Our Vision Rio Rancho United Methodist Church

“Rio Rancho UMC is a body of Christ led and empowered by the Holy Spirit,

meeting the needs of God’s people through open hearts,

open minds, and open arms.”

August 20, 2017 Volume 12, issue 17

Two Roads and a Coloring Book

R ecently, I was walking with my son through a store and a coloring book

caught my eye. The book was an elaborate adult coloring book and under

most situations, I would have not have given it a second thought. What made

this one so special was the subject. The title on the cover read “The Road Not

Taken.” I couldn’t help but open the book. Inside I found my favorite poem

written by Robert Frost.

The text transported me back to high school and my amazing choir director,

Gary Patterson. How blessed I was to have this amazing man guide me and

teach me how to love choral music and the art of music making. My journey

started with this poem. This incredible writing, now asking for color.

I bought the book and procrastinated in beginning to work on the first pic-

ture. What was the proper way to start? I’m afraid I will mess this up. It took

me some time to realize that the right way to color is the way my spirit guides

me. This is my path, my way. Under God’s guidance, everyone must choose

their own road.

And so, we start with whatever color works for each of us. Some may utilize

rich dark colors, while others paint in lighter hues. Careful decisions must be

left to the discretion of the artist. We respect each person’s choices.

Today, I give thanks for the journey that calls me to notice colors that make my

life richer and more vital. As school begins, I also remember and give thanks for

teachers who changed the trajectory of my life. I can never express my apprecia-

tion for their willingness to show me how to color with a passion that infused my

soul. I am grateful for my music teachers who enriched my life by sharing the

joy that singing continues to bring to me.

Who are the teachers who taught you how to color? Give thanks for those peo-

ple who made a difference in your life and ignited the divine spark in your heart

and soul. These are the people who matter, for they taught you that you are cre-

ated in the image of the Holy God. Their legacy taught you that you mat-

ter. Your journey was, and is, something to behold. Lift a prayer for them right

now.

“I shall be telling this with a sigh somewhere ages and ages hence. Two roads

diverged in a wood and I, I took the one less traveled by. And that has made all

the difference.” (The Road Not Taken, Robert Frost).

Blessings and Peace,

Pastor Joe

Prayer Corner 2

Anniversaries & Birthdays 2

Activities and Events 3

Youth Dinner Schedule

Cinnamon Roll Fund Raiser

Youth “Switcheroo”

Wednesday Night Out

Confirmation Classes

Renewed Hope Free Store 3

Project Backpack 4

Famous Quotations 4

New Wednesday Night Study 4

Yawning at Tigers 4

What’s Inside?

Editor’s Note School has started.. Please remember to

watch out for school crossings, school buses, and children. Obey the traffic laws and, just in case you have the cell

phone phobia, don’t text and drive!!!

1652 Abrazo Rd., Rio Rancho, NM 87124 (505)892-0404 rioranchoumc@gmail.com

Prayer Corner Sunday, August 20, 2017

THE ANT AND THE ELEPHANT Taken From Draw Near-365 Ways for Greater Intimacy with God Devotion

A n ancient fable tells about the ant and the elephant crossing the bridge together. The

swinging bridge shook under the weight of the elephant. When the two got to the other side, the ant exclaimed, "Boy, we sure shook that bridge, didn't we?" Perhaps no other place in Scripture clearly shows God's dramatic power than in the prayer of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:6-13). When the dreaded enemy threatened, the king called for a fast and began leading the people in pray-er. In response to the plea for help, God sent a prophet to assure Jehoshaphat that the battle was the Lord's, not Judah's. And it was so. The enemies ended up destroying themselves; the Israelites did not even have to raise a weapon. Israel was like the ant crossing the bridge with the elephant. Scripture tells us we can have a powerful partnership with God through our prayer life. Jehoshaphat responded to his fear by praying. We also must learn to seek God's presence in our times of tension. The battle still is the Lord's; He is the One Who shakes the bridge. We only have the privilege of crossing over with Him. Today, we must learn to trust more. Grace & Peace, Judy Brunk

August Anniversaries & Birthdays

Anniversaries

BALTZ, Brian & Danielle 08/02

CUPRYK, Timothy & Pat 08/05

LEWIS, Ryan & Kandice 08/06

DOUGLAS, Gordon & Cindy 08/08

ELLIOTT, Ken & Jennifer 08/12

SALAZ, Eugene & Hillary 08/16

REECE, Gary & Maxine 08/19

HUSE, Arthur & Lorraine 08/23

Birthdays

POLLAK, Bessie 08/02

REAGIN, Randy 08/04

WILLIS, Janice 08/05

HILBORN, Harmony 08/06

KERCHER, Margaret 08/06

BERDIN, Sam 08/10

KOFCHUR, Caleb 08/11

FLORES, Jason 08/12

O'SICKEY, Iris 08/12

FELDMAN, Wally 08/14

LAROWE, Ann 08/17

LAYTON, Lynn 08/17

GAUDEN, George 08/21

LONG, Faryn 08/21

HUSE, Arthur 08/23

MOORE, Gordon 08/25

BALLINGER, Paula 08/26

MOORE, Sally 08/27

TICHENOR, Larry 08/27

BALTZ, Melanie 08/28

KOFCHUR, Max 08/28

ALLIMAN, Monica 08/29

RHODES, Delbert 08/30

1652 Abrazo Rd., Rio Rancho, NM 87124 (505)892-0404 rioranchoumc@gmail.com

Youth Dinner Schedule Youth Week! 8/20 Brech Family

8/27 Long Family

9/3 Destination Unknown

9/10 Weir Family

T he youth are currently taking

orders for Cinnamon Rolls.

