Life Together at St. John’s
Dear friends,
One of the quiet blessings of belonging to a church is that life does not have to be carried alone. In every season there are moments of joy, learning, service, and sometimes moments when someone in our church family needs extra care. When a congregation is healthy, all of those things weave together into the shared life of the community.
You will see that spirit throughout this week’s Epistle.
Right now our congregation is rallying around Scenacia Jones and her family as her son Nyjel faces increased health challenges. Members of the church are organizing a Food Train so that meals can help lighten the family’s load during this difficult time. It is a simple but powerful expression of Christian love. When meals appear at a door, people are reminded that they are not facing hard days by themselves.
This week also includes opportunities for fellowship and learning. Friends United will gather for lunch and conversation as Mary Gaber shares practical wisdom about gardening, and later in the month the Christian Education Committee will host a Quarterly Bible Study on Salvation, exploring one of the most important questions of the Christian faith.
Our Lenten season continues with several meaningful gatherings. The Sunday Book Study group is reflecting on forgiveness through Adam Hamilton’s book, while our Lenten Arts Series concert, “Reveries,” will fill the sanctuary with beautiful cello and piano music by Debussy, Kodály, and Franck. Sacred music has a way of opening the heart and inviting quiet reflection during this season of preparation.
You will also read about the beginning of a new effort called Elder Shepherding Circles, where our elders will stay in regular contact with members of the congregation simply to listen, pray, and remain connected. It is a small practice that strengthens the bonds of the church.
There is also good news from our Community Garden Work Day, where volunteers gathered last Saturday to prepare the soil for a new growing season. Thanks to the leadership of Mary Gaber and the hard work of many hands, the donation beds are now ready to grow vegetables that will be shared with neighbors through Braes Interfaith Ministries.
You will also find updates about our Healing Hearts grief support ministry, upcoming gatherings like Men of the Church, a notice about McPhail Hall, and several opportunities for service and connection including the upcoming PCHAS luncheon.
Taken together, these small moments tell the story of a living church. People helping one another. People learning together. People praying, serving, and sharing life.
That is the quiet work of a faithful congregation.
Peace,
Pastor Jon
Food Train for Scenacia Jones’ Family
One of the quiet strengths of a real church community is that when someone is struggling, people step in and help. Meals appear. Prayers rise. The burden becomes shared.
Right now, Scenacia Jones’ son Nyjel is experiencing increased health problems, and the family is carrying a heavy load. Our congregation is organizing a Food Train so that meals can be delivered to help support them during this difficult time.
If you would like to help, you can sign up to provide a meal for the family. It is a simple act of kindness that can make a long week much easier for someone walking through a hard season.
To participate, please sign up using the link below or contact:
Mindi Stanley
mstanley@bcm.edu
832-247-4086
Use this link to sign up for the Food Train for Scenacia Jones’ family.
Friends United Luncheon:
"Gardening 101"
presentation by Mary Gaber
Thursday, March 12,
11 AM, Session Room
Join us for our next gathering of St. John’s Friends United. Bring a sack lunch and enjoy drinks and dessert provided by the church.
Our guest speaker will be Mary Gaber, Master Gardener, who will share insights and practical wisdom from her experience working with plants and gardens.
It promises to be a warm time of fellowship, learning, and conversation. All are welcome!
Lenten Arts Series Concert: “Reveries”
On Sunday, March 15 at 4:00 p.m., St. John’s will host a beautiful afternoon of music as part of our Lenten Arts Series. The program, titled Reveries: Transportive Music for Cello and Piano, will feature pianist Yvonne Chen and cellist David Dietz performing works by Debussy, Kodály, and Franck.
A cello and piano duo creates one of the most expressive combinations in chamber music. The piano provides the harmonic landscape while the cello sings with a voice that often feels almost human in its warmth and depth. Together they create music that moves from quiet reflection to sweeping emotion, which makes this pairing especially fitting for the Lenten season.
The program includes music by Claude Debussy, whose compositions often feel like musical paintings. His writing for cello and piano flows with color and atmosphere, inviting the listener into a dreamy, reflective sound world. Zoltán Kodály’s music brings a different energy, drawing from Hungarian folk traditions and giving the cello a powerful, earthy voice full of rhythm and vitality. The program also features music by César Franck, whose romantic style is known for its rich harmonies and sweeping melodic lines that unfold with deep emotional beauty.
Concerts like this remind us that sacred space can also be a place where art speaks to the soul. In the quiet of the sanctuary, music has a way of opening the heart and inviting reflection, which makes it a perfect companion for the Lenten journey.
Admission is free, and donations are appreciated. We hope you will join us for what promises to be a truly moving afternoon of music here at St. John’s.
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!
