St. John's Calendar, October 31

Sunday, October 31 Trunk-or-Treat
9:00 am Church School
10:30 am Worship Service
4:00 pm Trunk or Treat, parking lot
5:00 pm No Centering Prayer

Monday, November 1
6:30 pm “Walking Together”
7:00 pm Bells
7:30 pm Outreach Ministry Committee Meeting

Tuesday, November 2
9:30 am Circles 1 and 2
12:00 pm Staff Meeting
1:30 pm Brown Bag Meeting, Special Educational Advocacy Ministry
5:00 pm Hour of Prayer, Rm. 207
6:30 pm “Stay Young, Stay Strong”
7:00 pm Scout Troop 688
7:30 pm Evening Circle

Wednesday, November 3

Thursday, November 4
8:00 am - 12:00 pm Community Bible Study
6:30 pm “Stay Young, Stay Strong”
7:30 pm Chancel Choir

Friday, November 5
9:30 am Church Women United

Saturday, November 6
8:00 am Women’s Bible Small Group
8:00 am St. John’s Breakfast

Sunday, November 7 Stewardship Sunday
9:00 am Church School
10:30 am Worship Service
12:00 pm Stewardship Barbecue Dinner
1:00 – 3:00 pm Crop Walk
5:00 pm Centering Prayer

St. John's Calendar, October 31

St. John's Weekly Reminders, October 31

The Session has called a Congregational Meeting on November 14, 2010 to receive a report from the Nominating Committee and to elect Elders to the Class of 2013, the Nominating Committee of 2011, the Scholarship Committee and the St. John’s representative to the Braes Interfaith Ministries Board.

Circles, Tuesday November 2: Circle 1, 9:30 am, Louise Cherry, Chair, will meet at the church; Circle 2, 9:30 am, Linda Dyson, Chair, will meet at the church; Night Circle, 7:30 pm, Kathleen Captain, Chair, will meet at the church.

Church Women United, Friday, November 5: Everyone is invited to the CWU program in McPhail Hall, 9:30 am, Building the Beloved Community.

Advent Booklet Deadline November 7: Writers and artists are needed for St. John’s Advent 2010 Devotional Booklet. This year the booklet will focus on Christmas carols. (Limit your writing to approximately three paragraphs or less.)

Stewardship Dedication Sunday, November 7: Mark your calendar for this special day. Bring your pledge card to Worship then stay for the catered barbecue dinner.

Nov. 7 Crop Walk: Crop Walk is a community-wide event to raise funds to end hunger at home and around the world. If you are interested in walking or donating, stop by the table on the walkway after church.

Wine and Cheese Tasting Reception: A wine and cheese tasting reception will be held at The Braes Resale and Consignment Shop (10319 S. Post Oak) on the evening of November 11, 2010 from 7 pm to 9 pm. Bear Dalton, a local wine expert, has graciously selected the wines to be tasted.

Christmas Caroling, Saturday, December 4, 4:45 pm: Everyone is invited for caroling for the Seafarer’s Center. A sign-up sheet will be on the walkway.

Session News - October 27, 2010
- The Presbytery Hosting Taskforce gave an update on preparation for the
Nov. 13 Presbytery Meeting. All church members are asked to NOT park on our parking lot because we will need all those spots for guests. If you have not already been asked to help, please volunteer to any Session member.
- Jo Ann Golden and Kathy Roth, with Franklin Caspa as the alternate, were elected voting Commissioners to the Nov. l3 Presbytery Meeting.
- Both Jon and Mary had been on study leave during the last month and they shared
some interesting ideas they had discovered.Question them? It was interesting.

St. John's Weekly Reminders, October 31

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

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

Our prayers are with George who had a successful surgery today. Also remember Lois as she continues with chemotherapy.

Our sympathy is with the family of Bob Davis upon the death of his sister-in-law, Marguerite Y. Davis, who died in North Carolina on October 19.

Come and bring a friend to the "Trunk or Treat" event in the church parking lot this Sunday, October 31, 4:30 - 6 pm. Come celebrate the cooler weather as we welcome guests onto our campus and introduce them to the church in a fun, family setting.

This Sunday is our 5th Sunday "Service of Healing" during worship. Any who wish to be anointed with oil and prayed for by the pastor and elders may come forward after the sermon.

Here are some highlights from our session meeting last night:

·         The Presbytery Hosting Taskforce gave an update on preparation for the Nov. 13 Presbytery Meeting.  All church members attending are asked to NOT park on our parking lot because we will need all those spots for guests.   If you have not already been asked to help please volunteer to any Session member.

·         A Congregational Meeting was called to receive the report of the Nominating Committee. 

·         Jo Ann Golden and Kathy Roth, with Franklin Caspa as the alternate, were elected voting Commissioners to the Nov. 13,  Presbytery Meeting.

·         Both Mary Sterner and I had been on study leave during the last month and we shared some interesting ideas we had discovered. 

Mary Sterner will take her final class toward becoming a Certified Christian Educator, "Worship and Sacraments," at First Church in Fort Worth on November 1-5, 2010.

"Hanging of the Greens" will be held during worship on November 28 and Sabrina Sen-Roy will be baptized that Sunday.

You are invited to an "Appraisal Day" at Braes Resale & Consignment Shop at 10319 South Post Oak Road,  77035 on Friday, October 29, 2010 from 11:00 AM-3:00 PM. Your treasures will be valued by experienced, knowledgeable antique dealers. There is a $2.00 donation for each item, and a limit of 3 per person. No furniture, dolls, or toys.

Mark your calendar and do not miss the Southwest Houston Community Thanksgiving Service, sponsored by the Southwest Ministerial Association, on Sunday, November 21, at 4:00 PM, at Congregation Beth Israel, 5600 North Braeswood. This will be on the afternoon of the Holiday Gift Market. This is the twenty-second Community Thanksgiving Service.

Enjoy the cooler weather and feel the peace of Christ blowing through your life once again. Remember that you are beautiful and you are blessed. Live your life accordingly with gratitude to God.

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

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

Anointing Service — 5th Sundays

On October 31, during the 10:30 am service, we will have an Anointing Service for Healing. Anyone who has a need for healing — whether physical, mental or emotional — is welcome to come forward for prayer after the sermon.

A few elders will support the prayer and I will use olive oil on my finger to mark your forehead with the sign of the cross. If you would prefer the prayer but not the oil, cross your arms when that time comes and say “prayer only.” We will offer this special service on the 5th Sundays beginning on October 31.

Anointing Service — 5th Sundays

Trunk-or-Treat, this Sunday, October 31

Please join us
October 31 @ 4 pm
St. John's Parking Lot

Trunk-or-Treat, this Sunday, October 31

2010 Advent Devotional Booklet

Christmas and music are often intertwined with each other within our holiday memories. This year’s Advent booklet will explore this relationship as we ask anyone interested to write a few paragraphs about their favorite Christmas carol. Articles are due Sunday, November 7.

2010 Advent Devotional Booklet

St. John’s Breakfast— Saturday, November 6

Bring a couple of friends and your appetite to the November breakfast. A delicious breakfast will be served at 8 am. At 8:30 Mr. Harrison from the Chaplaincy Department of the Houston Fire Department will speak about his job. As an added bonus he will also talk about kitchen fire safety.

St. John’s Breakfast— Saturday, November 6

Holiday Gift Market: Sunday, November 21, Noon to 3 pm

Come one; come all to St. John’s annual Holiday Gift Market! This year will be unlike any other as new activities and gift ideas will be introduced at the event.
This year, we will have:

• A Santa’s Workshop where children can build wooden items and make birdfeeders.

• Holiday pictures with Santa.

• Caricature drawings for guests.

• Mark DeSouza and his quartet singing.

• Dave Rainwater leading a merry sing-a-long at the end.

• Our first-ever silent auction. See if you can win a Blu Ray DVD player, gift certificates from Bed, Bath, & Beyond and Becks Prime, jewelry, and lots more!

• A larger soup selection.

A St. John’s tradition since 1989, the Market serves as a forum to support local and international charities that, in turn, help vulnerable populations and promote sustainable economies. From sweets and coffee to accent pieces and other household items, holiday shoppers will certainly find the perfect gift for that special someone.

We are counting on you, as well as your friends and family, to join this fun!

Holiday Gift Market: Sunday, November 21, Noon to 3 pm

Why We Give

Ask most Presbyterians to list spiritual disciplines, and the inventory will likely include praying, studying the Bible and worshiping regularly. With another moment to think about it the list might broaden to include fasting, meditating, walking labyrinths and perhaps exercising.

Financial generosity probably won’t make the list of spiritual disciplines. It should.

