Updates Beginning 20 July 2025

Margo Nicholson’s Celebration of Life will be held at St. Paul on Tuesday, 12 August at 11am, with a reception following in Fellowship Hall. ~Pr. Van De Motter

Bruce Muggenburg, a long-time member of St. Paul, passed away on June 24th  at the age of 88. Graveside services will be private. See the full obituary at www.frenchfunerals.com. ~Deborah Ash

GoFundMe Page: Pastor Van De Motter’s niece’s son, Callen, 15 months, has been diagnosed with leukemia. The family has created a GoFundMe page. Visit https://www.gofundme.com and search for Klingler. (Support for 15-Month-Old's Leukemia Battle.) ~Deborah Ash

Deadline Next Week: St. Paul Fall Semester 2025 Scholarship Applications. Applications for St. Paul scholarships administered by the St. Paul Scholarship Committee for the benefit of members of St. Paul will be available beginning July 6, 2025 for those who wish to apply.
Application forms may be downloaded from the St. Paul website, www.stpaulabq.org. Completed applications must be received by mail in the St. Paul church office not later than 4:00 p.m. on Monday, July 28, 2025 (or sent by the same deadline in PDF format to info@stpaulabq.org).
The St. Paul Endowed Scholarship fund is comprised of donations from the Meuli and Mutschmann families and includes additional funding from the Voida family. Available funds for this year will be dispersed by the scholarship committee according to the number of qualified applicants. The Olson Scholarship is available only to those members attending a Lutheran or Baptist college or seminary; the amount of this specific category of scholarships will be granted to qualifying students according to available funds.
Applications will be available from St. Paul website beginning July 6, 2025 or in-person at St. Paul Lutheran Church Office. For more information please contact me at omardurant@yahoo.com. Thank you. ~Omar Durant

From Council: Last month Council approved the latest version of the ICE guidelines. It gives information on public and private areas of the church and what to do if law enforcement, ICE or media agents are on the campus.  These agencies are not allowed to enter any areas marked PRIVATE.  There are posted signs in all areas.  The guidelines are posted on the website and in the office.  Staff, congregants and users of the facility will be instructed about Know Your Rights, use of this guideline and the report forms.  We will covenant to maintain confidentiality regarding the documentation status of staff, congregation members, preschool students and families and the neighbors we serve.  Do not prop open exterior doors unless someone stays by the door.
          This is a short summary of the guideline; copies are available in the Welcome Center.  Please become familiar with it, be aware of people around and be safe. ~Nancy Jenkins, Secretary

Our Congregational Project during the time of Sabbatical growing has been to make hats to be given out in the cold months of winter to children, moms, dads, and anyone needing warmth. Our congregation has worked together to use yarn, give time, learn a new project, donate to the cause through materials and/or money to make this project a great success. These hats come from our congregation and outside our congregation by people who just wanted to participate in the mission we chose to commit. From Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, from vacations, from lazy summer days, from family and friends who do not know us but wanted to share, we say thank you, thank you, thank you.
          Over 250 hats, in four sizes for infants through large adults, knitted and crocheted, will be donated to Dignity Mission. Two weeks ago, 12 of our hats went with the donation group to the border to support their 44th trip of donations. This humanitarian support is going to shelters like Casa del Migrante and Resoettrabs in Juarez where migrant families are being housed. Our hats will be transported for sharing in the fall.
          Thank you to the St. Paul Congregation for their support and for the joy that is found in color, size, and warmth that each hat will bring. God’s Work, Our Hands is a mighty way to reach beyond our walls and into the need that lives close to all of us. Blessings and prayers continue that each stitch gives hope and that together, as people of faith, we hold dear that we share love with our neighbors near and far.
          This project can continue as members desire, yarn and looms are available. Hats to be passed out on the streets of Albuquerque during the winter months will be appreciated. The Sabbatical Team: Hal Nilsson, Deb Ash, Pr. Patrick Van de Motter, Pr. Kristi Koppel, Julie Ambrogi, and Sara Love

Adopted Families: We recently helped two folks in need. A man called St. Paul needing help with a gas bill. There had been a lot of costs involved with the passing away of a close relative, plus the man was still helping his grandmother. He was very grateful when we paid his $190 bill. In the second case, a woman needed help with her PNM bill to avoid being disconnected. She had lost her previous job (which didn't pay enough to cover her bills) because her employer cut her hours and let her go instead of working things out. She is doing paper work for a new job but that takes time. She also has a daughter about to give birth. She was in tears when we paid $250 toward her entire PNM bill. Thank you for helping to ease the burdens in other people's lives. ~Kay Schoenefeld, Coordinator

Reminder re Parking Lot: Bradbury Stamm, the construction company working on the UNM Cancer Center project next door, is leasing additional parking spaces weekdays through September 15. These are along the east side of the church, from the choir room door up to the blue curbs. We are waiting for that stretch of curb to be painted green. On weekdays, please drive around to the parking spaces on the south side by the labyrinth. Thank you! ~Deborah Ash & Jolene Gallegos

Mowing Volunteers: Thank you to the two members who have volunteered to help with mowing! We are still looking for a few more, so that the task can be shared and allow for flexibility in scheduling. Please reach out if you can help: facilities@stpaulabq.org or 505-242-5942. Thank you! ~Jolene Gallegos

July’s God’s Work Our Hands project is also the last month of our Sabbatical project making hats for Dignity Mission. This is our big push toward July 27th, when the hats will be blessed by Pr. Van De Motter on his last Sunday with us! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

The Storehouse provides food to many of the neediest in our community. Whatever you can give will be most welcome. Donation barrels are just inside the Narthex doors. Pet food is also needed. ~Nancy Matthews

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Van De Motter
 

From Local Partner Organizations

Today:

We are excited to share a milestone moment with you! This year, HopeWorks marks its 40th anniversary of dedicated service to the homeless community in Albuquerque. Since our inception in 1985, our mission has been to provide essential shelter and supportive services to those in need, and we are proud to celebrate four decades of impactful work.
          Join Us for a Night of Celebration and Support! We cordially invite you to our 40th Anniversary Gala, an evening dedicated to commemorating our achievements and raising funds to continue and expand our efforts.
          The gala will feature heartfelt stories of hope, entertaining performances, and a vibrant display of community spirit. It's a perfect opportunity to see firsthand the impact of your support and to contribute to the future of HopeWorks.
          We look forward to celebrating this significant milestone with you. Together, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of many. Save the date and join us in making this gala a memorable event!
          For more information on sponsorships or ticket sales, please reach out to Mitchie at mbenavidez@hopeworksnm.org.

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

RMS Prayer Cycle: Each month we pray for the rostered ministers, congregations, and ministries throughout the Rocky Mountain Synod and our Churchwide expression. In July, we pray for the congregations, ministries, and leaders of the North New Mexico Conference.

Check out all that’s happening across our Synod this month! From welcoming new congregations to concerts by emerging musicians and meaningful film screenings, there's a lot of amazing ministry happening. For a complete list of upcoming events across Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, El Paso, and Colorado visit: https://www.rmselca.org/calendar-list.

How your compassion is helping in Texas. When disaster strikes, we can always count on our generous donors to love your neighbors as Christ. Thanks to your quick compassion, hundreds of families affected by the recent flooding in Texas had emergency supplies in their hands within 12 hours.
          The full scope of the damage is still unknown. What we do know is hundreds of families are in urgent need of basic supplies as they clean up, recover and navigate immense grief and loss.
          In these early days, your compassion is providing Lutheran World Relief Quilts and Kits as well as distributing emergency food, water, tarps, clean up kits, hygiene supplies and clothing to people whose homes were damaged or destroyed.
          LWR and our partners continue to assess needs and — with your generous support — will expand our response as we are able. Give at: https://lwr.org/.

We cannot be silent now. Over the past several months, Bread advocates around the country sent tens of thousands of emails, held hundreds of congressional meetings, and made hundreds more phone calls urging their members of Congress to reject the cuts – but Congress made the cuts anyway, knowing the harm they will bring to their districts and states and knowing how many of their constituents were against them.
If you’re feeling discouraged and dismayed...you’re not alone. I am feeling it, too. Our staff and board are also feeling it. Needless to say, this is a challenging time.
          Though we lament the dramatic cuts to critical anti-hunger programs, this is not the time to back down or give up. We mustn’t give up...because we can’t give up. As you read this message from me, Bread has been actively engaged in critical legislation that Congress is taking up now. We can’t do this work alone. We need you. We need the entire Bread movement to keep advocating.
God has called us to be faithful. So, let’s be faithful. Let’s keep praying, keep writing letters, keep organizing our neighbors, keep advocating to Congress.
          There is a saying: pray every day – and when you’re busy, pray more. We must pray every day – and right now, we must pray more. Let us pray for our leaders, that they will hear the needs of people experiencing hunger. Let us pray for each other, that we may not grow weary in acting to change the circumstances that allow hunger to persist. Let us pray for people experiencing hunger, that they may be fed.
          And as Harriet Tubman once wrote, may we also “pray with our feet.” In other words, let’s pray and speak up, contact, write, call, organize, fund...and persevere.
          By working together, by raising our choir of voices ever louder, we can – and will – address hunger. I hold you in prayer and lift my heart in hope alongside you. Prayerfully, Rev. Eugene Cho, President and CEO

Updates Beginning 13 July 2025

Marlys Weinhold’s Celebration of Life will be held at St. Paul on Saturday, 9 August at 1pm, with a reception following in Fellowship Hall. ~Pr. Van De Motter

Cindy Nicholson has let us know that her mother, Margo, passed away on June 26th, ten days after her 102nd birthday. August services at St. Paul are pending. ~Deborah Ash

Bruce Muggenburg, a long-time member of St. Paul, passed away on June 24th  at the age of 88. Graveside services will be private. See the full obituary at www.frenchfunerals.com. ~Deborah Ash

GoFundMe Page: Pastor Van De Motter’s niece’s son, Callen, 15 months, has been diagnosed with leukemia. The family has created a GoFundMe page. Visit https://www.gofundme.com and search for Klingler. (Support for 15-Month-Old's Leukemia Battle.) ~Deborah Ash

St. Paul Fall Semester 2025 Scholarship Applications: Applications for St. Paul scholarships administered by the St. Paul Scholarship Committee for the benefit of members of St. Paul will be available beginning July 6, 2025 for those who wish to apply.
Application forms may be downloaded from the St. Paul website, www.stpaulabq.org. Completed applications must be received by mail in the St. Paul church office not later than 4:00 p.m. on Monday, July 28, 2025 (or sent by the same deadline in PDF format to info@stpaulabq.org).
The St. Paul Endowed Scholarship fund is comprised of donations from the Meuli and Mutschmann families and includes additional funding from the Voida family. Available funds for this year will be dispersed by the scholarship committee according to the number of qualified applicants. The Olson Scholarship is available only to those members attending a Lutheran or Baptist college or seminary; the amount of this specific category of scholarships will be granted to qualifying students according to available funds.
Applications will be available from St. Paul website beginning July 6, 2025 or in-person at St. Paul Lutheran Church Office. For more information please contact me at omardurant@yahoo.com. ~Thank you.  Omar Durant

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Van De Motter

Parking Lot Update: Bradbury Stamm, the construction company working on the UNM Cancer Center project next door, has begun leasing an additional 19 parking spaces weekdays through September 15. These are along the east side of the church, from the choir room door up to the blue curbs. That stretch of curb will be painted green shortly to indicate it is for their workers’ use. On weekdays, please drive around to the parking spaces on the south side by the labyrinth. Thank you! ~Deborah Ash & Jolene Gallegos

Mowing Volunteers: Dear Congregation! We are searching for some volunteer help for mowing the grass areas at Calico Preschool. After twenty years, Holger Schulz has retired from this position. His hard work has been appreciated over the years. While mowing has been done weekly, it can also be done every other week. The lawn mower is held in a storage closet next to the school downstairs and is an electric mower. We are looking for a volunteer, or volunteers, to continue mowing.  Please reach out: facilities@stpaulabq.org or 505-242-5942. Thank you! ~Jolene Gallegos

July’s God’s Work Our Hands project is also the last month of our Sabbatical project making hats for Dignity Mission. This is our big push toward July 27th, when the hats will be blessed by Pr. Van De Motter on his last Sunday with us! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

St. Paul Tshirts Are Still Available! If you ordered a shirt, you can pick yours up in the Office. Cost is $25. There are extras in various sizes , so if you didn’t order ahead, you can still purchase one! ~Deborah Ash

The Storehouse provides food to many of the neediest in our community. Whatever you can give will be most welcome. Donation barrels are just inside the Narthex doors. Pet food is also needed. ~Nancy Matthews

From Local Partner Organizations

Today: Navajo Code Talkers Presentation July 13. St Luke Lutheran Church has arranged to have Zonnie Gorman come to our church and talk about the Navajo Code Talkers. She is a recognized historian on the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II and has served as a consultant to numerous documentaries, museum exhibitions and magazine and book authors. She is the daughter of the late Dr. Carl Gorman, artist, teacher and one of the original “first twenty-nine” Navajo Code Talkers, the pilot group that devised the initial Navajo code. She is also the youngest sister to the legendary and renowned Navajo artist, the late R.C. Gorman.
          We would like to invite anyone who would be interested in hearing about this subject. Zonnie will be at St Luke’s on Sunday, July 13th at 1:30. We will be meeting in our Fellowship Hall. If you have any questions you can get in touch with me at 505-264-5444. We hope to see you there. ~Diane Quarles

We are excited to share a milestone moment with you! This year, HopeWorks marks its 40th anniversary of dedicated service to the homeless community in Albuquerque. Since our inception in 1985, our mission has been to provide essential shelter and supportive services to those in need, and we are proud to celebrate four decades of impactful work.
          Join Us for a Night of Celebration and Support! We cordially invite you to our 40th Anniversary Gala, an evening dedicated to commemorating our achievements and raising funds to continue and expand our efforts.
          The gala will feature heartfelt stories of hope, entertaining performances, and a vibrant display of community spirit. It's a perfect opportunity to see firsthand the impact of your support and to contribute to the future of HopeWorks.
          We look forward to celebrating this significant milestone with you. Together, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of many. Save the date and join us in making this gala a memorable event!
          For more information on sponsorships or ticket sales, please reach out to Mitchie at mbenavidez@hopeworksnm.org.

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

July Greetings from the Bishop: 

Dear siblings in Christ, Blessed July in this season after Pentecost!
          I’ve always found it striking that this stretch of summer is called “Ordinary Time”—even though it’s often filled with extraordinary moments of joy, challenge, and change. I pray this season brings you rest, renewal, and time with loved ones.
          In June, many of our ministries participated in Pride events, including a meaningful screening of Mama Bears hosted by St. Paul, Denver and Rocky Mountain Public Media Center. Thank you to all who shared photos, stories, and the ongoing work of living into our Reconciling in Christ commitments—not just this month, but always.
          My family and I were grateful to travel in June, including a Footsteps of Paul pilgrimage through Greece and Turkey. Plans to attend a wedding in the Holy Land were interrupted by conflict in the region, and while we returned with heavy hearts, I remain thankful for your prayers for peace and justice.
          This week we mourn the devastating flooding in the Texas Hill Country, including the tragic loss of young lives at Camp Mystic. ELCA Disaster Response is at work on the ground—please join me in supporting their efforts, as you are able: https://www.elca.org/our-work/relief-and-development/lutheran-disaster-response/our-impact/us-flooding.
          Meanwhile, our ministry in the Office of the Bishop continues! We are continuing to accompany rostered and lay leaders and congregations in transition, planning ahead for Theological Conference and Synod Assembly, preparing elected synod voting members for Churchwide Assembly, and much more. This month we gave thanks for Pastor Katie Emery at the conclusion of her call as Synod Minister for Transitions and we are grateful for her continued faithful work with Excellence in Leadership. Her ministry has blessed many—including each of us at the Office of the Bishop.
          Our synod council also officially welcomed Ray Ferry as our new Synod Vice President—with gratitude and excitement for his willingness to serve and lead in this role on behalf of our whole synod. Finally, our plans for the future location of the Office of the Bishop have also been developing in exciting and Spirit-led ways—watch this space for an official announcement coming very soon! One thing is certain: in these days, as always, there is no such thing as ordinary time.
          And thanks be to God that Dios está aquí (God is here) in it all—siempre (forever)! ~Bishop Meghan

RMS Prayer Cycle: Each month we pray for the rostered ministers, congregations, and ministries throughout the Rocky Mountain Synod and our Churchwide expression. In July, we pray for the congregations, ministries, and leaders of the North New Mexico Conference.

Check out all that’s happening across our Synod this month! From welcoming new congregations to concerts by emerging musicians and meaningful film screenings, there's a lot of amazing ministry happening. For a complete list of upcoming events across Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, El Paso, and Colorado visit: https://www.rmselca.org/calendar-list.

At any given moment, there’s a disaster striking somewhere. Right now, it’s in Texas, where violent flash floods are ravaging communities and claiming more lives with each passing day.
          Here’s the good news: Because your love was hard at work before these floods broke out, it took mere hours to get emergency LWR aid into the hands of those who needed it most.
          Whether it’s happening in your own community, halfway across the country, or on the other side of the globe, there are neighbors in crisis who need immediate support.
As people of faith, we can all agree that no one should suffer when we have the calling, resources and knowledge to help. Give at: https://lwr.org/.

From AMMPARO: USAHello has released its newly updated “Multilingual Immigration Guide,” which is now easier to use—with more resources, better filtering, and translations in 9 languages. It brings together resources created specifically for impacted immigrant communities with actionable, plain language, and mobile-friendly information. Already used by over 100,000 people since its launch in November, the guide is updated weekly to help immigrants stay safe and informed.
What’s inside: Latest immigration policy updates, Legal status options, Guidance on raids, detention, and deportation, Know Your Rights info, Help finding legal and local support.
Visit: https://usahello.org/safety/

Right now, millions of migrants around the world long for a place to call home. When you support the ELCA’s accompaniment of migrants (AMMPARO), you walk alongside migrants and refugees all over the world — toward rest, safety and belonging. According to the U.N., over 122 million people worldwide have been driven from their homes. Can we count on your support to help people on the move? Your gift today will be DOUBLED until we reach $50,000: https://give.elca.org/page/78084/donate/1?ea.url.id=3725984&forwarded=true

This Week: At Bread for the World’s July regional meetings, we will bring you up to speed on the stories and impact of this year’s Advocacy Summit and how we can build on it. We will also share an update on critical legislation in Congress and our progress in this year’s Offering of Letters (letter-writing campaign). And we will present strategies and opportunities to maximize our collective advocacy this summer and fall.

Midwest, Southwest, and West Combined Regional Online Meetings
-      Option 1: Wednesday, July 16 at 2:00 p.m. EDT
-      Option 2: Thursday, July 17 at 7:00 p.m. EDT

Register at: https://go.bread.org/page/84757/survey/1?_gl=1*r57shs*_gcl_au*MTkxMzA4MzA4Ni4xNzQ1NTk1MzM1

2025 marks 50 years since Bread for the World was founded — and we’re taking a moment to say thank you.
          What began as a small network of faithful champions has grown into a nationwide, bipartisan movement for change. Since then, supporters like you have initiated more than 6.4 million advocacy actions, helping make hunger a priority for our elected leaders and creating real change for hungry people.
          You can learn more in our newly released Annual Report, which details Bread’s work in 2024. (Posted in Welcome Center or download at: https://www.bread.org/impact-report/).
          And while we have much to celebrate, we also face serious challenges. In 2025, program freezes and deep cuts to critical anti-hunger programs and life-saving assistance have left even more of our neighbors at risk.
          But thanks to your advocacy, Bread has remained present and persistent. We continue to be a trusted voice in the halls of Congress, fighting for policies that provide food, nutrition, and hope for those who need it most.
          With caring people like you standing beside us and fueling our work, we can speak up alongside and on behalf of hungry families everywhere.
          We hope you’ll take a few moments to read the full report as we look to Bread’s next 50 years.
          This isn’t just our story — it’s yours. Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or just joined, this moment belongs to you.
          Thank you for your generosity and care as we work together to end hunger.

Updates Beginning 6 July 2025

Today:

Today: Girl Scout Troop 10192, which meets at St. Paul on Saturdays, will be here selling painted pots and plants after worship in the Welcome Center. They are raising money for a trip to Carlsbad Caverns to complete their outdoor adventure and hiking badges. Please stop by to encourage them in their next outdoor adventure! ~Deborah Ash

Mowing Volunteers: Dear Congregation! We are searching for some volunteer help for mowing the grass areas at Calico Preschool. After twenty years, Holger Schulz has retired from this position. His hard work has been appreciated over the years. While mowing has been done weekly, it can also be done every other week. The lawn mower is held in a storage closet next to the school downstairs and is an electric mower. We are looking for a volunteer, or volunteers, to continue mowing.  Please reach out: facilities@stpaulabq.org or 505-242-5942. Thank you! ~Jolene Gallegos

Cindy Nicholson has let us know that her mother, Margo, passed away on June 26th, ten days after her 102nd birthday. August services at St. Paul are pending. ~Deborah Ash

St. Paul Fall Semester 2025 Scholarship Applications: Applications for St. Paul scholarships administered by the St. Paul Scholarship Committee for the benefit of members of St. Paul will be available beginning July 6, 2025 for those who wish to apply.
Application forms may be downloaded from the St. Paul website, www.stpaulabq.org. Completed applications must be received by mail in the St. Paul church office not later than 4:00 p.m. on Monday, July 28, 2025 (or sent by the same deadline in PDF format to info@stpaulabq.org).
The St. Paul Endowed Scholarship fund is comprised of donations from the Meuli and Mutschmann families and includes additional funding from the Voida family. Available funds for this year will be dispersed by the scholarship committee according to the number of qualified applicants. The Olson Scholarship is available only to those members attending a Lutheran or Baptist college or seminary; the amount of this specific category of scholarships will be granted to qualifying students according to available funds.
Applications will be available from St. Paul website beginning July 6, 2025 or in-person at St. Paul Lutheran Church Office. For more information please contact me at omardurant@yahoo.com. ~Thank you.  Omar Durant

July’s God’s Work Our Hands project is also the last month of our Sabbatical project making hats for Dignity Mission. This is our big push toward July 27th, when the hats will be blessed by Pr. Van De Motter on his last Sunday with us! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

St. Paul Tshirts Are Still Available! If you ordered a shirt, you can pick yours up in the Office. Cost is $25. There are extras in various sizes , so if you didn’t order ahead, you can still purchase one! ~Deborah Ash

The Storehouse provides food to many of the neediest in our community. Whatever you can give will be most welcome. Donation barrels are just inside the Narthex doors. Pet food is also needed. ~Nancy Matthews

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Van De Motter

From Local Partner Organizations

Next Sunday: Navajo Code Talkers Presentation July 13. St Luke Lutheran Church has arranged to have Zonnie Gorman come to our church and talk about the Navajo Code Talkers. She is a recognized historian on the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II and has served as a consultant to numerous documentaries, museum exhibitions and magazine and book authors. She is the daughter of the late Dr. Carl Gorman, artist, teacher and one of the original “first twenty-nine” Navajo Code Talkers, the pilot group that devised the initial Navajo code. She is also the youngest sister to the legendary and renowned Navajo artist, the late R.C. Gorman.
We would like to invite anyone who would be interested in hearing about this subject. Zonnie will be at St Luke’s on Sunday, July 13th at 1:30. We will be meeting in our Fellowship Hall. If you have any questions you can get in touch with me at 505-264-5444. We hope to see you there. ~Diane Quarles

LFS has moved! We are excited to announce we have moved to a new location. Our new address is 1700 Louisiana Blvd. Ste 240, Albuquerque 87110.  We are centrally located on the South East corner of Louisiana and Constitution (immediately south of I40) in the uptown area. The new location is easily accessible for our clients and allows us to continue to provide services dedicated to helping newcomers rebuild their lives by equipping them to achieve self-sufficiency and fostering integration into their new community in Albuquerque.
          If you haven't had a chance to volunteer with us lately, we continually have a variety of ways you can get involved - contact us at 505.933.7032 to learn more.

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

ELCA Bishop Eaton Statement on OBBBA's Passage. Bishop Eaton responds to the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, calling the scope of the bill "generation-defining and life-altering for many, with provisions that will harm the well-being of local communities and the lives of many individuals for decades to come." A copy of the full statement is posted in the Welcome Center. Visit: https://www.elca.org/news-and-events/bishop-eaton-statement-on-obbbas-passage

Next Saturday: RMS Creation Care Team Zoom Discussion on green burial. On Saturday, July 12, the Creation Care team is hosting a discussion on green burial at 10am on Zoom (us02web.zoom.us/j/83008940316).

Our team is already responding, but they need support from compassionate and faithful people like you.
          Families in the flood zone — and beyond — need food, water, shelter and essential supplies. Your gift now will help ensure no one goes without the care and support they need.  We are also preparing quilts and kits to comfort families affected by floods.
God bless you for caring for families affected by disasters here at home and around the world.
To our neighbors affected by the floods, please know you are surrounded by love and prayers, and that help is on the way from your Lutheran sisters and brothers.
Give at: https://lwr.org/

From AMMPARO: USAHello has released its newly updated “Multilingual Immigration Guide,” which is now easier to use—with more resources, better filtering, and translations in 9 languages. It brings together resources created specifically for impacted immigrant communities with actionable, plain language, and mobile-friendly information. Already used by over 100,000 people since its launch in November, the guide is updated weekly to help immigrants stay safe and informed.
What’s inside: Latest immigration policy updates, Legal status options, Guidance on raids, detention, and deportation, Know Your Rights info, Help finding legal and local support.
Visit: https://usahello.org/safety/

Right now, millions of migrants around the world long for a place to call home. When you support the ELCA’s accompaniment of migrants (AMMPARO), you walk alongside migrants and refugees all over the world — toward rest, safety and belonging. According to the U.N., over 122 million people worldwide have been driven from their homes. Can we count on your support to help people on the move? Your gift today will be DOUBLED until we reach $50,000: https://give.elca.org/page/78084/donate/1?ea.url.id=3725984&forwarded=true

At Bread for the World’s July regional meetings, we will bring you up to speed on the stories and impact of this year’s Advocacy Summit and how we can build on it. We will also share an update on critical legislation in Congress and our progress in this year’s Offering of Letters (letter-writing campaign). And we will present strategies and opportunities to maximize our collective advocacy this summer and fall.
Midwest, Southwest, and West Combined Regional Online Meetings

-      Option 1: Wednesday, July 16 at 2:00 p.m. EDT
-      Option 2: Thursday, July 17 at 7:00 p.m. EDT

Register at: https://go.bread.org/page/84757/survey/1?_gl=1*r57shs*_gcl_au*MTkxMzA4MzA4Ni4xNzQ1NTk1MzM1

This Tuesday:

Register at: https://globalrefuge-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_X1Z2AcC5TOSUCLEjOj5ygQ?mc_cid=9a91e95aa7&mc_eid=2f360c0226#/registration

Updates Beginning 29 June 2025

Today and next Sunday:

Next Sunday: Girl Scout Troop 10192, which meets at St. Paul on Saturdays, will be here selling painted pots and plants after worship in the Welcome Center. They are raising money for a trip to Carlsbad Caverns to complete their outdoor adventure and hiking badges. Leader Francesca Apodoca wrote that, thanks to the church’s support (the tamales and biscochitos sale at Christmas) they were able to take the girls skiing at Pajarito Ski Area which was the first time skiing for all the girls! They also completed their community service project which was to send Easter cards and gifts to elders living on the Navajo reservation. They thank St. Paul for all the support and love. Please stop by to encourage them in their next outdoor adventure! ~Deborah Ash

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Van De Motter

Mowing Volunteers: Dear Congregation! We are searching for some volunteer help for mowing the grass areas at Calico Preschool.  After twenty years, Holger Schulz has retired from this position. His hard work has been appreciated over the years. While mowing has been done weekly, it can also be done every other week. The lawn mower is held in a storage closet next to the school downstairs and is an electric mower. We are looking for a volunteer, or volunteers, to continue mowing.  Please reach out via email  (facilities@stpaulabq.org) or office phone (505-242-5942). Thank you! ~Jolene Gallegos

St. Paul Tshirts Are Still Available! If you ordered a shirt, you can pick yours up in the Office. Cost is $25. There are extras in various sizes , so if you didn’t order ahead, you can still purchase one! ~Deborah Ash

June’s God’s Work Our Hands project is collecting funds for Friends Feeding Friends’ First Thursday meal at HopeWorks in July. Please indicate “FFF July” on your check to St. Paul. Thanks! We also continue with our Sabbatical project making hats for Dignity Mission. ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

The Storehouse provides food to many of the neediest in our community. Whatever you can give will be most welcome. Donation barrels are just inside the Narthex doors. Pet food is also needed. ~Nancy Matthews

From Local Partner Organizations

Navajo Code Talkers Presentation July 13. St Luke Lutheran Church has arranged to have Zonnie Gorman come to our church and talk about the Navajo Code Talkers. She is a recognized historian on the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II and has served as a consultant to numerous documentaries, museum exhibitions and magazine and book authors. She is the daughter of the late Dr. Carl Gorman, artist, teacher and one of the original “first twenty-nine” Navajo Code Talkers, the pilot group that devised the initial Navajo code. She is also the youngest sister to the legendary and renowned Navajo artist, the late R.C. Gorman.
          We would like to invite anyone who would be interested in hearing about this subject. Zonnie will be at St Luke’s on Sunday, July 13th at 1:30. We will be meeting in our Fellowship Hall. If you have any questions you can get in touch with me at 505-264-5444. We hope to see you there. ~Diane Quarles

Come Sing With Us! We need your voice! Audition for Coro Lux, and help fulfill our mission of "doing good as we do well," bringing high quality choral music to New Mexico and giving back to our community.
          Our 11th season kicks off in September with an event featuring Pulitzer Prize winning Diné composer and artist, Raven Chacon. A highlight of the season, October will feature performances of Considering Matthew Shepard by Craig Hella Johnson, conducted by the composer. Handel's Messiah, an audience favorite, will be performed in December, followed by FebFest, our annual celebration of gospel music and spirituals featuring guest clinician Dr. Phillip Schoultz.
Don't miss your chance to sing with Albuquerque's premier choral ensemble! Visit https://abqcorolux.org/ for more information and to sign up for an audition.

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

RMS Pride Guide: Visit https://www.rmselca.org/synod-pride-guide to see what is going on around the Synod for Pride month, including St. Paul’s participation in the June 7th Pride Parade!

RMS Creation Care Team: Zoom Discussion on green burial. On Saturday, July 12, the Creation Care team is hosting a discussion on green burial at 10am on Zoom (us02web.zoom.us/j/83008940316).

Right now, millions of migrants around the world long for a place to call home. When you support the ELCA’s accompaniment of migrants (AMMPARO), you walk alongside migrants and refugees all over the world — toward rest, safety and belonging. According to the U.N., over 122 million people worldwide have been driven from their homes. Can we count on your support to help people on the move? Your gift today will be DOUBLED until we reach $50,000: https://give.elca.org/page/78084/donate/1?ea.url.id=3725984&forwarded=true

God is so good! A group of loving donors who are inspired by the good work you’re doing have offered to provide an additional $25,000 for our Love Thy Neighbor Matching Gift Challenge! The total match is now $155,000. Any gift you can make by June 30 will be matched dollar for dollar! Thank you for sharing your blessings with your neighbor today. Visit: https://lwr.org/

Register at: https://globalrefuge-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_X1Z2AcC5TOSUCLEjOj5ygQ?mc_cid=9a91e95aa7&mc_eid=2f360c0226#/registration

Neighbor Kits: At Global Refuge, we're committed to the long welcome. That's why we created Neighbor Kits, a new way to show refugees and other immigrants that they are a critical part of our communities. Pack one (or many!) to support both new arrivals and those in need of a helping hand and demonstrate your commitment to the work of welcome. For kit details, visit: https://www.globalrefuge.org/neighbor-kits/. Options:
·         Youth Mentorship Kit: Assist a child with back-to-school needs
·         Garden Kit: Support the refugee-focused community garden in Fargo
·         Home and Kitchen Kit: Help make a house a home for refugee and other immigrant families
·         Health & Wellness Kit: Ensure our neighbors have access to essential hygiene items

Updates Beginning 22 June 2025

Continuing Today:

Today in Friendship Corner after Worship: Anyone interested in meeting as a group to learn how or to help others learn to make a Loom Hat is welcome. Grab your refreshments and join us for an hour or more if you wish. Bulky yarn will be available, limited looms will be available, instructions for knitting and looming will be available, and good company will be available. We will get you started and send you home to complete one or more hats. If you have bulky yarn to donate or share with others, please bring it. If you do not want to make a hat, learn to make pom-poms for hats, you can donate to the cause – the money raised will be used to purchase more bulky yarn. The warmth provided for a cold head will begin with one simple stitch of love……. ~Julie Ambrogi, for the Sabbatical Team

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Van De Motter

A Huge Thank You to All Rummage Sale Helpers! A big shout out to everyone who donated items for the sale, pitched in with setup, sales and clean up last Saturday. We netted $1,000 towards the Roof Project and we couldn’t have done it without you! ~Jolene Gallegos

St. Paul Tshirts Are Still Available! If you ordered a shirt, you can pick yours up in the Office. Cost is $25. There are extras in various sizes , so if you didn’t order ahead, you can still purchase one! ~Deborah Ash

Adopted Families is seeking a wheelchair. If you can provide one, please drop off at the church office or pickup can be arranged. ~Deborah Ash

June’s God’s Work Our Hands project is collecting funds for Friends Feeding Friends’ First Thursday meal at HopeWorks in July. Please indicate “FFF July” on your check to St. Paul. Thanks! We also continue with our Sabbatical project making hats for Dignity Mission. ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

The Storehouse provides food to many of the neediest in our community. Whatever you can give will be most welcome. Donation barrels are just inside the Narthex doors. Pet food is also needed. ~Nancy Matthews

From Local Partner Organizations

Come Sing With Us! We need your voice! Audition for Coro Lux, and help fulfill our mission of "doing good as we do well," bringing high quality choral music to New Mexico and giving back to our community.
          Our 11th season kicks off in September with an event featuring Pulitzer Prize winning Diné composer and artist, Raven Chacon. A highlight of the season, October will feature performances of Considering Matthew Shepard by Craig Hella Johnson, conducted by the composer. Handel's Messiah, an audience favorite, will be performed in December, followed by FebFest, our annual celebration of gospel music and spirituals featuring guest clinician Dr. Phillip Schoultz.
Don't miss your chance to sing with Albuquerque's premier choral ensemble! Visit https://abqcorolux.org/ for more information and to sign up for an audition.

Immigrant and Refugee Resource Village of Albuquerque & New Mexico Women's Global Pathways: Refugee girls and adult women stitch hope for the unhoused, using needles, thread, and heart to sew essential items for Albuquerque's unhoused individuals. The  goal is to provide comfort and dignity by creating waterproof body friendly pillows, bags, and head coverings, so they don't have to sleep on the cold hard concrete floor.
          You can support their efforts by donating at www.irrva.org or mailing donations to P.O. Box 93445, Albuquerque, NM 87199. Funds will be used to:
- Provide stipends to seamstresses
- Hire a program coordinator, administrative assistant and director
- Purchase waterproof fabrics and sewing machines
- Create hygiene packs and essential items for the unhoused
In honor of world refugees/displaced between June 20 and July 30, artisans and volunteers will distribute these items to unhoused individuals in Albuquerque.

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

RMS Pride Guide: Visit https://www.rmselca.org/synod-pride-guide to see what is going on around the Synod for Pride month, including St. Paul’s participation in the June 7th Pride Parade!

Recommit to Pride: Sign the Interfaith Alliance pledge: https://secure.everyaction.com/tlDXr7QMXkmNtsELjtTigw2

RMS Creation Care Team: Zoom Discussion on green burial. On Saturday, July 12, the Creation Care team is hosting a discussion on green burial at 10am on Zoom (us02web.zoom.us/j/83008940316).

At Global Refuge, we're committed to the long welcome. That means that we receive new neighbors with compassion and dignity, providing them with the basic necessities they need to rebuild their lives—but we don't stop there.
We work with partners across the country to ensure that our newest neighbors continue to feel supported and are able to connect with their communities.
That's why we created Neighbor Kits, a new way to show refugees and other immigrants that they are a critical part of our communities. Pack one (or many!) to support both new arrivals and those in need of a helping hand and demonstrate your commitment to the work of welcome.
For full details, including instructions for building each type of kit, visit: https://www.globalrefuge.org/neighbor-kits/

Options include…

• Youth Mentorship Kit: Assist a child with back-to-school needs

• Garden Kit: Support the refugee-focused community garden in Fargo

• Home and Kitchen Kit: Help make a house a home for refugee and other immigrant families

• Health & Wellness Kit: Ensure our neighbors have access to essential hygiene items

God is so good! A group of loving donors who are inspired by the good work you’re doing have offered to provide an additional $25,000 for our Love Thy Neighbor Matching Gift Challenge! The total match is now $155,000. Any gift you can make by June 30 will be matched dollar for dollar! Thank you for sharing your blessings with your neighbor today. Visit: https://lwr.org/

Lutheran Summer Music 2025 Is Almost Here—Don’t Miss a Note! From June 22–July 20 at Valparaiso University, enjoy 30+ free concerts, recitals, and worship services—or watch online via Live from LSM: https://www.lsmacademy.org/live) Highlights include the Bach Cantata Eucharist, Festival of Hymns, Faculty Organ Recital, and Festival Week with the Festival Band, Orchestra, and Choir. Experience the transformational power of LSM from the comfort of your home!

Updates Beginning 15 June 2025

Continuing Today:

Today: Our sister in Christ, Margo, will be 102 on June 16! St. Paul would like to fill a Bucket of Birthday Greetings to Margo. Please take time to fill out a birthday card, to write a greeting, to send love and let Margo know we are thinking of her on this special day of hers. We have today, June 15 to bring cards, write cards, messages and prayers. Cards will be delivered by her daughter Cindy or by Visitation close to or on her birthday. Thank you for your good wishes and thoughtful messages. ~Julie Ambrogi for Visitation Ministry

St. Paul Tshirts Are Still Available! If you ordered a shirt, you can pick yours up in the Office. Cost is $25. There are extras in various sizes, so if you didn’t order ahead, you can still purchase one! ~Deborah Ash

Next Sunday: June 22 in Friendship Corner after Worship: Anyone interested in meeting as a group to learn how or to help others learn to make a Loom Hat is welcome. Grab your refreshments and join us for an hour or more if you wish. Bulky yarn will be available, limited looms will be available, instructions for knitting and looming will be available, and good company will be available. We will get you started and send you home to complete one or more hats. If you have bulky yarn to donate or share with others, please bring it. If you do not want to make a hat, learn to make pom-poms for hats, you can donate to the cause – the money raised will be used to purchase more bulky yarn. The warmth provided for a cold head will begin with one simple stitch of love……. ~Julie Ambrogi, for the Sabbatical Team

Adopted Families is seeking a wheelchair. If you can provide one, please drop off at the church office or pickup can be arranged. ~Deborah Ash

June’s God’s Work Our Hands project is collecting funds for Friends Feeding Friends’ First Thursday meal at HopeWorks in July. Please indicate “FFF July” on your check to St. Paul. Thanks! We also continue with our Sabbatical project making hats for Dignity Mission. ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

The Storehouse provides food to many of the neediest in our community. Whatever you can give will be most welcome. Donation barrels are just inside the Narthex doors. Pet food is also needed. ~Nancy Matthews

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Van De Motter

From Local Partner Organizations

Immigrant and Refugee Resource Village of Albuquerque & New Mexico Women's Global Pathways: Refugee girls and adult women stitch hope for the unhoused, using needles, thread, and heart to sew essential items for Albuquerque's unhoused individuals. The  goal is to provide comfort and dignity by creating waterproof body friendly pillows, bags, and head coverings, so they don't have to sleep on the cold hard concrete floor.
You can support their efforts by donating at www.irrva.org or mailing donations to P.O. Box 93445, Albuquerque, NM 87199. Funds will be used to:
- Provide stipends to seamstresses
- Hire a program coordinator, administrative assistant and director
- Purchase waterproof fabrics and sewing machines
- Create hygiene packs and essential items for the unhoused
In honor of world refugees/displaced between June 20 and July 30, artisans and volunteers will distribute these items to unhoused individuals in Albuquerque.

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

Call for the body of Christ to affirm every body. See ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton’s Pride Month message at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Igxir5JTZSQ

Recommit to Pride: Sign the Interfaith Alliance pledge: https://secure.everyaction.com/tlDXr7QMXkmNtsELjtTigw2

RMS Pride Guide: Visit https://www.rmselca.org/synod-pride-guide to see what is going on around the Synod for Pride month, including St. Paul’s participation in the June 7th Pride Parade!

An Overview of the 2025 RMS Synod Assembly is posted in the Welcome Center. Or visit:
https://rmselca.org/sites/rmselca.org/files/media/2025_synod_assembly_overview.pdf
Other resources from the Assembly, including videos shown, are at:
https://rmselca.org/synod-assembly-2025-dios-est%C3%A1-aqu%C3%AD-god-here
           The 2025 Rocky Mountain Synod Assembly theme was “Dios esta aqui. God is here.” We know that God is always with us and we invite you to share your story of how God is present in your life and in your ministries. Go to the link below to share with a corresponding picture:
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/ea68c075fa02415d949b54d686f9c602
(With your permission, your stories and photos may be featured online and in Synod communications.)

RMS Creation Care Team: Zoom Discussion on green burial. On Saturday, July 12, the Creation Care team is hosting a discussion on green burial at 10am on Zoom (us02web.zoom.us/j/83008940316).

God is so good! A group of loving donors who are inspired by the good work you’re doing have offered to provide an additional $25,000 for our Love Thy Neighbor Matching Gift Challenge! The total match is now $155,000. Any gift you can make by June 30 will be matched dollar for dollar! Thank you for sharing your blessings with your neighbor today. Visit: https://lwr.org/

Join Global Refuge for a special World Refugee Day webinar on Tuesday, June 17 at 12 p.m. ET! Rep. Yassamin Ansari and Global Refuge President & CEO Krish O'Mara Vignarajah will provide opening remarks, followed by our Advocacy & Policy team's presentation on the history of World Refugee Day and the U.S. resettlement program—as well as updates on the current state of resettlement and related legislation. We look forward to seeing you there!
Email advocacy@globalrefuge.org to register.

Bread for the World’s 2025 Advocacy Summit: Right now, hundreds of anti-hunger advocates are on Capitol Hill as a part of summit. They are urging their members of Congress to protect and preserve vital domestic and international nutrition programs from unprecedented funding cuts. Help amplify their voices by emailing your members of Congress now. Urge them to protect, preserve, and fully fund vital domestic and international nutrition programs: https://www.bread.org/

Lutheran Summer Music 2025 Is Almost Here—Don’t Miss a Note! From June 22–July 20 at Valparaiso University, enjoy 30+ free concerts, recitals, and worship services—or watch online via Live from LSM: https://www.lsmacademy.org/live) Highlights include the Bach Cantata Eucharist, Festival of Hymns, Faculty Organ Recital, and Festival Week with the Festival Band, Orchestra, and Choir. Experience the transformational power of LSM from the comfort of your home!

NPNA Pathways is an online platform designed to connect immigrants across the United States to trusted resources and organizations, making it easier for individuals and community organizations to find the support they need. Pathways is a versatile tool that can provide additional resources and navigation for communities that your organization works with. 
NPNA Pathways provides essential information on immigration topics, including legal rights, asylum, TPS, and policy updates. The platform also offers access to local resources nationwide—such as legal aid, workforce programs, housing, and healthcare—through trusted NPNA partners. Users can request a personalized Navigation Page to receive resources by email, along with follow-up support from NPNA staff. https://npnapathways.org/

Know Your Remedies: Learn About Immigration Legal Options & Make a Plan. Justicia Lab, Ready to Stay Coalition, and the National Partnership for New Americans launched a new comprehensive 5-minute preliminary legal screening tool for immigrants to explore potential immigration relief options.
          The 5-minute online interview is free and anonymous and all answers are secure and private. It is designed to quickly connect you with tools and actionable information, not to provide legal advice. This legal screening tool complements an updated make a plan tool that supports immigrants protecting themselves and their families amidst increased enforcement. https://readytostay.org/know-your-options

Updates Beginning 8 June 2025

Continuing Today:

Today: Our sister in Christ, Margo, will be 102 on June 16! St. Paul would like to fill a Bucket of Birthday Greetings to Margo. Please take time to fill out a birthday card, to write a greeting, to send love and let Margo know we are thinking of her on this special day of hers. We have today, June 8 to bring cards, write cards, messages and prayers. Cards will be delivered by her daughter Cindy or by Visitation close to or on her birthday. Thank you for your good wishes and thoughtful messages. ~Julie Ambrogi for Visitation Ministry

Thank You! to Our PRIDE Parade Participants. Many thanks to everyone who participated in yesterday’s parade. We were thrilled to be among the Lutheran congregations who were a part of this important community event! ~Bryan Harold & Jim Hatfield

A Thank You! from Gabriel Rabezanany, who travelled to NY this past week: Thank you to everyone who contributed to my funding to go to New York. At the beginning of my fundraising, I had a total of $300, but thanks to your contributions, I now have $2881.35/$3000 raised towards funding my trip to New York City. The two shows we’re seeing are: 'Boop! The Musical', and 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child'. On top of that, I am also visiting other famous places in New York. I am leaving on Tuesday, June 3rd, and am returning on June 8th. Once again, thank you to everyone who donated to help me. I ask for your prayers on my trip to help keep me safe along the way.

This Saturday, June 14th 9:00 am to 3:00 pm: St. Paul Rummage Sale. See details below. I will be here at the Church by 7:00 am to help set up.

• Please have your items in boxes or bags.

• We could use help setting up tables and a tent. We are still taking items for staging in the library until the day before the Rummage Sale.

• If you have items you are selling, please be at the sale, unless otherwise unable. Call me at church: 505-242-5942 or on my cell phone: 505-264-6456.

• We will be advertising the Rummage Sale on the marquee (outside the church) from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm for passersby. We will also put signs at Indian School Rd  and Broadway, and University and Indian School Rd. 

• We are putting an ad on Facebook / Market Place to advertise the Sale.

• I will have a cash bag with some change and can help with change and funds coming in, as well as an assistant helping with sales.

• I would like to order pizza, lemonade and salad for those attending to be delivered to the church around Noon for all helpers, served in the Welcome Center.  Other snacks are welcome as well if you want to bring anything. 

• Please bring your sun protection gear, water and sunscreen.  We can get you into the church if needed for the bathroom, liquids and snacks.

• If you have suggestions or details, please contact me prior to the sale. 

• All proceeds will be going to help pay for the Roof Project.

• We will have a truck to pick up leftover items Monday the 16th. As we found out, most places don’t have trucks running on weekends, i.e. Salvation Army, Joy Junction, Give ABQ or Humane Association.  We will need to move leftover items into the church main hallway after the sale. 

• Please see me after service to confirm your participation.  Again, we will need assistance with set up/breakdown and folks to be here for the sale.

Thank you for your participation! ~Jolene Gallegos, Facilities Coordinator

St. Paul Tshirts Are Still Available! If you ordered a shirt, you can pick yours up after worship. Cost is $25. There are extras in various sizes, so if you didn’t order ahead, you can still purchase one! ~Deborah Ash

Save the Date: June 22 in Friendship Corner after Worship: Anyone interested in meeting as a group to learn how or to help others learn to make a Loom Hat is welcome. Grab your refreshments and join us for an hour or more if you wish. Bulky yarn will be available, limited looms will be available, instructions for knitting and looming will be available, and good company will be available. We will get you started and send you home to complete one or more hats. If you have bulky yarn to donate or share with others, please bring it. If you do not want to make a hat, learn to make pom-poms for hats, you can donate to the cause – the money raised will be used to purchase more bulky yarn. The warmth provided for a cold head will begin with one simple stitch of love……. ~Julie Ambrogi, for the Sabbatical Team

From First Immanuel Lutheran Church, Portland, OR: We have word that Pastor Aaron is undergoing surgery this week. Please pray for his quick and complete recovery, as well as release from discomfort. Hold Pastor Melinda and the entire family in your hearts during this time. Cards and letters of love may be sent to Pr. Aaron and Pr. Melinda at 7837 SW 4th Avenue, Portland OR 97219. (Pastor Melinda was formerly at St. Paul.)

Adopted Families is seeking a wheelchair. If you can provide one, please drop off at the church office or pickup can be arranged. ~Deborah Ash

June’s God’s Work Our Hands project is collecting funds for Friends Feeding Friends’ First Thursday meal at HopeWorks in July. Please indicate “FFF July” on your check to St. Paul. Thanks! We also continue with our Sabbatical project making hats for Dignity Mission. ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

The Storehouse provides food to many of the neediest in our community. Whatever you can give will be most welcome. Donation barrels are just inside the Narthex doors. Pet food is also needed. ~Nancy Matthews

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Van De Motter

June 2025 Finance Committee Report:

Income and Expense

As of April 30, SPLC had total expenses of $36,278 against total income of $19,145. That has us operating at a deficit of $17,133. The 2025 Budget projected a net loss of $9,725, which put us $7,409 over Finance projections of the SPLC deficit. Unbudgeted maintenance and repairs and a 3-payroll month account for the bulk of the deficit.

Calico recently received a $1,084,320 grant from the State of NM for 3 and 4 year olds.  The grant is for 4 years and is a free program designed to help pre-K children develop the social, emotional and academic skills necessary for kindergarten. We are so proud of Marisol and the diligent Calico Board!

The Sanctuary Project

The original estimate for the Sanctuary Project of $75,541 was brought in $1,862 under budget. The endowment funds of $32,721 set aside for the sanctuary project did not need to be used and have been allocated to the Roof Project. (See below for full Sanctuary Project accounting.)

Other SPLC Funds

SPLC is blessed to have 4 fully invested funds, governed by policies that determine usage and distribution.  SPLC has, in recent years, taken $40-50,000 to meet annual obligations.

The 4 funds are:

          Mission Investment Fund                   $82,000

          Investment                                        $257,832

          Scholarship                                     $1,888,187

          Endowment                                   $1,073,698

The Roof Project

We expect the final 3 bids by the end of the summer.  The most recent bid was $260,000. With a 10% contingency, the projected cost is $286,000. The anticipated carry forward of Sanctuary Project funds and 2024 endowment distributions reduces the cost to $253,279.

The Finance Committee, with Congregational approval at its November 2024 meeting, plans to use the Endowment Fund to pay for the roof replacement.  We intend to use the accrued interest, plus a portion of the corpus, to cover the roof costs. Endowment Fund, after roof costs, is projected to be $803,702.

It was also decided at the November Congregational Meeting to forgo all benevolent donations in 2025 (e.g. Albuquerque Interfaith, Bread for the World, Faith Works, Rocky Mountain Synod and others). The congregation is encouraged to direct donations to operational expenses but, of course, may still make special donations to benevolences of their choice.  We, like you, want to be good stewards of our funds. We have an obligation to both mission and maintaining a church we all love.

Final Sanctuary Report May 2025:

Expenses

Renaissance Man (original estimate)                    $62,050

Artisans of the Desert (original estimate)               $  6,839

Pace Audio                                                               $  6,562

Total Original Estimate                                              $75,451

Less savings                                                               -$  8,252

Total Project Cost                                                       $67,199

Income

Total congregation donations (2023-’24)              $33,061

Bradbury-Stamm Parking rental
June14, 2024-June 14, 2025                                     $36,000

Total income thru 6/15/25                                        $69,061

Project savings                                                             $1,862

This accounting squares with the original Roadmap with 2 exceptions:  No endowment funds were used and we had $10,000 more in member donations than anticipated.  The Project came in at $1,862 under budget, due to lower project costs than originally estimated.   $32,721 in 2024 endowment funds have been allocated to the Roof Project. 

