Your Worship Invitation
for May 17, 2026
This Sunday at St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Houston:
To Witness, Seeing and Telling
Dear friends,
I am away this week getting a little vacation and rest and will look forward to being back with you next Sunday. In the meantime, I am very grateful that we will be welcoming the Rev. Valerie Bell to our pulpit this Sunday morning.
There is a strange and deeply human moment in the Book of Acts where the disciples stand staring into the sky after Jesus ascends. You can almost see them frozen there between grief and wonder, uncertain what comes next. Then the angels ask the question that breaks the moment open: “Why do you stand looking up toward heaven?”
I suspect many of us know that feeling. We wait for certainty. We wait for clearer answers. We wait for life to feel manageable before we move forward faithfully. Meanwhile, God keeps calling ordinary people back into the world to love neighbors, tell the truth, pray together, and bear witness to grace in small daily ways.
This Sunday, Rev. Valerie Bell will preach “To Witness: Seeing and Telling” from Acts 1 and John 17. These Scriptures remind us that Christian witness is not about performance or having everything figured out. It begins with seeing clearly where God is already present and having the courage to speak honestly about what Christ has done among us.
We will gather with beautiful music, prayer, Scripture, hymns, and the fellowship that has carried this congregation through many seasons together. There is something quietly healing about hearing familiar voices sing “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” while sunlight slips through the sanctuary windows and people greet one another by name. Houston can feel rushed and fragmented sometimes. Church slows us down long enough to remember who we belong to.
I hope you will join us this Sunday at 11 AM at St. John’s Presbyterian Church.
Grace and peace,
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
May 17, 2026 Seventh Sunday of Easter
Gathering
Prelude, Alina Klimaszewska, organ
*Call To Worship, The Rev. Valerie Bell
We have gathered – new followers and lifelong disciples, the powerful and the powerless, those who have too little and those who have too much.
We have gathered, for we are one in Christ.
We have come – seekers and skeptics, sinners and saints, the poor in spirit and the rich in faith.
We have come, for we are eager to hear God’s word.
We are here, together.
Let us glorify the one true God.
Opening Prayer
*Hymn 611 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
1 Joyful, joyful, we adore thee,
God of glory, Lord of love!
Hearts unfold like flowers before thee,
opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
drive the dark of doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness,
fill us with the light of day.
2 All thy works with joy surround thee;
earth and heaven reflect thy rays;
stars and angels sing around thee,
center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
flowery meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird and flowing fountain,
call us to rejoice in thee.
3 Mortals, join the happy chorus
which the morning stars began.
Love divine is reigning o'er us,
joining all in heaven's plan.
Ever singing, march we onward,
victors in the midst of strife.
Joyful music leads us sunward
in the triumph song of life.
Prayer of Confession, Liturgist Bill Ehrenstrom
You call us to be your witnesses to the ends of the earth and clothe us with power from on high. Yet we stand still, our eyes fixed on the heavens, as though Jesus will reappear in the clouds to point the way. We cling to the past, for we find comfort in familiar traditions, even if they no longer serve your purposes. We fear the future for we cannot imagine a new season of ministry, even though you promise to empower us. Refocus us, O Lord, and fill us with expectant hope as we step into the future you will bring. Continue to strengthen us with your Spirit and enlighten our hearts to discern your will, so that we might embody the fullness of Christ at work in the world. 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
First Scripture Reading: Acts 1: 6-14
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
Anthem
Sermon Scripture: John 17: 1-11
After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
“I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you, for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.
The Word of the Lord for us today.
Thanks be to God.
Sermon: To Witness: Seeing and Telling
The Rev. Valerie Bell
*Hymn 462 I Love to Tell the Story
1 I love to tell the story
of unseen things above,
of Jesus and his glory,
of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story,
because I know 'tis true;
it satisfies my longings
as nothing else could do.
Refrain:
I love to tell the story;
'twill be my theme in glory
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.
2 I love to tell the story;
'tis pleasant to repeat
what seems, each time I tell it,
more wonderfully sweet!
