NEWSLETTER FOR DECEMBER
from Bill Humphreys
Hello all: I hope that this season of cold nights and now-lengthening days finds you in good health and the merriest of good cheer!
What's up?
This weekend: Saturday evening at 5:00 PM. I hope that you can join the Christmas Eve worship service at Smith Memorial Presbyterian Church in Truchas. We'll gather for lessons, carols and candles in celebration of the birth of Jesus!
And the next day: ta-da!! Christmas Day!! Merry Christmas! We'll gather at Smith Memorial at 9:00 AM and El Buen Pastor at 10:30 AM as we generally do on Sunday mornings! Note: I learned just this week that the next time Christmas Day comes on a Sunday will be in 2033. The calendar on your wall might not reach out that far, but many cell phones will have it. Not cooking or wrapping or shopping just now? Look it up! With the normal annual rotation of dates and weekdays and the 4-year cycle of leap years, we'll save you a seat in worship on Christmas Day, 2033, just as we are for this year! Probably you noticed already: my September 18 birthday is always on the same day of the week as Christmas and New Years' Day, seemingly congruent with September and December dates and weekdays being the same!! We're still gathering for worship this coming Saturday at 5:00 PM in Truchas and Christmas Day at 9:00 and 10:30 in both congregations!
Many thanks to Brenda Romero at El Buen Pastor for taking the lead on collecting and distributing non-perishable food donations for a few area families in need this season.
And also in the Romero family: Congratulations to Wilfred for the community recognition as Chimayo's Tesoro for 2022-23!! I'm leaning that that honorary designation recognizes noteworthy leadership in the community. In this case, Wilfred's a helpful leader in irrigation projects, and more! He's also quite handy to have around the El Buen Pastor congregation and its several property maintenance needs! Thanks and Congratulations, Wilfred!
Personal note; professional connection: My spouse, the Rev. Laura Loving, has just become a part-time member of the staff at the United Church in Los Alamos mostly for children's education programs. She learned right away that several people from that congregation would be coming to Truchas last week with Santa Claus to deliver Christmas gifts to children at the preschool near the Smith Memorial church. It worked out very nicely for Laura and me to ride together to be at the preschool when Santa arrived there. I feel much gratitude to be connected to Smith Memorial and its support of the nearby preschool program, and to the congregation at the United Church for their long-standing support of it, too!!
Member/friends note: We're not inclined to publish here everything we know about individual and family situations when it comes to health. In this case, many people in both congregations continue to provide prayer and material support for Sara Romer. So this: Sara's packing up for a move soon to a care facility in Los Alamos. If you're inclined sooner or later, keep in touch with her and keep her on your personal prayer list.
Looking ahead just a bit: For Sunday, January 1, 2023, and over that weekend, I plan to be out of town to bring in the new year! Margaret Franke is scheduled to lead worship and preach at the Sunday services. My thanks to Margaret for her continuing care for all of us related to these congregations. You might also appreciate her up-toi-date attention to the churches' web site: www,smithmemorialtruchas.org. It really is for both congregations! Thank you, Margaret!
Ok: Looking ahead a bit further: the El Buen Pastor Session has set Sunday, January 22, 2023, for the congregation's ANNUAL MEETING! We'll meet to receive annual reports, elect deacons and elders and a nominating committee, and conduct other business that might be in order that day (which is just about anything since it's a regular meeting of the congregation!). Please plan to attend! And in the mean time, if someone thinks that YOU would be a good nominee for one of these leadership positions, do give it a good thought!
And the following Sunday, January 29, 2023, is the month's fifth Sunday, That means: HYMN SING! The plan for alternating venues leads us to Truchas and Smith Memorial for worship that day at 10:00 AM. Come and sing! Come and enjoy others' singing!
And this: if you know of someone who'd like to be on this "send" list and is not, suggest that they send me a note about it and I'll add there e-mail address! And if you'd like to NOT be on this list, let me know that, too!
What's up with you?