Spiritual disciplines are those time-tested practices of faith that deepen our awareness of God’s presence, open our hearts to God’s guidance and nurture our understanding toward Christian maturity. Perhaps Presbyterians aren’t accustomed to thinking of financial generosity as a spiritual discipline, because when our pastors speak about money, we suspect they are motivating us to meet the church’s budget. Thinking of financial generosity as a spiritual practice redirects our attention from the church’s need to receive and toward the individual’s need to give. This is why, at our best, we do not “take a collection” but rather we “receive an offering.”

Disciplined generosity unleashes the God-planted instinct to share. Intentional generosity is a foundational spiritual discipline.

Heart follows dollars

In Matthew 6:1-2 Jesus says, “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them . . . . So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do ….”

“Whenever you give alms,” Jesus begins, “And whenever you pray,” he continues in verse 5. “And whenever you fast,” he says (verse 16). Jesus takes the tripod of Jewish piety and prioritizes the legs in a specific order. Lest we think that Matthew’s order is happenstance, consider this: Jesus concludes in verse 21 with that juiciest of stewardship observations, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

When I was in high school I told my dad that I wanted a car. He smiled and said, “Fine. Get a job and buy one.” So I got a job, but I didn’t buy a car. Something else suddenly seemed more important. I saved for college. My college education means a great deal to me because I helped pay for it.

“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Hearts follow dollars. Dollars lead hearts. We assume that the heart works in the opposite direction, that first we care, then we share. So someday, we think, we will trust God to provide enough so that we can share with others. Someday, we think, when we have all we need, we will practice generosity.

Jesus says that if we want to trust that God will provide, we begin by trusting that God has already provided. Treasure first. Hearts follow. First we share, and in so doing we grow to care.

Step 1: Make a promise

Step 2: Share in proportion to your resources

Step 3: Be persistent in giving

- Excerpts from Presbyterians Today, September 2010, Karl Travis

Why We Give

St. John's Calendar, October 24

Sunday, October 24
9:00 am Church School
10:00 am Called Session Meeting to receive new members
10:30 am Worship Service
5:00 pm Presbyterian Youth Fellowship
5:00 pm Centering Prayer

Monday, October 25
6:30 pm “Walking Together”
7:00 pm Bells

Tuesday, October 26
9:30 am Presbyterian Women’s Activity Day
9:30 am Presbyterian Women’s Board Meeting
10:30 am Holly Hall Book Review, St. Luke’s
10:30 am Bible Leaders with Mary
12:00 pm Staff Meeting
5:00 pm Hour of Prayer, Rm. 207
6:30 pm “Stay Young, Stay Strong”
7:00 pm Scout Troop 688

Wednesday, October 27
6:00 pm “Wonder Team” Sandwich Makers
7:30 pm Session Meeting

Thursday, October 28
8:00 am - 12:00 pm Community Bible Study
6:30 pm “Stay Young, Stay Strong”
7:30 pm Chancel Choir

Saturday, October 30
8:00 am Women’s Bible Small Group

Sunday, October 31 Trunk or Treat
9:00 am Church School
10:30 am Worship Service
4:00 pm Trunk or Treat, parking lot
5:00 pm Centering Prayer

St. John's Calendar, October 24

St. John's Weekly Reminders, October 24

“Wonder Team” Sandwich Makers, Wednesday October 27: Please gather in McPhail Hall at 6 pm to help make 300+ sandwiches for Kid’s Meals. We promise you will be home within the hour.

Advent Booklet Deadline November 7: Writers and artists are needed for St. John’s Advent 2010 Devotional Booklet. This year the booklet will focus on a Christmas carol, why it is important and what memories, feelings and emotions are present as we sing or listen to the carol. (Limit your writing to approximately three paragraphs or less.) Please see Mary Sterner or Pam Tedeschi if you are interested.

Stewardship Dedication Sunday, November 7: Mark your calendar for this special day. Please bring your pledge card to the Worship service and then stay for the catered barbecue dinner.

Nov. 7 Crop Walk: Crop Hunger Walk is just around the corner! Crop Walk is a community-wide event to raise funds to end hunger at home and around the world. If you are interested in walking or donating to Crop Walk, stop by the table in the walkway after church.

Volunteers Needed: The Evangelism Committee runs the after-church coffee, juice, and snacks but can't do it without the help of some special volunteers. There is nothing to buy; we just need volunteers to help serve, preferably two, and return the trays and snacks to McPhail Hall. Evangelism will purchase and keep a supply of snacks in McPhail Hall. If you are interested, please contact Kathleen Captain.

Christmas Caroling, Saturday, December 4, 4:45 pm: Everyone is invited for Christmas caroling for the Seafarer’s Center. The caroling will take place on the Sam Houston boat as it sails through the harbor. Due to security procedures at the Houston Port, advanced reservations are required ahead of time using identification such as your driver’s license. A sign-up sheet will be on the walkway.

Chef’s Needed, November 21: Volunteers are needed to make soup for the Holiday Gift Market. If you are interested, please contact Betty Robinson.

Empty Coffee Cans Needed, November 21: St. John’s Outreach Committee needs coffee cans to be used at the Holiday Gift Market. Bring them to the church office.

St. John's Weekly Reminders, October 24

St. John's Epistle for October 21, 2010

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

We are now in Stewardship season at St. John's. Rev. Mike Cole got us started with his presentation at a Sunday evening dinner a few weeks ago. Last Sunday Chaplain David Wells from the Seaman's Center preached the sermon and this Sunday our own Léonie Tchoconté will preach. These sermons from a church member and David Wells from the presbytery remind us that stewardship is about reaching out to the world in Jesus' name. This Sunday Brad Urquhart will present a Minute for Mission about the challenges and opportunities that are before us as our congregation faces 2011 as we continue to fulfill our mission of "glorifying God by making disciples and meeting human needs." Stewardship Dedication Sunday is on November 7. Please be in prayerful consideration about your thankful response to God's blessings in your life and in particular how that spiritual discipline of giving money will be reflected in your family budget next year.

Congratulations to Kathie Hartzog upon the birth of her granddaughter, Maliah Grace Hartzog, and to the parents: Tami and Reed Hartzog. We pray God's blessings upon the family.

Contact Phyllis or John Freeman if you are interested in serving on St. John's new Red Cross Team.

Shannon DeSouza requests you bring used coffee cans or jelly jars to the box by Vivian's office or in the narthex. They will be decorated and used for a special mission project.

The Holiday Gift Market (formerly the Living Gift Market) will feature some new additions this year including a silent auction to raise money to defray expenses of our members who wish to participate in a mission trip. The Outreach Committee seeks donations for the silent auction to be brought to the church office by Sunday, November 7. Any unused items, services, or donations will be greatly appreciated to help our first silent auction to be a success! We also look forward to live music by a brass ensemble and a cappella choral group. Soups will be served. Special activities for children are being planned. The new name, "Holiday Gift Market," will be used as a marketing tool for people in the community to better understand what we are doing so they may join us as we strive to reach beyond our own congregation.

Here are some prayer requests for those in our church:

• George in his upcoming surgery;
• Mary Hughes as she recovers from surgery;
• Lois as she continues chemotherapy;
• Helen as she transitions to living in her daughter's house as her therapy continues;
• Shirley as she strengthens her leg after recent back surgery.

We look forward this Sunday to welcoming a few new families into our congregation. The Session will receive these new members in my office at 10 am this Sunday and they will be introduced during the worship service. They join us by Reaffirmation of Faith in Christ. Let us welcome into our congregation San Juana and Jonathan Flores; and Claire and Tom MacAdams.

The Lord be with you.

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

St. John's Epistle for October 21, 2010

Thank you St. John’s Knitters and Crocheters

27 sweaters have been mailed to WorldVision Knit for Kids. The sweaters will be distributed to needy children in our inner cities and in Europe, Asia, Africa and Central and South America.

Thank you for your loving gifts of warmth. — Betty Nelson

Thank you St. John’s Knitters and Crocheters

Help Wanted on Sunday Mornings

The Evangelism Committee will begin the after-church “coffee, juice, and snacks” but can’t do it without the help of some special volunteers. There is nothing to buy; we just need volunteers to help serve, preferably 2, and return the trays and snacks to McPhail Hall. Evangelism will purchase and keep a supply of snacks in McPhail Hall. If you are interested, please contact Kathleen Captain.

Help Wanted on Sunday Mornings

Holiday Gift Market - November 21

Holiday Gift Market
(Formerly Living Gift Market)

Sunday, November 21
Noon to 3 pm

The Market transports shoppers around the world by featuring international gifts, food and entertainment. The Market is unique because it offers affordable, socially responsible and handcrafted gifts - in time for the holiday season.

Booths will include: 10,000 Villages, Heifer Project, Pennies for Peace, Delicious Peace Coffee, Matthew’s Market, Anchor House, Coalition of Appalachian Ministries, and Living Waters for the World/Solar under the Sun.

