Sunday Service

I hope you’re feeling the Spirit of Christmas today! Novella and I certainly are, especially after the beautiful Christmas Eve service last night. The opportunity to celebrate together with Rio Grande Center for Spiritual Living and Albuquerque Center for Spiritual Living truly felt like a dream come true.

          Before I share about this coming Sunday’s service, I want to pause and offer a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who helped make our Christmas Eve celebration so meaningful. With three congregations participating, there were many moving parts coming together behind the scenes. We needed extra ushers both inside the building and in the parking lot, and our AVLM team did an outstanding job—beginning weeks in advance—to make sure everything was ready. Our office team worked diligently preparing candles and handling countless details that often go unseen, yet make all the difference.

          The service would not have been possible without our candle-lighters, who all showed up to rehearse last Sunday—thank you for your dedication. I’d also like to offer special recognition to Laurie Roop, who works tirelessly behind the scenes preparing for these sacred services; to Glenda Davis, who joyfully gives countless extra hours beyond her regular schedule in the office; to John Vandermey Harvey and Austin, who somehow managed to mic everyone—including the choir; Carl Molter and the Facilities team for fitting in extra seating, and to Elizabeth Kerl for preparing and running the slides on Christmas Eve. And last, but certainly not least, my deepest gratitude to our musicians from all three congregations—Todd Lowry, our SoulShine Band, and the choir made up of volunteers from each community. What an incredible blessing to witness so many hearts, talents, and traditions coming together as one.

          Now, as we turn our hearts toward this coming Sunday, we’ll be gathering to both honor the year that is coming to a close and intentionally welcome the new year through our annual Burning Bowl Service. This sacred and meaningful ritual offers each of us an opportunity to consciously release what no longer serves us—old patterns, stories, or energies—and to affirm our highest intentions for the year ahead.

          It’s a powerful, reflective, and hopeful way to step across the threshold into a new year together, grounded in Spirit and open to possibility. I hope you’ll join us for this beautiful time of release, renewal, and fresh beginnings.

          Merry Christmas,

          Gordon