The Epistle
for January 28, 2026
Dear St. John’s Family,
If you are reading this from somewhere cold and dark, I want you to hear this first. You are not alone.
The winter storm that swept across our country this past week has been one of the most severe many of us have ever seen. Although Houston was relatively untouched, other cities were severely damaged. Ice weighed down trees and power lines. Roads became skating rinks. Hundreds of thousands of people were left without electricity, heat, or safe ways to travel. In some places, help simply could not get through.
I have been thinking about friends and former congregations as this storm unfolded. In Kennett, Missouri, familiar streets disappeared under ice and snow. In Batesville, Mississippi, cars were stranded on frozen highways with no way for emergency crews to reach them. In Jackson, Tennessee, reports came in of widespread ice damage, prolonged outages, and neighborhoods cut off from one another. Nashville was hit hard. And here in Texas, the cold crept farther south than anyone expected, stirring memories many of us would rather forget.
Those of us who lived through the 2021 freeze know how quickly fear can set in when the lights go out and the temperature drops. As a congregation that rebuilt our sanctuary after Hurricane Harvey, we also know what it means to face nature’s force and slowly, faithfully, find our way forward again.
Storms have a way of telling the truth about us.
I keep returning to a scene from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 4. The disciples are in a boat, far from shore, when a violent storm blows in. Waves crash over the sides. Water fills the boat. And Jesus is asleep in the stern. In panic they wake him, crying out, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
Jesus rises, speaks to the wind and the sea, and there is a great calm. Then he asks a question that still unsettles us. “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?”
For years I read that story as a lesson about individual trust. Just believe harder. Just be less afraid. But the older I get, the more I notice something quieter and more important. The disciples were in the boat together. No one faced that storm alone. And Jesus was with them the whole time, even when it felt like he was absent or unaware.
That is what church is meant to be.
Across this storm, more than two hundred million people in over thirty states were affected by snow, ice, and extreme cold. In some regions, ice reached an inch thick. Power outages stretched on for days, with warnings that repairs in the hardest hit areas could take weeks. Tragically, lives were lost to exposure and accidents related to the cold. These are not abstract numbers. They represent real people, sitting in dark homes, wrapped in blankets, hoping morning comes soon.
If that is you, please hear this. Your church family is praying for you. We are holding you in our hearts and asking God for protection, restoration, and peace. And if you need help, reach out. Faith was never meant to be practiced in isolation.
Storms reveal who we really are. They show us what we value, who we notice, and whether our faith remains only words or becomes action. They also remind us of a deeper truth. God does not promise us a life without storms. God promises presence in the midst of them.
If you do not currently have a church home, know that you are welcome at St. John’s. We gather for worship at 11:00 AM on Sunday mornings at 5020 West Bellfort Avenue here in Houston. Come as you are. We do not expect perfection. We expect real people, bringing real lives, trusting a real God.
And if you are reading this from a cold and quiet house, hang on. The storm will pass. The sun will rise again. Calm will come, sometimes suddenly, sometimes slowly. Until then, remember this. You are not forgotten. You are not alone in the boat.
Peace,
Pastor Jon
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
When Luke tells the story of the early church in Acts 2, he never mentions their goals. He names their practices. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). Devoted means steady, not flashy. Not a burst of energy. A way of life. And what followed? “The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). Growth was not the target. Growth was the byproduct.
Most churches today run on goals. More members. Higher giving. Better attendance. We sprint toward numbers, celebrate or sigh, and then ask what we are supposed to chase next. It can feel like trying to keep a balloon in the air with a fly swatter.
Systems thinking flips the question. Instead of asking, “What do we want to achieve?” it asks, “What are we willing to do faithfully, even when results are slow or invisible?” Goals create pressure. Systems create habits. Habits shape culture. Culture shapes fruit.
Think of a house. You can set a goal to clean it once a week and dread Saturday. Or you can build a system of fifteen minutes a day and barely notice the mess. Same house. Very different soul.
At our February retreat, Session will explore seven core church systems: Worship, Hospitality, Discipleship, Care, Mission, Communication, and Leadership Development.
We will look honestly at how St. John’s is doing in each area. Not to scold ourselves, but to notice patterns. We will choose at least one system to strengthen in the months ahead. This is not about adding more programs. It is about making what we already do more faithful, more repeatable, and more human.
The early church did not aim at 3,000 converts. They aimed at teaching, table, prayer, and shared life. God aimed the results.
Session members, please mark your calendars and plan to join us for this retreat. We will eat together, think together, and ask one good question: What kind of church would grow naturally from the way we actually live?
Session members, please mark your calendars and plan to join us for this important conversation about how we can serve our congregation and community more faithfully.
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.
She said St. John's is worth the drive because we are a mission focused church, outward facing, instead of being inward focused and offering program after program after program to church members like some other churches.
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
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! [Click here to register.]
