December Session Highlights

The December 2007 Session Meeting was held on the 20^th with all but three of the currently serving elders present and two of the incoming class of elders also attending. Barbara Brisch reported on the Nov. 13 presbytery Meeting and on the Dec. 11 called meeting.

Kay Greer was elected Clerk of Session for 2008.

A preliminary budget was presented by Dale Parker of Budget & Finance Committee, the final budget will be approved at the January Session Meeting. A Motion for a Change in the Call of Rev. Jon Burnham also passed.

"Dream budgets" will be presented by each Ministry Team early in the fall of 2008 to facilitate making the 2009 budget.

John Freeman for the Outreach Committee reminded everyone to mark their calendars with Jan 5, 13, 20, & 27. The first date is the AED & CPR demonstrations and the last three dates are potluck dinners in the Interfaith Dialogue Series.

Lynn Hargrove announced a Mardi Gras Party on Feb. 5 with music by the Johnny Dyson Band..

Announcements were Communion on Jan 6, Ordination and Installation of new elders, Jan. 13, Planning day for Committees (Ministry Teams) and Session Meeting on Jan. 19 with the Congregational Meeting on Jan. 20.

December Session Highlights

Consitutional Questions

On Sunday, January 13, 2008, we will install new Elders to serve on the Session's Class of 2010. Here are the constitutional questions they will be asked from our Book of Order followed by the questions for the congregation. Prayerfully consider how you will answer these questions.

The Constitutional Questions to Elders being Installed

The minister shall ask those preparing to be ordained or installed to stand before the congregation and to answer the following questions:
a. Do you trust in Jesus Christ your Savior, acknowledge him Lord of all and Head of the Church, and through him believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
b. Do you accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be, by the Holy Spirit, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the Church universal, and God's Word to you?
c. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the essential tenets of the Reformed faith as expressed in the confessions of our church as authentic and reliable expositions of what Scripture leads us to believe and do, and will you be instructed and led by those confessions as you lead the people of God?
d. Will you fulfill your office in obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority of Scripture, and be continually guided by our confessions?
e. Will you be governed by our church's polity, and will you abide by its discipline? Will you be a friend among your colleagues in ministry, working with them, subject to the ordering of God's Word and Spirit?
f. Will you in your own life seek to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, love your neighbors, and work for the reconciliation of the world?
g. Do you promise to further the peace, unity, and purity of the church?
h. Will you seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love?
i. Will you be a faithful elder, watching over the people, providing for their worship, nurture, and service? Will you share in government and discipline, serving in governing bodies of the church, and in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ?


The Constitutional Questions to the Congregation


Do we, the members of the church, accept these elders as leaders of this church, chosen by God through the voice of this congregation to lead us in the way of Jesus Christ? Do we? We do.

Do we agree to encourage them, to respect their decisions and to follow as they guide us, serving Jesus Christ, who alone is Head of the Church? We do.

Consitutional Questions

Upcoming St. John's Events

Mark your calendar and don't miss these upcoming events!

Monday, December 31: New Year's Eve Party @ 8 pm
Friday, January 4: Friday Night at the Movies @ 7:30 pm
Saturday, January 5: St. John's Breakfast @ 8 am
Saturday, January 5: CPR & Defibrillator Training @ 9:30 am
Tuesday, January 8: St. John's Book Group @ 7:30 pm

Upcoming St. John's Events

Invite a Friend on Christmas Eve

You are cordially invited to a Christmas Eve Service in the sanctuary of St. John's Presbyterian Church at 6:00 P.M. on December 24. This special service is designed for all ages and will include music by Alina Klimaszewska and Mark Swindler and a children's sermon by Lynn Hargrove. Come celebrate the birth of Christ our Lord as our young people read to us the Biblical stories and we respond with Christmas carols accompanied by organ, brass, piano and guitar. Jon Burnham will light the Christ candle and each person's candle will be lit from the Christ candle as we sing Away in Manger. The service will conclude in candle light as we sing Joy to the World. Christmas Eve is the one occasion during the year when unchurched folks are most likely to attend a church service. Come and bring with you an unchurched friend! Introduce them to St. John's during this meaningful and moving worship service.

Invite a Friend on Christmas Eve

Wanted: Your Email Address

The church is now sending out an email newsletter. If you wish to receive it, please give us your current email address. You may type your current email address and put it in the offering plate or email the church office at stjohns@stjohnspresby.org.