This year’s Market will include:

children’s activities
homemade soup
a silent auction
musical entertainment

Bring your friends & neighbors

Holiday Gift Market - November 21

Please join us
October 31 @ 4 pm
St. John's Parking Lot

Harvest Sunday November 21

On Harvest Sunday you have an opportunity to share your blessings with those in our community. All contributions from Harvest Sunday go to Braes Interfaith Ministries (BIM) to support its work in our neighborhood providing for those who need food, clothing and other essentials.

You can share your harvest with a contribution of food, putting bags of food in the Narthex, or money (check made out to St. John’s with BIM on the memo line). Donations of money can be used by BIM to purchase food from the Houston Food Bank. ($1 dollar buys $27 worth of food.)

Suggested Food Items:Beans (2 lb. package)
Pasta (2 lb. package)
Rice (2 lb. package)
Macaroni and cheese
Pork and beans
Canned and/or dry soup
Canned vegetables
Canned fruit
Canned meat - tuna, chicken,
vienna sausage, spam
Cereal
Dry milk
Jelly

Other items needed: toilet paper, bar soap, toothpaste, laundry detergent, deodorant and shampoo

Harvest Sunday November 21

Mission Workers Needed

Angelica Textile Services donated 464 pounds of sheets to St. John’s. Esther Bender, Pansy Meyer, Betty Nelson, Lydia Schneider and Elaine DeSouza unloaded and refolded them to fit in the PW closet. Folded or rolled 3” bandages are given to Medical Bridges, which supports medical care around the world.

Volunteers (males and females of all ages) are desperately needed to help with this mission. Sheets are torn and folded the 2nd, 4th and 5th Tuesdays mornings of the month. If this time is inconvenient, a different time can be arranged. Contact Joann Navratil, 713-772-6770 to become part of this exciting mission.

Mission Workers Needed

Paper Bin Recycle Report

St. John’s five recycle bins collected 10.22 tons (20,443.19 pounds) in July, 9.03 tons (18,057.88 pounds) in August and 12.28 tons (24,567.49 pounds) in September as part of St. John’s Stewardship of the Earth.

Paper Bin Recycle Report

St. John's PYF November Schedule

Presbyterian Youth Fellowship November Schedule of Events:

November 7: 1-3 pm, Crop Walk
Leave from the church at 1 pm and return by 3 pm.

November 14: 5-6:30 pm, Craft Night
PYF will be making items to sell at their Holiday Gift Market booth to raise funds for PYF Missions.

November 21: Holiday Gift Market

November 28: No PYF meeting, Thanksgiving Break

*All youth grades 6-12 are invited to join PYF on Sunday evenings from 5-6:30 pm. Dinner is served at 6 pm. For questions please contact Mary Sterner.

St. John's PYF November Schedule

September 2010 BIM Status Report

During the month of September Braes Interfaith Ministries served 987 clients (420 children and 567 adults), 21 of whom were homeless.

September 2010 BIM Status Report

St. John’s Circles—Tuesday, November 2

All St. John’s ladies are invited to come to a circle meeting. Circle meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month with two morning circles meeting at 9:30 am and one evening circle at 7:30 pm. The locations will be listed in the October 31 Sunday bulletin.

The Circles will explore Lesson 3: Worshiping God and the Lamb (Scripture: Revelation 4-5).

St. John’s Circles—Tuesday, November 2

St. John’s Breakfas t— Saturday, November 6

Bring a couple of friends and your appetite to the November breakfast. A delicious breakfast will be served at 8 am. At 8:30 Mr. Harrison from the Chaplaincy Department of the Houston Fire Department will speak about his job. As an added bonus he will also talk about kitchen fire safety.

St. John’s Breakfas t— Saturday, November 6

2010 Advent Devotional Booklet

Christmas and music are often intertwined with each other within our holiday memories. This year’s Advent booklet will explore this relationship as we ask anyone interested to write a few paragraphs about their favorite Christmas carol. Articles are due Sunday, November 7.

Name that Christmas Carol
This quiz will help you start thinking about Christmas carols:
1. Listen, the celestial messengers produce harmonious sounds
2. Nocturnal time span of unbroken quietness
3. Exalted heavenly beings to whom harkened
4. An emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good news
given to the terrestrial sphere
5. Embellish the interior passageways
6. Twelve o’clock on a clement night witnessed its arrival
7. Small municipality in Judea southeast of Jerusalem
8. The Christmas preceding all others
9. Tranquility upon the terrestrial sphere
10. Move hitherward the entire assembly of those who are loyal in
their belief

Answers: 1. Hark, the Herald Angels Sing, 2. Silent Night, 3. Angels We Have Heard on High, 4. Joy to the World, 5. Deck the Halls, 6. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, 7. O Little Town of Bethlehem, 8. The First Noel, 9. Peace on Earth, 10. O Come All Ye Faithful

2010 Advent Devotional Booklet

Items Needed for Silent Auction for Holiday Gift Market

St. John’s is excited to announce a new event at our November 21 Holiday Gift Market — a Silent Auction. All proceeds will go to the Missions Booth, which will benefit mission trips.

Donate singing lessons, planting a fall flower bed, a home-cooked meal, jellies, a quilt, dinner at a local restaurant, art, gift baskets, jewelry, gift cards, electronics, sports memorabilia, entertainment/sporting event tickets, home décor, children’s items ... the list of possibilities goes on and on!

You come up with an idea for an item; we’ll take it!
Please contact Phyllis Freeman or Shannon DeSouza with your ideas and/or your items!

Items Needed for Silent Auction for Holiday Gift Market

Anointing Service — 5th Sundays

On October 31, during the 10:30 am service, we will have an Anointing Service for Healing. Anyone who has a need for healing — whether physical, mental or emotional — is welcome to come forward for prayer after the sermon.

A few elders will support the prayer and I will use olive oil on my finger to mark your forehead with the sign of the cross. If you would prefer the prayer but not the oil, cross your arms when that time comes and say “prayer only.” We will offer this special service on the 5th Sundays beginning on October 31.

Anointing Service — 5th Sundays

St. John's Calendar, October 17 - 24

Sunday, October 17 – Beacon Deadline 9:00 am Church School
10:30 am Worship Service
11:45 am Fellowship and Worship Committee Meetings
12:00 – 10:00 pm Private Party, McPhail Hall
5:00 pm Presbyterian Youth Fellowship
5:00 pm Centering Prayer
7:00 – 8:00 pm Inquirers’ class

Monday, October 18
6:30 pm “Walking Together”
7:00 pm Bells

Tuesday, October 19
9:30 am Presbyterian Women Program and Luncheon
12:00 pm Staff Meeting
5:00 pm Hour of Prayer, Rm. 207
6:30 pm “Stay Young, Stay Strong”
7:00 pm Scout Troop 688

Wednesday, October 20
6:00 – 7:00 pm Girl Scout 21151, Scout Room
7:30 pm Stewardship/Finance Committee Meeting
7:30 pm Caring Committee

Thursday, October 21
8:00 am - 12:00 pm Community Bible Study
6:30 pm “Stay Young, Stay Strong”
7:30 pm Chancel Choir

Saturday, October 23
8:00 am Women’s Bible Small Group
9:00 – 12:00 pm Scout Troop

Sunday, October 24
9:00 am Church School
10:00 am Called Session Meeting to receive new members
10:30 am Worship Service
5:00 pm Presbyterian Youth Fellowship
5:00 pm Centering Prayer

St. John's Calendar, October 17 - 24

St. John's Weekly Reminder, October 17

Today we welcome to our worship service the Rev. David Wells from the Seafarers Ministry.

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

Trunk-or-Treat: St. John’s will host a fall festival on October 31 at 4 pm, inviting the local community. Car trunks and volunteers are needed! Please contact Mary Sterner for more information.

Advent Booklet Deadline November 7: Writers and artists are needed for St. John’s Advent 2010 Devotional Booklet. This year the booklet will focus on a Christmas carol, why it is important and what memories, feelings and emotions are present as we sing or listen to the carol. (Please limit your writing to approximately three paragraphs or less.) Please see Mary Sterner or Pam Tedeschi if interested.

Stewardship Dedication Sunday, November 7: Mark your calendar for this special day. Please bring your pledge card to the Worship service and then stay for the catered barbecue dinner.

Nov. 7 Crop Walk: Crop Hunger Walk is just around the corner! Crop Walk is a community-wide event to raise funds to end hunger at home and around the world. If you are interested in walking or donating to Crop Walk, please stop by the table in the walkway after church.

Volunteers Needed: The Evangelism Committee runs the after-church coffee, juice, and snacks but can't do it without the help of some special volunteers. There is nothing to buy; we just need volunteers to help serve, preferably two, and return the trays and snacks to McPhail Hall. Evangelism will purchase and keep a supply of snacks in McPhail Hall. If you are interested, please contact Kathleen Captain.

