This Sunday at St. John's:

The Jubilee Disruption

Friends,

This Sunday I'm preaching on Luke 4:16-21. Jesus comes home to Nazareth, stands in the synagogue, and unrolls the scroll of Isaiah. He reads about good news for the poor, release for captives, freedom for the oppressed. Then he sits down and says one word: Today.

What gets me is how specific that word is. He doesn't announce a program or a plan. He reads the old Jubilee promise, the one where debts fall off and people go home to what is theirs, and he simply says it is already happening. The whole room goes still.

We spend a lot of life waiting for grace to arrive. We know what ought to be different, and we file it under someday. Jesus keeps interrupting that habit. The year of the Lord's favor is not on the calendar. It is already underway. That is a harder word to carry than a promise would be.

Come worship this Sunday. May Hughes will lead us in worship and read from Leviticus 25, the ancient text where the Jubilee first sounded. This week we begin a new series: Generous Trouble. One of our hymns says it plainly: Today we all are called to be disciples of the Lord.

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 Worship Bulletin

September 27, 2026

18th Sunday after Pentecost

Gathering

Prelude,

Alina Klimaszewska, organ

*Call To Worship,

The Rev. Dr. Jon Burnham

Pastor: On the tenth day of the seventh month, God said, sound the trumpet, and let it ring through every field and every town.

People: Thanks be to God, who declares a year of liberty.

Pastor: Let every one of you go home, the law said. Let the debts fall off. Let the land lie still and catch its breath.

People: Thanks be to God, who presses the reset button on a broken world.

Pastor: And in a small-town synagogue a carpenter’s son unrolled the scroll, found the place, and said the one word nobody expected to hear: Today.

People: Thanks be to God, whose favor has already begun.

Opening Prayer

*Hymn 610

O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing, 1, 2, 3 and 5

1 O for a thousand tongues to sing

my dear Redeemer’s praise,

the glories of my God and King,

the triumphs of God’s grace!

2 The name of Jesus charms our fears,

and bids our sorrows cease,

sings music in the sinner’s ears,

brings life, and health, and peace.

3 Christ speaks, and, listening to his voice

new life the dead receive,

the mournful waken to rejoice,

the poor in heart believe.

5 To God all glory, praise, and love

be now and ever given

by saints below and saints above,

the church in earth and heaven.

Prayer of Confession,

Liturgist May Hughes

Gracious God, we confess that we have kept careful accounts of what is owed to us and forgotten entirely what we owe. We have heard you proclaim liberty and quietly hoped it would not apply to the people who owe us. We have built our lives on the plans we made, and we resent the interruption of your kingdom. Forgive us, and set us free, even from ourselves. 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,

Leviticus 25:8-17

You shall count off seven weeks of years, seven times seven years, so that the period of seven weeks of years gives forty-nine years. Then you shall have the trumpet sounded loud; on the tenth day of the seventh month—on the day of atonement—you shall have the trumpet sounded throughout all your land. And you shall hallow the fiftieth year and you shall proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you: you shall return, every one of you, to your property and every one of you to your family. That fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you: you shall not sow, or reap the aftergrowth, or harvest the unpruned vines. For it is a jubilee; it shall be holy to you: you shall eat only what the field itself produces.

In this year of jubilee you shall return, every one of you, to your property. When you make a sale to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor, you shall not cheat one another. When you buy from your neighbor, you shall pay only for the number of years since the jubilee; the seller shall charge you only for the remaining crop years. If the years are more, you shall increase the price, and if the years are fewer, you shall diminish the price; for it is a certain number of harvests that are being sold to you. You shall not cheat one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the Lord your God.

Anthem

Sermon Scripture,

Luke 4:16-21

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

The Word of the Lord for us today.

Thanks be to God.

Sermon,

“The Jubilee Disruption”

The Rev. Dr. Jon Burnham

*Hymn 301

All Are Welcome, 1, 2 and 5

1 Let us build a house where love can dwell

and all can safely live,

a place where saints and children tell

how hearts learn to forgive.

Built of hopes and dreams and visions,

rock of faith and vault of grace;

here the love of Christ shall end divisions:

Refrain:

all are welcome; all are welcome; all are welcome in this place.

