For the Complicated Among Us

from Pastor Jon

This Sunday we are going to spend some time with one of the strangest stories Jesus ever told.

A manager gets caught wasting his employer's money. He knows he is about to be fired. So he does something remarkable, which is also something questionable, which is also, somehow, the thing Jesus holds up as a lesson for people who believe in the Kingdom of God.

Meanwhile, David shows up at the tabernacle hungry and desperate, tells the priest a story that is not entirely true, and walks out with holy bread and the sword of Goliath.

Neither of these stories behaves itself.

Which, if I am honest, is part of why I love them. Because most of us are not living tidy, well-arranged lives right now. Most of us are carrying some combination of weariness and hope and regret and love and distraction, and we are doing our best with what we have. And what I keep finding, the longer I preach and the more I sit with people in the hard middle of their lives, is that God has a long and stubborn history of working through complicated people.

Not despite the complications. Through them.

Come as you are on Sunday. Bring your tired and your tangled and your genuine longing to live for something that matters. We will sing together and pray together and open these strange old stories together and see what grace has left inside them for us.

The organ will be playing. The door will be open. And the Word will be waiting.

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

June 21, 2026, 4th Sunday after Pentecost

Gathering

Prelude, Alina Klimaszewska, organ

*Call To Worship, The Rev. Dr. Jon Burnham

Pastor: We gather in the name of a God who commended a rascal for having the sense to act while time remained, who holds up the shrewd and the urgent as a word of instruction to people who claim to believe that eternity is real.

People: Thanks be to God, who calls us to wake up.

Pastor: We come as stewards, not owners, carrying gifts that belong to another, and an accounting that is coming sooner than we usually let ourselves remember.

People: Thanks be to God, who is more patient with us than we deserve.

Pastor: We come because the Kingdom has never waited for perfect instruments, and because grace has a long and stubborn habit of leaking through cracked and complicated people.

People: Thanks be to God, who can work with what we are.

Opening Prayer 

*Hymn 694 Great God of Every Blessing

1 Great God of every blessing,

of faithful, loving care,

you are the fount of goodness,

the daily bread we share.

How can we hope to thank you?

Our praise is but a start:

sincerely and completely

I offer you my heart.

2 Your Word is our salvation,

the source of endless grace,

in death and life extending

your covenant embrace.

In Christ we are one body;

each member has a part:

sincerely and completely

I offer you my heart.

3 Your Spirit is our teacher,

the light that guides our search,

transforming broken people

into the holy church.

For feeding us with mercy,

for wisdom you impart:

sincerely and completely

I offer you my heart.

Prayer of Confession, Liturgist Glen Risley

Gracious God, we confess we have tended our comfort carefully while letting your Kingdom wait for a less busy season. We have believed in mercy and then filled our days with things that rust and fade. Forgive us, and make us as deliberate about grace as we are about everything else. 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: 1 Samuel 21:1–9 

David came to Nob to the priest Ahimelech. Ahimelech came to meet David trembling, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one is with you?” David said to the priest Ahimelech, “The king has charged me with a matter, and said to me, ‘No one must know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you; I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place.’ Now then, what have you on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here.” The priest answered David, “I have no ordinary bread on hand, only holy bread—if the young men have kept themselves from women.” David answered the priest, “Indeed women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition; the vessels of the young men are holy even when it is a common journey; how much more today will their vessels be holy?” So the priest gave him the holy bread; for there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the Lord, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away. 

Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord; his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul’s shepherds. David said to Ahimelech, “Is there no sword or spear here? For I brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.” The priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah, is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod; if you will take that, take it, for there is no other except that one here.” David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”

The end of our first reading.

Anthem

Sermon Scripture: Luke 16:1–13 

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.’ Then the manager said to himself, ‘What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am removed from management, people may welcome me into their homes.’ So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred jugs of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred containers of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill and make it eighty.’ And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes. Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

The Word of the Lord for us today.

Thanks be to God. 

Sermon: “The Dishonest Hero” Rev. Dr. Jon Burnham

Hymn 450, Be Thou My Vision

1 Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;

naught be all else to me, save that thou art;

thou my best thought, by day or by night,

waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

2 Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true Word;

I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;

thou my soul’s shelter, and thou my high tower;

raise thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

3 Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise;

thou, mine inheritance, now and always;

thou and thou only, first in my heart,

High King of Heaven, my treasure thou art.

4 High King of Heaven, my victory won,

may I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

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  Rev. Burnham

Lord’s Prayer Rev. Burnham

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 667 When Morning Gilds the Skies, 1, 3 and 4

1 When morning gilds the skies,

my heart awaking cries:

may Jesus Christ be praised!

Alike at work and prayer

to Jesus I repair:

may Jesus Christ be praised!

3 Let earth's wide circle round

in joyful notes resound:

may Jesus Christ be praised!

Let air and sea and sky

from depth to height reply:

may Jesus Christ be praised!

4 Be this, while life is mine,

my canticle divine:

may Jesus Christ be praised!

Be this the eternal song

through all the ages long:

may Jesus Christ be praised!

*Benediction and Postlude

Announcements

Memorial Service for Connie Brown this Saturday, June 27, at 2 pm. 

A reception will follow after the service, and ashes will be interred in our Columbarium after the reception. 

