Dear church members and friends of St. John's,
The newest edition of The Beacon is online here.
Our presbytery provides a weekly email newsletter called "Tuesday Connect." You may sign up to receive it each week by typing your email address in the box on the lower left of this page where it says "Sign Up for Our Email Newsletter" and then click "Go." If you would like to see some back issues before subscribing then click here . "Tuesday Connect" is a great way to stay abreast of people and events in New Covenant Presbytery.
Our Session has a called meeting next Wednesday at 7:30 pm in the Session Room to consider submitting a proposal for a New Life Grant Fund from the presbytery. The grant proposal will be based on Reggie McNeal's book Missional Renaissance: Changing the Scorecard for the Church.
Former PC(USA) Moderator, Bruce Reyes-Chow, will speak this Saturday, February 26, from 9-11:30 am at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 4200 Cartwright Road in Missouri City. His topic will be "The Church of the 21st Century" and he will allow some time for questions and response. Bruce was the youngest moderator as well as the first to use social media to its fullest during his time as moderator. He is also the organizing pastor of Mission Bay Community Church in San Francisco. His passion is reaching unchurched young adults with the gospel of Christ. He is technologically savvy and very knowledgeable of both the PCUSA and the emerging church. He can also address issues of immigrant ministries and multicultural church. By all means, attend if you are interested and able.
Remember in prayer our hospitalized members including Georgiana, Lee and Doug. Also remember Rev. Scott Harbison, pastor of nearby St. Luke's Presbyterian, who had triple by-pass surgery yesterday at Methodist Hospital. Kathie Hartzog's father has been put on Hospice Care so keep her family in prayer. Also, remember Mary Sterner and our youth group members and adult advisers who will be at Camp ChoYeh this weekend for Conclaves.
Our sermon text this Sunday is Matthew 6:24-34. Here Jesus says: "No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." (Matthew 6:24) This is not exactly true. One slave can serve two masters at the same time but he can't serve two masters WELL at the same time for their orders are likely to be in conflict. One master may want the slave to make his bed at 9 am while the other master wants the slave to clean up his kitchen at 9 am. (All this talk of slaves and masters reminds me of Bob Dylan's song: "Maggie's Farm!) The point is that the marching orders of God and wealth are in entirely different directions.
In the end, Jesus comes down on the side of seeking first God's Kingdom and "all these things will be added unto you." That's why I'm calling the sermon "Worry Free Living." No doubt that is easier said than done. So how are you doing with worry this week? Is worry weighing you down? If so, look up. Take a different perspective. See the pain and problems of someone else and your own will recede.
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
