St. John's The Epistle for January 28, 2010

Dear church members and friends of St. John's,

Remember the session in prayer this weekend as we have a day retreat
this Saturday.

Mary Sterner and I will teach a confirmation class for 7th and 8th
graders beginning the last Sunday in February. Those who complete the
course may join the church as confirmed members on Palm Sunday, March
28.

Sunday, February 7, is SouperBowl Sunday. Everyone is invited to
gather in McPhail Hall after worship for soup. One of the soup choices
will be "stone" soup created from donated items from the congregation.
Bring your favorite fresh, canned or frozen ingredient to the kitchen
before church to be added to our chicken stock.

Here is a message from Eloy Montes, Executive Director of Braes
Interfaith Ministries ...

Friends of Braes Interfaith Ministries,

A 3-alarm fire destroyed 20-25 apartments at the Royal Masters
Apartments on Stella Link close to Loop 610. Approximately 100
individuals lost most of their belongings. Some of those individuals/
families belong to our member congregations and are in desperate need.

The Braes Resale and Consignment Shop is partnering with the Corpus
Christi Catholic Church and will be collecting new and clean, gently
used pillows and blankets. These items will be distributed to the
residents who were displaced due to the fire.

We are asking for your help. Please bring the pillows and blankets to
the Braes Resale and Consignment Shop at 10319 South Post Oak, Monday -
Saturday between the hours of 9 AM and 5 PM. It is is forecasted that
a deep freeze will occur this weekend and we would like the residents
to be warm and comfortable.

Braes Interfaith Ministries, the Food Pantry, will be assisting the
residents with food. If you know of a family who has been displaced,
please let them know that we will help. No identification is required
for these residents.

Your food donations and gift cards will be accepted at 4300 West
Bellfort. Toiletries (toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, razors,
shaving creme, feminine products, toilet tissue, etc.) are also
needed.

Blankets, pillows, food, toiletries, and gift card donations will be
accepted at both locations.

Thank you, in advance, for your generosity.
Eloy Montes

From the beginning St. John's has been a key supported of BIM. I know
some of you have already responded to Eloy's request and trust others
will also respond as the word gets out about this particular need.

Here is the latest update from John Freeman on our response to the
earthquake in Haiti ...

Members and Friends from ChristChurch, Bellaire and St. John's
Presbyterian Houston Expand Partnerships to Respond to Earthquake
Crisis

In a partnership that included the Synod of Living Waters, the Synod
of the Sun, and the Southwest Rotary Club, members of ChristChurch
Presbyterian, Bellaire, and St. John's Presbyterian, Houston,
installed a water purification system in Arcahaie, Haiti in July 2009.
The successful installation was a pilot project that represented the
first time a Living Waters for the World water filtration system was
powered by solar energy.

Members on that trip also surveyed a large number of other potential
sites in churches, hospitals, schools and orphanages within a 30 mile
radius of Port au Prince. With this exposure to the tremendous needs
in Haiti, the group felt called to expand their ministry beyond water
systems to include food, health care, and medical supplies for a
number of orphanages, clinics, hospitals, and schools.

That small group expanded to include others interested in Haiti, and
has been working on a number of projects prior to the earthquake. One
of those projects included outfitting a shipping container as a mobile
clinic, and in the past two weeks it has been filled with medical
equipment, supplies, clothing, non-perishable food, and water, and was
shipped the last week of January.

One member of our group, Surpris Cherazard, is a Houston resident,
financial planner, a Rotarian, and a Haitian native. He has been at
the center of the relief efforts here in Houston and nationally, and
because of his long history of development work, his network of
contacts and relationships has been invaluable.

Many groups and individuals have helped tremendously in gathering
supplies and equipment to fill the container, including CCP and STPC,
Christian Alliance, Faith in Practice, the Multi-Cultural Service
Center, the Haitian Multicultural Association, the CCP Youth Group,
First PC in Palestine, Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, and
individual doctors and dentists. The group has also channeled much of
its relief efforts through Seventh Day Adventist Medical Mission
networks in the US and Haiti, the Haiti Education Foundation, and the
Episcopal Church in Haiti.

One project in the planning stages has become desperate. The JELA
School/orphanage ("youth in action" in Creole) in Limbe, Haiti has
been absorbing internal refugees from Port au Prince since the
earthquake. The number of orphans they are caring for has doubled, and
they are now feeding and providing medical care for a large number of
injured elderly. The situation is dire, and we have been sending
emergency aid money to provide food and basic necessities for the JELA
School/orphanage as they try to meet these needs. Individuals from
ChristChurch, St. John's and Community of Servant Savior Presbyterian
have contributed cash donations for direct aid to the JeLa orphanage
and a second, orphange, Leogane. If you would like to help with this
project, please send funds to ChristChurch and mark your donation for
the JELA School or to St. John's and mark your donation for Haiti
Relief.

We will continue to monitor the situation and we will be committed to
these needs over the long haul. If you would like to help with other
groups that are working on the ground, here are a few that we would
recommend: Presbyterian Disaster Relief <pcusa.org/pda>; Haiti Mission
Network <http://pcusahaitinetwork.ning.com>; Haiti Education
Foundation <http://www.haitifoundation.org/>; World Vision
<worldvision.org>; International Red Cross <icrc.org>; Doctors Without
Borders <doctorswithoutborders.org>; Partners in Health <http://
www.standwithhaiti.org/haiti>; CARE <care.org>; United Nations
Association, Houston chapter <http://www.unahouston.org>; Clinton
Foundation <clintonfoundation.org>.