From Local Partner Organizations

ABQ FaithWorks Collaborative Update: Dear Friends and Partners of ABQ FaithWorks, I have sad news about FaithWorks that I need to share with you.  You may already be aware that Hannah Albee, Executive Director, who has kept the organization going almost single-handedly the past year, has unfortunately resigned for health reasons. The Board debated about beginning the hiring process, but then were informed at the end of last week that FW City contracts were not renewed. The City is even apparently reassessing their approach to Eviction Prevention, one of our key programs. Although we have a viable budget throughout 2025, we could not offer a competitive full-time salary.
          The Board of Directors met June 1 and decided to cease operations effective immediately. Hannah and the board are currently working with grantors, the landlord and attorneys on the legalities of shutting down. Hannah will stay on board through the sunset process. Our intention is to keep the hard-won 501(c)(3) under the name of ABQ FaithWorks Collaborative for future use by member congregations. FaithWorks clergy support this approach and have agreed to sustain a dormant legal entity if we can keep it. 
          In the meantime, please accept the gratitude of the Board for your support and partnership over the years. We are a great force in the community when we all work together. And it's been a pleasure.
          Don't hesitate to be in touch with Hannah or me if you have any questions. Jane McGuire, 505 220 5667.

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

ELCA Presiding Bishop Eaton Responds to Trump administration’s travel ban scheduled to go into effect June 9. The ban restricts entry into the United States from 12 countries, several of which are majority Muslim countries.
          “As Lutherans, we should be concerned by these actions,” Eaton writes. “Through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, God has set us free from ourselves to serve our neighbor. This expanded policy separates families from loved ones already here. Further, it prevents people — especially those escaping perilous or life-threatening situations in several of these nations — from coming to safety in the U.S. It does not enhance our safety or reflect our vocation as Christians.” Read the full statement at: https://www.elca.org/news-and-events/bishop-eaton-issues-statement-on-travel-ban

Bishop Meghan's Video June Update-Pride Guide and Synod Assembly: Visit https://vimeo.com/1089589984.

An Overview of the 2025 Synod Assembly is posted in the Welcome Center. See:
https://rmselca.org/sites/rmselca.org/files/media/2025_synod_assembly_overview.pdf

Other resources from the Assembly, including videos shown, are at:
https://rmselca.org/synod-assembly-2025-dios-est%C3%A1-aqu%C3%AD-god-here

The 2025 Rocky Mountain Synod Assembly theme was “Dios esta aqui. God is here.” We know that God is always with us and we invite you to share your story of how God is present in your life and in your ministries. Go to the link below to share with a corresponding picture:
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/ea68c075fa02415d949b54d686f9c602
(With your permission, your stories and photos may be featured online and in Synod communications.)

God is so good! A group of loving donors who are inspired by the good work you’re doing have offered to provide an additional $25,000 for our Love Thy Neighbor Matching Gift Challenge! The total match is now $155,000. Any gift you can make by June 30 will be matched dollar for dollar! Thank you for sharing your blessings with your neighbor today. Visit: https://lwr.org/

Global Refuge: Harvesting Hope: Refugee Agriculture in Fargo-This Wednesday. Join us for our next Mobilization and Faith Relations Webinar on June 11 at 2 p.m. Eastern, where we will hear directly from our Fargo Field Office Staff about the impact of the Refugee Agricultural Partnership Program on the lives of our clients. Join us to hear stories of hope and learn about our thriving community garden and ways you can be part of our growth!  Register at: https://globalrefuge-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uYgT6HjCQNyTm_q-iBqNdQ?mc_cid=39e8aa1f8e&mc_eid=2f360c0226#/registration

Updates Beginning 1 June 2025

Starting Today:

Today: St. Paul Tshirts Have Arrived! For those who ordered, you can pick yours up in the Narthex. Cost is $25. There are extras in various sizes, so if you didn’t order ahead, you can still purchase one! We will be wearing them for the PRIDE Parade this Saturday. ~ Bryan Harold & Jim Hatfield

Candy & Cards: We need a few people to come by the office this week to help staple wrapped candy to St. Paul business cards. There is a signup sheet in the Welcome Center. Please indicate which day you can be available, and we will plan a work session to get them ready to give out at the Parade Saturday! Thank you. ~ Bryan Harold & Jim Hatfield

The PRIDE Parade is this Saturday, June 7th! There is still time to sign up to participate with the St. Paul float. The signup sheet is in the Welcome Center. Come out and show your support! We will meet at the church at 7am to take the float over to line up and decorate. We are working on having the four Lutheran churches participating line up together. The parade will be over by Noon. ~ Bryan Harold & Jim Hatfield

St. Paul Rummage Sale Details, Saturday, June 14th: Here are some details regarding the St. Paul Rummage Sale scheduled for June 14th/ Saturday, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm (updated times). I will be here at the Church by 7:00 am to help set up on the day of sale.

• Please have your items in boxes or bags.

• We could use help setting up tables and a tent. We are still taking items for staging in the library until the day before the Rummage Sale.

• If you have items you are selling, please be at the sale, unless otherwise unable. Call me at the church:  505-242-5942 or on my cell phone:  505-264-6456.

• We will be advertising the Rummage Sale on the marquee (outside the church) from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm for passersby. We will also put signs at Indian School Rd  and Broadway, and University and Indian School Rd. 

• We are putting an ad on Facebook / Market Place to advertise the Sale.

• I will have a cash bag with some change and can help with change and funds coming in, as well as an assistant helping with sales.

• I would like to order pizza, lemonde and salad for those attending to be delivered to the church around Noon for all helpers, served in the Welcome Area during breaks.  Other snacks are welcome as well if you want to bring anything. 

• Please bring your sun protection gear, water and sunscreen.  We can get you into the church if needed for the bathroom, liquids and snacks.

• If you have suggestions or details, please contact me prior to the sale. 

• All proceeds will be going to help pay for the Roof Project.

• We will have a truck to pick up leftover items Monday the 16th. As we found out, most places don’t have trucks running on weekends, i.e. Salvation Army, Joy Junction, Give ABQ or Humane Association.  We will need to move leftover items into the church main hallway after the sale. 

• Please see me after service to confirm your participation.  Again, we will need assistance with set up/breakdown and folks to be here for the sale.

Thank you for your participation! ~Jolene Gallegos, Facilities Coordinator

Our sister in Christ, Margo, will be 102 on June 16! St. Paul would like to fill a Bucket of Birthday Greetings to Margo. Please take time to fill out a birthday card, to write a greeting, to send love and let Margo know we are thinking of her on this special day of hers. We have this Sunday, June 1 and next Sunday June 8 to bring cards, write cards, messages and prayers. Cards will be delivered by her daughter Cindy or by Visitation close to or on her birthday. Thank you for your good wishes and thoughtful messages. ~Julie Ambrogi for Visitation Ministry

Save the Date: June 22 after our Worship Service in Friendship Corner: Anyone interested in meeting as a group to learn how or to help others learn to make a Loom Hat is welcome. Grab your refreshments and join us for an hour or more if you wish. Bulky yarn will be available, limited looms will be available, instructions for knitting and looming will be available, and good company will be available. We will get you started and send you home to complete one or more hats. If you have bulky yarn to donate or share with others, please bring it. If you do not want to make a hat, learn to make pom-poms for hats, you can donate to the cause – the money raised will be used to purchase more bulky yarn. The warmth provided for a cold head will begin with one simple stitch of love……. ~Julie Ambrogi, for the Sabbatical Team

Adopted Families is seeking a wheelchair. If you can provide one, please drop off at the church office or pickup can be arranged. ~Deborah Ash

June’s God’s Work Our Hands project is collecting funds for Friends Feeding Friends’ First Thursday meal at HopeWorks in July. Please indicate “FFF July” on your check to St. Paul. Thanks! We also continue with our Sabbatical project making hats for Dignity Mission. ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

The Storehouse provides food to many of the neediest in our community. Whatever you can give will be most welcome. Donation barrels are just inside the Narthex doors. Pet food is also needed. ~Nancy Matthews

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Van De Motter

From Local Partner Organizations

Today, 1 June at 2pm: ABQ Chamber Soloists Concert at St. Paul: The final concert of their season features:

Javier Alvarez: Metro Chabacano
Henri Dutilleux: Ainsi la Nuit
Felix Mendelssohn: Octet for Strings, Op. 20

A pre-concert talk with the musical director will take place at 1:15pm in Fellowship Hall. Tickets at: https://www.abqcs.com/

Today: Migration with Dignity Pilgrimage Vigil. June 1 at 7pm (carpool at 5:45pm from St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church, 601 Montaño Rd NW 87107). St. Michael’s will help host a vigil in Arthur Park in Estancia. As part of the Vigil, we will drive by the Torrance County Detention Facility to honk our horns and let immigrants detained inside know they are not alone. Carpool from St. Michael’s or you can meet us at Arthur Park in Estancia at 7pm.
Coordinated by the Episcopal Migration Caucus, the vigil will include Christian prayers, Scriptures, and songs, and personal stories from detained or formerly detained persons. We will gather for no more than one hour as a peaceful, reverential presence. All are welcome to bear witness to the cruelty and injustice of the immigrant detention system and stand up in spirit for the dignity of every human being. 

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church: The final report and recommendations of the commission, including the response of the ELCA Church Council to the report are available at: https://www.elca.org/about/leadership/church-council/crlc

A group of compassionate donors has come together to kick off a $130,000 Love Thy Neighbor matching gift challenge. Any gift you can make by June 30 will be matched dollar for dollar! Thank you for sharing your blessings with your neighbor today. Visit: https://lwr.org/

Lutheran World Relief mobilizes response for neighbors in Midwest & South. For weeks, tornadoes and flash flooding have caused dozens of weather-related deaths and billions in catastrophic damage throughout the southern and midwestern US. Because of faithful supporters like you, our multi-state emergency response is underway: https://lwr.org/

Global Refuge: Harvesting Hope: Refugee Agriculture in Fargo. Join us for our next Mobilization and Faith Relations Webinar on June 11, where we will hear directly from our Fargo Field Office Staff about the impact of the Refugee Agricultural Partnership Program on the lives of our clients. Join us to hear stories of hope and learn about our thriving community garden and ways you can be part of our growth!  Register at: https://globalrefuge-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uYgT6HjCQNyTm_q-iBqNdQ?mc_cid=39e8aa1f8e&mc_eid=2f360c0226#/registration

Global Refuge, in partnership with Paraclete Post, a ministry of the Southern Ohio Synod, ELCA, has developed an educational resource for families to talk to children about immigration. You will find a discussion of a children’s book on immigration, prompts and further reading recommendations for family conversation, and suggestions for spiritual play.  Download the resource to talk to your kids about the work of welcome:
https://globalrefuge.tfaforms.net/123?mc_cid=39e8aa1f8e&mc_eid=2f360c0226

Global Refuge Statement: Termination of Protections for Aghans in the U.S. https://www.globalrefuge.org/news/global-refuge-condemns-termination-of-protections-for-afghans-in-the-u-s/?mc_cid=39e8aa1f8e&mc_eid=2f360c0226

Updates Beginning 25 May 2025

A Heartfelt Thank You! to everyone who helped make the Immigration Summit and opening worship for the Synod Assembly such successes here at St. Paul! We welcomed the Bishop, as well as folks from throughout the Rocky Mountain Synod this past week. St. Paul also loaned banners to decorate the Assembly space.
          And Hats Off! to Ruth Hoffman, who wrapped up her term as Synod Vice President, and was recognized for her service at the Assembly! Please see the monitors for pictures from the events. ~Deborah Ash

A Thank You from RMS: Dear St. Paul Volunteers, thank you so very much for your presence and hard work during the RMS Immigration Accompaniment Summit and opening worship. You are truly an amazing group of humans and you made such a difference in how smoothly the Summit ran and how welcome all the participants and leaders felt. Thank you so very much! Diana Linden-Johnson, Minister for Rostered and Lay Leadership

From RMS Assembly’s Ministry Magazine:

Adopted Families:  We recently helped two people. One is a single woman with 40 years of federal working experience. Someone fraudulently changed her banking info which resulted in her not receiving her pension for three months; so she needed help with her water bill of almost $212. Her water was about to be shut off. She was very grateful when we paid her bill. The other person is a single man we heard about through a client advocate at Healthcare for the Homeless. The man had arranged a stay with his family in Phoenix where he plans on finding better job options for himself. We worked with the client advocate to pay about $69 to get the man the bus ticket he needed. The man was very excited to get the ticket. Thank you for helping us help others.  ~Kay Schoenefeld, Coordinator

Adopted Families is seeking a wheelchair. If you can provide one, please drop off at the church office or pickup can be arranged. ~Deborah Ash

June’s God’s Work Our Hands project is collecting funds for Friends Feeding Friends’ First Thursday meal at HopeWorks in July. Please indicate “FFF July” on your check to St. Paul. Thanks! We also continue with our Sabbatical project making hats for Dignity Mission. ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Mark Your Calendars: This year’s PRIDE Parade is Saturday, June 7th! The Signup sheet is in the Welcome Center for participating in the parade. Come out and show your support! Thanks to Bryan Harold and Jim Hatfield for captaining our efforts this year. ~Deborah Ash

Reminder for Rummage Sale scheduled June 14th: If you would like to participate in the Rummage Sale scheduled for June 14th, Saturday, from 8 am to 4 pm, you are able to stage items in the library on the left-hand side of the room for now. Please price your items according to what you think is the value.  We will also have a Salvation Army Truck scheduled to arrive close to 4:00 pm and they will take away any unwanted items.  Please reach out to me on Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays from 9am to 2pm via call to the Office or email (facilities@stpaulabq.org).
I will be able to assist you in bringing items into the library if help is needed.  Please keep items organized in boxes, or bags with your name on them.  If you have larger furniture items, we ask that you bring them the day prior to the Rummage Sale.  If you have smaller furniture items, there should be room in the library. 
I hope this idea is a success in raising money to assist the Roof expenses, as all sales will go to the Roof Fund as a donation. Thank you for your participation. ~Jolene Gallegos, Facilities Coordinator

Hats for Dignity Mission. During Pastor Koppel’s Sabbatical leave (May, June, July) our congregation is participating in a collaborative effort to make hats to donate in the fall of 2025 to Dignity Mission. There are several ways you can participate:

• You can learn to make these loomed hats from yarn. A limited number of looms are available through our church to check out and share. Simply u-tube hats on a loom/ u-tube for instructions and simple to follow examples or ask Julie Ambrogi (903.602.6222) or Nancy Jenkins (505.269.0855) to teach and get you started.

• If you are interested in purchasing your own looms,  ask Julie to order your set OR order your own set through AMAZON.com ($19.95 gets you 4 looms of various sizes, pompom makers for the various sizes, a looming pick and a needle).  We are using Readaer Round Knitting Looms.

• If you do not want to mess with yarn and/or loom – DONATE to the project! This will be our God’s Work, Our Hands project during these months and donations will be used to purchase yarn or more looms.

• There is another way to be involved – IF YOU KNOW HOW TO KNIT OR CROCHET, (Bless you!) feel free to knit or crochet hats for Dignity Mission. Finished hats can be placed in the gray bin in the Welcome Center.

St. Paul has lots of yarn to offer for making these hats or yarn can be purchased. One skein of yarn can make 3 -5 hats depending on the size of the hat. We would love to have these hats being made and coming in with the last of the hats to come in at the end of July. In August we will welcome Pastor Koppel and Jan back, bless our project and send our hats to those needing warmth and encouragement in the harsh elements outside. We are blessed to be a blessing…. ~Julie Ambrogi, for the Sabbatical Team

Scam Alert! An email is circulating about purchasing gift cards—this time around it has Pastor Van De Motter’s signature line rather than Pastor Koppel’s! If you receive this email, please report it as spam. ~Deborah Ash

The Storehouse provides food to many of the neediest in our community. Whatever you can give will be most welcome. Donation barrels are just inside the Narthex doors. Pet food is also needed. ~Nancy Matthews

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Van De Motter

From Local Partner Organizations

Luther House: Please see Pastor Rhonda Newby-Torres’ newsletter entitled Legacy, posted in the Welcome Center. It describes the recent baptism of Ezra Baslios, and the several generations of his family, members of St. Paul, who have been part of the Luther House community over a 20-year span!

From Witness to Resistance: Desert Shrine. You are invited on Saturday, May 31, 3-5 PM at First Congregational(Lomas/Girard) for the benefit of partner organization New Mexico Immigrant Law Center (NMILC) to stand with fellow advocates. A shrine has been created by Ted Martinez calling to mind migrants' arduous journeys through the Chihuahuan Desert. Speakers are from the City, El Centro, NMILC, Nahalat Shalom, and St Therese. Refreshments. Parking at Jefferson Middle School.

ABQ Chamber Soloists Concert at St. Paul next Sunday, 1 June at 2pm: The final concert of their season features:

Javier Alvarez: Metro Chabacano
Henri Dutilleux: Ainsi la Nuit
Felix Mendelssohn: Octet for Strings, Op. 20

A pre-concert talk with the musical director will take place at 1:15pm in Fellowship Hall. Tickets at: https://www.abqcs.com/

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

May Update: Advocacy Connections from the D.C. ELCA Advocacy Office. Visit the link below for information on these topics and why they matter to the ELCA:

·        Budget reconciliation advances via committee
·        FEMA threats
·        Advocacy with companion churches
·        Humanitarian aid to Gaza
·        Tax reforms
·        Migration policy Updates

blogs.elca.org/advocacy/may-update-advocacy-connections-2025/

Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church: The final report and recommendations of the commission, including the response of the ELCA Church Council to the report are available at: https://www.elca.org/about/leadership/church-council/crlc

A Draft Social Message on Child Protection: The prevalence of child maltreatment in the U.S. is staggering. The ELCA’s draft social message on child protection outlines the church’s sacred responsibility to protect and nurture children. To strengthen this draft, share your suggestions during the public comment period by June 30: https://www.elca.org/faith/faith-and-society/current-social-writing-projects/child-protection

Discover the 2025 Lutheran Summer Music (LSM) Season. LSM is thrilled to announce its 43rd season, featuring over 30 free concerts, recitals, and worship services open to the public. Hosted at Valparaiso University from June 22 to July 20, this season offers a vibrant lineup of musical experiences that will also be shared online via Live from LSM—bringing this summer's transformational experience to audiences around the world.

          Highlights include the Music and Worship Series, featuring the beloved Bach Cantata Eucharist, the inspiring Festival of Hymns, and the debut of the Faculty Organ Recital. During Festival Week, experience the culmination of the summer through powerful performances by the Festival Band, Orchestra, and Choir. Live from LSM access: LSMacademy.org/2025.

Lutherans Restoring Creation is a grassroots movement promoting care for creation in the ELCA, cultivating a community of dedicated stewards of earth and neighbor who proclaim God’s promise of hope and healing for all. A variety of events are listed in the community calendar (local to global, in-person and virtual): https://lutheransrestoringcreation.org/events/

A group of compassionate donors has come together to kick off a $130,000 Love Thy Neighbor matching gift challenge. Any gift you can make by June 30 will be matched dollar for dollar! Thank you for sharing your blessings with your neighbor today. Visit: https://lwr.org/

Global Refuge: Harvesting Hope: Refugee Agriculture in Fargo. Join us for our next Mobilization and Faith Relations Webinar on June 11, where we will hear directly from our Fargo Field Office Staff about the impact of the Refugee Agricultural Partnership Program on the lives of our clients. Join us to hear stories of hope and learn about our thriving community garden and ways you can be part of our growth!  Register at: https://globalrefuge-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uYgT6HjCQNyTm_q-iBqNdQ?mc_cid=39e8aa1f8e&mc_eid=2f360c0226#/registration

Global Refuge, in partnership with Paraclete Post, a ministry of the Southern Ohio Synod, ELCA, has developed an educational resource for families to talk to children about immigration. In this resource, you will find a discussion of a children’s book on immigration, prompts and further reading recommendations for family conversation, and suggestions for spiritual play. Download the resource to talk to your kids about the work of welcome: https://globalrefuge.tfaforms.net/123?mc_cid=39e8aa1f8e&mc_eid=2f360c0226

Global Refuge Statement on the Termination of Protections for Aghans in the U.S. Read the full statement at:  https://www.globalrefuge.org/news/global-refuge-condemns-termination-of-protections-for-afghans-in-the-u-s/?mc_cid=39e8aa1f8e&mc_eid=2f360c0226

Updates Beginning 18 May 2025

Today after Worship: Ministry Fair, a chance for the various St. Paul ministries to show what they do and, importantly, show how you can be involved. Tables will be set up in the narthex after worship, and you'll be able wander among them at your own pace. ~Bob Matthews, Adult Faith Development

Scam Alert! An email is circulating about purchasing gift cards—this time around it has Pastor Van De Motter’s signature line rather than Pastor Koppel’s! If you receive this email, please report it as spam. ~Deborah Ash

A Thank You to St. Paul: Dear St. Paul Family, the fundraiser for the 2025 Madagascar Girls Camp was a resounding success! Thank you so much to all the families and friends at St. Paul who participated. Your generous donations will make a significant difference in the lives of 21 girls and seven female teachers from rural communities in Madagascar.
Continuing the tradition of the past two years, this year's week-long residential camp, themed "Cultivating Hope," will provide these girls with transformative opportunities. By visiting universities and historic sites, learning Basic English, engaging in arts and crafts, listening to inspiring talks from educated and professional women, and connecting with peers from other rural communities facing similar challenges, the camp aims to instill hope. Instead of viewing their current circumstances as a dead end, the Girls Camp will empower these girls and their teachers to see education as a pathway to a brighter personal, professional, and economic future.
Most importantly, the Girls Camp offers a unique opportunity to foster a better future for rural communities in Madagascar, where 80% of the population lives and works. The hope is that through education, these girls will be equipped to work in various fields and actively contribute to the development of their communities. The continued growth of rural schools depends on the education of the local future generation. These girls represent that future, and St. Paul plays a crucial role in shaping it for our neighbors across the globe.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your love, support, and care! Words cannot adequately express my gratitude. May God's gracious blessings be upon you and your loved ones.
Appreciatively, Rijasoa Andriamanana

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Van De Motter

Mark Your Calendars: This year’s PRIDE Parade is Saturday, June 7th! Details to come regarding St. Paul’s float for the parade and participating in the event. Come out and show your support! Thanks to Bryan Harold and Jim Hatfield for captaining our efforts this year. ~Deborah Ash

Reminder for Rummage Sale scheduled June 14th: If you would like to participate in the Rummage Sale scheduled for June 14th, Saturday, from 8 am to 4 pm, you are able to stage items in the library on the left-hand side of the room for now. Please price your items according to what you think is the value.  We will also have a Salvation Army Truck scheduled to arrive close to 4:00 pm and they will take away any unwanted items.  Please reach out to me on Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays from 9am to 2pm via call to the Office or email (facilities@stpaulabq.org).
I will be able to assist you in bringing items into the library if help is needed.  Please keep items organized in boxes, or bags with your name on them.  If you have larger furniture items, we ask that you bring them the day prior to the Rummage Sale.  If you have smaller furniture items, there should be room in the library. 
I hope this idea is a success in raising money to assist the Roof expenses, as all sales will go to the Roof Fund as a donation. Thank you for your participation. ~Jolene Gallegos, Facilities Coordinator

May’s God’s Work Our Hands Project is: Hats for Dignity Mission. During Pastor Koppel’s Sabbatical leave (May, June, July) our congregation is participating in a collaborative effort to make hats to donate in the fall of 2025 to Dignity Mission. There are several ways you can participate:

• You can learn to make these loomed hats from yarn. A limited number of looms are available through our church to check out and share. Simply u-tube hats on a loom/ u-tube for instructions and simple to follow examples or ask Julie Ambrogi (903.602.6222) or Nancy Jenkins (505.269.0855) to teach and get you started.

• If you are interested in purchasing your own looms,  ask Julie to order your set OR order your own set through AMAZON.com ($19.95 gets you 4 looms of various sizes, pompom makers for the various sizes, a looming pick and a needle).  We are using Readaer Round Knitting Looms.

• If you do not want to mess with yarn and/or loom – DONATE to the project! This will be our God’s Work, Our Hands project during these months and donations will be used to purchase yarn or more looms.

• There is another way to be involved – IF YOU KNOW HOW TO KNIT OR CROCHET, (Bless you!) feel free to knit or crochet hats for Dignity Mission. Finished hats can be placed in the gray bin in the Welcome Center.

St. Paul has lots of yarn to offer for making these hats or yarn can be purchased. One skein of yarn can make 3 -5 hats depending on the size of the hat. We would love to have these hats being made and coming in with the last of the hats to come in at the end of July. In August we will welcome Pastor Koppel and Jan back, bless our project and send our hats to those needing warmth and encouragement in the harsh elements outside. We are blessed to be a blessing…. ~Julie Ambrogi, for the Sabbatical Team

Adopted Families is seeking a wheelchair. If you can provide one, please drop off at the church office or pickup can be arranged. ~Deborah Ash

The Storehouse provides food to many of the neediest in our community. Whatever you can give will be most welcome. Donation barrels are just inside the Narthex doors. Pet food is also needed. ~Nancy Matthews

From Local Partner Organizations

Offered by NM Conference of Churches:

ABQ Chamber Soloists Concert at St. Paul Sunday, 1 June at 2pm: The final concert of their season features:

 Javier Alvarez: Metro Chabacano
Henri Dutilleux: Ainsi la Nuit
Felix Mendelssohn: Octet for Strings, Op. 20 

A pre-concert talk with the musical director will take place at 1:15pm in Fellowship Hall. Tickets at: https://www.abqcs.com/

ABQ FaithWorks Update:

• Good Immigration News! Two asylum seekers in our program have been granted asylum in 2025 from an El Paso immigration judge! This is rare and unexpected!

• ID Clinics continue monthly at the Cathedral of St John and weekly at Central United Methodist. These assist both the precariously housed and immigrant populations.

• Thank you to St Terese Catholic and St Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal for hosting recent New Mexico Immigrant Law Center (NMILC) clinics that FaithWorks coordinates monthly with NMILC.

• Volunteer? FaithWorks has volunteer opportunities to support our eviction prevention program, to work directly with asylum-seeking families, and in general administration. Contact exec@abqfaithworks.org to get oriented, trained and assigned!

 FaithWorks’ Annual Report is posted in the Welcome Center.

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

 RMS Synod Assembly is this Week! St. Paul is excited to be hosting the 2-day Immigration Summit Wednesday and Thursday, as well as the Assembly opening worship on Thursday evening. St. Paul’s voting members to the Assembly are: Deborah Ash and Sharon Hamilton.

May Update: Advocacy Connections from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. Visit the link below for information on these topics and why they matter to the ELCA:

• Budget reconciliation advances via committee

• FEMA threats

• Advocacy with companion churches

• Humanitarian aid to Gaza

• Tax reforms

• Migration policy Updates

blogs.elca.org/advocacy/may-update-advocacy-connections-2025/

A Draft Social Message on Child Protection: The prevalence of child maltreatment in the U.S. is staggering. The ELCA’s draft social message on child protection outlines the church’s sacred responsibility to protect and nurture children. To strengthen this draft, share your suggestions during the public comment period by June 30: https://www.elca.org/faith/faith-and-society/current-social-writing-projects/child-protection

In the 2025 Global Mission Directory, meet current ELCA missionaries and see the ways in which God is calling us along the journey of accompaniment with our siblings in Christ throughout the world. This resource gives an overview of the ELCA’s global engagement.
https://resources.elca.org/global-mission/2025-global-mission-directory-pdf/ (A copy is posted in the Welcome Center).

Discover the 2025 Lutheran Summer Music (LSM) Season. LSM is thrilled to announce its 43rd season, featuring over 30 free concerts, recitals, and worship services open to the public. Hosted at Valparaiso University from June 22 to July 20, this season offers a vibrant lineup of musical experiences that will also be shared online via Live from LSM—bringing this summer's transformational experience to audiences around the world.
          Highlights include the Music and Worship Series, featuring the beloved Bach Cantata Eucharist, the inspiring Festival of Hymns, and the debut of the Faculty Organ Recital. During Festival Week, experience the culmination of the summer through powerful performances by the Festival Band, Orchestra, and Choir. Live from LSM access: LSMacademy.org/2025.

Lutherans Restoring Creation is a grassroots movement promoting care for creation in the ELCA, cultivating a community of dedicated stewards of earth and neighbor who proclaim God’s promise of hope and healing for all. A variety of events are listed in the community calendar (local to global, in-person and virtual): https://lutheransrestoringcreation.org/events/

A group of compassionate donors has come together to kick off a $130,000 Love Thy Neighbor matching gift challenge. Any gift you can make by June 30 will be matched dollar for dollar! Thank you for sharing your blessings with your neighbor today. Visit: https://lwr.org/

This week with Bread for the World: Join a special strategy briefing via Zoom May 19, at 6:00 p.m. (ET). The call will be a candid Q&A on domestic and international policy issues. Rev. Cho, President and CEO, will be joined by Sakeenah Shabazz, Deputy Director of the Policy and Research Institute department, and Dr. Christine M. Sequenzia, Senior International Policy Analyst of the Government Relations department. We are in unprecedented times. Inflation, program changes and cuts, food shortages, armed conflict, and extreme weather have pushed millions into chronic hunger and some to the brink of famine. Our leaders are grappling with what is America’s role in providing food and lifesaving aid at home and abroad. Registration is free, but you must register ahead of time. You can also submit a question for the panel when you sign up. Register at: https://go.bread.org/page/82418/-/1

This week with Global Refuge: You are invited to a virtual conversation between Rev. Eric Shafer, Global Refuge pastor in residence, and Rev. Dr. Richard Rouse, author of the newly published book ‘A Journey Called Hope.’ (Both are ELCA pastors.) During this time to learn more about the stories of resiliency of new Americans featured in the book, you will also have the chance to ask questions of the speakers. ‘A Journey Called Hope’ is a great resource for anyone interested in learning more about the lives of refugees and other immigrants. May 20, 7pm EDT/4pm PT. Register at: https://globalrefuge-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gU0dD8XGTHqeB5PckP-ZGQ?_ics=1744658639611&irclickid=#/registration

Updates Beginning 11 May 2025

Today after Worship: We are delighted to welcome an old friend of St. Paul, Kurt Rager, of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry--NM. He will share his wrap-up of the recently concluded, 60-day legislative session and progress they made, if any, in areas of concern to LAM and Christians in New Mexico congregations. He may also be able to discuss the future of advocacy ministry in New Mexico and plans for next year's session. His discussion begins after the service at 11:15 in the Conference Room. Bring your refreshments and your questions. It should be a good discussion.
            Keep an eye out next Sunday for the Ministry Fair, a chance for the various St. Paul ministries to show what they do and, importantly, show how you can be involved. Tables will be set up in the narthex after worship, and you'll be able wander among them at your own pace. Watch for it next week! ~Bob Matthews, for the Adult Faith Development Team

This Thursday, 15 May at 6pm: El Faro Concert at St. Paul. The youth choir of Coro Lux will be performing in the Sanctuary. Please come and enjoy this amazing choir! Free and open to the public. ~Deborah Ash

33 Bread for the World letters from St. Paul members will be delivered to our members of Congress this week and next, along with over 700 letters written in Albuquerque area congregations (Presbyterian, Methodist, Mennonite, UCC, Lutheran and Roman Catholic). If you haven't written your letters, information and addresses are available and the letters will be combined with several congregations who have yet to hold their Offering of Letters effort. They will be delivered later to the local offices of our members of Congress. Hungry children and mothers around the world thank you for your work in combating nutrition problems. ~Paul Gallegos and Ivan Westergaard

Reminder for Rummage Sale scheduled June 14th: If you would like to participate in the Rummage Sale scheduled for June 14th, Saturday, from 8 am to 4 pm, you are able to stage items in the library on the left-hand side of the room for now. Please price your items according to what you think is the value.  We will also have a Salvation Army Truck scheduled to arrive close to 4:00 pm and they will take away any unwanted items.  Please reach out to me on Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays from 9am to 2pm via call to the Office or email (facilities@stpaulabq.org).
I will be able to assist you in bringing items into the library if help is needed.  Please keep items organized in boxes, or bags with your name on them.  If you have larger furniture items, we ask that you bring them the day prior to the Rummage Sale.  If you have smaller furniture items, there should be room in the library.
I hope this idea is a success in raising money to assist the Roof expenses, as all sales will go to the Roof Fund as a donation. Thank you for your participation. ~Jolene Gallegos, Facilities Coordinator

Adopted Families has an older gentleman in need of a wheelchair. If you are able to provide one, please drop off at the church office or pickup can be arranged. A shower chair was donated. Thank you! ~Deborah Ash

May’s God’s Work Our Hands Project is: Hats for Dignity Mission. During Pastor Koppel’s Sabbatical leave (May, June, July) our congregation is participating in a collaborative effort to make hats to donate in the fall of 2025 to Dignity Mission. There are several ways you can participate in this Congregational Project:

• You can learn to make these loomed hats from yarn. A limited number of looms are available through our church to check out and share. Simply u-tube hats on a loom/ u-tube for instructions and simple to follow examples or ask Julie Ambrogi (903.602.6222) or Nancy Jenkins (505.269.0855) to teach and get you started.

• If you are interested in purchasing your own looms,  ask Julie to order your set OR order your own set through AMAZON.com ($19.95 gets you 4 looms of various sizes, pompom makers for the various sizes, a looming pick and a needle).  We are using Readaer Round Knitting Looms.

• If you do not want to mess with yarn and/or loom – DONATE to the project! This will be our God’s Work, Our Hands project during these months and donations will be used to purchase yarn or more looms.

• There is another way to be involved – IF YOU KNOW HOW TO KNIT OR CROCHET, (Bless you!) feel free to knit or crochet hats for Dignity Mission. Finished hats can be placed in the gray bin in the Welcome Center.

St. Paul has lots of yarn to offer for making these hats or yarn can be purchased. One skein of yarn can make 3 -5 hats depending on the size of the hat. We would love to have these hats being made and coming in with the last of the hats to come in at the end of July. In August we will welcome Pastor Koppel and Jan back, bless our project and send our hats to those needing warmth and encouragement in the harsh elements outside. We are blessed to be a blessing ……. ~Hal Nilsson, Deb Ash, Sara Love, Pastor Patrick Van De Motter, Pastor Koppel, Julie Ambrogi

Storehouse Food: The Storehouse provides food to many of the neediest in our community.  Need more ideas for food donations?  Here are 3 more:

1. Fruit (dried, canned or small cups)              

2. Canned vegetables

3. Snack items (crackers, granola bars, fruit bars, protein bars, etc.)

I hope this helps you when you're shopping!  Whatever you give will be most welcome. The barrels for donations are just inside the Narthex doors.   Pet food is also needed. Thanks!  ~Nancy Matthews

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Van De Motter

From Local Partner Organizations

ABQ FaithWorks Update:

• Good Immigration News! Two asylum seekers in our program have been granted asylum in 2025 from an El Paso immigration judge! This is rare and unexpected!

• ID Clinics continue monthly at the Cathedral of St John and weekly at Central United Methodist. These assist both the precariously housed and immigrant populations.

• Thank you to St Terese Catholic and St Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal for hosting recent New Mexico Immigrant Law Center (NMILC) clinics that FaithWorks coordinates monthly with NMILC.

• Volunteer? FaithWorks has volunteer opportunities to support our eviction prevention program, to work directly with asylum-seeking families, and in general administration. Contact exec@abqfaithworks.org to get oriented, trained and assigned!

FaithWorks’ Annual Report is posted in the Welcome Center.

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

From Bishop Meghan:
Dear friends in Christ, good news! I am overjoyed to share that our Office of the Bishop team is complete. This month, we are introducing two new directors for Evangelical Missions, Director of Evangelical Mission (DEM)–North and DEM–South. We welcome Rev. Quirino Cornejo (QC) as DEM-South, and Rev. Chris Davis as DEM-North and Synod Minister for Generosity.
          Father QC, DEM–South, ordained in the Episcopal Church (USA), is well known to many in our synod as our Minister for Multicultural Witness and former mission developer pastor for Cristo Rey/Christ the King in Denver, CO. Last fall, Father QC stepped into the role of acting DEM, accompanying many of our SAWCs (Synodically Authorized Worshipping Communities) and other strategic ministries. In the DEM-South role, Father QC will continue serving half time with the Rocky Mountain Synod and half time with our partners in the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado. His portfolio will include New Mexico, El Paso, and part of Colorado.
          Pastor Chris begins his call as DEM-North and Synod Minister for Generosity on May 15. Pastor Chris has served as a mission developer and pastor in three congregations in the Rocky Mountain Synod, most recently at Trinity, Loveland, CO. Pastor Chris will be serving half time as DEM with a portfolio including Utah, Wyoming, and part of Colorado; the other half of his call as Synod Minister for Generosity will focus on supporting stewardship, mission support, grants, and other efforts to build financial capacity throughout the synod.
          The role of the Director for Evangelical Mission (DEM) focuses on new and revitalized ministries. DEMs work to create partnerships between congregations, and equip synod members to share the Gospel in their communities. DEMs also serve as a bridge between synods and the wider church. The role of the Director for Evangelical Mission is a grant-supported partnership between the ELCA Churchwide Office and synods. 

Equipping the Saints:

“But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift…to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:7, 12)

As our RMS synod staff team met last week for a retreat to pray, build relationships, and ponder our “why,” one word came up more than any other: equip. Many have been asking, “what is the role of the synod, and the synod office, in this time?” The verse above from Ephesians offers a clear vision: the grace we have received, and our variety of gifts and roles, is for a purpose: to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.
          It is our hope and prayer that this team continues to grow in our capacity to accompany the people and ministries of our Rocky Mountain Synod with the support, connection, and resources we need to be equipped to follow Jesus and the call of the Holy Spirit in love and service to our neighbors.

Today: Share Your Story—All Are Welcome! The 2025 Rocky Mountain Synod Assembly theme is” Dios está aquí. God is here.” We know that God is everywhere and we invite you to share your story of how God is present in your life and in your context. To share a few sentences and if you'd like, a corresponding picture of how God is with you, submit your story by May 11:
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/ea68c075fa02415d949b54d686f9c602
[With your permission, your stories and photos may be featured during the Assembly in Albuquerque, May 22–24, and in Synod communications like the eConnection and social media.]

Register at: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/9846002 (held at St. Paul)

ELCA Church Council Takes Action for 2025 Churchwide Assembly. The Church Council gathered at the Lutheran Center in Chicago, April 3-6. The council serves as the ELCA churchwide organization’s board of directors and interim legislative authority between meetings of a churchwide assembly. The council’s work, grounded in faith in Jesus Christ, focused on actions that will go before the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Phoenix, July 26-Aug. 2. (Note: Rindra Josoa is a Council member!)
https://www.elca.org/news-and-events/elca-church-council-takes-action-for-2025-churchwide-assembly

A Draft Social Message on Child Protection: The prevalence of child maltreatment in the U.S. is staggering. The ELCA’s draft social message on child protection outlines the church’s sacred responsibility to protect and nurture children. To strengthen this draft, share your suggestions during the public comment period by June 30: https://www.elca.org/faith/faith-and-society/current-social-writing-projects/child-protection

North America-Holy Land Solidarity Visit Statement: Read a statement from Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land Bishop Sani-Ibrahim Azar, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada National Bishop Susan Johnson on a visit of solidarity to the Holy Land: https://www.elca.org/news-and-events/north-america--holy-land-solidarity-visit-statement

In the 2025 Global Mission Directory, meet current ELCA missionaries and see the ways in which God is calling us along the journey of accompaniment with our siblings in Christ throughout the world. This resource gives an overview of the ELCA’s global engagement.
https://resources.elca.org/global-mission/2025-global-mission-directory-pdf/
(A copy is posted in the Welcome Center).

ELCA is hosting a donor immersion trip to Argentina and Chile Oct. 3-13. Donors will meet with local partners and learn more about the ministries that the ELCA supports, including Educación Popular en Salud, the United Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile. Learn more at: https://resources.elca.org/leadership-circle/argentina-chile-donor-immersion-trip-2025/

Lutherans Restoring Creation is a grassroots movement promoting care for creation in the ELCA, cultivating a community of dedicated stewards of earth and neighbor who proclaim God’s promise of hope and healing for all. A variety of events are listed in the community calendar (local to global, in-person and virtual): https://lutheransrestoringcreation.org/events/

This week: Bread for the World May Regional Online Meetings. You’ll receive critical updates on hunger-related legislation and funding—some of which hangs in the balance with Congress right now. Our meetings will feature an update on Bread for the World’s 2025 Offering of Letters and other hunger-related legislation, as well as information about the upcoming Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC. You will also hear from and connect with Bread members in your state or region and consider timely actions you can take to advocate for a world without hunger.
West, Southwest, and Midwest Combined Regional Online Meetings

• Option 1: Tuesday, May 13 at 7:00 p.m. EDT (4:00 p.m. PDT)

• Option 2: Wednesday, May 14 at 2:00 p.m. EDT (11:00 a.m. PDT)

There’s too much at stake to sit this out. Register at:
https://go.bread.org/page/81573/survey/1?_gl=1*1ul7wti*_gcl_au*MTkxMzA4MzA4Ni4xNzQ1NTk1MzM1

Bread for the World: Join a special strategy briefing via Zoom May 19, at 6:00 p.m. (ET). The call will be a candid Q&A on domestic and international policy issues. Rev. Cho, President and CEO, will be joined by Sakeenah Shabazz, Deputy Director of the Policy and Research Institute department, and Dr. Christine M. Sequenzia, Senior International Policy Analyst of the Government Relations department. We are in unprecedented times. Inflation, program changes and cuts, food shortages, armed conflict, and extreme weather have pushed millions into chronic hunger and some to the brink of famine. Our leaders are grappling with what is America’s role in providing food and lifesaving aid at home and abroad. Registration is free, but you must register ahead of time. You can also submit a question for the panel when you sign up. Register at: https://go.bread.org/page/82418/-/1

Global Refuge: You are invited to a virtual conversation between Rev. Eric Shafer, Global Refuge pastor in residence, and Rev. Dr. Richard Rouse, author of the newly published book ‘A Journey Called Hope.’ (Both are ELCA pastors.) During this time to learn more about the stories of resiliency of new Americans featured in the book, you will also have the chance to ask questions of the speakers. ‘A Journey Called Hope’ is a great resource for anyone interested in learning more about the lives of refugees and other immigrants. May 20, 7pm EDT/4pm PT. Register at: https://globalrefuge-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gU0dD8XGTHqeB5PckP-ZGQ?_ics=1744658639611&irclickid=#/registration

Updates Beginning 4 May 2025

Today after Worship: Exploration of “The Beatitudes” continues. We will meet after worship in the conference room from 11:15am to 12:15pm. We’ll explore and discuss and learn from each other. What are the Beatitudes? How do they relate to us today? What is the meaning of “blessed are”? The facilitators don’t have the complete answers to these and other questions, but we invite the discussion. We need your input, and we look forward to seeing you for this study. ~The Adult Faith Development Team: Bob Matthews, Jan Krakow, Jane Voelkel, Teresa Dubuque

Today: CPR Training at 11:30am. Project Heart Start (Albuquerque Academy students) will be providing a one-hour training on CPR. Pick up your coffee and snacks after worship then head to Fellowship Hall. We hope you can attend this important training! ~Patrick Rabezanany

Today: Letters to Congress in conjunction with Bread for the World: St. Paul is a long-time member of Bread for the World and every year we have participated in writing letters to our members of Congress regarding hunger in the U.S. and around the world. This year's effort is particularly important due to proposed changes in the Farm Bill, WIC, SNAP, Medicaid, Food Stamps and other programs that reduce or discontinue the assistance that they provide to struggling families and children. You are invited today to write your Senators and Representative and express your concern. We will have draft letters, addresses, etc. available for you to write after worship or take home to write. We will gather the letters for a "blessing" and get them to Carlos Navarro, who will deliver them, with letters from other participating congregations, directly to the local offices of our Congress members. ~Ivan Westergaard

El Faro Concert at St. Paul 15 May at 6pm. The youth choir of Coro Lux will be performing in the Sanctuary. Please come and enjoy this amazing choir! Free and open to the public. ~Deborah Ash

Adopted Families has an older gentleman in need of both a shower bench and a wheelchair. If you are able to provide either or both, please drop off at the church office or pickup can be arranged. Thank you! ~Deborah Ash

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Van De Motter

Reminder for Rummage Sale scheduled for June 14th: If you would like to participate in the Rummage Sale scheduled for June 14th, Saturday, from 8 am to 4 pm, you are able to stage items in the library on the left-hand side of the room for now. Please price your items according to what you think is the value.  We will also have a Salvation Army Truck scheduled to arrive close to 4:00 pm and they will take away any unwanted items.  Please reach out to me on Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays from 9am to 2pm via call to the Office or email (facilities@stpaulabq.org).
I will be able to assist you in bringing items into the library if help is needed.  Please keep items organized in boxes, or bags with your name on them.  If you have larger furniture items, we ask that you bring them the day prior to the Rummage Sale.  If you have smaller furniture items, there should be room in the library. 
I hope this idea is a success in raising money to assist the Roof expenses, as all sales will go to the Roof Fund as a donation. Thank you for your participation. ~Jolene Gallegos, Facilities Coordinator

May’s God’s Work Our Hands Project is: Hats for Dignity Mission. During Pastor Koppel’s Sabbatical leave (May, June, July) our congregation will be participating in a collaborative effort to make hats to donate in the fall of 2025 to Dignity Mission. There are several ways you can participate in this Congregational Project:

• You can learn to make these loomed hats from yarn. A limited number of looms are available through our church to check out and share. Simply u-tube hats on a loom/ u-tube for instructions and simple to follow examples or ask Julie Ambrogi (903.602.6222) or Nancy Jenkins (505.269.0855) to teach and get you started.

• If you are interested in purchasing your own looms – SIMPLE – ask Julie to order your set OR order your own set through AMAZON.com ($19.95 gets you 4 looms of various sizes, pompom makers for the various sizes, a looming pick and a needle).  We are using Readaer Round Knitting Looms.

• If you do not want to mess with the yarn and/or loom – DONATE to the project! This will be our God’s Work, Our Hands project during these months and a check or cash will be used to purchase yarn or more looms.

• There is another way to be involved – IF YOU KNOW HOW TO KNIT OR CROCHET, (Bless you!) feel free to knit or crochet hats for Dignity Mission. Finished hats can be placed in the gray bin located in the Welcome Center.

St. Paul has lots of yarn to offer for making these hats or yarn can be purchased. One skein of yarn can make 3 -5 hats depending on the size of the hat. We would love to have these hats being made and coming in with the last of the hats to come in at the end of July. In August we will welcome Pastor Koppel and Jan back, bless our project and send our hats to those needing warmth and encouragement in the harsh elements outside. We are blessed to be a blessing ……. ~Hal Nilsson, Deb Ash, Sara Love, Pastor Patrick Van De Motter, Pastor Koppel, Julie Ambrogi

Storehouse Food: The Storehouse provides food to many of the neediest in our community.  Need more ideas for food donations?  Here are 3 more:

1. Fruit (dried, canned or small cups)              

2. Canned vegetables

3. Snack items (crackers, granola bars, fruit bars, protein bars, etc.)

I hope this helps you when you're shopping!  Whatever you give will be most welcome. The barrels for donations are just inside the Narthex doors.   Pet food is also needed. Thanks!  ~Nancy Matthews 

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

A Message from Bishop Meghan: Dear friends in Christ, sometime during the past week—filled with a trip to Arizona for our first call pastors and deacons retreat, plans for this week’s staff retreat and our upcoming synod assembly, phone calls and meetings with rostered ministers, and many emails—I suddenly realized that it has been one year since my election as bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod. In the first nine months serving in this call, I have been humbled, awed, and overwhelmed with joy (and emails!) by the blessing of being your bishop. I am excited to see our Office of the Bishop team coming together and to be turning our energy and attention to how God is calling us into the future. In all the troubles and the joys of the world, and this ministry, two things have continued to be true: Dios está aquí—God is here! And we are not alone.
          God is here, in the people and ministries of this synod. God is with us, in all that we face. And we are not required, expected, or designed to go it alone. God calls us into community. As we look ahead to our calling as this part of Christ’s church to proclaim and embody that good news for the sake of the world, we need the diverse gifts that this community brings.
I hope you know that I’m praying for you and for your community too, for the ways you live out that Gospel call where you are. In Christ, +Bishop Meghan

Share Your Story—All Are Welcome! The 2025 Rocky Mountain Synod Assembly theme is” Dios está aquí. God is here.” We know that God is everywhere and we invite you to share your story of how God is present in your life and in your context. To share a few sentences and if you'd like, a corresponding picture of how God is with you, submit your story by May 9:
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/ea68c075fa02415d949b54d686f9c602
[With your permission, your stories and photos may be featured during the Assembly in Albuquerque, May 22–24, and in Synod communications like the eConnection and social media.]

Register at: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/9846002 (held at St. Paul)

Lutherans Restoring Creation Network Events: A variety of events are listed in the community calendar (local to global, in-person and virtual): https://lutheransrestoringcreation.org/events/

This week: Next Coffee with Christine is May 7th: Join Christine Moffett, ELCA’s Program Director for Environment and Energy Policy for coffee and discussion! Feel free to ask your questions about Federal policy, especially environment. Knowledge is power! bit.ly/coffee-christine

ELCA is hosting a donor immersion trip to Argentina and Chile Oct. 3-13. Donors will meet with local partners and learn more about the ministries that the ELCA supports, including Educación Popular en Salud, the United Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile. Learn more at: https://resources.elca.org/leadership-circle/argentina-chile-donor-immersion-trip-2025/

Bread for the World: I am writing to invite you to join a special strategy briefing via Zoom on Monday, May 19, at 6:00 p.m. (ET). The call will be a candid Q&A on our domestic and international policy issues. I’ll be joined by Bread for the World’s Sakeenah Shabazz, Deputy Director of the Policy and Research Institute department, and Dr. Christine M. Sequenzia, Senior International Policy Analyst of the Government Relations department.
We are in unprecedented times. Inflation, program changes and cuts, food shortages, armed conflict, and extreme weather have pushed millions into chronic hunger and some to the brink of famine. Our leaders are grappling with what is America’s role in providing food and lifesaving aid at home and abroad. Registration is free, but you must register ahead of time. You can also submit a question for the panel when you sign up. Register today at: https://go.bread.org/page/82418/-/1

Global Refuge: You are invited to join us for a virtual conversation between Rev. Eric Shafer, Global Refuge pastor in residence, and Rev. Dr. Richard Rouse, author of the newly published book ‘A Journey Called Hope.’ Both are ELCA pastors. During this time to learn more about the stories of resiliency of new Americans featured in the book, you will also have the chance to ask questions of the speakers. ‘A Journey Called Hope’ is a great resource for anyone interested in learning more about the lives of refugees and other immigrants, and can be a great resource for your congregation, book club, or small group. Join us. When: Tuesday, May 20, 7pm EDT/4pm PT. Register at: https://globalrefuge-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gU0dD8XGTHqeB5PckP-ZGQ?_ics=1744658639611&irclickid=#/registration

Updates Beginning 27 April 2025

Today after Worship: You are invited to participate in a two-part exploration of “The Beatitudes,” the upcoming offering by the Adult Faith Development team. We will meet after worship in the conference room on April 27th and May 4th, from 11:15am to 12:15pm. We’ll explore and discuss and learn from each other. What are the Beatitudes? How do they relate to us today? What is the meaning of “blessed are.” The facilitators don’t have the complete answer to these and other questions, but we invite the discussion. We need your input, and we look forward to seeing you for this study. ~The Adult Faith Development Team: Bob Matthews, Jan Krakow, Jane Voelkel, Teresa Dubuque

Letters to Congress in conjunction with Bread for the World: St. Paul is a long-time member of Bread for the World and every year we have participated in writing letters to our members of Congress regarding hunger in the U.S. and around the world. This year's effort is particularly important due to proposed changes in the Farm Bill, WIC, SNAP, Medicaid, Food Stamps and other programs that reduce or discontinue the assistance that they provide to struggling families and children. You are invited today and next Sunday (April 27 and May 4), to write your Senators and Representative and express your concern. We will have draft letters, addresses, etc. available for you to write after worship or take home to write. On May 4, we will gather the letters for a "blessing" and get them to Carlos Navarro, who will deliver them, with letters from other participating congregations, directly to the local offices of our Congress members. For more information, the first few minutes of today’s Adult Faith Development class in the Conference Room will be about this. ~Ivan Westergaard

Today: Do you feel strongly about social justice issues? Do you often think, "I'm just one person, what can I do to turn this situation around?" If you said yes to one or both of these questions; you might want to come to an orientation for SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice). We will have a new member orientation followed by a social gathering on Sunday, April 27. Register at bit.ly/4jTxVqH.
SURJ meets every fourth Sunday of the month, beginning with a potluck at noon at Nahalat Shalom 3606 Rio Grande NW. So if you are interested please fill out the link or RSVP to Diane Remer-Thamert 505/362-4134. Hope to see you there! Thanks. ~iusti Remer-Thamert

Next Sunday: CPR Training being held at St. Paul, 4 May, 11:30am. Project Heart Start (Albuquerque Academy students) will be providing a one-hour training on CPR. Pick up your coffee and snacks after worship then head to Fellowship Hall. We hope you can attend this important training! ~Patrick Rabezanany

April’s God’s Work Our Hands project: We are collecting funds for the Madagascar Girls Camp. On your check to St. Paul, please note Girls Camp in the memo line. Thanks! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Congratulations to Patrick Rabezanany! Patrick, who received a scholarship from St. Paul in Fall 2024, graduates May 16 with his doctoral degree in Medical Science from the University of Lynchburg. All the very best from all of us, Patrick! ~Deborah Ash

Reminder for Rummage Sale scheduled for June 14th: If you would like to participate in the Rummage Sale scheduled for June 14th, Saturday from 8 am to 4 pm, you are able to stage items in the library on the left-hand side of the room for now. Please price your items according to what you think is the value.  We will also have a Salvation Army Truck scheduled to arrive close to 4:00 pm and they will take away any unwanted items.  Please reach out to me on Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays from 9am to 2pm via call to the Office or email (facilities@stpaulabq.org).
I will be able to assist you in bringing items into the library if help is needed.  Please keep items organized in boxes, or bags with your name on them.  If you have larger furniture items, we ask that you bring them the day prior to the Rummage Sale.  If you have smaller furniture items, there should be room in the library. 
I hope this idea is a success in raising money to assist the Roof expenses, as all sales will go to the Roof Fund as a donation. Thank you for your participation. ~Jolene Gallegos, Facilities Coordinator

Storehouse Food: The Storehouse provides food to many of the neediest in our community.  Need more ideas for food donations?  Here are 3 more:

1)   Fruit (dried, canned or small cups)               2) Canned vegetables

3)   Snack items (crackers, granola bars, fruit bars, protein bars, etc.)

