Dear church members and friends of St. John's,
We did a great job hosting the presbytery meeting last Saturday! Thanks to everyone who contributed their time and talent for this worthy effort. Bill E and his crew were great on the logistics and setting up Fellowship Hall for lunch. Mary Hs and her crew were terrific on preparing and delivering the meal. Everything went smoothly in every way. Thank you to everyone who made it happen. We received many accolades and much praise for our successful effort.
The reason for the big crowd at the meeting is that this was the biennial meeting where we vote on the question of whether gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve as elders and pastors. Once again, the vote was close but lost by 12 out of 297 votes. This issue has been debated repeatedly since 1974. In fact, it use to come up each November until we stopped having General Assembly meetings every year. They were cut back to meeting every two years in large part to provide something of a breather to the presbyteries who were having to vote on this divisive issue every single year. In the meal blessing that came after the vote, here is some of the prayer that I offered as the host pastor of the meeting:
We thank You, Lord, for the debates we have had and the spirit in which they were conducted. We give you thanks, Lord, that whether we are disturbed by or pleased at the outcome of the vote, we all are one in mission; we all are one in call; our varied gifts united by Christ the Lord of all.
I think some of our members who were there for the debate were impressed by how it was conducted. Two or three dozen people spoke passionately about this issue, alternating each time between one who was in favor of the motion and the next one who was against the motion. Each person was given 2 minutes to make their case. At the end of 90 seconds a yellow card was waived and at the end of 2 minutes a red card was waived which signified that their time was up whether they were finished speaking or not. We do debate well in the Presbyterian Church. Coming to a decision that all can agree to live with is another matter. In any case, this discussion will be continued I am sure.
Speaking of another "hot" topic, which is money, at this time we have received $323,316 in pledges from 77 pledge units. Thank you to all who have stepped up to the plate. Last year we had 90 pledge units pledge $380,728 so we still have a ways to go. If you have not yet pledged but want to take on this spiritual discipline, pledge cards are available in the narthex (the entry room of the sanctuary) and in the church office.
This Sunday is Harvest Sunday when we bring items to donate to Braes Interfaith Ministry.
This Sunday is also our Holiday Gift Mart featuring a Craft Sale and Silent Auction and other exciting events. Bring your check books and give for mission from 12-3 pm in Fellowship Hall.
This Sunday is also our Community Thanksgiving Service at 4 pm at Temple Beth Israel.
You may now read the latest edition of The Beacon online. Click the blue link in the previous sentence and it may take awhile to download but you should be able to read it on your computer. Let me know if you have trouble reading it this way. I'd like to hear how it works for you.
As for those on our prayer list, George is better and at home, Mary Hz is better at Memorial Hermann Hospital and coming home soon, and Lois is very ill at St. Joseph's and they have discontinued her chemotherapy. We will keep all of them in our hearts and in our prayers.
Peace of Christ be with you,
Pastor Jon
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Dear church members and friends of St. John's,
Thank you to the 66 people who pledged $282,840 on Stewardship Dedication Sunday! That beat last year's total received of $237,000 or so on Stewardship Dedication Sunday. Last year's total number of pledges was 90, and the total pledges received was $380,728. Pledge cards are available on the table in the foyer of the sanctuary (also known as the narthex) and in the church office.
We are hosting a meeting of New Covenant Presbytery this Saturday, November 13. The packet for the meeting is available online at www.pbyofnewcovenant.org. All St. John's volunteers that day may wear red shirts. Volunteers are needed from 7:30 am until 4 pm. Just show up wearing a red shirt to identity you as a host church volunteer and report to the Scout Room in the building by the kitchen. Volunteers will be assigned as needed from the Scout Room. If you have already made arrangements to serve in a particular spot then of course you should go there. If you have questions about this you may speak to Bill E or Mary H as they are coordinating the effort.
On November 21 from Noon - 3 pm, is our Holiday Gift Market!
• A Santa's Workshop where children can build wooden items and make bird feeders.
• Holiday pictures with Santa.
