The Epistle
St. John's Presbyterian Church in Houston
August 19, 2026
Dear friends,
Thank you to everyone who worshiped with us Sunday as we opened Letters from Prison. Paul wrote to his friends from a jail cell, a place most of us would call a dead end. Paul saw it differently. He could say that what had happened to him had actually advanced the gospel.
That word carries some weight. We prefer our faith with the furniture arranged neatly and the doors unlocked. Paul gives us a sturdier hope. God can work through circumstances that feel limiting, disappointing, or painfully unfair. A prison cell had no final word. The gospel kept moving, carried by a man whose own freedom had been taken away. Paul had a rather inconvenient habit of finding grace where everyone else saw only trouble.
It was a joy to welcome Chase Dowell into membership. We are grateful for the faith, gifts, and presence Chase brings to our church family. Membership means walking together in worship and in the ordinary work of faith. We are glad Chase is with us.
This Sunday, Rev. Linda Herron will preach and lead worship while I am away on vacation. I will be in Madison, Mississippi, celebrating my mother’s 90th birthday at her church. Ninety years is a long road, and I am thankful for the chance to pause and honor the woman who has walked it.
Please welcome Linda warmly and worship with open hearts. I will be away from this Saturday, August 22 until Saturday, August 29. I look forward to being back in worship on August 30.
Peace,
Pastor Jon
Welcome New Member:
Chase Dowell
At our August Session meeting we received a new member, Chase Dowell. He joins us by transfer of letter from Bethel Presbyterian Church in West Columbia, Texas. Chase was welcomed during worship on August 16. Please introduce yourself when you see him.
Greeters and Ushers Needed
Calling all smiling faces to serve the Lord as greeters and ushers! The Worship Committee is looking for volunteers to enter the ministry of greeting and ushering during our Sunday morning Worship services. It is a great way to meet folks in the church and to practice your gifts of hospitality and friendship. Participation is on a rotating basis and the schedule will accommodate those times that you will not be able to serve due to a conflict. Contact Lynne Parsons Austin for more information. Your energy and smiling face is needed.
Video Ministry Wants You
If you enjoy operating computers and video equipment, join the Video Ministry! Help enhance the Worship service by operating the slide show presentation and our video camera for our online guests. Training provided. Contact Lynne Parsons Austin for more information.
Accessibility for the Entire Body of Christ
The Presbytery of New Covenant invites us to a workshop on Saturday, September 19, at Pines Presbyterian Church. What does it mean for a church to be truly welcoming? The day offers practical ways to welcome and accommodate people with a wide range of abilities and experiences, including neurodiversity, physical disabilities, deaf and hard-of-hearing members, people living with dementia and Alzheimer's, and people from many cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Congregations from across the presbytery will gather for a day of learning, conversation, and ideas we can carry home.
Lunch is provided and the event is free. Registration information is coming soon. Save the date.
Welcome to Our College Ministry
We are delighted to welcome Amelia Nox to our college ministry program. Amelia is a junior at Texas Tech and the granddaughter of Doug and Theresa Darr, and some of us remember her from her Sunday school days at St. John's. With her addition, we now have eleven college adults in our ministry this academic year. Please keep Amelia and all our college students in your prayers as the new school year begins.
New 2026 Income Tax Deduction for Non-Itemizers
This information is for learning purposes only. It is not income tax advice of any form.
The government says most of us do not itemize deductions on income tax. Those who use the "standard deduction" method are non-itemizers.
This is the new "Charitable Deduction for Non-Itemizers:" Up to $1000 each to a valid charity...$2000 for a married couple.
One online search is "Can Retirees Use the Non-Itemizer Charitable Deduction?" Another is "Charitable Deduction for Non-Itemizers."
If you give to charities in 2026, keep the "contemporaneous written acknowledgment" receipt that they send to you, and keep your check copy. This will be useful when doing '26 taxes.