I hope this helps you when you're shopping!  Whatever you give will be most welcome. The barrels for donations are just inside the Narthex doors. 
Pet food is also needed and has been in short supply per their staff. Thanks!  ~Nancy Matthews

Hats for Dignity Mission. During Pastor Koppel’s Sabbatical leave (May, June, July) our congregation will be participating in a collaborative effort to make hats to donate in the fall of 2025 to Dignity Mission. There are several ways you can participate in this Congregational Project:

• You can learn to make these loomed hats from yarn. A limited number of looms are available through our church to check out and share. Simply u-tube hats on a loom/ u-tube for instructions and simple to follow examples or ask Julie Ambrogi (903.602.6222) or Nancy Jenkins (505.269.0855) to teach and get you started.

• If you are interested in purchasing your own looms – SIMPLE – ask Julie to order your set OR order your own set through AMAZON.com ($19.95 gets you 4 looms of various sizes, pompom makers for the various sizes, a looming pick and a needle) .  We are using Readaer Round Knitting Looms.

• If you do not want to mess with the yarn and/or loom – DONATE to the project! This will be our God’s Work, Our Hands project during these months and a check or cash will be used to purchase yarn or more looms.

• There is another way to be involved – IF YOU KNOW HOW TO KNIT OR CROCHET, (Bless you!) feel free to knit or crochet hats for Dignity Mission. Finished hats can be placed in the gray bin located in the Welcome Center.

St. Paul has lots of yarn to offer for making these hats or yarn can be purchased. One skein of yarn can make 3 -5 hats depending on the size of the hat. We would love to have these hats being made and coming in with the last of the hats to come in at the end of July. In August we will welcome Pastor Koppel and Jan back, bless our project and send our hats to those needing warmth and encouragement in the harsh elements outside. We are blessed to be a blessing ……. ~Hal Nilsson, Deb Ash, Sara Love, Pastor Patrick Van De Motter, Pastor Koppel, Julie Ambrogi

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Van De Motter

From Local Partner Organizations

This week: Church Women United, an ecumenical Christian women’s fellowship, will be celebrating May Friendship Day this Friday, May 2nd at St. John’s United Methodist Church, 2626 Arizona Ave NE.  The morning will begin at 9:30 with coffee fellowship, followed by the program whose theme is ”God’s Daughters Living Powerful Lives”. Ruth Tribou, of CWU in NM, will speak on “The Qualities That Make Us Loving Friends.”  The Fellowship of the Least Coin offering will be taken.  St. John’s has asked that we use the “West” parking lot off Arizona Ave. Please join the celebration and bring a friend!  Questions?  Contact Shirley Nilsson at 505-463-3657 or email her at sfnils@swcp.com.

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

Video Greetings from the young adults of Palestine. Hear how Dios está aquí, God is here, in the midst of struggle, hope, and faith. Mr. Simon Awad, Executive Director of the Environmental Education Center, visited the Synod March 28–31, where he and two young adults from the ELCJHL presented about their work at the EEC, and the Palestinian Christian experience in relation to indigenous land rights and environmental justice. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, a direct partner of the ELCA, serves in occupied East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Jordan. One of their commitments to their Lutheran faith is to answer our call to be stewards of the land. Visit https://vimeo.com/1075896868?share=copy

Register at: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/9846002 (held at St. Paul)

Lutherans Restoring Creation Network Events: A variety of events are listed in the community calendar (local to global, in-person and virtual): https://lutheransrestoringcreation.org/events/

Next Coffee with Christine is May 7th: Join Christine Moffett for coffee and discussion! Feel free to ask your questions about Federal policy, especially environment. Knowledge is power! bit.ly/coffee-christine

This week: Global Refuge: The First 100 Days: Our Work of Welcome Continues. Join Global Refuge to discuss how the first 100 days of the new administration have impacted immigration policy, our work, and the families we serve. We’ll discuss our next steps as an organization, how we are forging ahead in the work of welcome, and ways you can continue to support those who seek refuge. The webinar will include a Q&A.  Wednesday, April 30, 1pm ET on Zoom. Register at: https://globalrefuge-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0NdulsENQ4u1tBWjcCZTtw?mc_cid=b20c972c6e&mc_eid=2f360c0226#/registration

From Bread for the World: Easter Reflection on Hope and Hunger. It is easy to feel confused, angry, afraid, discouraged, and devastated when we see devastating cuts to USAID funding and staff, budget proposals that cut funding to vital programs like SNAP and Medicaid, and executive orders that push the limits of our democracy. However, it is important to remember that we are not alone. Read (President & CEO) Rev. Eugene Cho’s reflection at: https://www.bread.org/article/my-easter-reflection-on-hope-and-hunger/

Updates Beginning 20 April 2025

From Adult Faith Development: You are invited to participate in a two-part exploration of “The Beatitudes,” the upcoming offering by the Adult Faith Development team. We will meet after worship in the conference room on April 27th and May 4th, from 11:15am to 12:15pm. We’ll explore and discuss and learn from each other. What are the Beatitudes? How do they relate to us today? What is the meaning of “blessed are.” The facilitators don’t have the complete answer to these and other questions, but we invite the discussion. We need your input, and we look forward to seeing you for this study. ~The AFD Team: Bob Matthews, Jan Krakow, Jane Voelkel, Teresa Dubuque

Letters to Congress in conjunction with Bread for the World: St. Paul is a long-time member of Bread for the World and every year we have participated in writing letters to our members of Congress regarding hunger in the U.S. and around the world. This year's effort is particularly important due to proposed changes in the Farm Bill, WIC, SNAP, Medicaid, Food Stamps and other programs that reduce or discontinue the assistance that they provide to struggling families and children. You are invited these next two Sundays (April 27 and May 4), to write your Senators and Representative and express your concern. We will have draft letters, addresses,etc. available for you to write after worship or take home to write. On May 4, we will gather the letters for a "blessing" and get them to Carlos Navarro, who will deliver them, with letters from other participating congregations, directly to the local offices of our Congress members. For more information, the first few minutes of Adult Faith Development class (April 27, after worship, in the Conference Room) will be about this. ~Ivan Westergaard

Do you feel strongly about social justice issues? Do you often think, "I'm just one person, what can I do to turn this situation around?" If you said yes to one or both of these questions; you might want to come to an orientation for SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice). We will have a new member orientation followed by a social gathering on Sunday, April 27. Register at bit.ly/4jTxVqH
SURJ meets every fourth Sunday of the month, beginning with a potluck at noon at Nahalat Shalom 3606 Rio Grande NW. So if you are interested please fill out the link or RSVP to Diane Remer-Thamert 505/362-4134. Hope to see you there! Thanks. ~iusti Remer-Thamert

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

CPR Training being held at St. Paul, Sunday, 4 May, 11:30am. Project Heart Start (Albuquerque Academy students) will be providing a one-hour training on CPR. Pick up your coffee and snacks after worship then head to Fellowship Hall. We hope you can attend this important training! ~Patrick Rabezanany

April’s God’s Work Our Hands project: We are collecting funds for the Madagascar Girls Camp. On your check to St. Paul, please note Girls Camp in the memo line. Thanks! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Pre-order your St. Paul T-shirt! We will be selling St. Paul T-shirts as a way to raise funds for our Pride Parade presence! The signup sheet is in the Welcome Center so please get one ordered!  Perhaps we can arrange for a congregational group photo, sporting our colorful shirts! Thanks, in advance! ~Jan Bowers

Hats for Dignity Mission. During Pastor Koppel’s Sabbatical leave (May, June, July) our congregation will be participating in a collaborative effort to make hats to donate in the fall of 2025 to Dignity Mission. There are several ways you can participate in this Congregational Project:

• You can learn to make these loomed hats from yarn. A limited number of looms are available through our church to check out and share. Simply u-tube hats on a loom/ u-tube for instructions and simple to follow examples or ask Julie Ambrogi (903.602.6222) or Nancy Jenkins (505.269.0855) to teach and get you started.

• If you are interested in purchasing your own looms – SIMPLE – ask Julie to order your set OR order your own set through AMAZON.com ($19.95 gets you 4 looms of various sizes, pompom makers for the various sizes, a looming pick and a needle) .  We are using Readaer Round Knitting Looms.

• If you do not want to mess with the yarn and/or loom – DONATE to the project! This will be our God’s Work, Our Hands project during these months and a check or cash will be used to purchase yarn or more looms.

• There is another way to be involved – IF YOU KNOW HOW TO KNIT OR CROCHET, (Bless you!) feel free to knit or crochet hats for Dignity Mission. Finished hats can be placed in the gray bin located in the Welcome Center.

St. Paul has lots of yarn to offer for making these hats or yarn can be purchased. One skein of yarn can make 3 -5 hats depending on the size of the hat. We would love to have these hats being made and coming in with the last of the hats to come in at the end of July. In August we will welcome Pastor Koppel and Jan back, bless our project and send our hats to those needing warmth and encouragement in the harsh elements outside. We are blessed to be a blessing ……. ~Hal Nilsson, Deb Ash, Sara Love, Pastor Patrick Van De Motter, Pastor Koppel, Julie Ambrogi

Storehouse Food: The Storehouse provides food to many of the neediest in our community.  Need more ideas for food donations?  Here are 3 more:

1)   Fruit (dried, canned or small cups)  
2) Canned vegetables
3)   Snack items (crackers, granola bars, fruit bars, protein bars, etc.)

I hope this helps you when you're shopping!  Whatever you give will be most welcome. The barrels for donations are just inside the Narthex doors. 
Pet food is also needed and has been in short supply per their staff. Thanks!  ~Nancy Matthews

From Local Partner Organizations

Food is Free Albuquerque's 10th Annual Seed Share at Rio Grande Food Project: 600 Coors Blvd NW, ABQ, NM 87121, Saturday, April 26th, 1:00 - 4:00pm. Our long-time partner, Food is Free Albuquerque, is celebrating their Annual Seed Share event at Rio Grande Food Project! Food is Free gleans fruit from home orchards and rescues plants and vegetables from local growers and delivers the bounty to the nearest food pantry - Wow!
          Join us in the RGFP garden area and chat with 25+ vendors including ABQ-BERNCO Seed Library, Albuquerque Area Extension Master Gardeners, Bernalillo County Extension Master Composters, Alameda Greenhouse, CABQ Animal Welfare, NMSU's ICAN, the Sierra Club, a beekeeper, an arborist, and many more! Enjoy acoustic music from Old Time Fiddlers, play in the Kids Art area, and engage with a local author's story time and Poetry Slam, and of course, worm races! Word on the street is you can even tie the knot. Plus, don't forget the main event – free seeds & plants! RSVP for free at: https://www.fifabq.org/event-info/2025-seed-share

Church Women United, an ecumenical Christian women’s fellowship, will be celebrating May Friendship Day on Friday, May 2nd at St. John’s United Methodist Church, 2626 Arizona Ave NE.  The morning will begin at 9:30 with coffee fellowship, followed by the program whose theme is ”God’s Daughters Living Powerful Lives”. Ruth Tribou, of CWU in NM, will speak on “The Qualities That Make Us Loving Friends”.  The Fellowship of the Least Coin offering will be taken.  St. John’s has asked that we use the “West” parking lot off Arizona Ave. Please join the celebration and bring a friend!  Questions?  Contact Shirley Nilsson at 505-463-3657 or email her at sfnils@swcp.com.

Storehouse New Mexico in need of volunteers. Employees with Storehouse New Mexico say the more financial stress on New Mexicans, the longer the lines get in the pantry. “We have a very small team here at the storehouse, so volunteers are very crucial to what we do as an organization. Volunteers help us pack boxes of food, they pack grocery carts when families come to the food pantry, and they even help sort donations that come in,” said Jill Beats, a Storehouse New Mexico marketing representative. 
          As the demand grows, so does the need for more volunteers. Just in 2024 Storehouse topped their annual record. “In the last year, the Storehouse has seen a big increase in the numbers of people we are supporting. We have been averaging the last five to six years about 55,000 people a year and last year in 2024 we topped over 79,000,” said Beats.
          With less than two months left in the school year, the lines are only getting longer. “We see a lot more families in the summer because children that get free meals at school, either breakfast or lunch, all of a sudden their families need to feed them, and they also have to pay for additional daycare and things. So a lot of additional families usually turn to us in the summer.”
          They hope New Mexicans can help them get through this busy period. “So far we have been really blessed to be able to continue to feed as many people as we can, but those numbers are always really tight for a food pantry,” said Beats. Volunteers meet at Storehouse Tuesday through Saturday. Folks interested in volunteering can call (505)842-6491or visit https://storehousenm.org/home/volunteer/ (from ABQ Journal)

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

A Message from Bishop Meghan:
Dear friends in Christ, as we enter Holy Week and prepare for Easter once again, I am pondering a question that faces all preachers of the Gospel this week: how does the sacred story of Jesus’ death and resurrection speak anew into our lives and our world this year?
          Last year in Jerusalem, my Palestinian Lutheran colleague Pastor Sally Azar and I led our English-speaking congregation through Holy Week and Easter. We began with a Palm Sunday procession from the Mount of Olives to the Old City of Jerusalem, journeying with pilgrims who carried palms—and signs listing the names of the Christian churches in Gaza. Many churches had by then been damaged, with members killed by bombs or sniper rifles. Even before the war, the Christians of Gaza and the West Bank were rarely allowed to enter Jerusalem for Holy Week; and last year was no exception. So we carried them with us: in name, in prayer, and in recognition of what another local colleague, Pastor Munther Isaac, had preached at Christmas: because Jesus went to the cross, we know that “God is in the rubble.” A week later, early on Easter morning, we returned to the Mount of Olives and gathered for worship that began by candlelight and ended with the sunrise. In song and scripture, prayer and proclamation, and bread and cup, we proclaimed: Jesus is risen!
          This year, much in the world is different—and much is the same. War and suffering continue in Gaza, Ukraine, and around the world. Here in the U.S., amid increased deportations and efforts to discredit and dismantle work toward diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, many of our members and neighbors are heartbroken, angry, and afraid. Many also come to this week weighed down by anxiety or the grief of losing loved ones, relationships, jobs, or homes. All of us may wonder: what will the future bring?
          And yet, across our Rocky Mountain synod this week, people will also come together in song and scripture, prayer and proclamation, and bread and cup to mark this holy week. In large congregations and small ones; in campus ministries and prison ministries; in many languages and with many different traditions; with new babies and teens and elders; in our worship and in our service to our neighbors and the world; we will proclaim: Jesus is risen!
          It is always this way. Holy Week reminds us that the places of the cross—injustice, suffering, pain and death—are not places of God’s absence but of God’s steadfast presence. In our worst moments, God has not abandoned us. God is with us in the love of Jesus, who experienced suffering and death in a human body. And Easter reminds us that even when all looks bleak and final, this is not the end of the story. God is at the tomb, bringing new life out of death. In moments of resurrection—renewed hope, grace, and reconciliation—God is with us too, in the risen Christ. We are not alone: God is here.
          Wherever this week finds you, know that this promise is for you, too. You are not alone. Dios está aqui. God is here. And you are loved by God beyond measure, through life and death and into new life, now and forever.
In Christ, +Bishop Meghan

Video Greetings from the young adults of Palestine. Hear how Dios está aquí, God is here, in the midst of struggle, hope, and faith. Mr. Simon Awad, Executive Director of the Environmental Education Center, visited the Synod March 28–31, where he and two young adults from the ELCJHL presented about their work at the EEC, and the Palestinian Christian experience in relation to indigenous land rights and environmental justice. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, a direct partner of the ELCA, serves in occupied East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Jordan. One of their commitments to their Lutheran faith is to answer our call to be stewards of the land. Visit https://vimeo.com/1075896868?share=copy

Register at: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/9846002 (being held at St. Paul)

From AMMPARO:  The Trump Administration begins enforcing the Alien Registry Requirement on April 11, 2025. While this practice could potentially be halted by ongoing legal challenges, at the present time it is effective on April 11. A federal judge allowed the registration requirement to take effect pending a lawsuit. It is important to understand the consequences of registering and failing to register. It is highly recommended people speak to a lawyer about their specific case. A lawyer can advise you on your rights and any potential legal risks.

1. Signing up to register could be legally risky for undocumented immigrants. It could lead to detention, deportation, and possibly criminal prosecution. (Source: NILC)

2. Criminal charges could apply if someone covered fails to register, fails to carry proof of registration, or fails to update their address within 10 days of changing their address. 

Ultimately information is power and that is what some immigrant siblings may need most of all. Knowledge to make informed decisions.

• Here is an AMMPARO Facebook post for amplification: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15GKdfbX63/ and another that goes into greater detail: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DQVbULU15/

• A pastoral message from the ELCA Latine Association regarding the registration requirement is posted in the Welcome Center.

Lutherans Restoring Creation Network Events: A variety of events are listed in the community calendar (local to global, in-person and virtual): https://lutheransrestoringcreation.org/events/

Young Adult Climate Alliance- First meeting April 21st! A gathering of young adults (18-35) consisting of quarterly zoom calls, community space for resource sharing, and monthly advocacy action. Complete interest form here: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/CzWGDAPQVqQlQKCkdy593g

 Next Coffee with Christine is May 7th: Join Christine Moffett for coffee and discussion! Feel free to ask your questions about Federal policy, especially environment. Knowledge is power! bit.ly/coffee-christine

Global Refuge Easter Gift Match: As our work continues to be impacted by policy changes, your financial support ensures that families in our care continue to receive services. Your generous gift provides hope and empowerment to children and families as they seek a new life in America. This Holy Week, we turn to you in the spirit of love. Your gift will be matched dollar for dollar up to $70,000! Visit https://www.globalrefuge.org/. See the Easter Hope with Global Refuge video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq5_whaR_gE

Updates Beginning 13 April 2025

Quick Updates for Holy Week:

• Monday’s Healing Service will be held in the Chapel.

• Maundy Thursday’s Dinner Church at First Congregational UCC is a potluck, so please bring something to share!

• Members of First will join us here for Good Friday service.

Easter Cross of Flowers. We will, once again, fill our wooden cross with flowers on Easter morning, 20 April! Bring some cut flowers to add as you enter. We will also have some available and someone there to assist. The cross will then be carried into the Sanctuary to be displayed! It will be a lovely addition to our Easter service! Arrive early enough to take part! Thank you! ~Jan Bowers, Visual Choir team

April’s God’s Work Our Hands project: We are collecting funds for the Madagascar Girls Camp. On your check to St. Paul, please note Girls Camp in the memo line. Thanks! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

Pre-order your St. Paul T-shirt! We will be selling St. Paul T-shirts as a way to raise funds for our Pride Parade presence! The signup sheet is in the Welcome Center so please get one ordered!  Perhaps we can arrange for a congregational group photo, sporting our colorful shirts! Thanks, in advance! ~Jan Bowers

Hats for Dignity Mission. During Pastor Koppel’s Sabbatical leave (May, June, July) our congregation will be participating in a collaborative effort to make hats to donate in the fall of 2025 to Dignity Mission. There are several ways you can participate in this Congregational Project:

• You can learn to make these loomed hats from yarn. A limited number of looms are available through our church to check out and share. Simply u-tube hats on a loom/ u-tube for instructions and simple to follow examples or ask Julie Ambrogi (903.602.6222) or Nancy Jenkins (505.269.0855) to teach and get you started.

• If you are interested in purchasing your own looms – SIMPLE – ask Julie to order your set OR order your own set through AMAZON.com ($19.95 gets you 4 looms of various sizes, pompom makers for the various sizes, a looming pick and a needle) .  We are using Readaer Round Knitting Looms.

• If you do not want to mess with the yarn and/or loom – DONATE to the project! This will be our God’s Work, Our Hands project during these months and a check or cash will be used to purchase yarn or more looms.

• There is another way to be involved – IF YOU KNOW HOW TO KNIT OR CROCHET, (Bless you!) feel free to knit or crochet hats for Dignity Mission. Finished hats can be placed in the gray bin located in the Welcome Center.

St. Paul has lots of yarn to offer for making these hats or yarn can be purchased. One skein of yarn can make 3 -5 hats depending on the size of the hat. We would love to have these hats being made and coming in with the last of the hats to come in at the end of July. In August we will welcome Pastor Koppel and Jan back, bless our project and send our hats to those needing warmth and encouragement in the harsh elements outside. We are blessed to be a blessing ……. ~Hal Nilsson, Deb Ash, Sara Love, Pastor Patrick Van De Motter, Pastor Koppel, Julie Ambrogi

Storehouse Food: The Storehouse provides food to many of the neediest in our community.  Need more ideas for food donations?  Here are 3 more:

1)   Fruit (dried, canned or small cups)            
2) Canned vegetables
3)   Snack items (crackers, granola bars, fruit bars, protein bars, etc.)

I hope this helps you when you're shopping!  Whatever you give will be most welcome. The barrels for donations are just inside the Narthex doors. 
Pet food is also needed and has been in short supply per their staff. Thanks!  ~Nancy Matthews

From Local Partner Organizations

From Church Women United: My longtime work as a volunteer for ABQ Habitat for Humanity leads me to this effort to reach out to you and/or your faith communities to find out if we can restore the ecumenical participation of churches in Habitat’s work of constructing affordable homes for families in need. I guess this is an “invitation” to join in the work…and fun! If there are questions and/or you would like more information, you can contact Liz Vincent, Director of Development, directly at liz@habitatabqrr.org.
Another way to help is to attend the annual Raising the Roof 2025 event on May 17th from 6:00-9:00 at the Sandia Resort and Casino. The evening will include dinner, a raffle and live music provided by the Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra.  Consult https://habitatabqrr.org/raising-the-roof/ for ticket prices and to reserve your space! ~Marilyn Stoops, Church Women United Communications, and Habitat volunteer

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

From Lutheran World Relief: Earthquake Emergency. By now, you’ve heard about the deadly earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand. Our team reports that the devastation is even worse than the initial reports you see in the news. When you rush aid now, our team can deliver emergency support — like water, medical care, shelter and essential supplies to families affected by the earthquake. To give, go to the red bar at the top of this page: https://lwr.org/

Register at: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/9846002 (being held at St. Paul)

Bread for the World:  Senators may soon vote on their budget reconciliation bill that could result in a $230 billion or more cut to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other domestic nutrition programs. These proposed funding cuts would greatly affect the ability of the 41 million people who rely on SNAP to feed themselves and their families.
As food prices continue to rise and are expected to get even higher, Congress should not cut funding for America’s most important domestic nutrition program. SNAP is one of the most effective, efficient, and low-fraud government programs. Most people only receive SNAP benefits for a short period during difficult times. With food banks and church pantries now reeling from cuts to food deliveries and the loss of locally grown produce at a time of almost unprecedented need for their services, many families will have nowhere to turn. The bill could also result in hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid. Studies show that households with children who participate in Medicaid experience significant reductions in food insecurity. Please act now and urge your members of Congress to oppose funding cuts to SNAP and Medicaid. Visit https://www.bread.org/

From ELCA AMMPARO: As people of faith, we have a moral responsibility to take prophetic action to denounce hateful rhetoric and accompany our immigrant neighbors at risk of deportation, family separation and/or discrimination. Please sign the Pledge for Sanctuary and Accompaniment to commit to the work of solidarity and hope — to provide protection for those targeted by hate and to work alongside communities, friends, families, and neighbors, to uphold the dignity and human rights of all. By signing this pledge we can come together to mobilize and organize as faith communities and people of conscience in strategic ways across the country in the continued effort to stop deportations, build inclusive communities and keep families together. This pledge also includes a space for welcoming congregations!
          (This pledge was put together by a table of faith leaders and faith organizations including, but not limited to, Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, the United Church of Christ National Collaborative on Immigration, Sojourners, New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia, and others. No information gathered will be shared publicly without permission other than total numbers of Sanctuary Congregations.) ~Rev. Noel Andersen and Mary B. Campbell, Director, ELCA AMMPARO
https://cryptpad.fr/form/#/2/form/view/dJtCddSxePtS6qeITW2a9gD1YsPqmF6N2bDX8txAgSI/

From ELCA AMMPARO: The following are resources that are relevant and could be beneficial during this challenging period.

• A webinar on Tuesday, April 15th at 2:30 pm CENTRAL via ZOOM, organized by the Border Collaboration Network about Interfaith Responses to Federal Immigration Policy Changes. The presenter will be Giovana Oaxaca (Program Director for Migration Policy with ELCA) who will provide high-level overviews of some of the executive orders and cover resources that have been created for faith communities to engage on these pressing issues. Register at: https://riotexas.zoom.us/meeting/register/P8h2JPscTzeGISHluoUBwg#/registration

• A toolkit produced by the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law based on a training they held on 4th Amendment Rights for Organizations to help empower advocates and organizations that support and work alongside immigrants. The toolkit outlines essential definitions that you and your organization can learn from to protect yourself if you encounter immigration officials at your office or workplace. It also includes actionable items to help execute your organization’s protection plan. Download at: https://www.centerforhumanrights.org/post/fourth-amendment-toolkit-for-organizations

Updates Beginning 6 April 2025

Today: St. Paul 101 continues!  It's a great time to learn more about St. Paul (our congregation), our denomination (the Evangelical Church in America), and Christianity as a whole.  It's also a great time for new and current members to meet one another.  And a great way to help you decide if you'd like to join the rolls of St. Paul. We’ll meet in the Conference Room after worship today for about an hour and a half.  Be sure to bring your coffee & goodies with you, as well as your curiosities and questions. ~Pr. Koppel

Easter Cross of Flowers. We will, once again, fill our wooden cross with flowers on Easter morning, 20 April! Bring some cut flowers to add as you enter. We will also have some available and someone there to assist. The cross will then be carried into the Sanctuary to be displayed! It will be a lovely addition to our Easter service! Arrive early enough to take part! Thank you! ~Jan Bowers, Visual Choir team

April’s God’s Work Our Hands project: We are collecting funds for the Madagascar Girls Camp. On your check to St. Paul, please note Girls Camp in the memo line. Thanks! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Pre-order your St. Paul T-shirt! We will be selling St. Paul T-shirts as a way to raise funds for our Pride Parade presence! There will be a signup sheet in the Welcome Center so please get one ordered!  Perhaps we can arrange for a congregational group photo, sporting our colorful shirts! Thanks, in advance! ~Jan Bowers

Rummage Sale June 14th. Greetings Congregation! I was thinking about ways to fund the Roof Project beginning in May.  How would you like to clean out goods you have at home that are no longer needed?   It would be a fun way to sell unwanted things and donate the funds to the Roof Project.  I am sure if we all pitched in, we could make it a successful and fun event.  I would invite food and refreshments we could stage in the Welcome area, to take breaks and get out of the heat. 
While I know we all love our weekends, I was anticipating that we plan for one day in June on a Saturday.  What do you think about June 14th, Saturday, from 8:00 am (drop off and set up), and advertise from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm?  What I need is to start planning and welcome your feedback and volunteers to assist in helping with the Rummage Sale.  I would even invite your friends, relatives, and children to bring items to sell for donation. We cannot accept clothing to sell at the Rummage sale. 
I would love to hear back from any of you who might be interested in participating in this Roof Fundraiser.  Please give me a call or stop in to let me know if you want to participate and your ideas.  We may need to have folks pick up and take leftover items or have a truck here to pick up items that did not sell and donate them. Please give me a call or make an appointment to stop in for a chat about your ideas.  I would love to meet more of you in person! Thank you and look forward to hearing back from you. ~Jolene Gallegos, Facilities Coordinator

From Gabriel Rabezanany: I am writing to share an exciting opportunity and to ask for your support in making this opportunity a reality. I have recently been given a chance to travel to New York to experience different shows on Broadway and visit historical sites with my middle school theatre class. This trip is incredibly important to me because it will provide an invaluable experience and enhance my knowledge about acting and the history of acting. However, as you can imagine, such an opportunity comes with significant costs such as transportation, accommodation, and program fees. To help cover these costs, I am reaching out to family, friends, and community members for support. My goal is to raise $3,000 by the end of May 2025. So far, I have raised $450. Your contribution, no matter what size, will make a tremendous difference. Here are some ways you can support me:

• Cash or check donation

• Share with friends and family

• Prayers from the congregation

Thank you for considering my request. If you need more information, feel free to message me at (505) 369-8755 or Grabezanany@gmail.com

Hats for Dignity Mission. During Pastor Koppel’s Sabbatical leave (May, June, July) our congregation will be participating in a collaborative effort to make hats to donate in the fall of 2025 to Dignity Mission. There are several ways you can participate in this Congregational Project:

• You can learn to make these loomed hats from yarn. A limited number of looms are available through our church to check out and share. Simply u-tube hats on a loom/ u-tube for instructions and simple to follow examples or ask Julie Ambrogi (903.602.6222) or Nancy Jenkins (505.269.0855) to teach and get you started.

• If you are interested in purchasing your own looms – SIMPLE – ask Julie to order your set OR order your own set through AMAZON.com ($19.95 gets you 4 looms of various sizes, pompom makers for the various sizes, a looming pick and a needle) .  We are using Readaer Round Knitting Looms.

• If you do not want to mess with the yarn and/or loom – DONATE to the project! This will be our God’s Work, Our Hands project during these months and a check or cash will be used to purchase yarn or more looms.

• There is another way to be involved – IF YOU KNOW HOW TO KNIT OR CROCHET, (Bless you!) feel free to knit or crochet hats for Dignity Mission. Finished hats can be placed in the gray bin located in the entry way under the Hat table.

St. Paul has lots of yarn to offer for making these hats or yarn can be purchased. One skein of yarn can make 3 -5 hats depending on the size of the hat. We would love to have these hats being made and coming in with the last of the hats to come in at the end of July. In August we will welcome Pastor Koppel and Jan back, bless our project and send our hats to those needing warmth and encouragement in the harsh elements outside. We are blessed to be a blessing …….
~Hal Nilsson, Deb Ash, Sara Love, Pastor Patrick Van De Motter, Pastor Koppel, Julie Ambrogi

Storehouse Food: The Storehouse provides food to many of the neediest in our community.  Need more ideas for food donations?  Here are 3 more:

• Fruit (dried, canned or small cups)

• Canned vegetables

• Snack items (crackers, granola bars, fruit bars, protein bars, etc.)

I hope this helps you when you're shopping!  Whatever you give will be most welcome. The barrels for donations are just inside the Narthex doors. Pet food is also needed and has been in short supply per their staff. Thanks!  ~Nancy Matthews

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

From Local Partner Organizations

This coming Saturday: The final concert of Coro Lux’s 10th anniversary season. Don't miss the New Mexico premiere of A PLACE CALLED HOME, text by Tony Silvestri and music by Coro Lux artistic director, Bradley Ellingboe. Written for chorus, chamber ensemble, and four soloists, A Place Called Home is a plea for us to care more deeply for the environment and our home, the Earth, told as an impactful semi-staged dramatic cantata.
          On April 12th at 4pm in the historic Lensic Theater in downtown Santa Fe, the performance includes a pre-concert panel discussion about care for the earth and our environment at 2:30pm. Panel members will include the composer, Bradley Ellingboe, librettist, Charles Anthony Silvestri, and  Dr. Mary Hasbah Roessel, Larry Rasmussen, and Reverend Talitha Arnold. Tickets range from $15 to $40 and are on sale now at the Lensic Box Office.

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

From ELCA AMMPARO: The following are resources that are relevant and could be beneficial during this challenging period.

• A webinar organized by the Border Collaboration Network about Interfaith Responses to Federal Immigration Policy Changes. The presenter will be Giovana Oaxaca (Program Director for Migration Policy with the ELCA) who will provide high-level overviews of some of the executive orders and cover resources that have been created for faith communities to engage on these pressing issues. The webinar will be on Tuesday, April 15th at 2:30 pm CENTRAL via ZOOM. You can register for the webinar at the following link:  https://riotexas.zoom.us/meeting/register/P8h2JPscTzeGISHluoUBwg#/registration

• A toolkit produced by the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law based on a training they held on 4th Amendment Rights for Organizations to help empower advocates and organizations that support and work alongside immigrants. The toolkit outlines essential definitions that you and your organization can learn from to protect yourself if you encounter immigration officials at your office or workplace. It also includes actionable items to help execute your organization’s protection plan. https://www.centerforhumanrights.org/post/fourth-amendment-toolkit-for-organizations 

Immigration Summit before the RMS Synod Assembly: 8:30am 21 May–Noon May 22 at St. Paul, $40 registration. Rostered and lay leaders are invited to attend a pre-Synod Assembly Immigration Summit to deepen our understanding of the immigration challenges as well as strategize how to faithfully accompany our immigrant siblings. Using the framework of accompaniment, we will learn from each other, share our knowledge, plan how to engage in this important issue and network across the synod for the flourishing and dignity of our immigrant siblings. Register at: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/9846002

From Lutheran World Relief: Earthquake Emergency. By now, you’ve heard about the deadly earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand. Our team reports that the devastation is even worse than the initial reports you see in the news. When you rush aid now, our team can deliver emergency support — like water, medical care, shelter and essential supplies to families affected by the earthquake. To give, go to the red bar at the top of this page: https://lwr.org/

April 10 is Step Up LSM, a 24-hour student scholarship drive for Lutheran Summer Music. This year, we've received a record number of applications, and have even added more spots to meet demand! With over 70% of students requesting financial support, we are committed to making LSM accessible to every student. Our goal is to raise $44,000—and your gift can make the difference in ensuring that all students can attend: lsmacademy.org/news/2025/stepup

Bread for the World: Programs like SNAP provide essential help to American families struggling to make ends meet as they face ever increasing prices. Cuts to SNAP means more families will go hungry. And international aid makes up less than 1 percent of the total U.S. federal budget, but its impacts are outsized in that it saves millions of lives and strengthens U.S. national security. Since news of funding changes broke, our staff has continued to meet with members of Congress and the Senate nonstop — doing everything possible to protect SNAP and reinstate international aid programs. Please give to support our work: https://www.bread.org/ and email your members of Congress now and urge them to protect the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and global child nutrition programs.

Global Refuge: On March 7, Global Refuge President and CEO Krish O'Mara Vignarajah joined the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and other faith leaders in affirming our solidarity with and support of refugee and other immigrant communities, as well as calling for the reinstatement of the resettlement system. Read the statement at: https://www.globalrefuge.org/news/global-refuge-joins-interfaith-solidarity-statement-on-refugees-and-other-immigrants/

Updates Beginning 30 March 2025

Today: Spring Congregational Meeting & Potluck after worship in Fellowship Hall. The 2024 Annual Report is available here. ~Deborah Ash

Next Sunday: St. Paul 101 continues!  It's a great time to learn more about St. Paul (our congregation), our denomination (the Evangelical Church in America), and Christianity as a whole.  It's also a great time for new and current members to meet one another.  And a great way to help you decide if you'd like to join the rolls of St. Paul. We’ll meet in the Conference Room after worship today for about an hour and a half.  Be sure to bring your coffee & goodies with you, as well as your curiosities and questions. ~Pr. Koppel

This is not an April Fool’s Joke!  This Tuesday is First Tuesday and all are invited to gather together at SW Grape and Grain, 3401 Candelaria NE, between 4:00 - 6:00 pm for a time of visiting and sharing snacks.  The staff sells beer and you are welcome to bring your own refreshments if you want.  See you then! ~Nancy Matthews

Open house with the Hartwells! Former Director of Worship & Music Seth Hartwell and his family are visiting from Minneapolis during their spring break! Due to Seth’s current church musician duties, they won’t be able to attend a Sunday service at St. Paul. So, please drop in and see them at Sawmill Market (1909 Bellamah NW) this Tuesday, April 1 from 4 to 7 pm. Seth, Liz, Anna (sophomore, age 16), and Jacob (5th grade, age 11) would love to greet you! Please contact Liz (612-368-5544 or elizabeth.hartwell@gmail.com) with any questions. All are welcome!

Next Saturday, April 5th. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend to help us buff and polish St. Paul inside and out for Easter! We will have indoor and outdoor teams so you can choose where you prefer to work. We will plan for 9am-Noon with lunch provided when we wrap up. Many hands do make light work! ~Deborah Ash

March’s God’s Work Our Hands project: We are collecting funds for the Friends Feeding Friends First Thursday meal on 3 April at HopeWorks. On your check to St. Paul, please note FFF April in the memo line. Thanks! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Pre-order your St. Paul T-shirt! We will be selling St. Paul T-shirts as a way to raise funds for our Pride Parade presence! There will be a signup sheet in the Welcome Center so please get one ordered!  Perhaps we can arrange for a congregational group photo, sporting our colorful shirts! Thanks, in advance! ~Jan Bowers

From Gabriel Rabezanany: I am writing to share an exciting opportunity and to ask for your support in making this opportunity a reality. I have recently been given a chance to travel to New York to experience different shows on Broadway and visit historical sites with my middle school theatre class. This trip is incredibly important to me because it will provide an invaluable experience and enhance my knowledge about acting and the history of acting. However, as you can imagine, such an opportunity comes with significant costs such as transportation, accommodation, and program fees. To help cover these costs, I am reaching out to family, friends, and community members for support. My goal is to raise $3,000 by the end of May 2025. So far, I have raised $450. Your contribution, no matter what size, will make a tremendous difference. Here are some ways you can support me:

• Cash or check donation

• Share with friends and family

• Prayers from the congregation

Thank you for considering my request. If you need more information, feel free to message me at (505) 369-8755 or Grabezanany@gmail.com

Rummage Sale June 14th. Greetings Congregation! I was thinking about ways to fund the Roof Project beginning in May.  How would you like to clean out goods you have at home that are no longer needed?   It would be a fun way to sell unwanted things and donate the funds to the Roof Project.  I am sure if we all pitched in, we could make it a successful and fun event.  I would invite food and refreshments we could stage in the Welcome area, to take breaks and get out of the heat. 
While I know we all love our weekends, I was anticipating that we plan for one day in June on a Saturday.  What do you think about June 14th, Saturday, from 8:00 am (drop off and set up), and advertise from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm?  What I need is to start planning and welcome your feedback and volunteers to assist in helping with the Rummage Sale.  I would even invite your friends, relatives, and children to bring items to sell for donation. We cannot accept clothing to sell at the Rummage sale.  
I would love to hear back from any of you who might be interested in participating in this Roof Fundraiser.  Please give me a call or stop in to let me know if you want to participate and your ideas.  We may need to have folks pick up and take leftover items or have a truck here to pick up items that did not sell and donate them. Please give me a call or make an appointment to stop in for a chat about your ideas.  I would love to meet more of you in person! Thank you and look forward to hearing back from you. ~Jolene Gallegos, Facilities Coordinator

Hats for Dignity Mission. During Pastor Koppel’s Sabbatical leave (May, June, July) our congregation will be participating in a collaborative effort to make hats to donate in the fall of 2025 to Dignity Mission. There are several ways you can participate in this Congregational Project:

• You can learn to make these loomed hats from yarn. A limited number of looms are available through our church to check out and share. Simply u-tube hats on a loom/ u-tube for instructions and simple to follow examples or ask Julie Ambrogi (903.602.6222) or Nancy Jenkins (505.269.0855) to teach and get you started.

• If you are interested in purchasing your own looms – SIMPLE – ask Julie to order your set OR order your own set through AMAZON.com ($19.95 gets you 4 looms of various sizes, pompom makers for the various sizes, a looming pick and a needle) .  We are using Readaer Round Knitting Looms.

• If you do not want to mess with the yarn and/or loom – DONATE to the project! This will be our God’s Work, Our Hands project during these months and a check or cash will be used to purchase yarn or more looms.

• There is another way to be involved – IF YOU KNOW HOW TO KNIT OR CROCHET, (Bless you!) feel free to knit or crochet hats for Dignity Mission. Finished hats can be placed in the gray bin located in the entry way under the Hat table.

St. Paul has lots of yarn to offer for making these hats or yarn can be purchased. One skein of yarn can make 3 -5 hats depending on the size of the hat. We would love to have these hats being made and coming in with the last of the hats to come in at the end of July. In August we will welcome Pastor Koppel and Jan back, bless our project and send our hats to those needing warmth and encouragement in the harsh elements outside. We are blessed to be a blessing …….

~Hal Nilsson, Deb Ash, Sara Love, Pastor Patrick Van De Motter, Pastor Koppel, Julie Ambrogi

Storehouse Food: The Storehouse provides food to many of the neediest in our community.  Need more ideas for food donations?  Here are 3 more:

• Fruit (dried, canned or small cups)

• Canned vegetables

• Snack items (crackers, granola bars, fruit bars, protein bars, etc.)

I hope this helps you when you're shopping!  Whatever you give will be most welcome. The barrels for donations are just inside the Narthex doors. 
Pet food is also needed and has been in short supply per their staff. Thanks!  ~Nancy Matthews

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

From Local Partner Organizations

RSVP at www.nmchurches.org

From Coro Lux: The final concert of our 10th anniversary season. Don't miss the New Mexico premiere of A PLACE CALLED HOME, text by Tony Silvestri and music by Coro Lux artistic director, Bradley Ellingboe. Written for chorus, chamber ensemble, and four soloists, A Place Called Home is a plea for us to care more deeply for the environment and our home, the Earth, told as an impactful semi-staged dramatic cantata.
          Taking place Saturday, April 12th at 4pm in the historic Lensic Theater in downtown Santa Fe, the performance includes a pre-concert panel discussion about care for the earth and our environment at 2:30pm. Panel members will include the composer, Bradley Ellingboe, and librettist, Charles Anthony Silvestri, as well as Doctor Mary Hasbah Roessel, Larry Rasmussen, and the Reverend Talitha Arnold. Tickets range from $15 to $40 and are on sale now at the Lensic Box Office.

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

Rocky Mountain Synod Advocacy has been rescheduled for April 1 at 6pm. Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4943729991?pwd=QStqR0VsRWJ5UGwzUlUycGQ5K29RZz09

Meeting ID: 494 372 9991             Passcode: Lutheran            720-707-2699

A Message from Bishop Meghan:
Dear friends, in my first seven months as bishop, among the countless joys and surprising blessings of this call has been the number of people in our synod who are curious to learn more about my former call: serving with my husband Gabi and our kids as missionaries accompanying the ELCA’s partner church in Israel/Palestine, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (the ELCJHL, for short). I am grateful that so many of you continue praying for our family there, and for all of the people who call the Holy Land home.
          I have learned so much from our Palestinian Christian siblings about faith, the heart of the Gospel, and what it means to be the church—especially in challenging times. I have often heard one of my former colleagues in Bethlehem, the Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, take an old Lutheran adage and give it a Palestinian twist: “If I knew the world would end tomorrow, I would plant an olive tree today.” (This idea is all the more powerful when you consider that olive trees take several years to bear fruit, and can live for several thousand!)
          The theology of this statement of faith can be described in the Arabic word, sumud, that means “steadfastness” and “resilience.” And it’s no accident that many Palestinians understand their capacity for sumud as bound to the land and landscape: one where, for human reasons as well as climate reasons, life takes care and perseverance.
          I am deeply glad to share that over the next week, our Rocky Mountain Synod will welcome some leaders from the Environmental Education Center (EEC) of Beit Jala, Palestine, a ministry of the ELCJHL. From March 28-30, Director Simon Awad and two young adult staff from the EEC will be visiting the following congregations to share more about their work for justice and care for the environment in the midst of challenges. I warmly invite you to join us for any of these events if you are able (please see details for dates and locations below).
          As we continue in the season of Lent, may God’s grace renew us all in sumud: in the stubborn persistence of life and love even in places of destruction, loss, and fear; and in our calling to plant seeds (or olive trees) of compassion, mercy, and justice. In Christ, Bishop Meghan

Immigration Summit before the Albuquerque Assembly: 8:30am 21 May–Noon May 22, here at St. Paul, $40 registration. Rostered and lay leaders are invited to attend a pre-Synod Assembly Immigration Summit to deepen our understanding of the immigration challenges as well as strategize how to faithfully accompany our immigrant siblings. Using the framework of accompaniment, we will learn from each other, share our knowledge, plan how to engage in this important issue and network across the synod for the flourishing and dignity of our immigrant siblings. Register at: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/9846002

The ELCA Chaplaincy Fund for Leaders addresses the financial obstacle for women and men answering a call to federal chaplaincy ministry with our service members, veterans, staff, and those in federal correctional facilities. Currently we have 150 chaplains serving in these specialized ministries at military posts, VA hospitals, and federal prisons. It takes an average of $40,610 per year (tuition, books, fees, and living expenses) to support a seminarian. In 2024, faithful donations from individuals and congregations allowed us to support 4 seminarians with $25,000 scholarships. You can make an online gift at: https://www.elca.org/our-work/leadership/federal-chaplaincy-ministries, and select ELCA Federal Chaplaincy Scholarship from the dropdown menu. Or mail your gifts to: ELCA Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 1806, Merrifield, VA 22116-8000, and reference E271994 on your check.

Updates Beginning 23 March 2025

Today: St. Paul 101 begins today!  It's a great time to learn more about St. Paul (our congregation), our denomination (the Evangelical Church in America), and Christianity as a whole.  It's also a great time for new and current members to meet one another.  And a great way to help you decide if you'd like to join the rolls of St. Paul. We'll meet in the Fellowship Hall after worship today and 6 April (skipping 30 March for our Spring Congregational Meeting - also a great way to get to know who we are and what we do!) for about an hour and a half.  Be sure to bring your coffee & goodies with you, as well as your curiosities and questions. ~Pr. Koppel

Next Saturday, March 29th at Noon: Fundraiser for Madagascar Girls Camp 2025. Dear St. Paul family, it is that time of the year again to talk about the Girls Camp! With your support, we are hitting our third edition in July 2025! This life-changing camp brings girls from remote Malagasy villages to Antananarivo, the capital city, opening their eyes to future possibilities. Like in the two previous years, for five days, 24 girls and 6 teachers will explore universities, hear from inspiring leaders, and participate in enriching activities like Bible stories, arts and crafts, and English lessons. These girls come from communities facing extreme poverty, lacking even basic necessities like clean water and electricity. Your generosity will cover all camp expenses, including warm clothing, transportation, food, and accommodation. To make that happen, I need your help to raise the funds. Therefore, you are invited to join us for a Malagasy luncheon with food, music, and games in Fellowship Hall. You will hear inspiring stories from the 2024 camp and learn how your support empowers these girls. We hope to see you there! ~Rijasoa Andriamanana [Note: to read an interview with Rijasoa, visit: https://www.rmusentrymedia.com/news/a-journey-of-education-leadership-and-culture-reflections-of-a-rooney-scholar/]

Next Sunday: Spring Congregational Meeting & Potluck 30 March after worship in Fellowship Hall. The signup sheet is in the Welcome Center. ~Deborah Ash

March’s God’s Work Our Hands project: We are collecting funds for the Friends Feeding Friends First Thursday meal on 3 April at HopeWorks. On your check to St. Paul, please note FFF April in the memo line. Thanks! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Open house with the Hartwells! Former Director of Worship & Music Seth Hartwell and his family are visiting from Minneapolis during their spring break! Due to Seth’s current church musician duties, they won’t be able to attend a Sunday service at St. Paul. So, please drop in and see them at Sawmill Market (1909 Bellamah NW) on Tuesday, April 1 from 4 to 7 pm. Seth, Liz, Anna (sophomore, age 16), and Jacob (5th grade, age 11) would love to greet you! Please contact Liz (612-368-5544 or elizabeth.hartwell@gmail.com) with any questions. All are welcome!

