Worship God with St. John's
this Sunday at 11 AM
Friends,
Please join St. John's for worship this Sunday as Rev. Linda Herron preaches. I will be away on vacation this Saturday (August 22) through next Saturday (August 29), and I look forward to seeing you again next Sunday.
I’m grateful to Linda for stepping in to fill the pulpit while I’m away.
See the worship bulletin and announcements below.
Peace,
Pastor Jon Burnham
St. John's Presbyterian Worship Bulletin
August 23, 2026 13th Sunday after Pentecost
Gathering
Prelude, Mary Box, Piano
*Call To Worship, Rev. Linda Herron
Pastor: A man stood in front of people who had already decided what to do with him, and he did not open his mouth, and the silence he kept was louder than anything he could have said.
People: Thanks be to God, who works in ways power cannot recognize.
Pastor: In a Roman cell a prisoner wrote out a hymn the church was already singing, about One who had every right to hold on and let go of all of it.
People: Thanks be to God, who came down to where we live.
Pastor: He emptied himself and took the form of a slave and went as far down as a person can go, and that is the road God chose, and it is the only road that runs all the way up.
People: Thanks be to God, at whose name every knee shall bend.
Opening Prayer
*Hymn 441 Hear the Good News of Salvation
1 Hear the good news of salvation:
Jesus died to show God’s love.
Such great kindness! Such great mercy!
Come to us from heaven above.
Jesus Christ, how much I love you!
Jesus Christ, you save from sin!
How I love you! Look upon me.
Love me still and cleanse within.
2 All the sins I have committed,
to my Savior now I bring.
I bow down with tears of anguish;
Christ forgives and so I sing:
Jesus Christ, how much I love you!
Jesus Christ, you save from sin!
How I love you! Look upon me.
Love me still and cleanse within.
Prayer of Confession, Liturgist Bill Ehrenstrom
Gracious God, we confess we have looked to our own interests and called it being responsible, and we have regarded ourselves as better than others while using the language of humility to do it. We have held tight to standing and to being right, and we have made ourselves small only in the ways that cost us nothing. Forgive us, and give us the mind of Christ. 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, Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
Special Music
Sermon Scripture, Philippians 2:1-11
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Sermon,
“The Mind of Christ in a Roman Cell”
Rev. Linda Herron
*Hymn 518 Lamb of God
1 Your only Son, no sin to hide,
but you have sent him from your side
to walk upon this guilty sod,
and to become the Lamb of God.
Refrain:
O Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God,
I love the holy Lamb of God!
O wash me in his precious blood,
my Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
2 Your gift of love, we crucified;
we laughed and scorned him as he died;
the humble King we named a fraud
and sacrificed the Lamb of God. (Refrain)
3 I was so lost, I should have died,
but you have brought me to your side
to be led by your staff and rod,
and to be called a lamb of God. (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 and 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 Bill Ehrenstrom
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 443 There Is a Redeemer
1 There is a Redeemer,
Jesus, God's own Son;
precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Holy One.
Refrain: Thank you, O my Father,
for giving us your Son,
and leaving your Spirit
till the work on earth is done.
2 Jesus, my Redeemer,
name above all names,
precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
hope for sinners slain. (Refrain)
3 When I stand in glory,
I will see his face;
there I'll serve my King forever
in that holy place. (Refrain)
*Benediction and Postlude
Announcements
Healing Service August 30
On Sunday, August 30, we will include a Healing Service during worship. After the sermon, you may come forward for anointing with oil and prayers for healing in all its many forms: physical, emotional, relational, financial, and more. If you are worshiping from home, know that these prayers are offered for you as well.
Men’s Group Meetings – None until September 30
The Men’s Group will take a vacation during the rest of August and September. The next meeting will be on September 30.
Faith in Action Committee Meets September 6
The Faith in Action Committee will meet on Sunday, September 6, after worship. All are welcome.
Air Conditioning Working Again in McPhail Hall
The air conditioning in McPhail Hall is working again. The repair should hold us for the short term, and we will let you know if that changes. Thank you for your patience through the warm weeks.
Welcome New Member: Chase Dowell
At our last Session meeting, we received a new member, Chase Dowell. He joins us by transfer of letter from Bethel Presbyterian Church in West Columbia, Texas. Chase will be welcomed during worship this Sunday.
Mustard Seed Project: Thank You!
Our Summer Mustard Seed Project raised $1,105 to provide school supplies for PCHAS families. On behalf of the children and their families, the Faith in Action Committee thanks you for your generosity.
