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From Jim Galegar, St. Paul's SPRC Chair Beginning July 1, Vernon Baker will start as our new pastor. He comes to us from Covenant United Methodist Church, north of the city and has been there for 9 years. Of course, Pastor Hawk will graciously continue until then. Vernon is a licensed local pastor and continues to work on his requirements for ordination and is taking courses from Asbury Theological Seminary. His wife, Victoria, is a Certified Lay Minister and works for Lovelace Medical Center. Vernon has been involved as a disaster response coordinator and is president of the New Mexico Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster Organization. Vernon has also been effective in community ministry: Established an outreach to firemen and police officers at a local precinct. Hosted a weekly prayer breakfast for La Cueva High School football team and coaches. Established a strong connection with Covenant UMC's Boy Scout troop, integrating the scouts with the congregation. In fact, Vernon was an Eagle Scout in the troop at St Pauls' Vernon and Victoria have served as leaders in the UNM Wesley Foundation as well as Saranam. Vernon began his ministry right here as a student minister! He feels like he is coming home!

DOWNLOAD THE EPISTLE! CHECK OUT WHAT'S COMING UP! * By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy STAY INFORMED. FIND SUPPORT. TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP. SHARE AND INVITE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS! We have new ones! Visit spumcabq.org/worshipathome for ways to worship, fellowship and grow your faith at home! Note: Sharing your experience at St. Paul's on Google helps others searching for a Home Church discover St. Paul's United Methodist Church easier! To leave site feedback, please visit spumcabq.org/feedback

DOWNLOAD THE EPISTLE! CHECK OUT WHAT'S COMING UP! Check Out Our Members Area! We have a new space for your as a Member to view your personalized event agenda , comment on a Blog Post to engage with others, and view your giving history via PayPal! Don't forget we have FAQS just in case you may have a question or need assistance navigating! * By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy STAY INFORMED. FIND SUPPORT. TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP. SHARE AND INVITE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS! We have new ones! Visit spumcabq.org/worshipathome for ways to worship, fellowship and grow your faith at home! Note: Sharing your experience at St. Paul's on Google helps others searching for a Home Church discover St. Paul's United Methodist Church easier! To leave site feedback, please visit spumcabq.org/feedback

DOWNLOAD THE EPISTLE! CHECK OUT WHAT'S COMING UP! NEW YEAR! REFRESHED. We have recently refreshed the layout on Desktop and Mobile on our Homepage and throughout our Website to make it more user-friendly , quicker to get to where you want to go, and snappier response times! STAY INFORMED. FIND SUPPORT. TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP. SHARE AND INVITE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS! We have new ones! Visit spumcabq.org/worshipathome for ways to worship, fellowship and grow your faith at home! Note: Sharing your experience at St. Paul's on Google helps others searching for a Home Church discover St. Paul's United Methodist Church easier! To leave site feedback, please visit spumcabq.org/feedback

I want to thank the congregation for the welcome you have given me as interim pastor at St. Paul's, it is a privilege for me to be serving with you. I want to tell you a bit about myself. I am married to Jean, my wife of 55 years, who was a nurse and administrator at Presbyterian Health System in Albuquerque. We have three children, Chris, Michael, and Stacey. Chris has four children who are our grandchildren. All our children and grandchildren live in Albuquerque, which is great. I pray for you each day and ask you to pray daily for your church, staff, volunteers... I served churches in Texas, Kansas City, and New Mexico for 43 years before my retirements in 2009. My last appointment was as District Superintendent, the Albuquerque District of the New Mexico Conference where I was Dean of the Cabinet for Bishop Whitfield. During my years in Ministry, I served as chair of the New Mexico Annual Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, on the Board of Directors of McMurry University in Abilene, Texas, the Board of Mt. Sequoyah Jurisdictional Camp and Retreat Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas and on the Board of Directors at The Methodist Children's Home in Waco, Texas. In retirement, I served as interim pastor for six-months at First Methodist in Los Alamos and then for three and a half years as part time associate at St. Stephen's Methodist here in Albuquerque. It is such a pleasure to be with you at St. Paul's. This is a difficult time to be the church with reduced attendance, reduced funds and fewer ministry events. I pray that we can put many things back in place during the months ahead. I pray for you each day and ask you to pray daily for your church, staff, volunteers, and your interim pastor. In Christ's service, Jim Hawk

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DOWNLOAD THE EPISTLE! CHECK OUT WHAT'S COMING UP! NEW YEAR! REFRESHED. We have recently refreshed the layout on Desktop and Mobile on our Homepage and throughout our Website to make it more user-friendly , quicker to get to where you want to go, and snappier response times! As always, if you have feedback, please visit spumcabq.org/feedback to share! STAY INFORMED. FIND SUPPORT. TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP. SHARE AND INVITE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS! We have new ones! Visit spumcabq.org/worshipathome for ways to worship, fellowship and grow your faith at home!

