The Epistle

October 7, 2026

St. John's Presbyterian Church in Houston

Dear friends,

Thank you for a full and holy weekend. On Saturday we gave thanks for Betty Robinson, a founding member who gave this church decades of leadership. On Sunday we gathered at the Table with Christians on every continent. Thank you to everyone who served at both. Please keep Betty’s family, and Fran and her family, in your prayers.

This Sunday we come to one of the hardest stories in the Gospels. A good man runs up to Jesus, kneels, and asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. He has kept every commandment. Mark tells us that Jesus looked at him and loved him, and then asked for the one thing he could not give. The sermon is “Sell Everything? Seriously?” Yes, we will take the question seriously.

We’ll also read Genesis 13. Abram lets Lot take the well-watered plain and keeps what is left. Abram let go first, and he lost nothing that mattered.

Here is something to try this week. Name one thing you own that you would find hard to give away. You don’t have to give it away. Just notice how tightly you hold it. That’s where Sunday will meet you.

Sunday, October 11, is also Dan and Linda Herron’s 60th wedding anniversary. Be sure to congratulate them.

Hold it loosely.

In Christ’s service,

Pastor Jon

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.

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.

World Communion Offering: One More Sunday

All of God's people gather around the Table to celebrate the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Part of the atonement that happens around this Table is reconciliation, which is the focus of the World Communion Offering. Experience the grace that comes from reconciling all peoples from all nations around the corner and around the globe through the ministry of this offering. We will receive the offering one more Sunday, October 11. Envelopes are on the table at the back of the Sanctuary. Please give generously, as St. John's always does.

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 8.

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

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.

Faith in Action Committee Meets October 11

The Faith in Action Committee will meet after worship this Sunday, October 11. The room will be announced Sunday morning.

St. John’s Friends United, October 8

St. John’s Friends United meets Thursday, October 8, at 11:00 a.m. Our speaker, Noemi Peterson, MPH, RN, will share a complementary approach to relief from worry, sleep troubles, grief, and pain. Lunch provided. Open to all 50 and older, whatever your church home.

Polish Duo Concert, October 9

Alina Klimaszewska and Dominika Dancewicz have invited the St. John’s family to their concert on Friday, October 9, at 7:30 p.m. in Belin Chapel at Houston Christian University.

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.

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.

Retirement Savings: Withdrawal Timings Could Affect Your Taxes

by Dan Herron

This information is to be used as an educational topic and it is not income tax advice of any kind.

Retirement account withdrawals (RMDs: Required Minimum Distributions) must start at a certain age. You get this money. Retirement account distributions/withdrawals are a taxable item. Be aware of multiple accounts, perhaps multiple financial firms being involved. Your financial company should inform you of any RMD amount that is due this year. But, be sure to contact them well before year end!

There is an income tax form to report RMD withdrawals, 1099-R.

There are reasons to discuss this topic before you start withdrawals: Do not skip an RMD! Early withdrawals. RMDs & QCDs. Market Timing. These might be called “RMD Tax Strategies.” Each has income tax consequences that you need to be aware of. So, keep records and learn about this in a timely manner, before December, each year. Lookup “RMD Tax Strategies.”

Withdrawing retirement savings has some issues. One is market timing. A “down or up market” affects the account values. Another is the RMD, the required minimum distribution amount you must take, each year, once you are of a certain age. Look up RMD to find the age factor. Remember that you must take the specific RMD amount each year or pay a penalty. It is possible to take some early withdrawal money from your accounts before RMDs start. Ask.

You can also deduct some of your annual RMD dollar amount as charity contributions. This is called a QCD (Qualified Charitable Distribution). A QCD is particularly useful in the case of your income tax being prepared with the “standard deduction.” QCDs allow charity deductions, without your “itemizing deductions” on your tax return. You take a QCD, carefully, at the time you discuss your RMD withdrawal amount with your financial firm. The holder of your account sends the donation amount to the charity and sends you a statement early in the new year with all your RMDs and QCDs. Report the amounts on each of the 1099-R tax forms to secure the tax deduction. Of course, “look …. .. .”

Planning for QCDs…Write down the name and address of your QCD charities and also prove that each of these is a valid 501 c3 charity. Make an appointment with your financial firm. Show the name and address and donation amount for each charity. The financial company will “enter” those correctly and send the money to your charity. Then you get the rest of the RMD money.

Use your receipts from the QCD charities on the 2026 income tax form 1099-R to reduce your taxable income amount.

Don’t be late (after December 31) on RMD withdrawals! Learn about taking the RMD amount from your accounts, and how to show your QCD charity names and addresses and amounts to your financial firm. Perhaps start withdrawals “early in the year,” to get the money. Don’t wait too long since this is a very busy year-end activity at your financial firm!

There are several rules to learn. RMD. QCD. TIMING. REPORTING. Enjoy looking up tax advantages of retirement account distributions.     

 

Dan Herron

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

Prayer List

• 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

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 8

• 11:00 am Friends United Luncheon, McPhail Hall
• 5:00 pm Exercise Class in Building 2
• 6:30 pm Gift of Empathy Class

Sunday, October 11, 20th 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
• 12:00 pm CE Committee meets
• After worship, Faith in Action Committee meets, room to be announced
• 1:30 pm Book Study on Zoom
• 4:30 pm Pack 8 meeting, McPhail Hall

Coming Events

• Thurs, Oct 8, St. John's Friends United, 11 am
• Thurs, Oct 8, Gift of Empathy Class, 6:30 pm
• Fri, Oct 9, Polish Concert, 7:30 pm
• Sun, Oct 11, Faith in Action Committee, after worship
• Wed, Oct 14, Men’s Group Meeting, 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
• 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 11 - "Sell Everything? Seriously?"

OT: Genesis 13:5-18

NT: Mark 10:17-27

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

This Sunday: “Sell Everything? Seriously?”

This Sunday, October 11, the 20th Sunday after Pentecost, we continue our stewardship series, Generous Trouble: When Kingdom Economics Interrupt Our Plans.

The texts are Genesis 13:5-18 and Mark 10:17-27. In one, Abram lets his nephew Lot take the best land and trusts God with what is left. In the other, a good man asks Jesus what he still lacks, and Jesus, loving him, tells him. The man walks away grieving. The disciples ask the question we all want to ask: then who can be saved?

Jesus has an answer. Come hear it.

Church Office Hours & Contact Information

The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Pastor Jon is typically available Monday and Tuesday mornings, Alvina Hamilton serves on Wednesdays, and Linda Herron staffs the office on Thursdays.

For assistance, call 713-723-6262.

To submit prayer requests or articles for the Wednesday Epistle, email Pastor Jon and include “Epistle” in the subject line.

Church Website & Calendar

Visit our website for worship information, ministries, and church news:

www.stjohnspresby.org

For upcoming events and schedules, see the church calendar:

www.stjohnspresby.org/events

• To add an event to the calendar or submit an article for The Epistle, email Pastor Jon.