You're Invited

A Special Sunday at St. John's:

Ordination, Installation, and Celebration

Dear Members and Friends of St. John’s,

I am writing to personally invite you to join us for worship this coming Sunday. This will be a significant moment in the life of our congregation as we celebrate the Ordination and Installation of our new Elders.

• Mary Gaber: Christian Education
• Ann Hardy: Stewardship and Finance
• Tina Jump: Fellowship and Caring
• Peter Sparaco: Faith in Action.

These leaders have answered the call to serve, and this Sunday marks the beginning of their journey in guiding the spiritual life of our church. As a congregation, our presence is vital as we stand with them, pray for them, and promise to support them in their ministry.

I look forward to seeing you all there as we worship God, install our new leaders, and celebrate our community together.

Peace,
Pastor Jon

St. John's Presbyterian Church

5020 West Bellfort Avenue

Houston, TX 77035

(713) 723-6262

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

January 11, 2026, Baptism of the Lord Sunday

Ordination and Installation of Elders

Gathering

Prelude,

Alina Klimaszewska, organ

*Call To Worship,

The Rev. Dr. Jon Burnham

Leader: The heavens once tore open above the Jordan, and a voice thundered over the waters.

People: This is my Beloved, in whom I delight.

Leader: Yet God's wisdom comes wrapped in scandal, and holy truth wears the mask of folly.

People: What the world calls foolish, God names as power; what the world calls weak, God crowns with glory.

Leader: Come to these waters where names are spoken and identities sealed.

People: We come to worship the God who upends our certainties and saves us through what we would never have chosen.

Opening Prayer 

* Hymn 688 - Spirit of God,

Descend Upon My Heart, 1, 3 and 5

1 Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;

wean it from earth, through all its pulses move;

stoop to my weakness, mighty as thou art,

and make me love thee as I ought to love.

3 Hast thou not bid us love thee, God and King;

all, all thine own, soul, heart, and strength, and mind?

I see thy cross; there teach my heart to cling.

O let me seek thee, and O let me find!

5 Teach me to love thee as thine angels love,

one holy passion filling all my frame;

the baptism of the heaven-descended Dove,

my heart an altar, and thy love the flame.

Call to Confession, Allen Barnhill, Liturgist

Prayer of Confession 

Merciful God, we confess that we chase after wisdom the world applauds while ignoring the truth that kneels to wash feet. We have trusted our own judgment and dismissed the prophets who speak in unfamiliar tongues. We have demanded proof when you offered presence, and sought control when you extended surrender. Forgive us, and make us wise in the ways that matter to you. 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

Children’s Time 

The Word

Prayer for Illumination 

First Scripture Reading, 1 Kings 3:16–28

Later, two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. The one woman said, “Please, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house; and I gave birth while she was in the house. Then on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. We were together; there was no one else with us in the house, only the two of us were in the house. Then this woman’s son died in the night, because she lay on him. She got up in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me while your servant slept. She laid him at her breast, and laid her dead son at my breast. When I rose in the morning to nurse my son, I saw that he was dead; but when I looked at him closely in the morning, clearly it was not the son I had borne.” But the other woman said, “No, the living son is mine, and the dead son is yours.” The first said, “No, the dead son is yours, and the living son is mine.” So they argued before the king. 

Then the king said, “The one says, ‘This is my son that is alive, and your son is dead’; while the other says, ‘Not so! Your son is dead, and my son is the living one.’” So the king said, “Bring me a sword,” and they brought a sword before the king. The king said, “Divide the living boy in two; then give half to the one, and half to the other.” But the woman whose son was alive said to the king—because compassion for her son burned within her—“Please, my lord, give her the living boy; certainly do not kill him!” The other said, “It shall be neither mine nor yours; divide it.” Then the king responded: “Give the first woman the living boy; do not kill him. She is his mother.” All Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered; and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him, to execute justice.

Anthem

Sermon Scripture, Matthew 2:1-12 

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

The Word of the Lord for us today.

Thanks be to God. 

Sermon, The Wise Fool. The 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    

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.

Ordination and Installation of New Elders

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 295 Go to the World! 1, 2 and 4

1 Go to the world! Go into all the earth. 

Go preach the cross where Christ renews life's worth,

baptizing as the sign of our rebirth. Alleluia. Alleluia.

2 Go to the world! Go into every place. 

Go live the word of God's redeeming grace.

Go seek God's presence in each time and space. Alleluia. Alleluia.

4 Go to the world! Go as the ones I send, for I am with you till the age shall end,

when all the hosts of glory cry "Amen!" Alleluia. Alleluia.

*Benediction

*Postlude 

Session Meeting for January

Stated Session Meeting, Tue, Jan 13, 2026, 7:00 – 9:00pm, Session Room. Please surround our Session with prayer during this pivotal time; let us ask for wisdom, unity, and a clear vision as they step forward to lead and serve St. John’s in the year ahead.