We appreciate the leadership John and others are providing in our
efforts on behalf of Haiti. We will keep the people of Haiti in our
prayers.

I will be here this Sunday and the next but will be on continuing
education next week beginning Monday, February 1, until Saturday,
February 6.

Peace of Christ be with you,

Pastor Jon

= = =
To view this online click on
http://groups.google.com/group/st-johns-presbyterian-church/web/epistle-for-january-28-2010
- or copy & paste it into your browser's address bar if that doesn't
work.

--
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

St. John's The Epistle for January 28, 2010

“Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us to be mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat.” -SouperBowl of Caring Founding Prayer

One Church-with one prayer in 1990-has now grown to 15,000 churches nationwide, raising over $10 million in 2009 to help those in need. St. John’s will join with congregations across America on SouperBowl Sunday, February 7.

It’s simple.
St. John’s youth will take up a collection as you leave church, asking each person to contribute $1.00. (Of course, larger gifts are certainly accepted.)

It’s local.
All proceeds from the collection will be donated to Braes Interfaith Ministries (BIM).

It’s a celebration.
Everyone is invited to gather in McPhail Hall after worship for soup. One of the soup choices will be “stone” soup created from donated items from the congregation. Bring your favorite fresh, canned or frozen ingredient to the kitchen before church to be added to our chicken stock.

Join the SouperBowl of Caring and
experience God’s love in action.

Spanish/English Conversation Opportunity

WHEN:
Thursdays from 1-2 pm (Beginning January 28)

WHERE:
Small Steps Nurturing Center,2902 Jensen Drive Houston
(713-236-0330; www.ssnc.org)

WHAT:
Gather with Spanish speakers and English speakers and learn from each other. Each week there will be a conversation focus with brief instruction. Participants will be then be paired English/Spanish and each will have the chance to speak to the other in her/his second language.

WHO:
Any one wanting to learn basic English or Spanish — or improve language skills, for ministry or other purposes. It is also a chance to help others learn English. All levels are welcome.

More Information: Contact Suzette Harrel at 713-501-4703 or suzharrel@comcast.net

Spanish/English Conversation Opportunity

Wonder Team Sandwich Makers— January 27

Please come help make sandwiches for needy children. St. John’s "Wonder Team" meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 6 pm in McPhail Hall to make sandwiches. Working together and in less than one hour 300 sandwiches can be made. Come join the "Wonder Team" and help make a BIG difference in a child’s life.

Hope to see you in McPhail Hall on Wednesday, January 27.

Wonder Team Sandwich Makers— January 27

St. John’s Book Group— Wednesday, February 3

St. John’s Book Group will continue reviewing the book, A History of God, by British historian Karen Armstrong. The next meeting will begin discussing Chapter 5, Islam. Books are available in the church office. Everyone is invited to join the book group discussion at 7:30 pm. The only requirement is a love of books and reading! The group is led by Greg Weiher.

St. John’s Book Group— Wednesday, February 3

SoupBowl of Caring— Sunday, February 7

The SouperBowl collection is a youth-led movement that started in 1990 to fight hunger and poverty. It’s origin is Spring Valley Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina. The vision is that each person attending church on SouperBowl Sunday will contribute $1.00. (Of course, larger gifts are certainly accepted.)

No money goes to a national organization because each participating group determines which local charity will recieve the funds. In 2009 $10,372,676 was collected from 13,848 groups. To date, 15,437 groups have registered in 2010. (Visit www.souperbowl.org.)

St. John’s has participated in the SouperBowl collection for 16 years. This year, in addition to taking a collection as the congregation leaves the Sanctuary, the youth will be serving soup in McPhail Hall. One of the soup choices will be "stone soup" created from donated items from the congregation. Bring your favorite fresh or canned ingredient to the kitchen before church to be added to our chicken stock. All proceeds from the collection and the soup donations (and any leftover canned ingredients) will be donated to Braes Interfaith Ministries (BIM).

SoupBowl of Caring— Sunday, February 7

Recycle Report

St. John’s four recycle bins collected 11.59 tons (or 23, 174.42 pds) in December 2009. In 2009 St. John’s bins helped recycle 127 tons as part of St. John’s Ministry of Sharing, Reusing and Recycling. We saved 381.66 cubic yards of landfill.

St. John’s also recycled 229 ink cartridges and cell phones.

Recycle Report

Ushers Needed

Join an usher team! Teams are forming now for February, March, April and May. Sign up for 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th Sunday teams. You work with the same team on the same Sunday of each month for only four times! It’s a great way to provide hospitality and service to the congregation. See Jeanne Leach or William Ator.

Ushers Needed

Confirmation Class

Pastor Jon Burnham and Mary Sterner will teach a 5-week confirmation class for 7th and 8th graders beginning the last week in February. Those who complete the course can join the church as confirmed members on Palm Sunday, March 28. Speak to Jon or Mary for more information.