Campus Cleanup Day is Saturday, April 5th. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend to help us buff and polish St. Paul inside and out for Easter! We will have indoor and outdoor teams so you can choose where you prefer to work. We will plan for 9am-Noon with lunch provided when we wrap up. Many hands do make light work! ~Deborah Ash

Adopted Families: A single man came to St. Paul looking for some temporary help. He was slated to get a settlement check in a case very soon , but he had some immediate needs that couldn't wait. We paid his $155 storage unit fee, another person got him a new tire for his vehicle, and some kind folks helped him with his laundry at the laundromat. He had been a driver for a freight company that went out of business and he finds now that his aging body has trouble handling physical labor. He was extremely grateful and has said he intends to repay the kind folks that helped him out when no one else would. Thank you for being among those "kind folks." ~Kay Schoenefeld, Coordinator

Pre-order your St. Paul T-shirt! We will be selling St. Paul T-shirts as a way to raise funds for our Pride Parade presence! There will be a signup sheet in the Welcome Center so please get one ordered!  Perhaps we can arrange for a congregational group photo, sporting our colorful shirts! Thanks, in advance! ~Jan Bowers

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

From Gabriel Rabezanany: I am writing to share an exciting opportunity and to ask for your support in making this opportunity a reality. I have recently been given a chance to travel to New York to experience different shows on Broadway and visit historical sites with my middle school theatre class. This trip is incredibly important to me because it will provide an invaluable experience and enhance my knowledge about acting and the history of acting. However, as you can imagine, such an opportunity comes with significant costs such as transportation, accommodation, and program fees. To help cover these costs, I am reaching out to family, friends, and community members for support. My goal is to raise $3,000 by the end of May 2025. So far, I have raised $450. Your contribution, no matter what size, will make a tremendous difference. Here are some ways you can support me:

·        Cash or check donation
·        Share with friends and family
·        Prayers from the congregation

Thank you for considering my request. If you need more information, feel free to message me at (505) 369-8755 or Grabezanany@gmail.com

Rummage Sale June 14th. Greetings Congregation! I was thinking about ways to fund the Roof Project beginning in May.  How would you like to clean out goods you have at home that are no longer needed?   It would be a fun way to sell unwanted things and donate the funds to the Roof Project.  I am sure if we all pitched in, we could make it a successful and fun event.  I would invite food and refreshments we could stage in the Welcome area, to take breaks and get out of the heat. 
While I know we all love our weekends, I was anticipating that we plan for one day in June on a Saturday.  What do you think about June 14th, Saturday, from 8:00 am (drop off and set up), and advertise from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm?  What I need is to start planning and welcome your feedback and volunteers to assist in helping with the Rummage Sale.  I would even invite your friends, relatives, and children to bring items to sell for donation. We cannot accept clothing to sell at the Rummage sale.  
I would love to hear back from any of you who might be interested in participating in this Roof Fundraiser.  Please give me a call or stop in to let me know if you want to participate and your ideas.  We may need to have folks pick up and take leftover items or have a truck here to pick up items that did not sell and donate them. Please give me a call or make an appointment to stop in for a chat about your ideas.  I would love to meet more of you in person! Thank you and look forward to hearing back from you. ~Jolene Gallegos, Facilities Coordinator

Hats for Dignity Mission. During Pastor Koppel’s Sabbatical leave (May, June, July) our congregation will be participating in a collaborative effort to make hats to donate in the fall of 2025 to Dignity Mission. There are several ways you can participate in this Congregational Project:

• You can learn to make these loomed hats from yarn. A limited number of looms are available through our church to check out and share. Simply search on YouTube “hats on a loom” for instructions and simple-to-follow examples or ask Julie Ambrogi (903.602.6222) or Nancy Jenkins (505.269.0855) to teach and get you started.

• If you are interested in purchasing your own looms, ask Julie to order your set or order your own set through Amazon.com ($19.95 gets you 4 looms of various sizes, pompom makers for the various sizes, a looming pick and a needle).  We are using Readaer Round Knitting Looms.

• If you do not want to mess with the yarn and/or loom, donate to the project! This will be our God’s Work Our Hands project during these months and a check or cash will be used to purchase yarn or more looms.

St. Paul has lots of yarn to offer for making these hats or yarn can be purchased. One skein of yarn can make 3-5 hats depending on the size of the hat. We would love to have these hats being made and coming in with the last of the hats to come in at the end of July. In August we will welcome Pastor Koppel and Jan back, bless our project and send our hats to those needing warmth and encouragement in the harsh elements outside. We are blessed to be a blessing…. ~Julie Ambrogi, Deborah Ash, Pr. Koppel, Sara Love, Hal Nilsson, Rev. Patrick Van De Motter

Storehouse Food: The Storehouse provides food to many of the neediest in our community.  I was visiting a church in Georgia and saw a list of food items that would be useful for us when shopping for food for The Storehouse. Some of the suggestions were:
·         Canned protein items (fish, chicken, Spam, etc.)
·         Water - (perhaps also small packets of water flavoring or flavoring drops)
·         Soup packets or cans
I hope this helps you when you're shopping!  The barrels for donations are just inside the Narthex doors. 
Pet food is also needed and has been in short supply per their staff. Thanks!  ~Nancy Matthews 

From Local Partner Organizations

Next weekend: From First Congregational United Church of Christ (our Lenten partners). Rev. Tracy Howe (National UCC) is leading the following Peace & Justice Trainings here in Albuquerque:

• Rapid Response Sanctuary and Community Defense. Sat Mar 29th at First Congregational, 9:30am-12:30pm. Response training that teaches nonviolent techniques and practice strategies for activism today. People of all ages, experience, and abilities are welcome to attend. There is a role and place for everyone.

• Cultural Organizing and Liturgical Community Care. Sun Mar 30th at Church of the Good Shepherd, 12:30-3:30pm. This workshop will focus on how we care for ourselves and our community in times like these.

Reservations required: sjoiner@firstuccabq.org

From Coro Lux: The final concert of our 10th anniversary season. Don't miss the New Mexico premiere of A PLACE CALLED HOME, text by Tony Silvestri and music by Coro Lux artistic director, Bradley Ellingboe. Written for chorus, chamber ensemble, and four soloists, A Place Called Home is a plea for us to care more deeply for the environment and our home, the Earth, told as an impactful semi-staged dramatic cantata.
          Taking place Saturday, April 12th at 4pm in the historic Lensic Theater in downtown Santa Fe, the performance includes a pre-concert panel discussion about care for the earth and our environment at 2:30pm. Panel members will include the composer, Bradley Ellingboe, and librettist, Charles Anthony Silvestri, as well as Doctor Mary Hasbah Roessel, Larry Rasmussen, and the Reverend Talitha Arnold. Tickets range from $15 to $40 and are on sale now at the Lensic Box Office.  

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

Rocky Mountain Synod Advocacy has been rescheduled for April 1 at 6pm.

Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4943729991?pwd=QStqR0VsRWJ5UGwzUlUycGQ5K29RZz09

Meeting ID: 494 372 9991             Passcode: Lutheran            720-707-2699

Immigration Summit before the Albuquerque Assembly: 8:30am 21 May–Noon May 22, here at St. Paul, $40 registration. Rostered and lay leaders are invited to attend a pre-Synod Assembly Immigration Summit to deepen our understanding of the immigration challenges as well as strategize how to faithfully accompany our immigrant siblings. Using the framework of accompaniment, we will learn from each other, share our knowledge, plan how to engage in this important issue and network across the synod for the flourishing and dignity of our immigrant siblings. Register at: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/9846002

Lutheran World Relief: The 2025 Hunger Challenge to Save Lives deadline has been extended until March 31, granting more time to help starving children and their families: https://lwr.org/

Bread for the World: Programs like SNAP provide essential help to American families struggling to make ends meet as they face ever increasing prices. Cuts to SNAP means more families will go hungry. And international aid makes up less than 1 percent of the total U.S. federal budget, but its impacts are outsized in that it saves millions of lives and strengthens U.S. national security. Since news of funding changes broke, our staff has continued to meet with members of Congress and the Senate nonstop — doing everything possible to protect SNAP and reinstate international aid programs. Please give to support our work: https://www.bread.org/

Updates Beginning 16 March 2025

Today: Aging Wisely and Well will conclude today with a discussion on how you would like to be remembered. Pr. Koppel will lead this conversation. Bring your beverage and snack to the conference room at 11:15 and participate in this important conversation. ~Jan Krakow for AFD Team

Next Sunday: I'd like to extend a personal invitation to St. Paul 101.  It's a great time to learn more about St. Paul (our congregation), our denomination (the Evangelical Church in America), and Christianity as a whole.  It's also a great time for new and current members to meet one another.  And a great way to help you decide if you'd like to join the rolls of St. Paul.  The next St. Paul 101 classes are scheduled for 23 March (skipping 30 March for our Spring Congregational Meeting - also a great way to get to know who we are and what we do!), and 6 April.  We'll meet in the Fellowship Hall after worship each of those Sundays for about an hour and a half.  Be sure to bring your coffee & goodies with you, as well as your curiosities and questions. ~Pr. Koppel

Fundraiser for Madagascar Girls Camp 2025 Saturday, March 29th at Noon: Dear St. Paul family, it is that time of the year again to talk about the Girls Camp! With your support, we are hitting our third edition in July 2025! This life-changing camp brings girls from remote Malagasy villages to Antananarivo, the capital city, opening their eyes to future possibilities. Like in the two previous years, for five days, 24 girls and 6 teachers will explore universities, hear from inspiring leaders, and participate in enriching activities like Bible stories, arts and crafts, and English lessons. These girls come from communities facing extreme poverty, lacking even basic necessities like clean water and electricity. Your generosity will cover all camp expenses, including warm clothing, transportation, food, and accommodation. To make that happen, I need your help to raise the funds. Therefore, you are invited to join us for a Malagasy luncheon with food, music, and games in Fellowship Hall. You will hear inspiring stories from the 2024 camp and learn how your support empowers these girls. We hope to see you there! ~Rijasoa Andriamanana [Note: to read an interview with Rijasoa, visit: https://www.rmusentrymedia.com/news/a-journey-of-education-leadership-and-culture-reflections-of-a-rooney-scholar/]

Mark Your Calendars! Spring Congregational Meeting & Potluck 30 March after worship in Fellowship Hall. The signup sheet is in the Welcome Center. ~Deborah Ash

From Gabriel Rabezanany: I am writing to share an exciting opportunity and to ask for your support in making this opportunity a reality. I have recently been given a chance to travel to New York to experience different shows on Broadway and visit historical sites with my middle school theatre class. This trip is incredibly important to me because it will provide an invaluable experience and enhance my knowledge about acting and the history of acting. However, as you can imagine, such an opportunity comes with significant costs such as transportation, accommodation, and program fees. To help cover these costs, I am reaching out to family, friends, and community members for support. My goal is to raise $3,000 by the end of May 2025. So far, I have raised $450. Your contribution, no matter what size, will make a tremendous difference. Here are some ways you can support me:

·        Cash or check donation
·        Share with friends and family
·        Prayers from the congregation

Thank you for considering my request. If you need more information, feel free to message me at (505) 369-8755 or Grabezanany@gmail.com

Open house with the Hartwells! Former Director of Worship & Music Seth Hartwell and his family are visiting from Minneapolis during their spring break! Due to Seth’s current church musician duties, they won’t be able to attend a Sunday service at St. Paul. So, please drop in and see them at Sawmill Market (1909 Bellamah NW) on Tuesday, April 1 from 4 to 7 pm. Seth, Liz, Anna (sophomore, age 16), and Jacob (5th grade, age 11) would love to greet you! Please contact Liz (612-368-5544 or elizabeth.hartwell@gmail.com) with any questions. All are welcome!

Campus Cleanup Day is Saturday, April 5th. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend to help us buff and polish St. Paul inside and out for Easter! We will have indoor and outdoor teams so you can choose where you prefer to work. We will plan for 9am-Noon with lunch provided when we wrap up. Many hands do make light work! ~Deborah Ash

March’s God’s Work Our Hands project: We are collecting funds for the Friends Feeding Friends First Thursday meal on 3 April at HopeWorks. On your check to St. Paul, please note FFF April in the memo line. Thanks! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Hats for Dignity Mission. During Pastor Koppel’s Sabbatical leave (May, June, July) our congregation will be participating in a collaborative effort to make hats to donate in the fall of 2025 to Dignity Mission. There are several ways you can participate in this Congregational Project:

• You can learn to make these loomed hats from yarn. A limited number of looms are available through our church to check out and share. Simply search on YouTube “hats on a loom” for instructions and simple-to-follow examples or ask Julie Ambrogi (903.602.6222) or Nancy Jenkins (505.269.0855) to teach and get you started.

• If you are interested in purchasing your own looms, ask Julie to order your set or order your own set through Amazon.com ($19.95 gets you 4 looms of various sizes, pompom makers for the various sizes, a looming pick and a needle).  We are using Readaer Round Knitting Looms.

• If you do not want to mess with the yarn and/or loom, donate to the project! This will be our God’s Work Our Hands project during these months and a check or cash will be used to purchase yarn or more looms.

St. Paul has lots of yarn to offer for making these hats or yarn can be purchased. One skein of yarn can make 3-5 hats depending on the size of the hat. We would love to have these hats being made and coming in with the last of the hats to come in at the end of July. In August we will welcome Pastor Koppel and Jan back, bless our project and send our hats to those needing warmth and encouragement in the harsh elements outside. We are blessed to be a blessing…. ~Julie Ambrogi, Deborah Ash, Pr. Koppel, Sara Love, Hal Nilsson, Rev. Patrick Van De Motter

Pre-order your St. Paul T-shirt! We will be selling St. Paul T-shirts as a way to raise funds for our Pride Parade presence! There will be a signup sheet in the Welcome Center so please get one ordered!  Perhaps we can arrange for a congregational group photo, sporting our colorful shirts! Thanks, in advance! ~Jan Bowers

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

Worship Assistants: Serving communion to others or assisting in leading worship are definitely ways to deepen your faith and connection with other people. I will be making new schedules for assisting ministers and communion assistants soon. The next schedule will run from April 20 to August 31. Current worship leaders are asked to email me about any dates they cannot serve. New people are needed for this ministry as well. Training will be provided. If you would like to serve as a communion assistant or assisting minister, please contact me, Terry Cole, at tecole51@comcast.net.

Rummage Sale for June 14th. Greetings Congregation! I was thinking about ways to fund the Roof Project beginning in May.  How would you like to clean out goods you have at home that are no longer needed?   It would be a fun way to sell unwanted things and donate the funds to the Roof Project.  I am sure if we all pitched in, we could make it a successful and fun event.  I would invite food and refreshments we could stage in the Welcome area, to take breaks and get out of the heat. 
While I know we all love our weekends, I was anticipating that we plan for one day in June on a Saturday.  What do you think about June 14th, Saturday, from 8:00 am (drop off and set up), and advertise from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm?  What I need is to start planning and welcome your feedback and volunteers to assist in helping with the Rummage Sale.  I would even invite your friends, relatives, and children to bring items to sell for donation. It has been noted that we cannot accept clothing to sell at the Rummage sale.  
I would love to hear back from any of you who might be interested in participating in this Roof Fundraiser.  Please give me a call or stop in to let me know if you want to participate and your ideas.  We may need to have folks pick up and take leftover items or have a truck here to pick up items that did not sell and donate them.
Please give me a call or make an appointment to stop in for a chat about your ideas.  I would love to meet more of you in person! Thank you and look forward to hearing back from you. ~Jolene Gallegos, Facilities Coordinator

Thank You’s to St. Paul:

Thank you all for your wonderful dinner on Feb 20th. It was such a blessing! Thank you for all you do to support us. We appreciate you. Blessings, Pastor Rhonda Newby-Torres, Luther House

On behalf of the Storehouse family, thank you St. Paul Community for your gift of $305. Your support is a blessing to our local families in need. Sincerely, Amy Lavender, VP of Development

Storehouse Food: The Storehouse provides food to many of the neediest in our community.  I was visiting a church in Georgia and saw a list of food items that would be useful for us when shopping for food for The Storehouse. Some of the suggestions were:

·         Canned protein items (fish, chicken, Spam, etc.)
·         Water - (perhaps also small packets of water flavoring or flavoring drops)
·         Soup packets or cans

I hope this helps you when you're shopping!  The barrels for donations are just inside the Narthex doors.  Pet food is also needed. Thanks!  ~Nancy Matthews

From Local Partner Organizations

From First Congregational United Church of Christ (our Lenten partners). Rev. Tracy Howe (National UCC) is leading the following Peace & Justice Trainings here in Albuquerque:

• Rapid Response Sanctuary and Community Defense. Sat Mar 29th at First Congregational, 9:30am-12:30pm. Response training that teaches nonviolent techniques and practice strategies for activism today. People of all ages, experience, and abilities are welcome to attend. There is a role and place for everyone.

• Cultural Organizing and Liturgical Community Care. Sun Mar 30th at Church of the Good Shepherd, 12:30-3:30pm. This workshop will focus on how we care for ourselves and our community in times like these.

Reservations required: sjoiner@firstuccabq.org

From Coro Lux: The final concert of our 10th anniversary season. Don't miss the New Mexico premiere of A PLACE CALLED HOME, text by Tony Silvestri and music by Coro Lux artistic director, Bradley Ellingboe. Written for chorus, chamber ensemble, and four soloists, A Place Called Home is a plea for us to care more deeply for the environment and our home, the Earth, told as a semi-staged dramatic cantata.
          Taking place Saturday, April 12th at 4 pm in the historic Lensic Theater in downtown Santa Fe, the concert will be preceded by a panel discussion at 2:30 pm involving the composer and librettist, local clergy, a professor of ethics, and a Diné physician. Tickets range from $15 to $40 and are on sale now at the Lensic Box Office.

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

A Message from Bishop Meghan
Dear friends, a few years ago, I finally learned the meaning of the word Lent. (In truth, I probably learned it in seminary first and forgot; but in my defense, my worship class was directly after lunch.) Having associated Lent with Jesus’ time in the wilderness and journey to the cross, and with practices of fasting, prayer, and reflection, I was surprised to know that the English word lent simply means “spring,” from an older word (lencten) linked to the lengthening of days in this season, at least in our northern hemisphere. Lent, then, is of the earth as well as the church. Lent is the change in daylight, weather, and landscape—incremental, but clear enough to notice and to feel—that heralds the season of growth and new life. Maybe this seasonal transition is part of what inspires us to contemplation in the first place.
          A few weeks ago, as the ELCA Conference of Bishops gathered together in Chicago, I learned a new word from Bishop Jim Dunlop of Lower Susquehanna Synod in Pennsylvania: senescence. Senescence refers, in general, to the aging of living things. In trees (and other plants) specifically, it’s a renewable process: each fall, trees withdraw nutrients from their leaves into their trunks and branches, conserving these resources to prepare for the new growth of the spring. The leaves flare in color, wither, and die—so that new leaves can grow. One NIH article on this process describes senescence in a way that sounds like a sermon: “Living to Die and Dying to Live.” As you likely guessed, Bishop Dunlop invited us to ponder leaf senescence as a metaphor for the church. What if the church is not dying or in decline, as many say, but instead changing, in the way that trees do?
          Every congregation I’ve known has a life cycle. Generations pass within communities: babies grow into toddlers, and then suddenly into teenagers; elders lead, pass the torch, are accompanied to the end of life, and blessed into the company of the saints. Some congregations likewise recognize that their particular community’s life has come to an end.
          Much of our culture treats aging and death, whether of people, programs, or institutions, as a kind of failure: with enough planning, savings, or products, we should be able to keep going indefinitely. But organic things don’t go on forever. None of the congregations of the apostle Paul are still around: there is no “First Church of Ephesus” (continuously operating since the year 30). Yet the Church, the body of Christ, is not dead. It is alive, all over the world; because Jesus Christ is living, and in the world! In this time, when the very heart of the Gospel—God’s grace shaping our love of God and neighbor—is being challenged, how might the church be called to take a deep breath, contemplate anew our identity and purpose, and exhale in proclamation and service in new and renewed ways? This is my Lenten prayer and hope for all of us in the Rocky Mountain Synod, and for our neighbors. In Christ, Bishop Meghan

Rocky Mountain Synod Advocacy has been rescheduled for April 1 at 6pm. Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4943729991?pwd=QStqR0VsRWJ5UGwzUlUycGQ5K29RZz09
Meeting ID: 494 372 9991             Passcode: Lutheran            720-707-2699

Immigration Summit before the Albuquerque Assembly: 8:30am 21 May–Noon May 22, here at St. Paul, $40 registration. Rostered and lay leaders are invited to attend a pre-Synod Assembly Immigration Summit to deepen our understanding of the immigration challenges as well as strategize how to faithfully accompany our immigrant siblings. Using the framework of accompaniment, we will learn from each other, share our knowledge, plan how to engage in this important issue and network across the synod for the flourishing and dignity of our immigrant siblings. Register at: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/9846002

New RMS Minister for Transitions and Healthy Ministries. Pastor Sara Wirth has been called to the RMS Office of the Bishop. Pastor Sara's faith journey has been marked by a passion for bringing people together to grow spiritually and serve meaningfully. With over 23 years of pastoral experience serving congregations in Montana and Colorado, she has been blessed to witness how God works through periods of significant change. Through these experiences, she discovered her calling to help faith leaders and congregations navigate adaptive challenges with clarity and hope through intentional interim ministry and through Purposeful Pastor Coaching and Consulting. As a Leadership Team Member and Trainer for the Rocky Mountain Synod's Excellence in Leadership program, she has equipped leaders with tools for navigating church transitions.

ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton: Faith, fear, and the call to community. Bishop Eaton speaks to the church about the need to check in on one another during this time of great anxiety and fear for so many members. "We may not know what tomorrow brings, but we have each other. And we have the promise of a God who meets us in our fear, who walks with us in our struggles, and who calls us to be bearers of hope.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtJTieVzll8

Updates Beginning 9 March 2025

Today: After worship, Adult Faith Development continues with the series Aging Wisely and Well. Please bring your coffee and goodies to the Conference Room at 11:15. All are welcome! ~Jan Krakow, for AFD Team

St. Paul 101: I'd like to extend a personal invitation to St. Paul 101.  It's a great time to learn more about St. Paul (our congregation), our denomination (the Evangelical Church in America), and Christianity as a whole.  It's also a great time for new and current members to meet one another.  And a great way to help you decide if you'd like to join the rolls of St. Paul.  The next St. Paul 101 classes are scheduled for 23 March (skipping 30 March for our Spring Congregational Meeting - also a great way to get to know who we are and what we do!), and 6 April.  We'll meet in the Fellowship Hall after worship each of those Sundays for about an hour and a half.  Be sure to bring your coffee & goodies with you, as well as your curiosities and questions. ~Pr. Koppel

Mark Your Calendars! Spring Congregational Meeting & Potluck 30 March after worship in Fellowship Hall. The signup sheet is in the Welcome Center. ~Deborah Ash

Worship Assistants: Serving communion to others or assisting in leading worship are definitely ways to deepen your faith and connection with other people. I will be making new schedules for assisting ministers and communion assistants soon. The next schedule will run from April 20 to August 31. Current worship leaders are asked to email me about any dates they cannot serve. New people are needed for this ministry as well. Training will be provided. If you would like to serve as a communion assistant or assisting minister, please contact me, Terry Cole, at tecole51@comcast.net.

Adopted Families: A woman called St. Paul looking for rent help. Her wife is working but she is currently unable to because she needs to care for her one-year-old son who is struggling with severe health issues. They had some unexpected bills related to the cold spell we had, so they fell behind and had an eviction notice. With $600 from Adopted Families and more from another source, I was able to stave off the eviction. The woman was very grateful.

I know it's March, but I have a couple of anecdotes from our Christmas effort.

• The person who delivered the gifts told me that the mom said, "God is so good!" There was so much stuff and they were very happy.

• Another person wrote on a note card: "Yours were our only gifts & thank you so much. Plus we were able to buy family needs too."

So thank you again for supporting our efforts to help others. ~Kay Schoenefeld, Coordinator

Fundraiser for Madagascar Girls Camp 2025 Saturday, March 29th at Noon: Dear St. Paul family, it is that time of the year again to talk about the Girls Camp! With your support, we are hitting our third edition in July 2025! Thanks to your incredible support, the 2024 Girls Camp was a resounding success! This life-changing camp brings girls from remote Malagasy villages to Antananarivo, the capital city, opening their eyes to future possibilities. Like in the two previous years, for five days, 24 girls and 6 teachers will explore universities, hear from inspiring leaders, and participate in enriching activities like Bible stories, arts and crafts, and English lessons. These girls come from communities facing extreme poverty, lacking even basic necessities like clean water and electricity. Your generosity will cover all camp expenses, including warm clothing, transportation, food, and accommodation. To make that happen, I need your help to raise the funds. Therefore, you are invited to join us for a Malagasy luncheon with food, music, and games in Fellowship Hall. You will hear inspiring stories from the 2024 camp and learn how your support empowers these girls. We hope to see you there! ~Rijasoa Andriamanana

Campus Cleanup Day is Saturday, April 5th. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend to help us buff and polish St. Paul inside and out for Easter! We will have indoor and outdoor teams so you can choose where you prefer to work. We will plan for 9am-Noon with lunch provided when we wrap up. Many hands do make light work! ~Deborah Ash

Devotionals: Both next quarter’s devotional and the new Lenten devotional are available in the Welcome Center. ~Deborah Ash

March’s God’s Work Our Hands project: We are collecting funds for the Friends Feeding Friends First Thursday meal on 3 April at HopeWorks. On your check to St. Paul, please note FFF April in the memo line. Thanks! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

Storehouse Food: The Storehouse provides food to many of the neediest in our community.  I was visiting a church in Georgia and saw a list of food items that would be useful for us when shopping for food for The Storehouse. Some of the suggestions were:

• Canned protein items (fish, chicken, Spam, etc.)

• Water - (perhaps also small packets of water flavoring or flavoring drops)

• Soup packets or cans

I hope this helps you when you're shopping!  The barrels for donations are just inside the Narthex doors.  Pet food is also needed. Thanks!  ~Nancy Matthews

From Local Partner Organizations

HopeWorks Community Lunch + Tours: We provide lunch and lead a conversation about our current work before diving into our vision for the future, followed by a walking tour of the campus, including a brief visit to Hope Village, the first constructed single-site permanent supportive housing project in the state. Hear the latest about our behavioral health center, and get involved in raising up our most-vulnerable populations. Dates are: Wednesdays, 4/2 and 5/7, 12-1:30. RSVP to: info@hopeworksnm.org. In your RSVP, please let us know what date you would like to attend, how many guests you expect, and if you have any dietary restrictions. We welcome you to invite and RSVP for friends and family who might also be interested in ending homelessness. You can also call (505) 273-8750 ext. 1052 to let us know you would like to attend. We hope to see you there. Michele Benavidez, Dev. Director

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

A Message from Bishop Meghan:

Dear Friends in Christ,
I know this is a time that feels overwhelming and complicated for many of us, for many reasons; and in this season, many aspects of our life together in the Rocky Mountain Synod also continue in an in-between space: in Office of the Bishop staffing, the RMS website, transitions and advocacy ministries, plans for Synod Assembly, property decisions, and more. I have appreciated your patience, your willingness to ask questions and share needs and concerns in direct, open, and gracious ways, and your many offers of help. Thank you!

          Recently I’ve been saying (tongue-in-cheek, but still!) that this time in our synod feels like a kitchen remodel. You go into it thinking, “This will be fine. We can still cook meals, and keep food in the fridge and cabinets, and carry on as normal. We’ll just work around it.” And as everyone who has ever remodeled a kitchen knows: you’re kidding yourself. It’s messy. It’s disruptive. It needs time. And you can’t work around it—just through it. So why do it? In this case, it’s because our OOB staff, synod council, staffing team, and other leaders are working to discern and create the team, the capacity, and the vision and direction for where God is calling us to go in the time ahead. My hope for the Rocky Mountain Synod is that we are finding ways to better accompany and support our people and ministries “for such a time as this,” as we proclaim and embody the Gospel of Jesus Christ where we are.   In that process, here’s some “construction” updates to share:

• Welcome, Deacon Mary Stoneback! Deacon Mary has been called to serve the Rocky Mountain Synod as Synod Minister for Strategic Communications and Events starting March 15.

• Colorado Advocacy: This year, in the absence of an RMS Advocacy director for Colorado, we’ve received a generous invitation from Together Colorado to join them for a Faith and Justice at the Capitol Lobby Day on March 18. We will also be convening a Zoom town-hall conversation and listening session on Thursday, March 13 at 6pm about the future of advocacy in our synod (Note: see info below).

• Watch Brave Experiments: On February 20, our Brave Experiments: Lay Leader edition webinar, coordinated by our congregational ministries committee, brought together leaders from St. Matthew (Taylorsville, UT), St. Paul (Calhan, CO), and Prairie Parish (Akron, Brush, and Sterling, CO) shared stories of how they are developing new models of ministry with lay synodically authorized ministries (SAMs) and/or shared lay and rostered ministry. You can catch up with this conversation recording here: https://www.rmselca.org/event/brave-experiments-lay-leader-edition. Pastor Diana Linden-Johnson and Pastor Katie Emery will also be leading follow-up listening sessions on lay leadership development in the RMS (Note: see info below).

Finally, I look forward to gathering with many of you May 22-24 in Albuquerque for our synod assembly, Dios está aquí / God is here! This will be an important time for members of our congregation throughout the synod to gather, worship, learn, and make decisions about our life together and our calling to our communities and the world.

Peace,
Bishop Meghan

Lay Leadership Development Listening Sessions March 10, 3pm, on Zoom. Healthy, well-equipped, and passionate lay leadership are central to the life of the church. Whether or not there is a rostered leader called to serve your current context, this fact remains. Across the RMS congregations and individuals are building skills and tools to equip lay leaders and we would love to bring you all together to hear what your congregation is currently doing or what needs are present that you wish you could be equipped for. RMS is hosting listening sessions for those who are interested in learning more about what is happening in our synod and to voice what the needs are in your contexts. All of the information will be gathered in hopes of creating relevant and formal training for lay leaders as we face the emerging future of the church together. Please register so we know how many people to expect:
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/f22794725d274df98c950f0ca70bde43

Rocky Mountain Synod Advocacy March 13, 6-7pm, Zoom. Join Bishop Aelabouni in a conversation about advocacy work in the Rocky Mountain Synod. As we move forward together we are looking at how we do advocacy work in all five of our states. We hope to put together a committee that will help design the future of advocacy for all of us. Prior to forming that committee, we would like to hear from you; what are your desires for advocacy work in the RMS? What questions do you have etc.?

Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4943729991?pwd=QStqR0VsRWJ5UGwzUlUycGQ5K29RZz09

Meeting ID: 494 372 9991   Passcode: Lutheran

One tap mobile: +17207072699, 4943729991# US (Denver)

+17193594580, 4943729991# US

Lutheran World Relief: The 2025 Hunger Challenge to Save Lives deadline has been extended until March 31, granting more time to help starving children and their families: https://lwr.org/

Bread for the World: Programs like SNAP provide essential help to American families struggling to make ends meet as they face ever increasing prices. Cuts to SNAP means more families will go hungry. And international aid makes up less than 1 percent of the total U.S. federal budget, but its impacts are outsized in that it saves millions of lives and strengthens U.S. national security. Since news of funding changes broke, our staff has continued to meet with members of Congress and the Senate nonstop — doing everything possible to protect SNAP and reinstate international aid programs. Please give to support our work: https://www.bread.org/

Updates Beginning 2 March 2025

Today: After worship, Adult Faith Development continues with the series Aging Wisely and Well. Please bring your coffee and goodies to the Conference Room at 11:15. All are welcome! ~The AFD Team

Today: Girl Scout Cookies! Our resident Girl Scout Troop will have a table set up after service for you to purchase cookies. ~Deborah Ash

St. Paul 101: I'd like to extend a personal invitation to St. Paul 101.  It's a great time to learn more about St. Paul (our congregation), our denomination (the Evangelical Church in America), and Christianity as a whole.  It's also a great time for new and current members to meet one another.  And a great way to help you decide if you'd like to join the rolls of St. Paul.  The next St. Paul 101 classes are scheduled for 23 March (skipping 30 March for our Spring Congregational Meeting - also a great way to get to know who we are and what we do!), and 6 April.  We'll meet in the Fellowship Hall after worship each of those Sundays for about an hour and a half.  Be sure to bring your coffee & goodies with you, as well as your curiosities and questions. ~Pr. Koppel

Fundraiser for Madagascar Girls Camp 2025: Dear St. Paul family, it is that time of the year again to talk about the Girls Camp! With your support, we are hitting our third edition in July 2025! Thanks to your incredible support, the 2024 Girls Camp was a resounding success! This life-changing camp brings girls from remote Malagasy villages to Antananarivo, the capital city, opening their eyes to future possibilities. Like in the two previous years, for five days, 24 girls and 6 teachers will explore universities, hear from inspiring leaders, and participate in enriching activities like Bible stories, arts and crafts, and English lessons. These girls come from communities facing extreme poverty, lacking even basic necessities like clean water and electricity. Your generosity will cover all camp expenses, including warm clothing, transportation, food, and accommodation. To make that happen, I need your help to raise the funds. Therefore, you are invited to join us for a Malagasy luncheon with food, music, and games on Saturday, March 29th at Noon in Fellowship Hall. You will hear inspiring stories from the 2024 camp and learn how your support empowers these girls. We hope to see you there! ~Rijasoa Andriamanana

Campus Cleanup Day is Saturday, April 5th. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend to help us buff and polish St. Paul inside and out for Easter! We will have indoor and outdoor teams so you can choose where you prefer to work. We will plan for 9am-Noon with lunch provided when we wrap up. Many hands do make light work! ~Deborah Ash

Devotionals: Both next quarter’s devotional and the new Lenten devotional are available in the Welcome Center. ~Deborah Ash

March’s God’s Work Our Hands project: We are collecting funds for the Friends Feeding Friends First Thursday meal on 3 April at HopeWorks. On your check to St. Paul, please note FFF April in the memo line. Thanks! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

A special thank you to Nancy's Friends Feeding Friends group who provided 29 pans of spaghetti and meatballs/meat sauce to HopeWorks for the meal on the first Thursday of February.  Along with the salad and dressing, cookies, fruit and bread, we were able to provide a complete meal to their clients. We have a total of three groups. Two of the groups are providing food. St. Paul supports the third group by sending money that has been donated for the First Thursday meal. The two groups providing food are Nancy Jenkins’ and Hal Schultz's. Nancy's group provides the meal in February, May, August and November. Hal's group provides the meal in March, June, September and December. If you would like to join a group, please contact me! ~Nancy Jenkins

Food Donations for The Storehouse. Food is always needed during the winter. Whenever you go shopping, please pick up an item or two of non-perishable foods for the barrels at church.  Pet food is also needed. Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel
 

From Local Partner Organizations

This Friday: Church Women United, an ecumenical Christian women’s movement, will observe the annual World Day of Prayer on Friday, March 7th at First Presbyterian Church (215 Locust Ave. NE). The women of Cook Islands, located near New Zealand and Australia, prepared the worship service, entitled “I Made You Wonderful.” It invites us to recognize that God created each one of us with great attention and loving care. The morning begins at 9:00 a.m. with coffee, refreshments and good conversation, followed by the service at 9:30. There will be two offerings. One will go to the World Day of Prayer Committee, the second for CWU in NM. All women from St. Paul are invited to join us and bring a friend! Questions? Contact CWU President, Shirley Nilsson at 505-463-3657 or sfnils@swcp.com.

HopeWorks Community Lunch + Tours, starting this Wednesday. We provide lunch and lead a conversation about our current work before diving into our vision for the future, followed by a walking tour of the campus, including a brief visit to Hope Village, the first constructed single-site permanent supportive housing project in the state. Hear the latest about our behavioral health center, and get involved in raising up our most-vulnerable populations. Dates are: Wednesdays, 3/5, 4/2 and 5/7, 12-1:30. RSVP to: info@hopeworksnm.org. In your RSVP, please let us know what date you would like to attend, how many guests you expect, and if you have any dietary restrictions. We welcome you to invite and RSVP for friends and family who might also be interested in ending homelessness. You can also call (505) 273-8750 ext. 1052 to let us know you would like to attend. We hope to see you there. Michele Benavidez, Dev. Director 

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

Lay Leadership Development Listening Sessions Mar. 3 & 10. Healthy, well-equipped, and passionate lay leadership are central to the life of the church. Whether or not there is a rostered leader called to serve your current context, this fact remains. Across the RMS congregations and individuals are building skills and tools to equip lay leaders and we would love to bring you all together to hear what your congregation is currently doing or what needs are present that you wish you could be equipped for. RMS is hosting listening sessions for those who are interested in learning more about what is happening in our synod and to voice what the needs are in your contexts. All of the information will be gathered in hopes of creating relevant and formal training for lay leaders as we face the emerging future of the church together. The sessions will be held on Zoom: March 3 at 7:00pm MT & March 10 at 3:00pm. Please register here so we know how many people to expect:

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/f22794725d274df98c950f0ca70bde43

The Office of the Bishop welcomes Pastor Diana Linden-Johnson as our new Synod Minister for Rostered and Lay Leadership! She began serving as the Assistant to the Bishop for Rostered Ministers in January 2022. In this role she worked with candidacy, first call leaders, and served as the staff liaison to the Global Church Network, and Campus Ministry Committee. In addition, she has been present in RMS congregations and ministries, assisted in developing a lay ministry pilot program, provided support for colleagues in crisis and transition, and generally sought to build supportive and positive relationships between the Office of the Bishop and the people and ministries of the RMS.  Prior to serving through the Office of the Bishop, Pastor Diana served in congregations in El Paso and Colorado. Her sense of call to ordained ministry was shaped in childhood through her family’s involvement at Zion Lutheran in Loveland, summer employment at Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp, and full-time volunteer service with the Border Servant Corps, serving at Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey in El Paso. Pastor Diana lives in Broomfield with her wife and two tween-age children.

Updates Beginning 23 February 2025

Today: After worship, Adult Faith Development continues with the series Aging Wisely and Well. Please bring your coffee and goodies to the Conference Room at 11:15. All are welcome! ~The AFD Team

Today: God’s Work Our Hands. After worship, we will put together hygiene kits for HopeWorks in Fellowship Hall. Please come be a part of that process! If you would like to donate to help us fill in any gaps, please indicate on your check “Feb GWOH Project.” March’s GWOH project will be collecting funds for the Friends Feeding Friends First Thursday meal on 3 April at HopeWorks. Thanks! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

St. Paul 101: I'd like to extend a personal invitation to St. Paul 101.  It's a great time to learn more about St. Paul (our congregation), our denomination (the Evangelical Church in America), and Christianity as a whole.  It's also a great time for new and current members to meet one another.  And a great way to help you decide if you'd like to join the rolls of St. Paul.  The next St. Paul 101 classes are scheduled for 23 March (skipping 30 March for our Spring Congregational Meeting - also a great way to get to know who we are and what we do!), and 6 April.  We'll meet in the Fellowship Hall after worship each of those Sundays for about an hour and a half.  Be sure to bring your coffee & goodies with you, as well as your curiosities and questions. ~Pr. Koppel

Next Sunday: Girl Scout Cookies! Our resident Girl Scout Troop will have a table set up after service for you to purchase cookies. So, if your Thin Mints have run out, this will be a great opportunity to stock up! ~Deborah Ash

Campus Cleanup Day is Saturday, April 5th. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend to help us buff and polish St. Paul inside and out for Easter! We will have indoor and outdoor teams so you can choose where you prefer to work. We will plan for 9am-Noon with lunch provided when we wrap up. Many hands do make light work! ~Deborah Ash

Devotionals: Both next quarter’s devotional and the new Lenten devotional are available in the Welcome Center. ~Deborah Ash

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

Fundraiser for Madagascar Girls Camp 2025: Dear St. Paul family, it is that time of the year again to talk about the Girls Camp! With your support, we are hitting our third edition in July 2025! Thanks to your incredible support, the 2024 Girls Camp was a resounding success! This life-changing camp brings girls from remote Malagasy villages to Antananarivo, the capital city, opening their eyes to future possibilities. Like in the two previous years, for five days, 24 girls and 6 teachers will explore universities, hear from inspiring leaders, and participate in enriching activities like Bible stories, arts and crafts, and English lessons. These girls come from communities facing extreme poverty, lacking even basic necessities like clean water and electricity. Your generosity will cover all camp expenses, including warm clothing, transportation, food, and accommodation. To make that happen, I need your help to raise the funds. Therefore, you are invited to join us for a Malagasy luncheon with food, music, and games on Saturday, March 29th at Noon in Fellowship Hall. You will hear inspiring stories from the 2024 camp and learn how your support empowers these girls. We hope to see you there! ~Rijasoa Andriamanana

Update on Exterior Office Door: The new door is painted and installation is tomorrow! We have lots of folks to thank who have helped us at low or no cost with this project. It really did take a village! ~Deborah Ash

Food Donations for The Storehouse. Food is always needed during the winter. Whenever you go shopping, please pick up an item or two of non-perishable foods for the barrels at church.  Pet food is also needed. Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

A Thank You to St. Paul:
On behalf of the Storehouse family, thank you for your gift of $305. Your donation will provide 1,525 meals for those in need. Across the board, higher food costs and inflation have impacted many people in our community. As a result, we’ve seen a substantial increase in the number of people visiting the pantry over the last several months. The Storehouse is committed to provide food to every person who walks through our doors. Your support allows us to honor our commitment to our community and ensure that families facing food insecurity have a place to turn. We are so grateful to the St. Paul community for your help in feeding our local families in need. Thank you.
Sincerely, Amy Lavender, VP of Development

From Local Partner Organizations

Church Women United, an ecumenical Christian women’s movement, will observe the annual World Day of Prayer on Friday, March 7th at First Presbyterian Church (215 Locust Ave. NE). The women of Cook Islands, located near New Zealand and Australia, prepared the worship service, entitled “I Made You Wonderful.” It invites us to recognize that God created each one of us with great attention and loving care. The morning begins at 9:00 a.m. with coffee, refreshments and good conversation, followed by the service at 9:30. There will be two offerings. One will go to the World Day of Prayer Committee, the second for CWU in NM. All women from St. Paul are invited to join us and bring a friend! Questions? Contact CWU President, Shirley Nilsson at 505-463-3657 or email her at sfnils@swcp.com.

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

Lay Leadership Development Listening Sessions Feb. 24, Mar. 3, & 10.
Healthy, well-equipped, and passionate lay leadership are central to the life of the church. Whether or not there is a rostered leader called to serve your current context, this fact remains. Across the Rocky Mountain Synod congregations and individuals are building skills and tools to equip lay leaders and we would love to bring you all together to hear what your congregation is currently doing or what needs are present that you wish you could be equipped for.
The Rocky Mountain Synod will be hosting 3 listening sessions over the next month for those who are interested in learning more about what is happening in our synod and to voice what the needs are in your contexts. All of the information will be gathered in hopes of creating relevant and formal training for lay leaders as we face the emerging future of the church together. The sessions will be held on Zoom:

Monday, February 24 at 10:00am MT
Monday, March 3 at 7:00pm MT
Monday, March 10 at 3:00pm

Please register here so we know how many people to expect:
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/f22794725d274df98c950f0ca70bde43
          If you have questions, contact Pastor Diana Linden-Johnson dlinden-johnson@rmselca.org or Pastor Katie Emery kemery@rmselca.org.

Dear Friend,

Lent is a sacred time for deep personal and communal reflection—an opportunity to step away from the distractions of the world and draw closer to God. This season, Bread for the World invites you and your congregation to join us on a journey of spiritual preparation as we reflect on Christ’s sacrifice and anticipate the hope of His resurrection.
The theme of our Lenten devotional guide is Come to the Table, and it provides tools for meditation on scripture, reflection, spiritual practices, and gathering around God’s table.
The devotional guide follows the Revised Common Lectionary and is an excellent resource for individual or small group reflection. A Spanish version is coming soon. https://www.bread.org/article/come-to-the-table-lenten-devotional/

Global Refuge Statement on Misinformation around our Humanitarian Work 2/2:
Global Refuge condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the false accusations lodged against our humanitarian work. As a faith-based nonprofit, we have faithfully walked alongside legally admitted refugees and immigrants for more than 85 years. This includes Afghan Allies who risked their lives to protect U.S. troops, as well as persecuted Christians, all of whom have been extensively vetted and approved by multiple U.S. government agencies before traveling to our country.
We also remain committed to caring for unaccompanied children forced to flee unimaginable circumstances in their home countries to seek safety in the United States. Across Democratic and Republican administrations, we have partnered with the U.S. government to protect vulnerable children, safeguard them against human trafficking, and safely reunify them with their parent(s) or guardian.
Rooted in our proud Lutheran heritage, Global Refuge and our dedicated network of providers stand ready to assist the new administration in welcoming families who need to resettle in our country, helping ensure they learn our language, secure jobs that help our economy grow, and quickly become vital contributors to communities. To do otherwise would run contrary to the spirit of our Christian faith, America’s identity as a nation of immigrants, and our role as a global humanitarian leader.

“Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40)

 Lutheran World Relief’s 2025 Hunger Challenge to Save Lives. The goal is to raise $250,000 by February 28 to rush emergency food to your neighbors who need it most. LWR saves and improves lives in the poorest parts of the world. We will persist until your love reaches every neighbor.  Give at: https://lwr.org/

2025 Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival (LSM): Friends in Christ and friends in music, enrollment is 75% full, but there is still time for you to nominate students, or for students to apply! Standard Enrollment is offered through March 1. Late Enrollment, with an increased application fee and pending final instrument area availability, is offered through May: lsmacademy.org/nominate

Updates Beginning 16 February 2025

Today: Please see the blue insert for information regarding today’s Adult Faith Development after worship. Please bring your coffee and goodies to the Conference Room at 11:15. All are welcome! ~The AFD Team

God’s Work Our Hands is This Week: Join us for the Luther House Meal Train Thursday, February 20th. We will be putting together the main dishes to take over hot that afternoon. If you are interested in supplying salads, fruit or desserts, please let us know. Or just come and be a part of a wonderful evening of fellowship and Bible study with Rev. Rhonda Newby-Torres and the students!
Our February God’s Work Our Hands project will be putting together hygiene kits for HopeWorks on February 23rd after worship. Please come be a part of that process in Fellowship Hall. If you would like to donate to help us fill in any gaps, please indicate on your check “Feb GWOH Project.” Thanks! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Fundraiser for Madagascar Girls Camp 2025:

Dear St. Paul family,

It is that time of the year again to talk about the Girls Camp! With your support, we are hitting our third edition in July 2025! Thanks to your incredible support, the 2024 Madagascar Girls Camp was a resounding success! This life-changing camp brings girls from remote Malagasy villages to Antananarivo, the capital city, opening their eyes to future possibilities. Like in the two previous years, for five days, 24 girls and 6 teachers will explore universities, hear from inspiring leaders, and participate in enriching activities like Bible stories, arts and crafts, and English lessons. These girls come from communities facing extreme poverty, lacking even basic necessities like clean water and electricity. Your generosity will cover all camp expenses, including warm clothing, transportation, food, and accommodation. To make that happen, I need your help to raise the funds. Therefore, you are invited to join us for a Malagasy luncheon with food, music, and games on Saturday, March 29th at Noon in the Fellowship Hall. You will hear inspiring stories from the 2024 camp, and learn how your support empowers these girls. We hope to see you there!

Rijasoa Andriamanana

Campus Cleanup Day is Saturday, April 5th. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend to help us buff and polish St. Paul inside and out for Easter! We will have indoor and outdoor teams so you can choose where you prefer to work. We will plan for 9am-Noon with lunch provided when we wrap up. Many hands do make light work! ~Deborah Ash

Update from Jolene Gallegos, Facilities Coordinator:

Hello Congregation,

It’s been a little over a month since I have been hired as Facilities Coordinator here at St. Paul Lutheran Church.  I am happy to say that I have met some of the congregation but I’m getting familiar with lots of names within the Church.  With the help of Pastor Kristi and Deb, I am getting into the groove of what needs to happen on the Calendar, upcoming events and how it all gets done.  
I wanted to share some of the progress I’ve made.  Jan Bowers and I headed to the Blue Room to see how we could organize better.  We made room for the Chapel of the Holy Spirit who is using the Chapel for services on Sunday’s from 10:00-11:00 am, followed by fellowship in the Pastor Sacristy. So, say hello to them while walking into St. Paul services at 10:00. They have a doorman greeting their congregation.
I have started to make an inventory of things, with the advice of Pastor, that can be donated or thrown away.  I found out that the Youth Choir robes were up for grabs.  I called several local high schools, music and theatre directors.  I then called some folks with Albuquerque Little Theatre and Vortex. Well lo and behold, they wanted those robes. Those robes now have a home to be used in productions.  In addition, the stage prop guy also took the Puppet Show stand and puppets, as he mentioned they are looking at doing a puppet performance this summer.
I also had an idea of putting together a Garage Sale here at St. Paul for the end of May or early June with proceeds going to the roof fund.  I would love to hear your opinion on this idea.  We could all bring our unwanted stuff, advertise on Market Place in FB, and get the passersby to stop into the property to browse and buy.  If you have ideas, or would like to help organize, please reach out to me via email, phone or make an appointment with me.

Blessings,
Jolene Gallegos, Facilities Coordinator
St. Paul Lutheran Church
facilities@stpaulabq.org / O: 505-242-5942
Days of work:  M / T / Th from 9am-2pm

Girl Scout Cookies! Our resident Girl Scout Troop will have a table set up on March 2 after service for you to purchase cookies. So, if your Thin Mints have run out, this will be a great opportunity to stock up! ~Deborah Ash

Update on Exterior Office Door. We have the door now but have a few steps still to go before installation. Thanks for everyone’s patience! ~Deborah Ash

Food Donations for The Storehouse. Food is always needed during the winter. Whenever you go shopping, please pick up an item or two of non-perishable foods for the barrels at church.  Pet food is also needed. Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel 

From Local Partner Organizations

Today:

Next Saturday:

Contact iusti Remer-Thamert for more information: 505-307-2218.

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

A Message from Bishop Meghan:

Dear friends,

As we approach Valentine’s Day, I’ve been thinking about bees. That may sound strange, given the frozen ground and frigid temperatures in much of our synod these days. But it just so happens that St. Valentine, whose life inspired a holiday about love, is also the patron saint of beekeepers.
          Admittedly, love and bees are not two things I normally put together. I was terrified of bees as a child, afraid of being stung. I had no idea how vital bees are to all life on earth, responsible for pollinating as much as 75% of cultivated global crops and 90% of wild plants (one estimate claims that we rely on bees and other pollinators for one out of every three mouthfuls of food!) Who knew so much depends on such tiny actors, whose movements from plant to plant often go unnoticed in a chaotic world.
          Beloved, I know many of us feel like we are in a whirlwind these days. Too much news to assimilate. Rapid, large-scale change all around us, with uncertain outcomes. Outright fear among immigrant and refugee communities, LGBTQIA+ people, and people of color. Many of our Lutheran ministries and partners who welcome and serve new arrivals to the U.S. are facing significant funding freezes or cuts—including Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains and Border Servant Corps, who have had to reduce staff and pause services.
          I also know that since “Lutherans” were named in social media by people connected to the current administration who accused our social services of illegal activity, a number of our congregations and ministries are anxious about increased risk. I am sad to report that this week, a rock was thrown forcefully through a front window of St. Stephen’s in Northglenn, CO, shattering glass over the narthex; and other congregations have reported unknown people disrupting worship or leaving angrily mid-service—including Christ in Highlands Ranch, CO, who welcomed Pr. Eric Shafer of Global Refuge last weekend (one of the Lutheran agencies that has been targeted and falsely accused of “money laundering.”)
          During the years I served in Jerusalem, incidents of harassment and vandalism against churches and Christians was not uncommon. In the first months of the war, our church debated about whether to lock the outside doors to prevent unknown visitors (a difficult choice, considering that unknown visitors often made up a large part of our congregation!) While this is not the same context, know that I am praying for all of our congregations and communities who seek to balance caution and courage; to be wise and prepared; and still to keep showing up to preach, pray, sing, and share the sacraments as the church.
Which brings me to love… and the bees. It is easy to see reasons for worry, grief, and anger. And yet, all around us, Dios está aquí—God is here!—in the kind of love that works like pollination: quietly, determinedly, moving from flower to flower, from person to person, in community after community. Love showing up in our congregations and ministries, in our people and our neighbors. Love that looks like public statements or organizing actions—and love that comes through gift cards and groceries, words of encouragement and education, calls to hold elected leaders accountable and to check on neighbors’ welfare. These actions, both the largest and smallest, absolutely matter. They are the essence of love, of the Gospel, and the very reign of God—which, like pollen (or yeast, or a mustard seed), defy all the powers of sin and death with God’s power of new life, justice, and mercy.
          This Valentine’s Day, let us give thanks for the bees, and all they have to give and teach us. Let us give thanks for those who have not given up on offering love to others, especially the most vulnerable among us. And let us give thanks to God, who tends us as lovingly and steadfastly as any beekeeper.

