Activities
Get Involved
We are committed to providing activities for people of all ages. At High Desert we offer a wide range of activities for church members to get involved in. Below are some of our recent activities. Contact the church office to learn more about any of these activities.
Upcoming Events
Welcome
Thanks for worshiping with us this morning; please join us for coffee and refreshments in the Fellowship Hall following our worship service.
Rides & Church Bus
The church bus picks up for the 9 am service. If you need a ride to church, please call the church office.
If you are willing to provide a ride for someone to church on Sunday morning, please contact Reuben, Linn or the church office directly at (505) 891-4206.
Offering
Collection plates. plates are now positioned around the sanctuary for your weekly contribution.
Music
Choir
The Choir is taking a break for the summer. If you are willing to provide the special music for either the 9 am or 11 am service on a Sunday during August, please see either Frank, Lori or Reuben.
Friday Night “Jesus and Music” Session
Looking for an opportunity to jam with fellow musicians and play/sing Christian music? Then come join us on Friday at 3:30 pm in the sanctuary.
Prayer Requests
Please call Sandy Dewbre at 505-238-1958 or email at dewbre998@gmail.com.
Military Prayer List
If you have a family member or relative serving in the military, especially in “Harm’s Way,” please submit their name, rank, military branch and if possible, where they are currently serving to the office or Reuben. We would like to establish a prayer list of those serving our nation.
Flowers
If you would like to place flowers in the church, please sign up in the Narthex.
Church Office
Normal Office hours will be on Wednesdays from 9 am until 12 noon. If you have an announcement for the bulletin, please send it to Reuben before Tuesday each week.
Live Streaming
You can watch the 9 am worship service at home from any internet browser by going to:
YouTube.com/@highdesertunitedmethodistc4301/streams
To search for the church stream in YouTube, at the top of the page, in the YouTube search box, type in High Desert United Methodist Church. You may see a number of options but select the one with a video feed picture of the sanctuary and a red box that says LIVE.
Morningstar Worship
We have an opening on the worship team for the 10:30 am Sunday Worship Service at Morningstar. You would only lead worship once every six weeks. Please consider this ministry opportunity and let Reuben know if you are willing to help.
Each Sunday one of our members leads worship at 10:30 am for the residents of Morningstar retirement community. We are currently developing the schedule.
Please see the Missions Page for more details on this Mission.
Pantry
Distribution occurs on the first Friday (11am-2pm), the third Tuesday (9am-noon) and the third Thursday (1-4pm) of each month. The next food distributions are scheduled for:
Tuesday November 19 from 9 am - 12 pm
Thursday November 21 from 1 pm - 4 pm
Friday December 6 from 11 am - 2 pm **
** Friday distributions include pet food.
November Collection: Canned Soup/Stew
December Collection: Oatmeal (Small Boxes or Variety Pack)
Contact John Samford at (505) 870-0667 for more information.
Bookshelf Library
At the request of members of our congregation, High Desert United Methodist Church is developing a Bookshelf Library. The Christian book collection is located in the Fellowship Hall. All the books are donations and may be checked out on a clipboard located in the bookcase.
If you have Christian materials that you would like to donate, please place them in the basket on the bottom shelf of the bookcase. Each donation will be reviewed by volunteers to determine if the book fits the Christian mission of High Desert. Books that are not a good fit will be donated to other organizations. We would love to hear from you and help you get connected at High Desert United Methodist Church. Click below to contact us and learn more about how you can get involved.
Upcoming Events continued
Thank You
- To Antonio Trujillo for his message this morning.
- To those who helped assemble bags for Feed NM Kids on Monday.
- To those who participated in the Trivia Afternoon on Tuesday.
Operation Christmas Child
November 17 is the last day to turn in your shoeboxes. See details for collection below.
Thanksgiving Potluck
Looking for the opportunity to share Thanksgiving with friends? Then join us for a potluck Thanksgiving dinner at 12 noon. Sing-up sheet in Narthex.
Thanksgiving Tamales
The Spanish Church is taking orders for Tamales for Thanksgiving. Cost is $22 per dozen. You can sign-up in the Narthex. Last day to place order is Sunday November 17; they will be delivered on Sunday November 24 at the church.
Christmas Concert
Join us on Sunday December 1 at both service when Scott and Irma Reeder will get us in the Christmas mood with their inspiring music.
Christmas Poinsettias
We will be ordering Poinsettias from La Paloma Greenhouse for Advent and the Christmas Eve Services. If you would like to purchase one or more in memory or honor of someone, please fill out the form in the bulletin and place it in one of the offering plates. The cost is $8 each and your check should be made out to High Desert UMC and marked for poinsettias on the memo line. The last day to place an order will be Sunday December 8.
Second Mile Giving
Our Second Mile Giving for November will go to providing hams for Christmas for the clients of the High Desert Methodist Food Pantry. We will purchase the hams and distribute them prior to Christmas. If you would like to support this ministry, please mark “Christmas Hams” on the memo line of your check.
College Care Packages
Last year we sent care packages of snacks to college students as they prepared for finals. We would like to continue this ministry this year. If you have a college student in your family, please complet3e the information in the bulletin so we can send them a care package.
Winter Collections
We have started collecting gloves, socks, stocking caps, sweat shirts, hoodies, blankets, and sleeping bags for the homeless. Please place your donations in the bin in the Narthex.
Operation Christmas Child
It’s time again to begin collecting and filling shoeboxes for Operations Christmas Child for Samaritan’s Purse.
High Desert has participated in this mission project for several years, where members get a shoebox (any size will work) and fill it with toys, hygiene items, and school supplies. Then bring your shoebox to the church along with a donation of $10 cash or check made out to HDUMC marked with “Operation Christmas Child” for shipping. All the shoeboxes must be turned in by Sunday November 17, 2024. They will be taken to Grace Outreach Church the week of November 18, 2024. They will then be distributed to children in need around the world. There are empty shoeboxes available in the Narthex.
If you would like to pack your own shoebox:
There are instructions on how to pack a shoebox on the back of the Shoebox Label which is out in the Narthex. In addition, bring a donation of $10 for shipping. After all the shoeboxes have been turned in, a check for shipping will be issued to Samaritan’s Purse and mailed to them.
Then just mark on the label if it is for either a boy or girl and what age group, peel the label off and put it on top of the box.
A few requirements have changed this year:
- Please don’t include soap in your shoebox, some chemicals have been banned in some countries.
- Put at least one rubber band around each shoebox, so it doesn’t open during shipping.
- Remove all packaging from items put in each shoebox. Some locations don’t have a place to dispose of trash.
- Shoeboxes can be wrapped in wrapping paper, just be sure and wrap the lid separately so that when they go to the regional processing center they can easily be opened for inspection.