Confirmation Class

This week at St. John’s - Jan 24-31

Sunday, January 24 – Congregational Meeting
9:00 am Church School10:30 am Worship Service
12:00 pm Congregational meeting
5:00 pm Centering Prayer
5:00 pm Presbyterian Youth Fellowship

Monday, January 25
5:00 pm Hour of Prayer, Rm. 207
6:30 pm “Walking Together”
7:00 pm Bell Choir
7:00 - 8:30 pm Venture Scout Crew 688

Tuesday, January 26
9:30 am Presbyterian Women’s Activity Day and board meeting
12:00 pm Staff Meeting
6:30 pm “Stay Young Stay Strong”
7:30 pm Scout Troop 688

Wednesday, January 27
10:30 am Holly Hall Book Review
6:00 pm “Wonder Team” sandwich makers

Thursday, January 28
9:00 am – 12:30 pm Community Bible Study
6:00-7:00 pm Brownie Troop 21151
6:30 pm “Stay Young, Stay Strong”
7:30 pm Chancel Choir

Saturday, January 30
7:00 am Women’s Bible Small Group
9:00 am – 4:00 pm Session Retreat at ChristChurch, Fellowship Hall, Bellaire

Sunday, January 31
9:00 am Church School
10:30 am Worship Service
5:00 pm Centering Prayer
5:00 pm Presbyterian Youth Fellowship

This week at St. John’s - Jan 24-31

St. John's Weekly Reminders

BIM: January is the month that St. John’s is committed to stock the food pantry and provide toiletries at Braes Interfaith Ministries. If you choose to make a monetary contribution, remember that your contribution of $1.00 can provide $27.00 worth of food from the Houston Food Bank.

Book Group, Wednesday, February 3: Everyone is welcome to join St. John’s Book Group as they continue discussing Karen Armstrong’s A History of God.

St. John’s Breakfast, Saturday, February 6: Breakfast is served at 8 am, and our special speaker, Gillian Cooke, will present her program at 8:30 am. She will be talking to us about her childhood in England during World War II.

Mark your calendar, Sunday, February 21, 6 pm: Everyone is invited to a special performance by The Johnny Dyson Band, presenting a unique musical program featuring 40 years of Your Kind of Music for listening and dancing.

Session News – Session meeting, Saturday January 16, 2010
● The Session will be meeting on the 4th Wednesday of the each month.
● The Session elected Mary Herlitz, Clerk of Session and Dave Nelson and Lois Stowell as delegates to the Feb. 6 Presbytery Meeting.
● The Session approved Jon Burnham’s study leave for Feb. 1-6
(Austin Seminary MidWinter Lecture Series).
● The Session appointed Bill Ehrenstrom and Mary Hughes to head the planning team for the Nov. 13 Presbytery Meeting, which will be held at St. John’s.
● The Session will have a retreat at ChristChurch in Bellaire on Jan. 30.

St. John's Weekly Reminders

St. John's View this page "Epistle for January 21, 2010"

Dear church members and friends of St. John's,

We are pleased to announce the birth of Jonas Keith Jacobsen, brother
of Ava and son of Carli and Aaron Jacobsen. Mother and child and the
family are doing well.

Last Saturday we had a great All Committee Day and Session meeting on
Saturday followed by an inspiring worship service on Sunday.

This Sunday we will have our Annual Congregational Meeting at the end
of the service. It will include the annual report from the various
committees and presentation of the budget and reviewing the pastor's
terms of call.

There is an old story about a man who came to a Quaker meeting and was
puzzled because everyone was just sitting there in silence. After
waiting patiently for a long time for something to happen, he finally
whispered to the person sitting next to him: "When does the service
begin?" The answer came back: "When we leave." It's still true. Our
service begins when we leave these walls and take with us the reality
of God's Kingdom as Jesus taught it and lived it. We go, and his
spirit goes with us. That's part of the covenant, too. The sermon text
this Sunday is from Nehemiah 8:2-6, 8-10 and the sermon title is
Something Old, Something New.

Here is an update on Haiti from John Freeman:

St. John's and ChristChurch Presbyterian Church are partnering to
collect items needed for Haiti. We have a 42 feet box-car shipping
container located at Christian Alliance in Pearland. We need to fill
it. (See list below)

Please bring items to the recycling center in McPhail Hall. It is
best, but not essential, that the items are in large boxes, sealed
with shipping tape. Please label the boxes with generic titles, such
as clothes, shoes, hygiene supplies, etc. If McPhail Hall is locked,
please bring your donations to the office in Building II.

Monetary donations are also needed to cover shipping. Make checks
payable to St. John's with the Haiti Project in the memo line. The
container will be trucked to the Port of Houston where a Brown and
Root ship will take it to Haiti to be off-loaded with amphibious
craft, bypassing the port. Funds collected in excess of shipping cost
will go to The Living Waters for the World Haiti Water Project.

Please remember the Haitians needs are long-term. TV and News coverage
may end in a few weeks but people will be homeless for months or
years.

Items Needed for Haiti
Clothes & Shoes(for a warm climate, in good condition)
Non-perishable food items
Hygiene Products
Cloth Diapers
Blankets
Tents & Sleeping bags
Medical supplies: ACE bandages, bandages, gloves, gauze, antibiotic
ointment, alcohol pads

Peace of Christ be with you,
Pastor Jon

(To view photos of Jonas Keith Jacobsen click on
http://groups.google.com/group/st-johns-presbyterian-church/web/epistle-for-january-21-2010
- or copy & paste it into your browser's address bar if that doesn't
work.)

--
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

St. John's View this page "Epistle for January 21, 2010"

Update on St. John’s Blood Drives

The Houston Blood Bank sets a quota for each blood drive of 15 people. Last year St. John’s did not reach this mark so we been informed that in 2010 only two tentative dates have been arranged: April 4 and June 20.

Update on St. John’s Blood Drives

Spanish/English Conversation Opportunity

WHEN: Thursdays from 1-2 pm
(Beginning January 28)

WHERE: Small Steps Nurturing Center,
2902 Jensen Drive Houston (713-236-0330; www.ssnc.org)

WHAT: Gather with Spanish speakers and English speakers and learn from each other. Each week there will be a conversation focus with brief instruction. Participants will be then be paired English/Spanish and each will have the chance to speak to the other in her/his second language.