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Happy New Year! -Bill Humphreys. 262.853.4918 for calls/texts
SOME NOTES FOR THE END OF November for
EL BUEN PASTOR AND SMITH MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES
Hello Friends and Neighbors: I am glad to write just now with several things in mind as "church notes", etc.
First of all: Happy Thanksgiving!! Are you reading this while waiting for the turkey to bake? maybe avoiding being more helpful in the kitchen or just out of someone's way? Or maybe you're checking your e-mail after a long day or maybe days of cleaning, hosting, cooking, more cleaning up? It's a nice development for many people that there's a Friday AND a Saturday immediately following our annual Thursday Thanksgiving Day. All things considered, I'm betting that you actually had a moment to think of several things about which to be thankful. On my list are the good people of the Smith Memorial and El Buen Pastor congregations! I am thankful for each and all of you and for the many and varied gifts you bring to these congregations!! Happy Thanksgiving!
While I"m at it: In case you receive and read these notes in time: El Buen Pastor will look a bit different after Saturday coming up, November 26, and our gathering to decorate the church for Advent. Sunday is Advent I (first of four). Some of us, you, too, I hope, will gather at 10:00 am on Saturday to decorate the sanctuary so that it looks as though we're getting ready for Christmas!! Come and join the fun: Saturday morning, 11/26/22; 10:00 AM at El Buen Pastor.
And on Sunday, the Smith Memorial worship service at 9:00 am will include some time to do a similar thing there, "dressing the church" for Advent and for the season of Christmas.
Christmas?? Looking ahead just a bit, the Smith Memorial Christmas Eve worship service of lessons and carols will be on.... drumroll... Christmas Eve! at 5:00 PM at Smith Memorial in Truchas. That's Saturday, 12/24/22, at 5:00 PM.
And Christmas Day worship services will be at the usual Sunday times of 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM in Truchas and Chimayo, respectively. Oh, right; on Christmas Day, SUNDAY, December 25!!
Have you seen the church ad in the Rio Grande SUN newspaper? It's in the column next to the Church Directory. Just as the ad says: "Welcome to Worship!"
Tell everybody! Immediate seating available!
All the best of Season's Greetings to you and yours! Blessings! Health! Hope! Peace! Joy! -Bill Humphreys. 262.853.4918
Greetings, all!
From Bill Humphreys, on one fine Fall day in the neighborhood!
First note: I’m glad to add a name or two or a few to this “send” list. For some of you who’ve seen one of these notes previously, please know that you haven’t missed one since; THIS is the second one. If this is your first time on the list: WELCOME TO IT!
THIS COMING SUNDAY is the fifth Sunday of the month, October 30, 2022, so we’ll be meeting for worship at 10:00 AM at El Buen Pastor in Chimayo. Come and sing or listen; you can even pick a hymn to sing and enjoy it while others sing it! And there will be some refreshments and conversation to follow the service. NOTE: this time is an hour later for the Truchas Smith Memorial folk, and a HALF HOUR EARLIER for the El Buen Pastor gathering! See you at 10:00 am!
PREACHING SCHEDULE, ETC. Over the weekend, November 4-8, Bill Humphreys will be with 7 others visiting the island nation of Cuba. We’ll be there mostly just to say “Hola”. Restrictions there prevent visitors on “church visas” from doing work- group sorts of projects, so we visitors will bring greetings from you along with a supply of medicines and a few other items that can pass through security checks.
For Sunday, November 6, the Rev. John Guthrie will lead worship and preach and lead the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
For Nov. 13, Margaret Franke has so graciously agreed to be ON at 9:00 and 10:30. November 20 and 27 and through December, it’s back to Bill Humphreys.
Nov. 20 is the last Sunday in the liturgical year and is “The Reign of Christ Sunday” Nov. 27 follows as the first Sunday in the new liturgical year and as ADVENT ONE! Already! Christmas Day is, well, December 25! And the four preceding Sundays are Advent, so: 1,2,3,4; ta-da! November 27!