Carpet available: St. John’s has a piece of new carpet from the Building 2 classrooms about 9 feet by 10 ½ feet that needs a new home. Please talk to or email Bobby Hughes at rwhughe@oplink.net for more information.

Coffee Cans Needed: The Outreach Committee is collecting coffee cans to be used at the Holiday Gift Market. Please deliver to the box outside the church office.

St. John's Weekly Reminder, October 17

Holiday Gift Market
(Formerly Living Gift Market)

Sunday, November 21
Noon to 3 pm

The Market transports shoppers around the world by featuring international gifts, food and entertainment. The Market is unique because it offers affordable, socially responsible and handcrafted gifts - in time for the holiday season.

Booths will include: 10,000 Villages, Heifer Project, Pennies for Peace, Delicious Peace Coffee, Matthew’s Market, Anchor House, Coalition of Appalachian Ministries, and Living Waters for the World/Solar under the Sun.

This year’s Market will include:
children’s activities
homemade soup
a silent auction
musical entertainment

Bring your friends & neighbors

Please join us

October 31 @ 4 pm

St. John's Parking Lot

St. John's Weekly Reminders, October 10

Circle, Tuesday, October 12: Evening Circle 7:30 pm, Kathleen Captain, Chair,will meet at the church. Barbara Brisch will be hostess.

Beacon Newsletter: Please deliver all Beacon articles for the upcoming October/November issue by email, office.sjpc@gmail.com or Room 208. The last chance to be part of this issue is October 17, 12 noon.

Trunk-or-Treat: St. John’s will host a fall festival on October 31 at 4 pm, inviting the local community. Car trunks and volunteers are needed! Please contact Mary Sterner or the Fellowship Committee for more information.

Advent Booklet Deadline November 7: Writers and artists are needed for St. John’s Advent 2010 Devotional Booklet. This year the booklet will focus on a Christmas carol, why it is important and what memories, feelings and emotions are present as we sing or listen to the carol. (Please limit your writing to approximately three paragraphs or less.) Please see Mary Sterner or Pam Tedeschi if interested.

Nov. 7 Crop Walk: Crop Hunger Walk is just around the corner! Crop Walk is a community-wide event to raise funds to end hunger at home and around the world. If you are interested in walking or donating to Crop Walk, please stop by the table in the walkway after church.

Volunteers Needed: The Evangelism Committee runs the after-church coffee, juice, and snacks but can't do it without the help of some special volunteers. There is nothing to buy; we just need volunteers to help serve, preferably two, and return the trays and snacks to McPhail Hall. Evangelism will purchase and keep a supply of snacks in McPhail Hall. If you are interested, please contact Kathleen Captain.

Carpet available: St. John’s has a piece of new carpet from the Building 2 classrooms about 9 feet by 10 ½ feet that needs a new home. Please talk to or email Bobby Hughes at rwhughe@oplink.net for more information.

Coffee Cans Needed: The Outreach Committee is collecting coffee cans to be used at the Holiday Gift Market, please deliver to the box outside the church office.

Holiday Gift Market (formerly the Living Gift Market): Everyone is invited to this special event on Sunday, November 21, 12 – 3 pm. Come and enjoy the fellowship, shopping, music, children’s crafts and a silent auction! St. John’s Outreach Committee is working on making this year’s event the best one ever!

St. John's Weekly Reminders, October 10

St. John's Calendar, October 10- 17

Sunday, October 10
9:00 am Church School
10:30 am Worship Service
11:45 am Committal Service for Travis and Eleanor Brown, Columbarium.
5:00 pm Presbyterian Youth Fellowship
5:00 pm Centering Prayer
5:30 pm Stewardship Kick-off, Potluck Dinner
7:00 – 8:00 pm Inquirers’ class

Monday, October 11
6:30 pm “Walking Together”
7:00 pm Bells
7:00 pm Evangelism Ministry Committee meeting

Tuesday, October 12
9:30 am Activity Day, Presbyterian Women
12:00 pm Staff Meeting
5:00 pm Hour of Prayer, Rm. 207
6:30 pm “Stay Young, Stay Strong”
7:00 pm Scout Troop 688
7:30 pm Evening Circle

Wednesday, October 13
6:00 pm “Wonder Team” Sandwich Makers
7:00 pm Admin/Personnel and Property Committee meetings
7:30 pm Christian Education Committee meeting

Thursday, October 14
8:00 am - 12:00 pm Community Bible Study
6:30 pm “Stay Young, Stay Strong”
7:30 pm Chancel Choir

Saturday, October 16
8:00 am Women’s Bible Small Group

Sunday, October 17 Beacon Deadline
9:00 am Church School
10:30 am Worship Service
11:45 am Worship Committee meeting
12:00 – 10:00 pm private party, McPhail Hall reserved
5:00 pm Presbyterian Youth Fellowship
5:00 pm Centering Prayer
7:00 – 8:00 pm Inquirers’ class

St. John's Calendar, October 10- 17

St. John's Epistle for October 7, 2010

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

This Sunday evening I will teach an Inquirer's Class in my office from 7-8 pm. Those who want to know more about St. John's are invited to come to this class.

Last Sunday we had a very meaningful and well attended Rededication of the Courtyard Cross. Several members of Nancy Flowers former youth group were present for the celebration. The cross was Sean Coughlen's Eagle Scout Project and we congratulate Sean and his parents upon this significant achievement.

The youth had a great Rally experience with 250 other youth from the presbytery at First Church Pasadena last Sunday. Mary Sterner, Jon Yingst, Brendan, Brittany and Wayne serve on the presbytery's Youth Council Leadership team and did a great job with this rally.

This Sunday, October 10, you are invited to a Committal Service for Travis Brown and Eleanor Brown in the Columbarium immediately after worship.

This Sunday evening of the 10th is our Stewardship Kick-Off Potluck Dinner at 5:30 pm in Fellowship Hall with Rev. Mike Cole, Executive Presbyter, as our guest speaker. Plan to attend and bring your best dish to share.

The sanctuary carpet has been professionally cleaned. See if you notice a difference this Sunday.

Bill Ehrenstrom and Mary Hughes are in charge of planning and organizing our efforts that day. Mark November 13 on your calendar and plan to be at the church to help that day. We will need many people working together for things to run smoothly.

St. John's will host a fall festival on October 31 at 4 pm, and invite the local community. Trunks are needed! Please contact Mary Sterner or Dave Nelson for more information.

On October 31, during the 10:30 am service, we will have an Anointing Service for Healing. Anyone who has a need for healing - whether physical, mental or emotional - is welcome to come forward for prayer after the sermon. A few elders will support the prayer and I will use olive oil on my finger to mark your forehead with the sign of the cross. If you'd prefer the prayer but not the oil, cross your arms when that time comes and say "prayer only." We had a very positive response from those who came forward for this prayer during the summer. Tony Benn says it made a positive difference in his life. We will offer this special service on the 5th Sundays beginning on October 31. Come and bring a friend.

Remember Helen Roby in prayer. She has been in the hospital in the Woodlands. She had a minor stroke yesterday and had a pacemaker installed today. Also, remember Shirley Boyd who is having severe back pain and is scheduled for surgery next week. Continue to remember Lois and George and other members of our congregation who are battling cancer.

I am taking next week to be away for continuing education. I am going to be doing a directed study reading about the history of Christianity in the first few centuries. This is a fascinating and formative period in the development of Christianity and I trust you will benefit from my study of it in forthcoming sermons and lessons. The church office will remain open for business as usual during my absence during the week. I will not miss a Sunday but will miss sending out an Epistle next week.

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

St. John's Epistle for October 7, 2010

Stewardship Kick-off Potluck
This Sunday, October 10, 5 pm

Guest Speaker: Mike Cole

"Let the Light Shine"

Everyone is asked to bring a dish to share

St. John's Weekly Reminders, October 3

Circles, Tuesday, October 5: Circle 1, 9:30 am, Louise Cherry, Chair and hostess (various members) will meet at St. John’s and Circle 2, 9:30 am, Linda Dyson, Chair, and hostesses Dee Dennis and Catharine Miller, will gather at the church at 9:00 am to carpool to Holly Hall. The circles will study Lesson 2. (Evening Circle will meet October 12.)

Carpet available: St. John’s has a piece of new carpet from the Building 2 classrooms about 9 feet by 10 ½ feet that needs a new home. Please talk to or email Bobby Hughes at rwhughe@oplink.net for more information.

Trunk-or-Treat: St. John’s will host a fall festival on October 31 at 4 pm, inviting the local community. Car trunks and volunteers are needed! Please contact Mary Sterner or Fellowship Committee for more information.