WHO: Any one wanting to learn basic English or Spanish — or improve language skills, for ministry or other purposes. It is also a chance to help others learn English. All levels are welcome.

More Information: Contact Suzette Harrel at 713-501-4703 or suzharrel@comcast.net

Spanish/English Conversation Opportunity

SoupBowl of Caring— Sunday, February 7

The SouperBowl collection is a youth-led movement that started in 1990 to fight hunger and poverty. It’s origin is Spring Valley Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina. The vision is that each person attending church on SouperBowl Sunday will contribute $1.00. (Of course, larger gifts are certainly accepted.)

No money goes to a national organization because each participating group determines which local charity will recieve the funds. In 2009 $10,372,676 was collected from 13,848 groups. To date, 15,437 groups have registered in 2010. (Visit www.souperbowl.org.)

St. John’s has participated in the SouperBowl collection for 16 years. This year, in addition to taking a collection as the congregation leaves the Sanctuary, the youth will be serving soup in McPhail Hall. One of the soup choices will be "stone soup" created from donated items from the congregation. Bring your favorite fresh or canned ingredient to the kitchen before church to be added to our chicken stock. All proceeds from the collection and the soup donations (and any leftover canned ingredients) will be donated to Braes Interfaith Ministries (BIM).

SoupBowl of Caring— Sunday, February 7

St. John’s Book Group— Wednesday, February 3

St. John’s Book Group will continue reviewing the book, A History of God, by British historian Karen Armstrong. The next meeting will begin discussing Chapter 5, Islam. Books are available in the church office. Everyone is invited to join the book group discussion at 7:30 pm. The only requirement is a love of books and reading! The group is led by Greg Weiher.

St. John’s Book Group— Wednesday, February 3

Presbytery Meeting— Saturday, February 6

All interested persons are invited to the Saturday, February 6, Presbytery Meeting at St. Philip Presbyterian Church (4807 San Felipe Street.) at 9 am. The featured speaker is Rev. Eric Hoey. Directions can be found at its web site, www.saintphilip.net.

St. John’s will be hosting the Saturday, November 13, Presbytery meeting. Bill Ehrenstrom and Mary Hughes will be heading the planning team for this event.

Presbytery Meeting— Saturday, February 6

St. John’s Breakfast— Saturday, February 6

Come at 8 a.m. for something wonderful to eat and bring your friends, relatives and neighbors!!

At 8:30, we will welcome our speaker Gillian Cooke, who is the coordinator/facilitator of the Ministry Team Volunteers of the Chaplaincy Service at Memorial Southwest. She will be talking to us about her childhood in England during World War II and how the children were treated and evacuated after the bombing started. Her story will rivet you and hold your attention. Time will be allotted, of course, for questions for Gillian.

See you bright and early on the 6th.

St. John’s Breakfast— Saturday, February 6

Scout Sunday— February 14

This year St. John’s will celebrate Scout Sunday on February 14. On that day, the Scouts will join us in the Sanctuary for worship. February is chosen for this special event because it is the anniversary of the founding of the Boy Scout program by Lord Baden Powell in England. This year the Boy Scouts of America is 100 years old.

Scout Sunday— February 14

Ash Wednesday Service— February 17, 7 pm

Lent is a special season, and it is almost here!

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 17. Celebrate the coming season by joining your St. John’s family for this service.

Ash Wednesday Service— February 17, 7 pm

Johnny Dyson Band, February 21

St. John's will host a very special event on Sunday, February 21

"Your Kind of Music, 40 Years of Popular Music"

with the Johnny Dyson Band

Mark your calendar and don't miss this special evening of music

Johnny Dyson Band, February 21

This Week at St. John's - January 17 -24

Sunday, January 17 – Beacon deadline
9:00 am Church School10:30 am Worship Service
5:00 pm Centering Prayer
5:00 pm Presbyterian Youth Fellowship

Monday, January 18
5:00 pm Hour of Prayer, Rm. 207
6:30 pm “Walking Together”
7:00 pm Bell Choir
7:00 - 8:30 pm Venture Scout Crew 688

Tuesday, January 19
9:30 am Presbyterian Women’s Program and Luncheon
12:00 pm Staff Meeting12:30 pm Circle Bible Leaders Meeting
12:30 pm Beacon Assemblers
6:30 pm “Stay Young Stay Strong” 7:30 pm Scout Troop 688

Wednesday, January 20

Thursday, January 21
9:00 am – 12:30 pm Community Bible Study
6:30 pm “Stay Young, Stay Strong”
7:30 pm Chancel Choir

Friday, January 22

Saturday, January 23
7:00 am Women’s Bible Small Group
9:00 am – 1:00 pm Officer Training, St .Luke’s Presbyterian Church

Sunday, January 24 Congregational Meeting
9:00 am Church School
10:30 am Worship Service
12:00 pm Congregational Meeting
5:00 pm Centering Prayer
5:00 pm Presbyterian Youth Fellowship

This Week at St. John's - January 17 -24

St. John's Weekly Reminders

BIM: January is the month that St. John’s is committed to stock the food pantry and provide toiletries at Braes Interfaith Ministries. If you choose to make a monetary
contribution, remember that your contribution of $1.00 can provide $27.00 worth of food from the Houston Food Bank.

Flower Calender: Please sign your name on the Flower Calendar in the Narthex to reserve your special Sunday for giving flowers in the Sanctuary for 2010.

Presbyterian Women’s Program & Luncheon, Tuesday, January 19: All members of St. John’s and their friends are invited to the program with special speaker, Marie Kutz. She will be talking about her trip to China.