In Christ,
Bishop Meghan

This Week: 2025 Issue Briefing & Bishop's Luncheon.
Registration is open for the 2025 Issue Briefing and Bishop's Luncheon that will be held on Thursday, February 20th! We are pleased that First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe, a long-time member of our advocating congregation program, will return as host for the morning Issue Briefing. And, after a one-year hiatus, we will return to the La Fonda Hotel for the Bishop's Luncheon.
This will be the first year for our new Bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod, the Rev. Meghan Johnston Aelabouni. Bishop Johnson Aelabouni was elected last spring and began her service on July 1, 2024. We hope you will join us in offering a warm welcome to the Bishop as she hosts her first Bishop's Luncheon.
The registration cost per person remains the same as last year at $40 per person. However, on February 17th, it will increase to $45 per person. Please register and buy your tickets at: www.lutheranadvocacynm.org/. (Please note, this is not a fund-raiser as the registration charge covers only the anticipated cost for the luncheon.)

Kurt Rager
Director, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - New Mexico

Schedule

8:30 a.m. - 9:15 Check-in, refreshments & fellowship at First Presbyterian
(208 Grant Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501)
9:15 a.m. Welcome and Opening Devotion
9:30 a.m. Guest Speakers
10:45 a.m. Break
11:00 a.m. Bishop Rev. Meghan Johnston Aelabouni
11:15 a.m. Advocacy Agenda and Issue Briefing
Noon-12:15 p.m. Transition to La Fonda Hotel
(100 E San Francisco St, Santa Fe, NM 87501)
12:30 p.m. Bishop's Luncheon Begins
2:00 p.m. Lunch concludes

Lay Leadership Development Listening Sessions Feb. 24, Mar. 3, & 10
Healthy, well-equipped, and passionate lay leadership are central to the life of the church. Whether or not there is a rostered leader called to serve your current context, this fact remains. Across the Rocky Mountain Synod congregations and individuals are building skills and tools to equip lay leaders and we would love to bring you all together to hear what your congregation is currently doing or what needs are present that you wish you could be equipped for.
The Rocky Mountain Synod will be hosting 3 listening sessions over the next month for those who are interested in learning more about what is happening in our synod and to voice what the needs are in your contexts. All of the information will be gathered in hopes of creating relevant and formal training for lay leaders as we face the emerging future of the church together. The sessions will be held on Zoom:

Monday, February 24 at 10:00am MT
Monday, March 3 at 7:00pm MT
Monday, March 10 at 3:00pm

Please register here so we know how many people to expect:
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/f22794725d274df98c950f0ca70bde43
          If you have questions, contact Pastor Diana Linden-Johnson dlinden-johnson@rmselca.org or Pastor Katie Emery kemery@rmselca.org.

From RMS AMMPARO: Virtual Advocacy Days for Refugees March 3-7.
Dear friends, now is the time to speak up on behalf of refugees seeking safety and a new life. As faith leaders and organizations, we are called to love our neighbor, welcome the sojourner, and care for the vulnerable. To that end, we invite you to participate in upcoming refugee advocacy days March 3-7th.
          The administration’s decision to fully suspend refugee resettlement has left thousands of refugees stranded overseas, while ongoing uncertainty following the stop-work order has further impacted core services to refugees who have already arrived in the United States.
          Join us in taking action by signing up to participate in Virtual Advocacy Days for Refugees March 3-7! Sign up by Feb 17 at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScu7FvFvL1gWwcYn7tLdqTwYylytiQqN7M34b5vq9SgTTIVVw/viewform

To participate, you must register to attend the Legislative Advocacy 101 Webinar training on Wednesday, Feb. 19 5-6 PM ET: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/c7a9c8c1-cfaa-4c17-8afa-093c3bf207ac@1d0e7a65-80fa-4c0f-894e-6cc0f7cb5e43
What we bring: Participants will receive training, a folder with a leave-behind and talking points, and accompaniment in Hill meetings from ELCA or Global Refuge staff.
          What you bring: your self, stories of personal impact, and preparation.

Thank you for your commitment and support. All the best,
Giovana Oaxaca
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Insert:

AGING WISELY AND WELL

AN ADULT FAITH DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY

When: Sunday mornings after worship

Feb. 16 – March 16, 2025

11:15am – 12:15pm

What: Discussions about issues of aging

How does spirituality enable aging well?
What are your family wishes as you age?
What important documents do you need to gather?
What financial issues and opportunities will you have?
How would you like your life to be remembered?
What resources are available?

Bring your experiences and hopes you have as you age and join in this important conversation. 
Bring your coffee and snacks along, too.
We look forward to having you join us in these important conversations.

Updates Beginning 9 February 2025

Today: Adult Faith Development will be led by seminarian Hannah Peterson.  She will lead a Community Cares Project which will look at Loneliness from an individual experiential level to a broader community engagement level. Bring your coffee and join us in the conference room for this timely topic.  We begin at 11:15 and end at 12:15.  We would enjoy having you join us. ~The AFD Team

Today: Love God Love Neighbor will meet at St. Timothy’s 12:30-2:30pm for sack lunch assembling for our neighbors in need. ~Pr. Koppel

Pastor Koppel is now a Co-Dean for the Northern New Mexico Conference! She and Pr. Kate Schlechter have been voted in as co-deans for three-year terms. The co-deans’ responsibilities include:

• Advocacy for ELCA identity and mission

• Communication between the Office of Bishop and the Conference

• Coordination of and participation in regular meetings of the Conference

• Attend meetings between the Office of Bishop and the Conference

• Promote avenues of collaboration between congregations and leaders within the Conference

• Facilitation of congregations in transition including welcomes and farewells to rostered leaders entering and leaving the Conference

• Connection with rostered leaders to facilitate pastoral care as an extension of the synod’s care and concern in times of challenge or difficulty.

As RMS Bishop Meghan Johnston Aelabouni notes, “I appreciate your support and prayers in support of this important ministry. Together, with other Conferences and congregations in the Rocky Mountain Synod, we are blessed to be the hands, feet, and voice of Christ in the world, and I am grateful for your partnership in our ministry together.” ~Deborah Ash

Adopted Families: A counselor from Albuquerque Community Safety called St. Paul looking for help for a client. It was for a mother who recently had her teenage child pass away. The mother had difficulty keeping up with the usual bills because of the additional expenses related to the tragedy. The counselor had gotten help for some of the bills but was having trouble finding help for the gas bill. The counselor added his warm and hearty thanks to that of the family when we paid the nearly $270 that was owed.
Kay Schoenefeld, Coordinator

God’s Work Our Hands: Join us for the Luther House Meal Train Thursday, February 20th. We will be putting together the main dishes to take over hot that afternoon. If you are interested in supplying salads, fruit or desserts, please let us know. Or just come and be a part of a wonderful evening of fellowship and Bible study with Rev. Rhonda Newby-Torres and the students! Our February God’s Work Our Hands project will be putting together hygiene kits for HopeWorks on  February 23rd after worship. Please come be a part of that process in Fellowship Hall. If you would like to donate to help us fill in any gaps, please indicate on your check “Feb GWOH Project.” Thanks! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Update on Exterior Office Door. We are still waiting on an installation date, hopefully this week. Thanks for everyone’s patience! ~Deborah Ash

Food Donations for The Storehouse. Food is always needed during the winter. Whenever you go shopping, please pick up an item or two of non-perishable foods for the barrels at church.  Pet food is also needed. Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

From Local Partner Organizations

Contact iusti Remer-Thamert for more information: 505-307-2218.

Hello Albuquerque,

As we move forward into this busy new year, I hope you can take time to reflect on what makes Albuquerque such a unique and resilient place. This week, we reaffirmed our commitment as an immigrant-friendly city. We believe everyone in our city should be able to report crimes and take their kids to school, church, or the hospital without fear of having their family torn apart. APD officers will continue to arrest violent and repeat offenders–regardless of immigration status. We won’t turn our local police into immigration agents or target people because of their status or skin color. If you or someone you know is facing difficulties or has questions about your rights, our Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) has resources available online at cabq.gov/OIRA.
          We’ve had cold January weather too, but we continue providing shelter, transportation, and resources to our unsheltered community. We have a warm bed ready for anyone who needs one. Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) continues to operate its after-hours transportation service. Between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m., the public can call (505) 418-6178 to request transportation to shelter. ACS is also expanding its responder training, ensuring our teams are equipped to handle the evolving needs of our city.
          During the 2025 New Mexico Legislative Session, we are prioritizing the issues that matter most to Albuquerque families: public safety, housing, and homelessness. Our capital priorities include funding for emergency vehicles, advanced crime-fighting technology, and fire station improvements to keep our community safe. We’re also advocating for expanded housing solutions, including more overnight beds in the Gateway Network, and micro-communities to combat homelessness. These initiatives are critical to building a safer, more stable Albuquerque for all residents.
          Looking ahead, our city continues breaking through on our biggest projects, investing in our people, and strengthening our community to make Albuquerque a better place to live, work, and grow. Let’s keep working together to build a stronger community.

Stay warm and stay safe,
Mayor Tim Keller

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

2025 Issue Briefing & Bishop's Luncheon

Registration is open for the 2025 Issue Briefing and Bishop's Luncheon that will be held on Thursday, February 20th! We are pleased that First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe, a long-time member of our advocating congregation program, will return as host for the morning Issue Briefing. And, after a one-year hiatus, we will return to the La Fonda Hotel for the Bishop's Luncheon.

This will be the first year for our new Bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod, the Rev. Meghan Johnston Aelabouni. Bishop Johnson Aelabouni was elected last spring and began her service on July 1, 2024. We hope you will join us in offering a warm welcome to the Bishop as she hosts her first Bishop's Luncheon.

The registration cost per person remains the same as last year at $40 per person. However, on February 17th, it will increase to $45 per person. Please register and buy your tickets at: www.lutheranadvocacynm.org/. (Please note, this is not a fund-raiser as the registration charge covers only the anticipated cost for the luncheon.)

Kurt Rager
Director, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - New Mexico

Schedule

8:30 a.m. - 9:15 Check-in, refreshments & fellowship at First Presbyterian (208 Grant Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501)
9:15 a.m. Welcome and Opening Devotion
9:30 a.m. Guest Speakers
10:45 a.m. Break
11:00 a.m. Bishop Rev. Meghan Johnston Aelabouni
11:15 a.m. Advocacy Agenda and Issue Briefing
Noon-12:15 p.m. Transition to La Fonda Hotel (100 E San Francisco St, Santa Fe, NM 87501)
12:30 p.m. Bishop's Luncheon Begins
2:00 p.m. Lunch concludes

From RMS AMMPARO: Faith Org/Leader Statement of Support for Refugee Resettlement (Deadline 2/13). The Interfaith Immigration Coalition (https://www.interfaithimmigration.org/) invites faith-based organizations and faith leaders to sign onto this letter urging the Trump Administration to resume refugee resettlement and restore humanitarian assistance to recently arrived refugees. 
          Why sign: Resuming refugee resettlement responds to core faith values and aligns with U.S. interests to promote peace and stability in the world. The “Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program” executive order from Jan. 20, 2025, abruptly suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), pending review every 90 days. Soon after, on Jan. 24, the State Department issued a notice responding to the “Executive Order on Review of Foreign Assistance” which immediately began disrupting core services to recently admitted refugees and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders . Faith communities have a long legacy of supporting this work and it comes from core understandings of faith teachings. If you have questions, please contact Giovana Oaxaca, giovana.oaxaca@elca.org. Sign here: https://forms.gle/y6vaTJh4yof93stz7

Friends in faith,

As many of you have seen, Lutheran service providers were attacked on social media over the weekend—with high-profile accounts making derogatory comments about our services and spreading lies about our work of welcome.
Global Refuge condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the false accusations lodged against our humanitarian work. Rooted in our proud Lutheran heritage, Global Refuge and our dedicated network of providers stand ready to continue our work of welcoming families who need to resettle in our country, helping ensure they learn our language, secure jobs that help our economy grow, and quickly become vital contributors to communities. To do otherwise would run contrary to the spirit of our Christian faith, America’s identity as a nation of immigrants, and our role as a global humanitarian leader. (Read our full statement: https://lirs.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1ba26e3c84448d9ea4814c790&id=c76e9ced9f&e=2f360c0226)
Proving that every cloud has a silver lining, we have been heartened by the response of Lutheran and other faith communities who support our work and our Biblical call to welcome the stranger. We know that many members of our community are fired up and ready to defend the work of Global Refuge and other Lutheran organizations that do so much good in their communities. That’s why we’d like to invite you to harness that energy and invite your congregations to take action today.
Our call to welcome transcends politics and policy—we are doing everything we can to support our newest neighbors. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions, and we’ll be in touch with more opportunities as they arise. Visit: https://www.globalrefuge.org/

In solidarity,
Deacon Sarah Kretschmann
Congregational Engagement Specialist 

Dear Friend,

I write to you with a heavy heart. You’re aware of the recent executive orders and other directives that are impacting many of the hunger, poverty, and malnutrition policies and programs that Bread for the World has supported over the last five decades.
While adjustments are common with administration changes, and standard reviews of government programs are healthy, the immediate foreign assistance pause and sudden restructuring of USAID will significantly set back global hunger. I fear that much of the progress that Bread and our partners have made – which had already been halted by COVID, climate, conflict, and costs – may be impacted for generations to come.
The Secretary of State’s waiver for emergency food assistance gives us some hope. We are also grateful that some of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is exempted, too, allowing critical HIV medicine to proceed and prevent people dying from losing access to treatments (20 million HIV-positive people depend on PEPFAR).
But the impacts of the pause and work stop order are devastating. Maternal and child nutrition programs, therapeutic feeding centers, and programs for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers that are not covered under the waiver are being closed. The impacts of this are dire for, as an example, the 4.5 million children under the age of five who are facing acute malnutrition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
          The U.S. has established itself as a leader in development assistance, and the sudden absence of our investments will not only affect people’s ability to feed their families today – it will have long-term impacts. When two-thirds of the staff for the President’s Malaria Initiative were laid off, one said: “You could open the funding floodgates again tomorrow and you will still have children dying months from now because of this pause.”
          As a non-partisan organization, Bread has built strong relationships on both sides of the aisle. Being nonpartisan does not mean we remain silent when we believe certain actions are antithetical to our faith and our mission. We strive to embody a healthy political presence that emanates from our faith. One of our organizational commitments is to value courage and prophetic voice. In a spirit of wisdom and love, we intend to be bold in articulating and pursuing our vision of a world without hunger.
          To that end, Bread is doing everything we can to gather information, advocate directly to Congress, collaborate with partners to share news and impacts, and organize to raise voices of faith. We are committed to responding with reason, strength, and moral conviction. You can read Bread’s press release: “Bread for the World Urges End to the Pause on Foreign Aid”, and I’m quoted in these pieces from Devex and Food Tank.
          Bread is also moving forward with our 2025 advocacy campaign, Nourish our Future, which focuses on WIC, the Child Tax Credit, and global nutrition. I hope you will join the launch event tonight, February 4, beginning at 6:55 p.m. ET. Many people have reached out to ask what Bread members can do right now, and the truth is that continuing with this campaign is one of the best things we can do. In fact, there’s never been a more important time to organize and advocate for nutrition.
          For every $1 invested in addressing undernutrition, countries see $23 in returns. Fully funding proven nutrition programs is powerfully efficient and effective.
          Now more than ever, it is important that our congressional representatives hear voices advocating for the protection of nutrition programs. Please reach out to your elected officials and share this action alert with your circle.
          Please also consider a financial gift that will allow us to expand our advocacy, analysis, and organizing to fund domestic and international nutrition programs.
          Finally, please join us in prayer. While some may scoff, prayer, in itself, is action but let’s be sure that we put feet, hands, and advocacy to our prayers as well.

With hope,
Rev. Eugene Cho
President and CEO
bread.org

Lutheran World Relief’s 2025 Hunger Challenge to Save Lives. The goal is to raise $250,000 by February 28 to rush emergency food to your neighbors who need it most. LWR saves and improves lives in the poorest parts of the world. We will persist until your love reaches every neighbor.  Give at: https://lwr.org/

Updates Beginning 2 February 2025

Today: Adult Faith Development will discuss an article found in “Living Lutheran”, the magazine of the ELCA, about faith in these difficult times and how each of us, individually, live out our faith.  One prompt is “What was the most impactful way you connected with your faith this past year?”  You are invited to join us in the conference room after worship today.  Bring your refreshments along and participate in the conversation. ~The AFD Team

Adopted Families: A single woman in her sixties called St. Paul looking for help with her bills. She had lost her job in December and was very actively looking for another job. She said she had been doing OK and it was hard to ask for help. We were able to pay the nearly $250 she owed the gas company. She was very grateful and thanked me several times. So I want to pass that thanks along to you - there is no end to the need out there. Kay Schoenefeld, Coordinator

Next Sunday:

Pastoral Messages from the Bishops of ELCA and RMS are posted in the Welcome Center and several sets of them are available. ~Deborah Ash

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

God’s Work Our Hands: Our January Luther House Meal Train has moved to Thursday, February 20th. We will be putting together the main dishes to take over hot that afternoon. If you are interested in supplying salads, fruit or desserts, please let us know. Or just come and be a part of a wonderful evening of fellowship and Bible study with Rev. Rhonda Newby-Torres and the students! Our February God’s Work Our Hands project will be putting together hygiene kits for HopeWorks on  February 23rd after worship. We already have plenty of supplies on hand so please come be a part of that process in Fellowship Hall. If you would like to donate to help us fill in any gaps (need more razors, etc.) please indicate on your check “Feb GWOH Project.” Thanks! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Update on Exterior Office Door. The new door is in and we are looking at installation later this week (still waiting on scheduling). ~Deborah Ash

Food Donations for The Storehouse. Food is always needed during the winter. Whenever you go shopping, please pick up an item or two of non-perishable foods for the barrels at church.  Pet food is also needed. Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

From Local Partner Organizations

From Coro Lux:

Tickets at: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/corolux/1524289?

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

A Message from Bishop Meghan

Dear friends,

Last weekend in worship, many of us heard a reading from 1 Corinthians about Paul’s metaphor of the body of Christ: a unified body of diverse members with different gifts and roles, all important, intended to work in mutuality and harmony. This image of human community, both within the church and in general, is simple and profound—yet seems impossible in practice! Still, I return to it again and again, as I ask the question: how am I, and how are we, called to be and to live in these times? An answer: we are called as a body to live in community, in love and care for one another.
          Paul wrote of the body, “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it” (1 Cor. 12:26). I am mindful of this call this week as we hear news about a tragic loss of life in the plane and helicopter crash in Washington, D.C.; as ministries and programs of support for immigrants and refugees receive “stop work” orders that withhold funding; as people of color, LGBTQIA+ people, disabled people, and others receive news of a concerted effort to dismantle work that educates and advocates for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; as grief and anxiety overwhelm so many, from a global scale to a personal one: in our families, among our loved ones and neighbors. Can we be bold in Christ to proclaim that where one member suffers, we all suffer?
          At the same time, God remains present and active in ways that invite us to rejoice! Last week, seven lay members of St. Paul, Calhan (CO) were commissioned as synodically authorized ministers to preach, preside, and offer pastoral care and leadership as a team in their congregation—only one example of many places where God is “doing a new thing” in our church. Congregations and ministries are welcoming new rostered ministers, working on call processes, having Spirit-led discernment conversations about your futures, and continuing to faithfully love and serve God and your neighbors through worship, service, and community. So many in the Rocky Mountain Synod, by the grace of God, are choosing mercy, kindness, justice, and hope, in ways big and small. Can we be bold in Christ to proclaim that where one member rejoices, we all rejoice?
I know, too, that many of us likely feel in-between: perhaps not suffering, perhaps not rejoicing, but wondering—worrying—questioning—waiting. In this, too, the spirit of Paul’s words applies. And it is worth saying that people don’t fit absolutely into these or any categories of experience. Sometimes suffering and joy coexist. Sometimes we are able to give help and support, and sometimes we need to receive it. The body of Christ also exists for that reason: to allow for the ebbs and flows of human life and need.
          Dear RMS community, my prayer this week is that God’s grace continues to renew and sustain the body of Christ: for all that we face and all that we strive for; for all who suffer and all who rejoice; for our calling and purpose as Jesus’ body in the world for such a time as this. May you know that God is with you, God is with us, and God is with our neighbors. And may the church continue to be re-formed into the body we were meant to be: a body that truly makes God’s presence and love known.

In Christ,
Bishop Meghan

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM: Week Two of the Legislative Session.

Dear Partners in Advocacy,

As I am sure you are aware, President Trump issued a flurry of Executive Orders within hours of his inauguration. A number directly impact immigrants - those seeking asylum, migrant workers, and other undocumented people living within our nation's borders. The Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Elizabeth Eaton, has issued a statement regarding these immigration orders this week. I invite you to read that statement at elca.org.

"God calls us to welcome the stranger and love the sojourner as we love ourselves. I pray for God’s grace to increase understanding of and mercy toward immigrants in these days."

 These developments make this Monday, February 3rd, all the more important. Monday marks the Immigrants and Workers' Day of Action. I hope you will join me and others from many organizations, including LAM-NM, as we learn, march, rally, and advocate on the issues with our legislators. A key component of that day includes advocacy for the Immigrant Safety Act. There will be more work as well, concerning the Border Servant Corps, so please stay tuned!
          I am aware of other statements and information put out by our denominational partners. For the many non-Lutherans engaged in our ministry, I encourage you to follow those as well from your specific denomination.
          Turning from immigration to hunger, I want to highlight another important event that takes place in early February. Bread for the World was started 50 years ago by Lutheran Pastor, Art Simon, and is now led by the Rev. Eugene Cho. Bread focuses on both hunger in the U.S. but also hunger around the world. Indeed, I know many of you have supported Bread for the World letter campaigns in your congregations. Bread is now launching a new initiative, Nourish Our Future. I encourage you to join an upcoming webinar if you would like to support this new advocacy effort. The webinar takes place on February 4th, beginning at 5 pm MT. Register at: https://www.bread.org/.
          A highlight of this past week was the Paid Medical Family Leave Day. There was a great turnout from many organizations and individuals supporting the passage of PMFL legislation this year and participants visited legislator's offices and held a rally in the Rotunda.
          As we move through the coming weeks I look forward to your support through awareness, direct participation, and in your prayers. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you need more information or have any questions about our work during the 2025 session.

Kurt Rager
Director, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - New Mexico

2025 Issue Briefing & Bishop's Luncheon

Registration is open for the 2025 Issue Briefing and Bishop's Luncheon that will be held on Thursday, February 20th! We are pleased that First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe, a long-time member of our advocating congregation program, will return as host for the morning Issue Briefing. And, after a one-year hiatus, we will return to the La Fonda Hotel for the Bishop's Luncheon.
This will be the first year for our new Bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod, the Rev. Meghan Johnston Aelabouni. Bishop Johnson Aelabouni was elected last spring and began her service on July 1, 2024. We hope you will join us in offering a warm welcome to the Bishop as she hosts her first Bishop's Luncheon.
The registration cost per person remains the same as last year at $40 per person. However, on February 17th, it will increase to $45 per person. Please register and buy your tickets at: www.lutheranadvocacynm.org/. (Please note, this is not a fund-raiser as the registration charge covers only the anticipated cost for the luncheon.)

Schedule

8:30 a.m. - 9:15 Check-in, refreshments & fellowship at First Presbyterian (208 Grant Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501)
9:15 a.m. Welcome and Opening Devotion
9:30 a.m. Guest Speakers
10:45 a.m. Break
11:00 a.m. Bishop Rev. Meghan Johnston Aelabouni
11:15 a.m. Advocacy Agenda and Issue Briefing
Noon-12:15 p.m. Transition to La Fonda Hotel (100 E San Francisco St, Santa Fe, NM 87501)
12:30 p.m. Bishop's Luncheon Begins
 2:00 p.m. Lunch concludes

 This Wednesday:

Register at: https://www.lutheranadvocacypa.org/event/voices-of-faith-in-climate-action-cop29-and-beyond/

Lutheran World Relief Rushing Aid to California. Thank you to all who responded quickly and generously! Quilts and kits are on the way, and hot meals and other emergency supplies are being distributed to our neighbors affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. Additional aid, including grants to support local recovery efforts, is also in progress. Learn more at: https://lwr.org/news.

Urgent Update for Faith Partners from Global Refuge:

Dear faith partners,

Though I’ve written the words “faith partner” many times before today, I’ve never felt the weight of that word “partner” in this context as heavily as I did just now. Dear partners…it is good to be writing you in these challenging days. We need you.
As many of you now know, this past Friday, Global Refuge received a stop-work order from the government calling for us to immediately stop serving the nearly 6,000 newly arrived refugees in our care. This stop-work order means that government funding that provides food, housing, education, job placement, healthcare, and basic needs has come to an immediate halt. These children and families fled war, violence, or persecution and came to the United States lawfully through the official U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. They arrived with little more than the clothes on their backs and now the support they rely on—the support they’d been promised—is being pulled out from under them. Food. Housing. Schooling. Healthcare. All stopped.
          With this abrupt and unprecedented cutoff of federal funding, we must now rely solely on the generosity of private donors and supporters to fill in the gaps. We must stand with these families to let them know that when promised protections for them fail, communities like ours rise. It is possible to continue supporting a number of these 6,000 refugee clients if we receive enough support to offset the cuts from the government. Please consider supporting and helping to spread the word.
          Lastly, with places of worship, schools and hospitals no longer being considered protected spaces, I want to make sure we share with you the most up-to-date resources we have to help your communities feel safe as you continue to welcome your neighbor.

• Support Refugees with a Gift –— If you or communities you’re connected with are willing to support financially, please use/share this link: www.globalrefuge.org

• Write your Representative — Ask representatives to pull back on this ban on supporting refugees.

• Learn more and Advocate — Explore resources with more information about executive orders and accompanying actions.

• Know Your Rights - Our partners at AMMPARO have a great resource for communities to read about their rights and those of immigrants in their care.

No matter what shape it takes, we are grateful for your support and solidarity. Global Refuge has been doing this work for 85 years, and it's thanks to partners like you that we’re able to be agile with grand changes like this. We can do this.

Thank you for your partnership,
Pastor Dan Beirne, Director for Mobilization & Faith Relations

Updates Beginning 26 January 2025

Today: With the recent activities at the southern border, the topic of this Sunday's Adult Faith Development session could not be more critical. Rae van de Motter will join us to talk about Project Dignity, a multi-faith effort to supply crucial aid to people living in trying conditions as they try to claim asylum in the United States. Some members of St. Paul are already involved in the project, and along with Rae, they will describe the work and how you can be involved. It's a gripping story, and we urge you to be present for it. It's this Sunday after the service at 11:15 in the Conference Room. ~The AFD Team

God’s Work Our Hands: Luther House Meal Train is moving to February 20th due to a scheduling conflict. We will be putting together the main dishes to take over hot that afternoon. If you are interested in supplying salads, fruit or desserts, please let us know. Or just come and be a part of a wonderful evening of fellowship and Bible study with Rev. Rhonda Newby-Torres and the students! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

Update on Exterior Office Door. A new door is being fabricated and we are looking at installation in approximately a week. In the interim, please use the doorbell to notify the Office to let you in the front doors. Those with key fobs can enter via the Choir Room door. However, if your fob doesn’t work on that door, let me know so I can update your access. ~Deborah Ash

Food Donations for The Storehouse. Food is always needed during the winter. Whenever you go shopping, please pick up an item or two of non-perishable foods for the barrels at church.  Pet food is also needed. Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews 

From Local Partner Organizations

Today:

From Coro Lux:

Tickets at: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/corolux/1524289?

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

2025 Legislative Session Now Underway (see underlined for event today).
Dear Partners in Advocacy,

Maybe like you, I am still working to make sense of Monday, January 20th. The day when we annually honor the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., and yet, a day also marked by the inauguration of the new President this year. There are possibly no two polar opposite visions for our country and our world community than that represented and celebrated that day.
          One of my favorite statements made by Dr. King comes from his 1963 "Letter from Birmingham Jail" in which he said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - New Mexico was established 41 years ago to respond to housing cuts made by the Reagan administration and quickly moved to focus as well on the staggering issue of poverty and hunger in our state and the myriad of other challenges faced by New Mexicans as a result. At its core, our mission centers on advocating for justice in our state's public policy. I invite and challenge all of you to recommit yourself to this effort, both here in New Mexico, as well as in exercising your voice in Washington. We must remain vigilant.
          The First Session of the 57th Legislature is now underway. The 60-day session will conclude at noon on March 22nd. This "long session" will be fast-paced and intense. At the end of opening day more than 200 bills, joint resolutions, and memorials had been filed. Legislators can continue to introduce legislation through the midpoint of the session, February 20th.
          I hope you will take the time to review a summary of our 2025 Advocacy Agenda [note: posted in the Welcome Center]. Legislative priorities for Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - New Mexico continue to focus on the core areas of addressing hunger and poverty, affordable housing and homelessness, and family-sustaining income, among others. Several legislative priorities include supporting key provisions of the Governor's Food Initiative, the Paid Medical and Family Leave Act, Medicaid for All, fair and just tax policy, the Green Amendment, the creation of an independent redistricting commission, and amendments to the state's constitution to modernize our legislature. I invite you to attend a more extensive review of our agenda and the upcoming session that will take place this Sunday afternoon, January 26th, beginning at 4 p.m. Link to register for Zoom meeting: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSej9-plgtYvnjWYCDyJ4HOeRgDEX8xVWTgCJLL8bbl61XSCbA/viewform
There are a variety of options for you to participate both online and in person during the legislative session. The highlight of the session remains the annual Legislative Issue Briefing and Bishop's Luncheon on February 20th. Please find the registration link below. It takes a lot of volunteer support to pull off these two events and we can use more. If you would like to volunteer please contact Judy Messal at (575) 496-4754 or you can email her at judithmessal@comcast.net.
          In addition, consider joining us on one of our three Lutheran Advocacy Days. This will be an opportunity for you to join us in person at the Roundhouse, to attend committee meetings, visit legislator's offices, and speak out on priority legislation for LAM-NM. [Note: posted in the Welcome Center.]
          As we move through the coming weeks I look forward to your support through awareness, direct participation, and in your prayers. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you need more information or have any questions about our work during the 2025 session. May the peace of Christ be with you,

Kurt Rager
Director, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - New Mexico

Dear Partners in Ministry,

For over the past 50 years ReconcilingWorks has been committed to advocating for the acceptance, full participation, and liberation of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions within the Lutheran Church. We do this holy work in all three expressions in the life of the church - in congregations, synods, and Churchwide.
          Over the past decades of ministry there have been many times when lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, aromatic, plus (LGBTQIA+) people have been put at the center of conversation in the life of the church. 2025 will be no exception and will hold lasting impacts for LGBTQIA+ people and their families in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). As we prepare for this public conversation at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly this summer, ReconcilingWorks wants to remind our LGBTQIA+ siblings that we are here for you.

Your person and your love is made in the fullness of God.

You are named Beloved by God.

Your gifts and call make the Lutheran Church a truer reflection

of the Divine.

ReconcilingWorks will never stop working for the Church to see, name, and celebrate us as such.
          To read the entire letter, including reflections on feedback to the ELCA, go to our website: https://www.reconcilingworks.org/pastoral-letter-from-reconcilingworks-board-of-directors/. With gratitude to be doing ministry with you,

ReconcilingWorks Board of Directors           

Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) is coordinating with the Southwest California Synod, Pacifica Synod and other partners to assess the needs of people impacted by the wildfires and will work  with them to provide for immediate needs and long-term recovery amid the widespread destruction. Find more information, prayer resources, and ways to donate to LDR efforts at https://www.elca.org/our-work/relief-and-development/lutheran-disaster-response/our-impact/us-wildfires. Gifts to "U.S. Wildfires" will be used in full (100%) to assist those affected by wildfires until the response is complete.

Lutheran World Relief’s emergency response team reports that requests for support are growing by the hour. Each day that passes leaves more homes in ashes, more evacuations and more people in danger in California. The destruction and need are overwhelming — and only getting worse. For those most in need, donations help provide:

• hot meals, essential household supplies and support for transportation costs, so they can travel out of harm's way.

• You help deliver LWR Quilts and Kits to our partners in and around Los Angeles, so they can provide comfort for evacuees and families who have lost their homes.

• You make the long road to recovery and rebuilding possible.

To our neighbors affected by the wildfires, we continue to surround you with love, prayers and support. Give at: https://lwr.org/

Bread for the World’s Campaign Launch. The new campaign focused on child hunger—Nourish Our Future—launches online Tuesday, February 4, at 7:00 p.m. ET. Bread staff and advocates in the Washington, D.C., area will gather in-person, along with hundreds of advocates participating online. Bread’s president and CEO, Rev. Eugene Cho, will share an inspiring word. Leaders who have helped shape the campaign, including college students and international partners, will discuss the Nourish Our Future priorities and why they matter to them.  Register at: https://www.bread.org/.

Updates Beginning 19 January 2025

Today: Jimmy Carter was the first President to call himself a “born again Christian.” The press often referred to him as a “progressive evangelical.” We’ll look at some key incidents in Carter’s life, then at what sense to we are to make of the phrase “born again.” Is coming to faith an act of our own free will or something God does for us? As to being a progressive evangelical, is there such a thing? What does the word evangelical even mean, and can we call ourselves evangelicals in today’s world? Come and explore this fascinating man as we seek to understand our faith in today’s world. Come to the Conference Room at 11:15! ~The AFD Team

Tomorrow on the Labyrinth: Labyrinth Walk,10am-Noon, January 20th.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"
-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Feeling a bit frustrated with upcoming events? It is more essential than ever that we focus on community in this time of division in our nation. Join us as we contemplate and pray together. In partnership with First UCC ABQ, led by Emmy Mullennix, M.Div., their Discernment Minister. ~Pr. Koppel

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank you to all who showed up to help decorate the Sanctuary for Advent and Christmas! Our worship space looked beautiful and we could not have done it without you! De-decking the hall is never as fun, but you showed up for that too! Your efforts were greatly appreciated! ~Gratefully, Jan Bowers, for your Worship and Music team and your Visual Choir team

Great News from Rijasoa Andriamanana!
Dear St. Paul family,
I hope you are all doing well. I wish everyone a happy new year full of good health, joy, and success under God's grace. I would like to inform you that I received a fellowship at a university in Pittsburgh.  It is for the Spring 2025 and involves doing some research and guest lectures. I will be accompanied by Kikao as housing is also provided. We will go back to Madagascar in June to resume our different activities: teaching college courses, training teachers, and doing the Girls Camp. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continuous care and support in many ways.

I look forward to seeing you again!
Peace and love,
Rijasoa

Food Donations for The Storehouse. Food is always needed during the winter. Whenever you go shopping, please pick up an item or two of non-perishable foods for the barrels at church.  Pet food is also needed. Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

God’s Work Our Hands in January: Luther House Meal Train on Thursday, 30 January at 5pm. We had such a great time sharing fellowship and Bible study at the start of Advent, we are doing it again! We will be putting together the main dishes to take over hot that afternoon. If you are interested in supplying salads, fruit or desserts, please let us know. Or just come and be a part of a wonderful evening with Rev. Rhonda Newby-Torres and the students! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Update on Exterior Office Door. A new door is being fabricated and we will be looking at installation in approximately 2 weeks. In the interim, please use the doorbell to notify the Office to let you in the front doors. Those with key fobs can enter via the Choir Room door. However, if your fob doesn’t work on that door, please let me know so I can add it to your access. Since the break in, we have been blessed with outstanding assistance from the police, the K-9 unit, and multiple vendors/friends who graciously jumped in to assist us! It does take a village. ~Deborah Ash

From Local Partner Organizations

From ABQ JVP, Today:

This weekend:

Church Women United Retreat Next Saturday at St. Paul: Church Women United, an ecumenical Christian women’s group, will meet for a mini-retreat on Saturday morning, January 25th.  St. Paul will be hosting the retreat in our Fellowship Hall from 9am to Noon. All women of St. Paul are invited to attend.
The morning will begin at 9am with sign-in, a light breakfast and conversation. The theme is Women in the Old Testament Who Manage a Way When There is No Way. The Rev. Dr. Nancy Bowen will be leading the retreat which will begin at 9:30. She is Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Earlham School of Religion and also an ordained United Methodist minister. Time will be spent reflecting on some of Nancy’s favorite stories of women in the Old Testament.
          Here at St. Paul, we will need help setting up the tables and chairs this Friday morning at 8am and taking them down after the retreat. We will need help before and after the retreat serving and cleaning up the kitchen. Also we will be serving quiches, cinnamon rolls, sweet breads, fresh fruit and any other sweet breakfast items you would be able to bring. If you can help, please contact me at sharonh0223@yahoo.com and let me know what you can bring or if you can help in the kitchen, etc. ~Sharon Hamilton

Next Sunday:

From Coro Lux: Sign Me Up!, a celebration of African American Sacred Music. Choral Workshop and Concert, on Saturday, February 9, United Church of Santa Fe. Nationally-known Composer and Conductor Brandon Boyd leads the 7th Annual FebFest Choral Workshop celebrating African American sacred music Saturday, Feb. 8 at United Church of Santa Fe. The all-day Choral Workshop also includes sessions with Soprano Amy Owens and KUNM’s “Train to Glory” host Cecilia Webb, and concludes with a free 4:00 pm concert. (The concert’s freewill offering benefits the new Santa Fe Symphony Children’s and Youth Choirs and UNM’s Gospel Choir “Fervent Praise.” Jointly sponsored by United Church and Albuquerque’s Coro Lux, the Saturday workshop is open to all singers (no audition needed) and is offered both in-person and online. For info or to register, please contact Rev. Talitha Arnold (505-988-3295) or Music Director Bradley Ellingboe (ellingboe@abqcorolux.org), or go to abqcorolux.org.

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

This Tuesday: The National Day of Racial Healing is being celebrated by the ELCA on January 21, 10am-2pm CST. We are thrilled to be partners in this important online event as we work towards building a community, church, and world that celebrates all of its children without caveats or exceptions.
Hosted by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), the National Day of Racial Healing builds on the work of the Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation community partners, who champion the knowledge that to have racial equity, one must first have racial healing. 
The ELCA is focusing its day in two areas: raising awareness of the need for racial healing and inspiring collective action to build common ground for a more just and equitable ELCA and world. The day will feature presentations and panels that center the voices of ELCA leaders of color. 
This free event is open to ELCA rostered ministers, lay leaders and members of all ELCA synods, congregations, colleges, universities, seminaries, separately incorporated ministries and antiracism teams, as well as the church's affiliate organizations and ecumenical and inter-religious partners.  To register: https://www.elca.org/our-work/publicly-engaged-church/racial-justice-ministries/national-day-of-racial-healing

A Message from Bishop Meghan:

Dear friends in Christ,
Two Sundays ago, I worshiped with the people of Union Church in San Juan, Puerto Rico as part of the ELCA Bishops’ Academy, a continuing education event that introduced us to the rich history, theological contributions, ongoing ministries, and diverse cultures of Puerto Rican Lutherans and their neighbors. January 5 was Domingo de los tres Reyes Magos (Three Kings’/Magi Sunday), a joyful Epiphany celebration with deep significance for Christians in Puerto Rico who honor the tradition of the magi and share gifts with others. Less than a week later, Gabi and I were at lunch with Bishop Brenda Bos from the Southwest California Synod and her wife, Janis, when they received news that their house in Altadena had been destroyed in the Los Angeles wildfires, along with the homes and businesses of so many of their neighbors. Bereft of any wise words or useful gifts to share, we offered what we could: presence, prayers, and love (and chocolate).
          Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. (1 John 4:7) In this new year, the call to love sounds out again in the midst of wildfires and storms, grief and change, and joys and celebrations too. Love can be both the simplest and the most difficult thing to find, express, or receive. Yet we have the promise that “love is from God,” and “God is love.” May this love sustain and strengthen all of us and our neighbors in this season—and let us love one another, in word and deed.
In love,
Bishop Meghan

Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) is coordinating with the Southwest California Synod, Pacifica Synod and other partners to assess the needs of people impacted by the wildfires and will work with them to provide for immediate needs and long-term recovery amid the widespread destruction. Find more information, prayer resources, and ways to donate to LDR efforts at https://www.elca.org/our-work/relief-and-development/lutheran-disaster-response/our-impact/us-wildfires. Gifts to "U.S. Wildfires" will be used in full (100%) to assist those affected by wildfires until the response is complete.

Lutheran World Relief’s emergency response team reports that requests for support are growing by the hour. Each day that passes leaves more homes in ashes, more evacuations and more people in danger in California. The destruction and need are overwhelming — and only getting worse. For those most in need, donations help provide:

• hot meals, essential household supplies and support for transportation costs, so they can travel out of harm's way.

• You help deliver LWR Quilts and Kits to our partners in and around Los Angeles, so they can provide comfort for evacuees and families who have lost their homes.

• You make the long road to recovery and rebuilding possible.

To our neighbors affected by the wildfires, we continue to surround you with love, prayers and support. Give at: https://lwr.org/

Invitation to Nominate Students for Lutheran Summer Music 2025. Young musicians from across the country are headed to Valparaiso University this year for the 2025 Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival (LSM). Students in grades 8-12 will be immersed in a supportive community that nurtures their musical growth, and welcomes them to share their musical gifts in performance and in worship. You are invited to nominate students from your congregation!
          Standard Enrollment is offered now through March 1. Now is the perfect time to nominate students so their families can directly receive information about this opportunity. Do you know young musicians who would thrive at LSM? Nominate them today! https://www.lsmacademy.org/nominate

Kick off a new year of faithful advocacy with Bread for the World by signing the Nourish Our Future petition, calling on Congress to end childhood hunger! This campaign, which Bread is launching next month, champions essential nutrition programs for children, young adults, and families. As the 119th U.S. Congress begins, now is the time to recommit ourselves to the work of building relationships across party lines and speaking out boldly to our political leaders.  Sign the petition: https://www.bread.org/

Updates Beginning 12 January 2025

Today: Adult Faith Development will continue our discussion of Life After Doom. Last week we heard a presentation from Brian McLaren about his new book by that name, and this Sunday we will consider how his perspective might change the way we live going forward. Whether or not you were there for the presentation, we think the discussion may be of interest. Join us after the service at 11:15 in the Conference Room. Everyone is welcome! ~The AFD Team

Adopted Families: Thanks to your generous donations I was able to pay over $165 for bus tickets for two clients from Healthcare for the Homeless, and then also help a woman with $500 toward her rent. The clients from Healthcare for the Homeless needed to travel out of state: one is homeless and has relatives in a warmer climate where he can go and sleep indoors in a bed for the winter; the other came here for a funeral and needed to get back to where he will be entering a sober living facility. The clients' advocate told me again how much she appreciates our help - it really makes a big difference in the clients' lives.
The husband of the woman we helped had helped us with the moving of some furniture in the past. Just before Christmas the woman's husband had a heart attack and passed away. The woman works but had taken some time off to be with her husband in the hospital and didn't have enough money to pay the rent. She is now dealing with the aftermath and reality of her loss. Thank you for having a hand in helping these folks. ~Kay Schoenefeld, Coordinator

God’s Work Our Hands in January: Luther House Meal Train on Thursday, 30 January at 5pm. We had such a great time sharing fellowship and Bible study at the start of Advent, we are doing it again! We will be putting together the main dishes to take over hot that afternoon. If you are interested in supplying salads, fruit or desserts, please let us know. Or just come and be a part of a wonderful evening with Rev. Rhonda Newby-Torres and the students! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Food Donations for The Storehouse. Food is always needed during the winter. Whenever you go shopping, please pick up an item or two of non-perishable foods for the barrels at church.  Pet food is also needed. Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

Update on Exterior Office Door. A new door is being fabricated and we will be looking at installation in approximately 3 weeks. In the interim, please use the doorbell to notify the Office to let you in the front doors. Those with key fobs can enter via the Choir Room door. However, if your fob doesn’t work on that door, please let me know so I can add it to your access. Since the break in, we have been blessed with outstanding assistance from the police, the K-9 unit, and multiple vendors/friends who graciously jumped in to assist us! It does take a village. ~Deborah Ash

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

From Local Partner Organizations

Today at 3pm: John Garlisch Organ Program, St Luke Lutheran Church, 9100 Menaul NE, 87112. Works by Krebs, Dupre, Buxtehude, Frahm, Heron, Pepping, and Bach.

Tomorrow:

This week, January 15th 1:00-2:30: ABQ Police’s Nob Hill – University Public Safety ECHO focuses on cases and issues in the area but the discussions and presentations benefit everyone across the community. Join us to discuss problems and concerns in the area and presentations. Register at: https://cabq.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gISlOiNaRcuLTfgtm6nNGg

From Coro Lux: Sign Me Up!, a celebration of African American Sacred Music. Choral Workshop and Concert, on Saturday, February 9, United Church of Santa Fe. Nationally-known Composer and Conductor Brandon Boyd leads the 7th Annual FebFest Choral Workshop celebrating African American sacred music Saturday, Feb. 8 at United Church of Santa Fe. The all-day Choral Workshop also includes sessions with Soprano Amy Owens and KUNM’s “Train to Glory” host Cecilia Webb, and concludes with a free 4:00 pm concert. (The concert’s freewill offering benefits the new Santa Fe Symphony Children’s and Youth Choirs and UNM’s Gospel Choir “Fervent Praise.” Jointly sponsored by United Church and Albuquerque’s Coro Lux, the Saturday workshop is open to all singers (no audition needed) and is offered both in-person and online. For info or to register, please contact Rev. Talitha Arnold (505-988-3295) or Music Director Bradley Ellingboe (ellingboe@abqcorolux.org), or go to abqcorolux.org.

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

The National Day of Racial Healing is being celebrated by the ELCA on January 21, 10am-2pm CST. We are thrilled to be partners in this important online event as we work towards building a community, church, and world that celebrates all of its children without caveats or exceptions.
Hosted by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), the National Day of Racial Healing builds on the work of the Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation community partners, who champion the knowledge that to have racial equity, one must first have racial healing. 
The ELCA is focusing its day in two areas: raising awareness of the need for racial healing and inspiring collective action to build common ground for a more just and equitable ELCA and world. The day will feature presentations and panels that center the voices of ELCA leaders of color. 
This free event is open to ELCA rostered ministers, lay leaders and members of all ELCA synods, congregations, colleges, universities, seminaries, separately incorporated ministries and antiracism teams, as well as the church's affiliate organizations and ecumenical and inter-religious partners.  To register: https://www.elca.org/our-work/publicly-engaged-church/racial-justice-ministries/national-day-of-racial-healing

Updates Beginning 5 January 2025

Adult Faith Development begins our new semester today with a video presentation by Brian McLaren on his new book, Life After Doom. McLaren is a writer, speaker, and public theologian, and is dean of the faculty of the Center for Action and Contemplation. In his new book, he considers the multiple crises that face civilization in our time, and the ways we might respond to them. His is a timely and important message for people of faith, and all are welcome to join us in viewing his presentation. We'll be in the Conference Room after the service at 11:15 a.m. ~The AFD Team

Adopted Families: I'd like to give a huge thank you to all who participated in the Adopted Families Christmas effort:

• the three elves (Paula Eglinton, Dana Mullen, and Linda FitzGerald) who stood by the paper tree and oversaw things on Sundays as well as doing lots of work behind the scene to make sure the gifts got to the intended recipients,

• the sewing group who provided 21 quilts that are very much loved and appreciated, and

• the people of St. Paul who generously provided gifts for the members of the eight families that we helped.

Five of the families were recommended to us by a counselor I've known for some time now. When she came to pick up the items for them, she needed two vehicles to fit everything in. ~Kay Schoenefeld, Coordinator

Food Donations for The Storehouse. Food is always needed during the winter. Whenever you go shopping, please pick up an item or two of non-perishable foods for the barrels at church.  Pet food is also needed. Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

A Thank You to St. Paul:

Dear Pr. Koppel, Scholarship Committee and St. Paul Congregation,

I am incredibly grateful to have been chosen as a recipient of a scholarship from St. Paul for this fall academic year. The generous support has significantly reduced the financial burden of my doctoral education. Thank you once again for your generosity and investment in my future!

Sincerely,
Patrick Rabezanany

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

From Local Partner Organizations

Today at St. Paul, 2pm! ABQ Chamber Soloists invites you to start your 2025 with music for flute and strings by Mozart and American composer Andrew Norman, followed by Schumann’s majestic Piano Quintet. With a pre-concert chat at 1:15pm with musical director James Holland in Fellowship Hall. Purchase tickets at the door: $15 adult; $12 senior; $5 student.

New Zoom link:

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

"Faithfulness in our time": a Christmas message from the ELCA bishops and synod vice presidents of Region 2

Dear friends in Christ,

In this Christmas season, we pray that you and your loved ones have found moments of true joy and peace in your celebrations. As the world prepares to greet a new year, we also turn to the days ahead in deep prayer and honest pondering. What will this time bring to our neighbors and communities, to our families and our own lives? What will it mean to be the church and engage in the “work of Christmas” now, in the places where we are?
          As bishops and elected leaders, we represent more than 500 Lutheran congregations and ministries in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. The people of our synods live in cities and small towns, near mountain ranges and ocean tides, in deserts and on prairies. We speak many different languages and carry many different stories; and we are all part of the same body of Christ.
          As members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, we also share a common theological identity, as people who place our faith and trust in the grace offered freely to all people in Jesus Christ by the God who so loved the world that God become incarnate: sharing our humanity, standing in solidarity with the suffering and oppressed on the cross, and defeating all the powers of sin and death in his resurrection. The identity we share influences our approach to the secular world. In the words of the ELCA’s social statement The Church in Society: A Lutheran Perspective, “Social structures and processes combine life-giving and life-destroying dynamics in complex mixtures and in varying degrees. This church, therefore, must unite realism and vision, wisdom and courage, in its social responsibility. It needs constantly to discern when to support and when to confront society’s cultural patterns, values, and powers.”
          As Lutheran followers of Jesus, we are concerned for many of our members and neighbors in our communities, nation, and around the world, who are experiencing a high degree of anxiety in these times, particularly those whose identities put them at risk or make them vulnerable as political targets. Knowing that our church includes people of every political affiliation, still as Christians we are called not simply to “agree to disagree”—but to seek, in faithful discernment, the guidance of the Holy Spirit in loving and serving God and our neighbor according to the example of Jesus. We do this as we gather to hear the Word proclaimed and share in the Sacraments; and we do this as we are sent out in service to use the gifts God has given us for the vocations to which God has called us: in our work, relationships, and communities. In all that we do—in worship and discipleship, in our striving to share and to be good news for our neighbors—we remember that we do not do this to earn or deserve God’s love: it is already abundantly given to us and to all people. In our worst moments, we ask for forgiveness; and in humility we learn that God’s grace remains. In our best moments, we rejoice; and we realize that it was not us alone, but God acting with and through us—grace upon grace.
          As “the work of Christmas begins,” We invite you to join us in participating in the liberating love of God for the world. Whether you are a long-time Lutheran, a first-time wonderer, or somewhere in between, you are welcome: to find life in the grace of God that we receive in the sharing of the Word, the communion table, and the baptismal font; to find belonging in God’s love for you, no matter who or where you are; and to find spaces of spiritual practice and life-giving purpose that can ground you and draw out your gifts for the sake of others.
          Our prayers for all the people of our synods, and for all our neighbors, are that we may come to more fully know, share, and embody the “good news of great joy for all people” that Jesus brings to our world. May this promised good news of justice, peace, and love truly come to all people in our time!

