The Los Altos Life - Los Altos Christian Church

The Los Altos Life
Los Altos Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
11900 Haines NE ◊ Albuquerque, New Mexico 87112 ◊ 505 299-5526
Email: losaltoschurch@qwestoffice.net ◊ Website: www.losaltoschristianchurch.com
March 17, 2015 Volume 30 Issue No. 11
As we move into the fifth week of lent a bit of color and humor is needed. Some
call last Sunday "Rose Sunday". In some congregations people wear a red cloth
or a red rose. Some leaders are given roses. Well, last Sunday was rose heart
Sunday for us of Los Altos. A little girl had worked all last week cutting out
paper hearts that were colored red, green and blue. Beautiful. She gave them to
worshipers as we exited the sanctuary. This small act brightened the smile on our
faces as we received the brightly colored paper hearts. We were blessed to get some color and a small paper
heart. I put my paper in my shirt pocket to remind me of that genuine gift. It's like the word from the prophet
Jeremiah 31:31-34. "But this is the covenant that I make with the house of Israel after those days, says the
LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall
be my people."
This Biblical text invites us to confess and repent boldly. It's because of the already-and-not-yet promise that
remembers our sins no more. Really it invites us to confess that the covenantal, calculus, our quid-pro-quo
approach to God does not always hold water. This far into Lent, the shadow of the cross falls over everything in
life. It's a reminder that, even for God's most faithful One, there is no path around the darkness. Yet there
lingers also the hope, the already-and-not-yet promise, that the days are surely coming when even the cross
gives way to life. This begs the question; what is God writing on my heart? Our sin is before the forgiving God.
As we have been forgiven by God, we need help to forgive other human beings.
"With my whole heart I seek you; do not let me stray from your commandments. I treasure your word in my
heart, so that I may not sin against you." (Psalm 119:10-11) What a good prayer.
"Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he
became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him." (Hebrews 5:8-9) "Now my soul is troubled. And
what should I say-'Father, save me from this hour? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father,
glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." (John 12:27
-28) What if God wrote the law and gospel on our hearts so that we would live within the creation. It might
cause us to cherish our neighbors, the birds, the animals and fish. What would creation be if we lived with
restraint and humility, living for the whole creation as a gift from God? Because of God's promise in Christ who
endured sufferings, the way to eternal salvation has been opened up to everyone. This gives us an attitude of
wonder and gratitude for His work.
The
Pastor’s
Pen
Living Journeys,
Pastor Bill Harrold
As we continue in our journey together during lent, please
remember to bring a small container of water to add a few drops of
water to our desert landscape next Sunday. We will be coming forward
again at communion time to add our offerings to our desert display.
Feed & Seed Thursday Night Bible Study
March 19, 2015
Join us around the table! (donation dinner)
Fellowship and supper at 5:30 pm
Mighty Acts of God - Deuteronomy 1-4:43
Los Altos Christian Church
Neighborhood
pancake breakfast and Easter egg hunt will be held on
Saturday, April 4th at 9:00 am. Start with a family
breakfast at 9:00, hunt for eggs at about 9:30 and stay for
a few games and prizes. The grounds will be divided into
hunting areas for children from infants to 12 years of
age. Bring your appetite and your own basket or sack for
collecting those eggs.
PALM SUNDAY PROCESSIONAL
On Palm Sunday, March 29th, we will be
meeting at the front of the church to get our
palms and then we will have a processional
around our church block before Worship. The
processional will leave from the front of the church at
10:10 am, and will return at the start of service. We will
file into the church and around the outside of the pews
and sing the opening hymn before sitting down. The
words to the opening hymn will be on the projector
screen. Please wear safe and comfortable walking
shoes. Those that do not wish to walk or are unable to
walk around the neighborhood can start church in the
pews as they normally would and wait for the
processional to return, during which time there will be
wonderful music provided by Kathy and Jeremy. If you
have any questions, please ask Andrea H. or Pastor
Bill. Thank you!
The Wed. 3 pm Bible Study, ’’Romans’’, will not meet again until
March 25th. The study will resume at the home of Kristie G.,
1200 Paisano St., 3 pm on March 25th. Read chapters 1 & 2.
New comers invited!
Start fresh with us as we review the righteousness of God.
Everyone is invited to the Friends
Fellowship at Sombra Del Monte Christian
Church on April 22 at 11:30 am for a time of
fellowship and special music. The “Ageless
Angels” quartet from the Young at Heart
Choir will entertain us with familiar song
selections. Bring a brown-bag lunch and join
in this special time!
Sombra Del Monte Christian Church
2525 Vermont St. NE
(505) 298-6707
Calling all 6th-12th Grade Albuquerque Disciples Youth!
Disciples Summer Mission 2015, July 29-July 3rd in
Albuquerque
http://www.disciplesummermission.com/
DISCIPLE_SUMMER_MISSION/Albuquerque.html
Informational Meeting
Sunday, March 15, 2015 at 5:30 p.m.
Monte Vista Christian Church
Contact: Wendy Tanner, 265-4429
W
hat an opportunity we have been presented. GOD HEARD US! Even before the New Beginnings
house meetings had finished, we received a request from Immigrant and Refugee Resource Village of
Albuquerque (IRRVA) for use of space. Many of the house meetings were centered on the needs of the
community and how to use our space.
Last Saturday morning, Pastor Bill met with a joint meeting of the board, ministry leaders and the leaders
from NB and one of the items on the agenda was the request from IRRVA. There had been two meetings
with IRRVA, one attended of representatives from East Central Ministries.
The board will meet this week and appoint a task force that I will head to make this happen as soon as
possible. Changes will be coming and updates on the process will be communicated. Please take a look at
their website- irrva.com.