Beacon Newsletter Assemblers: The January/February 2010 Newsletter will be assembled on Tuesday, January 19, at 12:30 pm, in Room 203. No experience is necessary.

Annual Meeting of the Congregation, Sunday, January 24: St. John’s will meet for the annual Congregational/Corporation meeting on Sunday, January 24, following the worship service in the Sanctuary.

Keeping your New Year’s Resolutions: St. John’s Wellness Ministry invites all interested persons to join us on Monday night, 6:30 pm, for “Walking Together” and Tuesday and Thursday, 6:30 pm, for “Stay Strong Stay Young” class. All equipment is provided.

SouperBowl of Caring, Sunday, February 7: St. John’s youth will again participate in the annual SouperBowl of Caring followed by a soup luncheon in McPhail Hall. Plan on coming to enjoy the fellowship and feed hungry people at the same time.

Mark your Calendar, Sunday, February 21, 6 pm: Everyone is invited to a special performance by The Johnny Dyson Band, presenting a unique musical program featuring 40 years of Your Kind of Music for listening and dancing.

St. John's Weekly Reminders

Haiti Water and Solar Projects

Living Waters for the World has set up a special linkat their website for donations to rebuild our systems in Haiti and retrofitting them with solar energy: http://www.livingwatersfortheworld.org/ Please share this info far and wide, for there is a monumental task in front of us to get our systems in Haiti rebuilt, and then converting all to solar power so that none will be dependent on a shaky energy delivery infrastructure.  

Haiti Water and Solar Projects

St. John’s Haiti Relief Project

St. John’s and ChristChurch Presbyterian Church are partnering to collect items needed for Haiti. We have a 42 feet box-car shipping container located at Christian Alliance in Pearland. We need to fill it. (See list below)

Please bring items to the recycling center in McPhail Hall. It is best, but not essential, that the items are in large boxes, sealed with shipping tape. Please label the boxes with generic titles, such as clothes, shoes, hygiene supplies, etc. If McPhail Hall is locked, please bring your donations to the office in Building II.

Monetary donations are also needed to cover shipping. Make checks payable to St. John’s with the Haiti Project in the memo line. The container will be trucked to the Port of Houston where a Brown and Root ship will take it to Haiti to be off-loaded with amphibious craft, bypassing the port. Funds collected in excess of shipping cost will go to The Living Waters for the World Haiti Water Project.

Please remember the Haitians needs are long-term. TV and News coverage may end in a few weeks but people will be homeless for months or years. — John Freeman

Items Needed for Haiti
Clothes & Shoes(for a warm climate, in good condition)
Non-perishable food items
Hygiene Products
Cloth Diapers
Blankets
Tents & Sleeping bags
Medical supplies: ACE bandages, bandages, gloves, gauze, antibiotic ointment, alcohol pads

St. John’s Haiti Relief Project

Session News

The Session will be meeting on the 4^th Wednesday of the each month.

The Session elected Mary Herlitz Clerk of Session, Dave Nelson & Lois Stowell as delegates to the Feb. 6  Presbytery Mtg.

Approved Jon Burnham's study leave for Feb. 1-6 (Austin Seminary MidWinter Lecture Series)

Appointed Bill Ehrenstrom and Mary Hughes to head the planning team for the Nov. 13 Presbytery Meeting which will be held at St. John's

Session will have a Retreat at ChristChurch in Bellaire on Jan. 30.

Session News

Items Needed for Haiti

Items Needed for Haiti: 

Clothes – Warm Climate, Good Condition

Hygiene Products

Flashlights and Batteries

Non-perishable food items

Medical Supplies

ACE bandages

Bandages

Gloves

Gauze

Antibiotic Ointment

Alcohol pads

Blankets

Shoes

Boxes

Tents & Sleeping Bags 

Drop-off locations: 

St. John's Presbyterian Church, 5020 West Bellfort , Houston 713-723-6262  or

ChristChurch Presbyterian, 5001 Bellaire Blvd.  9819 Bissonett Blvd., Bellaire, TX. 713-667-6574  or for late hours, Multi-enthnic Center, 9819 Bissonett

Items Needed for Haiti

Spanish/English Conversation Opportunity

WHEN: Thursdays (beginning January 28) from 1-2 pm
WHERE: Small Steps Nurturing Center, 2902 Jensen Drive Houston
(713-236-0330; www.ssnc.org)
WHAT: Gather with Spanish speakers and English speakers and learn
from each other. Each week there will be a conversation focus with
brief instruction. Participants will be then be paired English/Spanish
and each will have the chance to speak to the other in her/his second
language.
WHO: Any one wanting to learn basic English or Spanish - or improve
language skills, for ministry or other purposes. It is also a chance
to help others learn English. All levels welcome.
MORE INFORMATION: Contact Suzette Harrel at 713-501-4703 or
suzharrel@comcast.net

Spanish/English Conversation Opportunity

St. John's - The Epistle for January 14, 2010

Dear church members and friends of St. John's,

Our hearts and minds are reeling from the devastating earthquake that
hit Haiti. It hit close to home as our janitor, Alphonse, lost his
father whose neck was broken during the earthquake. He has other
family members who were seriously injured. In addition, John Freeman
and Léonie Tchoconté were in Haiti last summer to install a community
water filter and solar system so we have a strong connection with
Haiti. In response to the earthquake this week, we are working with
ChristChurch Bellaire to finish filling a shipping container for Haiti
with clothes, diapers, and hygiene supplies as soon as possible.
Please bring these items to the recycling center in the hallway near
the restrooms in Fellowship Hall. In addition, please keep Alphonse
and his family in prayer.