In Christ,

Bishop Deborah Hutterer
Barbara Carl, Vice President
Grand Canyon Synod, ELCA

Bishop Dave Nagler
Jeff Cours, Vice President
Pacifica Synod, ELCA

Bishop Meghan Johnston Aelabouni
Ruth Hoffman, Vice President
Rocky Mountain Synod, ELCA

Bishop Jeff Johnson
Simon Wong, Vice President
Sierra Pacific Synod, ELCA

Bishop Brenda Bos
Lisa Curtis, Vice President
Southwest California Synod, ELCA

Updates Beginning 29 December 2024

Adult Faith Development is taking a vacation today! Please join us next week after worship. ~The AFD Team

St. Paul Youth: One of the ministries that our youth have continued over the years is collecting aluminum can donations from our congregation. The Matthews have supported this ministry by taking and selling the cans to a local recycling facility. $111 was raised this year. Noah and Gabriel Rabezanany, two of our youth, thoughtfully selected the following ELCA Good Gift items from the 2024 Christmas catalogue: 10 chicks; a share of a fish farm; 1 water filter; school supplies for a child; and stock a backpack with food. The order was submitted on Dec. 16th, and the funds raised will be matched by ELCA through their end-of-year campaign.  Thank you to everyone who participates by bringing in aluminum cans for recycling.  We hope to double these efforts in 2025. ~Peggy Burnett

God’s Work Our Hands: Thank you to all who have donated thus far for our December project: Friends Feeding Friends’ First Thursday meal at HopeWorks on 2 January 2025. On your check to St. Paul, please put “FFF January” in the memo line. And stay tuned for info on GWOH in 2025! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Food Donations for The Storehouse. Food is always needed during the winter. Whenever you go shopping, please pick up an item or two of non-perishable foods for The Storehouse barrel at church.  Pet food is also needed. Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

From Local Partner Organizations

ABQ Chamber Soloists invites you to start your 2025 with music for flute and strings by Mozart and American composer Andrew Norman, followed by Schumann’s majestic Piano Quintet. Next Sunday, January 5, 2pm at St. Paul. A pre-concert chat at 1:15pm with musical director James Holland will be held in Fellowship Hall. Tickets: $15 adult; $12 senior; $5 student. Available at the door, or at www.ticketleap.events/events/albuquerque-chamber-soloists.

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

RMS Council approved two-year budget proposal. This week, the RMS Council approved a proposal from Bishop Meghan and Finance Director Jon Johnson to: pilot a two-year budgeting process for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 that would incorporate the input of synod council, finance committee, and voting membership in the presentation of a proposed two-year budget for approval at the 2025 Synod Assembly. This proposal comes out of conversations with rostered and lay leaders and members throughout the synod; our goal is to pilot a process that is more transparent, participatory and proactive. Read more about the rationale, planned timeline and steps, and other details at: https://files.constantcontact.com/bbca2826001/62e8d9ba-5e8c-4e7f-bac1-18b00c613955.pdf (and posted in the Welcome Center).

Lutheran World Relief Winter 2024 Special Report and Bread for the World Progress Against Hunger in 2024 are posted in the Welcome Center.

Updates Beginning 22 December 2024

Today: For Adult Faith Development this Advent season we are using The Weary World Rejoices, by Kate Bowler.  Scripture, conversation, and prayer will lead us through the promises of truth, compassion, restoration, and justice.  Right after worship, grab some refreshments and head to the Conference Room.  We look forward to our time together!  ~ Bob Matthews, Jan Krakow, and Ivan Westergaard, the AFD Team

Today after worship, don’t forget to pick up your biscochito and tamale orders in Fellowship Hall. Thank you for your support! ~The Girl Scouts

St. Paul Youth & ELCA Good Gifts: One of the ministries that our St. Paul Youth has continued over the years is collecting aluminum can donations from our St. Paul congregation.  Bob and Nancy Matthews have supported this ministry by taking and selling the cans to a local recycling facility.  During the 2024 calendar year, $111 was raised.  Noah Rabezanany and Gabriel Rabezanany , two of our youth, thoughtfully selected the following ELCA Good Gift items from the 2024 Christmas ELCA Good Gifts catalog: 10 chicks; a share of a fish farm; 1 water filter; school supplies for a child; and stock a backpack with food. The order was submitted to ELCA on Dec. 16th.  The funds raised will be matched by ELCA through their end-of-year campaign.  Thank you to everyone who participates by bringing in aluminum cans for recycling.  We hope to double these efforts in 2025. ~Peggy Burnett

God’s Work Our Hands: For our December project, we are collecting donations toward Friends Feeding Friends’ First Thursday meal at HopeWorks on 2 January 2025. On your check to St. Paul, please put “FFF January” in the memo line. Thank you! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Food Donations for The Storehouse. Food is always needed during the winter. Whenever you go shopping, please pick up an item or two of non-perishable foods for The Storehouse barrel at church.  Pet food is also needed. Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

A “Thank You” to St. Paul:
Deborah and Nancy, what a blessing Thursday Dinner was! The food was so lovely and it was an honor to have you commune with us. Thank you so much. We enjoyed every minute of it. Advent blessings to you, Rhonda Newby-Torres, Pastor, Luther House UNM & CNM

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

From Local Partner Organizations

This Tuesday:

ABQ Chamber Soloists invites you to start your 2025 with music for flute and strings by Mozart and American composer Andrew Norman, followed by Schumann’s majestic Piano Quintet. Sunday, January 5, 2pm at St. Paul. A pre-concert chat at 1:15pm with musical director James Holland will be held in Fellowship Hall.

W.A. Mozart: Flute Quartet in C major, K. 285b
Andrew Norman: Light Screens
Robert Schumann: Piano Quintet in E-flat major, Op. 44

Featuring: Jesse Tatum, flute; Judith Gordon, piano; Megan Holland, Nicolle Maniaci, violins; Laura Chang, viola; James Holland, cello.

Tickets: $15 adult; $12 senior; $5 student. Available at the door, or at www.ticketleap.events/events/albuquerque-chamber-soloists.

From ABQ FaithWorks Collaborative: Our newcomer friends seeking asylum, our clients who are newly housed, and our neighbors struggling to stay housed.... they are better off with your fellowship. Right now, thankfully, they are preparing holiday meals, wrapping presents, and anticipating the gift of giving and receiving with loved ones. During these longest nights of the year, your part as a giver means that our neighbors can celebrate the light of hope in a welcoming community. Dedicated ABQ FaithWorks volunteer family liaisons continue to support newcomers to find success and belonging here in Albuquerque.
          I need to tell you that we're getting more and more calls from folks facing eviction … panicked that they will be forced out to the streets. All for getting sick and losing hours at work, or having a surprise car repair, or losing their second job. By the end of the year, with your help, we will have provided over 40,000 dollars in rental, utility, and emergency fuel card assistance for nearly 100 neighbors.
          Our programs are now mostly volunteer-fueled but through mutual aid and the generosity of supporters like you we will continue helping neighbors find a safe home in the community of their choosing in 2025. Please donate at: https://www.abqfaithworks.org/. With joyful gratitude, Hannah Albee, Executive Director

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

Blessed Advent and Merry Christmas from Bishop Meghan! Each year, as Advent draws close to Christmas, our northern hemisphere experiences the winter solstice: the shortest day and longest night of the year. It’s a wonderful chance to ponder the holy darkness as a place of reflection, creativity, and new beginnings—and to give thanks for the holy light of Christ that guides us. Some congregations and ministries are hosting “Blue Christmas” or “Longest Night” services as an opportunity for prayer and contemplation for those who are grieving, anxious, or simply wanting a quiet space amid joyful celebrations. Whether or not you are offering or attending a service like this, I’ve been reminded these past few weeks that pain and grief are very present companions to many at the holidays. I’m grateful for the ways the people of this synod continue to surround and support one another and our neighbors with compassion.
          This first Christmas back in the U.S., I’m grateful for the time we will have with family here in Colorado to unplug and unwind a bit from a whirlwind summer and fall. I hope and pray you will find that same opportunity (knowing that for our pastors, deacons, musicians, church office staff, and many others, that opportunity will have to wait until sometime later on in the 12 days of Christmas—maybe by the time the six geese-a-laying arrive?)
          Yet while we celebrate together, my family and I also will be missing family and loved ones in the Holy Land who continue to struggle through times of incredible hardship; and we are thinking of all who live in grief or deep uncertainty during this time. Joy and grief, song and silence, celebration and contemplation… all can, and do, coexist in every season in our lives—as the Apostle Paul reminds us, urging the members of the body of Christ to “rejoice with those who rejoice [and] weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).
          In our office, when our staff returns from some well-deserved vacation on January 2, we will be living in another kind of juxtaposition: the known and unknown of transition. Our synod staffing team will be working to finish the process of calling positions for our office of the bishop staff. This process has brought the gift of significant interest from candidates throughout the synod and discernment discussions with many gifted leaders. From the beginning, our staffing team had the goal of moving forward as quickly as we could while still taking the time to honor the commitment we made to an open hiring process; and the result has been that this process will continue into the new year. 
          In the meantime, the office of the bishop will begin the year short-staffed in some of our areas of ministry; and I ask for your patience and grace. We will endeavor to send out our e-Connections and other synod communications as frequently as we are able. Our transition coaches, along with bridge transition coordinator Pr. Will Johnson, are available for questions related to transition. Our conference deans and synod council members can also serve as great resources and as a point of contact for synod members. And, of course, please continue to reach out to me and to our office with questions and needs. We will do our very best to reply as soon as we’re able. I am grateful for your support in this, as I continue to believe that this discernment process has been faithful in inviting and following the guidance of the Holy Spirit for the sake of our shared ministry together into the future.
          As Advent moves us through the longest night, to the long-awaited arrival of Christmas, may we remember that in this and every time of waiting, anticipation, and unknowing, God has already arrived and is present with us in Jesus. In all that this next year will bring, this is certain: the child born in holy darkness also lights our way. The God who calls us into the future will not leave us, but will accompany us in every moment of joy and every moment of grief—and in every step.

In Christ, Bishop Meghan 

Updates Beginning 15 December 2024

Today: For Adult Faith Development this Advent season we are using The Weary World Rejoices, by Kate Bowler.  Scripture, conversation, and prayer will lead us through the promises of truth, compassion, restoration, and justice.  Right after worship, grab some refreshments and head to the Conference Room.  We look forward to our time together!  ~ Bob Matthews, Jan Krakow, and Ivan Westergaard, the AFD Team

Continuing this Wednesday! Please consider joining us for midweek Advent service at 6pm in the Chapel. We are using the beautiful Holden Evening Prayer and will include reflections as we prepare for the birth of Christ. This will be a time of calm from our crazy world and from the hectic activity of the season. I know that my soul could use some calm and soothing from all the chaos. Hope to see you there! ~Jo Browning, Worship & Music 

Today stop by the Girl Scouts’ table in the Welcome Center to place an order for biscochitos and tamales! Delivery will be at church next Sunday, 22 December. ~Francesca Apodaca, Troop Leader

Calico Preschool This Friday:

Adopted Families: There may still be some tags available on our paper tree in the foyer if you would like to get a gift for someone. Just a friendly reminder - the Christmas gifts for our families will be picked up from St. Paul next Sunday some time soon after the service ends, so all gifts need to be returned before then. It so happens that Cheri and Ted Parson (who also do a lot on the Adopted Families project) were recently visiting an "old" adopted family that they have kept in touch with for many years. One of the daughters in that family is now grown up and just had her second baby. The daughter said she remembers the Christmases they had when she was little in Albuquerque. She said she is sure the project made them happen. She told Cheri how grateful she is for everything. Since she is grown she always goes to a giving tree and adopts a family as a way of giving back for what she was given. ~Kay Schoenefeld, Coordinator

God’s Work Our Hands: For our December project, we are collecting donations toward Friends Feeding Friends’ First Thursday meal at HopeWorks on 2 January 2025. On your check to St. Paul, please put “FFF January” in the memo line. Thank you! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Food Donations for The Storehouse. Food is always needed during the winter. Whenever you go shopping, please pick up an item or two of non-perishable foods for The Storehouse barrel at church.  Pet food is also needed. Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

From Local Partner Organizations

2pm Today at St. Paul: The New Mexico Brass Quintet will be performing a Christmas program including a wide range of music from the Baroque works of Henry Purcell to the movie music of John Williams and Alexander Courage of Star Trek.  In addition to seasonal Christmas music, the group will perform audience requests of favorite carols and a new arrangement (per numerous children requests) of the Mr. Grinch song.  In addition to releasing four commercial CDs, NMBQ has toured through the U.S., Germany, Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Mexico, China, Canada, Australia and the Ukraine. The program is free to all as a gift to the community and the congregation of St. Paul. ~Jeffrey Piper, Director

Today:

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

An Advent Message from Bishop Meghan Johnston Aelabouni

Dear friends in Christ,
For the eighteen years I have been a pastor, I have worn the same Advent stole—oatmeal-colored, with a blue pattern of words and crosses printed up one side and down another. It often takes onlookers a few moments to realize that the words are a list of names: Eve, Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Ruth, Naomi, Esther, Judith, Mary, Elizabeth, and Mary of Magdala. The stole was a gift, and comes in other liturgical colors, but I’ve always found it appropriate for Advent—which remembers and anticipates God’s arrival in the world in Jesus, a story in which faithful women play an integral role.
          Before Jesus was even born, his mother Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth; and both women rejoiced at the impending birth of their children, whose lives would be connected and filled with purpose: John the Baptist, as the one whose fierce devotion to the promises of God would prepare the way for the recognition of Jesus as God-with-us, and Jesus himself, Son of God and Savior of the world. In this moment, Mary sang a song of praise that was also a sermon, proclaiming that the God who chose her to bear the Christ child “has shown strength with his arm… scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts… brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly… filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.” (Luke 1:49-55). 
                Many years later, Jesus stood up in the synagogue in Nazareth—his home congregation—and echoed the song of his mother, recalling the words of the prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Jesus then declared: “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:18-21).
                The words of Jesus, and his mother Mary before him, describe the promises and actions of God not as something that is about to happen, but as something God has already done! Even before Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection, the words of Isaiah had already been fulfilled in him, “today”! Even before Jesus’ arrival, God had already “done great things,” restoring justice by lifting up those the world treated as lowly—including Mary herself.
                Advent, we often hear, is a time of waiting: waiting for answers, waiting to know the way forward, waiting for signs of hope in a weary, war-torn, worrisome world. That’s why the wise words of Mary, and of Jesus, mean so much: because even as we wait, we proclaim in faith, in joy, and in defiant hope that God’s power of grace, love, and resurrection life are already real in our lives and in the world. God is already with the suffering, the oppressed, the fearful, the hungry. God is already working, in ways we cannot even recognize, to restore the world to justice, peace, and love. May the heart of Elizabeth and John, and the courage of Mary and Jesus, renew and sustain you in the waiting this Advent season.
In Christ,
Bishop Meghan

Updates Beginning 8 December 2024

Today: For Adult Faith Development this Advent season we are using The Weary World Rejoices, by Kate Bowler.  Scripture, conversation, and prayer will lead us through the promises of truth, compassion, restoration, and justice.  Right after worship, grab some refreshments and head to the Conference Room.  We look forward to our time together!  ~ Bob Matthews, Jan Krakow, and Ivan Westergaard, the AFD Team

Today: Welcome to our Come As You Are Choir! Thank you, Janet, for arranging this before caroling this afternoon. ~Deborah AshToday: Christmas Caroling! After church we will join together and carpool to Good Samaritan Society-Manzano del Sol Village and sing Christmas carols to the residents.  Janet has graciously offered to lead us and has  prepared song books for us to use. After caroling we will return to St. Paul to eat lunch (remember to bring a sack lunch).  At 1:45 we will go to the Morada Assisted Living and Memory Care facility near the church to sing. This joyful holiday tradition is welcome to all—family members, friends and neighbors. ~Jan Bowers, Karin Urban, Janet Vrudny

Continuing this week! Please consider joining us for midweek Advent services. We are using the beautiful Holden Evening Prayer and will include reflections as we prepare for the birth of Christ. This will be a time of calm from our crazy world and from the hectic activity of the season. I know that my soul could use some calm and soothing from all the chaos. The services are at 6pm on Dec 11 and 18 in the Chapel. Hope to see you there! ~Jo Browning, Worship & Music

 Today and next Sunday stop by the Girl Scouts’ table in the Welcome Center to place an order for biscochitos and tamales! Delivery will be at church on Sunday, 22 December. ~Francesca Apodaca, Troop Leader

1pm this Wednesday: Ice Cream Social Hour! At Dairy Queen, 4104 Louisiana Blvd. NE, 87109.

Luther House’s Meal Train: St. Paul provided the evening meal at Thursday’s Open Table Connection fellowship. What a wonderful student gathering, encompassing food, conversation and Bible study! We hope to do this again in 2025. ~Deborah Ash, Sharon Hamilton, Nancy Jenkins, & Molly Kraft

God’s Work Our Hands: For our December project, we are collecting donations toward Friends Feeding Friends’ First Thursday meal at HopeWorks on 2 January 2025. On your check to St. Paul, please put “FFF January” in the memo line. Thank you! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

From Calico Preschool:

Adopted Families: Our "Giving Tree" is now in the foyer; it has tags that represent the wishes we got from some of our families. You can choose a gift tag (or more); be sure your name and phone number get recorded on our master list for each tag you take. The wrapped gifts need to be returned by Sunday, December 22. You can also make a monetary donation by making a check payable to St. Paul, marking it for Adopted Families-Christmas, and placing it in the Sunday offering or church office. Thank you in advance for thinking of these folks during the holiday season. ~Kay Schoenefeld, Coordinator

Advent Calendars from Lutheran World Relief are available in the Welcome Center. Please take one for you and one to share! ~Deborah Ash

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

Food Donations for The Storehouse. Food is always needed during the winter. Whenever you go shopping, please pick up an item or two of non-perishable foods for The Storehouse barrel at church.  Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

Have you noticed the name tags on some of our newest community? Help them learn our names too! Please wear your name tag - they are found in the display box just inside the narthex. Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

From Local Partner Organizations

Today:

Next Sunday: The New Mexico Brass Quintet will be performing a Christmas program at St. Paul Lutheran Church on Sunday, December 15th at 2 pm.  The group will perform a wide range of music from the Baroque works of Henry Purcell to the movie music of John Williams and Alexander Courage of Star Trek.  In addition to seasonal Christmas music, the group will perform audience requests of favorite carols and a new arrangement (per numerous children requests) of the Mr. Grinch song.  In addition to releasing four commercial CDs, NMBQ has toured through the United States, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Mexico, China, Canada, Australia and the Ukraine. The program is free to all as a gift to the community and the congregation of St. Paul. ~Jeffrey Piper, Director

Next Sunday:

In thanks for St. Paul’s hospitality (and not least because Kristi is part of the program!) we'd like to offer congregation members a 20% discount to either of our holiday concerts, The Feminine Divine, on December 15th (2 and 5 pm). To claim this discount, enter the code SPLC24 when checking out at: tickettailor.com/events/corolux/1362592?
          The Coro Lux "family of choruses" presents their annual holiday program at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church (4020 Lomas Blvd., NE in Albuquerque) on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at 2 pm and 5 pm. Both concerts are identical. The featured work will be J.S. Bach's Magnificat with full orchestra. Also appearing will be the El Faro Youth Chorus and the Coro Lux chamber chorus, called Luminare. An added bonus on this concert will be the world-premiere of "Luminous Night," a new Christmas work commissioned to celebrate Coro Lux's 10th anniversary season, written by the internationally-known composer Z. Randall Stroope. Musical selections will be interspersed with poetry and readings read by the Rev. Talitha Arnold and the Rev. Kristi Koppel. ~Brad Ellingboe, Artistic Director

The Storehouse New Mexico: Sandia Area Federal Credit Union is matching donations up to $25,000 to the Storehouse this season: StorehouseNM.org

This Thursday, 12 December, 5-6pm: ABQ Police are hosting a Pizza with Police event at Giovanni’s, 921 San Pedro Dr. SE.

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

From Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM: Important Dates for your Calendar!

• Our annual Issue Briefing and Bishop's Luncheon during the upcoming legislative session will take place on Thursday, February 20th. Events will be held at First Presbyterian Church and the La Fonda Hotel.

• A Hunger Action Day and Rally will be held on Friday, February 21st.

• An Action Day and Rally for the Paid Medical and Family Leave Act will take place on Tuesday, January 28th.

• The annual Disability Awareness Day at the capitol will be on Thursday, February 13th.

2024 LSM Musical Advent Calendar. Experience the anticipation and hope of the Advent season with Lutheran Summer Music's fourth-annual Musical Advent Calendar. From December 1-24, immerse yourself in a daily moment of music and reflection shared on our Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube pages and archived on our website at LSMacademy.org/acal. To have these daily videos delivered straight to your inbox, sign up at forms.gle/6Jw7DoDApTAgW4Uf6.

ReconcilingWorks is deeply committed to making the church and world a better place for all God has named and claimed as Beloved. The Board of Directors has created a $5,000 match this season! reconcilingworks.org

Bread for the World: Year-end donations doubled up to $500,000! Gifts will be matched dollar for dollar, doubling the impact of your generosity. Working together, we can make a big difference this Christmas. www.bread.org/

Border Servant Corps: BSC Good Gifts offers a meaningful way to support migrants in the borderlands. From cold-weather gear and essential care for newborns to kids’ kits and birthday celebrations, each gift brings hope to those in need in the U.S.-México border region. Share compassion and change lives this holiday season! https://www.borderservantcorps.org/shop (The catalogue is posted in the Welcome Center.)

Updates Beginning 1 December 2024

Today: For Adult Faith Development this Advent season we'll use The Weary World Rejoices, by Kate Bowler.  Scripture, conversation, and prayer will lead us through the promises of truth, compassion, restoration, and justice.  Right after worship, grab some refreshments and head to the Conference Room.  We look forward to our time together!  ~ Bob Matthews, Jan Krakow, and Ivan Westergaard, the AFD Team

God’s Work Our Hands: After worship today, we will put together wellness kits for HopeWorks in Fellowship Hall. Thank you to all who donated items in November! For our December project, we are accepting donations for Friends Feeding Friends’ First Thursday meal at HopeWorks on 2 January 2025. ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

The First Tuesday of December will be on the 3rd.  Come join us at SW Grape and Grain, 3401 Candelaria NE, between 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm.  The question we may ponder while having snacks and something cool to drink could be, "How did this year go by so quickly?".  Hope to see you there! ~Nancy Matthews

Help us wish our Homebound folks a Merry Christmas. St. Paul Prayer & Visitation Ministry visits regularly to our homebound.  The team will be doing visitations through the month of December and taking with them a gift. We would like to include our congregation in this package of joy – please take a few minutes to sign a blessing, wish or your name to the 8 cards sitting on the Welcome Desk. You may or may not know the individual the card will go to, but they will know they were thought of and that is a gift unto itself. Cards will remain available until this Tuesday, December 3 and then will be placed in the bags to be delivered. Thank You from the Visitation Ministers: Kay Fulton, Sharon Howard, Diane Remer-Thamert, Teresa Dubuque, Nancy Jenkins, Pastor Koppel, Julie Ambrogi

Starting this week! Please consider joining us for midweek Advent services. We will be using the beautiful Holden Evening Prayer and will include reflections as we prepare for the birth of Christ. This will be a time of calm from our crazy world and from the hectic activity of the season. I know that my soul could use some calm and soothing from all the chaos. The services are at 6pm on Dec 4, 11 and 18 in the Chapel. Hope to see you there! ~Jo Browning, Worship & Music

Come As You Are Choir - Sunday, December 8! It was nice to see so many of you in church this past Sunday. I thought it would be great to have a “come as you are choir” in church, on the day we go caroling.
          Please come to the choir room at 9:00 a.m. and we will rehearse the “Advent Hymn,” which is a piece we did last December as well, so I’m hoping it will be somewhat familiar. Thanks everyone! I’m looking forward to a nice day with you on Sunday, December 8. ~Janet Vrudny

Christmas Caroling. After church on December 8 we will join together and carpool to Good Samaritan Society-Manzano del Sol Village  and sing Christmas carols to the residents.  Janet Vrudny has graciously offered to lead us and has  prepared song books for us to use. After caroling we will return to St. Paul to eat lunch (remember to bring a sack lunch).  At 1:45 we will go to the Morada Assisted Living and Memory Care facility near the church on Indian School Road to sing. 
          Janet wants to provide enough song books so please RSVP to one of  us if you think you will sing.  This joyful holiday tradition is welcome to all—family members, friends and neighbors. ~Jan Bowers, Karin Urban, Janet Vrudny

Adopted Families: Our "Giving Tree" is now in the foyer; it has tags that represent the wishes we got from some of our families. You can choose a gift tag (or more); be sure your name and phone number get recorded on our master list for each tag you take. The wrapped gifts need to be returned by Sunday, December 22. You can also make a monetary donation by making a check payable to St. Paul, marking it for Adopted Families-Christmas, and placing it in the Sunday offering or church office. Thank you in advance for thinking of these folks during the holiday season. ~Kay Schoenefeld, Coordinator

Advent Calendars from Lutheran World Relief are available in the Welcome Center. Please take one for you and perhaps one to share with a friend or neighbor! ~Deborah Ash

Food Donations for The Storehouse. Food is always needed during the winter. Whenever you go shopping, please pick up an item or two of non-perishable foods for The Storehouse barrel at church.  Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

Have you noticed the name tags on some of our newest community? Help them learn our names too! Please wear your name tag - they are found in the display box just inside the narthex. Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

Thank You’s to St. Paul:

Dear Amazing Community of true Christians! I have seen you in action now for over a year. The love you show, your works and dedication really mean so much to us. Whenever I see Mom (Elizabeth) I pop into worship with my niece Katryn. This special time means so much to worship together. Just wanted to let you know my whole family: my daughters, husband and Mom’s California friends love St. Paul! What a blessing. With love, Desi & Monte

Sending greetings and a great BIG thank you to our friends at St. Paul Lutheran Church! The collection of coats for the Dignity Mission was a huge success. I’m still sorting them and putting them in bags which will be delivered to the border at El Paso on December 14th. The Dignity Mission will also deliver 800 Christmas backpacks to the children at the border. Our “Mad Hatters” have crocheted 150 hats that will be taken as well as scarves, mittens and gloves of all sizes. This is the Christmas trip we all want to take! Every six weeks the Dignity Mission drives a truckload of needed supplies to El Paso. These supplies are delivered to shelters on both sides of the border as well as those living on the streets. God bless all of you for what you do so willingly. Blessings, Rae VanDeMotter, Chair, Outreach & Advocacy, All Saints Lutheran Church

Dear St. Paul Lutheran Church, I write this letter to you with deep gratitude for your partnership with ReconcilingWorks through the Reconciling in Christ program. In this season when many feel unsure of what the next chapter of their lives will bring here is what I know for sure.

1. ReconcilingWorks’ 50 years of ministry is only possible because of you! And I know you will make all that is next possible as well.

2. The need for people of faith to be bold and courageous in living out our values of love, welcome, inclusion, and advocacy are more important than ever.

3. There is a tremendous amount of outreach and education to do across the country and in our Lutheran communities to deepen and expand care for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.

I know these things to be true because ministries like yours near and far are making a difference in your people and communities. With my whole heart, thank you for being a partner in this ministry! God’s Peace, Aubrey Thonvold, Executive Director                                    

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel   

From Local Partner Organizations

From ABQ FaithWorks: Thanks to the generous support from our member congregations this year, continues to help asylum seekers, and those at risk of homelessness. We are recruiting for all sorts of volunteer roles in direct service, administrative, IT, and fundraising. We would love to talk with you about your passion, skills, talent and time and find the right volunteer match for you! Go to https://www.abqfaithworks.org/copy-of-volunteer or give me a call at 505-333-8059. ~Hannah Albee, Executive Director

Next Sunday:

The New Mexico Brass Quintet will be performing a Christmas program at St. Paul Lutheran Church on Sunday, December 15th at 2 pm.  The group will perform a wide range of music from the Baroque works of Henry Purcell to the movie music of John Williams and Alexander Courage of Star Trek.  In addition to seasonal Christmas music, the group will perform audience requests of favorite carols and a new arrangement (per numerous children requests) of the Mr. Grinch song.  In addition to releasing four commercial CDs, NMBQ has toured through the United States, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Mexico, China, Canada, Australia and the Ukraine. The program is free to all as a gift to the community and the congregation of St. Paul. ~Jeffrey Piper, Director

From Coro Lux:

In thanks for St. Paul’s hospitality (and not least because Kristi is part of the program!) we'd like to offer congregation members a 20% discount to either of our holiday concerts, The Feminine Divine, on December 15th (2 and 5 pm). To claim this discount, enter the code SPLC24 when checking out at: tickettailor.com/events/corolux/1362592?
          The Coro Lux "family of choruses" presents their annual holiday program, titled THE FEMININE DIVINE, at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church (4020 Lomas Blvd., NE in Albuquerque) on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at 2 pm and 5 pm. Both concerts are identical. The featured work will be J.S. Bach's Magnificat with full orchestra. Also appearing will be the El Faro Youth Chorus and the Coro Lux chamber chorus, called Luminare. An added bonus on this concert will be the world-premiere of "Luminous Night," a new Christmas work commissioned to celebrate Coro Lux's 10th anniversary season, written by the internationally-known composer Z. Randall Stroope. Musical selections will be interspersed with poetry and readings read by the Rev. Talitha Arnold and the Rev. Kristi Koppel. ~Brad Ellingboe, Artistic Director

The Storehouse New Mexico: Hope Without Hunger. Sandia Area Federal Credit Union is matching donations up to $25,000 to the Storehouse this season: StorehouseNM.org

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

From Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM: Important Dates for your Calendar!

• Our annual Issue Briefing and Bishop's Luncheon during the upcoming legislative session will take place on Thursday, February 20th. Events will be held at First Presbyterian Church and the La Fonda Hotel.

• A Hunger Action Day and Rally will be held on Friday, February 21st.

• An Action Day and Rally for the Paid Medical and Family Leave Act will take place on Tuesday, January 28th.

• The annual Disability Awareness Day at the capitol will be on Thursday, February 13th.  

2024 LSM Musical Advent Calendar. Experience the anticipation and hope of the Advent season with Lutheran Summer Music's fourth-annual Musical Advent Calendar. From December 1-24, immerse yourself in a daily moment of music and reflection shared on our Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube pages and archived on our website at LSMacademy.org/acal. To have these daily videos delivered straight to your inbox, sign up at forms.gle/6Jw7DoDApTAgW4Uf6.

Youth musicians are invited to Lutheran Summer Music! LSM is the nation’s premier faith-based music academy for high school students. Students come together from all over the country to immerse themselves in joyful music-making and build a supportive and welcoming community, living together on a college campus. LSM 2025 takes place at Valparaiso University in Indiana from June 22-July 20* (Full Session) or June 22-July 6 (Half Session) and is open to students who have completed grades 8-12. Learn more at: LSMacademy.org/program    

ReconcilingWorks is deeply committed to making the church and world a better place for all God has named and claimed as Beloved. The Board of Directors has created a $5,000 match this season! reconcilingworks.org

Bread for the World: Year-end donations doubled up to $500,000! Gifts will be matched dollar for dollar, doubling the impact of your generosity. Working together, we can make a big difference this Christmas. www.bread.org/

Global Refuge for Giving Tuesday this week: Thanks to a generous matching gift, all donations are doubled up to $50,000, to support New Americans during these unpredictable times. www.globalrefuge.org

Updates Beginning 24 November 2024

Today, 24 November, Congregational Meeting at 11am in Fellowship Hall. Agenda includes 2025 budget and elections. We are also having a Fellowship Potluck while we meet! We will have several pots of chili (both with meat and without). Please bring a side dish or dessert to share. Beverages provided. ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Advent is upon us! We will be gathering this Tuesday, 26 November at 1pm, to decorate the Sanctuary for Advent. We'll be putting up the tree with lights, and hanging greens with blue bows around the perimeter. We have a faithful group, (you know who you are!) who gets this done every year, but we would certainly welcome ANY one's help! You know what they say about "many hands"! Thank you, in advance! ~Jan Bowers 

Help us wish our Homebound folks a Merry Christmas. St. Paul Prayer & Visitation Ministry visits regularly to our homebound.  The team will be doing visitations through the month of December and taking with them a gift. We would like to include our congregation in this package of joy – please take a few minutes to sign a blessing, wish or your name to the 8 cards sitting on the Welcome Desk. You may or may not know the individual the card will go to, but they will know they were thought of and that is a gift unto itself. Cards will remain available until December 3 and then will be placed in the bags to be delivered. Thank You from the Visitation Ministers: Kay Fulton, Sharon Howard, Diane Remer-Thamert, Teresa Dubuque, Nancy Jenkins, Pastor Koppel, Julie Ambrogi

Midweek Advent Services will be held in the Chapel at 6pm on Wednesdays, December 4, 11, and 18. We will be worshiping with Holden Evening Prayer. ~Terry Cole, Worship & Music

Christmas Caroling, Sunday, December 8. We will join together after church to sing the festive carols of this season. Janet Vrudny has graciously offered to lead us and has prepared song books for us to use. At this time, we have contacted several facilities and are working out the details. We will have time to eat lunch so  please bring a sack lunch. Janet wants to provide enough song books so please RSVP to one of us if you think you will sing.  This joyful holiday tradition is welcome to all—family members, friends, neighbors. More details to come! ~Karin Urban, Jan Bowers, Janet Vrudny

Adopted Families: Our "Giving Tree" is now in the foyer; it has tags that represent the wishes we got from some of our families. You can choose a gift tag (or more); be sure your name and phone number get recorded on our master list for each tag you take. The wrapped gifts need to be returned by Sunday, December 22. You can also make a monetary donation by making a check payable to St. Paul, marking it for Adopted Families-Christmas, and placing it in the Sunday offering or church office. Thank you in advance for thinking of these folks during the holiday season.
I'd also like to report that I worked with a client advocate at Healthcare for the Homeless and spent just over $51 to purchase a bus ticket for a client. The client had been in another state visiting his daughter and also trying to replace his identity documents; he was on his way back to be with his father where he was previously living when he got stuck in Albuquerque. He was very appreciative of the help we gave him. Thanks for helping us help others. ~Kay Schoenefeld, Coordinator

Christmas Eve Survey: The results are in! After considering those results, our Worship and Music team has decided that we will  be offering two services! Our 5:00pm service on the labyrinth will continue, as it has become very popular for many. There will also be a 7:00pm indoor service for those of you who prefer not to be out in the cold.
          The early service includes ambience and warmth provided by firepits, trails of luminarias, hot chocolate and cookies! If you dress warm and bring a comfortable chair, it promises to be a magical time together! The 7:00 service will be much the same but will also offer communion (and no firepits!). Both services will include Lessons and Carols! Please join us for one, or both! ~Jan Bowers (for your Worship and Music team)

November’s God’s Work Our Hands Project: HopeWorks Hygiene Kits. This month we are collecting items for both men and women—please pick up an items list in the Welcome Center and drop items in the basket. We will put them together after service on 1 Dec. ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins
New socks           New underwear            Bar soap (travel size)              Razors
Mini shampoo     Mini conditioner            Deodorant (travel size)          Chapstick
Wet wipes           Feminine products        Lotion (travel size)          

Food Donations for The Storehouse. Food is always needed during the winter. Whenever you go shopping, please pick up an item or two of non-perishable foods for The Storehouse barrel at church.  Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

Have you noticed the name tags on some of our newest community? Help them learn our names too! Please wear your name tag - they are found in the display box just inside the narthex. Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

Important! Scam emails and texts are circulating again, written as if from Pr. Koppel. Please be cautious about responding or opening! ~Deborah Ash

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel                    

From Local Partner Organizations

Today:

The New Mexico Brass Quintet will be performing a Christmas program at St. Paul Lutheran Church on Sunday, December 15th at 2 pm.  The group will perform a wide range of music from the Baroque works of Henry Purcell to the movie music of John Williams and Alexander Courage of Star Trek.  In addition to seasonal Christmas music, the group will perform audience requests of favorite carols and a new arrangement (per numerous children requests) of the Mr. Grinch song.  In addition to releasing four commercial CDs, NMBQ has toured through the United States, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Mexico, China, Canada, Australia and the Ukraine. The program is free to all as a gift to the community and the congregation of St. Paul. ~Jeffrey Piper, Director

From Coro Lux:

In thanks for St. Paul’s hospitality (and not least because Kristi is part of the program!) we'd like to offer congregation members a 20% discount to either of our holiday concerts, The Feminine Divine, on December 15th (2 and 5 pm). To claim this discount, enter the code SPLC24 when checking out at: tickettailor.com/events/corolux/1362592?
          The Coro Lux "family of choruses" presents their annual holiday program, titled THE FEMININE DIVINE, at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church (4020 Lomas Blvd., NE in Albuquerque) on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at 2 pm and 5 pm. Both concerts are identical. The featured work will be J.S. Bach's Magnificat with full orchestra. Also appearing will be the El Faro Youth Chorus and the Coro Lux chamber chorus, called Luminare. An added bonus on this concert will be the world-premiere of "Luminous Night," a new Christmas work commissioned to celebrate Coro Lux's 10th anniversary season, written by the internationally-known composer Z. Randall Stroope. Musical selections will be interspersed with poetry and readings read by the Rev. Talitha Arnold and the Rev. Kristi Koppel. ~Brad Ellingboe, Artistic Director

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

A Message from Bishop Johnston Aelabouni: Dear friends, in this season of giving thanks, as we remember the gifts of the land and the people who have lived and given thanks here for hundreds and thousands of years, I’m thankful for the place my family and I have found ourselves. As time goes by, we feel more and more at home: in our house and neighborhood, in work and school, and in the sense of community we feel among the people and ministries of this synod.
Request for Prayers and Grace: As this time of transition continues, as your bishop, I am asking you for your prayers. In the decisions before us, I believe with my whole heart that your synod council, staffing team, office of the bishop staff, and I are all striving to discern the guidance of the Holy Spirit and to make decisions that are faithful, wise, transparent, collaborative, and compassionate. Please pray for us—and especially for our staff, whose vocational futures and livelihoods have been so connected to this transition time. Please pray for those who remain, for those who depart, and for those who are still uncertain—as well as for all those who are now discerning or applying for positions. 
          Also, please offer us your patience and grace as you are able. We have been operating in an in-between space for several months, and we will likely be working at diminished capacity in the coming weeks. While we discern who God is calling to serve on our synod team going forward, and work to build this team and clarify our roles and work together, please don’t hesitate to reach out with needs, questions, ideas, or concerns—but please also bear in mind that response times, schedules, and planning for our shared work will all be affected by being a team “under construction.” 
Finally, thank you for your support and trust. This is truly an amazing part of the body of Christ, and I am deeply hopeful and excited about the season of ministry we are entering together. I believe that with God’s help, these times can call out from us the gifts of the Spirit in ways that strengthen our witness to the Gospel, for the sake of our neighbors and the world God so loves. In Christ, Bishop Meghan, rmselca.org

2024 LSM Musical Advent Calendar. Experience the anticipation and hope of the Advent season with Lutheran Summer Music's fourth-annual Musical Advent Calendar. From December 1-24, immerse yourself in a daily moment of music and reflection shared on our Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube pages and archived on our website at LSMacademy.org/acal.
          To have these daily videos delivered straight to your inbox, sign up at forms.gle/6Jw7DoDApTAgW4Uf6.

Updates Beginning 17 November 2024

Today: Emerging Ministry Celebration, New Member Welcome, and time for Q&A: This Sunday we celebrate this Emerging Ministry with our Spanish Speaking partners who are sharing space in our Chapel! Our bilingual service will include a special message from Father Q (Office of the Bishop) and welcome new members into our fold.  Following worship, grab your refreshments and return to the Sanctuary for a conversation to gain a deeper understanding of this Spirit-led opportunity to intentionally partner!  ~ Pr. Koppel

Next Sunday, 24 November, Congregational Meeting at 11am in Fellowship Hall. Agenda includes 2025 budget and elections (see below)! We are also having a Fellowship Potluck while we meet! We will have several pots of chili (both with meat and without). Please bring a side dish or dessert to share. Beverages provided. ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

2025 SPLC Council. At the Congregational Meeting, among agenda items, in accordance with our St. Paul constitution and by-laws, we will be electing 4 members of St. Paul Lutheran Church to fill council positions that will be open in January 2025, after the completion of 4 members’ 3-year terms (Peggy Burnett, Sharon Hamilton, Roger Hein, and Jeff Peterson). If you are interested in becoming a member of our church council and are a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, please speak with anyone currently on council so that we may add your name to the ballot.  If you have questions about council, you may speak with Sara Love, council president; Peggy Burnett, council vice-president; or Nancy Jenkins, council secretary. ~Peggy Burnett

Advent is upon us! We will be staying after church next Sunday, 24 November, to decorate the Sanctuary for Advent. Grab some goodies and come back in! We'll be putting up the tree with lights, and hanging greens with blue bows around the perimeter. We have a faithful group, (you know who you are!) who gets this done every year, but we would certainly welcome ANY one's help! You know what they say about "many hands"! Thank you, in advance! ~Jan Bowers 

Important! Scam emails and texts are circulating again, written as if from Pr. Koppel. Please be cautious about responding or opening! ~Deborah Ash

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

Christmas Eve Survey: The results are in! After considering those results, our Worship and Music team has decided that we will  be offering two services! Our 5:00pm service on the labyrinth will continue, as it has become very popular for many. There will also be a 7:00pm indoor service for those of you who prefer not to be out in the cold.
          The early service includes ambience and warmth provided by firepits, trails of luminarias, hot chocolate and cookies! If you dress warm and bring a comfortable chair, it promises to be a magical time together! The 7:00 service will be much the same but will also offer communion (and no firepits!). Both services will include Lessons and Carols! Please join us for one, or both! ~Jan Bowers (for your Worship and Music team)

Adopted Families: We will again be doing our Christmas thing - i.e., getting wish lists from some of our families and putting the wishes on our paper tree in the foyer. The tree should be up next Sunday (the Sunday before Thanksgiving). You will be able to choose a gift (or two) to buy; the wrapped gifts need to be returned by Sunday, December 22. You can also make a monetary donation by making a check payable to St. Paul, marking it for Adopted Families-Christmas, and placing it in the Sunday offering or church office. Thank you in advance for supporting our families during the holiday season. ~Kay Schoenefeld, Coordinator

November’s God’s Work Our Hands Project: HopeWorks Hygiene Kits. This month we are collecting items for both men and women—please pick up an items list in the Welcome Center and drop items in the basket. We will put them together after service on 1 Dec. ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

New socks           New underwear            Bar soap (travel size)              Razors
Mini shampoo     Mini conditioner            Deodorant (travel size)          Chapstick
Wet wipes           Feminine products        Lotion (travel size)        

Attention All Worship Leaders: I will be making the new schedules for Assisting Ministers and Communion Assistants soon. If you currently serve in these roles, please let me know any dates between now and March 30, 2025 that you know you cannot serve. If you are not currently a communion assistant or assisting minister, please consider joining this important ministry. We always need new leaders. Training will happily be provided! Please talk to me or send an email if you would like more information about these jobs. ~Peace, Terry Cole for Worship and Music

Do you like to bake bread?  I am getting ready to write the schedule for the 2025 Communion Bread Bakers. We currently have 4: Mandy Wang, Jo Browning, Julie Ambrogi and Nancy Jenkins. We bake 4 times a year.  If you would like to join us, we would love to have you and we would bake fewer times!  I will provide you with the recipe which is an easy one! Please contact me if you want to join the baking team. ~Nancy Jenkins 

We collect dry and canned goods for The Storehouse.  Don't forget about the hungry in the midst of all our other collections.  Pet food is also appreciated. ~Nancy Matthews

Have you noticed the name tags on some of our newest community? Help them learn our names too! Please wear your name tag - they are found in the display box just inside the narthex. Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

From Local Partner Organizations

Tomorrow:

From Coro Lux:

In thanks for St. Paul’s hospitality (and not least because Kristi is part of the program!) we'd like to offer congregation members a 20% discount to either of our holiday concerts, The Feminine Divine, on December 15th (2 and 5 pm). To claim this discount, enter the code SPLC24 when checking out at: tickettailor.com/events/corolux/1362592?
          The Coro Lux "family of choruses" presents their annual holiday program, titled THE FEMININE DIVINE, at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church (4020 Lomas Blvd., NE in Albuquerque) on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at 2 pm and 5 pm. Both concerts are identical. The featured work will be J.S. Bach's Magnificat with full orchestra. Also appearing will be the El Faro Youth Chorus and the Coro Lux chamber chorus, called Luminare. An added bonus on this concert will be the world-premiere of "Luminous Night," a new Christmas work commissioned to celebrate Coro Lux's 10th anniversary season, written by the internationally-known composer Z. Randall Stroope. Musical selections will be interspersed with poetry and readings read by the Rev. Talitha Arnold and the Rev. Kristi Koppel. ~Brad Ellingboe, Artistic Director

From ABQ FaithWorks: Thanks to the generous support from our member congregations this year, continues to help asylum seekers, and those at risk of homelessness. We are recruiting for all sorts of volunteer roles in direct service, administrative, IT, and fundraising. We would love to talk with you about your passion, skills, talent and time and find the right volunteer match for you! Go to https://www.abqfaithworks.org/copy-of-volunteer or give me a call at 505-333-8059. ~Hannah Albee, Executive Director

From Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM: Important Dates for your Calendar!

• Our annual Issue Briefing and Bishop's Luncheon during the upcoming legislative session will take place on Thursday, February 20th. Events will be held at First Presbyterian Church and the La Fonda Hotel.

• A Hunger Action Day and Rally will be held on Friday, February 21st.

• An Action Day and Rally for the Paid Medical and Family Leave Act will take place on Tuesday, January 28th.

• The annual Disability Awareness Day at the capitol will be on Thursday, February 13th.

~Kurt Rager, Director

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

Election 2024: What the Results Mean for Immigrants and Refugees. Global Refuge invites you to a webinar as we address these questions and more November 22 12 pm ET. We will discuss where the work of welcome stands after the election and share our next steps as we support and advocate for immigrants and refugees in these challenging times. https://globalrefuge-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2fQj1s_9SECplZN0m1Rywg#/registration

From Bread for the World: Year-End Donations doubled up to $500,000! Gifts will be matched dollar for dollar, doubling the impact of your generosity. Your gift will empower Bread for the World in its work to urge Congress to do its part to fight hunger. Working together, we can make a big difference this Christmas. https://www.bread.org/

Youth musicians are invited to Lutheran Summer Music! LSM is the nation’s premier faith-based music academy for high school students. Students come together from all over the country to immerse themselves in joyful music-making and build a supportive and welcoming community, living together on a college campus. LSM 2025 takes place at Valparaiso University in Indiana from June 22-July 20* (Full Session) or June 22-July 6 (Half Session) and is open to students who have completed grades 8-12. Learn more at: LSMacademy.org/program

Updates Beginning 10 November 2024

Today at Adult Faith Development: With the in-gathering of giving intentions, the Fall funding campaign is ending, but stewardship continues. Stewardship doesn't take place only in the Fall, and it doesn't end with money. It is far more than that. Come learn about what is ahead in stewardship and how it connects with the future of St. Paul. Along the way, we'll learn about some alternative ways of giving that can even help save money on your taxes. Join the adult class this Sunday after service at 11:15 in the Conference Room. This should be a lively conversation, and everyone is welcome to participate. ~Bob Matthews

Today: Next Sunday we will be using a new liturgy from the worship supplement All Creation Sings, Setting 11. This is a bilingual liturgy with very singable, but new, music. Anyone who would like to practice the liturgy ahead of time is invited to stay today, November 10, after worship. ~Terry Cole, Worship & Music

Next Sunday: Emerging Ministry Celebration, New Member Welcome, and time for Q&A: On November 17th we'll celebrate this Emerging Ministry with our Spanish Speaking partners who are sharing space in our Chapel!   Our bilingual service will include a special message from Father Q (Office of the Bishop) and welcome new members into our fold.  Following worship, grab your refreshments and return to the Sanctuary for a conversation to gain a deeper understanding of this Spirit-led opportunity to intentionally partner!  ~ Pr. Koppel

November’s God’s Work Our Hands Project: HopeWorks Hygiene Kits. This month we are collecting items for both men and women—please pick up an items list in the Welcome Center and drop items in the basket. We will put them together after service on 1 Dec. ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

New socks           New underwear            Bar soap (travel size)              Razors
Mini shampoo     Mini conditioner            Deodorant (travel size)           Chapstick
Wet wipes           Feminine products        Lotion (travel size)          

Important! Scam emails and texts are circulating again, written as if from Pr. Koppel. Please be cautious about responding or opening! ~Deborah Ash

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

Friends Feeding Friends:  To the group that prepared this month's meal, you did a great job!!  Thank you!  We had 29 pans of spaghetti, 12 containers of spring mix, 12 containers of cherry tomatoes, salad dressing, cookies, bread, and lemonade mix.  They were very grateful when I dropped off the carload of food.  I can't thank you enough! ~Nancy Jenkins, Coordinator

2025 SPLC Council. Our next Congregational Meeting is Sunday, November 24th, following our Worship service. Among agenda items, in accordance with our St. Paul constitution and by-laws, we will be electing 4 members of St. Paul Lutheran Church to fill council positions that will be open in January 2025, after the completion of 4 members’ 3-year terms (Peggy Burnett, Sharon Hamilton, Roger Hein, and Jeff Peterson). If you are interested in becoming a member of our church council and are a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, please speak with anyone currently on council so that we may add your name to the ballot.  If you have questions about council, you may speak with Sara Love, council president; Peggy Burnett, council vice-president; or Nancy Jenkins, council secretary. ~Peggy Burnett

Fellowship Potluck for our Congregational Meeting! We will have several pots of chili (both with meat and without). Please bring a side dish or dessert to share. Beverages provided. ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Attention All Worship Leaders: I will be making the new schedules for Assisting Ministers and Communion Assistants soon. If you currently serve in these roles, please let me know any dates between now and March 30, 2025 that you know you cannot serve. If you are not currently a communion assistant or assisting minister, please consider joining this important ministry. We always need new leaders. Training will happily be provided! Please talk to me or send an email if you would like more information about these jobs. ~Peace, Terry Cole for Worship and Music

Do you like to bake bread?  I am getting ready to write the schedule for the 2025 Communion Bread Bakers. We currently have 4: Mandy Wang, Jo Browning, Julie Ambrogi and Nancy Jenkins. We bake 4 times a year.  If you would like to join us, we would love to have you and we would bake fewer times!  I will provide you with the recipe which is an easy one! Please contact me if you want to join the baking team. ~Nancy Jenkins

We collect dry and canned goods for The Storehouse.  Don't forget about the hungry in the midst of all our other collections.  Pet food is also appreciated. ~Nancy Matthews

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

Bishop Meghan Johnston Aelabouni shares a post-election message with  the RM Synod: https://vimeo.com/1027192757?share=copy

This Saturday! 2024 Fall Advocacy Conference - Registration Now! ​We invite you to join us for our annual Fall Advocacy Conference! This wonderfully ecumenical event takes place on November 16th, at All Saints Lutheran Church in Albuquerque (same location as last year). Morning refreshments begin at 8:30 a.m. and the conference will conclude following lunch.
          The conference is open to anyone interested in learning more about advocating in the public arena on policy that positively impacts our many neighbors living in poverty and hunger, as well as the other key advocacy areas prioritized by Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - New Mexico.
          This year's conference will feature several guest speakers including, Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino (D) Sen. Dist. 12, Rep. Jason Harper (R) House Dist. 57, Rev. Wayne Mueller (advocate, minister, best-selling author), and others!
          Though we highly recommend in-person attendance for the most impactful experience, an online Zoom option will also be available and a link will be sent the week of the event.
        Lunch and morning refreshments will be provided for in-person participants as well as useful materials to take back to congregations.
          The in-person registration fee is $25 per person and online participation is $15. https://www.lutheranadvocacynm.org. ~Kurt A. Rager LAM-NM, Director krager@rmselca.org 

From RMS AMMPARO: U.S. Election Implications on Migration Policy in the Americas. This Thursday, November 14, 12-1:30pm ET. This webinar will explore potential shifts in U.S. migration policy following the election and the resulting impacts on regional cooperation and bilateral agreements; access to protection, pathways, and integration; and funding for enforcement and humanitarian efforts. Register at:
https://www.refugeesinternational.org/events-and-testimony/us-election-implications-on-migration-policy-in-the-americas/ 

Election 2024: What the Results Mean for Immigrants and Refugees. Global Refuge invites you to a webinar as we address these questions and more November 22 12 pm ET. We will discuss where the work of welcome stands after the election and share our next steps as we support and advocate for immigrants and refugees in these challenging times. https://globalrefuge-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2fQj1s_9SECplZN0m1Rywg#/registration

Updates Beginning 3 November 2024

Today at Adult Faith Development: Our denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is in the midst of a study of its governance and purpose.  The 35-member Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church, formed at the behest of 2022 Churchwide Assembly, has been charged with recommending updates to the way the ELCA “does church.”  Today’s adult education forum will look at the Commission’s work to date as well as review the history that has brought us to this point.  Hal Nilsson will lead the conversation that begins at 11:15 a.m. in the Conference Room.