Advent Booklet Deadline November 7: Writers and artists are needed for St. John’s Advent 2010 Devotional Booklet. This year the booklet will focus on a favorite Christmas carol, why it is important and what memories, feelings and emotions are present as we sing or listen to the carol. Please see Mary Sterner or Pam Tedeschi if you are interested.

Volunteers needed: The Evangelism Committee runs the after church "coffee, juice, and snacks" but can't do it without the help of some special volunteers. There is nothing to buy; we just need volunteers to help serve, preferably 2, and return the trays and snacks to McPhail Hall. Evangelism will purchase and keep a supply of snacks in McPhail Hall. If you are interested, please contact Kathleen Captain.

Usher Teams for October, November, December 2010 and January 2011. Please sign the sheet on one of the tables in the narthex to be part of one of the teams.

Recycle your old tennis shoes: Tony and Sue Benn are collecting old tennis shoes for their granddaughters’ (Elena and Caroline) Girl Scout Silver Awards. The shoes will be recycled into playground mulch! Please bring your old shoes by October 17 to the collection box outside the church office.

St. John’s Ministry to the Seafarers’ Center: St. John’s will deliver seafarers’ gift boxes in November. The following items are still needed: small games, 2011 calendars, toothpaste, lip balm, deodorant, nail clippers, and blank note cards or postcards. Please remember that all items need to fit in a shoebox.

St. John's Weekly Reminders, October 3

St. John's Calendar, October 3 - 10

Sunday, October 3 Pennies for Peace Collected
9:00 am Church School
10:30 am Worship Service
11:45 am Dedication of Courtyard Cross, Eagle Scout Project, Sean Coughlen
3:00 pm Presbyterian Youth Fellowship attend Youth Ministry Rally
5:00 pm Centering Prayer
7:00-8:00 pm Inquirers’ Class

Monday, October 4
6:30 pm “Walking Together”
7:00 pm Bells
7:30 pm Outreach Committee Meeting

Tuesday, October 5
9:00 am Circle 2 gathers for car pool to Holly Hall
9:30 am Circle 1
12:00 pm Staff Meeting
5:00 pm Hour of Prayer, Rm. 207
6:30 pm “Stay Young, Stay Strong”
7:00 pm Scout Troop 688
7:30 pm St. John’s Book Group

Wednesday, October 6
6:00 – 7:00 pm Girl Scout Troop 211151

Thursday, October 7
8:00 am - 12:00 pm Community Bible Study
6:30 pm “Stay Young, Stay Strong”
7:30 pm Chancel Choir

Saturday, October 9
8:00 am Women’s Bible Small Group

Sunday, October 10
9:00 am Church School
10:30 am Worship Service
11:45 am Committal Service for Travis and Eleanor Brown, Columbarium
5:00 pm PYF, Presbyterian Youth Fellowship
5:00 pm Centering Prayer
5:30 pm Stewardship Kick-off, Potluck Dinner
7:00 – 8:00 pm Inquirers’ class

St. John's Calendar, October 3 - 10

St. John's The Epistle for September 30, 2010

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

On Saturday there is the St. John's Breakfast at 8 am in McPhail Hall
and presbytery's FOCUS event at 9 am at First Presbyterian Church,
4647 Preston Avenue, in Pasadena. Pasadena First is also hosting a
Presbytery Wide Youth Rally on Sunday at 4 pm. The youth will donate
used cell phones to a shelter for women so if you have a used cell
phone put it in the box provided in the narthex.

This Sunday, October 3, is World Communion Sunday. This special
service was started in 1936 as a sign of the the unifying power of
Christ in the Lord's Supper, and that in Christ all Christians are
one, regardless of nationality, race, or ethnicity. The Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) also marks this special day by a call to peacemaking,
urging us to be followers of the Prince of Peace. One concrete way
that we do this is with the Peacemaking offering. The Peacemaking
offering invites each congregation to find ways to promote peace
within the congregation and the community.

The theme for the 2010 Peacemaking offering is "Celebrate Christ, Our
Peace." Our congregation will retain twenty-five percent of the
offering it receives to use for local ministries of peacemaking within
the church and its community. Twenty-five percent is used by
presbyteries and synods, and fifty percent is used by the General
Assembly ministries through the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program.
Please prayerfully consider what you will give to the Peacemaking
Offering this Sunday.

This Sunday evening I will teach an Inquirer's Class in my office from
7-8 pm. Those who want to know more about St. John's are invited to
come to this class.

We have special events planned the next two Sundays after worship. We
will celebrate a Dedication Service of the courtyard cross, honoring
Nancy Flowers, on October 3, in the courtyard, immediately after
worship. The cross was Sean Coughlen's Eagle Scout Project and will be
recognized as well.

The next Sunday, October 10, you are invited to a Committal Service
for Travis Brown and Eleanor Brown in the Columbarium after worship on
October 10. Also, the evening of the 10th is our Stewardship Kick-Off
Potluck Dinner at 5 pm in Fellowship Hall with Rev. Mike Cole,
Executive Presbyter, as our guest speaker. Plan to attend and bring
your best dish to share.

We had hoped to have new carpet installed in the sanctuary by November
13 when we host the presbytery meeting. However, due to the slow
nature of the process, we will wait until January to install the new
carpet. In the meantime, we will shampoo the sanctuary before the
presbytery meeting. By the way, Bill Ehrenstrom and Mary Hughes are in
charge of planning and organizing our efforts that day. Mark November
13 on your calendar and plan to be at the church to help that day. We
will need many people working together for things to run smoothly.

St. John's will host a fall festival on October 31 at 4 pm, and invite
the local community. Trunks are needed! Please contact Mary Sterner or
Dave Nelson for more information.

Also on October 31, during the 10:30 am service, we will have an
Anointing Service for Healing. Anyone who has a special concern for
healing - whether physical, mental or emotional - is welcome to come
forward for prayer after the sermon. A few elders will support the
prayer and I will use olive oil on my finger to mark your forehead
with the sign of the cross. If you'd prefer the prayer but not the
oil, just cross your arms when that time comes and say "prayer only."
We had a very positive response from those who came forward for this
prayer during the summer. Tony Benn says it made a positive difference
in his life. The session plans to offer this special service on the
5th Sundays. Since October 31 is the next 5th Sunday that is when we
will do it. Healing on Halloween is a powerful proposition.

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

St. John's The Epistle for September 30, 2010

Our Ministry to the Houston Seafarers’ Centers

In 2009 the Ministry to the Port of Houston staff chaplains placed 10,378 gift boxes on board 432 ships which had seafarers from 69 different countries!

The following items are needed for St. John’s gift boxes (please remember all items need to fit in a shoebox) which will be packed in November:
Small games
2011 calendars
Toothpaste
Lip Balm
Deodorant
Nail Clippers
Blank note cards
or postcards

Our Ministry to the Houston Seafarers’ Centers

Sandwich Makers Needed

St. John’s Sandwich Makers, “Wonder Team,” meets in McPhail Hall every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at at 6 pm to make sandwiches for local children.

Please join us on September 22 and October 13 & 27. No experience is necessary!

Sandwich Makers Needed

Start Shopping for Children’s Socks

Please bring children’s socks in all colors, only newborn through Kindergarten sizes starting on the first Sunday of Advent, November 28. The socks will be hung on two Christmas trees, one in the Narthex and one outside the church office.

St. John’s Presbyterian Women will deliver the socks to the House of Tiny Treasures and Small Steps Nurturing Center.

Start Shopping for Children’s Socks

St. John’s Circles—Tuesday, October 4

All St. John’s ladies are invited to join a circle. Circle meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month with two morning circles meeting at 9:30 am and one evening circle at 7:30 pm. The location of the three circles will be listed in the September 26 Sunday bulletin. Please call the church office for directions.

St. John’s Circles—Tuesday, October 4

World Communion & Peacemaking Offering— Sunday, October 3

Presbyterians have celebrated World Communion Sunday since the mid-1930’s when a group of Presbyterian ministers met to pray and talk about the church’s role. Rediscovering the unifying power of Christ in the Lord’s Supper, they reaffirmed that in Christ all Christians are one, regardless of nationality, race, or ethnicity. From theirfirst meeting came the first World Communion Sunday in 1936.

This year October 3 is World Communion Sunday, a time we gather with believers from all over the world to break the bread of life and drink from the cup of salvation. This simple meal reminds us that Christ brings us together to make us one family.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) also marks this special day by a call to peacemaking, urging us to be followers of the Prince of Peace. One concrete way that we do this is with the Peacemaking offering. The Peacemaking offering invites each congregation to find ways to promote peace within the congregation and the community.

The theme for the 2010 Peacemaking offering is “Celebrate Christ, Our Peace.” Each congregation will retain twenty-five percent of the offering it receives to use for local ministries of peacemaking within the church and its community. Twenty-five percent is used by presbyteries and synods, and fifty percent is used by the General Assembly ministries through the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program.