The text this Sunday is from 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11 and the sermon
title is Rainbow Fish. In this letter to the Corinthian church, Paul
defends himself as the leader of the Christian community in Corinth.
During his defense of himself, Paul notes that some of the Corinthian
congregation is puffed up with pride due to their over abundance of
spiritual gifts. Think of spiritual gifts like the colored scales on a
Rainbow Fish. God gives us spiritual gifts not so that we can stand
out like exotic Rainbow Fish. Rather, God gives us spiritual gifts for
the common good of the group. Only when we share the spiritual gifts
God has given us will we find the joy that comes from fulfilling our
purpose in life.

We will share our spiritual gifts this Saturday during "All Committee
Day" at St. John's.
Here is the schedule:
8:30 am – Refreshments in Fellowship Hall
9:00 am – Opening assembly in Fellowship Hall
9:30 am – Committee meetings in Building II
11:30 am – Closing assembly in Fellowship Hall

Committee members will then depart and the session will remain for
lunch and a meeting. Come help us get the year off in the right
direction at All Committee Day this Saturday!

Last Saturday we had a moving memorial service for Betty Smith. Pastor
Emeritus, Rev. John Shute , led the reflections and was supported by
the comments of family members. There was an abundance of beautiful
music during the service from Kimberly Tobola, our choir, and Mark
Swindler. The Revels sang during the reception in Fellowship Hall. It
was a great tribute to a great woman of God. Thanks to everyone who
helped with the arrangements.

Please deliver all Beacon articles for the upcoming January/February
2010 issue to Room 208 or the church office. The last chance to be
part of this issue is Sunday, January 17, at 12 Noon, if space is
still available. Articles are placed as received.

All reports must be turned in to the church office by next Sunday.
Copies of last year's reports are available in the office. These
reports will be distributed at the January 24 Congregational Meeting.

All members of St. John's and their friends are invited to the
Presbyterian Women's Program & Luncheon, Tuesday, January 19, with
special speaker, Marie Kutz. She will be talking about her trip to
China.

St. John's will meet for the annual Congregational/Corporation meeting
on Sunday, January 24, following the worship service in the Sanctuary.

Peace of Christ be with you,
Pastor Jon

- - -

To view this Epistle online, click on
http://groups.google.com/group/st-johns-presbyterian-church/web/epistle-for-january-14-2010
- or copy & paste it into your browser's address bar if that doesn't
work.

St. John's - The Epistle for January 14, 2010

Hospitality Corner

First John 1:7 (NRSV) says:
"If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another."

That kind of fellowship can begin at St. John’s here and now. Let us place ourselves in the light of God and joyfully reach out in fellowship with others. Welcome everyone you meet with a smile, a handshake and friendly words!

— brought to you by St. John’s Evangelism Ministry Team

Hospitality Corner

Seafarer’s Boxes

Presbyterian Women gathered on December 8 to pack 30 shoeboxes for the seamen. Thanks to Esther Bender’s delivery service, the packages were loaded and taken to the Houston Seafarer’s Center along with 60 knitted hats and scarves.

Thank you to all who donated items or money and helped with the packing and wrapping of the boxes in our distinct red and green dinosaur Christmas paper.Working together St. John’s brings Christmas cheer and joy to seamen all around the world.

Seafarer’s Boxes

Aluminum Soda Tabs

St. John’s Presbyterian Women delivered to the Houston’s Ronald McDonald’s house 51 pounds of aluminum soda tabs. (That’s 63,350 tabs!)

The money helps support the operations of the RMD by purchasing food for the family food pantry, cleaning supplies and providing van transportation to and from the Texas Medical Center for the families.

Keep saving those tabs and bringing them to the Recycle Center in McPhail Hall.

Aluminum Soda Tabs

Holly Hall Book Review—Wednesday, January 27

The Holly Hall Book Review Series continues with its third review on January 27 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer at 10:30 am. Reviewer Lurline Morrow will review The Garden Heist: The True Story of the World’s Largest Unsolved Art Theft by Ulrich Boser. The book explores the 1990 robbery of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston (the largest art theft in modern times).

Holly Hall Book Review—Wednesday, January 27

Presbyterian Women’s Program & Luncheon - Tuesday, January 19

Please join us at 9:30 am as we welcome Marie Kutz. All members of St. John’s, and their friends, are invited to the program and luncheon which follows. The February speaker will be Dr. Mindy Stanley Ehrenstorm.

Presbyterian Women’s Program & Luncheon - Tuesday, January 19

This Week at St. John's - January 10 -17

Sunday, January 10 Installation & Ordination of Elders
9:00 am Church School10:30 am Worship Service
5:00 pm Centering Prayer
5:00 pm Presbyterian Youth Fellowship

Monday, January 11
5:00 pm Hour of Prayer, Rm. 207
6:30 pm “Walking Together”
7:00 pm Bell Choir
7:00 - 8:30 pm Venture Scout Crew 688

Tuesday, January 12
9:30 am Presbyterian Women’s Activity Day12:00 pm Staff Meeting
6:30 pm “Stay Young Stay Strong” 7:30 pm Scout Troop 688

Wednesday, January 13
6:00 pm “Wonder Team” Sandwich Making, McPhail Hall
7:30 pm St. John’s Book Group

Thursday, January 14
9:00 am – 12:30 pm Community Bible Study
6:00 pm Brownie (Girl Scout) Troop 21151
6:30 pm “Stay Young, Stay Strong”
7:30 pm Chancel Choir

Saturday, January 16 All Committee Day
7:00 am Women’s Bible Small Group
8:30 am – 12:00 pm All-Committee Day
9:00 am Daisy Troop (Girl Scout) Troop #21174
1:00 pm Session Meeting

Sunday, January 17 Beacon Deadline
9:00 am Church School
10:30 am Worship Service
5:00 pm Centering Prayer
5:00 pm Presbyterian Youth Fellowship

This Week at St. John's - January 10 -17

St. John's Weekly Reminders

January is the month that St. John’s is committed to stock the food pantry and provide toiletries at Braes Interfaith Ministries. If you choose to make a monetary contribution, remember that your contribution of $1.00 can provide $27.00 worth of food from the Houston Food Bank.