This Tuesday, November 5th has two events happening: 1) If you haven't already voted, this will be your last chance to do so, and 2) As usual, we will meet again for First Tuesday at SW Grape and Grain, 3401 Candelaria NE, between 4:00 - 6:00pm. All are invited to come and have social time with each other; bring a snack to share if you like.  We'll toast to the future health of our country. New members, come if you can so we can get to know you better! ~Nancy Matthews

Emerging Ministry Celebration, New Member Welcome, and time for Q&A: On November 17th we'll celebrate this Emerging Ministry with our Spanish Speaking partners who are sharing space in our Chapel!   Our bilingual service will include a special message from Father Q (Office of the Bishop) and welcome new members into our fold.  Following worship, grab your refreshments and return to the Sanctuary for a conversation to gain a deeper understanding of this Spirit-led opportunity to intentionally partner!  ~ Pr. Koppel

Greetings from Worship & Music: On November 17, we will be using a new liturgy from the worship supplement All Creation Sings (Setting 12). This is a bilingual liturgy with very singable, but new, music. Anyone who would like to practice the liturgy ahead of time is invited to stay after worship on November 10. ~Terry Cole

November’s God’s Work Our Hands Project: HopeWorks Hygiene Kits. This month we are collecting items for hygiene kits—please pick up an items list in the Welcome Center where the collection bin is located. We will put them together after service on 1 Dec. And Thank You! for all the coats collected for Dignity Mission in October!~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Stewardship: During these days leading up to November 10th, we ask you to think and pray about what this church means to you and how you can support it in the coming year?  Why November 10th?  That Sunday during worship we’ll receive your commitment of financial support for 2025.  Grouped together, our intentions will enable us to do another year of faithful and creative ministry.  November 10th also happens to be the anniversary of Luther’s birth.  Martin Luther was born in Eisleben, Germany, on November 10, 1483.  Though Luther disliked having a church named after him, we bear his name—and, more importantly, his proclamation of God’s generous grace—in our very identity. ~Hal Nilsson, on behalf of the Stewardship Committee

2025 SPLC Council. Our next Congregational Meeting is Sunday, November 24th, following our Worship service. Among agenda items, in accordance with our St. Paul constitution and by-laws, we will be electing 4 members of St. Paul Lutheran Church to fill council positions that will be open in January 2025, after the completion of 4 members’ 3-year terms (Peggy Burnett, Sharon Hamilton, Roger Hein, and Jeff Peterson). If you are interested in becoming a member of our church council and are a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, please speak with anyone currently on council so that we may add your name to the ballot.  If you have questions about council, you may speak with Sara Love, council president; Peggy Burnett, council vice-president; or Nancy Jenkins, council secretary. ~Peggy Burnett

Attention All Worship Leaders: I will be making the new schedules for Assisting Ministers and Communion Assistants soon. If you currently serve in these roles, please let me know any dates between now and March 30, 2025 that you know you cannot serve. If you are not currently a communion assistant or assisting minister, please consider joining this important ministry. We always need new leaders. Training will happily be provided! Please talk to me or send an email if you would like more information about these jobs. ~Peace, Terry Cole for Worship and Music

Prayer Shawls Are Available in the Narthex! Please pick one up for anyone who could use a warm, cuddly prayer shawl for comfort. This ministry provides a tangible reminder that God wraps us in love. If you would like to knit or crochet a shawl, please pick up some yarn and patterns in the church office to get started. ~Sharon Hamilton

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

Have you noticed the name tags on some of our newest community? Help them learn our names too! Please wear your name tag - they are found in the display box just inside the narthex (ask directions, if needed). Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

We collect dry and canned goods for The Storehouse.  Don't forget about the hungry in the midst of all our other collections.  Pet food is also appreciated. ~Nancy Matthews

From Local Partner Organizations

Today:

From ABQ FaithWorks: Thanks to the generous support from our member congregations this year, continues to help asylum seekers, and those at risk of homelessness. We are recruiting for all sorts of volunteer roles in direct service, administrative, IT, and fundraising. We would love to talk with you about your passion, skills, talent and time and find the right volunteer match for you! Go to https://www.abqfaithworks.org/copy-of-volunteer or give me a call at 505-333-8059. ~Hannah Albee, Executive Director

Time To Order Your Luminarias! Every season since 1981, ABQ Youth Symphony students and families fold, assemble, and sell thousands of dozens of luminarias across the Albuquerque metro area. Proceeds support AYSP's symphonic music education programs in our vibrant community that serve approximately 400 students annually in grades 4-12. Luminarias are $12/dozen. Order online by Nov 24 for delivery Dec 7 (min. delivery order is 4 dozen). Fewer than 4 dozen can be picked up Dec 14 at the AYSP building: https://www.aysmusic.org/luminarias/

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

From the Rocky Mountain Synod: Dear beloved people of God, As the fall colors descend across our synod, election season has officially arrived. That means it's time to vote! Voting when guided by our faithful values is "an exercise in citizenship" and "a vital aspect of discipleship for baptized Christians," in the words of our ELCA Social Message on Government and Civic Engagement. In the midst of this busy season, our church has created and curated a number of excellent resources about elections, voting, and civic participation. This information is designed to help accompany you through this often-anxious yet critically important time. We remember in this season that we are people of faith, and we live in the promise that God accompanies us through all our trials and tribulations. This election season has put many of us on edge, so let us cling to the promises of Jesus: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid" (John 14:27). Peace be with you in the days ahead. ~Deacon Sarah Bjornebo, Assistant to the RMS Bishop, rmselca.org

Message from the Bishops: Faith Beyond Fear, An Ecumenical Message for Truth and Unity in a Divisive Election Season. From Meghan Johnston Aelabouni, RMS bishop, Kym Lucas, bishop of the Episcopal Church in Colorado, Kristin Stoneking, bishop of the Mountain Sky Conference of the United Methodist Church: https://vimeo.com/1024540905/40119d647b

On Election Day, Nov 5th, there is a local prayer service opportunity at Holy Cross Lutheran Church (6901 Wyoming Blvd NE). Holy Cross will open its sanctuary from 10am-5pm for individual prayers and fellowship as well. Refreshments and coffee will be available throughout. ~Kurt Rager, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM

Election 2024: What the Results Mean for Immigrants and Refugees. Global Refuge invites you to a webinar as we address these questions and more November 22 12 pm ET. We will discuss where the work of welcome stands after the election and share our next steps as we support and advocate for immigrants and refugees in these challenging times. https://globalrefuge-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2fQj1s_9SECplZN0m1Rywg#/registration

Dear Partners in Advocacy, I am delighted to share that the registration link for our 2024 Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM Fall Advocacy Conference is now live! I hope you have been marking November 16th, from 8:30 to 1 p.m., on your calendars. The conference will again be held at All Saints Lutheran Church in Albuquerque. This year I have invited two legislators who are bringing to a close their public service in the New Mexico Legislature, Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino (D) and Rep. Jason Harper (R), and have asked them to speak about their experiences, their thoughts on challenges and opportunities in public policy moving forward, and the importance of New Mexicans being involved in the legislative process.
          Additionally, I have invited Wayne Mueller as a keynote speaker. Wayne is an executive leadership mentor, therapist, minister, community advocate, consultant, public speaker, and bestselling author of several books. A graduate of Harvard Divinity School, Wayne has spent the last thirty-five years working with people suffering from abuse, alcoholism, poverty, illness, and loss. Though not entirely, a significant part of Wayne's reflection will be drawn from the lead-up to and the aftermath of our election on November 5th.
          Though we highly recommend in-person attendance for the most impactful experience, an online Zoom option will also be available and a link will be sent the week of the event. Lunch and morning refreshments will be provided for in-person participants as well as useful materials to take back to congregations. The in-person registration fee is $25 per person and online participation is $15. https://www.lutheranadvocacynm.org. ~Kurt A. Rager LAM-NM, Director krager@rmselca.org

From Lutheran World Relief: Ten containers of LWR Quilts & Kits have reached communities in the southeastern U.S. that were devastated by hurricanes Helene and Milton. Recipients included residents of a shelter for homeless veterans in Asheville, NC, that was badly flooded during the storm. Watch to see these gifts being made, packed, prayed over and shipped: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbnVHtS-TKs. Give at: lwr.org/helene-recovery

Updates Beginning 27 October 2024

Today the Adult Faith Development group will be discussing Saints we have known.  Is there a person in your life who became a mentor to you?  Perhaps they helped guide you on your faith journey or maybe they listened to you when you needed a compassionate ear. The person can be someone from your past or even someone you rely on currently.  How did they become a saint to you?  We encourage you to get a snack and some coffee and come to the conference room to join us in this discussion.  We begin at 11:15 and attempt to end our conversation between noon and 12:15. We would welcome your participation!  ~Jan Krakow for the Adult Faith Development team

From Calico Butterfly Preschool: This Thursday, October 31st, come and help us make a special day for our Calico children as they parade in their Halloween costumes. We will gather at 10am on the sidewalk at the south side of the building. You will enjoy their excitement and will be delighted by their costumes. All you need to do is to wish them Happy Halloween as they parade by you! If you would like to bring candy to hand out, please, no hard candies or ones with nuts. Thanks! ~Marisol Flores-Gutierrez

2025 SPLC Council. Our next Congregational Meeting is Sunday, November 24th, following our Worship service. Among agenda items, in accordance with our St. Paul constitution and by-laws, we will be electing 4 members of St. Paul Lutheran Church to fill council positions that will be open in January 2025, after the completion of 4 members’ 3-year terms (Peggy Burnett, Sharon Hamilton, Roger Hein, and Jeff Peterson). If you are interested in becoming a member of our church council and are a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, please speak with anyone currently on council so that we may add your name to the ballot.  If you have questions about council, you may speak with Sara Love, council president; Peggy Burnett, council vice-president; or Nancy Jenkins, council secretary. ~Peggy Burnett

Tuesday, November 5th has two events happening: 1) If you haven't already voted, this will be your last chance to do so, and 2) As usual, we will meet again for First Tuesday at SW Grape and Grain, 3401 Candelaria NE, between 4:00 - 6:00pm. All are invited to come and have social time with each other; bring a snack to share if you like.  We'll toast to the future health of our country. New members, come if you can so we can get to know you better! ~Nancy Matthews

Stewardship: During these days leading up to November 10th, we ask you to think and pray about what this church means to you and how you can support it in the coming year?  Why November 10th?  That Sunday during worship we’ll receive your commitment of financial support for 2025.  Grouped together, our intentions will enable us to do another year of faithful and creative ministry.  November 10th also happens to be the anniversary of Luther’s birth.  Martin Luther was born in Eisleben, Germany, on November 10, 1483.  Though Luther disliked having a church named after him, we bear his name—and, more importantly, his proclamation of God’s generous grace—in our very identity. ~Hal Nilsson, on behalf of the Stewardship Committee

Greetings from Worship & Music: On November 17, Father Quirino Cornejo, from the RMS Bishop’s Office will lead a discussion about our emerging Spanish speaking ministry in the Sanctuary immediately following worship. On this day, we are inviting our partners (who usually worship in our Chapel at 11:30) to worship with us so that we can officially welcome them into the St. Paul family. We will be using a new liturgy from the worship supplement All Creation Sings (Setting 12). This is a bilingual liturgy with very singable, but new, music. Anyone who would like to practice the liturgy ahead of time is invited to stay after worship on November 10. ~Terry Cole

Attention All Worship Leaders: I will be making the new schedules for Assisting Ministers and Communion Assistants soon. If you currently serve in these roles, please let me know any dates between now and March 30, 2025 that you know you cannot serve. If you are not currently a communion assistant or assisting minister, please consider joining this important ministry. We always need new leaders. Training will happily be provided! Please talk to me or send an email if you would like more information about these jobs. ~Peace, Terry Cole for Worship and Music

Prayer Shawls Are Available in the Narthex! Thank you to all who have been filling the basket once again. This ministry provides a tangible reminder that God wraps us in love. Please pick one up for anyone who could use a warm, cuddly prayer shawl for comfort. If you would like to knit or crochet a shawl, please pick up some yarn and patterns in the church office to get started. ~Sharon Hamilton

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

October’s God’s Work Our Hands Project: Coat Drive for Dignity Mission. We are collecting new, or gently used and very clean, coats—for all sizes and all ages! Dignity Mission delivers a truckload of supplies to El Paso every six weeks for asylum seekers. St. Paul is partnering in this coat drive with All Saints Lutheran. There is a collection bin in the Welcome Center. Thank you! to all who have already donated in support of our neighbors to the south as we approach the colder months. ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Have you noticed the name tags on some of our newest community? Help them learn our names too! Please wear your name tag - they are found in the display box just inside the narthex (ask directions, if needed). Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

We collect dry and canned goods for The Storehouse.  Don't forget about the hungry in the midst of all our other collections.  Pet food is also appreciated. ~Nancy Matthews

From Local Partner Organizations

Church Women United, an ecumenical Christian women’s group, will meet for the annual World Community Day celebration this Friday, November 1st at St. Luke Lutheran Church at 9100 Menaul Blvd NE. The meeting will begin at 9:30am for coffee fellowship, followed by the program which concentrates on the theme of “Humility” from Matthew 5:5. Rev. Patty Davison will lead a Bible study, followed by a presentation of the work of the Compassion Services Center in the International District by Pastor Joanne Landry. A collection of bath towels and feminine hygiene products will be gathered for the Center. Join us and bring a friend!  Questions?  Please contact Shirley Nilsson at 505-463-3657.

Thanks to the generous support from our member congregations this year, ABQ FaithWorks continues to help asylum seekers, and those at risk of homelessness. We are recruiting for all sorts of volunteer roles in direct service, administrative, IT, and fundraising. We would love to talk with you about your passion, skills, talent and time and find the right volunteer match for you! Go to https://www.abqfaithworks.org/copy-of-volunteer or give me a call at 505-333-8059. ~Hannah Albee, Executive Director

Next Sunday:

Time To Order Your Luminarias! Every season since 1981, Albuquerque Youth Symphony students and families fold, assemble, and sell thousands of dozens of luminarias across the Albuquerque metro area. Proceeds support AYSP's symphonic music education programs in our vibrant community that serve approximately 400 students annually in grades 4-12.
AYSP luminarias are priced at $12 per dozen. Order your luminarias online by November 24 for delivery on December 7 (minimum order for delivery is 4 dozen). Fewer than 4 dozen can be picked up on December 14 at the AYSP building. Order at: https://www.aysmusic.org/luminarias/

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

Lutheran World Relief Urgent Response: In devastated communities throughout the Southeast, families are left without food, water or shelter. With you by our side, we're teaming up with local organizations to help meet the most urgent needs, including food, water and shelter. And we're rushing Personal Care Kits and Mission Quilts to families who've lost everything. Give by October 31 at: https://lwr.org/ (Emergency Alert).

Sacred Crossroads: Immigration and the 2024 Election. This new AMMPARO resource guide is posted in the Welcome Center and can be downloaded at: https://resources.elca.org/. Use this nonpartisan resource to explore key facts about immigration (one of the most important issues informing the upcoming U.S. national election) reflect on how Christian values compel us to pursue justice, help the oppressed, promote human dignity and human flourishing, and pray for a government that serves all neighbors.

Dear Partners in Advocacy, I am delighted to share that the registration link for our 2024 Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM Fall Advocacy Conference is now live! I hope you have been marking November 16th, from 8:30 to 1 p.m., on your calendars. The conference will again be held at All Saints Lutheran Church in Albuquerque. This year I have invited two legislators who are bringing to a close their public service in the New Mexico Legislature, Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino (D) and Rep. Jason Harper (R), and have asked them to speak about their experiences, their thoughts on challenges and opportunities in public policy moving forward, and the importance of New Mexicans being involved in the legislative process.
          Additionally, I have invited Wayne Mueller as a keynote speaker. Wayne is an executive leadership mentor, therapist, minister, community advocate, consultant, public speaker, and bestselling author of several books. A graduate of Harvard Divinity School, Wayne has spent the last thirty-five years working with people suffering from abuse, alcoholism, poverty, illness, and loss. Though not entirely, a significant part of Wayne's reflection will be drawn from the lead-up to and the aftermath of our election on November 5th.
          Though we highly recommend in-person attendance for the most impactful experience, an online Zoom option will also be available and a link will be sent the week of the event. Lunch and morning refreshments will be provided for in-person participants as well as useful materials to take back to congregations. The in-person registration fee is $25 per person and online participation is $15. https://www.lutheranadvocacynm.org. ~Kurt A. Rager Director, LAM-NM, krager@rmselca.org

Election 2024: What the Results Mean for Immigrants and Refugees. Global Refuge invites you to join us as we address these questions and more at our special webinar, on November 22 at 12 pm ET. We will discuss where the work of welcome stands after the election and share our next steps as we support and advocate for immigrants and refugees in these challenging times. https://globalrefuge-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2fQj1s_9SECplZN0m1Rywg#/registration

Updates Beginning 20 October 2024

Today we wrap up a three-part Bible Study entitled After Certainty by our new Bishop Meghan Johnston Aelabouni. This gives us an opportunity to learn what it means to live in faith when it may feel like the days of predictability and stability are behind us in the wake of a worldwide pandemic, escalating climate change, political turmoil and a changing religious landscape. This week’s focus is Compassion. A copy of the study will be available, but you don't need to study ahead to take part. Come and join the discussion in the Conference Room at 11:15—all are welcome! ~Shirley Nilsson

Remembering the Saints, November 3. All Saints will be upon us before we know it! The Visual Choir will once again be hanging our All Saints photo banners. Many of you have loved ones (Our Saints) represented on these memorial collages. They have proven to be very effective in remembering those who have gone before us!
For anyone who would like to add a photo of someone who has died this year, please bring or email your photo with all of the pertinent information. Your photos will be printed in black and white for the banners and will be displayed on our "Dia de los Muertos" ofrenda, in color or as you provide. You will have your photo returned to you unharmed.
There is a box in the Welcome Center for you to submit them (or hand them to me, Jo Browning, Jan Krakow, Karen Bunch, Shirley Nilsson, or Kathy Callahan) or email them to: janobowers68@gmail.com by today, October 20. Thank you! ~Jan Bowers

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

Trick or Treat Candy for Martineztown: St. Paul donates bags of wrapped candies for the annual Halloween event for our neighbors in Martineztown. This year our Martineztown Work Group (St. Paul, 2nd Presbyterian and San Ignacio Catholic) is working with the new city-run Community Center there to have a Halloween gathering on Oct. 30. There is a box in the Welcome Center. Please bring bags in by today, Oct. 20. ~Ivan Westergaard

From Calico Butterfly Preschool: Come and help us make a special day for our Calico children as they parade in their Halloween costumes. We will gather at 10:00 Thursday, October 31st on the sidewalk at the south side of the building. You will enjoy their excitement and will be delighted by their costumes. All you need to do is to wish them Happy Halloween as they parade by you! If you would like to bring candy to hand out, please, no hard candies or ones with nuts. Thanks! ~Marisol Flores-Gutierrez

October’s God’s Work Our Hands Project: Coat Drive for Dignity Mission. This month we are collecting new, or gently used and very clean, coats—for all sizes and all ages! Dignity Mission delivers a truckload of supplies to El Paso every six weeks for asylum seekers. St. Paul is partnering in this coat drive with All Saints Lutheran. There is a collection bin in the Welcome Center or you can drop them off in the Office. Thank you! to all who have already donated in support of our neighbors to the south as we approach the colder months. ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Tuesday, November 5th has two events happening: 1) If you haven't already voted, this will be your last chance to do so, and 2) As usual, we will meet again for First Tuesday at SW Grape and Grain, 3401 Candelaria NE, between 4:00 - 6:00pm. All are invited to come and have social time with each other; bring a snack to share if you like.  We'll toast to the future health of our country. New members, come if you can so we can get to know you better! ~Nancy Matthews

Greetings from Worship & Music: On November 17, Father Quirino Cornejo, from the RMS Bishop’s Office will lead a discussion about our emerging Spanish speaking ministry in the Sanctuary immediately following worship. On this day, we are inviting our partners (who usually worship in our Chapel at 11:30) to worship with us so that we can officially welcome them into the St. Paul family. We will be using a new liturgy from the worship supplement All Creation Sings (Setting 12). This is a bilingual liturgy with very singable, but new, music. Anyone who would like to practice the liturgy ahead of time is invited to stay after worship on November 10. ~Terry Cole

Stewardship: During these days leading up to November 10th, we ask you to think and pray about what this church means to you and how you can support it in the coming year?  Why November 10th?  That Sunday during worship we’ll receive your commitment of financial support for 2025.  Grouped together, our intentions will enable us to do another year of faithful and creative ministry.  November 10th also happens to be the anniversary of Luther’s birth.  Martin Luther was born in Eisleben, Germany, on November 10, 1483.  Though Luther disliked having a church named after him, we bear his name—and, more importantly, his proclamation of God’s generous grace—in our very identity. ~Hal Nilsson, on behalf of the Stewardship Committee

Have you noticed the name tags on some of our newest community? Help them learn our names too! Please wear your name tag - they are found in the display box just inside the narthex (ask directions, if needed).  Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

We collect dry and canned goods for The Storehouse.  Don't forget about the hungry in the midst of all our other collections.  Pet food is also appreciated. ~Nancy Matthews

From Local Partner Organizations

Ally Event: Gathering for Gaza. Today, Sunday, 10/20 from 1-4 PM, Chispas Farm: 229 Saavedra Rd SW. Celebrate the Jewish Harvest Festival of Sukkot with the ABQ Tzedek Collective and build community and raise funds for Healing Our Homeland, a Palestinian-led, grassroots project providing direct aid in Gaza. For info and to rsvp: bit.ly/gather-for-gaza-rsvp. ~Jewish Voices for Peace Albuquerque

Church Women United, an ecumenical Christian women’s group, will meet for the annual World Community Day celebration on Friday, November 1st at St. Luke Lutheran Church at 9100 Menaul Blvd NE. The meeting will begin at 9:30am for coffee fellowship, followed by the program which concentrates on the theme of “Humility” from Matthew 5:5. Rev. Patty Davison will lead a Bible study, followed by a presentation of the work of the Compassion Services Center in the International District by Pastor Joanne Landry. A collection of bath towels and feminine hygiene products will be gathered for the Center. Join us and bring a friend!  Questions?  Please contact Shirley Nilsson at 505-463-3657.

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

Greetings and gratitude from Bishop Johnston Aelabouni:
I thank you God for most this amazing day…
Dear friends in Christ, the celebration of my installation as bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod on October 5 truly echoed this verse sung by the installation choir. It was indeed an amazing day: a day of prayer and song in English and Spanish, scripture read in Bahasa Indonesian and Malagasy, and the proclamation of the Gospel from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton. We gave thanks for the gift of baptism with water from the rivers of our synod, our camps, our New Beginnings community inside the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility, and synod partners in Wisconsin and Madagascar. Our congregation included members, deacons, and pastors from every area of our synod, from El Paso to Wyoming; and friends and partners from throughout and beyond the ELCA; as well as nine current ELCA bishops, three ecumenical bishops, two former bishops of our synod, and Presiding Bishop Eaton (and a partridge in a pear tree!) And while not everyone in our synod could be physically present, and the current war in the Holy Land prevented our invited preacher, Pastor Sally Azar of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, from joining us, we also felt the presence of the body of Christ throughout our synod, the ELCA, and the global Lutheran communion who joined us on livestream.
                In the ELCA congregation in California where I was a youth, a sign at the rear of our sanctuary read: “The worship has ended; let the service begin!” In that spirit, with the installation behind us, our shared service in the Gospel has only just begun! I am looking forward with excitement to all that God will call and equip us to do together. May the Holy Spirit who filled our worship continue to fill our hearts and minds with faith, courage, and inspiration as we embark on this season of ministry as one church!
In Christ, Bishop Meghan

A Special Bread For The World Strategy Briefing is on October 28th, at 6pm ET via Zoom. During the call, you will hear from a variety of speakers, including Managing Director Rev. Heather Taylor. You will be informed – and inspired – to hear about the impact you are having on Bread’s work to get Congress to do more to address global hunger and to help vulnerable families in the U.S. We will also update you on the Nourish Our Future campaign, post-election strategy, and what you can do by advocating in your own community. Register at: go.bread.org/page/74002/survey/1

Lutheran World Relief Urgent Response: In devastated communities throughout the Southeast, families are left without food, water or shelter. With you by our side, we're teaming up with local organizations to help meet the most urgent needs, including food, water and shelter. And we're rushing Personal Care Kits and Mission Quilts to families who've lost everything. Our teams — and your neighbors who are suffering — are counting on your love, prayers and support. Give by October 31 at: https://lwr.org/ (Emergency Alert).

Sacred Crossroads: Immigration and the 2024 Election. This new AMMPARO resource guide is posted in the Welcome Center. We can make copies in the Office (it is not available yet on the ELCA website). Use this nonpartisan resource to explore key facts about immigration (one of the most important issues informing the upcoming U.S. national election) reflect on how Christian values compel us to pursue justice, help the oppressed, promote human dignity and human flourishing, and pray for a government that serves all neighbors. This resource raises the importance of centering our values as well as the perspectives of others, includes guidance from ELCA social teaching, facts and statistics about immigration, offers prayer, questions for personal reflection, and questions for candidates for elected office, and more!

Updates Beginning 13 October 2024

Today we continue a three-part Bible Study entitled After Certainty by our new Bishop Meghan Johnston Aelabouni. This gives us an opportunity to learn what it means to live in faith when it may feel like the days of predictability and stability are behind us in the wake of a worldwide pandemic, escalating climate change, political turmoil and a changing religious landscape. Last week’s focus was Curiosity, today’s is Community,  and next week’s is Compassion. In the process of reviewing Bishop Aelabourni's studies, we will certainly learn more about the author, as well, which will be an added bonus to our work together. Come and join the discussions. A copy of each study will be available, but you don't need to study ahead to take part. Join us in the Conference Room at 11:15—all are welcome! ~Shirley Nilsson

Remembering the Saints, November 3. All Saints will be upon us before we know it! The Visual Choir will once again be hanging our All Saints photo banners. Many of you have loved ones (Our Saints) represented on these memorial collages. They have proven to be very effective in remembering those who have gone before us!
For anyone who would like to add a photo of someone who has died this year, please bring or email your photo with all of the pertinent information. Your photos will be printed in black and white for the banners and will be displayed on our "Dia de los Muertos" ofrenda, in color or as you provide. You will have your photo returned to you unharmed.
There will be a box in the Welcome Center for you to submit them (or hand them to me, Jo Browning, Jan Krakow, Karen Bunch, Shirley Nilsson, or Kathy Callahan) or email them to: janobowers68@gmail.com by October 20. Thank you! ~Jan Bowers

Trick or Treat Candy for Martineztown: For several years St. Paul has  provided bags of wrapped candies for the annual Halloween event for our neighbors in Martineztown. This year our Martineztown Work Group is working with the new city-run Community Center there to have a Halloween gathering on Oct. 30. There will be a box in the entry area for bags of candies. Please bring bags by Oct. 20. (The Work Group is St. Paul, 2nd Presbyterian and San Ignacio Catholic Churches.) ~- Ivan Westergaard

Adopted Families: A client advocate from Healthcare for the Homeless called me looking for help with bus tickets for two of her clients. We had just enough money in our account to handle both tickets. The first was for a man who was highly motivated to relocate to the place where he could work with CYFD to regain custody of his two children who were recently removed from the care of their mother. The bus didn't go all the way to the town but he had a friend who would come get him and then put him up until he could get settled in an apartment. The second ticket was for another highly motivated man to move to the city where his mother is located; she has him booked in a treatment center. Together the tickets cost about $174. Thank you for enabling me to help these clients who are making a real effort to better their situations. ~Kay Schoenefeld, Coordinator

Stewardship: During these days leading up to November 10th, we ask you to think and pray about what this church means to you and how you can support it in the coming year?  Why November 10th?  That Sunday during worship we’ll receive your commitment of financial support for 2025.  Grouped together, our intentions will enable us to do another year of faithful and creative ministry.  November 10th also happens to be the anniversary of Luther’s birth.  Martin Luther was born in Eisleben, Germany, on November 10, 1483.  Though Luther disliked having a church named after him, we bear his name—and, more importantly, his proclamation of God’s generous grace—in our very identity. ~Hal Nilsson, on behalf of the Stewardship Committee

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

October’s God’s Work Our Hands Project: Coat Drive for Dignity Mission. This month we are collecting new, or gently used and very clean, coats—for all sizes and all ages! Dignity Mission delivers a truckload of supplies to El Paso every six weeks for asylum seekers. St. Paul is partnering in this coat drive with All Saints Lutheran. There is a collection bin in the Welcome Center or you can drop them off in the Office. Thank you for supporting our neighbors to the south as we approach the colder months. ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Opportunities to Donate:

• Fires and floods have put a strain on the food banks. We have Storehouse collection barrels in the Narthex for food items for people and pets.  Please share what you can.

• We collect aluminum so our children can spend that money on ministries that support families around the world. Place your donations in the blue bin in Friendship Corner.

• We also collect the pop-tops from all aluminum cans for Ronald McDonald House. Place your donation in the basket under the clock in the office.

Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

From Local Partner Organizations

Please join us on Thursday, October 17 for Walk With Us: Building Friendship and Community! We are partnering with Hillel House UNM, Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, and #WeWalkWithShawn to host a community walk and talk. Yes, Shawn Dromgoole is walking with us! (WewalkwithShawn.org)
This is a designated time to walk with our neighbors and get to know each other better. We will gather at Luther House (1805 Las Lomas Rd. NE) at 5:30pm for snacks. The walk begins at 6:10pm and meanders through UNM central campus. We will take another snack break at the Student Union Building and walk and talk our way to Hillel House for a Sukkot Celebration! All are welcome to join us for this amazing event. ~Blessings, Pastor Rhonda, Luther House UNM & CNM

Ally Event: Gathering for Gaza. Sunday, 10/20 from 1-4 PM, Chispas Farm: 229 Saavedra Rd SW. Celebrate the Jewish Harvest Festival of Sukkot with the ABQ Tzedek Collective and build community and raise funds for Healing Our Homeland, a Palestinian-led, grassroots project providing direct aid in Gaza. For info and to rsvp: bit.ly/gather-for-gaza-rsvp

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

From Bp. Johnston Aelabouni: Hurricanes Helene & Milton - How Can You Respond?

Pray

Jesus, when you speak peace, your words calm storms and comfort fears.
Extend your power and grace to all impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Speak peace and healing over bodies and spirits broken by the chaos.
Speak peace and hope over families and communities devastated by sudden loss.
Speak peace and unity over devastated populations and economies.
Speak peace and justice over distribution centers, insurance claims, and reconstruction efforts.
Speak peace and protection over rescue workers and all who are transporting aid to isolated areas.
Jesus, speak peace.
Into your hands, O Loving Savior, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy and your peace -- Amen.

Inspired by a prayer written by Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, "A Prayer for Storm Survivors" from the blog, "Turning the Word".

Give

Donate to Lutheran Disaster Response which will support both short-and-long-term recovery across the Southeast: community.elca.org/givenow:

• Choose “I would like to choose an area for this gift to support”

• Choose “Lutheran Disaster Response”

• Choose "Where Needed Most"

• Write "Disaster Fund" in the memo field.

World Food Day is this Tuesday, 15 October. A Message from Bishop Eaton: “ELCA World Hunger is a great example of how we are church together and church for the sake of the world. I have witnessed firsthand the impact of ELCA World Hunger on communities around the world. During a trip to the Yunnan province of China, I had the opportunity to visit with the Lisu people at a farm where they grew medicinal herbs to help support their families with food and clothing. The partnership with ELCA World Hunger changed traditional farming methods to help lift people out of poverty. We are grateful for the generosity of ELCA members and others who have responded to God’s promise of a just world where all are fed. We look forward to the next 50 years of transformational work through ELCA World Hunger.” ~Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton

Bread for the World has set a goal to raise $15,000 for World Food Day to support our advocacy to end hunger. This year’s World Food Day theme is “Right to food for a better life and a better future.” At Bread, we believe wholeheartedly in this message. Hunger is not inevitable, and that’s why we advocate tirelessly for good policy decisions to get food to those who need it: https://www.bread.org/

West, Southwest, and Midwest Regional Online Meeting. This Wednesday, October 16 at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET: In addition to a full report on Nourish Our Future, we will share an update on the farm bill and bring you up to speed on Bread advocacy in your region. Don’t miss it! Register at: https://www.bread.org/event/2024-october-regional-online-meetings/

A special strategy briefing via Zoom on Monday, October 28th, at 6:00 p.m. (ET). During the call, you will hear from a variety of speakers, including Managing Director Rev. Heather Taylor. You and other Bread for the World leaders will be informed – and I hope, inspired – to hear about the impact you are having on our work to get Congress to do more to address global hunger and to help vulnerable families in the U.S. We will also update you on our ongoing Nourish Our Future campaign, post-election strategy, and what you can do by advocating in your own community. Register at: https://go.bread.org/page/74002/survey/1

Urgent Response: Disasters Continue to Strike God’s Children. In devastated communities throughout the Southeast, families are left without food, water or shelter. With you by our side, we're teaming up with local organizations to help meet the most urgent needs, including food, water and shelter. And we're rushing Personal Care Kits and Mission Quilts to families who've lost everything. Our teams — and your neighbors who are suffering — are counting on your love, prayers and support. Give by October 31 at: https://lwr.org/ (Emergency Alert).

Lutheran World Relief’s Autumn Special Report is posted in the Welcome Center and available at https://lwr.org/

You're invited to nominate students for Lutheran Summer Music 2025. LSM is the nation's premier faith-based residential music academy for high school students. Each year, young musicians come together from around the country to immerse themselves in musical excellence and build a supportive and fun community, sharing musical gifts in performance and in worship. Priority Enrollment is open now through December 1. Application fees increase and spots fill through the year, so we encourage students to apply early. https://www.lsmacademy.org/nominate

The ELCA Conference of Bishops met Sept. 24-28 in Chicago. To read a recap of that week’s actions, visit: https://elca.org/News-and-Events/8248

Reconciling Works October newsletter is posted in the Welcome Center and available here: https://www.reconcilingworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/October-2024-RWKS-Newsletter-1.pdf

Updates Beginning 6 October 2024

Thank You! to everyone who made Monday night’s dinner for the Malagasy Presidents so special! We had 50 in attendance, and representatives from 3 other Lutheran congregations as well as Luther Place and St. Paul!  A special thank you to Mino, Sara and Terry for all their efforts to make this visit happen. ~Pr. Koppel

Today in Adult Faith Development: We will get to know our newly installed RMS bishop, Meghan Johnston Aelabouni, through her three-part Bible study, After Certainty, from the Women of the ELCA’s Gather magazine. Shirley Nilsson will lead this session. This series focuses on what it means to live in faith after certainty. In these years of a worldwide pandemic, escalating climate change, political turmoil and a changing religious landscape, it may feel like the days of predictability and stability are behind us. What will the future bring now? Join us in the Conference Room at 11:15—all are welcome! ~Deborah Ash

Trick or Treat Candy for Martineztown: For several years St. Paul has  provided bags of wrapped candies for the annual Halloween event for our neighbors in Martineztown. This year our Martineztown Work Group is working with the new city-run Community Center there to have a Halloween gathering on Oct. 30. There will be a box in the entry area for bags of candies. Please bring bags by Oct. 20. (The Work Group is St. Paul, 2nd Presbyterian and San Ignacio Catholic Churches.) ~- Ivan Westergaard

Sewing Machine Update: We are pleased to announce that the two sewing machines that have been residents of the St. Paul sewing closet for at least the past ten years have found new homes.

• The newer 1960-ish Singer Rocket model has found a home with Diana Mullen, who is thrilled to have it.

• The antique Singer treadle machine has found a home at the Albuquerque Little Theatre. Dana Mullen reached out to them to see if they might be interested. They are excited to be able to add it to their collection of props. It is expected to make its debut in the Beauty and the Beast play in a couple of months.

While we appreciate your gifts and thoughtfulness, because of our limited storage space, the St. Paul Sewing Group will no longer be accepting sewing machine donations. ~Peggy Burnett, Susan Latella, Marsha Kearney

October’s God’s Work Our Hands Project: Coat Drive for Dignity Mission. This month we are collecting new, or gently used and very clean, coats—for all sizes and all ages! Dignity Mission delivers a truckload of supplies to El Paso every six weeks for asylum seekers. St. Paul is partnering in this coat drive with All Saints Lutheran. There is a collection bin in the Welcome Center or you can drop them off in the Office. Thank you for supporting our neighbors to the south as we approach the colder months. ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Stewardship: During these days leading up to November 10th, we ask you to think and pray about what this church means to you and how you can support it in the coming year?  Why November 10th?  That Sunday during worship we’ll receive your commitment of financial support for 2025.  Grouped together, our intentions will enable us to do another year of faithful and creative ministry.  November 10th also happens to be the anniversary of Luther’s birth.  Martin Luther was born in Eisleben, Germany, on November 10, 1483.  Though Luther disliked having a church named after him, we bear his name—and, more importantly, his proclamation of God’s generous grace—in our very identity. ~Hal Nilsson, on behalf of the Stewardship Committee

Adopted Families: We have become aware of several families (refugees) who are in need of blankets. If you can donate new, or gently used and very clean, blankets for them, please put them in the narthex coatroom or call Kay if you need someone to pick them up. Thank you! ~Kay Schoenefeld, Coordinator

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

Opportunities to Donate:

• Fires and floods have put a strain on the food banks. We have Storehouse collection barrels in the Narthex for food items for people and pets.  Please share what you can.

• We collect aluminum so our children can spend that money on ministries that support families around the world. Place your donations in the blue bin in Friendship Corner.

• We also collect the pop-tops from all aluminum cans for Ronald McDonald House. Place your donation in the basket under the clock in the office.

Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

From Local Partner Organizations

Today at St. Paul:

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

This Saturday, RMS Creation Care Team : Zoom Nature Connection Workshop October 12th, 10am. An opportunity to pause “business as usual” and allow a reconnection with ourselves, our surroundings, and our source. As Nigerian philosopher, Bayo Akomolafe, says, “The times are urgent, let us slow down.” During our time together, participants will reflect on the current state of the world, and practice honoring our pains for our world as we practice moving that pain while reconnecting with the Earth and each other. It's a chance to remember that we are part of nature and learn practices for how to have the ability to draw wisdom from the Earth for guidance, resilience, and inspiration. I am excited to share this experience with you as we navigate these challenges together. Please RSVP at sheri@yourpathcoach.org no later than Friday, October 11 will aid in preparing for the event and provide you with more information. Feel free to reach out in the meantime as well, with any questions.

Lutheran Disaster Response to Hurricane Helene: “We can't yet know what we're facing in terms of damage … but I do know [this],” says the Rev. Timothy Smith, bishop of the North Carolina Synod. “Lutheran Disaster Response, in partnership with our synod, along with other helpers, will be there for the long haul, and we will rally around our congregations, camps and communities.” LDR has strong relationships in the region and is already at work on the ground. Working alongside synods and other partners, Lutheran Disaster Response is prepared to provide support throughout the impacted region: ELCA.org/hurricanes

World Food Day is Tuesday, October 15! Join ELCA World Hunger at 7pm Central that day for an online celebration of World Food Day and the 50th anniversary of ELCA World Hunger. Hear firsthand stories from partners at ELCA World Hunger projects — including Educación Popular en Salud (EPES), a community health organization in Chile founded over 40 years ago, and more recent starts such as Tapestry Farms, a Midwestern urban farm system in the “Quad Cities” of Iowa and Illinois. You’ll see the impact of 50 years of ELCA World Hunger work and get excited and equipped to be a part of the next 50 years! Zoom registration: elca.org/wh50

Updates Beginning 29 September 2024

Today, 29 September: Sometimes it seems like doomsday. We are surrounded by wars, famine, and death. Climate change is raging ahead unchecked. And we seem to be powerless to do anything about any of it. This Sunday morning, the adult class will see and hear Brian McLaren talking about his new book Life after Doom: wisdom and courage for a world falling apart. There will be time for discussion on this crucial topic. Join us after the service at 11:15 in the Conference Room. Everyone (and we do mean everyone) is welcome. ~Bob Matthews

Tomorrow, 30 September at 6pm: Please plan to attend!

~Sara Love & Mino Rakotoarijaona

This week will be the First Tuesday of October!  Come join us at SW Grape and Grain, 3401 Candelaria NE any time between 4-6pm, to share conversation over snacks and drinks.  See you then! ~Nancy Matthews

Stewardship: During these days leading up to November 10th, we ask you to think and pray about what this church means to you and how you can support it in the coming year?  Why November 10th?  That Sunday during worship we’ll receive your commitment of financial support for 2025.  Grouped together, our intentions will enable us to do another year of faithful and creative ministry.  November 10th also happens to be the anniversary of Luther’s birth.  Martin Luther was born in Eisleben, Germany, on November 10, 1483.  Though Luther disliked having a church named after him, we bear his name—and, more importantly, his proclamation of God’s generous grace—in our very identity. ~Hal Nilsson, on behalf of the Stewardship Committee

Adopted Families: We have become aware of several families (refugees) who are in need of blankets. If you can donate new or gently used and very clean blankets for them, please put them in the narthex coatroom or call Kay if you need someone to pick them up. We appreciate the blankets donated to date. Thank you! ~Kay Schoenefeld, Coordinator

Thank you for your support for September’s God’s Work Our Hands project! We continue to collect donations through tomorrow for the Friends Feeding Friends’ “First Thursday” meal in October at Hope Works. Next week we will announce the details of our October project supporting Dignity Mission. ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Opportunities to Donate:
·        Fires and floods have put a strain on the food banks. We have Storehouse collection barrels in the Narthex for food items for people and pets.  Please share what you can.
·        We collect aluminum so our children can spend that money on ministries that support families around the world. Place your donations in the blue bin in Friendship Corner.
·        We also collect the pop-tops from all aluminum cans for Ronald McDonald House. Place your donation in the basket under the clock in the office.
Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

From Local Partner Organizations

Tomorrow 30 September at 7pm: Speaking of Genocide with Dr. Omer Bartov. UNM Anthropology Bldg, Rm 163. Dr. Bartov is the Samuel Pisar Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University. He has written widely on war crimes, interethnic relations, and genocide. ~Jewish Voice for Peace

This Wednesday, 2 October: National Coffee with a Cop Day. Hosted by Christy Mae’s, 1400 San Pedro Dr NE, 10:30-12:30pm. Join your neighbors and police officers for coffee and conversation. ~Albuquerque Police

Next Sunday at St. Paul:

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

If you would like to make a donation as a gift to Bishop Meghan, please select "New Bishop Celebration Fund" from the drop-down menu here:  https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/64074

RMS Creation Care Team : Zoom Nature Connection Workshop Saturday, October 12th, 10am. An opportunity to pause “business as usual” and allow a reconnection with ourselves, our surroundings, and our source. As Nigerian philosopher, Bayo Akomolafe, says, “The times are urgent, let us slow down.” During our time together, participants will reflect on the current state of the world, and practice honoring our pains for our world as we practice moving that pain while reconnecting with the Earth and each other. It's a chance to remember that we are part of nature and learn practices for how to have the ability to draw wisdom from the Earth for guidance, resilience, and inspiration. I am excited to share this experience with you as we navigate these challenges together. Please RSVP at sheri@yourpathcoach.org no later than Friday, October 11 will aid in preparing for the event and provide you with more information. Feel free to reach out in the meantime as well, with any questions.

Pastor Howard Corry: It is with both sadness and confidence in the promise of Jesus Christ that we share the news of the death of Pastor Howard Corry. Pastor Corry served for many years as the campus minister at Luther House at the University of New Mexico, as well as in Hawaii, Utah, and New Zealand. Please pray for Pastor Howard's family and friends. ~Deacon Sarah Bjornebo, RMS

Updates Beginning 22 September 2024

Today, 22 September: Come to Adult Faith Development this morning (11:15 in the Conference Room) for a continuation of our conversation on civic life and our faith in these crucial times and for information about Dignity Mission and its work with asylum seekers in El Paso and Juarez. ~Ivan Westergaard

Stewardship: During these days leading up to November 10th, we ask you to think and pray about what this church means to you and how you can support it in the coming year?  Why November 10th?  That Sunday during worship we’ll receive your commitment of financial support for 2025.  Grouped together, our intentions will enable us to do another year of faithful and creative ministry.  November 10th also happens to be the anniversary of Luther’s birth.  Martin Luther was born in Eisleben, Germany, on November 10, 1483.  Though Luther disliked having a church named after him, we bear his name—and, more importantly, his proclamation of God’s generous grace—in our very identity. ~Hal Nilsson, on behalf of the Stewardship Committee

Adopted Families: We have become aware of several families (refugees) who are in need of blankets. If you can donate new or gently used and very clean blankets for them, please put them in the narthex coatroom or call Kay if you need someone to pick them up. Thank you! ~Kay Schoenefeld, Coordinator

September’s God’s Work Our Hands project will be collecting donations for the Friends Feeding Friends’ “First Thursday” meal in October at Hope Works. (Note “October FFF” on your check.) Thank you for supporting this monthly project for our neighbors! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Please sign up in the Welcome Center! ~Sara Love & Mino Rakotoarijaona

Opportunities to Donate:
·        Fires and floods put a strain on the food banks. We have Storehouse collection barrels in the Narthex for food items for people and pets.  Please share what you can.
·        We collect aluminum so our children can spend that money on ministries that support families around the world. Place your donations in the blue bin in Friendship Corner.
·        We also collect the pop-tops from all aluminum cans for Ronald McDonald House. Place your donation in the basket under the clock in the office.
Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

From Local Partner Organizations

Jewish Voice for Peace: Speaking of Genocide with Dr. Omer Bartov, 9/30, 7pm. UNM Anthropology Bldg, Rm 163. Dr. Bartov is the Samuel Pisar Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University. He has written widely on war crimes, interethnic relations, and genocide. 

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

A Letter from Bishop Johnston Aelabouni:

September 14, 2024

Dear friends in Christ,
Here in the office of the bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod, it’s been a full and fruitful six weeks of ministry since my first day in office. While I have begun building relationships and learning the landscape of our synod ministries, one of my key priorities and goals has been to develop staffing plans for the office of the bishop (OOB) moving forward; and I’d like to update you now on how these plans are developing.

From my first day as bishop, I invited all current staff in the OOB to remain in their positions for a three-month period (through October 31) to allow for discernment regarding God’s calling for the Rocky Mountain Synod in this new season of ministry with a new bishop. In various spaces of this synod, I have been asking, “What is the role of the office of the bishop in accompanying the people and ministries of this part of the church? What should our team keep doing, start doing, stop doing, or change? What is the help that is actually helpful?” The insight provided so far by lay members and leaders, deacons and pastors, council members and current staff has been invaluable (and is always welcome!) Based on our learning so far, the synod council executive committee has affirmed the following plan:

Continuity of Operations: I have asked our Administrative Assistant for Leadership, Yvonne Wilken, and our Finance Director, Jon Johnson, to remain in their positions. This will bring our office some important continuity of operations, especially in areas such as property, finance, and technology that the team has worked hard to improve. I have also asked our Special Assistant to the Bishop for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Pr. Barbara Berry-Bailey, to remain in her role as part of our synod’s commitment to racial justice.

Strategic Planning for Advocacy: I have invited our Advocacy Directors, Peter Severson (Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Colorado) and Kurt Rager (Lutheran Advocacy Ministry New Mexico) to remain in their positions for a year of strategic planning to determine how advocacy ministry in the RMS can become more sustainable and more inclusive of the whole territory of our synod.

Open Positions: For the work that currently falls under called positions as Assistant to the Bishop (including transitions/call processes, candidacy and first call, communications and events, and Director for Evangelical Mission work), we are formulating a group of positions that will be posted in an open call/hiring process. Anyone with a sense of call and gifts for the posted positions is invited to apply (including current staff as well as new applicants.) The goal of this approach is to build our OOB team in a process that is open, transparent, and equitable, in collaboration with elected and representative leadership of the synod. To that end, I will be working with a small hiring team representing our synod council executive committee (VP Ruth Hoffman and Pr. Matthew Weber) and conference deans (Pr. Stephanie Lord and Pr. Jeff Carlson). This team will work with me on finalizing job descriptions, interviewing candidates, and making recommendations; as bishop, I will make the final appointments to this position. (In the case of Director for Evangelical Mission positions, synods work in collaboration with the ELCA Churchwide Office on posting applications, interviewing applicants, and hiring.)

In the weeks to come, we will share more information as we have it available, including job descriptions, compensation ranges, and information on how to apply. We anticipate this process extending at least through the end of October—and we will strive to work as diligently as possible, while also leaving room for the work of the Holy Spirit in guiding our discernment and decisions. Please feel free to contact me (maelabouni@rmselca.org) or our synod vice-president, Ruth Hoffman (vp@rmselca.org) with questions or to share ideas or concerns.

I invite your prayers (and patience) for this process and for all who will take part in it. I am grateful to our current OOB staff for their faithful dedication and their openness to living and serving in a season of uncertainty; and I also ask your prayers for them over these coming weeks of discernment. As you pray for me and for our team, I will also be praying for you: for strength and health, joy and courage, and wisdom in the ways God has called and sent you into your communities and the world as bearers of the good news of Jesus.

In Christ,
Bishop Meghan

Updates Beginning 15 September 2024

Today: What Does it Mean to be Lutheran in a Crucial Election Year? Ruth Hoffman, Synod Vice President, will facilitate our Adult Faith Development session, as we look at how our faith interacts with our citizen responsibilities. Join us for stimulating conversation at 11:15 in the Conference Room. The draft ELCA "Social Statement on Civic Life and Faith" will be part of the discussion. ~Ivan Westergaard

Next Sunday, 22 September: Dignity Mission seeks to support asylum seekers in El Paso and Ciudad Juarez. Rae VanDeMotter, of All Saints Lutheran, will share concerns about the difficult times these people have as they seek legal entry to the U.S., on Sunday, Sept. 22, after worship at St. Paul. Dignity Mission is made up of a variety of congregations (ecumenical) and other institutions who gather personal care items, basic needs, food and water and deliver to a physician in El Paso who has access to these folks. Learn more: come to the Conference Room by 11:15 am on the 22nd.

