The Epistle

October 14, 2026

St. John's Presbyterian Church in Houston

Dear friends,

Thank you for last Sunday. I appreciated your celebration of my service as your pastor. St. John's is a generous and capable congregation. I appreciate the opportunity to serve as pastor here.

Thank you, too, for your gifts to the World Communion Offering. And congratulations once more to Dan and Linda Herron on sixty years of marriage.

This Sunday I'll be away on continuing education leave, and the Rev. Dr. Valerie Bell will bring the message. I'm grateful to her, and I know you'll make her welcome.

Our Fall Quarterly Bible Study also meets this Saturday, October 17, at 8:30 a.m. Thank you to Mary Gaber and our three adult teachers and the children's leaders for the work behind it.

Here’s something to try this week. Share a meal with someone. Not to make a point. Just to eat together. Jesus did some of his best work at the table.

Keep the party going.

Peace,

Pastor Jon

Men’s Group Meets October 14

The Men’s Group meets Wednesday, October 14, at 6:30 p.m. in the Session Room. All men of the church are welcome.

Healing Hearts Meets Tonight

Linda Herron will lead the Healing Hearts grief support group tonight, Wednesday, October 14, at 7:00 p.m. in the Prayer Room. If you are carrying a loss, you are welcome. Come as you are.

Fall Quarterly Bible Study, October 17

I hope you will join us for the upcoming Quarterly Bible Study on October 17. Three excellent teachers will lead sessions on the biblical foundations of worship, the meaning and purpose of our corporate worship practices, and ideas for personal and family worship. Children and teens will explore worship through age-appropriate activities, with plenty of time for play and creativity. We will also have opportunities to socialize and sing together. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided. Please sign up by October 11 using the form in the Narthex or by contacting me, and include the ages of any children or teens attending.

Mary Gaber

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.

BIM Derby Dinner: St. John’s Showed Up

Thank you to everyone who came out for the BRAES Interfaith Ministries Harmony Derby Gala on Thursday, October 1. St. John’s brought a big crowd, and we were among the top three churches in total giving to the BIM food pantry. That means more food on the shelves for hungry neighbors right here in our community. Special thanks to the Faith in Action Committee, especially Peter, Grace, and Kay, who made the evening work.

Christmas Shoeboxes for Seafarers

Each year the Houston International Seafarers Center delivers Christmas shoeboxes to the crews of ships in the Port of Houston. Last year it was 8,901 boxes, for sailors from 68 nations, many of them months away from home at the holidays. Chaplains and ship visitors carry the boxes aboard by hand.

St. John’s is collecting again this year. Peter Sparaco will set a box in the Narthex. Please bring new, unopened, full-size items such as body wash, deodorant, disposable razors, shaving cream, toothbrushes and toothpaste, lip balm, lotion, socks, new caps or T-shirts, playing cards, word-search or sudoku books, pocket notebooks, flashlights with batteries, non-perishable snacks, and Texas souvenirs.

The cutoff date for donations will be announced in a coming Epistle.

Gift of Empathy Class

The Gift of Empathy Class began on Thursday, September 17, and meets weekly on Thursday evenings at 6:30. The next class is Thursday, October 15.

One Hope Harvest Festival, November 7

One Hope Schools invites the whole community to its free Harvest Festival on Saturday, November 7, from 10 a.m. to noon on the One Hope Preschool campus, 5020 West Bellfort Ave. There will be a bounce house, games, a petting zoo, and food, with fun for all ages. Bring the grandkids and the neighbors. Individuals or businesses interested in sponsoring the festival may call One Hope Preschool at 713-485-4491; a letter can be provided for tax purposes.

Oil for Our Lamps: A Tuesday Zoom Group

A small group of women at St. John's has met to study and pray together for fourteen years. The group grew out of our churchwide Unbinding the Gospel study in 2012. It began meeting at the church on Tuesday afternoons, moved to Zoom when COVID struck, and has stayed there since. After a recent sermon, the group took a new name: Oil for Our Lamps.

The group now meets on Zoom on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. By November they hope to begin a study of the book of James, using the Life Change Bible Study Series book and study guide. New members are warmly welcome.

To learn more, speak with any member of the group: Libby Adams, Shirley Boyd, Alvina Hamilton, Ann Hardy, Gerry Jump, Pat Ragan, or Fran Urquhart. Or contact Shirley at 713-598-0818 or saboyd2@att.net to receive the Zoom invitation and order a book.

Finding less expensive gasoline prices + 2

by Dan Herron

Search online for “cheapest gas near me”

Try these sources:

Online, Gas Buddy. Put it on your phone…use it to search “nearby” gas station prices. This one “moves” around with your driving. Ask it and it will respond.