Flower Calender: Please sign your name on the Flower Calendar in the Narthex to reserve your special Sunday for giving flowers in the Sanctuary for 2010.

“Wonder Team” Sandwich, Wednesday, January 13: Sandwich makers are needed to help feed hungry Houston children. Please meet in McPhail Hall at 6 pm.

St. John’s Book Group, Wednesday, January 13: All readers are invited to join St. John’s Book Group, meeting in Room 205 at 7:30 pm. Greg Weiher, Moderator.

Beacon Newsletter Deadline: Please deliver all Beacon articles for the upcoming January/February 2010 issue to Room 208 or the church office. The last chance to be part of this issue is Sunday, January 17, at 12 Noon, if space is still available. Articles are placed as received.

Annual Ministry Reports Due Sunday, January 17: All reports must be turned in to the church office by next Sunday. Copies of last year’s reports are available in the office. These reports will be distributed at the January 24 Congregational Meeting.

Presbyterian Women’s Program & Luncheon, Tuesday, January 19: All members of St. John’s and their friends are invited to the program, with special speaker, Marie Kutz. She will be talking about her trip to China.

Annual Meeting of the Congregation, Sunday, January 24: St. John’s will meet for the annual Congregational/Corporation meeting on Sunday, January 24, following the worship service in the Sanctuary.

Remember All-Committee Day, Saturday, January 16, 8:30 am – 12:00 pm with Session Meeting to follow.

St. John's Weekly Reminders

St. John's View this page "Epistle for January 7, 2010"

Dear church members and friends of St. John's,

Our Christmas Eve services were truly memorable. Leonie and Mary
Sterner did a great job of organizing and leading the 6 p.m. service
featuring our children and youth in music, drama and dance. The 11
p.m. service was also touching with Alina on piano, a guest harpist,
and solos by Mark. Both services featured great readers and both were
well attended and worshipful experiences and lots of friends and
family members attended as well. Kudos to all involved.

After the Christmas Eve services my family and I made a trip to
Mississippi to visit our family there. It was a great opportunity to
see them all in one place at one time. I appreciate Steven Leach for
filling the pulpit while I was away and his mother, Jeanne, and
brother, Michael, also led in the liturgy. Well done and thanks to the
Leach's family for stepping up and delivering the goods on the Sunday
after Christmas.

Our prayers are with Sherman Wilson who continues his stay at Brighton
Gardens recovering from a fractured neck vertebrae. Boonie Poole is
scheduled to come home tomorrow from a prolonged stay at Sharpview
Manor. Evelyn Weinburger is up and walking in Dallas according to
Kathy and we give thanks to God for that good report from our beloved
friend. Rita Rumelt recently fell and broke her pelvis and we remember
her in prayer as well. In addition, remember Opha Holland who is at
home.

This Saturday you are invited to a memorial service for Betty Smith at
2 p.m. in the sanctuary with a reception to follow in McPhail Hall.
Betty has been a member here since 1979 and contributed mightily to
the church and in particular the choir and also served as an elder.
She will be greatly missed. Come show support for her children and
their families this Saturday. The choir will sing and our former
pastor, Rev. John Shute, will be a featured speaker.

This Sunday Kathleen Captain and Jenny Glover will be ordained and
installed and Bill Ehrenstrom, Phyllis Freeman, Jo Ann Golden, Mary
Hughes, Max Kattner, and Lois Stowell will be installed as elders.
Let's give them a good dose of love and support as they begin their
terms of service on the session. The session will have a wonderful
training opportunity at St. Luke's Church on Saturday, January 23 and
then we will have a session retreat at ChristChurch Bellaire on
January 30. Keep the session in prayer as we get going in this new
year of service.

On Saturday, January 16, is our annual "All Committee Day" starting in
McPhail at 8:30 am. Mark your calendar and plan to attend. If you
don't yet have a committee call the church office and we'll get you
set up.

The Annual Ministry Team Reports are due in the church office by
Sunday, January 17. These reports will be distributed at the January
24 Congregational Meeting.

The sermon this Sunday is titled Common Strength Baptism from the
passage of Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 on Baptism of the Lord Sunday. This is
a very special moment in Luke's Gospel when Jesus is baptized and "a
voice came from heaven: 'You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am
well pleased.'" Every child needs to hear that message from a parent.
We are all children of God we need to hear that God loves us and is
well pleased with us. That is the good news of the gospel and God's
word to you in this new year. Happy new year!!

Peace of Christ be with you,
Pastor Jon

Click on http://groups.google.com/group/st-johns-presbyterian-church/web/epistle-for-january-7-2010
to view this online.

St. John's View this page "Epistle for January 7, 2010"

St. John’s Breakfast — This Saturday

Do your feet ache, and/or hurt?
Do you have calluses, bunions, corns, etc.?

