An Invitation to Worship
Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 26, 2026 | 11:00 AM
St. John's Presbyterian Church
Dear friends,
Most of us carry a quiet question into Sunday morning, even if we never say it out loud. Does God actually see me, or am I just another face in the crowd?
This Sunday, April 26 at 11 AM, the congregation will gather on the Fourth Sunday of Easter to hear a different answer. Rev. Linda Herron will lead us in worship and preach a sermon titled The Shepherd Knows Our Names. Liturgist Ann Hardy will guide us in prayer and Scripture as we listen again to Psalm 23 and to Jesus’ words in John 10, where he says the shepherd calls his sheep by name and leads them into life.
There is something steady and honest about this service. We will sing the old hymns that have carried people through generations. We will confess the ways we wander. We will hear the promise that a table is set even before the danger passes, and that goodness and mercy are not far off but close behind us, every step of the way.
If you have ever felt like faith is something you are supposed to figure out on your own, come and sit in this story for a while. The good shepherd does not work from a distance. He knows your name. That is not poetry. That is the heart of the gospel, and it is the kind of knowing we are trying to grow into as a church together
Come as you are. There is a place for you here.
Peace be with you,
Pastor Jon Burnham
St. John's Presbyterian Church, Houston
5020 West Bellfort Avenue Houston, TX 77035
(713) 723-6262 / stjohnspresby.org
P.S. The service will be live-streamed
on our church website
and on our St. John's Facebook page.
St. John's Presbyterian Bulletin
April 26, 2026 Fourth Sunday of Easter
Gathering
Prelude, Alina Klimaszewska, organ
*Call To Worship, Rev. Linda Herron
We come this morning carrying the fear that we are somehow on our own.
The quiet fear that the care extended toward us will eventually run out.
Come to the God who prepares a table in the presence of your enemies.
The God who sets the feast before the threat has passed.
Come to the shepherd who calls each sheep by name.
Not by category. Not by number. By name.
Come to the gate that the resurrection has opened and death cannot close.
We enter freely — and go out and find pasture.
This is the day of the Lord who knows us completely and loves us still.
Let us worship the shepherd who calls our name.
Opening Prayer
*Hymn 511 Come, Behold! The Feast of Heaven
1 Come, behold! the feast of heaven Alleluia!
has to mortal flesh been given. Alleluia!
Hear the Word of God declared: Alleluia!
“Come! the banquet is prepared.” Alleluia!
2 All is ready, come attend Alleluia!
as the Lord’s invited friend; Alleluia!
come from north, west, south, and east; Alleluia!
celebrate the joyful feast. Alleluia!
3 All who trust in God belong Alleluia!
at this banquet with this throng. Alleluia!
Share the mystic holy food; Alleluia!
taste and see: the Lord is good. Alleluia!
4 As the Lord our God has willed, Alleluia!
here the hungry soul is filled; Alleluia!
here the weary are refreshed. Alleluia!
All who share God’s feast are blessed. Alleluia!
Prayer of Confession, Liturgist Ann Hardy
Lord, we confess that we have wandered from your voice — that we have listened to stranger voices, followed paths that led away from the still waters, and called our distance from you “independence” when it was really fear. We have doubted that the table was set for us, that the oil was meant for our head, that the cup overflowing was ours to drink. Forgive our wandering, and call us home by name. Amen. (Silent Confession)
Assurance of Pardon
*Glory Be to the Father, Hymn 581
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
*Passing the Peace
The Word
Prayer for Illumination Ann Hardy
First Scripture Reading, Psalm 23 Ann Hardy
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
Anthem
Sermon Scripture, John 10:1–10
“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
The Word of the Lord for us today.
Thanks be to God.
Sermon, The Shepherd Knows Our Names. Rev. Linda Herron
*Hymn 802 The King of Love My Shepherd Is, 1, 2, 5 and 6
1 The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am his
and he is mine forever.
2 Where streams of living water flow
my ransomed soul he leadeth,
and where the verdant pastures grow,
with food celestial feedeth.