Elder Shepherding Circles update
Earlier this year our Session spent time at a retreat reflecting on what kind of church St. John’s is called to be. One conviction kept rising to the surface. We want to be a congregation where people are genuinely known and cared for, not just greeted on Sunday morning.
Out of that conversation the Session has begun what we are calling Elder Shepherding Circles.
Each elder has been given a small group of households in the congregation. Their simple task is to stay in touch. About once a month an elder may send a text message, make a phone call, write an email, or even drop a note in the mail. The message is very simple: we are thinking about you, we are praying for you, and we want to stay connected.
This is not a fundraising effort and it is not a way to recruit people for committees. It is simply pastoral care. In the early church, elders were called to shepherd the flock and care for the people entrusted to them. That calling remains part of the church’s life today.
You may hear from your elder in different ways depending on what works best for you. Some people enjoy a phone call. Others prefer a quick text or email. Your elder will gradually learn what form of communication you prefer.
At the same time, we recognize that every member relates to church life a little differently. Some people appreciate a regular monthly check-in. Others prefer more privacy and would rather not be contacted regularly. Both responses are perfectly fine.
This is a fluid process and we will adapt as we learn what works best for our congregation. The goal is simply to make sure everyone in our church knows that someone is paying attention and praying for them.
If an elder reaches out and you would prefer not to receive monthly contact, you can simply let them know. There will be no pressure. On the other hand, if you have not been contacted yet and would appreciate being included in the Shepherding Circles, please let me know and we will gladly make sure someone connects with you soon.
A church becomes stronger when people are known by name and cared for in ordinary moments of life. These Elder Shepherding Circles are one small step in that direction.
Peace,
Pastor Jon
Cultivating Kindness in Our Community Garden
Last Saturday morning something wonderful happened in our church garden.
A group of St. John’s members gathered for our Community Garden Work Day, and the result was a joyful morning of fellowship, fresh air, and meaningful work. People came and went throughout the morning, some staying the full time and others dropping in for a short while, but every pair of hands made a difference.
By the end of the morning, the donation beds were cleared and prepared for the upcoming growing season. Laughter drifted through the garden rows as friends worked side by side, catching up on life while pulling weeds, turning soil, and getting the beds ready for planting.
This work matters. The produce grown in these beds will go directly to Braes Interfaith Ministries (BIM), helping provide fresh vegetables for families in our community who need them most. What began as a few hours of gardening will become healthy food on someone’s table later this year.
In other words, the garden was doing exactly what it was meant to do: bringing people together and blessing our neighbors.
A special word of thanks goes to Mary Gaber, who organized and led the morning with great care and energy. Mary’s leadership helped make the day run smoothly, and we are grateful for the time and heart she invests in this ministry.
Thank you to everyone who showed up, rolled up their sleeves, and helped prepare the soil. The seeds we plant this season will grow into more than vegetables. They will grow into generosity, community, and kindness shared with our neighbors.
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.
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.
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! [Click here to register.]
Healing Hearts: A Ministry of Care and Encouragement
Healing Hearts will meet in the church office building in the Prayer Room of the church office building.
Healing Hearts is a grief and bereavement support group. Led by Lisa Sparaco, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and member of our church, this group will provide a safe and faith-filled space for sharing stories, receiving encouragement, and walking together through seasons of loss. This is not a therapy group, but a ministry of care and prayer for all who grieve.
Next Few Meetings for Healing Hearts
- Wednesday, March 11th, 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- Monday, March 30th, 11:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
Computer Technique
by Dan Herron
Computer Technique: Hover the cursor to see who is sending you emails.
You getting email from more and more strange sources? Remember the idea of hovering the cursor over the email sender’s name to show the origin. We usually use origins .com, .org, and .gov. You’ll see other than these more frequently.
I received email in my inbox with my insurance company’s name but with strange words in the title. Seemed questionable. I did hover the cursor over the sender’s name and found a completely strange website sender! Into the trash it went, without my opening it.
To learn more, search “hover” on the internet to learn how to view a website or sender’s name. There are several uses for hover.
PCHAS Luncheon - Register Now - Details Below
"Hope Outlives Hardship" is the theme for the annual luncheon for PCHAS at the Lakeside Country Club (100 Wilcrest Dr., 77042). The April 16th one-hour noon-time program provides an update on the many services PCHAS provides in Texas, Louisiana and Missouri through heartwarming examples of how lives are changed. St. John’s ties to PCHAS go back many years, but especially since partnering with their Single Parent Program beginning in 2012. Do you feel a sense of pride when someone in the community comments or asks about these duplexes?
We hope to fill (at least) two tables (of 10-11 guests) for this annual major fundraising event here in Houston for PCHAS. Special diets are available on request. Yes, you will have an opportunity to donate toward this amazing ministry should you so choose, but it is not required! Many who have attended in the past have already received email or snail-mail notifications.
