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.