Following is most of the email that I received from Molly Murphy concerning questions that I had posed for
Nkazi and Molly of IRRVA:
Blessings Charlene,
We want to have a clear and cohesive plan in place, rather than doing things in a piece-meal fashion, before we
make changes. The people served by IRRVA have had a lot of upheaval and change in their lives, so we want to be
on steady ground before we present them with changes - even when we are talking about wonderful changes :-)
As you know, IRRVA borrows a room 3 mornings a week at PBJ for our sewing classes, preschool class, and for
ESL instruction. Instead of this arrangement, we would love to have a room for sewing where the ladies (and some
gentlemen who sew) would have ample space for sewing, for storage of machines and materials, as well as space
where they can exhibit and sell their creations to the public.
We would also like a room for a dedicated preschool classroom:) We wish for a room where we can fill the walls
with children's art work, and where we can leave projects that children are still working on out on the shelves,
rather than cramming them into our car's trunk. We want to be able to decorate bulletin boards, create a reading
area where the kids can relax and read, a block area where they can build, a space where they can paint or do
other art... We would like this room to feel like a home for the kids, a place where they know that everything they
left will be waiting them when they return, and they don't need to wonder if someone moved their things or took
their things, or they will be moved out of the room the following day because someone needed the space for
something else. This room would be used for our preschool program. Right now the program is offered just once a
week at PBJ, but once we have a permanent place for it, we envision it expanding to other days of the week, as
well. If an outdoor playground area could accompany this room, it would be a dream come true:-)
We would like use of some space/ land for raised garden beds, so that the IRRVA community could grow healthy
food for their own consumption, and also sell some of the produce in order to generate a bit of income. I can see
all ages involved in this project – men, women, teens, and children. It could be healthy and healing for all
involved.
We wonder, Charlene, do you and the LACC board picture IRRVA having access to church facilities during late
afternoons or perhaps some evenings? If so, we would love another room that could be a multipurpose room - this
could be a parent education room for things like ESL classes, nutrition and preventive health classes. Perhaps the
families could use it for Friday night movies. Maybe in the summer we could use this room for art, craft classes,
or drumming and dance classes for the children? Perhaps the children of LACC could participate in these classes,
as well? That would be very fun!
(continued next page)
At this point in time, we do not need a nursery. As we grow and can do more outreach to other refugee and immigrant
groups in the city, this may change. As we meet with Lutheran Family Services (the agency that brings refugees to
Albuquerque) and describe our expanding programs and our partnership with you (LACC), we hope they will refer
refugees from other countries to us. We would love to expand our services in this way, and we see that as a possibility
for the future :-)
We would love to explore preparing and cooking meals together - the IRRVA women and the women of
LAAC :) Possibly it could be part of the sewing classes held mornings. As you had mentioned at our last meeting, it
could be a great opportunity to learn from each other, to bond, and also for the African women to expand their
knowledge of healthy American foods they can prepare for their families. What do you think?
At this point in time, we think it best to hold our after school tutoring program at East Central Ministries, since most
of our families live close by and they are just establishing the routine of getting their children there after school.
At this point in time, we will also leave our Saturday afternoon tutoring at La Mesa Presbyterian Church.
As with any project that is dynamic and spirit-guided, the possibilities for growth and new ideas between us (LACC
and IRRVA) is unlimited. We will have ideas in the next weeks or months that we can't even imagine right now. We
do see our Women's Global Pathways Project and other IRRVA programs expanding in the near future. Nearly every
day, new volunteers are coming forward to ask how they can help tutor children or adults, or in other ways, support
the IRRVA community. God's blessings are indeed immense!
Church Women United, an
ecumenical Christian women’s
gathering, will meet on Friday, April
3rd at Sandia Presbyterian Church,
10704 Paseo del Norte NE. Coffee
fellowship will begin at 9:00 a.m.
followed by the program at
10:00. Dennis Plummer, Director of
Albuquerque Heading Home, and
Lisa Maury will be presenting
information about their program and
how it addresses homelessness in
Albuquerque. A collection of school
supplies for the APS Title I
homeless students will be
gathered. Tablets, crayons, pencils,
pens, erasers, loose-leaf paper,
tissues, backpacks and new socks
are some of the items needed.
Come and bring a friend!
For more information please call
Amy Costales at 867-4207.
It’s time to beautify the property
and get ready for Spring! Join us in
this great opportunity of service to
the church. This Thursday, Friday
and Saturday 8-9:30 am each day.
Bring work gloves and a smile!
Los Altos Christian Church (DOC)
Hours of Sunday Worship
Sunday School: 9:15 am
Sunday Morning Svc: 10:30 am
Evening Taize Svc: 5:00 pm
We are disciples of Christ, a movement for
wholeness in a fragmented world. As part of the
one Body of Christ, we welcome all to the Lord's
Table as God has welcomed us.
Los Altos Christian Church
11900 Haines Avenue NE
Albuquerque NM 87112-4513
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Please remember:
newsletter articles
must be turned in by
10:00 am on Monday.
Thank you.
Please note: For safety’s sake,
the doors of the church will be
locked at all times. Ring the
doorbell - if there is no answer,
call the church office to be let
in. 505-299-5526
Visit Us On The Web at
www.losaltoschristianchurch.com
Los Altos Christian Church (DoC) Staff
Pastor:
Bill Harrold
Administrative Office Mgr:
Connie Shaw
Director of Music:
Jeremy Velardez
Custodial:
Jani-King of NM
Office Angels: Pat Craven, Iva Vest, Edie Dunnington
Kristie Gitzendanner, Georgie