They will be available for pick up

next Sunday, August 27th, in the

fellowship hall. We will also have additional rolls

for sale on the 27th, so if you don’t get yours or-

dered in advance, be sure and visit the fellowship

hall for a tasty treat!

We are switching it up!

O n Friday, September 8th, we

will have a boys event and a

girls event for the youth. The boys

will meet at the Church at 5 PM and

go to dinner and glow golf. The

girls will meet at Kim’s house

for dinner and a “Spa” night.

Watch your e-mail and mail for

additional information and di-

rections. Wednesday Night Out

W ednesday Night Out

meals will resume on

Wednesday, August 23rd. Our

first meal will be BBQ Sandwiches, Baked Beans,

Chips and Dessert. The meal is served at 5:30. A

donation of $4 per adult and $3 per child is sug-

gested to cover the cost of food. Plus, we always

appreciate help in the kitchen with clean up!

Confirmation Classes

C onfirmation classes will begin on Sunday,

September 10th. They

will be held in the Upper

Room from 9:45 to 10:45

AM. If you have not let Kim

Peterson know that you will

be attending, please do that

now. We need prayer partners and mentors for

each of our confirmands. Any adult interested

in being a prayer partner or mentor can contact

Kim or Joe for more information about what is

expected of our adult volunteers.

RRUMC RENEWED HOPE FREE STORE

Celebrating the beginning of its 6th year

of operation August 4!

W e appreciate the support of our congre-

gation and the area residents who so

generously have given to our store for distribu-

tion to our clients. We continue to accept

household items, linens (twin and queen size),

small counter electric appliances, dishes, pots

and pans, baking dishes, baking pans, silver

ware, towels, and some furniture. All must be

clean and gently used.

OUR GREATEST NEED :

Twin sized fitted and flat sheets

Full sized fitted and flat sheets

Queen sized fitted and flat sheets

Blankets

Comforters

We often have a call for end tables and

coffee tables

Christmas items for the December 2 and De-

cember 16 Christmas Free Store that we host

for our clients after they shop in the Free Store.

It is a joy to watch our clients come to shop for

things they otherwise could not afford for their

homes. Continue to help spread the word and

steer individuals in need to our store.

There are flyers on the counter in the Foyer of the

church. Please contact Priscilla Brigham if you have any

questions about the Free Store. (505) 771-1642

Activities and Events

1652 Abrazo Rd., Rio Rancho, NM 87124 (505)892-0404 rioranchoumc@gmail.com

Help Feed Hungry Children –Remember Project Backpack

N ow that school has start-ed, we are collecting

healthy snacks for Project Backpack at Maggie Cordova Elementary school. Project Backpack gives children of families who cannot afford food, healthy snacks that they can eat over the weekend, when the free school break-fasts and lunches are not available. Snacks for Project Backpack should be healthy, easy to open, not be “high sugar” (e.g., no candy), and should not require refrigeration or preparation beyond what elementary school children, including kin-dergarteners, can safely accomplish by themselves (e.g., no microwave popcorn or Raman noodles). Please also avoid items containing nuts and nut oils, including peanut butter. Snacks needed for Project Backpack include

Bring your healthy snacks to church and put them in the Project Backpack box outside the Fellow-ship Hall. Thanks for helping to reduce child hun-ger in our community.

Bring your healthy snacks to church and put them in the Project Backpack box outside the Fellow-ship Hall. Thanks for helping to reduce child hun-ger in our community.

Famous Quotations

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.

Mark Twain

Dole fruit cups

Keebler individual snack bags

Ritz Bits crackers

Motts applesauce

Individual Pre-Popped Pop-corn

Fig Newtons

Pepperidge Farms

Delmonte fruit cups

Nabisco individual snack bags

Cheeze-It Crackers

Rold Gold Crackers

Pudding cups

Quaker Granola And Cereal Bars

Fruit Roll-Ups

.New Wednesday Night Study

W hen Wednesday Night Out re-sumes on August 23, we will

begin a new video study between the Wednesday night meal and choir prac-tice. The study will be C. S. Lewis: Reluc-tant Disciple – Faith, Reason and the Power of the Gospel. This new study will give us a deeper understanding of the life of the twentieth century’s greatest Christian apologist as it chronicles his journey from disillusioned atheist to fearless defender of the faith. The personal faith journey of C. S. Lewis can inspire us by showing how God can transform an outspoken critic of Christianity into a powerful and effective voice for His Kingdom. There is no study book or homework required and the study and the discussion will finish in time for choir prac-tice.

Yawning at Tigers??

Our new Sunday morning study, beginning on Sep-tember 10 at 9:45 a.m. is Yawning at Tigers: You Can't Tame God, So Stop Trying, by Drew Dyck. Is your deity domesticated---a malleable source of love and good feelings? If you're hungry for more than a simple and sedate spiritual life, Drew Dyck says it's time to chart a course away from the "safe" harbor of sanitized, predictable reli-gion and discover just how "dangerous" God's majesty, love, and power really are! That domesticated deity is way too weak to sus-tain us through the trials of modern life.

We cannot see God as He truly is and remain un-changed. The holiness that our majestic, awesome, and powerful God calls each of us to is really about what we are willing to risk in loving others and see-ing God glorified. Are you ready to seriously con-template the awesome transcendence of God, as re-vealed in Isaiah 6 and other scripture, knowing you risk being transformed into a “dangerous” Christian? If so, join us on Sunday mornings beginning Septem-ber 10. See John Hockert for a copy of the study book.