DECORATIONS! Following that last sentence, the El Buen Pastor Session has set the previous day, Saturday, November 26, as the day to decorate the sanctuary and a few spots outdoors for ADVENT! 10:00 AM seems like a good time to gather at the church to put up some reminders off the season, and a few Faralitos might be added to the property line alongside the church and driveway. Please plan to join the fun. And bring along a friend or two, even family members, even grandchildren!
AND MORE FOR ADVENT... Watch for the opportunity to pick up an ADVENT CAL- ENDAR for marking the days of waiting, expectation, joy!
Also for Advent, El Buen Pastor members and friends are invited to do some more of what you’ve done before... bring non-perishable food to church with you on any Ad- vent Sunday(s) for a collection that will be delivered to local families who will be
most grateful to have it. That’s for Sundays beginning November 27 and continuing through at least December 18.
DONATIONS WELCOME! We don’t hear much about El Buen Pastor having a manse. One former living space for pastors was the home at the north end of the driveway beside the church building. It’s now a gathering place for meetings and oc- casional food events!
And there’s another church-owned home just east of the intersection east of the church. It’s a rental property owned by the congregation. That arrangement calls on the church to maintain the manse as all good owners do! Recently that obligation included hooking up the manse to the local water supply. At the same time although unrelated, the sewer system needed some work, and continues to need some atten- tion.
While the church funds currently cover the costs of those improvements, the roughly $6,000 improvements provide an opportunity for church members and oth- ers to contribute financially to help cover the costs. There’s not a “fund drive” for it, but you’re invited to help out financially in support of these projects. As you likely know, please indicate clearly on your check or with a note just what your intentions are. As always: with many thanks.
WATCH FOR THE NEW CHURCH AD. The EBP Session has agreed, and maybe by the time you read this, the Smith Memorial Session will, too, to advertise our exist- ence in the Rio Grande SUN weekly newspaper. Already our two churches are listed in the fine print; soon we’ll be more present in the paid ads that run next to the church listing. You might feel some pride for it. You might also point it out to some neighbors or friends. We have some seating available to share for worship on Sun- day mornings!
Check the churches web site from time to time: www.smithmemorialtruchas.org
This coming Sunday, October 30 at TEN o’clock am is the fifth Sunday hymn sing at El Buen Pastor, with refreshments and conversations to follow!
In the mean time and all the time, keep each other and others in your prayers for health and peace, courage and patience, comfort and joy, work to do and the strength to do it.
The Peace of Christ be with you and with us all! -Bill Humphreys. 262.853.4918
Oh: let others know of the opportunity to be on the e-mail list for these news notes, and encourage them to let me know to add them to the list. Also: let me know what information we can add to the next edition of these news notes!
from Bill Humphreys
Hello all: I hope that this season of cold nights and now-lengthening days finds you in good health and the merriest of good cheer!
What's up?
This weekend: Saturday evening at 5:00 PM. I hope that you can join the Christmas Eve worship service at Smith Memorial Presbyterian Church in Truchas. We'll gather for lessons, carols and candles in celebration of the birth of Jesus!
And the next day: ta-da!! Christmas Day!! Merry Christmas! We'll gather at Smith Memorial at 9:00 AM and El Buen Pastor at 10:30 AM as we generally do on Sunday mornings! Note: I learned just this week that the next time Christmas Day comes on a Sunday will be in 2033. The calendar on your wall might not reach out that far, but many cell phones will have it. Not cooking or wrapping or shopping just now? Look it up! With the normal annual rotation of dates and weekdays and the 4-year cycle of leap years, we'll save you a seat in worship on Christmas Day, 2033, just as we are for this year! Probably you noticed already: my September 18 birthday is always on the same day of the week as Christmas and New Years' Day, seemingly congruent with September and December dates and weekdays being the same!! We're still gathering for worship this coming Saturday at 5:00 PM in Truchas and Christmas Day at 9:00 and 10:30 in both congregations!