Wanted: Your Email Address

Centering Prayer Books now available in Church Office

• Jon's Lenten Course will use 40 Days to a Closer Walk: The Practice of Centering Prayer is available for $12.00.
• The classic by Thomas Keating called Open Mind, Open Heart is available for $13.50.
• We also have Journey to the Heart: Centering Prayer for Children for $10.00. This would make a great addition to any child's library.
• And for a more mature Biblical, theological and historical background on this spiritual practice Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening is available for $15.25.

Centering Prayer Books now available in Church Office

Blood Drive - December 23

Blood Donors: An Elite Group

Join this membership by visiting Building One Sunday Morning, December 23, 8 am to 12:30 pm. Help save a life!

Blood Drive - December 23

Experience an Interfaith Worship— Friday, January 11

Experience Interfaith worship by attending a service at Temple Beth Israel, 5600 N. Breaswood, on Friday, January 11, for a regular service. We will meet at the entrance at 6:15 pm, or come to our parking lot at 5:45 pm to carpool. The service starts at 6:30 pm, and a rabbi or cantor will meet with us afterward. Call Linda Dobbin at 281-778-5348 if you are interested.

Experience an Interfaith Worship— Friday, January 11

St. John’s Breakfast— January 5

Pastor Jon Burnham will be the speaker at the St. John’s Breakfast on Saturday, January 5, at 8 am in McPhail Hall. The topic of his presentation will be "The Christian Liturgical Year: Following Christ from the Cradle to the Grave and Beyond."

Everyone is invited to enjoy the food and fellowship and learn more about the cycle of the Christian liturgical year. Come and bring a friend!

St. John’s Breakfast— January 5

New Wind Reunion - Saturday January 12

Please join us for a New Wind reunion! We want New Winders from all years to please came and bring your families — and this goes for all of you folks from over the years who supported us in so many different ways — the whole St. John’s family, past and present.

The dates are January 12 - 13. On Saturday we’ll meet at the church at 2 pm for games, pictures, songs, and general merriment— please bring your kids and significant others. Then at around 5 or 6 pm, we’ll have a potluck dinner. When you RSVP, please make a note of what dish you’d like to bring. Then the kids will have their own party time — movies and popcorn in Building Two with dedicated babysitters.

Sunday morning we’d love to have a reunion New Wind singing time during the service, so bring your singing voices (We’ll take 10-15 minutes for a run-though on Saturday).

We can’t wait to see you all and catch up ! Please start collecting pictures and any old memories that you’d like to bring. Please send the names and any contact information you have for anyone you remember from those years to Julia (Dobbin) Alejandre (juliamateo@yahoo.com, 512-297-9882) or Ben Carrettin (bcarrettin@hotmail.com) — we want to make sure to reach as many folks as possible. This is sure to be a fantastic memory in its own right and a great opportunity to reunite with dear friends from days past.

New Wind Reunion - Saturday January 12

Thirty Christmas Boxes Delivered

Thirty Christmas boxes were delivered to the Port of Houston Seafarer’s Center along with 68 knit hats and scarves. This year’s boxes were exceptionally full with the essentials: pair of work socks, shaving cream, disposable razors, deodorant, soap, shampoo, toothbrush and paste, 2008 calendar, paper and envelopes, and pens and pencils. Additionally each sailor received a flashlight, pocket comb, bandaids, dental floss, Kleenex, q-tips, lotion, lip balm, nail clippers, key chain, playing cards, note cards, and hard candy. The boxes were topped off with a game and a Texas scarf — then wrapped with Christmas paper.

Thanks to all who donated, and please keep this article so you know what to buy for next year! Bring donations anytime to the Recycle Center in Fellowship Hall. Port of Houston — Thank you

Thirty Christmas Boxes Delivered

Presbyterian Women’s Program and Luncheon— Tuesday, January 15

St. John’s Presbyterian Women welcome as their guest speaker Bill Ehrenstrom, who will be talking about his recent experience in Afghanistan.

Presbyterian Women’s Program and Luncheon— Tuesday, January 15

St. John’s Book Group— Tuesday, January 8

"A truly good book teaches me better than to read it. I must soon lay it down, and commence living on its hint. What I began by reading, I must finish by acting." — Henry David Thoreau

Join the Book Group, Room 208, as we discuss the short story, O Yes, by Tillie Olsen. Walk-ins welcome! Books are available in the church office.

St. John’s Book Group— Tuesday, January 8

Friday Night at the Movies— January 4 @ 7:30 pm

Showing on the big screen will be Follow Me Boys (1966) starring Fred MacMurray, Vera Miles and Kurt Russell. It’s a Disney film about a simple man who decides to put down roots and enjoy the quiet life after one year too many on the road with a ramshackle jazz band. That life is soon interrupted when he volunteers to lead a high-spirited Boy Scout troop. Pizza, popcorn and snacks will be served.