World Communion & Peacemaking Offering— Sunday, October 3

Stewardship Kick-off Potluck
October 10, 5 pm

Guest Speaker: Mike Cole

"Let the Light Shine"

Everyone is asked to bring a dish to share

St. John's Weekly Reminders

Trunk-or-Treat: St. John’s will host a fall festival on October 31 at 4 pm, inviting the local community. Trunks are needed! Please contact Mary Sterner or Fellowship Committee for more information.

Advent Booklet Deadline November 7: Writers and artists are needed for St. John’s Advent 2010 Devotional Booklet. This year the booklet will focus on a favorite Christmas carol, why it is important and what memories, feelings and emotions are present as we sing or listen to the carol. Please see Mary Sterner or Pam Tedeschi if you are interested.

Usher Teams for October, November, December 2010 and January 2011: Please sign the sheet on one of the tables in the narthex to be part of one of the teams.


Session Highlights - September 22, 2010

• The new flooring is completed in Building 2
• The new carpeting in the Sanctuary is in the final planning stage. Hopefully it will be installed by the end of October
• The Administrative Committee reported on the very successful Desserts with the Pastor.
• An updated Personnel Policy was approved
• The Worship committee received approval for a Anointing Prayers for Healing Service on the Fifth Sunday of each month.
• A Dedication Service of the courtyard cross, honoring Nancy Flowers, will be held on October 3. The cross was Sean Coughlen’s Eagle Scout Project,
• A Committal Service for Travis Brown and Eleanor Brown will be held in the Columbarium after worship on October 10

St. John's Weekly Reminders

St. John's The Epistle for September 23, 2010

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

We had a big weekend last Sunday with Rev. Noelle Damico preaching and
then leading a workshop about Human Trafficking on Sunday afternoon
in McPhail. After worship the Presbyterian Women heard an update from
Jane Smith about her work in China.

Sue Benn requests used tennis shoes to be brought to the church office
by October 17. The shoes will be recycled into playground mulch in a
Girl Scout Silver Award project by Sue's granddaughter Elena.

Writers and Artists are needed for our Advent Devotional Book. Please
deliver your entry before Sunday, November 7, to Mary Sterner, Room
208, or email office.sjpc@gmail.com. This year we will be writing/
drawing about our favorite Christmas carol, why it is important and
what memories, feelings and emotions are present as we sing or listen
to the carol.

We will have a dedication service for the memorial cross in the
courtyard after worship on October 3. The new teak cross is an Eagle
Scout Project by Sean Coughlen and he will be recognized. We will also
have someone speak in memory of Nancy Noble Flowers to whom the cross
is dedicated.

You are invited to a committal service for Travis Brown and Eleanor
Brown in the columbarium after worship on October 10. The family
welcomes all who wish to attend to join them for this special service.

Anyone who is interested in learning more about the church and who may
be interested in becoming a member of St. John's is invited to an
Inquirer's Class from 7-8 pm on these Sundays: October 3, 10, and 17.
Participants may meet with the Session to be received as members on
Sunday morning, October 24 and be recognized during worship that
morning.

Rev. Mike Cole, our Presbytery Executive, will help us kick off the
Stewardship Season as he speaks to us about our theme after a pot-luck
dinner at 5:30 pm on October 10 in McPhail Hall. Mark your calendar
and plan to come and bring your favorite dish to share.

We remember Lois and George in prayer. Kathy Roth was in the hospital
for a heart check this week and is doing well. Let's also remember Max
who is having some back pain.

You are invited to a Protestant Open House this Sunday, September 26,
at 1:30 pm at St. Paul's United Methodist Church on Main Street. I
will speak about the sacraments and other Protestant ministers will
speak about a few other subjects for 10 minutes each. Then there will
be small group discussion and a tour of the facilities. This event is
sponsored by Interfaith Ministries of Houston. All are welcome.

In "One Minute Wisdom," De Mello tells about a woman who complained to
a spiritual master that riches hadn't made her happy. The Master said,
"You speak as if luxury and comfort were ingredients of happiness;
whereas all you need to be really happy, my dear, is something to be
enthusiastic about."

I am enthusiastic about what God is doing in this congregation. We are
on a roll here. Good things are happening. I wonder if you share my
enthusiasm for God's work at St. John's? Since you are reading these
words, the odds are good that you do share my enthusiasm. The question
then becomes with whom will we share this enthusiasm? All our events
and services are open to your friends and colleagues and family. I
wonder which one of them you will invite to join you here this Sunday?

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

St. John's The Epistle for September 23, 2010

Session Behavioral Covenant

OUR BEHAVIORAL COVENANT

THE SESSION, ST. JOHN'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

March, 2010 
 

It is the mission of St. John's Presbyterian Church to glorify God by making disciples and meeting human needs.  To achieve this mission, we, the session, offer  

Our Promises to God 

1.  WE PROMISE to seek God's guidance in making decisions by maintaining an active prayer life both individually and corporately and a diligent study of Scripture. 

2.  WE PROMISE to take seriously our session responsibility to use our time and talents wisely in disposing and allocating the limited congregational resources for our members and the community at large. 

3.  WE PROMISE to participate joyfully and actively in the worship service and to engage and encourage the congregation to do the same. 

4.  WE PROMISE to participate actively in service beyond the church, to educate ourselves of the needs in the community and to help St. John's use its resources to best serve the community. 
 
 

Our Promises to the Congregation and Staff 

1.  In response to our discernment of God's call, WE PROMISE to pray for and lead our congregation and staff through example and mutual support, and to instill confidence in our ministry by reflecting the mission of the church in all decisions, words and deeds. 

2. WE PROMISE to be visible, transparent and accessible to all members of this congregation and

• to listen actively and non-judgmentally,

• to respect all individuals,

• to create an environment where

      joys are celebrated,

      healing is facilitated,

open and constructive communication is promoted, questions and concerns are welcomed,

misinformation is quelled, and

an atmosphere of trust and respect is fostered. 

3.  WE PROMISE to seek to recognize our own fallibility and strive to live and lead in accordance with Christ-like love and teachings. 

4.  WE PROMISE to nurture the spiritual life of this congregation and to challenge and equip our members to serve God's world. 

5.  WE PROMISE to honor our past, live in positive hopeful service in the present and to be faithful stewards as we plan for the future. 

6.  WE PROMISE to educate the congregation in what it means to be Presbyterian and how we organize and live out our ministry at St. John's. 

Our Promises to Each Other 

1.  WE PROMISE to promote trust among ourselves:

• to support each other in prayer

• to treat each other with respect and consideration, recognizing our differences, focusing on each individual's strengths

• to seek counsel and support from each other 

• to hold each other accountable in maintaining a positive and open environment, and

• to respect the need for confidentiality in certain matters before session, and not identify individual positions on those matters.

 

2. WE PROMISE to communicate in these ways:

   • to listen respectfully and with an open mind before we speak

   • to reflect upon what we have heard, and

   • to speak directly and succinctly to the issue at hand

   • when in disagreement, to speak directly and promptly to the person(s) concerned, rather than to others

   • to conduct session business face-to-face in meetings, rather than via e-mail.

   • to define and respect boundaries.

 

3. WE PROMISE to support our shared leadership

   • to participate in discussions

   • to refrain from side conversations

   • to address difficult issues promptly and fairly

   • to strive for consensus

   • to vote our conscience(s)

   • to support the majority decision; however,

   • to address minority concerns directly to Session,

   • to step back quietly if unable to support the majority, and

   • to allow session to speak with one voice.

 

4. WE PROMISE to uphold these covenants:

• to honor them at all times;

• to review their relevance and our faithfulness to them at each Session Meeting.

Session Behavioral Covenant

St. John's Epistle > September 16, 2010

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

Presbyterian Youth Fellowship (PYF) got off to a good start with 16
youth and adults present last Sunday evening. We had another dozen
adults at the centering prayer workshop at the same time. We are off
to a good beginning in our Christian Education programs this fall.
Both PYF and Centering Prayer continue this Sunday at 5 pm at the
church.

This Sunday, September 19, Rev. Noelle Damico will preach during
worship and lead a seminar on human trafficking at 3:30 pm in
Fellowship Hall which will kick off "Human Trafficking Awareness Week"
in Houston. We welcome her from New York.

After worship Jane Smith will update the Presbyterian Women on her
work as a missionary in China at a luncheon in Fellowship Hall after
worship.

Our prayers are with one of our youth, a new member by the name of
Michael Rodgers, whose broken ankle bone will need surgery on Friday
morning in order for it to heal properly. Please pray for wisdom for
his surgeon as well as a steady hand, and for perfect healing for
Michael's ankle.  