Greeters and Ushers Needed
Calling all smiling faces to serve the Lord as greeters and ushers! The Worship Committee is looking for volunteers to enter the ministry of greeting and ushering during our Sunday morning Worship services. It is a great way to meet folks in the church and to practice your gifts of hospitality and friendship. Participation is on a rotating basis and the schedule will accommodate those times that you will not be able to serve due to a conflict. Contact Lynne Parsons Austin for more information. Your energy and smiling face are needed.
Video Ministry Wants You
If you enjoy operating computers and video equipment, join the Video Ministry! Help enhance the Worship service by operating the slide show presentation and our video camera for our online guests. Training provided. Contact Lynne Parsons Austin for more information.
Welcome to Our College Ministry
We are delighted to welcome Amelia Nox to our college ministry program. Amelia is a junior at Texas Tech and the granddaughter of Doug and Theresa Darr, and some of us remember her from her Sunday school and Vacation Bible School at St. John’s. With her addition, we now have eleven college adults in our ministry this academic year. Please keep Amelia and all our college students in your prayers as the new school year begins.
Church Phone Update
We have had issues with our church phone. AT&T technician repaired the circuit this week. The line is working, but it was assigned our old fax machine number instead of the church phone number. We are still working to get the correct number restored. In the meantime, please call the church office at (713) 993-6412. Thank you for your patience.
Accessibility for the Entire Body of Christ
The Presbytery of New Covenant invites us to a workshop on Saturday, September 19, at Pines Presbyterian Church. What does it mean for a church to be truly welcoming? The day offers practical ways to welcome and accommodate people with a wide range of abilities and experiences, including neurodiversity, physical disabilities, deaf and hard-of-hearing members, people living with dementia and Alzheimer's, and people from many cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Congregations from across the presbytery will gather for a day of learning, conversation, and ideas we can carry home. Lunch is provided and the event is free. Registration information is coming soon. Save the date.
Happy Birthday
Jonathan Romo (August 2)
Gloria Dzeukou (August 5)
Mark Delafosse (August 6)
Felicity Bisase and Franklin Caspa (August 8)
Olivia Mulder and Betty Robinson (August 10)
Laurie Henderson (August 11)
Marie Kutz (August 13)
David Nelson (August 16)
Carolyn Assaad (August 20)
Toren Hughes, Ann Nelson and Christopher Bbale (August 31)
Happy Anniversary
Allen and Kathy Barnhill (August 1)
Ken and Virginia Krueger (August 24)
Prayer List
Brad, health
Lisa, health
Sandi, health
Patti, health
Gary, Tina’s dad (health)
Friend of Tina, health
Randy Fenfrock, health
Alice Rubio’s grandson Marc, health
A family seeking a good ruling
Ben Carrettin and his son Ronan, health
Cathy, Cindy Bergman’s sister, health
Phyllis Freeman, now receiving hospice care
Tom Edmondson and Kristi, his caregiver
Kelsey Wiltz
Scott Moore
Alice Rubio
Our college students
The families in our PCHAS Single Parent Family Ministry
One Hope Preschool families and staff
Happy Birthday
Jonathan Romo (August 2)
Gloria Dzeukou (August 5)
Mark Delafosse (August 6)
Felicity Bisase and Franklin Caspa (August 8)
Olivia Mulder and Betty Robinson (August 10)
Laurie Henderson (August 11)
Marie Kutz (August 13)
David Nelson (August 16)
Carolyn Assaad and Shannon Kwende (August 20)
Toren Hughes, Ann Nelson and Christopher Bbale (August 31)
Happy Anniversary
Allen and Kathy Barnhill (August 1)
Ken and Virginia Krueger (August 24)
Prayer Concerns
Family of Brad Urquhart
Gary, Tina’s dad (health)
Friend of Tina, health
Randy Fenfrock, health
Alice Rubio’s grandson Marc, health
A family seeking a good ruling
Ben Carrettin and his son Ronan, health
Cathy, Cindy Bergman’s sister, health
The family of Connie Brown
Phyllis Freeman, now receiving hospice care
Tom Edmondson and Kristi, his caregiver
Kelsey Wiltz
Scott Moore
Alice Rubio
Our college students
The families in our PCHAS Single Parent Family Ministry
One Hope Preschool families and staff
Calendar
Sunday, August 23, 13th 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
Tuesday, August 25
5:00 pm Exercise Group, Building 2
Thursday, August 27
5:00 pm Exercise Class in Building 2
Sunday, August 30, 14th 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, Zoom
Coming Events
Sunday, August 30, Healing Service in Worship
Monday, August 31, Healing Hearts, 11 am
Sun, Sept 6, Faith in Action Meeting
Thursday, October 1, BIM Gala
Thursday, November 26, Thanksgiving
Friday, December 25, Christmas Day