Friday Night at the Movies— January 4 @ 7:30 pm

CPR & Defibrillator Training— Saturday, January 5

St. John’s has purchased and installed two automatic electronic defibrillators (AEDs): one in the ushers’ closet in the narthex and the other in the storage closet in Building Two. These devices (along with CPR) are being credited with saving many lives — however people often hesitate to use them because they don’t know what they are, when they should be used or how to use them. Hesitation can cause brain damage or cost a life. We want to be sure our AEDs are used if the need ever arises.
In order to inform all St. Johners about these devices and basic CPR, Lindsey Sen-Roy of the Outreach Committee has arranged for the Junior League to hold a defibrillator instruction and CPR training at St. John’s on Saturday, January 5 immediately following the St. John’s breakfast program — 9:45 am in McPhail Hall. The entire instruction session will take about an hour. We strongly urge everyone to attend. It might be a matter of life or death.
P.S. Bring a friend or neighbor. AEDs are available for homes, and this is an outreach event.

CPR & Defibrillator Training— Saturday, January 5

New Year Eve's Celebration - Monday, December 31

Come anytime between 8 pm and 11:30 pm for games and snacks. Bring a snack to share and your favorite game. There will be Xbox and Wii competitions throughout the night.
At around 11:30 pm we will have a short reflection to give thanks for the blessings of 2007 and celebrate the promise of 2008.

New Year Eve's Celebration - Monday, December 31

Holiday Schedule - Church Office

St. John’s Church office will be closed Monday, December 24, and Tuesday, December 25, for the Christmas holiday. The office will also be closed Monday, December 31, and Tuesday, January 1, for New Year’s.

The staff of St. John’s wishes you the merriest Christmas and a New Year filled with hope, love and joy!

Holiday Schedule - Church Office

A Request from Buildings & Grounds/Property:

We have reached the point of having more members with impaired mobility than we have handicapped parking spots in the sanctuary parking lot. Because of this some members have had to skip church services because they were unable to walk from the McPhail lot, which doesn’t have all that many reserved spots either.

Rather than put more reserved spots in the sanctuary lot we would like to try this: If you are not mobility-impaired, have no problem walking from the McPhail, lot please park there and leave the sanctuary lot for the people who do have problems.

If this works there should be a few empty spots in the sanctuary lot on Sunday mornings. We will watch and if it does not work we will go ahead and add the extra reserved spots.

A Request from Buildings & Grounds/Property:

Session Assignments for 2008

Shirley (2008) & Barbara (2009) / Christian Formation Ministry (Formerly called Christian Education Committee)

Marie (2009) & Dave (2010) / Congregational Life Ministry (Formerly called Caring Committee and Fellowship Committee)

Wright (2008) & Suzette (2009) & Lauren (2008) / Mission (Formerly called Evangelism & Outreach)

Bob (2008) & George (2010) / Property (Formerly called Building & Grounds Committee)

Jo Ann (2008) & Brad (2010) / Support (Formerly called Administration Committee, Budget Committee, Finance Committee, Stewardship Committee)

Katie (2009) & Charlene (2010) / Worship Ministry (Formerly called Worship Committee)

Session Assignments for 2008

Jon's Jots for January 2008

Although the weather outside is warm, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Businesses and shopping centers are bustling with songs of sleigh bells ringing and sights of ribbons and bows and electric Christmas trees. Beyond the bustle of the shopping season and our own joyful Christmas Eve service lies the quiet sobriety of New Year's Day. On New Year's day we awaken with a sense of exhausted relief that the holiday season is behind us and we are presented with God's gift to us: A new year spread before us like an empty book waiting to be written.

How will you fill your new year? I challenge you to fill your new year with the things of God. In particular, I challenge you to become acquainted with an ancient spiritual practice that has been reclaimed in recent years. I am speaking about centering prayer. This spiritual practice has transformed my life in wonderful ways over the past several years. It is hard to remember what I was like before I started practicing centering prayer. I am now more peaceful and less angry. I am more joyful and less irritable. I am better able to live in the present moment rather than being stuck in the past or worried about the future. Centering prayer rekindled my spiritual life. Since I have already come to love this congregation, I look forward to sharing this gift with you.

You will find below more about the centering prayer course and some suggested books about centering prayer. Prayerfully consider whether the Spirit may be nudging you toward this spiritual practice. It is not the only way to pray and it is not for everyone but it may be just what you've been looking for to jump start your spiritual life. Thomas Keating says silence is God's first language. Let us explore the beauty and mystery of God's first language in the new year that lies ahead. For as we find God in the silence we also find our true selves.

Peace,
Jon B.

Jon's Jots for January 2008