By Jon Burnham
•
February 4, 2026
The Epistle for February 4, 2026 St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Houston By Pastor Jon Burnham Dear St. John’s Family, Lent is a solemn Christian observance of a 40-day period of prayer, fasting, and reflection in preparation for the celebration of Easter. The English word "Lent" comes from the Old English word lencten, which means "spring season," a fitting name for a time that points to the spiritual springtime of Christ's resurrection. In other languages, like the Spanish Cuaresma or the Greek Sarakostí, the name is derived from the word for "forty," referencing the length of the season. The whole point of this period is to prepare us to be renewed in the reality of God's love and plan. The 40-day timeframe has deep biblical foundations, echoing the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert while enduring temptation before beginning his public ministry. This number is also emphasized in the Old Testament through the stories of Noah's flood, the Israelites' 40 years in the wilderness, and the 40-day fasts of the prophets Moses and Elijah. While early Christian practices of fasting before Easter can be traced to the Apostolic Age, the 40-day tradition was well-established by the time of the Council of Nicea in 325 AD and quickly became a general practice churchwide. Early observance focused on strict fasting, often only consuming one meal a day, with Sundays being excluded as perennial days of celebration. Today, Lent is a time to make dramatic changes to focus on our need for Christ and enter a metaphorical "wilderness experience". It encourages the ancient three-fold formula of penitence: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. By giving something up, or taking on a spiritual discipline, Christians can focus on recognizing the depth of their need for a Savior. This season of self-denial and repentance culminates in Holy Week, preparing the hearts and minds of the faithful for the unparalleled joy and transformation of the Lord's Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Our observance of Lent begins with an Ash Wednesday Service at 7 PM on February 18 . May the Lord prepare our hearts for the holy season of Lent. Peace, Pastor Jon Important Notice: McPhail Hall Temporarily Closed This past Sunday, we discovered that several ceiling tiles had fallen in McPhail Hall. Unfortunately, additional tiles fell later in the week. While we have cleaned the area and secured the immediate surroundings, our top priority is the safety of our congregation and guests. Therefore, all events scheduled in McPhail Hall are canceled until further notice while we investigate the cause and ensure the space is fully safe for use. We apologize for the inconvenience and will provide updates as soon as we know more. Men's Group: Church Work Day on February 7 The Men’s Group is planning a church work day on 7 Feb 9am to 12pm ahead of the large trash day on 11 Feb. There are a number of tasks we are considering – cleaning out the work shed, the Bldg 1 boiler room, and the sanctuary air handler room; organizing the file cabinets in the computer room; and continuing to replace the florescent lights with LED lights in Bldg 2. All are welcome to come help. Souper Bowl of Caring: Tackling Hunger Together Offering Received February 8 Join us in the fight against hunger on Sunday, February 8 , for our annual Souper Bowl of Caring. We will collect a special offering in the narthex immediately following worship, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to support the local food pantry at BIM. You can contribute by check made payable to St. John's (please note "Souper Bowl" in the memo line) or via Zelle to accounts@stjohnspresby.org . Let’s team up to make a real difference for our neighbors in need! Master Your iPhone with Friends United! Thursday, February 12 The group formerly known as Keenagers has a new name— Friends United —and they are kicking things off with a fantastic event! Join us on Thursday, February 12 , for a helpful session titled "How to Use Your iPhone.” Whether you're struggling to find your apps or just want to learn some new tricks, this is the perfect opportunity to learn in a relaxed, supportive setting. After we master our technology, we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch and wonderful fellowship. For more information or to sign up, please see Virginia Krueger or Marie Kutz . Don’t miss this chance to get connected—both with your phone and your church family! Session Members Retreat: Systems vs. Goals Saturday, February 14, 2026 | 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM Session Room ~~> Lunch Included On Saturday, February 14 , our Session will gather for a retreat focused on a critical shift in leadership: moving from "goals" to “systems." This workshop will explore the theological distinction between fixating on outcomes and being faithful to a process. The morning will feature a teaching on why Scripture calls us to faithfulness while entrusting the results to God. We will then break into small groups to take common church goals—like attendance or giving—and redesign them as sustainable systems that run faithfully whether we are paying attention or not. We ask for your prayers as our leadership team gathers to do this important work. Welcome New Member: Carolyn McEathron Carolyn was introduced to St. John’s by her friend Gerry Jump. Carolyn has already become a familiar face, worshipping with us for months and experiencing the care of this community at recent weddings and memorial services. She joins by Transfer of Letter from Christchurch Methodist