Sam’s Club. Membership allows buying fuel at discounted price, at the store

COSTCO. Membership allows you to buy fuel at a discounted price at the store

Murphy USA stations, which are actually WalMart

Kroger discount with a Kroger Account, for “Gas Points”

ZOOM usage has a “notes” capability

Lookup the “note taking” feature of Zoom in case you are a serious Zoom user with a need for writing stuff as you discuss it on Zoom. There are options and requirements of notes taking. 

Medicare Renewal is a Must

It is time to renew Medicare plans. Search for “Renew Medicare” and also see your current plan’s renewal ideas. Be sure to not accidentally get a more expensive plan. The renewal due date is now up December 7. So, don’t be late! You for renewal you should have received a booklry in the mail, from Medicare, called “Medicare and You.” Perhaps a friend or a library has a copy.

If you are now on Medicare you can renew or get a different plan. Be sure of the details and the costs of any new plan. Many cost. Many are free.

Dan Herron

With hearts united in hope, we lift these names into the healing presence of God.

• Kathleen Captain, health concerns
• Ken Krueger, health concerns
• Linda Dobbin, health concerns
• Fran and her children as they mourn Brad's passing
• Mary Hughes and her family, in the death of her brother
• Betty Robinson’s family, in her death
• Lisa, health concerns
• Sandy, health concerns
• Patti, health concerns
• Alice's grandson, Marc, health concerns
• Katherine Kyle James, friend of Mark Swindler, health
• Gayle Morales, friend of Alice Rubio, health concerns
• Jessica Ivete Robles, friend of Alice Rubio, health concerns
• Phyllis Freeman, health concerns
• 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
• Randy Finfrock, former member and friend of David Rainwater, health
• Kathleen Captain, health concerns
• Kelly McDowell and family, Shirley Boyd’s nephew, health

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

Dave Muanza (Oct 1)
Virgil Fisher (Oct 2)
Christine Nelson and Amy Caraballo (Oct 7)
Barm Alsbrook (Oct 9)
Alice Rubio and Jeffery Herbert (Oct 10)
Stewart Hall (Oct 14)
Brendan Mulder (Oct 15)
Elizabeth Ragan (Oct 16)
Atillio Ator (Oct 19)
Fran Urquhart and Jonathan Hughes (Oct 24)
James Adams (Oct 25)
Joene Moore and Nathan Herbert (Oct 28)

Happy Anniversary

Dan and Linda Herron (Oct 11, 60th)
Barm and Karen Alsbrook (Oct 15)

Thursday, October 15

• 5:00 pm Exercise Class in Building 2
• 6:30 pm Gift of Empathy Class

Saturday, October 17

• 8:30 am Fall Quarterly Bible Study

Sunday, October 18, 21st 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
• 4:30 pm Pack 8 meeting, McPhail Hall

Tuesday, October 20

• 1:30 pm Oil for Our Lamps on Zoom

Coming Events

• Wed, Oct 14, Men’s Group Meeting, 6:30 pm
• Wed, Oct 14, Healing Hearts, led by Rev. Linda Herron, 7 pm, Prayer Room
• Thurs, Oct 15, Gift of Empathy Class, 6:30 pm
• Sat, Oct 17, Fall Quarterly Bible Study, 8:30 am
• Tues, Oct 20, Oil for Our Lamps on Zoom, 1:30 pm
• Sat, Nov 7, One Hope Harvest Festival, 10 am
• Thurs, Nov 12, St. John’s Friends United, 11 am
• Thursday, Nov 26, Thanksgiving Day
• Thurs, Dec 24, Christmas Eve Service, 7 pm

Church Calendar Online

For other dates, see St. John's Calendar online: https://www.stjohnspresby.org/events/

Generous Trouble:

When Kingdom Economics Interrupt Our Plans

October 18 - "Zacchaeus Throws a Party"

OT: Nehemiah 8:9-12

NT: Luke 19:1-10

October 25 - "Treasure Maps"

OT: Malachi 3:6-12

NT: Matthew 6:19-24

November 1 - "The Cloud of Witnesses" (All Saints' Sunday)

OT: Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18

NT: Ephesians 1:11-23

November 8 - "The Economics of Manna"

OT: Exodus 16:16-20

NT: 2 Corinthians 8:1-15

November 15 - "Gleaning at the Edges" (Dedication Sunday)

OT: Leviticus 19:9-10; Ruth 2:1-16

NT: Acts 4:32-37

November 22 - "The Upside-Down Kingdom" (Christ the King Sunday)

OT: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24

NT: Matthew 25:31-46