Faith In Action: Team Meeting

The Faith In Action team will meet in the Session Room immediately following the service on Sunday, January 11. This brief gathering is an excellent opportunity to help plan our upcoming service projects and community outreach efforts. We invite everyone interested in putting their faith to work to join us!

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.

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. Happy New Year and Thank You! (And Linda Herron adds: if you need a paper copy because your cell phone is not your friend, call the church office and let me know!)

Healing Hearts:

A Ministry of Care and Encouragement

Healing Hearts will meet in the church office building 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 group will provide 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.

2026 Calendar for Healing Hearts

Wednesday, January 14th, 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Monday, January 26th, 11:00AM to 12:00 Noon

Souper Bowl of Caring Sunday Feb 8

The Souper Bowl of Caring uses the excitement of the Super Bowl to encourage benevolence among our community's youth. 

Men of the Church

The next meeting of the Men of the Church will be January 21 at 6:30 PM in the Session Room.

Happy birthday

Suzanna Deng (Jan 1)

William Ator (Jan 2)

Samantha Jump (Jan 2)

Megan Edmonsond Trevino (Jan 3)

Tom MacAdam (Jan 4)

Ellen Stowell and Karen Aslbrook (Jan 7)

Connie Brown (Jan 11)

Kathy Barnhill (Jan 17)

James Ragan

and David Rainwater (Jan 19)

Lynne Fisher (Jan 20)

Jana Burnham (Jan 22)

Margaret Glover and Jade Noons Adams (Jan 23)

Katie Hartzog (Jan 26)

Addie Carrettin, Nicolas Dzeukou

and Nnaji BennettLaGrone (Jan 28)

Nyjel BennetLaGrone (Jan 29)

Doris Beetem and Ronan Carrettin (Jan 30)

Prayer Concerns

Rodney Dodson, friend of Donna Fraser, health

Shirley Boyd and her family in the death of her sister Audrey Moore Maley

Jennifer and Gareld, Family of Christina

Nijel Bennet-LaGrone, health

Summer Pavani, Deena Ghattas and Chris Hanneken, friends of Lisa Sparaco, health

Mike Swint in the death of his sister, Chris Borton

All those missing loved ones this Christmas

Family and friends of Christine Perci (friend of the Sparacos)

Harriet Harper, in hospice care

Tom Edmondson, recovering from spinal surgery

Holly Darr, in her wonderful recovery

Karen Alsbrook, health and success in her new career

Kelsey Wiltz, health concerns

Glen Risley, 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, January 11, Third Sunday of Christmas

  9:30 am Sunday School for Adults, Lectionary, Session Room

11:00 am Worship Service, live in sanctuary and on Facebook

12:00 pm Fellowship and Caring Committee Meeting, Room 203

  4:30 pm Pack 8 Meeting, McPhail Hall

Tuesday, January 13

  1:30 pm Spiritual Development Class, Zoom

  5:00 pm Exercise Group, Building 2

  7:00 pm Session Meeting, Session Room

Wednesday, January 14

 7:00 pm Healing Hearts, Room202

Thursday, January 15

  5:00 pm Exercise Class in Building 2

Sunday, January 18, Second Sunday after Epiphany 

  9:30 am Sunday School for Adults, Lectionary, Session Room

11:00 am Worship Service, live in sanctuary and on Facebook

3:30pm Girl Scouts in Session Room and Room 203

Coming Events

Wed, Jan 14, 7 pm, Healing Hearts, Room 202

Wed, Jan 21, 6:30 pm, Men’s Group, Session Room

Mon, Jan 26, 11 am, Healing Hearts, Room 202

Fri, Feb 6, Pinewood Derby Set-Up, McPhail

Epiphany Sermon Series

"Wisdom's Holy Fools:

Unexpected Teachers in Scripture"

• January 18 – Second Sunday after Epiphany. "The Lying Prophet." OT: 1 Kings 13:1-32 (The old prophet who lies but speaks truth). NT: John 11:49-52 (Caiaphas prophesies unknowingly)
• January 25 – Third Sunday after Epiphany. "The Reluctant Messenger." OT: Jonah 3:1-10 (Jonah preaches doom, gets grace instead). NT: Acts 9:1-19 (Paul's inconvenient calling)
• February 1 – Fourth Sunday after Epiphany. "The Boundary-Breaker." OT: Ruth 3:1-18 (Ruth's bold midnight encounter). NT: John 4:1-26 (The woman at the well teaches Jesus' followers)
• February 8 – Fifth Sunday after Epiphany. "The Truth-Teller in Disguise." OT: 2 Samuel 12:1-15 (Nathan's parable trap for David). NT: Matthew 21:28-32 (Tax collectors and prostitutes entering the kingdom first)
• February 15 – Transfiguration Sunday. "The Glory No One Expected." OT: Exodus 24:12-18 (Moses on the mountain, glory cloud). NT: Matthew 17:1-9 (Transfiguration of Jesus)

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