Stewardship: During these days leading up to November 10th, we ask you to think and pray about what this church means to you and how you can support it in the coming year?  Why November 10th?  That Sunday during worship we’ll receive your commitment of financial support for 2025.  Grouped together, our intentions will enable us to do another year of faithful and creative ministry.  November 10th also happens to be the anniversary of Luther’s birth.  Martin Luther was born in Eisleben, Germany, on November 10, 1483.  Though Luther disliked having a church named after him, we bear his name—and, more importantly, his proclamation of God’s generous grace—in our very identity. ~Hal Nilsson, on behalf of the Stewardship Committee

Adopted Families: We have become aware of several families (refugees) who are in need of blankets. If you can donate new blankets for them, please put them in the narthex coatroom or call Kay if you need someone to pick them up. Thank you! ~Kay Schoenefeld, Coordinator

September’s God’s Work Our Hands project will be collecting donations for the Friends Feeding Friends’ “First Thursday” meal in October at Hope Works. (Note “October FFF” on your check.) Thank you for supporting this monthly project for our neighbors! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Please sign up in the Welcome Center! ~Sara Love & Mino Rakotoarijaona

A Thank You! to St. Paul:
On behalf of The Storehouse of New Mexico family, thank you for your gift of $230. Your donation will provide 1,150 meals for those in need. Across the board, higher food costs, the end of COVID benefits, and inflation have impacted many people in our community. As a result, we’ve seen a substantial increase in the number of people visiting the pantry over the last several months. The Storehouse is committed to provide food to every person who walks through our doors. Your support allows us to honor our commitment to our community and ensure that families facing food insecurity always have a place to turn. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. ~Amy Lavender, VP of Development

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

A Huge Thank You! to everyone who made last Sunday’s Rally Sunday picnic luncheon so special! We appreciated all those helping hands in Fellowship Hall! ~Deborah Ash

Opportunities to Donate:
·        Fires and floods put a strain on the food banks. We have Storehouse collection barrels in the Narthex for food items for people and pets.  Please share what you can.
·        We collect aluminum so our children can spend that money on ministries that support families around the world. Place your donations in the blue bin in Friendship Corner.
·        We also collect the pop-tops from all aluminum cans for Ronald McDonald House. Place your donation in the basket under the clock in the office.
Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews 

From Local Partner Organizations

Bread for the World Workshop is this Saturday, September 21, 8:30am-12pm, All Saints Lutheran Church, 4800 All Saints Road NW. "Nourish Our Future" is the campaign of BFW to fully fund and modernize the SNAP and WIC programs, expand the Child Tax Credit to cut poverty and hunger, develop solutions to college student hunger and develop an international "Children's Jubilee." The "Farm Bill" now facing Congress will be a focus as well a study on college student hunger, that was conducted by some UNM professors, one of whom will discuss the study at this workshop. You are encouraged to attend this workshop. Go to breadnm@gmail.com to register or talk to me or Buzz Lenander.  ~Ivan Westergaard

Jewish Voice for Peace: Speaking of Genocide with Dr. Omer Bartov, 9/30, 7pm. UNM Anthropology Bldg, Rm 163. Dr. Bartov is the Samuel Pisar Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University. He has written widely on war crimes, interethnic relations, and genocide.

Upcoming Event Sponsored by New Mexico Conference of Churches: Pilgrimage To Beauty, 6 October: Embark on a journey with Reverend Tiffany Curtis, a recent pilgrim on the Caminos de Santiago and Kumano Kodo pilgrimages, as she guides us through an afternoon pilgrimage to explore autumn beauty. Engage in contemplative prompts, foster community connections, and practice mindful walking in this local pilgrimage opportunity. Participants of all ages and abilities are welcome. Participants must be able to walk up to 4 miles at a slow pace, at high altitude, with a slow ascent and descent. The Pilgrimage to Beauty is part of The Journey Project: https://www.nmchurches.org/annual-pilgrimage. RSVP by 9/28 to Rev. Tiffany Curtis at rev.tiffany@theopencirclesantafe.org.

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

RMS AMMPARO Climate Change, Displacement & Conflict: Migrants Speak. This Wednesday, Sept. 18th, 3:00 pm ET. This webinar will explore the human impact of climate change, environmental degradation, and inadequate environmental protections on conflict and mobility, centering the voices of those most affected. Environmental defenders, Indigenous groups, and frontline communities share their stories and struggles, exposing the intersections of extractive industries, displacement, and the climate crisis. Register at: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1chvSKynTi-XZ1xOl7kxqw#/registration.

Indigenous Thought & Theology, Oct. 24, 2-4pm Central. Indian people have unique and beautiful ways of understanding the world. Indigenous wisdom – as it relates to living in relationship with the Creator, Mother Earth and other created beings – should be centered if we want to provide better care for our home and all our relatives. Indigenous Thought & Theology introduces participants to this wisdom and examines Indigenous ways of understanding, respecting and interacting with this wondrous world we inhabit. No pre-registration is required to participate. Just click "join the class" to attend.  https://elca.org/Our-Work/Congregations-and-Synods/Ministries-of-Diverse-Cultures-and-Communities/Indigenous-Ministries-and-Tribal-Relations/Truth-and-Healing-Movement

Updates Beginning 8 September 2024

Today! Join us in Fellowship Hall for our Picnic Luncheon and Piñata to celebrate Rally Sunday and God’s Work Our Hands. ~Pr. Koppel

Next Sunday, Sept. 15: What Does it Mean to be Lutheran in a Crucial Election Year? Ruth Hoffman, Synod Vice President, will facilitate our Adult Faith Development session, as we look at how our faith interacts with our citizen responsibilities. Join us for stimulating conversation at 11:15 in the Conference Room. The draft ELCA "Social Statement on Civic Life and Faith" will be part of the discussion. ~Ivan Westergaard

September’s God’s Work Our Hands project will be collecting donations for the Friends Feeding Friends’ “First Thursday” meal in October at Hope Works. (Note “October FFF” on your check.) Thank you for supporting this monthly project for our neighbors! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Adopted Families: We recently helped a single man with rent and bought Amtrak tickets for a single mom. The man has a CDL and was most recently employed as a long haul driver; but he lost that job when he was no longer needed. He is in the process of applying for another job but was only able to pay a little toward his current rent (his rent is due after the middle of the month). We paid $600 to complete payment for his current rent. He has never had to ask for help and wasn't sure where or how to ask; he also was quite embarrassed to ask. The landlady/owner says he is a very good person but she couldn't wait because she needed the money to pay the mortgage on the dwelling. The man was very grateful.
A client advocate from Healthcare for the Homeless emailed me about a mom with two small kids who needs to get to a safe shelter in another state; the mom's grandmother is in the same town as the shelter and will help as much as she can. We bought train tickets for mom and kids for $280. The mother was extremely excited and thankful to be on her way.
We were able to help these people because of the generous donations we received - thank you for helping us help others! ~Kay Schoenefeld, Coordinator

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

Mark Your Calendars for Monday evening, 30 September! Potluck and worship at St. Paul with the Malagasy bishops/presidents when they visit Albuquerque. Stay tuned for details! ~Sara Love & Mino Rakotoarijaona

A Thank You to St. Paul:
Many thanks for the generosity of St. Paul Lutheran!  As we move through our transition from Bishop Jim to Bishop Meghan, the support of the congregations in the work we are doing is more important than ever. ~Jon Johnson, Finance Director, Rocky Mountain Synod

Communion Bread Bakers: I am working on the schedule for bread baking for the coming year. Do you like to bake bread? We are looking for a few more bakers. The bread recipe is easy and will be provided. The recipe makes 4 loaves which are frozen in baggies marked with the baked date and one is used each Sunday. We currently have 5 faithful bakers so we only have to bake 2 or 3 times a year. Please let me know if you would like to join this wonderful group! Contact me at 505-269-0855 and leave a message. ~Nancy Jenkins

Opportunities to Donate:
·        Fires and floods put a strain on the food banks. We have Storehouse collection barrels in the Narthex for food items for people and pets.  Please share what you can.
·        We collect aluminum so our children can spend that money on ministries that support families around the world. Place your donations in the blue bin in Friendship Corner.
·        We also collect the pop-tops from all aluminum cans for Ronald McDonald House. Place your donation in the basket under the clock in the office.
Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

Sabbatical 2025

Dear St. Paul Community,
In 2025 we will celebrate seven years walking with Pastor Koppel. In honor of this, our Council has granted her a three-month sabbatical, starting May of 2025.  A sabbatical is a time of one or more of the following:  respite, study, spiritual growth, skill development, research, and renewal.  And as stated in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) guidelines for sabbatical planning, “The mission of the congregation benefits from the rostered person who returns to ministry with new experiences and abilities, as well as being refreshed and renewed.”  In other words, this is a time of enrichment for pastor and us as a congregation.  And that while she makes plans, so too, do we.
We have formed a team to help think through the details, both for Pastor and us.  And we’ve already begun assessing the administrative, pastoral care, worship, and financial support necessary to keep our church life moving forward and growing.
          Over the next few months, you are invited to engage by making suggestions and joining the conversations about what you might like during these three months.  Perhaps it is something to do with worship, Bible study, and/or engaging the mission of our call in some new way. Will we reach beyond our Sunday morning worship?  Will we listen to new ideas to help plant seeds for our future?  Will we sing, and possibly dance to a beat we are being called to discover?
          If you have ideas or desires to express, please connect with anyone of us on the Sabbatical Team.  Commit to participate when asked for ideas to grow our sabbatical time with ideas for themes or bible study topics or even activities beyond our normal. This is a time for all of us to witness and grow together. Watch for updates, plans and announcements about this growing opportunity.
          How blessed we are as a community of faith, how blessed we are to have been given the past seven years of growing our community of faith led by a strong pastor who believes in the work we have chosen.  Above all, keep this sabbatical process in your prayers for growing and witnessing God’s amazing love.

Blessings as we breathe into a time of rest and renewal,
Julie Ambrogi, Deborah Ash, Sara Love, Hal Nilsson, and Pastor Koppel

From Local Partner Organizations

This Tuesday: Dunkin’ Donut Cruiser x Coffee with a Cop! We are excited to announce that the Dunkin' Donut Cruiser will be visiting Albuquerque to show their appreciation for the APD and the community. We will be hosting a large-scale Coffee with a Cop event at the University Substation (1009 Bradbury Dr SE) on September 10th from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. There will be free coffee and refreshers for everyone. ~Angelina Navarro, Community Engagement Manager, APD

Bread for the World Workshop is set for Saturday, September 21, 8:30 AM to Noon, at All Saints Lutheran Church, 4800 All Saints Road NW. "Nourish Our Future" is the campaign of BFW to fully fund and modernize the SNAP and WIC programs, expand the Child Tax Credit to cut poverty and hunger, develop solutions to college student hunger and develop an international "Children's Jubilee." The "Farm Bill" now facing Congress will be a focus as well a study on college student hunger, that was conducted by some UNM professors, one of whom will discuss the study at this workshop. You are encouraged to attend this workshop. Go to breadnm@gmail.com to register or talk to me or Buzz Lenander.  ~Ivan Westergaard

3 Upcoming Events Sponsored by New Mexico Conference of Churches:

Becoming Good News in a Weary World: Fostering Prophetic Imagination, Courageous Conversations, Sabbath Circles, Kin-dom Projects, and Communities of Contrast. A half-day interfaith event, 9am-1pm, Friday, 13 September, in Taos. Respond now, space is limited! Register at:
https://www.eventcreate.com/e/goodnewsinawearyworld. Contact: toddwynward@gmail.com

Covenanted Kinship & Prophetic Imagination--these are threads that run deep through nearly all spiritual traditions. How might the ancient practices of covenanted kinship and prophetic imagination transform our culture today? How might they be paths each of us can start upon right now, to embody healing and good news in a society that so often seems so full of division, discord, disparity, and despair? Come engage with other allies from communities up and down the Rio Grande to embark on a path that fosters these practices and nurtures courageous conversations, sabbath circles, kin-dom projects and communities of contrast. Join the half day...and stay for the two-day workshop if you want, 13-14 September.
To register: contact toddwynward@gmail.com. Cost: $25. An informal lunch will be provided after the session. Location: 215 La Posta Rd, Taos, NM 87571. Hosted at & by TiLT [Taos Initiative for Life Together]. Supported by the NM Conference of Churches/Thriving Congregations Initiative.

Pilgrimage To Beauty, 6 October: Embark on a journey with Reverend Tiffany Curtis, a recent pilgrim on the Caminos de Santiago and Kumano Kodo pilgrimages, as she guides us through an afternoon pilgrimage to explore autumn beauty. Engage in contemplative prompts, foster community connections, and practice mindful walking in this local pilgrimage opportunity. Participants of all ages and abilities are welcome. Participants must be able to walk up to 4 miles at a slow pace, at high altitude, with a slow ascent and descent.
The Pilgrimage to Beauty is part of The Journey Project – New Mexico Conference of Churches: https://www.nmchurches.org/annual-pilgrimage. RSVP by 9/28 to Rev. Tiffany Curtis at rev.tiffany@theopencirclesantafe.org. You can read more about Rev. Tiffany here: https://theopencirclesantafe.org/ourteam
Further details will be sent prior to October 6th to all participants who RSVP. 

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

This Tuesday: God’s Love Made Real is a movement encouraging the ELCA to create a world experiencing the difference God’s grace and love in Christ make for all people and creation. During this discussion the presiding bishop will share why God’s Love Made Real is meaningful to her and the future of the church. Participants will have the opportunity to share experiences and ask questions. “The Spirit is calling us to move together as one church to share the grace and love we experience every day,” said Eaton. Join the discussion Sept. 10th, 12pm Pacific! You can learn more about God’s Love Made Real at lovemadereal.elca.org.

RMS AMMPARO: Please register and attend Climate Change, Displacement & Conflict: Migrants Speak on Sept. 18th, at 3:00 pm ET. This webinar will explore the human impact of climate change, environmental degradation, and inadequate environmental protections on conflict and mobility, centering the voices of those most affected. Environmental defenders, Indigenous groups, and frontline communities share their stories and struggles, exposing the intersections of extractive industries, displacement, and the climate crisis. Join us as we work together towards policy solutions and environmental justice. Register at: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1chvSKynTi-XZ1xOl7kxqw#/registration

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-New Mexico’s annual Fall Advocacy Conference: Save the Date! The conference will be held on Saturday, November 16th, at All Saints Lutheran Church, Albuquerque, beginning at 9am. Refreshments and fellowship will begin at 8:30am. Lunch is included. This will be a hybrid event with in-person and online options. More information in September. ~ Kurt A. Rager, Director, LAM-NM

Lutheran Disaster Relief: Crisis in the Middle East.  ELCA has donated $250,000 to go toward children and schools. Additional funds went to fund the psycho-social support efforts for the children in the Holy Land. You can also give by clicking this link: https://www.elca.org/Our-Work/Relief-and-Development/Lutheran-Disaster-Response/Our-Impact/Middle-East-Crisis and choosing the “Crisis in the Middle East” option. Thank you for your voice and advocacy. It makes all the difference in the world!

Updates Beginning 1 September 2024

See the signup sheet in the Welcome Center to bring a salad or dessert, and/or to help with setup and cleanup. Thanks! ~Deborah Ash

September’s God’s Work Our Hands project will be collecting donations for the Friends Feeding Friends’ “First Thursday” meal in October at Hope Works. (Note “October FFF” on your check.) Thank you for supporting this monthly project for our neighbors! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Communion Bread Bakers: I am working on the schedule for bread baking for the coming year. Do you like to bake bread? We are looking for a few more bakers. The bread recipe is easy and will be provided. The recipe makes 4 loaves which are frozen in baggies marked with the baked date and one is used each Sunday. We currently have 5 faithful bakers so we only have to bake 2 or 3 times a year. Please let me know if you would like to join this wonderful group! Contact me at 505-269-0855 and leave a message. ~Nancy Jenkins

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

Mark Your Calendars for Monday evening, 30 September! Potluck and worship at St. Paul with the Malagasy bishops/presidents when they visit Albuquerque. Stay tuned for details! ~Sara Love & Mino Rakotoarijaona

Adopted Families: We recently helped a single man with rent and bought Amtrak tickets for a single mom. The man has a CDL and was most recently employed as a long haul driver; but he lost that job when he was no longer needed. He is in the process of applying for another job but was only able to pay a little toward his current rent (his rent is due after the middle of the month). We paid $600 to complete payment for his current rent. He has never had to ask for help and wasn't sure where or how to ask; he also was quite embarrassed to ask. The landlady/owner says he is a very good person but she couldn't wait because she needed the money to pay the mortgage on the dwelling. The man was very grateful.
A client advocate from Healthcare for the Homeless emailed me about a mom with two small kids who needs to get to a safe shelter in another state; the mom's grandmother is in the same town as the shelter and will help as much as she can. We bought train tickets for mom and kids for $280. The mother was extremely excited and thankful to be on her way.
We were able to help these people because of the generous donations we received - thank you for helping us help others! ~Kay Schoenefeld, Coordinator

August 2024

Dear St. Paul Community,
In 2025 we will celebrate seven years walking with Pastor Koppel. In honor of this, our Council has granted her a three-month sabbatical, starting May of 2025.  A sabbatical is a time of one or more of the following:  respite, study, spiritual growth, skill development, research, and renewal.  And as stated in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) guidelines for sabbatical planning, “The mission of the congregation benefits from the rostered person who returns to ministry with new experiences and abilities, as well as being refreshed and renewed.”  In other words, this is a time of enrichment for pastor and us as a congregation.  And that while she makes plans, so too, do we.
We have formed a team to help think through the details, both for Pastor and us.  And we’ve already begun assessing the administrative, pastoral care, worship, and financial support necessary to keep our church life moving forward and growing.
          Over the next few months, you are invited to engage by making suggestions and joining the conversations about what you might like during these three months.  Perhaps it is something to do with worship, Bible study, and/or engaging the mission of our call in some new way. Will we reach beyond our Sunday morning worship?  Will we listen to new ideas to help plant seeds for our future?  Will we sing, and possibly dance to a beat we are being called to discover?
          If you have ideas or desires to express, please connect with anyone of us on the Sabbatical Team.  Commit to participate when asked for ideas to grow our sabbatical time with ideas for themes or bible study topics or even activities beyond our normal. This is a time for all of us to witness and grow together. Watch for updates, plans and announcements about this growing opportunity.
          How blessed we are as a community of faith, how blessed we are to have been given the past seven years of growing our community of faith led by a strong pastor who believes in the work we have chosen.  Above all, keep this sabbatical process in your prayers for growing and witnessing God’s amazing love.

Blessings as we breathe into a time of rest and renewal,
Julie Ambrogi, Deborah Ash, Sara Love, Hal Nilsson, and Pastor Koppel

Opportunities to Donate:
·        Fires and floods put a strain on the food banks. We have Storehouse collection barrels in the Narthex for food items for people and pets.  Please share what you can.
·        We collect aluminum so our children can spend that money on ministries that support families around the world. Place your donations in the blue bin in Friendship Corner.
·        We also collect the pop-tops from all aluminum cans for Ronald McDonald House. Place your donation in the basket under the clock in the office.
Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

From Local Partner Organizations

Church Women United, an ecumenical Christian women’s group, will be meeting for their Human Rights Day Celebration on Friday, September 6th at Second Presbyterian Church, 812 Edith Blvd NE.  The theme is Act Justly, based on Matthew 5:9—“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called God’s children.”  Rev. Jesse Dompreh, pastor of Grant Chapel A.M.E. Church, will be sharing information on the Martin Luther King Day breakfast held annually with a noted speaker, the Grant Chapel choir, the awarding of scholarships to deserving students, etc.  In addition, Rev. Billiejune Simmons, CWU Southwest Regional Coordinator, will also be with us and participating in the program  Coffee fellowship begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by the program.  After the service, plan to stay for a light New Mexican luncheon served by the women of Second Presbyterian.  Please join us and bring a friend!  Questions?  Contact Marilyn Stoops 505-265-8358 or mstoops@swcp.com.

JVP Event: Tabling at Downtown Growers' Market: Sat, 9/7 from 8 AM-Noon. Robinson Park: 810 Copper Ave NW. Allies are welcome. We stand on the main path between the two entrances. ~Jewish Voice for Peace Albuquerque

Dunkin’ Donut Cruiser x Coffee with a Cop! We are excited to announce that the Dunkin' Donut Cruiser will be visiting Albuquerque to show their appreciation for the APD and the community. We will be hosting a large-scale Coffee with a Cop event at the University Substation (1009 Bradbury Dr SE) on September 10th from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. There will be free coffee and refreshers for everyone. ~Angelina Navarro, Community Engagement Manager, APD

Founders of Roots, a Palestinian/Israeli Peace Organization on the West Bank: United Church of Santa Fe and Temple Beth Shalom are cosponsoring a community-wide presentation on Monday, Sept. 16th, 7pm at United with the founders of "Roots," Orthodox Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger and Palestinian activist Noor A'war. They are on a U.S. tour this September and United has invited them to Santa Fe for several different presentations. ~Rev. Talitha Arnold, Senior Minister, The United Church of Santa Fe

Bread for the World Workshop is set for Saturday, Sept. 21, 8:30 AM to Noon, at All Saints Lutheran Church, 4800 All Saints Road NW. "Nourish Our Future" is the campaign of BFW to fullly fund and modernize the SNAP and WIC programs, expand the Child Tax Credit to cut poverty and hunger, develop solutions to college student hunger and develop an international "Children's Jubilee." The "Farm Bill" now facing Congress will be a focus as well a study on college student hunger, that was conducted by some UNM professors, one of whom will discuss the study at this workshop. You are encouraged to attend this workshop. Go to breadnm@gmail.com to register or talk to me or Buzz Lenander.  ~Ivan Westergaard

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

RMS AMMPARO: Please register and attend Climate Change, Displacement & Conflict: Migrants Speak on Sept. 18th, at 3:00 pm ET. This webinar will explore the human impact of climate change, environmental degradation, and inadequate environmental protections on conflict and mobility, centering the voices of those most affected. Environmental defenders, Indigenous groups, and frontline communities share their stories and struggles, exposing the intersections of extractive industries, displacement, and the climate crisis. Join us as we work together towards policy solutions and environmental justice. Register at: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1chvSKynTi-XZ1xOl7kxqw#/registration

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-New Mexico’s annual Fall Advocacy Conference: Save the Date! The conference will be held on Saturday, November 16th, at All Saints Lutheran Church, Albuquerque, beginning at 9am. Refreshments and fellowship will begin at 8:30am. Lunch is included. This will be a hybrid event with in-person and online options. More information in September. ~ Kurt A. Rager, Director, LAM-NM

Updates Beginning 25 August 2024

Communion Bread Bakers: I am working on the schedule for bread baking for the coming year. Do you like to bake bread? We are looking for a few more bakers. The bread recipe is easy and will be provided. The recipe makes 4 loaves which are frozen in baggies marked with the baked date and one is used each Sunday. We currently have 5 faithful bakers so we only have to bake 2 or 3 times a year. Please let me know if you would like to join this wonderful group! Contact me at 505-269-0855 and leave a message. ~Nancy Jenkins

Save the Date – Sept. 8th! St. Paul Rally Sunday & God’s Work Our Hands Sunday. An exciting day, when we will lift up St. Paul’s GWOH “season of service” in 2024, bless the backpacks for our school age youth, enjoy special music from Strange Holler Bluegrass Band, and lunch together after service. Stay tuned for more details! ~Pr. Koppel

Mark Your Calendars for Monday evening, 30 September! Potluck and worship at St. Paul with the Malagasy bishops/presidents when they visit Albuquerque. Stay tuned for details! ~Sara Love & Mino Rakotoarijaona

Do You Maze? Lists St. Paul’s Labyrinth as #1! We are listed first of the “Nine Labyrinths to Visit in New Mexico” – check it out at: https://www.doyoumaze.com/blog/9-labyrinths-to-visit-in-new-mexico

Opportunities to Donate:
·        Fires and floods are putting a strain on the food banks. We have Storehouse collection barrels in the Narthex for food items for people and pets.  Please share what you can.
·        We collect aluminum so our children can spend that money on ministries that support families around the world. Place your donations in the blue bin in Friendship Corner.
·        We also collect the pop-tops from all aluminum cans for Ronald McDonald House. Place your donation in the basket under the clock in the office.

Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

From Local Partner Organizations

Church Women United, an ecumenical Christian women’s group, will be meeting for their Human Rights Day Celebration on Friday, September 6th at Second Presbyterian Church, 812 Edith Blvd NE.  The theme is Act Justly, based on Matthew 5:9—“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called God’s children.”  Rev. Jesse Dompreh, pastor of Grant Chapel A.M.E. Church, will be sharing information on the Martin Luther King Day breakfast held annually with a noted speaker, the Grant Chapel choir, the awarding of scholarships to deserving students, etc.  In addition, Rev. Billiejune Simmons, CWU Southwest Regional Coordinator, will also be with us and participating in the program  Coffee fellowship begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by the program.  After the service, plan to stay for a light New Mexican luncheon served by the women of Second Presbyterian.  Please join us and bring a friend!  Questions?  Contact Marilyn Stoops 505-265-8358 or mstoops@swcp.com.

Dunkin’ Donut Cruiser x Coffee with a Cop! We are excited to announce that the Dunkin' Donut Cruiser will be visiting Albuquerque to show their appreciation for the APD and the community. We will be hosting a large-scale Coffee with a Cop event at the University Substation (1009 Bradbury Dr SE) on September 10th from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. There will be free coffee and refreshers for everyone. ~Angelina Navarro, Community Engagement Manager, APD

~Pastor Rhonda Newby-Torres, Luther House UNM & CNM, The Open Table Connection

Founders of Roots, a Palestinian/Israeli Peace Organization on the West Bank: United Church of Santa Fe and Temple Beth Shalom are cosponsoring a community-wide presentation on Monday, Sept. 16th, 7pm at United with the founders of "Roots," Orthodox Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger and Palestinian activist Noor A'war. They are on a U.S. tour this September and United has invited them to Santa Fe for several different presentations. ~Rev. Talitha Arnold, Senior Minister, The United Church of Santa Fe

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

View Rocky Mountain Synod Bishop Meghan’s greetings at: https://vimeo.com/999355020?share=copy

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-New Mexico’s annual Fall Advocacy Conference: Save the Date! The conference will be held on Saturday, November 16th, at All Saints Lutheran Church, Albuquerque, beginning at 9am. Refreshments and fellowship will begin at 8:30am. Lunch is included. This will be a hybrid event with in-person and online options. More information in September. ~ Kurt A. Rager, Director, LAM-NM

Microenterprise Development First Newsletter Available. The MED program, short for Microenterprise Development, through Lutheran Family Services Albuquerque, provides funding and technical assistance to refugee start-up businesses. LFS resettles hundreds of refugees to the city each year, and for many of these newcomers, owning a business is the ultimate dream. The newsletter is posted in the Welcome Center.

AMMPARO’s Quarterly Report Now Available. AMMPARO (Accompanying Migrants with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities) has released their latest report, which is posted in the Welcome Center.

National Lutheran Choir's 2024-2025 Season, Healing: A Sacred Story, will explore five dimensions of wholeness and wellness. The season will feature collaborations with guest artists such as Cantus, Brian Newhouse, composers Melissa Dunphy and Hans Bridger Heruth: nlca.com

National Faith HIV/AIDS Awareness Day: Celebrated today, August 25th, NFHAAD highlights the role faith-based communities play in HIV/AIDS education, prevention, treatment, care, and support–while also ending stigmas and stereotypes toward people living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS. https://www.hiv.gov/events/awareness-days/faith

Updates Beginning 18 August 2024

Today: August 18, 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of my consecration as a deaconess. Join me in celebrating this momentous occasion with refreshments after worship. Thanks. ~Diane Remer-Thamert

Stewardship: We’re looking for a few people…
...to help the people of St. Paul share their gifts with the church and the world. This is a vital ministry aimed at the future of the church and the good of the world. Anyone is welcome. If you are a veteran member of St. Paul, your knowledge will be greatly helpful; if you are new to St. Paul, this could be a good way to find your way to belonging. If this sounds interesting to you, please see any of the current team members, Paula Eglinton, Will Hoffman, Jan Krakow, Bob Matthews, or Hal Nilsson. ~Bob Matthews

Save the Date – Sept. 8th! St. Paul Rally Sunday & God’s Work Our Hands Sunday. An exciting day, when we will lift up St. Paul’s GWOH “season of service” in 2024, have special music from Strange Holler Bluegrass Band, bless the backpacks for our school age youth, and lunch together after service. Stay tuned for more details! ~Pr. Koppel

Mark Your Calendars for Monday evening, 30 September! Potluck and worship at St. Paul with the Malagasy bishops/presidents when they visit Albuquerque. Stay tuned for details! ~Sara Love & Mino Rakotoarijaona

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

Do You Maze? Lists St. Paul’s Labyrinth as #1! We are listed first of the “Nine Labyrinths to Visit in New Mexico” – check it out at: https://www.doyoumaze.com/blog/9-labyrinths-to-visit-in-new-mexico

Would you help??  Bob and Nancy Matthews will be gone 8/25-9/22. Would you sit in the Welcome Center during church service for one of those Sundays to greet latecomers? For more information, just talk to them after church any Sunday before 8/25. Thanks! ~Deborah Ash

Opportunities to Donate:
·        Fires and floods are putting a strain on the food banks. We have Storehouse collection barrels in the Narthex for food items for people and pets.  Please share what you can.
·        We collect aluminum so our children can spend that money on ministries that support families around the world. Place your donations in the blue bin in Friendship Corner.
·        We also collect the pop-tops from all aluminum cans for Ronald McDonald House. Place your donation in the basket under the clock in the office.
Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews 

From Local Partner Organizations

Founders of Roots, a Palestinian/Israeli Peace Organization on the West Bank: United Church of Santa Fe and Temple Beth Shalom are cosponsoring a community-wide presentation on Monday, Sept. 16th, 7pm at United with the founders of "Roots," Orthodox Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger and Palestinian activist Noor A'war. They are on a U.S. tour this September and United has invited them to Santa Fe for several different presentations. ~Rev. Talitha Arnold, Senior Minister, The United Church of Santa Fe [Note: more info on Roots posted in Welcome Center.]

JVP Event: Not Another Bomb Rally. Today: Sun, Aug 18, 10am
Tiguex Park: 1800 Mountain Rd NW
Jewish Voice for Peace: https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/about/

A few Nob Hill congregations back in 2019 had the notion that faith communities could and should be doing more for the precariously housed than giving out water bottles and granola bars.  They worked together to start the non-profit ABQ FaithWorks Collaborative. 

Since then, the organization has responded to the emerging needs in our community with different levels of programming all faithful to this vision. In this time, FaithWorks has grown to over 15 faith communities. In just the last 18 months, with your support, we have achieved the following:

 Ended the experience of homelessness for 21 families through our partnership with the City of Albuquerque 

• Prevented homelessness for 132 people with our combined emergency rental and utility assistance totaling over $40,000.  

• Delivered food, household goods, and furniture to recently housed families in our community - both citizens and asylum seekers.

• Connected over 50 asylum-seeking families with resources to navigate complex legal paperwork in partnership with the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center.

• Connected asylum seekers and people experiencing homelessness with 230 state-issued IDs. 

This summer, FaithWorks is right-sizing and re-focusing our mission to align with current funding availability and the post-covid landscape for non-profits. We on the board and staff of FaithWorks are grateful for the continued engagement and collaboration of member congregations. As part of this re-set, we expect to be working even more closely with you in the coming months!

Thanks for your continued partnership in this good work.

Jane McGuire, President of the Board

Pastor Rhonda Newby-Torres, Luther House UNM & CNM, The Open Table Connection

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

Dear Partners in Advocacy,

With so much attention focused on the general election in November, you will find lots of information below to fully immerse yourself in civic engagement. As our ELCA Advocacy shares, "This church understands government as a means through which God works to preserve creation and build a more peaceful and just social order in a broken world. Our “civic participation is not simply voluntary, idealistic, or altruistic. The ELCA holds to the biblical idea that God calls God’s people to be active citizens and to ensure that everyone benefits from the good of government (Jeremiah 29:7, Romans 13:1-7)” Participate, be an informed voter, support fully our election process, challenge the overabundance of false and misleading information, and encourage others in your faith community to do the same. Each opportunity shared below, even if Lutheran-specific, can be used in any denominational setting or faith community.
                LAM-NM has vigorously maintained a non-partisan stance in its work, choosing instead to make change through influencing policy through our advocacy and congregational organizing. We do not and cannot endorse candidates in elections. Yet, significant change can occur in policy through elections. Commit to being fully attentive and informed as we move towards November. With each candidate seeking your vote, ask about their positions as they relate to our key areas of focus. How would they address and solve hunger and poverty in New Mexico? What would they do to solve the affordable housing crisis and what is their position on turning the tide on the growing population of those with no place to call home? Are they committed to affordable healthcare for all New Mexicans? The list is long, but you get the idea. More simply put and spot-on, The Most Rev. Michael Curry, presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, and a long partner in advocacy efforts with the ELCA, shares, "The principle on which Christians must vote is the principle: Does this look like love of neighbor?" Post that reminder everywhere and share it widely!
There's never a slow time of year for LAM-NM. Summer is filled with monitoring legislative interim committee hearings, working within the various coalitions we are a part of on policy and upcoming legislative proposals, and drafting our specific advocacy agenda for 2025. We have also spent much time in thought and conversation as we discern what the future holds for Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - New Mexico after a long and distinguished 40 years of ministry. The seasons are changing and the Spirit is always active and calling. LAM-NM continues to discern our purpose and what we are called to, and, consider all options for what that context might look like. Continue to pray for our ministry.
                Finally, planning for our annual Fall Advocacy Conference continues and I invite you to save the date! The conference will be held on Saturday, November 16th, at All Saints Lutheran Church, Albuquerque, beginning at 9 a.m. Refreshments and fellowship will begin at 8:30 a.m. Lunch will be included. This will be a hybrid event with in-person and online options. More information will be available in September.

May the peace of Christ be with you, Kurt A. Rager, Director, LAM-NM

Election Challengers, Watchers, Observers, and Poll Workers! ​Are you interested in what you can do as a non-partisan influence in this election cycle? Take your energy to the #ELCAElectionActivator network - an opportunity for individuals and our congregations to share in our communities' love in action. ELCA Election Activators from various parts of our ELCA faith community are invited to a call once a month for updates and to hear from each other about local initiatives. Because the ELCA does not endorse a particular candidate, party, or form of government or strive for a Christian one, participation requires sign-up and a non-partisan pledge. "Lutherans care about government because it is a gift from God intended for the safety and flourishing of human life" (from ELCA social message "Government & Civic Engagement in the United States: Discipleship in a Democracy"). The next virtual meeting is August 27th. Learn more at: https://blogs.elca.org/advocacy/
                Here in New Mexico, there are a variety of ways you can get involved in the upcoming election. New Mexico law permits properly designated individuals to serve as challengers and watchers during early voting and on Election Day. Being a challenger or watcher gives the individual access to a specified early voting center or polling place to observe voting activities. Learn more at: https://www.sos.nm.gov/voting-and-elections/voter-information-portal-nmvote-org/election-challengers-watchers-observers-information/

Updates Beginning 11 August 2024

Just a Reminder: the Ice Cream Group continues to meet! Every second Wednesday at 1pm, the DQ at Louisiana/Montgomery. Next meeting is this week on August 14. ~Julie Ambrogi

Stewardship: We’re looking for a few people…
...to help the people of St. Paul share their gifts with the church and the world. This is a vital ministry aimed at the future of the church and the good of the world. Anyone is welcome. If you are a veteran member of St. Paul, your knowledge will be greatly helpful; if you are new to St. Paul, this could be a good way to find your way to belonging. If this sounds interesting to you, please see any of the current team members, Paula Eglinton, Will Hoffman, Jan Krakow, Bob Matthews, or Hal Nilsson. ~Bob Matthews

Mark Your Calendars for Monday evening, 30 September! Potluck and worship at St. Paul with the Malagasy bishops/presidents when they visit Albuquerque. Stay tuned for details! ~Sara Love & Mino Rakotoarijaona

Would you help??  Bob and Nancy Matthews will be gone 8/25-9/22. Would you sit in the Welcome Center during church service for one of those Sundays to greet latecomers? For more information, just talk to them after church any Sunday before 8/25. Thanks! ~Deborah Ash

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

Opportunities to Donate:
·        Fires and floods are putting a strain on the food banks. We have Storehouse collection barrels in the Narthex for food items for people and pets.  Please share what you can.
·        We collect aluminum so our children can spend that money on ministries that support families around the world. Place your donations in the blue bin in Friendship Corner.
·        We also collect the pop-tops from all aluminum cans for Ronald McDonald House. Place your donation in the basket under the clock in the office.
Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

From Local Partner Organizations

•  JVP Film Screening: Where Olive Trees Weep
  Today: Sun, Aug 11 from 12:30-2 PM
  Guild Cinema: 3405 Central Ave NE

• JVP Event: Not Another Bomb Rally
  Sun, Aug 18 in the PM –stay tuned for details
  Tiguex Park: 1800 Mountain Rd NW

Jewish Voice for Peace: https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/about/

Upcoming Storehouse of New Mexico Fundraising Events:

• Saturday, 28 September: Albuquerque Empty Bowls at St. John’s United Methodist Church, 11am-3pm

• Thursday, 24 October: 2024 Charity Golf Tournament at Santa Ana Golf Club

Details are at: https://storehousenm.org/ (and posted in the Welcome Center).

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

A Greeting from Bishop Meghan Johnston Aelabouni

Dear friends in Christ in the Rocky Mountain Synod,

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11)

Earlier this week, these verses were spoken over me by Pr. Ruth Ann Loughry as part of our Liturgy of sending and transition. As we blessed Bishop Jim Gonia and Pr. Kim Gonia, giving thanks for Bishop Jim’s faithful accompaniment of our synod for the past twelve years, and released Bishop Jim from his call as bishop of our Rocky Mountain Synod, the staff of the office of the bishop also surrounded me and prayed for me through these words. 

Isaiah 55 has been a guiding text for me throughout my ministry. The whole chapter is a vision of holy abundance for all: a vision of justice, wholeness, and joy. And as I begin my call as your bishop, I offer these verses as a word of calling and promise—not only for me, but for all of us as the church, formed and sent by God’s word.

And God’s word, we Christians proclaim, is Jesus: the Word made flesh, God with us. In his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus is the Word of God to the world. But, as Paul reminds the early church in Rome, “How are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:14b-15). This is our calling as church and our mission statement as the Rocky Mountain Synod: Together we proclaim and embody God's unconditional love for the sake of the world! This is the joyful calling given by God to us in our time, in the places of this synod where we “live and move and have our being.” We are not here accidentally! We are here for a purpose. We do not merely go into the world: we are sent, by the One who so loved the world that Jesus came to share our human life, to die and rise, to defeat the powers of sin, evil, and death. 

This is a holy and humbling calling. On days when worry, exhaustion, or heartbreak (of both global and personal proportion) make our outlook bleak and steal our hope from us, this calling feels impossible. And so God reminds us that we are never given a calling alone—our calling always comes with God’s promise. As the rain and snow bring water to the earth, nourish life, and return to the atmosphere (the water cycle is biblical and scientific!) so God declares: “so shall my word be… it shall not return to me empty.” Jesus Christ, God’s Word incarnate, did not return to God empty, but full of resurrection life. We, God’s beloved children and Christ’s own body in the world, will not return empty either. Whatever this season brings, I know this: God’s Word will not fail. God will accomplish what God purposes: with us, through us, and even in spite of us if need be! May this calling and promise inspire and sustain us as church: better together.

In Christ,
Bishop Meghan Johnston Aelabouni

Prayers for Wildfire Season
We pray for first responders, firefighters, civic leaders, the family and friends of the person who died in the Stone Canyon Fire, for those who lost property and structures, all those who have evacuated or prepare for evacuation…

Let us pray,

O God, our refuge and strength, our help in times of trouble. Have mercy on the lands and lives damaged or destroyed by fires. Have mercy on the wildlife and domestic animals who shelter in these lands. Protect all who stand in harm's way in order to protect others. Accompany all who are particularly vulnerable or alone in dangerous conditions. We know that you are with us in fire, wind, and storm. Today, we pray for rain and relief. Drench the soil and our lives with your hope.

Amen.

Thank you for your prayers. If you would like to donate to the RMS Disaster Response Fund, please go to the RMS website, https://www.rmselca.org/, scroll to the bottom, click on the Give button, and select, "RMS Disaster Response" from the dropdown menu -- Thank you.

Updates Beginning 4 August 2024

This Week: First Tuesday! And mark your calendars for more than one date, both the first Tuesday of August and September, 8/6 and 9/3, starting at 4:00 pm at SW Grape & Grain, 3401 Candelaria NE.  It is still time to be inside during the afternoons, so bring a snack to share and spend time visiting with other folks from church.  Just make the September gathering an extension of Labor Day! ~Nancy Matthews’

Just a Reminder: the Ice Cream Group continues to meet! Every second Wednesday at 1pm, the DQ at Louisiana/Montgomery. Next meeting is August 14. ~Julie Ambrogi

Stewardship: We’re looking for a few people…
...to help the people of St. Paul share their gifts with the church and the world. This is a vital ministry aimed at the future of the church and the good of the world. Anyone is welcome. If you are a veteran member of St. Paul, your knowledge will be greatly helpful; if you are new to St. Paul, this could be a good way to find your way to belonging. If this sounds interesting to you, please see any of the current team members, Paula Eglinton, Will Hoffman, Jan Krakow, Bob Matthews, or Hal Nilsson. ~Bob Matthews

Mark Your Calendars for Monday evening, 30 September! Potluck and worship at St. Paul with the Malagasy bishops/presidents when they visit Albuquerque. Stay tuned for details! ~Sara Love & Mino Rakotoarijaona

Sanctuary Infill Project: It has begun! Thank you to everyone who was able to come on Friday and Saturday to help with demo-ing the infill area, and to Jim Graf, our project lead. We are also thankful for Brian, our contractor, and his team, who welcomed us to work alongside them. ~Deborah Ash

Shareback from the West Bank available on St. Paul’s Facebook page. iusti Remer-Thamert’s presentation this past Monday evening is available for viewing at https://www.facebook.com/stpaulabq/. Thank you, iusti! ~Deborah Ash

Would you help??  Bob and Nancy Matthews will be gone 8/25-9/22. Would you sit in the Welcome Center during church service for one of those Sundays to greet latecomers? For more information, just talk to them after church any Sunday before 8/25. Thanks! ~Deborah Ash

Opportunities to Donate:
·        Fires and floods are putting a strain on the food banks. We have Storehouse collection barrels in the Narthex for food items for people and pets.  Please share what you can.
·        We collect aluminum so our children can spend that money on ministries that support families around the world. Place your donations in the blue bin in Friendship Corner.
·        We also collect the pop-tops from all aluminum cans for Ronald McDonald House. Place your donation in the basket under the clock in the office.
Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews 

Thank You’s! to St. Paul:

On behalf of the Storehouse family, thank you for your gift of $230. Your donation will provide 1,150 meals for those in need. Across the board, higher food costs, the end of COVID benefits, and inflation have impacted many people in our community. As a result, we’ve seen a substantial increase in the number of people visiting the pantry over the last several months. The Storehouse is committed to provide food to every person who walks through our doors. Your support allows us to honor our commitment to our community and ensure that families facing food insecurity always have a place to turn. Thank you again for supporting The Storehouse New Mexico. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Amy Lavender, VP of Development

On behalf of Ronald McDonald House Charities of New Mexico, thank you for your generosity! All of the items and dollars donated by St. Paul are so helpful at this time. The increase in clients has been tremendous this year. We also appreciate your continued support through pop-top donations! ~Michaela Wood, Volunteer and Program Coordinator
[Note: Our July God’s Work Our Hands project.]

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

From Local Partner Organizations

• JVP Film Screening: Where Olive Trees Weep
  Sun, Aug 11 from 12:30-2 PM
  Guild Cinema: 3405 Central Ave NE

• JVP Event: Not Another Bomb Rally
  Sun, Aug 18 in the PM –stay tuned for details
  Tiguex Park: 1800 Mountain Rd NW 

Jewish Voice for Peace: https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/about/

Upcoming Storehouse of New Mexico Fundraising Events:

• Saturday, 28 September: Albuquerque Empty Bowls at St. John’s United Methodist Church, 11am-3pm

• Thursday, 24 October: 2024 Charity Golf Tournament at Santa Ana Golf Club

Details are at: https://storehousenm.org/ (and posted in the Welcome Center).

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

Prayers for Fire Season: Dear RMS Community, three wildfires are currently burning on Colorado's Front Range: The Alexander Mountain Fire in Larimer County west of Loveland; The Stone Canyon Fire in Boulder County north of Lyons; and the Quarry Fire in Jefferson County near Deer Creek Canyon.
          Bishop Gonia and Bishop-elect Johnston Aelabouni have contacted the ministries and clergy near the active burn areas. The Office of the Bishop will continue to monitor the situation and communicate as needed. The RMS Disaster Response Team is available as the situation develops.
          As wildfires are part of our lives in the Rocky Mountain Synod, please contact us if your area or ministry is affected. In June, the New Mexico Deans actively monitored the South Fork and Salt Fires near Ruidoso, NM. Although we're not aware of any direct impacts to our ministries or leaders, we hold these areas, lands, and people in prayer.
          Today, we pray for first responders, firefighters, civic leaders, the family and friends of the person who died in the Stone Canyon Fire, for those who lost property and structures, all those who have evacuated or prepare for evacuation . . .

Let us pray,
O God, our refuge and strength, our help in times of trouble. Have mercy on the lands and lives damaged or destroyed by fires. Have mercy on the wildlife and domestic animals who shelter in these lands. Protect all who stand in harm's way in order to protect others. Accompany all who are particularly vulnerable or alone in dangerous conditions. We know that you are with us in fire, wind, and storm. Today, we pray for rain and relief. Drench the soil and our lives with your hope. Amen.

Thank you for your prayers. If you would like to donate to the RMS Disaster Response Fund, please go to the RMS website, https://www.rmselca.org/, scroll to the bottom, click on the Give button, and select, "RMS Disaster Response" from the dropdown menu -- Thank you.

A Final Word from Bishop Jim Gonia:
Dear Beloved of the Rocky Mountain Synod, as I prepare to conclude my call as your bishop on July 31, I want to express my profound thanks for the opportunity to be on the journey with you these last twelve years. A full one third of my 36 years of ordained ministry has been spent as synod – literally on the way together – with you. I am grateful not only for the celebrations and milestone moments we have experienced, but for the challenges that have helped us grow and learn together.
          It is with immense joy that I welcome the Rev Dr Meghan Aelabouni to her call as our next bishop. Her leadership, insights and passion will be a tremendous gift in this new season. I trust that you will surround her with your prayers, love and support.
          For those who are wondering what comes next for me, I am retiring from ministry in the church and will use this next chapter of life to explore other interests and opportunities, including my love of photography and time with my family. I am excited to see what new ventures may lie ahead.
It’s been my practice when presiding at a blessing of transition for a pastor or deacon, to invite the minister and Council leaders to share words of affirmation and encouragement. In closing, I leave you with a few of my own heartfelt affirmations and encouragements.

My Affirmations:

• This is a healthy synod, full of vital congregations and ministries, served by faithful and talented rostered ministers. Thank you for the countless ways you proclaim and embody the gospel every day.

• This is a synod with a rich diversity of contexts, with a proven commitment to being connected across the miles and to serving the neighbor. I am grateful for how you live out church better together for the sake of the world.

• This is a synod open to new ideas, to new ways of being and becoming church. I appreciate your willingness to experiment and take risks for the sake of the gospel.

My Encouragements:

• Keep God’s inclusive unconditional love in Jesus front and center – a gospel of grace matters more than ever to our neighbors and world. Don't be shy to share it!

• Trust the Holy Spirit to lead you into new horizons of being the Body of Christ. Be bold to explore paths as yet untrodden.

• Remember your call to be God's both/and people in this either/or world. It will mark your witness and service as Christ's Church.

And now, dear friends, all that remains is to offer these words of blessing:
May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Yours in Faith, Bishop Jim Gonia

Uplifting Video, Week in Review, from the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering! Take a look back at the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering where 16,000 youth met in New Orleans for an inspiring week of faith formation under the theme “Created to Be.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6tkL7DyXnw (link is also posted at elca.org).

$250,000 Summer Matching Gift Challenge: Bread for the World members have recently been given a remarkable chance to triple your impact to end hunger. Thanks to a $250,000 matching gift from a group of generous supporters, your gift today will go 3X as far! This match comes at a critical moment for Bread’s advocacy work, as we are currently working on August in-district meetings with members of Congress. This is one of the key times we connect with legislators each year and urge them to increase funding for hunger programs. Visit bread.org.
And read about the Food For Peace program as it celebrates its 70th anniversary at: https://www.bread.org/article/food-for-peace-70th-anniversary/

Recent updates highlighting LWR’s impact around the world are at: https://lwr.org/news, including the following:

LWR Quilts & Kits arrive immediately after attack on Ukrainian children’s hospital. Imagine if an enemy unleashed missiles on a children’s hospital like St. Jude’s. It’s hard to fathom the cruelty of targeting sick children and hardworking hospital staff... But that's exactly what happened in Ukraine on July 8. Okhmatdyt hospital is one of Ukraine’s largest facilities for children with cancer, and it was badly damaged by Russian missiles. As soon as the attack stopped, Lutheran World Relief staff — who were working nearby and sheltering in subway tunnels — rushed to provide support.

Updates Beginning 28 July 2024

Tomorrow, 7/29 at 6pm in the Sanctuary: Shareback from the West Bank. iusti Remer-Thamert will share about their recent solidarity trip to the West Bank, working with a Palestinian-led movement committed to resisting the long-entrenched oppression of Palestinians. We will explore how the war against Gaza and the ongoing land grabs in the West Bank are tied in to the legacy of colonization and Christian Zionism within the U.S.  iusti will uplift first hand experiences of colonial encroachment, harassment, and land theft by settlers and occupation forces in the South Hebron Hills, as well as ongoing Indigenous Palestinian existence and resistance. ~ iusti Remer-Thamert

This Week: Our Sanctuary Project Starts! Come Help with the Demo on Friday and Saturday, 9am-5pm. There is a signup sheet in the Welcome Center—pick a two-hour slot and come work alongside fellow members and the construction crew. Many hands make light work! ~Deborah Ash

First Tuesdays - Yep, more than one.  Both will be on the first Tuesday of August and September starting at 4:00 pm at SW Grape & Grain, 3401 Candelaria NE.  It is still time to be inside during the afternoons, so bring a snack to share and spend time visiting with other folks from church.  The dates you should circle on your calendar are 8/6 and 9/3.  Just make the September gathering an extension of Labor Day! ~Nancy Matthews

Our July God’s Work Our Hands project wraps up this week. We are collecting items for the Ronald McDonald House of NM (https://www.rmhc-nm.org/). They are finding themselves very low on all paper goods: paper towels, toilet paper, paper plates and bowls. They are currently seeing around 1500 more people this year than last, and their stock has been quickly depleted and is costing a lot. Also welcome are travel-size toiletries, individually wrapped snacks, juice boxes, and any new toys. There is a box for donations in the Welcome Center through July. Thank you for responding to their request for assistance! ~Deborah Ash & Nancy Jenkins

Would you help??  Bob and Nancy Matthews will be gone 8/25-9/22. Would you sit in the lobby during church service for one of those Sundays to welcome latecomers? For more information, just talk to them after church any Sunday before 8/25. Thanks! ~Deborah Ash

Opportunities to Donate:
·        Fires and floods will put a strain on the food banks. We have Storehouse collection barrels in the Narthex for food items for people and pets.  Please share what you can.
·        We collect aluminum so our children can spend that money on ministries that support families around the world. Place your donations in the blue bin in Friendship Corner.
·        We also collect the pop-tops from all aluminum cans for Ronald McDonald House. Place your donation in the basket under the clock in the office.
Thanks! ~Nancy Matthews

Visiting today? Please fill out a “Welcome” card in your pew so we can get to know you! ~Pr. Koppel

From the Rocky Mountain Synod and ELCA

RMS Prayer Cycle for July is the North New Mexico Conference. Each month we pray for the rostered ministers, congregations, and ministries throughout the Rocky Mountain Synod and our Churchwide expression.

ELCA Youth Gathering Wraps Up in New Orleans: Read about it at https://www.livinglutheran.org/2024/07/2024-elca-youth-gathering-kicks-off-in-new-orleans/.

Bishop Eaton Addresses Political Violence: ELCA Presiding Bishop Eaton has written on recent events at https://elca.org/News-and-Events/8244.

Bach’s St. John Passion from Lutheran Summer Music available to stream at: https://www.youtube.com/@lutheransummermusic, as well other July recordings!

ELCA Truth and Healing Movement-Upcoming Opportunities: Visit
https://elca.org/Our-Work/Congregations-and-Synods/Ministries-of-Diverse-Cultures-and-Communities/Indigenous-Ministries-and-Tribal-Relations/Truth-and-Healing-Movement.