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.
Women With Purpose
The mission statement of Women With Purpose at High Desert Church is : "Love in Action." We help women in need in our community with practical items, assemble hygiene kits for United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), support local projects for the homeless and abused, and send notes of encouragement to those who are struggling. We also enjoy our time together as we have interactive devotional and time of fellowship. Good things happen when women get together!
Women with Purpose meet the first Thursday of each month at 10:00 am in the sanctuary; come join us!
Pastor leading prayer prior to filling the bags.
Table setup prior to assembly
Assembling the bags
Mission Accomplished!
Delivering food packs to one of the schools
Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School was held on Thursday-Saturday, July 11th - 13, 2019 from 6-8 pm. A total of eight children participated along with ten wonderful adult volunteers. We began each night with music in the atrium followed by a Bible story in the chapel, snacks in one of the Sunday School rooms, recreation on the south side of the building, crafts in the other Sunday School room, and closing with music back in the atrium.
2019 Neighborhood Cook Out
Neighborhood Cookout
On Friday evening, May 31st, High Desert UMC sponsored a Neighborhood Cookout in the church parking lot to introduce the church to the surrounding neighborhood. Well over 100 people enjoyed free hotdogs, hamburgers, potato salad, baked beans, watermelon, and deserts in addition to a time of fellowship.
Upcoming Events
Welcome
Thanks for worshiping with us. Please join us for coffee and donuts before and after worship services in the Fellowship Hall.
Rides
If you are willing to provide a ride for someone to church on Sunday morning, especially for the 9 am service, please contact Reuben, Linn or church office.
Offering
Collection plates. plates are now positioned around the sanctuary for your weekly contribution.
Church Bus
If you need a ride to church, please call the church office at (505) 891-4206.
Prayer Requests
Please call Sandy Dewbre at 505-238-1958 or email at dewbre998@gmail.com.
Flowers
If you would like to place flowers on the communion table for a special occasion for a Sunday, please call the church office at 505-891-4206.
Amazon Smiles
If you order from Amazon, you can automatically generate donations to HDUMC, when you select “High Desert United Methodist Church, Rio Rancho” to be your charity. For more information, see flyer in Narthex or contact the church office.
We added a page called Amazon Smiles (below). Just follow the directions and your purchases through Amazon Smiles.
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 now watch the 9 am worship service at home by going to youtube.com using any internet browser.
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.
Podcast Ministry
HDUMC is extending our online presence to include a Podcast Ministry. If you are interested in being involved as a production coordinator for this new exciting ministry, please contact Lisa Isenberger at 505-228-3395 or lisenberger@gmail.com.
MorningStar Worship
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
Pantry
The next food distributions is Friday, December 2nd from 11 am - 2 pm.
November Collection: Cooking Oil (No Shortening)
December Collection: Dry Seasonings (Packets)
Contact Mike Fawcett at (715) 456-3044, for more information
Upcoming Events continued
Healing Service
If you would like special prayers for an illness or problem, please join Reuben between the 9 & 11 am worship services in the sanctuary next Sunday Nov. 27
Christmas Concert
Midwinter’s Promise – Celebrating the promise of God’s love found in the music of the season… the frosty air, the silent snow, the quiet frozen earth.
WHEN: Sunday
November 27, 2022
Both 9 and 11 am services
WHERE: High Desert United Methodist Church
1201 Golf Course Road Rio Rancho, NM
WHO: Scott and Irma Reeder
WHAT: Traditional Christmas carols from many countries, contemporary songs celebrating the season, haunting airs and hymns with roots in the Celtic heart of the British Isles, and foot-stomping Irish and American fiddle tunes. Scott and Irma will be playing the Celtic harp, mountain and hammered dulcimers, bowed psaltery, Irish tin whistles, renaissance recorders, guitars, bodhran (Irish frame drum) and more!
Come join us as we begin celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Women with Purpose
Will meet on December 1 at 10 am in the sanctuary. Please join us as we assemble 100 pairs of socks stuffed with hats, candy, flashlights, etc. to be distributed by Rev. Joanne Landry to the folks in the International Zone. Rev. Chris Davis will give us an update on her work in Gallup. Don’t forget to bring soap for Storehouse West
Church Cookbooks
Looking for the perfect Christmas gift? Church Cookbooks are on sale in the Fellowship Hall for just $10 each.
Winter Collection
We are collecting new socks, gloves, stocking caps, and blankets for the homeless; you may place your donations in the containers in the Narthex.
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 below and place it in one of the offering plates or give it to Reuben.
The cost is $8 each and your check should be made out to High Desert UMC and marked for poinsettias on the memo line. Your order needs to be placed by Sunday November 27, 2022.
Second Mile Giving
For November, our Second Mile Giving will go towards providing hams for Christmas for the clients of the High Desert Methodist Food Pantry. If you would like to support this ministry, please mark “Christmas Hams” on the memo line of your check. We will purchase the hams and distribute them prior to Christmas. Thanks to those who have contributed $760 so far.
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), fill it with toys, hygiene items, school supplies and a donation of $10 for shipping and bring it to the church. I will take all the shoeboxes to Grace Outreach Church during collection week which is November 14-21, 2022. They will then be distributed to children in need around the world. There will be a limited number of shoeboxes available at the church from Samaritan’s Purse after September10.
If you would like to pack your own shoebox: There are pamphlets out in the front that include information on how to pack your shoebox. There is also an envelope that will need to be filled out and, along with $10 for shipping, put inside. Then just select the label for either a boy or girl and what age group and tape to the top. Do not seal the box.
If you would like for me to shop for and pack your shoebox, please submit $30 to the church and mark “Operation Christmas Child:The cost for each box this year is $30 which includes $20 for the contents inside the shoebox and $10 for shipping which is the amount required this year. Of course, it is also possible for several members to share the cost of a shoebox.
Last year we collected 88 boxes. Our goal this year is 100 boxes. If you have any questions call or text me @ 505-934-4346.
Patty Latter, Project Leader
Christmas Gift Cards
One of our newest mission projects is St. Joseph Mission School in San Fidel. The school serves 40 students from the Acoma and Laguna Pueblos. When asked what High Desert could do for the students at Christmas, the principal Antonio Trujillo indicated that gift cards would be an excellent Christmas gift. This would allow the students to purchase what they really want for Christmas. We plan to give each student a $25 or $50 gift card depending on how much is donated; so far, we have $1,300. If you would like to support this project, please mark “Christmas Gift Card” on the memo line of your check to the church.
Nursing Home Music Ministry
First Tuesday: 11 am Beehive 2709 Chessman Drive NE 505-591-7021
Second Tuesday: 11 am Beehive 6336 Enchanted Hills Blvd NE 505-591-7024
Third Tuesday: Casa Contenta 4805 Sombrerete Rd NE 505-896-8132
If you would like to participate, please contact Arlene Westgaard at 505-803-6885
Bible Fun at Home
Bible stories, crafts, and science experiments are now available on our website under Kids’ Activities (highdesertumc.org). Please let your grandchildren and others know about this opportunity to learn more about God and His Son Jesus Christ.
Please share this with your grandchildren and others.