Schools, churches & religious groups are valid charities. Our church has particular charity groups that we support. Ask your charity if they are a "valid" 501 C3 charity. Get the mailing address, and make your donation.
Remember that there's another way for non-itemizer seniors to give and deduct for gifts to charities...the RMD feature named QCD. Look that up.
Enjoy good searching, good giving and good deducting.
Dan Herron
Mustard Seed Project: Thank You!
Our Summer Mustard Seed Project raised $1,105 to provide school supplies for PCHAS families. On behalf of the children and their families, the Faith in Action Committee thanks you for your generosity.
Faith in Action Committee Meets September 6
The Faith in Action Committee will meet on Sunday, September 6, after worship. All are welcome.
Healing Service August 30
On Sunday, August 30, we will include a Healing Service during worship. After the sermon, you may come forward for anointing with oil and prayers for healing in all its many forms: physical, emotional, relational, financial, and more.
Church Phone Update
We have had issues with our church phone. An AT&T technician repaired the circuit earlier this month. Although the line is working, we are still working to get the correct number restored. In the meantime, you may call the church office at
(713) 993-6412.
Thank you for your patience.
Air Conditioning Working Again in McPhail Hall
The air conditioning in McPhail Hall is working again. The repair should hold us for the short term, and we will let you know if that changes. Thank you for your patience through the warm weeks.
Men's Group Meets Tonight
Join us for the Men's Group meeting Wednesday, August 19, at 6:30 p.m. in the Session Room.
We’ll review ongoing tasks, so we hope to see you there!
Healing Hearts
Led by Lisa Sparaco, a licensed clinical social worker and member of our church, Healing Hearts offers a safe, faith-filled place for those walking through grief. The group gathers in the Prayer Room of the Church Office Building to share stories, receive encouragement, and walk together through seasons of loss. As a ministry of St. John’s, its focus is care, prayer, and the comfort of Christian community.
Upcoming Healing Hearts Meetings
- Monday, August 31st, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Prayer List
With hearts united in hope, we lift these names into the healing presence of God.
- Brad, health concerns
- Lisa, health concerns
- Sandy, health concerns
- Patti, health concerns
- Alice's grandson, Marc, health concerns
- Cathy, Cindy Bergman’s sister, health
- Gayle Morales, friend of Alice Rubio, recovering from hip surgery
- Jessica Ivete Robles, friend of Alice Rubio, awaiting a kidney transplant
- Phyllis Freeman, receiving hospice care in the Dallas area
- Tom Edmondson and Kristi, his caregiver
- Kelsey Wiltz, health concerns
- Scott Moore
- Alice Rubio
- St. John’s college students
- Raina Bailey and the families in our PCHAS homes
- One Hope Preschool families and staff
How Can We Pray for You?
If you would like to add a name to the prayer list or keep a current name listed, please reply to this email and let us know. Thank you for helping us care for one another through prayer.
Happy Birthday
Carolyn Assaad and Shannon Kwende (August 20)
Toren Hughes, Ann Nelson and Christopher Bbale (August 31)
Happy Anniversary
Ken and Virginia Krueger (August 24)
Church Calendar
Wednesday, August 19
- 6:30 pm Men's Group, Session Room
Thursday, August 20
- 5:00 pm Exercise Class in Building 2
Sunday, August 23, 13th Sunday after Pentecost
- 9:30 am Sunday School for Adults, Systematic Theology, Session Room
- 11:00 am Worship Service, live in sanctuary and on Facebook
- 1:30 pm Book Study on Zoom
Coming Events
- Wed, Aug 19, Men's Group, 6:30 pm
- Sun, Aug 30, Healing Service in Worship
- Mon, Aug 31, Healing Hearts, 11 am
- Sun, Sep 6, Faith in Action Committee, after worship
- Sat, Sep 19, Accessibility Workshop at Pines Presbyterian
- Thurs, Oct 1, BIM Gala
- Thurs, Nov 26, Thanksgiving
- Fri, Dec 25, Christmas
Church Calendar Online