Greeters and Ushers. 

There will be a short meeting in the Sanctuary following Worship today to discuss the responsibilities of this important ministry.

Celebrate with Holly Darr. 

Holly is celebrating one year of health after a double lung transplant. She is planning a meeting at Fadi's Meyerland Mediterranean Grill in July. More details later.

“Parables” Summer Quarterly Bible Study. 

Join us for our Summer Quarterly Bible Study, hosted by the Christian Education Committee, on Saturday, July 18, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church.

People ages 3 and up are warmly invited to register and participate in a day of learning, fellowship, creativity, and spiritual growth centered on the theme: Parables.

Throughout the day, participants will explore the stories Jesus told and discover how these timeless teachings continue to shape our faith, challenge our assumptions, and reveal the surprising nature of God’s kingdom.

Children, youth, and adults will enjoy age-appropriate activities, Bible study, discussion, hands-on learning opportunities, and shared fellowship. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026 Time: 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Location: St. John’s Presbyterian Church Ages: 3 and up Theme: Parables.

Come spend a summer Saturday exploring the stories that continue to transform lives.

Registration Now Open for “Parables” Summer Quarterly Bible Study. 

Please register for the Summer Quarterly Bible Study by Sunday, July 12, at 1:00 p.m.

Register online: https://pp.events/bPn5gYQL

Breakfast snacks and lunch will be provided.

Questions? Contact Mary Gaber.

Summer Mustard Seed Project. This summer, our Mustard Seed Project will support eight children living in the PCHAS Single Parent Family Ministry housing on our church campus. Each child needs approximately $100 for back-to-school supplies, giving us a congregation-wide goal of raising $800.

Donations may be placed in the offering plate during worship on June 14, June 21, and June 28. If giving by cash or check, please write “School Supplies” on the lower left corner of your check. You may also contribute by Zelle to accounts@stjohnspresby.org and include “School Supplies” in the memo line.

Kay Swint and Omar Abiyah will use the funds to purchase gift cards for the PCHAS families, allowing parents to purchase the specific school supplies their children need. Thank you for helping these children begin the school year with confidence, dignity, and the tools they need to learn and thrive.

A Brief Safety Update. 

For the safety and security of our congregation, the Session has instructed the ushers to lock the exterior doors to both the Education Building and the Sanctuary once worship begins. Late arrivals need not worry. Ushers will remain near the sanctuary entrance in the narthex and will be available to open the doors and welcome those arriving after the service has begun. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and welcoming environment for everyone who gathers for worship at St. John’s.

St. John’s Friends United. 

Friends United will be taking a summer break, so no meetings are scheduled for June, July, or August. We will resume our gatherings in September. Plans for an exciting fall schedule are already underway, and we look forward to sharing more details soon. Enjoy the summer, stay cool, and stay connected. We look forward to seeing everyone again this fall.



Can You Hear Me Now? Communication is key to any organization, and that includes St. John’s! Has anything changed in your life? Have you moved, gotten rid of your home phone, changed your cell number or gotten a cell phone? Please let Virginia Krueger, Marie Kutz, or the St. John’s office (713 723-6262) know so we can correct your contact information and Directory. For security reasons, no one but St. Johns members are allowed to have an on-line Directory.

Remember, you can put the Church Directory on your cell phone! No more scratching out info on a paper Directory! We try very hard to keep the on-line Directory up-to-date. See Virginia or Marie to put it on your phone. You will love it as it is so convenient!

No Men’s Group, Wed, June 24. Stay tuned for summer schedule.

Healing Hearts, A Ministry of Care and Encouragement. Monday, June 29, 11 to Noon. Healing Hearts meets 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 ministry provides 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. 

Happy Birthday 

Gabrielle Williams (June 21)

Kristel Maguy Sio and Pete Sparaco (June 22)

Steve Jump (June 25)

Sarah Dickson (June 27)

Happy Anniversary

Ben and Jennifer Carrettin (June 27)

Prayer Concerns

Family of Connie Brown; memorial service

Saturday, June 27, 2 pm, St. John's sanctuary

Phyllis Freeman, hospice care

Carolyn McEathron and her family

in the death of her father-in-law

Michelle Byron and family,

in the unexpected loss of her brother Jeff

Rebecca Crawford, hip surgery

David Wintersgill, hip surgery

Glen Risley, recovering from hip surgery

Nyjel Bennett-LaGrone and his family, health

Tom Edmondson, health, and his loving caregiver, Kristi

Kelsey Wiltz, health 

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, June 21, 4th Sunday after Pentecost

and Father’s Day

  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 Scouts in Session Room and Room 203

Tuesday, June 23

  5:00 pm Exercise Group, Building 2

Wednesday, June 24

  6:30, Men’s Group, Session Room

Thursday, June 25

  5:00 pm Exercise Class in Building 2

Saturday, June 27

 1:00 pm Girl Scout community group meeting in Session Room

  2:00 pm Memorial Service for Connie Brown in Sanctuary and McPhail 

Sunday, June 28, 5th 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

Coming Events

Sat, June 27, 1-5pm.

Girl Scout meeting, Session Room

Mon, June 29, 11 am, Healing Hearts

Sat, July 18, Quarterly Bible Study

(new format for all ages)

Thurs, Oct 1, BIM Gala