The Epistle
February 25, 2026
A Word from Pastor Jon
Dear St. John’s Family,
Last Sunday we began our Lenten journey with the theme Wilderness Sabbath, stepping into the strange, honest terrain Scripture calls the desert.
We listened to Hagar wandering under a brutal sky in Genesis, and to Jesus fasting in the Judean wild. Both stories carry the same quiet truth. The wilderness is not always a stretch of sand. Sometimes it is a stretch of life. A season that takes away our noise and props and leaves us face to face with what is real.
These seasons feel unwanted. Yet the Gospels say the Spirit led Jesus there. Which means the desert is not abandoned ground. It is a place where God works on the soul with a kind of fierce tenderness, clearing vision and strengthening trust.
One image stayed with us.
Beer Lahai Roi, the well of the Living One who sees me. Hagar only noticed the water when she had nothing left to spend. The well had been there all along. That is often how grace behaves. We discover it in the exact terrain we wished to avoid.
We named the pull toward shortcuts. The urge to force bread from stones. The temptation to act faithful when the heart feels dry. Instead, we practiced another posture. Trusting that God is already present in silence, in waiting rooms, in long transitions that refuse tidy endings.
For us at St. John’s, this also shapes how we live together. We learn to notice one another in desert seasons. We show up without requiring polish. When we speak honestly about our own hard landscapes, something unexpected happens. We become small wells for each other. Places of recognition and refreshment.
This week, try sitting gently with whatever in your life feels barren or exposed. Hold it before God and ask, “What do you see here that I cannot yet see?” Stay there a moment. The well may be closer than you think.
Peace,
Pastor Jon
Lenten Arts Series
St. John’s Presbyterian Church is honored to host
The Polish Duo for a special afternoon of music on
Sunday, March 1 at 4:00 PM. Violinist
Dominika Dancewicz and pianist
Alina Klimaszewska will present
“The Lark Ascending: Earth’s Song of Resilience,” a beautiful and moving program featuring music by Josef Suk, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Roger Quilter, and Edvard Grieg. They will be joined by tenor
Mark Swindler for this inspiring performance.
Join us at
St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 5020 W. Bellfort Ave., for an afternoon of artistry, reflection, and music that lifts the spirit.
New Lenten Book Study on Forgiveness
Jesus commanded us to forgive. Yet many times this process is a difficult one to commence: whether it is forgiveness of another, forgiveness of self, or seeking forgiveness from someone.
We stumble and find ways to circumvent Jesus’ desire for us. Beginning
February 22, 2026 at 1:30pm, the Sunday Book Study group will step into our lenten journey by studying Adam Hamilton’s book entitled:
Forgiveness; Finding Peace Through Letting Go. Renowned author and theologian, Hamilton has tackled this topic with grace and compassion offering direct and biblically based wisdom and advice in his book.
Everyone is encouraged and welcome to join this gathering for lively discussion and meaningful connection - all from the comfort of your home via Zoom. Contact Lynne Parsons Austin at lynnep@sbcglobal.net for the link to join. Books are available at Amazon.com,
christianbook.com or local bookstores.
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 of the Church
The next meeting of the Men of the Church will be 4 March 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
Perhaps the most important question we can ask ourselves is whether we are saved. Paul tells us: “5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves.” (2 Corinthians 13:5). And Peter tells us: “. . . be even more diligent to make your call and election sure . . .” (2 Peter 1:10). But saved from what? What does it mean to be saved?
The Christian Education Committee is offering a time for us to explore what is meant by biblical salvation. We will cover the following topics:
- What is salvation?
- How are we saved?
- Can we have assurance of our salvation?
- Can we lose our salvation?
- How should salvation manifest itself in our lives?
The class will be on Saturday, 28 Mar from 8:30am to 2:00pm. Lunch will be provided. A sign up roster is in the narthex. Please sign up so we know how many people for materials and lunch. Hope to see you there!
Christian Education Committee
The next Christian Committee Meeting is Sunday, March 8, at noon.
Find Out More about St. John's
At St. John's Presbyterian in Houston, we're not the polished megachurch with fog machines and perfect families. We're real people bringing our real mess to a real God who keeps His promises even when we don't.
If you're curious what that looks like in practice, I've written some honest reflections about our community:
- Why St. John's Presbyterian Stands Out,
- Imperfect Faith in Houston, and
- What Makes Our Worship Unique.
Come see what happens when a church stops pretending and starts remembering that grace is the whole point.
