Thursday, June 23, 2011

St. John's Epistle for June 23, 2011

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


You are invited to the sanctuary tonight, June 23, for a brass concert by Allan Barnhill and Friends at 7:30 pm. This will be worth your time with lots of energy and exuberance. This is an excellent opportunity to invite a friend and come enjoy the Holy Spirit as it flows through the music. Here is a poster about this event that you may view and share with your friends and neighbors to invite them. Thanks to Will for the poster.

This Saturday, you are invited to a Memorial Service for Dick Davis at 1:30 pm in the sanctuary with a reception in Fellowship Hall immediately after the service. Dick and his wife Ernie D are long time members of St. John's who recently moved to the Dallas area. Our prayers and presence will support them as they mourn Dick's death.


Sunday we will celebrate Multi-Cultural Sunday. This celebration will feature lots of music from a brass ensemble to our choir to the choir of the Ghanaian Presbyterian Church who will join us for worship. The Ghanaian Church will also join us for brunch in Fellowship Hall after the service.

In addition, during worship this Sunday we will celebrate the sacrament of baptism not one time but three times as each of the Jacobsen children will be baptized. Carli and Aaron Jacobsen invite you to join them for the joyous occasion of the baptism of their children Ava Ann Jacobsen, Jonas Keith Jacobsen and Amelia Elizabeth Jacobsen.

This Sunday afternoon, June 26, the Chapelwood United Methodist Choir will present a choral concert at 3 pm in the sanctuary. Our own Mark Swindler is a featured soloist. Mark your calendar and bring a friend.

And that's not all for this Sunday!  On Sunday evening we begin Vacation Bible School (VBS) and it will continue each evening next week through Thursday, June 30. Each evening begins with a light supper at 5:45 pm in Fellowship Hall. This year's "Galactic Blast" will include Bible study classes for all ages, and include music and crafts for elementary aged children. This is for all ages including adults. If you are wondering if it will be worth your time, check out this promo video about our VBS theme: "Galactic Express." I hope I can get my hands on some of those 3D Scripture Treasures! Our young cadets will voyage into outer space praising God. Through daily missions, they will see space like never before, gain a new appreciation of God's creation, and learn easy "green" earth tips to practice at home. Our older cadets will be seeking intergalactic scripture truths to take home and cherish. Regardless of your age, here is your VBS mission: Find and bring a friend.


We have some celebrations and concerns. After dealing with cancer for almost two years, George Dobbin has received "All Clear!" results from recent tests.

Louise Cherry has some health concerns that have arisen in the past week. Keep her in prayer as she undergoes tests and considers treatments.

The family of Alex Bornhauser, grandparents were charter members of St. John's.  Alex, 28,  lost his two year battle with a brain tumor last week.

Mary Sterner reports that our recent youth mission trip to Guatemala was a great success in every respect. Here is a write up about our mission trip by Philip Beisswenger, a mission worker serving with the Presbyterian church in Guatemala.

We are blessed to be blessed as we are with a church family that encourages us when we are down and lifts us up when we are low. I am grateful to each of you for your friendship. We have something that many people lack: A people and a place to call our spiritual home on this earth. Let us invite others into our spiritual habitat. Our doors are open. Let's invite others to come inside. Then we'll all leave and go back into the community and city to serve our risen Lord.

I will leave you with this blessing: "The Lord bless you and keep you--the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26)



Peace of Christ be with you,
Pastor Jon   

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The Rev. Dr. Jonathan L. Burnham
St. John's Presbyterian Church
5020 West Bellfort Ave, Houston, TX 77035
Phone 713-723-6262 | sjpresby.blogspot.com

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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
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