5 Thou spread’st a table in my sight;
thy unction grace bestoweth;
and O what transport of delight
from thy pure chalice floweth!
6 And so through all the length of days
thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
within thy house forever.
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Prayers of the People and Lord’s Prayer
Rev. Herron
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Welcome and Announcements
Offering
*Doxology, Hymn 609
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.
Praise God, all creatures high and low.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise God, in Jesus fully known: Creator, Word, and Spirit one.
Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
*Prayer after the Offering Rev. Herron
Sending
*Hymn 803 My Shepherd Will Supply My Need, 1 and 3
1 My shepherd will supply my need;
Jehovah is his name.
In pastures fresh he makes me feed,
beside the living stream.
He brings my wandering spirit back
when I forsake his ways,
and leads me, for his mercy's sake,
in paths of truth and grace.
3 The sure provisions of my God
attend me all my days;
O may your house be my abode,
and all my work be praise.
There would I find a settled rest,
while others go and come;
no more a stranger, or a guest,
but like a child at home.
*Benediction and Postlude
Important Date Change: BRAES Gala
The BRAES gala, an event supported by our Faith In Action committee, has been postponed. Please mark your calendars for the new date: October 30th.
Healing Hearts for April. Healing Hearts will meet tomorrow at 11:00 am. St. John’s is proud to support this healing ministry.
St. John's Friends United - May 14 - 11:00 AM, Rm 203. Speaker: Lisa Sparaco, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, will speak on "Coping with Daily Living." Bring a light sack lunch, Dessert and Drinks will be provided.
PCHAS Luncheon Report from Lakeside Country Club. The PCHAS Luncheon theme this year was "Hope Outlives Hardship." The one-hour program shared updates on the many services PCHAS provides across Texas, Louisiana, and Missouri, with real stories of lives changed. It was a heartwarming event and always worth the time. We are glad to say that 20 people from St. John's attended. St. John's has had deep ties to PCHAS for many years, and especially since partnering with their Single Parent Program right here on our campus beginning in 2012. Thank you to Shirley and Ann for serving as Table Hosts and to Lynne who was a featured speaker.
Welcome New Members: New Faces, Familiar Grace.
Our Session had the joy of receiving new members into the life of St. John's. We welcomed the Delafosse family: Zach, Jessica, and their two little ones, Mark and Eric. They did not stumble upon us by accident. They came looking specifically for a congregation that takes the gospel seriously enough to live it out even when it costs something. Some of you will remember the opposition that arose when PCHAS brought its Single Parent Family Ministry to our campus. The Delafosses’ heard about that, and it told them something about who we are. They will be scheduling baptisms for their boys here soon, and we look forward to that celebration.
We also received the Rev. Valerie Bell into our fellowship. Valerie is an honorably retired PC(USA) pastor who now makes her home in Meyerland. She has served congregations in Florida and Arkansas, and she brings with her real gifts for teaching and pastoral care among others. As a minister, Valerie will be joining our presbytery rather than our membership roll, but in every way that matters she is one of us, sharing her time and her talents alongside the rest of the congregation. We are glad she is here. Receiving new members during the month of our 70th anniversary year feels like exactly the right kind of gift. God is not finished with St. John's yet. Welcome home, Delafosses’. Welcome home, Valerie.
Celebrating Loic: A Special College Ministry Update. We received a wonderful note from Loic, grandson of our own Leonie. He is graduating this May 15th with a 4.0 GPA and an Associate's Degree of Science in Chemistry. After that, he plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in Energy and Environmental Engineering at a four-year school in Canada. He wrote to say thank you, and his words were simple and sincere: "Y'all really made it easier for me."
Pastor Jon replied: "A 4.0 in Chemistry does not just happen. That takes discipline, long nights, and a steady kind of determination. And now you are stepping into Energy and Environmental Engineering, which tells me you are not only thinking about your future, but about the future of the world God has given us to care for. We are proud of you, Loic. Truly." Please keep Loic in your prayers as he heads into this exciting next chapter. He carries St. John's love with him all the way to Canada.