Church in Sugar Land, Texas.Welcome to St. John's, Carolyn. May the Lord meet you here. We are thrilled to welcome you, Carolyn, and we look forward to serving alongside you as we continue to turn our hearts outward to the world. Men of the Church The next meeting of the Men of the Church will be 4 February at 6:30 PM in the Session Room. Come for a time of study and service projects that benefit the church. Confirmation Class The Christian Education Committee is prepared to offer a Confirmation class for interested teens between the ages of 13 and 18. The purpose of this class is to equip students for Confirmation and full membership in the church. Instruction will cover topics such as Christian theology, the Bible, and the Presbyterian tradition. The course consists of approximately twelve two-hour sessions, which will be scheduled based on the availability of both teachers and participants. The class will be led by Bill Ehrenstrom and Mary Gaber. Those interested are encouraged to contact Mary Gaber at 713-204-1613 via phone or text for more information. Quarterly Bible Study: Salvation Mark your calendars for our next Quarterly Bible Study on Saturday, March 21, 2026 . Join us from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. as Bill Ehrenstrom leads us in a deep dive into the topic of “Salvation." This is a wonderful opportunity to grow in your faith and connect with others in the church family. Sign-ups will be available soon in the Narthex and online. We hope to see you there! Escape to Mo-Ranch: Young Adult Retreat March 20 – 22, 2026 Join Mo-Ranch for a refreshing weekend of connection and spiritual renewal! The agenda blends faith and fun, featuring engaging small groups, worship, and a keynote speaker alongside a pickleball tournament, ropes course, riverfront activities, and yoga. All-Inclusive Rates (Tuition, Meals, & Housing) - Hotel: $450 (Single) | $350 (Double) - Group Housing: $300 Commuter: $200. MoRanch will contact you after registration to confirm roommates and dietary needs. Scholarships are available! Contact the church office for scholarship information. Thank you from Shirley Boyd and Family We want to convey our gratitude for the many prayers and kind expressions of sympathy after the death of my eldest sister, Audrey Moore Maley, age 92, on December 20, 2025, in Iola, Kansas. I was grateful to be able to fly to Kansas for her celebration of life on Dec. 29 and to be able to sing "The Old Rugged Cross" with my youngest sister, Vicki, during the service, as Audrey had requested, and to be surrounded by so many members of our immediate extended family and of the neighbors and friends Audrey had known in the 85 years she resided in Allen County. Thank your very much for caring! ~ Shirley Boyd and Family Update from Linda Dobbin Linda writes to express her enduring love for St. John’s, her church home of 46 years where she and George raised their family. Now living in Austin near her daughter, she deeply misses the congregation and Pastor Burnham. She assures everyone of her daily prayers and warmly invites friends to visit. Linda, we send our love and deepest appreciation, wishing you God’s continued blessings. Prayer List With hearts united in hope, we lift these names into the healing presence of God. We pray for the family of Sue Benn who died last week. Arrangements will be shared when announced by the family. Rodney Dodson, friend of Donna Fraser, health Nijel Bennet-LaGrone, health Jennifer and Gareld (friends of a church member) Summer Pavani, Deena Ghattas and Chris Hanneken, Health concerns (friends of Lisa Sparaco) Mike Swint in the loss of his sister, Chris Borton Family and friends of Christine Perci (friend of Pete and Grace Sparaco) Tom Edmondson, recovering from spinal surgery Holly Darr, health concerns Karen Alsbrook, health Kelsey Wiltz, health concerns Glen Risley, health concerns Madalyn Rodgers, Kathleen Captain's sister Joe Sanford, Scott Moore and Alice Rubio Those looking for a job St. Johns College Students Raina Bailey and the families in our PCHAS homes One Hope Preschool families and staff Happy Birthday Simone Westmoreland (Feb 3) Grace Sparaco (Feb 4) Robert Boyd (Feb 6) Harriet Harper (Feb 8) Teresa Darr (Feb 11) Kristi Edmonsond (Feb 13) Joe Sanford (Feb 14) Ken Krueger (Feb 15) Brad Urquhart (Feb 17) Omar Ayah (Feb 20) Benjamin Jump (Feb 23) Asher Caspa (Feb 25) Alina Klimaszewska (Feb 26) Shirley Boyd (Feb 27) Diane Ragan (Feb 28) Shadai Noon-Adams (Feb 28) Church Calendar Wednesday, February 4 6:30 pm Men’s Group, Session Room Thursday, February 5 5:00 pm Exercise Class in Building 2 Saturday, February 7 9:00 am Church Work Day Sunday, February 8, 5 th Sunday after Epiphany 9:30 am Sunday School for Adults, Lectionary, Session Room 11:00 am Worship Service, live in sanctuary and on Facebook 12:00 pm Christian Education and Fellowship and Caring Committee Meeting, Room 203 Upcoming Events Monday, January 26, 11 am, Healing Hearts, Room 202 Friday, February 6, Pinewood Derby Set-Up, McPhail Saturday, February 7, Pack 8 Pinewood Derby Sunday, February 22 , Faith in Action Committee meets in the Session Room after Sunday service Saturday, March 21, Quarterly Bible Study 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. in the Session Room with lunch in McPhail Hall Sunday, May 31 , CE Brunch (Senior Sunday/Teacher Appreciation) in McPhail Hall after worship Saturday, June 29 , Quarterly Bible Study (new format for all ages) – 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. in Bldg. 2 and McPhail Hall Church Calendar Online For other dates, see St. John’s Calendar online: www.stjohnspresby.org/events