2 Let us build a house where prophets speak,

and words are strong and true,

where all God’s children dare to seek

to dream God’s reign anew.

Here the cross shall stand as witness

and as symbol of God’s grace;

here as one we claim the faith of Jesus: (Refrain)

5 Let us build a house where all are named,

their songs and visions heard

and loved and treasured,

taught and claimed as words within the Word.

Built of tears and cries and laughter,

prayers of faith and songs of grace;

let this house proclaim from floor to rafter: (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,

Rev. Burnham

Sending

*Hymn 757

Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples, 1, 3 and 4

1 Today we all are called to be

disciples of the Lord,

to help to set the captive free,

make plowshare out of sword,

to feed the hungry, quench their thirst,

make love and peace our fast,

to serve the poor and homeless first,

our ease and comfort last.

3 Pray justice may come rolling down

as in a mighty stream,

with righteousness in field and town

to cleanse us and redeem.

For God is longing to restore

an earth where conflicts cease,

a world that was created for

a harmony of peace.

4 May we in service to our God

act out the living word,

and walk the road the saints have trod

till all have seen and heard.

As stewards of the earth may we

give thanks in one accord

to God who calls us all to be

disciples of the Lord.

*Benediction

*Postlude

Announcements

Caring and Fellowship Committee Meets Today

The Caring and Fellowship Committee meets on the third Sunday of each month, but this month’s meeting has moved to the fourth Sunday, September 27, after worship, due to Session business on the 20th. All are welcome.

Healing Hearts Meets Tomorrow, Monday, September 28

11:00 a.m. to noon. Led by Lisa Sparaco, a licensed clinical social worker and member of our church, Healing Hearts offers a safe, faith-filled place for those walking through grief. The group gathers in the Prayer Room of the Church Office Building to share stories, receive encouragement, and walk together through seasons of loss.

Men’s Group Meets This Wednesday, September 30

The next meeting will be this Wednesday, September 30, at 6:30 PM in the Session Room.

BIM Gala, This Thursday, October 1

Tickets for the BIM Gala will be on sale in the narthex after worship. They are $50 per person; you may pay in cash or with a check made payable to BIM.

Starting This Sunday

Generous Trouble:

When Kingdom Economics Interrupt Our Plans

This Sunday, September 27, we begin a new sermon series for the stewardship season.

Scripture keeps circling back to money, and it rarely leaves us comfortable. A widow gives her last coin. A rich man walks away sad. A whole community gathers only what it needs and no more. Nine weeks, nine stories, one question underneath all of them: what happens when God’s economy interrupts ours?

We’ll move from the Jubilee’s reset button, through widows and rulers and a tax collector who gives away half of everything he owns, to All Saints’ Sunday and the Reign of Christ. Along the way, expect a few sermons that unsettle before they comfort. That’s the trouble worth having.

Mark your calendar and come ready to be interrupted.

World Communion Offering, October 4

All of God’s people gather around the Table to celebrate the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Part of the atonement that happens around this Table is reconciliation, which is the focus of the World Communion Offering. Experience the grace that comes from reconciling all peoples from all nations around the corner and around the globe through the ministry of this offering. Envelopes are on the table at the back of the Sanctuary. Please give generously, as St. John’s always does.

Fall Quarterly Bible Study, October 17

You’re warmly invited to a Bible study on worship on Saturday, October 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Together we’ll discover what the Bible teaches about worship, why we worship the way we do, and how worship can flourish in our church, personal, and family lives. Children ages 3 and up, teens, and adults are all welcome. Please sign up in the Narthex by October 11, or let Mary Gaber know you’ll be joining us.

Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee meets this Sunday after worship in the Prayer Room. The committee seeks your input. If you would like to nominate a church member to serve on the Session, put your recommendation in the offering plate with a note to the Nominating Committee or speak directly to a committee member:

• Marie Kutz, Moderator
• Ken Krueger, Clerk
• Omar Ayah
• Michael Bisase
• Leonie Tchonte
• Flo Logan

St. John’s Holiday Gift Market

Sunday, November 8, noon – 2. Come shop for gifts, and to support the missions of our church.

