St. John's Presbyterian Church Bulletin
October 26, 2025, 20th Sunday after Pentecost
Gathering
Prelude, Alina Klimaszewska, organ
*Call To Worship, The Rev. Dr. Jon Burnham
Pastor: Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
People: We come to set our hearts on things above.
Pastor: Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse!
People: Test us, Lord, and open heaven's windows!
Pastor: No one can serve two masters.
People: We are blessed to bless; we receive to give.
Opening Prayer
*Hymn 41
O Worship the King, All Glorious Above
1 O worship the King,
all glorious above!
O gratefully sing
God's power and God’s love:
our shield and defender,
the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendor
and girded with praise.
2 O tell of God's might;
O sing of God's grace,
whose robe is the light,
whose canopy space,
whose chariots of wrath
the deep thunderclouds form;
and bright is God's path
on the wings of the storm.
3 The earth with its store
of wonders untold,
Almighty, your power
has founded of old;
established it fast
by a changeless decree,
and round it has cast,
like a mantle, the sea.
4 Your bountiful care
what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air;
it shines in the light;
it streams from the hills;
it descends to the plain,
and sweetly distills
in the dew and the rain.
5 Frail children of dust,
and feeble as frail,
in you do we trust,
nor find you to fail;
your mercies, how tender,
how firm to the end,
our Maker, Defender,
Redeemer, and Friend.
Prayer of Confession, Liturgist, Bill Ehrenstrom
Lord of abundance, we confess our hearts are torn between heaven and earth. We worry about tomorrow while hoarding today. We fear there won't be enough, so we fail to share. We have robbed You in tithes and offerings, in time and in trust. Forgive our small faith and smaller generosity. Teach us that giving is gaining, that releasing is receiving. Amen. (Silent Confession)
Assurance of Pardon
*Glory Be to the Father, Hymn 581
*Passing the Peace
The Word
Prayer for Illumination Bill Ehrenstrom
First Scripture Reading, Malachi 3:8-12
Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, “How are we robbing you?” In your tithes and offerings! You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me—the whole nation of you! Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. I will rebuke the locust for you, so that it will not destroy the produce of your soil; and your vine in the field shall not be barren, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will count you happy, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.
Anthem
Sermon Scripture, Matthew 6:19-24
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
“No one 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,
Treasures in Heaven:
Stewarding Our Resources
The Rev. Dr. Jon Burnham
*Hymn 716 God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending
1 God, whose giving knows no ending,
from your rich and endless store,
nature's wonder, Jesus' wisdom,
costly cross, grave's shattered door:
gifted by you, we turn to you,
offering up ourselves in praise;
thankful song shall rise forever,
gracious donor of our days.
2 Skills and time are ours for pressing
toward the goals of Christ, your Son:
all at peace in health and freedom,
races joined, the church made one.
Now direct our daily labor,
lest we strive for self alone.
Born with talents, make us servants
fit to answer at your throne.
3 Treasure, too, you have entrusted,
gain through powers your grace conferred:
ours to use for home and kindred,
and to spread the gospel word.
Open wide our hands in sharing,
as we heed Christ's ageless call,
healing, teaching, and reclaiming,
serving you by loving all.
The Apostles Creed
Prayers of the People
Lord’s Prayer
Welcome and Announcements
Minute for Stewardship Mindi Stanley,
St. John's College Student Ministry
Offering
*Doxology, Hymn 609
*Prayer after the Offering
Rev. Burnham
Sending
*Hymn 36 For the Fruit of All Creation
1 For the fruit of all creation,
thanks be to God.
For the gifts to every nation,
thanks be to God.
For the plowing, sowing, reaping,
silent growth while we are sleeping,
future needs in earth's safekeeping,
thanks be to God.
2 In the just reward of labor,
God's will be done.
In the help we give our neighbor,
God's will be done.
In our worldwide task of caring
for the hungry and despairing,
in the harvests we are sharing,
God's will be done.
3 For the harvests of the Spirit,
thanks be to God.
For the good we all inherit,
thanks be to God.
For the wonders that astound us,
for the truths that still confound us,
most of all that love has found us,
thanks be to God.
*Blessing
Postlude
Learn More
Ready to learn more about worship at St. John's Presbyterian Church? Contact us at 713-723-6262 or visit us at 5020 West Bellfort Avenue, Houston, TX 77035. Join us for worship this Sunday at 11:00 AM and experience the community that promises to walk with you in faith. In the meantime, continue your journey with uses you learn more about Best Non-Mega Church Houston: Why St. John's Presbyterian Offers Real Faith Beyond Hype or Bible Study in Houston: Where to Find Scripture Study That Goes Deeper.
