Ministry
MorningStar
Starting September 1, 2019, we began conducting weekly Sunday worship services for the residents.
For over three years, members of High Desert UMC have been leading worship services for the residents at MorningStar Senior Living each Sunday at 10:30 am. This is an essential outreach ministry of the church as we proclaim the Good News and show love and compassion to the residents.
MorningStar is an assisted living and memory care facility located at 2301 Golf Course Road SE, basically at the intersection of Golf Course Road and Westside, just down the street from the church. Right now, the average attendance is about eleven residents. Frank Rotolo and a high school student provide the music, and a lay speaker provides a brief message. We currently have six families that rotate providing the message.
If you feel God calling you to this outreach ministry of the church or if you have any questions, please see Reuben.
Interfaith Bible Center
The Interfaith Bible Center located at 7501 Trumbull Avenue SE in the International Zone of Albuquerque serves a hot meal to the homeless five days a week. On some days they serve as many as 100 meals a day; over one recent week they served over 700 meals. High Desert has been providing financial support to purchase food for these meals.
Kairos Prison Ministry
HDUMC is active in Kairos, an international, ecumenical prison ministry. The purpose of Kairos is to establish strong Christian Communities among the populations of correctional institutions.
The Mission is to bring Christ's love and forgiveness to all incarcerated individuals, their families and those who work with them and to assist the incarcerated in the transition to becoming a productive citizen.
High Desert UMC actively supports this organization financially, spiritually, baking Agape cookies and ministry participation.
For more information on this organization, please contact Linnette Carlson (a member of HDUMC) at (505) 450-4162 or click on the following link:
Walk to Emmaus
'Walk to Emmaus' is based on the scripture Luke 24:13-35, which tells of the men's journey on the road to Emmaus and sharing their hearts deepest concerns about the death of Jesus. They encounter Christ, share a meal and recognize our risen Lord; rushing back to Jerusalem to share great news.
The 'Walk to Emmaus' is an opportunity to meet Jesus Christ in a new way as he is revealed to you through other believers. It is a 72 hour experience of Christian spiritual renewal and formation.
High Desert UMC has participants that take this journey each year.
For more information on this walk, please contact Linnette Carlson (a member of HDUMC) at (505) 450-4162 or click on the following link:
http://emmaus.upperroom.org/about
St. Joseph Mission School
One of our newest mission projects is St. Joseph Mission School in San Fidel, New Mexico. St. Joseph is a Pre-K through 8th grade Catholic School that shares the gospel of hope through faith, academics, culture, environment and service. Since 1923 the bell tower at St. Joseph Mission School has rung to begin and end each day, currently educating and spreading the gospel of hope to forty local children; Native Americans from the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna and Hispanics from the local villages of Seboyeta, Cubero and San Fidel.
The principal Antonio Trujillo tries to balance the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic with the traditions of the pueblos and the Christian faith. St. Joseph is preparing the future leaders of the pueblos and local communities both spiritually and academically. Tuition is low and does not come close to covering the cost of educating each child. Even with their low tuition rate, many families still have to rely on tuition assistance from various organizations. The difference is made up through grants and donations. Thanks to the generosity of our congregation, we have been providing scholarships and financial assistance since 2022. In addition, each year we collect art and school supplies for the students. In December 2022, we presented each student with a $50 gift card to purchase the Christmas present they wanted
During the week of July 11-15, 2022, a work team from High Desert installed a 440 foot one-and-a-half-inch waterline from the well house to the Convent and across the road to the school. The original waterline was installed in 1923, and due to its age and being galvanized, there were leaks. Special thanks to Neil Jackson, owner of Mountain States Constructors, for donating the use of a large trencher which allowed us to place the waterline three feet deep to prevent freezing during the winter.
On March 13-17, 2023, a team from High Desert worked alongside ten students and two adult sponsors from Elon University in North Carolina to construct 180 feet of sidewalk for three new portable classrooms for their early Childhood program. In addition, they painted classrooms and benches around the campus and taught music classes to the students.
During the months of July and August 2023, another team constructed stairs and decks to two portable classrooms and installed 150 feet of chain link fence to secure the area. We plan to go back next spring to construct handicap ramps.
Pet Food for Pantry Clients
Financial strain is one of the top reasons why people surrender their pets. People are sometimes faced with the tough decision to buy groceries for themselves or to feed their beloved pets. Facilitated by a partnership between CARMA's 4 Paws Pet Food Bank, our Food Pantry Ministry, donations by the congregation, and an endowment grant from NMAC we strive to have pet food available for our pantry clients on the first Friday of the month.
This is a way for us to extend the love of neighbors to include their companion animals and to help our pantry clients to continue enjoying the positive benefits of pet ownership by keeping their pets fed and out of shelters. It’s not only better for the animals, it’s also better for their people. There's a growing body of research demonstrating how positive interactions with companion animals helps improve physical and emotional health.
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 (we break over the summer); come join us!
Ministry continued
Feed New Mexico Kids
One in every four children in New Mexico is at risk of hunger and food insecurity. Many students face each weekend not knowing how or when they will eat.
To address this need, High Desert through Women with Purpose are participating and supporting Feed New Mexico Kids, a local nonprofit organization, providing weekend food packages to children in our local community. Members of the congregation gather on the second Monday of the month for a time of music and fellowship to assemble 522 bags each month to be distributed at five local schools.
Heifer International
The mission of Heifer International is to work with communities to end world hunger and poverty and to care for the earth. Their philosophy is to “teach a man to fish” by providing animals to families instead of handouts. The animals provide both food and reliable income, as agricultural products such as milk, eggs and honey which can be traded or sold at the market. Last year, due to the generosity of the congregation, we were able to purchase eleven heifers.
Operation Christmas Child
Each fall we participate in this project of Samaritan’s Purse which delivers gift filled shoe boxes to boys and girls all over the world.
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.
Nazarene Church in Gallup
On July 16-18, 2023, a team of volunteers from High Desert traveled to Gallup, New Mexico to assist Pastor Chris Davis of the Nazarene Church in her ministry to the residents of Gallup and the Navajo Nation. They helped set up a sewing center with donated sewing machines. One day was spent on the Navajo Nation visiting with the elders at the Twin Lakes Senior Center where they distributed lovely bags of snacks.
They also taught a one-day Vacation Bible School to seventeen children of the community. In addition, a refrigerator was purchased for the church. We plan to go back this fall to construct a sidewalk and handicap ramp to the church and make other repairs.
Work Teams
Volunteers from the congregation provide assistance and perform routine maintenance for members of the church, the homebound, and other churches and organizations.