A podiatrist, Dr. Rodney Croft, D.P.M., will be with us to explain all this good stuff, how to better take care of what holds us up and makes us walk. Come for breakfast at 8 am and our program will begin at 8:30 am — be sure to bring your feet! If you need a ride, contact Linda Dobbin or Thalia Bunnell.

St. John’s Breakfast — This Saturday

Coming in February

St. John's will host a very special event on Sunday, February 21

"Your Kind of Music, 40 Years of Popular Music"
with the Johnny Dyson Band


Mark your calendar and don't miss this special evening of music.

Coming in February

A BIG Thank You

A BIG thank you to all of the people who have helped this calendar year with the many different projects necessary to maintain the church property.

— Barbara Brisch & George Dobbin,Co-moderators, Property Team

A BIG Thank You

Children's Hats Delivered

A big thank you to the knitters and crocheters of St. John’s. Seventy-five (75) children’s hats were delivered to Little Steps Nurturing Center in time for the children to wear them during Houston’s December 4th snow fall. St. John’s would like to make a hat for every child at Little Steps Nurturing Center.

I have the pattern, the yarn and the needles; please talk to me, Betty Nelson, to learn how you can help.

Children's Hats Delivered

November 2009 BIM Statistics

Braes Interfaith Ministries served 1,684 clients (792 children and 892 adults). 27 of the above were homeless.

November 2009 BIM Statistics

Braes Interfaith Ministries — January Food Drive

January is the time for St. John’s to focus on BIM’s food pantry.

Each of the twelve member congregations of Braes Interfaith Ministries has a month designated to provide food for distribution from the pantry. January is St. John’s month. Monetary donations are greatly welcomed. A $1 donation will purchase $27 worth of groceries at the Houston Food Bank. Please write BIM on the memo line of your check.

Braes Interfaith Ministries — January Food Drive

Wellness Ministry

New Year’s Eve has always been a time for looking back to the past, and more importantly to the coming year. It’s time to reflect on the changes we want (or need to) make. One of the most common resolutions is to add in fitness, get healthy and lose those extra pounds.

You can make your resolution come true by joining St. John’s fitness ministry. Novice to experienced exercisers are invited to join in the fellowship and fitness classes:

St. John’s “Walking Together” class meets every Monday night at 6:30 pm in Room 209 for approximately 45 minutes. All you need to bring are comfortable walking shoes.

“Stay Strong Stay Young” class, for improving bone density and strength, meets every Tuesday and Thursday night 6:30 pm in Room 209. All weights are supplied.

Wellness Ministry

St. John's Calendar, January 3 - 10

Sunday, January 3
9:00 am Church School
10:30 am Worship Service
5:00 pm Centering Prayer

Monday, January 4
5:00 pm Hour of Prayer, Rm. 207
6:30 pm “Walking Together”
7:00 pm Bell Choir
7:00 - 8:30 pm Venture Scout Crew 688

Tuesday, January 5
9:30 am Circles 1 & 2
12:00 pm Staff Meeting
6:30 pm “Stay Young Stay Strong”
7:30 pm Evening Circle
7:30 pm Scout Troop 688

Wednesday, January 6
12:00 pm Staff and Family Christmas Party

Thursday, January 7
9:00 am – 12:30 pm Community Bible Study
6:30 pm “Stay Young, Stay Strong”
7:30 pm Chancel Choir

Friday, January 8

Saturday, January 9
7:00 am Women’s Bible Small Group
8:00 am St. John’s Breakfast
2:00 pm Betty Smith’s memorial service, reception following McPhail Hall

Sunday, January 10 Installation & Ordination of Elders
9:00 am Church School
10:30 am Worship Service
5:00 pm Centering Prayer
5:00 pm Presbyterian Youth Fellowship

St. John's Calendar, January 3 - 10

St. John's Weekly Reminders

Circles, Tuesday, January 5: Circle 1, 9:30 am, Louise Cherry, chair, will meet at the church, shared hostesses and Circle 2, 9:30 am, Linda Dyson, chair, will meet at the church, Connie Brown hostess. Night Circle, 7:30 pm, Kathleen Captain, chair, will meet at church, Esther Bender hostess.

Flower Calender: Please sign your name on the Flower Calendar in the Narthex to reserve your special Sunday for giving flowers in the Sanctuary for 2010.

St. John’s Breakfast, Saturday, January 9: A podiatrist, Dr. Rodney Croft, D.P.M., will be the featured speaker with breakfast served at 8:00 am. If you need a ride, contact Linda Dobbin or Thalia Bunnell.

Betty Smith Memorial Service, Saturday, January 9, 2 pm: The memorial service will begin at 2 pm with a reception to follow in McPhail Hall. All are invited to join with her family to celebrate her life.

“Wonder Team” Sandwich, Wednesday, January 13: Sandwich makers are needed to help feed hungry Houston children. Please meet in McPhail Hall at 6 pm.

Beacon Newsletter Deadline: Please deliver all Beacon articles for the upcoming January/February 2010 issue to Room 208 or the church office. The last chance to be part of this issue is Sunday, January 17, at 12 Noon, if space is still available. Articles are placed as received.

Attention 2009 Ministry Moderators: The Annual Ministry Team Reports are due in the church office by Sunday, January 17. These reports will be distributed at the January 24 Congregational Meeting.

Annual Meeting of the Congregation, Sunday, January 24: St. John’s will meet for the annual Congregational/Corporation meeting on Sunday, January 24, following the worship service in the Sanctuary.

KEEP THE PENNIES COMING (Pennies for Peace): At the Living Gift Market there were 30,160 pennies collected ($316.00) for schools in Pakistan. The penny jar is outside the church office, Building II.

St. John's Weekly Reminders