We continue to remember George and Lois in prayer as they battle
cancer. Also remember Frances Stanley at home after back surgery last
Friday. Shirley Boyd's grandson, Alec, has been having some tests run
and we remember him in prayer as well.

Sue Benn requests used tennis shoes to be brought to the church office
by October 17. The shoes will be recycled into playground mulch in a
Girl Scout Silver Award project by Sue's granddaughter Elena.

The following items are needed for the Seaman's Center. All items will
be packed in November and need to fit in a shoebox: Small games; 2011
calendars; Toothpaste; Lip Balm; Deodorant; Nail Clippers; Blank note
cards or postcards.

Remember in prayer our Anchor House Ministry for cancer patients and
their families and if you would like to get involved speak to Sally
Shaw.

During the month of August, Braes Interfaith Ministries served 1295
clients (597 children and 683 adults), 15 of whom were homeless.

Writers and Artists are needed for our Advent Devotional Book. Please
deliver your entry before Sunday, November 7, to Mary Sterner, Room
208, or email office.sjpc@gmail.com. This year we will be writing/
drawing about our favorite Christmas carol, why it is important and
what memories, feelings and emotions are present as we sing or listen
to the carol.

I leave you this week with a thought about serenity from Anthony De
Mello's book "One Minute Wisdom."

"Are there ways for gauging one's spiritual strength?"
"Many."
"Give us one."
"Find out how often you become disturbed in the course of a single
day."

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

St. John's Epistle > September 16, 2010

September 19 Special Speaker

Special Speaker Rev. Noelle Damico
Sunday, September 19

10:30 am (Worship Service)

3:30 pm McPhail Hall


"The church has a vital role to play as part of a society-wide effort
to address modern-day slavery." — Rev. Damico

Noelle Damico is the National Coordinator of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Campaign for Fair Food. She sits on the Presbyterian Church’s Human Trafficking Roundtable and facilitates Freedom Network Training Institute trainings for Presbyterian clergy and leaders.

Noelle is ordained in the United Church of Christ and holds a M.Div.
and Th.M. from Princeton Theological Seminary.

September 19 Special Speaker

Church Apartment Ministry — Anchor Houses

We are finding we do need younger blood in our ministry. Most of us think we are young chicks now working in the ministry until we start doing physical labor. We moved two apartments the end of August to The Greenbriar. We now have three two-bedroom apartments there. We were hoping to have an open house for our St. John’s members, but we had tenants move in immediately. We are proud of our apartments and hope to let you see them soon. It will be on short notice, though.

We moved the breakables ourselves and had the movers move the rest. Marie and I decided we needed to exchange some of the furniture from the apartment we are eventually getting rid of. Fortunately a nice young man came to our rescue as we were transporting a dresser on a dolly down the street two blocks. Little did he know that was just the beginning of his good deed, but he was a trooper and moved the rest of the furniture we wanted to exchange. I think he had a very nice dinner that night!

We still have four apartments at Nob Hill. One of those will be deleted in December and one in June, and then we get to move two more apartments to The Greenbriar the first of June. We manage to keep the apartments full. Of course they continue to need our support and prayers. — Sally Shaw

Church Apartment Ministry — Anchor Houses

Haiti Update

Mission Trip Successful!

Clean fresh well water is flowing at the JeLA orphanage and school and this water is supplying the surrounding village of Limbé, Haiti, with water as well!
A solar-powered water treatment system was just installed, thanks to a team from ChristChurch Presbyterian Bellaire, Leonié Tchoconté from St. John’s (John Freeman had to cancel at the last minute), Bellaire SW Houston Rotarians and also thanks to the generous contributions of St. John’s, ChristChurch and the Community of the Servant Savior Presbyterian members and two Houston Rotary Clubs, New Covenant Presbytery, and Living Waters for the World.

The JeLA orphanage and school has about 150 regular students and its ranks had swollen due to the recent earthquake. The village of Limbé is located near Cap Haitian on the north coast of Haiti. Prior to the installation of the water treatment system the only source of drinkable water was a small spring whose flow had dwindled to a trickle. People have also been drinking from a small river that is also used for washing and bathing. People have had to walk about a half mile to get water, carrying water buckets on their heads.

Leonié will provide more details of the mission trip at a presentation to the congregation in November. In the meantime plans are being made to look for other ways to assist JeLA.

One possibility is to dedicate the contributions to the Heifer booth at the St. John’s Living Gift Market to be held November 21. JeLA desperately needs means of sustainability, and a cow or goat provided by Heifer through St. John’s would be an excellent resource. More on this later.

Thanks again to St. Johners who made the gift of Living Waters available to the poor children of JeLA and Limbé!
— John Freeman

Haiti Update

Crop Walk, November 7

Let’s Walk

The Houston annual area Crop Walk is coming Sunday, November 7

Will you be there? St. John’s needs walkers and sponsors.

Crop Walk, November 7

Sandwich Makers Needed

St. John’s Sandwich Makers, “Wonder Team,” meets in McPhail Hall every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at at 6 pm to make sandwiches for local children.

Please join us on September 22 and October 13 & 27. No experience is necessary!
Help feed hungry Houston children!

Sandwich Makers Needed

Start Shopping for Children’s Socks

Please bring children’s socks in all colors, only newborn through Kindergarten sizes starting on the first Sunday of Advent, November 28. The socks will be hung on two Christmas trees, one in the Narthex and one outside the church office.

St. John’s Presbyterian Women will deliver the socks to the House of Tiny Treasures and Small Steps Nurturing Center.

Start Shopping for Children’s Socks

Our Ministry to the Houston Seafarers’ Centers

In 2009 the Ministry to the Port of Houston staff chaplains placed 10,378 gift boxes on board 432 ships which had seafarers from 69 different countries!!

The following items are needed for St. John’s gift boxes (please remember all items need to fit in a shoebox) which will be packed in November:
Small games
2011 calendars
Toothpaste
Lip Balm
Deodorant
Nail Clippers
Blank note cards or postcards

Our Ministry to the Houston Seafarers’ Centers

BIM Statistics & Status Report, August 2010

During the month of August, Braes Interfaith Ministries served 1295 clients (597 children and 683 adults), 15 of whom were homeless.

BIM Statistics & Status Report, August 2010

Movie Night Options — PC(U.S.A.) Documentaries

The PC(U.S.A.) has supported the production of two documentaries on stories of hope in the face of disaster.

Coming Home: Hurricane Katrina Five Years Later is the story of three New Orleans homeowners and the transformation of their homes and lives through the help of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. You will recognize the blue shirts. (Information: http://www.interfaithbroadcasting.com/program.aspx?PID=326 and trailer: http://vidego.multicastmedia.com/player.php?p=z25czg71)

Kepulihan: Stories from the Tsunami follows three lives, forever changed by the tragic tsunami in 2004, over five years as they reflect upon where they have come from and where they are going. (Information and trailer: http://thetsunamifilm.com.)

NBC has the rights to air Coming Home until March 2011 and has already shown the film in Chicago, New Orleans, Fort Worth and Seattle (among others). ABC has the rights to air Kepulihan beginning November 21, 2010.

Please contact your local affiliate or station manager (713-778-4763) and ask them to show these stories of hope in the face of disaster. And if they are able to show one of the films, watch together as a church or in small groups for discussion, and remember to thank your affiliate or station for sharing these gifts with the larger community.
— Steven Leach

Movie Night Options — PC(U.S.A.) Documentaries

Advent Devotional Book

Wanted: Writers and Artists
— Deadline Sunday, November 7

St. John’s will celebrate the season with the publication of our annual Advent Devotional Book. It will be distributed on the 1st Sunday of Advent, November 28, and at the Family Advent Celebration on Sunday, December 5. Please deliver your entry before Sunday, November 7, to Mary Sterner, Room 208, or email office.sjpc@gmail.com.

This year we will be writing/drawing about our favorite Christmas carol, why it is important and what memories, feelings and emotions are present as we sing or listen to the carol. See Mary Sterner to sign up.

Advent Devotional Book

Stewardship Kick-off Potluck
October 10, 5 pm

Guest Speaker: Mike Cole

"Let the Light Shine"

Centering Prayer Begins Today: Centering Prayer is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer. This method of prayer is both a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship. To learn more about Centering Prayer please join Pastor Jon in his office Sunday, September 12 at at 5 pm.

Beacon Newsletter: The September/October issue will be assembled on Tuesday, September 14 at 12:30 pm, in Room 203. No experience is necessary.

Focus Registration: Our yearly Presbytery educational event with a choice of 25 workshops will be held on Saturday, October 2, at First Presbyterian Church, 4647 Preston Avenue in Pasadena. If you are going to send in your registration form directly, you may register online or mail your application before September 15. Catalogues are available in Mary’s office.