CHECK OUT WHAT'S COMING UP! Our Christmas tree is up in the Lobby — many thanks to Eric Smith! We are hoping to collect and distribute Warm and Fuzzy items again this year. We need anything that will help keep someone warm this winter—hats, gloves, scarves, blankets, whatever…. If you bring any of these things, please place them under the tree. We will distribute them to groups or organizations who will give them to those who need them. This is a great opportunity to offer the gifts of your hands or the gifts you purchase. All are appreciated! Thank you! STAY INFORMED. FIND SUPPORT. TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP. SHARE AND INVITE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS! We have new ones! Visit spumcabq.org/worshipathome for ways to worship, fellowship and grow your faith at home!

I treasure St. Paul's United Methodist Church. The past 90 months have been deeply fulfilling for me. There are many things that we have accomplished together. We have learned a lot about doing ministry in the 21 Century. By means of your courage we have launched many experiments. A number of these have taken root and borne good fruit. Small groups have been birthed. Prayer emphases have been conducted. New outreaches to community and young families have been initiated. Worship services have been adapted. Many have come to fresh commitment to Christ. New people have become part of our fellowship. Financial stability has been developed. We have practiced being a family together: births, life achievements, and deaths have been shared. We have suffered and survived the worst pandemic in a century. We have laughed together. I got married. Our journey has been challenging and rewarding all at the same time. As I leave I want to thank you all for the kind words of appreciation. They are a gift to me. also thank you for your prayers as Pam and I write together our next chapter in Tempe "full-time." I believe that Christ will open the door to very meaningful ministry. I am going to spend some important time in "intentional waiting"I am going to follow my own preaching and some by Dr. Oswalt) in a "walking backwards into the future" kind of faith where my steps might be from the Lord and not just me. Finally, let me share some guidelines for us as I leave and you welcome our next Pastor, Jim Hawk. Remember that the Pastor in the United Methodist Church is ordained to Word (Scripture), Order (Leadership of the Congregation), and Sacrament (faithful ministry of Baptism and Holy Communion). The Ordained Pastor is the Elder of the congregation and carries profound significance and responsibility in his leadership, according to The Book of Discipline 340c Order: (1) To be the administrative officer of the local church... DEVOTE YOURSELF TO JESUS, TOTALLY. PRAY FOR ST PAUL'S ALWAYS. - Former Pastor, Doug This placement of the Pastor as the Leader of the Congregation is pivotal to the congregation's order and direction. In order to affirm the Roles of Pastor going forward please remember: I am your former Pastor. The pastoral function of leadership of the congregation will now rest solely with Pastor Hawk. Conversations with me in the future must be about us and not about the decisions and direction of the Church and its Mission. I freely took up the leadership of St. Paul's and I freely lay it down. Sacraments, Weddings, and Funerals are the pastoral opportunity of Pastor Hawk and succeeding Pastors. All arrangements are through them and at their leadership. The future of St. Paul's will be lived in the midst of tremendous challenge, unlike any other in our lifetime. Recent research shows that 90% of all American Churches are at or below pre-pandemic levels. 2/3 are at 80% or less. Never before has it been more important for ALL of a Congregation to pull in the SAME DIRECTION. This is the worst season in which to withdraw, complain, or detract from the direction discerned by Church Leadership. The future of St. Paul's relies on everyone supporting each other: ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL All pastors and all Church Leadership will make mistakes. Mistakes are sometimes the exact way that the "perfect solution" is discovered. Be the one who supports the prayerful risks and stands alongside when the church disappoints as well as when our congregation is victorious. DEVOTE YOURSELF TO JESUS, TOTALLY. PRAY FOR ST PAUL'S ALWAYS. Give me one hundred men who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergyman or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon the earth. God does nothing but in answer to prayer. - John Wesley