Last Sunday we had a great Rally Day and worship celebration in
Fellowship Hall. It was good to see so many people there and everyone
looked swell in the naturally lit, sunny room. The choir was back with
us after some time off and added much to the service as usual. We also
had the "Blessing of the Backpacks" to get the students and teachers
off to a good start in their new school year.
We have some continued prayer concerns for Lois and George as they go
forward with their cancer treatments. Lois is now in Westbury Place
while George is home after one night in St. Luke's Hospital this week.
On Friday, September 3, we will have a memorial service for Julia
McKisic in the sanctuary followed by a reception in Fellowship Hall.
St. John's office and campus will be closed on Monday, September 6, in
observance of Labor Day.
The carpet in Building II is finally done after three harrowing weeks.
The work was first delayed when we learned we had defective carpet. By
the time we ordered new carpet from the manufacturer and had it
delivered and installed, three weeks had passed. In the meantime, we
ended up with a beautiful and durable tile floor in the hallway that
really enhances the look and feel of the space. The church staff
proved flexible and reliable during the last month while this project
was ongoing. Pam produced the last Beacon from a makeshift desk in
another room while Vivian was without most of her things for the whole
three weeks. Mary Sterner worked with a room full of furniture not her
own. I think I had the least disruption in my office as the carpet in
my office had been recently installed. Now we have Building II newly
carpeted and the hallway and Vivian's office have been repainted. Some
of the other rooms need repainting and we have the paint. If anyone is
interested in helping paint the other rooms, let us know in the church
office. I'm really proud of how the church staff persevered throughout
this process. In case you hadn't noticed, we are blessed with a
faithful and talented church staff.
In the meantime, Brad is working with a few members from both the
Worship Committee and Property Committee to get new carpet installed
in the sanctuary. They will be consulting with some other members
about the color of the carpet. Their goal will be to get it done by
October 15 since we host the presbytery meeting on November 13. Keep
them in prayer as they move forward on this project.
On September 19 we will welcome Rev. Noelle Damico to our pulpit. Rev.
Damico is the National Coordinator of the PC(USA) Campaign for Fair
Food. She lives in New York and will be in Houston to help kick-off
Human Trafficking Awareness Week. In addition to preaching at the
10:30 am service, she will lead a 3:30 pm Interfaith Service in our
sanctuary on September 19.
During the month of July Braes Interfaith Ministries served 1320
clients (655 children and 665 adults), 13 of whom were homeless.
Remember every dollar earned at Braes Resale and Consignment Shop
(10319 S. Post Oak Rd @ West Bellfort) buys $27 worth of food at the
Houston food bank.
The sermon this Sunday is titled "He Fumbles at Your Spirit" based on
a line in a poem by Emily Dickinson. The text is Psalm 139:1-24. Many
of the Psalms are personal—"The Lord is my shepherd ... I lift my eyes
to the hills, from whence does my help come?" Psalm 139 is intensely
personal, an intimate confession of a person whose life-long
relationship with God was a result of God's persistence, God's search
and pursuit, and ultimate finding of the individual. Instead of the
human pursuit of God, religion becomes the activity, the place and way
human beings respond to God's initiative. How will you respond to
God's initiative in your life and in the life of the world today?
Peace of Christ be with you,
Pastor Jon
--
St. John's Presbyterian Church
5020 West Bellfort / Houston, TX 77035
T. 713.723.6262 / F. 713.723-4015 / Email: office.sjpc@gmail.com
Worship Service: Sunday, 10:30 am / Sunday School: 9:00 am