More information will be in the Epistles and announcements during worship services through mid-April. Those interested in attending are asked to register either directly to Marla Endieveri at the PCHS Office here in N.W. Houston(832-241-5921), or on-line (marla.endieveri@pchas.org); by calling or texting Shirley at 713-598-0818; by calling or texting Ann Hardy at 713-240-2690; or by leaving a message at the church office (713-723-6262) no later than April 11. Please consider attending this special time of fellowship and hope!
A Joyful Lenten Offering from Our Children
Last Sunday our Sunday School children blessed the congregation with a beautiful Lenten song following Children’s Time.
Their joyful voices filled the sanctuary and reminded us how powerful it is when the youngest members of the church lead us in praise. It was a wonderful moment of intergenerational worship that brought many smiles and warmed the hearts of everyone present.
Prayer List
With hearts united in hope, we lift these names into the healing presence of God.
Gerry Jump, moved to Brazos Towers- We pray for the family of Sue Benn
- 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
Caring for One Another in Prayer
Our prayer list is a vital way we support one another, lifting up joys and concerns before God. From time to time, we update the list to ensure it reflects current needs. If a name has been removed and you would like it added back, please reply to this email and let us know who they are and why you would like them included. Your input helps us pray more intentionally and stay connected to those in need of ongoing support. Thank you for being part of this ministry of care and intercession.
Prayer List Update –
How Can We Pray for You?
As part of our commitment to intentional and meaningful prayer, we periodically refresh our prayer list to ensure we are staying connected with those who need support. If you or someone you previously requested would like to remain on the prayer list, or if you have a new name to add, please reply to this email and let us know.
We are grateful for the opportunity to pray with and for you.
Happy Birthday
Mark Swindler (March 14)
Gloria Glover (March 17)
Madeline Graeter (March 29)
Olive Mfobujong (March 30)
Happy Anniversary
Jim and Lynne Austin (March 10)
Kerry and Mary Gaber (March 22)
Tad and Andra Mulder (March 25)
Church Calendar
Wednesday, March 11
7:00 pm Healing Hearts, Room 202
Thursday, March 12
11:00 am Friends United Luncheon, Room 203.
5:00 pm Exercise Class in Building 2
Sunday, March 15, 4 th Sunday in Lent
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
3:30 pm Girl Scouts, Rooms 203 & Session Room
4:00 pm Lenten Arts Series, Reveries, Sanctuary
Sunday. March 15, Lenten Arts Series, Reveries
Wednesday, March 18, Men’ Group, 6:30 pm
Saturday, March 28, Quarterly Bible Study: Salvation, 8:30 am
Saturday, March 28, One Hope Easter Party, Courtyard, 10 am
Sunday March 29, Palm Sunday, Lenten Arts Concert, 4 pm
Monday, March 30, Healing Hearts, 11 am
Wednesday, April 1, Men’s Group, 6:30 pm
Thursday, April 2, Maundy Thursday Service, 7 pm, Sanctuary
Sunday, April 5, Easter Sunday
Sunday, May 31, CE Brunch: Senior Sunday and Teacher
Appreciation
Saturday, June 20, Quarterly Bible Study (new format for all ages)
Church Calendar Online
For other dates, see St. John’s Calendar online: https://www.stjohnspresby.org/events/
2026 Session Members and Roles
Elders on the Session: Class of 2026
Ann Hardy: Finance and Stewardship
Michael Bisase: Buildings and Grounds
Jan Herbert: Christian Education
Elders on the Session: Class of 2027
Lynne Parsons Austin: Worship
Omar Ayah: Faith in Action
Marie Kutz: Personnel and Administration
Elders on the Session: Class of 2028
Mary Gaber: Christian Education
Peter Sparaco: Faith and Action
Tina Liljedahl Jump: Fellowship and Caring
Other Session Leaders and Support Staff
Jon Burnham: Moderator of Session
Lynne Parsons Austin: Clerk to Session
Tad Mulder: Church Treasurer
Lenten Sermon Series
Wilderness Sabbath:
Six Weeks of Desert Wisdom
March 15 – Fourth Sunday in Lent
"Fire and Whisper"
- OT: 1 Kings 19:1-18 (Elijah at Horeb: not in earthquake, but in whisper)
- NT: John 9:1-41 (Man born blind receives sight)
March 22 – Fifth Sunday in Lent
"Breath in Dry Bones"
- OT: Ezekiel 37:1-14 (Valley of dry bones)
- NT: John 11:1-45 (Lazarus raised from death)
March 29 – Palm/Passion Sunday
"The Road to the City"
- OT: Isaiah 50:4-9a (The servant's suffering)
- NT: Matthew 21:1-11 (Triumphal entry) and Matthew 26-27 (Passion narrative)
