 505-265-5749
Fax: 505-265-5740
E-mail: [email protected]
First Congregational
United Church of
Christ
An Open and Affirming,
Peace with Justice and
Green Justice
Congregation
Living God’s Love,
Justice, and Inclusion
As our parking lot fills up, we are
inviting you to park in the Jefferson
Middle School lot across the street. If
you are able to do so, please park
across the street and make room in the
church lot for visitors and those who
need to park close to the building.
First Congregational United Church of Christ
Electronic giving available on our
website: http://firstuccabq.org
Page 7
April 2017
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23
30
24 25 26 27 28 29
9 am Building & Grounds Work Day
6:30pm Line Dancing
7:30 am Meal Prep 5pm Meal Serving
Project Share
6 pm Preschool Committee
10:30 am Text Study 12 pm Master Plan 6 pm Fitness Class 7 pm Meditation Group
6:30 pm Ministry Teams, Executive Committee
1 pm Prayer Shawl Ministry
1 pm Prayer Shawl Ministry
Potluck Lunch
Faith Development, Social Justice and Outreach
Sunday School for Children & Adults 9:30 am Sunday Worship 10:30 am
Pastor’s Day Off
Pastor’s Day Off
Pastor’s Day Off
Pastor’s Day Off
4:30 pm Progressive Christianity 6:30pm Line Dancing
6:30pm Line Dancing
10:30 am Text Study 12 pm Building & Grounds 6 pm Fitness Class 7 pm Meditation Group
10:30 am Text Study 12 pm Master Plan 6 pm Fitness Class 7 pm Meditation Group
Youth Group
Deadline for Signposts Articles
4:30pm Progressive Christianity
Communion in the Chapel
6 pm Fitness Class
6 pm Fitness Class
6 pm Fitness Class
6 pm Fitness Class
10:30 am Text Study 6 pm Fitness Class 7 pm Meditation Group
6:30pm Line Dancing Church Office Closed
Listening Sessions Newcomer Orientation
Communion in the Chapel
1 pm Personnel Committee
7 pm Maundy Thursday Service
Good Friday
Easter
4:30pm Progressive Christianity
4:30pm Progressive Christianity