Many thanks to Brenda Romero at El Buen Pastor for taking the lead on collecting and distributing non-perishable food donations for a few area families in need this season.
And also in the Romero family: Congratulations to Wilfred for the community recognition as Chimayo's Tesoro for 2022-23!! I'm leaning that that honorary designation recognizes noteworthy leadership in the community. In this case, Wilfred's a helpful leader in irrigation projects, and more! He's also quite handy to have around the El Buen Pastor congregation and its several property maintenance needs! Thanks and Congratulations, Wilfred!
Personal note; professional connection: My spouse, the Rev. Laura Loving, has just become a part-time member of the staff at the United Church in Los Alamos mostly for children's education programs. She learned right away that several people from that congregation would be coming to Truchas last week with Santa Claus to deliver Christmas gifts to children at the preschool near the Smith Memorial church. It worked out very nicely for Laura and me to ride together to be at the preschool when Santa arrived there. I feel much gratitude to be connected to Smith Memorial and its support of the nearby preschool program, and to the congregation at the United Church for their long-standing support of it, too!!
Member/friends note: We're not inclined to publish here everything we know about individual and family situations when it comes to health. In this case, many people in both congregations continue to provide prayer and material support for Sara Romer. So this: Sara's packing up for a move soon to a care facility in Los Alamos. If you're inclined sooner or later, keep in touch with her and keep her on your personal prayer list.
Looking ahead just a bit: For Sunday, January 1, 2023, and over that weekend, I plan to be out of town to bring in the new year! Margaret Franke is scheduled to lead worship and preach at the Sunday services. My thanks to Margaret for her continuing care for all of us related to these congregations. You might also appreciate her up-toi-date attention to the churches' web site: www,smithmemorialtruchas.org. It really is for both congregations! Thank you, Margaret!
Ok: Looking ahead a bit further: the El Buen Pastor Session has set Sunday, January 22, 2023, for the congregation's ANNUAL MEETING! We'll meet to receive annual reports, elect deacons and elders and a nominating committee, and conduct other business that might be in order that day (which is just about anything since it's a regular meeting of the congregation!). Please plan to attend! And in the mean time, if someone thinks that YOU would be a good nominee for one of these leadership positions, do give it a good thought!
And the following Sunday, January 29, 2023, is the month's fifth Sunday, That means: HYMN SING! The plan for alternating venues leads us to Truchas and Smith Memorial for worship that day at 10:00 AM. Come and sing! Come and enjoy others' singing!
And this: if you know of someone who'd like to be on this "send" list and is not, suggest that they send me a note about it and I'll add there e-mail address! And if you'd like to NOT be on this list, let me know that, too!
What's up with you?
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Happy New Year! -Bill Humphreys. 262.853.4918 for calls/texts
SOME NOTES FOR THE END OF November for
EL BUEN PASTOR AND SMITH MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES
Hello Friends and Neighbors: I am glad to write just now with several things in mind as "church notes", etc.
First of all: Happy Thanksgiving!! Are you reading this while waiting for the turkey to bake? maybe avoiding being more helpful in the kitchen or just out of someone's way? Or maybe you're checking your e-mail after a long day or maybe days of cleaning, hosting, cooking, more cleaning up? It's a nice development for many people that there's a Friday AND a Saturday immediately following our annual Thursday Thanksgiving Day. All things considered, I'm betting that you actually had a moment to think of several things about which to be thankful. On my list are the good people of the Smith Memorial and El Buen Pastor congregations! I am thankful for each and all of you and for the many and varied gifts you bring to these congregations!! Happy Thanksgiving!
While I"m at it: In case you receive and read these notes in time: El Buen Pastor will look a bit different after Saturday coming up, November 26, and our gathering to decorate the church for Advent. Sunday is Advent I (first of four). Some of us, you, too, I hope, will gather at 10:00 am on Saturday to decorate the sanctuary so that it looks as though we're getting ready for Christmas!! Come and join the fun: Saturday morning, 11/26/22; 10:00 AM at El Buen Pastor.