Myrtis McPhail Scholarship. Attention all high school seniors, undergraduate college, and/or technical/trade school students! St. John’s is once again ready to accept applications to the Myrtis McPhail Scholarship Fund. These funds are available to any church member or relative of a church member who will be enrolled full time in undergraduate college or a technical/trade school in the Fall of 2026. You must reapply for the scholarship each year, and you may apply for a maximum of 5 years. Applications are available by email request to Kathy Barnhill (jabarnhill@comcast.net) or Mindi Stanley (mstanley@bcm.edu) or click on this link: Applications will be accepted until May 15, 2026 and we hope to distribute funds to recipients in June.
The Scholarship Fund also is open for donations! If anyone would like to donate, please indicate the McPhail Scholarship Fund on a check or via Zelle. Thanks for Your Support
Supporting BIM in a Critical Season. Many of BIM’s programs are facing funding challenges right now, which makes this moment especially important. We invite you to consider a cash donation to support their work in advance of the gala or shortly after. Checks can be made payable to Braes Interfaith Ministries, with “BIM Gala Fundraiser” noted in the memo line. This is one of those quiet ways the church makes a real difference. No spotlight. Just steady care for people who need it. Thank you for being part of that work.
Happy Birthday
Michael Bisase, Linda Dobbin and Stephen Marshall (April 1)
Tatiana Harris (April 3)
Brendan Ehrenstrom (April 4)
JoAnn Golden (April 8)
Samuel and Emmanuel Okwudiri and Winnie Georgiev (April 9)
Pat Ragan (April 12)
Tom Edmonsond (April 13)
Allen Barnhill and Austin Gorby (April 14)
Jenny Pennicuff (April 17)
Kennedy Muanza (April 24)
Jon Burnham (April 26)
Prayer Concerns
Rebecca Crawford, hip surgery
David Wintersgill, hip surgery
Jessica Ivete Robles, a friend of Alice Rubio,
awaits a kidney transplant
And Jessica’s sixteen-year-old son,
who is recovering from surgery
Glen Risley, recovering from hip surgery
Nyjel Bennett-LaGrone and his family, health concerns
Gerry Jump
Family of Sue Benn
Tom Edmondson, recovering from spinal surgery
Holly Darr, health concerns
Karen Alsbrook, health
Kelsey Wiltz, health concerns
Madalyn Rodgers, Kathleen Captain's sister
Joe Sanford,
Scott Moore
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
Calendar
Sunday, April 19, Third Sunday of Easter
9:30 am Sunday School for Adults, Systematic Theology, Session Room
11:00 am Worship Service, live in sanctuary and on Facebook
Noon Fellowship and Caring Committee Meeting in Session Room
1:30 pm Book Study, Zoom
3:30 pm Girl Scouts in Session Room and Room 203.
Tuesday, April 21
5:00 pm Exercise Group, Building 2
Thursday, April 23
5:00 pm Exercise Class in Building 2
Sunday, April 26, Second Sunday of Easter
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, Exercise Room
Coming Events
Mon, April 27, Healing Hearts, 11 am
Thurs, April 30, BIM Gala (tentative date)
Sun, May 3, CE Meeting after Worship
Sun, May 31, CE Brunch: Senior Sunday and Teacher Appreciation
Sat, July 18, Quarterly Bible Study for all ages, 8:30 am – 2:30 pm
2026 Session Members and Roles
Class of 2026
Ann Hardy: Stewardship and Finance
Michael Bisase: Buildings and Grounds
Jan Herbert: Christian Education
Class of 2027
Lynne Parsons Austin: Worship
Omar Ayah: Faith in Action
Marie Kutz: Personnel and Administration
Class of 2028
Mary Gaber: Christian Education
Tina Jump: Fellowship and Caring
Ann Hardy: Finance and Stewardship
Peter Sparaco: Faith in Action
Other Session Leaders and Support Staff
Jon Burnham: Moderator of Session
Lynne Parsons Austin: Clerk to Session
Tad Mulder: Church Treasurer
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