Oil for Our Lamps: A Tuesday Zoom Group

A small group of women at St. John’s has met to study and pray together for fourteen years. The group grew out of our church wide Unbinding the Gospel study in 2012. It began meeting at the church on Tuesday afternoons, moved to Zoom when COVID struck, and has stayed there since. After a recent sermon, the group took a new name: Oil for Our Lamps.

The group now meets on Zoom on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. By November, they hope to begin a study of the book of James, using the Life Change Bible Study Series book and study guide. New members are warmly welcome.

To learn more, speak with any member of the group: Libby Adams, Shirley Boyd, Alvina Hamilton, Ann Hardy, Gerry Jump, Pat Ragan, or Fran Urquhart. Or contact Shirley at 713-598-0818 or saboyd2@att.net to receive the Zoom invitation and order a book.

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.

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.

Prayer List

With hearts united in hope, we lift these names into the healing presence of God.

• Ken Krueger, health concerns
• Alice Rubio and her family, in the death of her sister
• Linda Dobbin, health concerns
• Fran and her children as they mourn Brad's passing
• Mary Hughes and her family, in the death of her brother
• Lisa, health concerns
• Sandy, health concerns
• Patti, health concerns
• Alice's grandson, Marc, health concerns
• Katherine Kyle James, friend of Mark Swindler, health
• Gayle Morales, friend of Alice Rubio, recovering from hip surgery
• Jessica Ivete Robles, friend of Alice Rubio, awaiting a kidney transplant
• Phyllis Freeman, receiving hospice care in the Dallas area
• Tom Edmondson and Kristi, his caregiver
• Kelsey Wiltz, health concerns
• Scott Moore
• Alice Rubio
• St. John’s college students
• Raina Bailey and the families in our PCHAS homes
• One Hope Preschool families and staff
• Randy Finfrock, former member and friend of David Rainwater, health

How Can We Pray for You?

If you would like to add a name to the prayer list or keep a current name listed, please reply to this email and let us know. Thank you for helping us care for one another through prayer.

Happy Birthday

Dan Herron (Sept 1)

Lea Sanford (Sept 2)

San Juana Flores (Sept 3)

Michael Rodgers (Lynne Parsons Austin's son) (Sept 6)

Yor Ator (Sept 7)

Arwin Jump (Sept 11)

Kerry Gaber (Sept 12)

Allison Hardy (Sept 17)

Mel Liljedahl (Sept 20)

Sandy Kattner (Sept 21)

Somer Assad (Sept 22)

Bryan Boyd (Laurie Henderson's son) (Sept 27)

Lindsey Sen-Roy (Sept 28)

Happy Anniversary

Dave and Rose Muanza (Sept 18)

Tom and Kristi Edmonsond (Sept 22)

Calendar

• Sunday, September 27, 18th 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
• 12:00 pm Fellowship and Caring Committee meets
• 12:00 pm Nominating Committee Meets
• 1:30 pm Book Study, Zoom
• 4:30 pm Pack 8 meeting, McPhail Hall
• Monday, September 28
• 11:00 am Healing Hearts, Room 202
• 6:30 pm PCHAS classes, Session Room and Childcare Room
• Tuesday, September 29
• 5:00 pm Exercise Group, Building 2
• Wednesday, September 30
• 6:30 pm Men’s Group, Session Room
• Thursday, October 1
• 5:00 pm Exercise Class in Building 2
• 5:45 pm BIM Gala
• 6:30 pm Gift of Empathy Class
• Sunday, October 4, 19th 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

• Thursday, October 8, Friends United Luncheon, 11 am
• Sunday, October 11, CE Committee
• Sunday, October 11, Pack 8 Meeting, 4:30 pm
• Tuesday, October 13, Session Meeting
• Wednesday, October 14, Men’s Group
• Wednesday, October 14, Healing Hearts, 7 pm
• Saturday, October 17, Quarterly Bible Study, 8:30 am – 2 pm
• Sunday, October 18, Fellowship and Caring
• Saturday, October 18, Girl Scouts, 3:30 pm
• Monday, October 26, Healing Hearts, 11 am
• Wednesday, October 28, Men’s Group
• Saturday, October 31, Halloween!
• Sunday, November 8, Holiday Gift Market

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