And on Sunday, the Smith Memorial worship service at 9:00 am will include some time to do a similar thing there, "dressing the church" for Advent and for the season of Christmas.
Christmas?? Looking ahead just a bit, the Smith Memorial Christmas Eve worship service of lessons and carols will be on.... drumroll... Christmas Eve! at 5:00 PM at Smith Memorial in Truchas. That's Saturday, 12/24/22, at 5:00 PM.
And Christmas Day worship services will be at the usual Sunday times of 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM in Truchas and Chimayo, respectively. Oh, right; on Christmas Day, SUNDAY, December 25!!
Have you seen the church ad in the Rio Grande SUN newspaper? It's in the column next to the Church Directory. Just as the ad says: "Welcome to Worship!"
Tell everybody! Immediate seating available!
All the best of Season's Greetings to you and yours! Blessings! Health! Hope! Peace! Joy! -Bill Humphreys. 262.853.4918
Greetings, all!
From Bill Humphreys, on one fine Fall day in the neighborhood!
First note: I’m glad to add a name or two or a few to this “send” list. For some of you who’ve seen one of these notes previously, please know that you haven’t missed one since; THIS is the second one. If this is your first time on the list: WELCOME TO IT!
THIS COMING SUNDAY is the fifth Sunday of the month, October 30, 2022, so we’ll be meeting for worship at 10:00 AM at El Buen Pastor in Chimayo. Come and sing or listen; you can even pick a hymn to sing and enjoy it while others sing it! And there will be some refreshments and conversation to follow the service. NOTE: this time is an hour later for the Truchas Smith Memorial folk, and a HALF HOUR EARLIER for the El Buen Pastor gathering! See you at 10:00 am!
PREACHING SCHEDULE, ETC. Over the weekend, November 4-8, Bill Humphreys will be with 7 others visiting the island nation of Cuba. We’ll be there mostly just to say “Hola”. Restrictions there prevent visitors on “church visas” from doing work- group sorts of projects, so we visitors will bring greetings from you along with a supply of medicines and a few other items that can pass through security checks.
For Sunday, November 6, the Rev. John Guthrie will lead worship and preach and lead the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
For Nov. 13, Margaret Franke has so graciously agreed to be ON at 9:00 and 10:30. November 20 and 27 and through December, it’s back to Bill Humphreys.
Nov. 20 is the last Sunday in the liturgical year and is “The Reign of Christ Sunday” Nov. 27 follows as the first Sunday in the new liturgical year and as ADVENT ONE! Already! Christmas Day is, well, December 25! And the four preceding Sundays are Advent, so: 1,2,3,4; ta-da! November 27!
DECORATIONS! Following that last sentence, the El Buen Pastor Session has set the previous day, Saturday, November 26, as the day to decorate the sanctuary and a few spots outdoors for ADVENT! 10:00 AM seems like a good time to gather at the church to put up some reminders off the season, and a few Faralitos might be added to the property line alongside the church and driveway. Please plan to join the fun. And bring along a friend or two, even family members, even grandchildren!
AND MORE FOR ADVENT... Watch for the opportunity to pick up an ADVENT CAL- ENDAR for marking the days of waiting, expectation, joy!
Also for Advent, El Buen Pastor members and friends are invited to do some more of what you’ve done before... bring non-perishable food to church with you on any Ad- vent Sunday(s) for a collection that will be delivered to local families who will be
most grateful to have it. That’s for Sundays beginning November 27 and continuing through at least December 18.
DONATIONS WELCOME! We don’t hear much about El Buen Pastor having a manse. One former living space for pastors was the home at the north end of the driveway beside the church building. It’s now a gathering place for meetings and oc- casional food events!
