Thanks to Kay for these beautiful Chili Cook-Off photos. If you click on the slide show icon at the top left of the page linked there you can see the photos in sequence at a full screen view.
Last night we had a powerful Ash Wednesday Service during which we burned our sins in the courtyard and had the ashes imposed on our foreheads. This service had a purging effect that is very welcome at this time of year. One leaves the service feeling cleansed of sinfulness and forgiven by God. It was great to have the choir sing this year. Thanks to all who attended and those who assisted in various ways.
With that service, Lent 2011 is officially underway. My goodness, how time flies. Speaking of which, Lent is a good time to settle into a new routine of sorts however that works for you. Take on a new spiritual disciple such as fasting or getting a message every week. Perhaps you will find a new way to drive to work or home from the grocery store. We know one change we may expect is that time will spring forward one hour as daylight savings time begins this Sunday, March 13. So move your clocks ahead one hour this Saturday so you won't be late for church.
Next week is spring break so we applaud all our school children and college students. We also remember their parents and teachers. Especially we remember in prayer the public school administrators who will be making tough decisions about which positions to cut as they deal with a dwindling budget for next year. We live in interesting times to say the least.
The ongoing revolutions and civil wars in the Middle East give us some hope for the people there who want to find a way out of living under dictators who have too often been supported by our own government. I know some of African families in the congregation are hoping and praying that the revolutions in Northern Africa will trickle further down in Africa into Ghana, Uganda, and Cameroon. Sudan has already been divided into two and the Ators are hopeful about that new development. Let's keep our African brothers and sisters in prayer and ask God to continue to move and direct the precious people who live there.
Remember Kathie Hartzog's family in prayer. Her step dad passed away Tuesday and the service is Saturday at Lone Pine Baptist Church in Palestine, Texas.
Congratulations to Pam and John William Herlitz upon the birth of their son, Luke at Women's Hospital in Houston this morning! Mary Herlitz is a proud grandparent. A rose bud in the sanctuary in Luke's honor will be forthcoming on March 20.
Congratulations also to Libby and James Adams upon the birth of their granddaughter, Kylie Marie Rocha, who was born Feb. 22, 2011, in Fort Worth. Kylie's rose bud will be on display this Sunday.
Last weekend some of our Presbytery Youth Council members led a successful Conclaves Youth Retreat at Camp ChoYeh in Livingston, Texas. We appreciate the leadership of Mary Sterner, Jon Yingst, Brittney, Brendan and Wayne in this important work. Our other adults and youth who participated in Conclaves this year include Dave, Christianna, Colette, Jacob and Zarek.
This Sunday is the First Sunday of Lent. We will be talking about Jesus' temptation in the wilderness. The sermon text is Matthew 4:1-11 and the title is Lead Us Not into Temptation. Jesus once used that phrase in a prayer. I think the key to this text is not what it says about Jesus or the devil but what it says about you and me and that is what we will be seeking to discover during worship this Sunday.
Peace of Christ be with you,
Pastor Jon
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St. John's Presbyterian Church
5020 West Bellfort / Houston, TX 77035
T. 713.723.6262 / F. 713.723-4015 / Email: office.sjpc@gmail.com
Worship Service: Sunday, 10:30 am / Sunday School: 9:00 am