Human Trafficking Awareness Week Kick-Off
September 19

The Rev. Noelle Damico, national coordinator of the PC(USA)’s campaign for fair food, is coming to Houston to participate in Faith and Freedom Weekend.

The weekend event is an interfaith initiative to begin dialoguing, uniting, and acting to raise awareness of the injustice of human trafficking. With millions living in slavery around the world, communities of faith play a key role in uniting for freedom.

Rev. Damico will speak Sunday, September 19
10:30 am worship service
3:30 pm in McPhail Hall

Everyone is invited to attend.

This Week at St. John's, September 12-19

Sunday, September 12
9:00 am Church School
10:30 am Worship Service
12:00 pm Beacon Deadline
12:00 pm Fellowship and Worship Committee Meetings
5:00 pm Centering Prayer
5:00 pm Presbyterian Youth Fellowship, PYF

Monday, September 13
6:30 pm “Walking Together”
7:00 pm Bells
7:00 pm Evangelism Ministry Committee Meeting
7:00 pm Nominating Committee Meeting

Tuesday, Septemer 14
9:30 am Presbyterian Women’s Activity Day
12:00 pm Staff Meeting
5:00 pm Hour of Prayer, Rm. 207
6:30 pm “Stay Young, Stay Strong”
7:00 pm Scout Troop 688

Wednesday, September 15
7:30 pm Stewardship/Finance Committee Meeting

Thursday, September 16
8:00 am – 12:00 pm Community Bible Study
6:30 pm “Stay Young, Stay Strong”
7 – 8:30 pm Trafton Academy, McPhail Hall
7:30 pm Chancel Choir

Saturday, September 18
8:00 am Women’s Bible Small Group
11:00 am – 2 pm Girl Scouts, Scout Room

Sunday, September 19
9:00 am Church School
10:30 am Worship Service
11:45 am Presbyterian Women Program and Luncheon, guest Jane Smith
3:30 pm Guest Speaker Noelle Damico, McPhail Hall
5:00 pm Centering Prayer
5:00 pm Presbyterian Youth Fellowship, PYF

This Week at St. John's, September 12-19

St. John's The Epistle for September 9, 2010

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

We welcome these new babies into the world and pray for God's
blessings on their families!

-Abigail Susannah Boyd, granddaughter of Laurie and Bill Henderson and
great-granddaughter of Connie and Herb Brown.

-Amelia Elaine Gore, daughter of Jill and Trey Gore and granddaughter
of Virginia and Ken Krueger.

-Quinn Tyler Leach, son of Stephanie and Will Leach, grandson of
Jeanne and Bill Leach, and great-grandson of Thalia and Don Bunnell.

Remember in prayer Helen Roby who had a successful cataract surgery
and Frances Stanley who is having back surgery on Friday. Our prayers
are ongoing for Lois and George and their families as they have tests
and undergo treatments for cancer.

Congratulations to BJ Ragan who has successfully completed his Eagle
Board of Review. BJ is the son of Diane and James Ragan and the
grandson of Pat Ragan.

Our Christian sympathy is with the family of Bob Davis upon the death
of his brother, George William Davis, Jr., MD, who died on September
6.

This Sunday at 5 pm the Presbyterian Youth Fellowship (PYF) resumes in
Fellowship Hall. Come and bring a friend.

Also, at 5 pm this Sunday I will teach a seminar on Centering Prayer.
No experience is necessary. Come and learn how this practice may
enrich your spiritual journey. This seminar is for those who have
never tried centering prayer as well as those who have extensive
experience with centering prayer.

Rev. Noelle Damico is coming from New York to speak at St. John's on
Sept. 19th. According to Phyllis, Noelle is a fabulous and dynamic
speaker. She will preach that morning in our worship service and then
lead an interfaith service in Fellowship Hall at 3:30 pm. The
afternoon event will kick off Human Trafficking Awareness Week in
Houston.

Our yearly Presbytery educational event with a choice of 25 workshops
will be held on Saturday, October 2, at First Presbyterian Church,
4647 Preston Avenue in Pasadena. If you are going to send in your
registration form directly, you may register online or mail your
application before September 15. Catalogues are available in Mary's
office.

Braes Interfaith Ministries (BIM) needs financial assistance to help
with ongoing expenses. Remember that $1 given to BIM becomes $27 of
food for the hungry.

"If you must tell me the truth," said Emily Dickinson, "give it to me
slant, so that I can bear it."

Parables are the Bible's way of telling the truth "slant." Parables
can open doors to us on truths we might not otherwise be willing, or
able, to see. May God open such doors for us as we consider Luke
15:1-11 in a sermon called "God Never Gives Up" this Sunday. Until
then, have a blessed week.

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

St. John's The Epistle for September 9, 2010

St. John's Weekly Reminders

St. John’s Holiday Schedule: St. John’s office and campus will be closed tomorrow, Monday, September 6.

Circles, Tuesday, September 7: Circle 1, 9:30 am, Louise Cherry, Chair and hostess, will meet at the church; Circle 2, 9:30 am, Linda Dyson, Chair, will meet at the church with all members hosting; Night Circle 7:30 pm, Kathleen Captain, Chair and hostess, will meet at the church.

St. John’s Book Group, September 7: Everyone who loves to read is invited to come join the Book Group at 7:30 pm.

Beacon Newsletter: Please deliver all Beacon articles for the upcoming Sept/Oct issue by email, office.sjpc@gmail.com, or deliver to the church office or Room 208. The last chance to be part of this issue is September 12 at 12 noon.

Focus Registration: Our yearly Presbytery educational event with a choice of 25 workshops will be held on Saturday, October 2, at First Presbyterian Church, 4647 Preston Avenue in Pasadena. St. John’s Christian Education committee will pay registration fees for anyone who brings his application to the church office by September 1. If you are going to send in your registration form directly, you may register online or mail your application before September 15. Catalogues are available in Mary’s office.

St. John’s Breakfast, Sunday September 11: Breakfast is served at 8 am, and at 8:30 Johnny Dyson will present his program, Life in a Putty Knife Factory, Adventures in and Around the Entertainment Business. The September breakfast is meeting on the second Saturday of the month due to the Labor Day holiday.

September 19, 3:30 pm Interfaith Service, McPhail Hall: All are invited to hear the Rev. Noelle Damico, National Coordinator of the PC(USA) Campaign for Fair Food, in a special service. Rev. Damico is coming from New York to help kickoff human Trafficking Awareness Week in Houston.

St. John's Weekly Reminders

St. John's Calendar, September 5 - 12

Sunday, September 5
9:00 am Church School
10:30 am Worship Service

Monday, September 6- Church offices closed
7:00 pm No Bells

Tuesday, Septemer 7
9:30 am Presbyterian Women’s Circles l and 2
11:00 am Brown Bag Luncheon, Room 209
12:00 pm Staff Meeting
5:00 pm Hour of Prayer, Rm. 207
6:30 pm “Stay Young, Stay Strong”
7:00 pm Scout Troop 688
7:30 pm Evening Circle
7:30 pm St. John’s Book Group

Wednesday, September 8
6:00 pm “Wonder Team” Sandwich Makers
6:00-7:00 pm Girl Scout Troop 21151, Scout Room
7:00 pm Property and Admin/Personnel Committee Meetings
7:30 pm Christian Education Committee Meeting

Thursday, September 9
8:00 am – 12:00 pm Community Bible Study
6:30 pm “Stay Young, Stay Strong”
7:30 pm Chancel Choir
7:30 pm Caring Committee Meeting

Saturday, September 11
8:00 am Women’s Bible Small Group
9:00 am St. John’s Breakfast

Sunday, September 12 Beacon Deadline
9:00 am Church School
10:30 am Worship Service
12:00 pm Fellowship & Worship Committee Meetings
5:00 pm Centering Prayer
5:00 pm Presbyterian Youth Fellowship (PYF)

St. John's Calendar, September 5 - 12

St. John's The Epistle for September 2, 2010

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

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

St. John's The Epistle for September 2, 2010

Memorial Service for Julia McKisic this Friday, 10 am in St. John's Sanctuary

Our Christian sympathy is with the family of Julia McKisic who died
yesterday. You are invited to a memorial service in her honor this
Friday, September 3, at 10 am in the sanctuary and to the reception in
Fellowship Hall immediately after the service.

Julia was a long time member of St. John's and we will certainly miss
the presence of her sweet spirit.

In addition, Frances Sloan died last week. Her service will be a
private family affair in Colorado. Frances was also a long time member
of our congregation who will be greatly missed.

"There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and
another glory of the stars; indeed, star differs from star in glory.
So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is
perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor, it
is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It
is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a
physical body, there is also a spiritual body." ~The Apostle Paul, 1
Corinthians 15:41-44

--
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

Memorial Service for Julia McKisic this Friday, 10 am in St. John's Sanctuary