• Caricature drawings for guests.
• Live music featuring a men's quartet and a guitarist/singer.
• 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. We are counting on you, as well as your friends and family, to join this fun! Please bring any donations for the silent auction of the Holiday Gift Market to the church office.
This Sunday toward the end of the service we will have a Congregational Meeting after worship to hear and act on a report from the Nominating Committee.
Thanks be to God, George is now at home after his surgery and recovery at MD Anderson. Keep him and Linda in prayer as he continues to improve.
Lois is now at St. Joseph's Hospital.
Mary H is recovering from surgery at Memorial Hermann in the med center. Léonie was assigned as her nurse for awhile and Mary G is her physical therapist so you know she is surrounded by the healing power of love.
Helen is receiving therapy as she stays with her daughter.
Frances fell last Friday and is at Memorial Southwest Hospital.
We will continue to keep each of them in prayer.
Jesus said: "Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear." (Matthew 13:16)
I wonder what you are seeing and hearing this week? May the Lord bless you and keep you and use you to be a blessing to others.
Peace of Christ be with you,
Pastor Jon
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St. John's is hosting a meeting of New Covenant Presbytery this Saturday, November 13. The packet for the meeting is available online at www.pbyofnewcovenant.org. All St. John's volunteers that day may wear red shirts. Volunteers are needed from 7:30 am until 4 pm. Just show up wearing a red shirt to identity you as a host church volunteer and report to the Scout Room in the building by the kitchen. Volunteers will be assigned as needed from the Scout Room. If you have already made arrangements to serve in a particular spot then of course you should go there. If you have questions about this you may speak to Bill E or Mary H as they are coordinating the effort or email the church office at office.sjpc@gmail.com. If you are a commissioner or visitor, here is a map to the church.
Dear church members and friends of St. John's,
This Sunday will be our Stewardship Dedication Sunday. We will bring our pledge cards and Time and Talent Inventory forward and put them in a basket when the offering is received. As I mentioned in the sermon last Sunday, several of our givers have died in the past couple of years. We need those who are able to step forward and give more to make up the difference. We do not receive any financial support from the federal or state government or the presbytery. Neither do we have a list of 6,000 or so prospective donors. All we have is less than a hundred families who contribute. But we believe the Lord will provide a way for us to continue our mission of glorifying God by making disciples and meeting human needs. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
We are hosting a meeting of New Covenant Presbytery about a week from now on Saturday, November 13. The packet for the meeting is available online at www.pbyofnewcovenant.org. All St. John's volunteers that day will wear red shirts. Please sign up on the sheet provided at the Stewardship Dedication Brunch this Sunday after worship. We need your help to make this happen. If you have questions about the meeting you may speak to Bill Ehrenstrom or Mary Hughes as they are coordinating the effort.
There is a wonderful article in this month's AARP Bulletin which mentions Braes Interfaith Ministries.
You may also read the article on-line by going to www.aarpbulletin.org. Then, scroll down and on the left-hand side is the "latest state news" and click on Texas. The article should appear on the first page.
Our prayers are with George as he recovers from major surgery last weekend. He has been in ICU at MD Anderson this week. Keep George and Linda and their family in prayer during this difficult time of recovery.
We continue to remember Lois in prayer as she undergoes chemotherapy. Sally and Pauline have been leading the congregation's effort to support Lois.
Keep Shirley Boyd in prayer as she continues to regain her strength and mobility after a spinal laminectomy surgery.
We had a great "Trunk R Treat" event last Sunday. Several new families from the community were introduced to St. John's through this event. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. I thought David Nelson's caricature of me was well done. That was only one of several different activities available from "Goin' Fishin" to "Pumpkin Toss" to "Apple Bobbing." Thanks to all who helped make this event a success.
In light of Stewardship season, consider this parable from Anthony De Mello in his book One Minute Wisdom:
"How would spirituality help a man of the world like me?" said the businessman.
"It will help you to have more," said the Master.
"How?"
"By teaching you to desire less."
Peace of Christ be with you,
Pastor Jon
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