I love to tell the story,
for some have never heard
the message of salvation
from God’s own holy Word. (Refrain)
3 I love to tell the story,
for those who know it best
seem hungering and thirsting
to hear it, like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory,
I sing the new, new song,
'twill be the old, old story
that I have loved so long. (Refrain)
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
Lord’s Prayer
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
Sending
*Hymn 547 Go, My Children,
with my Blessing
1 “Go, my children, with my blessing,
never alone.
Waking, sleeping, I am with you,
you are my own.
In my love’s baptismal river
I have made you mine forever.
Go, my children, with my blessing,
you are my own.”
2 “Go, my children, sins forgiven,
at peace and pure.
Here you learned how much I love you,
what I can cure.
Here you heard my dear Son’s story;
here you touched him, saw his glory.
Go, my children, sins forgiven,
at peace and pure.”
3 “Go, my children, fed and nourished,
closer to me.
Grow in love and love by serving,
joyful and free.
Here my Spirit’s power filled you;
here my tender comfort stilled you.
Go, my children, fed and nourished,
joyful and free.”
*Benediction
*Postlude
Announcements
Church Work Day on May 30
The Men's Group has scheduled a work day for May 30 to complete a number of projects around the church. These projects include the inspection and changing of air handler filters, replacement of the thermostat in Building 1, installation of the handrail in the Sanctuary, replacement of the A/C outlet in the choir room in the sanctuary, and continued conversion of fluorescent to LED lights in Building 1. To prioritize these tasks, the Men's Group will hold a meeting on May 27. Please also note that the Men's Group will not meet on May 13.
Healing Hearts, this Monday, May 18, 11 am, Room 202
Come find comfort and guidance for grief and other burdens. The date was changed from Memorial Day, May 25. Healing Hearts will not meet on Memorial Day. The meeting will be on Monday, May 18 at 11 AM in Room 202 in the Church Office Building.
Men of the Church
The next meeting of the Men of the Church will be May 27 at 6:30 PM in the Session Room.
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
Mindi Stanley (May 19)
Ryan Abyiah (May 19)
Pauline Hall (May 23)
Sally Shaw (May 23)
Happy Anniversary
Steve and Tina Jump (May 10)
Bill & Mindi Stanley (May 14)
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
Family of Sue Benn
Tom Edmondson, health
Holly Darr, health
Karen Alsbrook, health
Kelsey Wiltz, health
Madalyn Rodgers, Kathleen Captain's sister
Joe Sanford,
Scott Moore
Alice Rubio
St. Johns College Students
Raina Bailey and the families in our PCHAS homes
One Hope Preschool families and staff
Calendar
Sunday, May 17, Seventh 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, Zoom
3:30 pm Girl Scout Meeting, Room 203 and Session Room
4:30 pm Pack 8 Meeting, Exercise Room
Monday, May 18
11:00 am Healing Hearts, Room 202
Tuesday, May 19
5:00 pm Exercise Group, Building 2
Thursday, May 21
5:00 pm Exercise Class in Building 2
Sunday, May 24, Day of 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
Coming Events
Mon, May 25, Memorial Day. Church Office closed.
Sat, May 30, Workday at church
Wed, May 27, 6:30 pm Men’s Group
Sun, May 31, CE Brunch: Senior Sunday and Teacher Appreciation
Sat, July 18, Quarterly Bible Study (new format for all ages)
A Word Before You Go
If you watched online today, we are glad you were here. You are not just a viewer. You are part of this congregation, and we mean that. If you have a prayer request or just want to say hello,
reach out to us anytime. We would love to hear from you.
Want to go deeper on what we studied this morning? Our Sunday morning Bible study meets at 9:30 AM, right before worship, and we look at the very passage I am about to preach on. It is a lively group and there is always room for one more. You can learn more about all of our
Bible study and small group options here.
One of the best ways to stay connected to St. John's is through our weekly email newsletter, The Epistle. It goes out each week with upcoming events, sermon notes, prayer concerns, and a little encouragement for the road. It is free, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
Subscribe to The Epistle here and we will see you in your inbox.
We gather every Sunday at 11:00 AM at 5020 West Bellfort Avenue in Houston. If you are thinking about visiting in person, we would love to have you. No need to dress up. No need to have it all figured out. Just come as you are.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Jon Burnham