And there’s another church-owned home just east of the intersection east of the church. It’s a rental property owned by the congregation. That arrangement calls on the church to maintain the manse as all good owners do! Recently that obligation included hooking up the manse to the local water supply. At the same time although unrelated, the sewer system needed some work, and continues to need some atten- tion.
While the church funds currently cover the costs of those improvements, the roughly $6,000 improvements provide an opportunity for church members and oth- ers to contribute financially to help cover the costs. There’s not a “fund drive” for it, but you’re invited to help out financially in support of these projects. As you likely know, please indicate clearly on your check or with a note just what your intentions are. As always: with many thanks.
WATCH FOR THE NEW CHURCH AD. The EBP Session has agreed, and maybe by the time you read this, the Smith Memorial Session will, too, to advertise our exist- ence in the Rio Grande SUN weekly newspaper. Already our two churches are listed in the fine print; soon we’ll be more present in the paid ads that run next to the church listing. You might feel some pride for it. You might also point it out to some neighbors or friends. We have some seating available to share for worship on Sun- day mornings!
Check the churches web site from time to time: www.smithmemorialtruchas.org
This coming Sunday, October 30 at TEN o’clock am is the fifth Sunday hymn sing at El Buen Pastor, with refreshments and conversations to follow!
In the mean time and all the time, keep each other and others in your prayers for health and peace, courage and patience, comfort and joy, work to do and the strength to do it.
The Peace of Christ be with you and with us all! -Bill Humphreys. 262.853.4918
Oh: let others know of the opportunity to be on the e-mail list for these news notes, and encourage them to let me know to add them to the list. Also: let me know what information we can add to the next edition of these news notes!
Welcome to SMPC and EPB! Bill Humphreys, here, pastor to/for/with the people of the Smith Memorial Presbyterian Church in Truchas, NM, and El Buen Pastor Presbyterian Church in Chimayo, NM, to say “Welcome! To the life and, we hope, ministry of these congregations!”
Sunday worship services are at 9:00 AM in Truchas and 10:30 AM in Chimayo. Members, friends, neighbors and enemies, too, are welcome to attend and participate in the worship services. The Sacrament of Holy Communion is part of the worship experience on the first Sunday of each month; everybody’s welcome to participate. On the fifth Sunday of the month when there is one, the congregations worship together for a hymn sing at 10:00 AM. This web site will announce those fifth Sunday alternating locations; neither the 9:00 AM nor the 10:30 service is held that day.
Other opportunities in the respective congregations include availability for special occasions: weddings, funerals, anniversaries and other family and community events or meetings as appropriate for the sanctuary or education house next door.
I join the people of these congregations in saying a word of warm welcome!
Keep checking this web site for information: www.smithmemorialtruchas.org. And feel free to call me, the pastor, the Rev. Bill Humphreys, at (262) 853-4918 with questions, suggestions, etc.
Blessings. Health. Peace! -Bill Humphreys
Sunday worship services are at 9:00 AM in Truchas and 10:30 AM in Chimayo. Members, friends, neighbors and enemies, too, are welcome to attend and participate in the worship services. The Sacrament of Holy Communion is part of the worship experience on the first Sunday of each month; everybody’s welcome to participate. On the fifth Sunday of the month when there is one, the congregations worship together for a hymn sing at 10:00 AM. This web site will announce those fifth Sunday alternating locations; neither the 9:00 AM nor the 10:30 service is held that day.
Other opportunities in the respective congregations include availability for special occasions: weddings, funerals, anniversaries and other family and community events or meetings as appropriate for the sanctuary or education house next door.
I join the people of these congregations in saying a word of warm welcome!
Keep checking this web site for information: www.smithmemorialtruchas.org. And feel free to call me, the pastor, the Rev. Bill Humphreys, at (262) 853-4918 with questions, suggestions, etc.
Blessings. Health. Peace! -Bill Humphreys
Change of seasons!!
As you look at photos of the Truchas Services Center renovations, did you know that the building was the Truchas Day School run by the Board of National Missions of the Presbyterian Church?
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