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Easter Service Houston:

What to Expect at St. John's Presbyterian


Easter Sunday in Houston is something else.


Drive through the city that morning and you'll see people dressed up in their finest, families piling into minivans, church marquees lit with the same three words in a thousand different fonts. The city takes the day seriously. There are more Easter service options in Houston than you could visit in a month of Sundays.


Megachurches with multiple campuses and full production teams. Contemporary services with worship bands you'd pay to see at a concert. Drive-through options for people who have somewhere else to be by noon.


So if you're reading this, you're probably asking a simple question. Which one is worth my time?


I'm Pastor Jon, and I've been leading Easter services at St. John's Presbyterian Church in southwest Houston since 2007. I won't pretend I'm a neutral party. I think what we do on Easter morning is genuinely worth your time, and I'll tell you exactly why.


But first, let me tell you about a family I know.


They moved to Houston from the Midwest about several years ago. Both are in their fifties, grown kids, experienced churchgoers who'd gotten burned out on the whole production of modern church life. Their last church had a fog machine for the Easter sunrise service. I'm not making that up. They came to St. John's that first Easter mainly because a neighbor mentioned it, and because we had parking available, which in Houston is no small thing. By the second Sunday in May, they were regulars. By fall, they were volunteering with our community garden. They told me once that what got them was this: nothing at our Easter service was designed to impress them. It was just... worship.


That's a harder thing to pull off than it sounds.


What Easter Actually Is

Before we talk about any specific service, it's worth saying something about the day itself, because I think a lot of Easter services have quietly drifted away from what Easter actually is.

Easter is the day Christians believe Jesus rose physically from the dead. That's the claim. Not a metaphor about springtime renewal. Not a story about how love is stronger than hate in some vague spiritual sense. Christians believe something happened in Jerusalem two thousand years ago that changed everything, and Easter is the annual gathering to remember and proclaim that.

If that sounds like a strong claim, you're right. It is. And the honest truth is that Presbyterian worship at St. John's doesn't soft-pedal it. We're not going to meet you where you are by making the resurrection sound like optional poetry. We'll proclaim it plainly and trust that plain proclamation is more compelling than clever packaging.

Some people find that refreshing. Some people find it a little challenging. Both reactions are fine.


Easter Morning at St. John's: The Actual Details

Our Easter service begins at 11:00 AM. We're at 5020 West Bellfort Avenue, Houston, TX 77035, in the Westbury neighborhood, close enough to Bellaire and Meyerland that folks from those areas are here every week.

The service runs about 60 minutes. No countdown clocks. No "we're almost out of time" energy. Just a service that does what it needs to do and doesn't drag.

When you walk in, someone will hand you a bulletin. That bulletin tells you everything that's going to happen in the order it's going to happen. Call to worship, hymns, prayer, Scripture, sermon, Communion, benediction. No surprises. This is one thing I love about traditional Presbyterian worship: you can follow along even if you haven't been to church in years.


The sanctuary is not a stadium. We're a congregation of around 250 members, with about 75 people on a typical Sunday. On Easter we're fuller than that. But you won't be one face in a crowd of thousands. Someone will probably say good morning to you before the service starts. Someone will probably ask if you have questions afterward.


Our chancel choir leads the music. Mark Swindler directs them, and they're good. Alina Klimaszewska is on the organ, and she's excellent. The music on Easter morning is genuinely beautiful, old hymns with real theological weight, "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" and others that have been sung by Christians for centuries. We sing these together as a congregation, not as an audience watching performers.

I preach for about 15 to 20 minutes. The sermon on Easter Sunday goes straight to the text, usually one of the resurrection accounts from the Gospels. I don't use slides. I don't tell a lot of jokes. I do try to connect the resurrection to the actual shape of life in Houston in 2025, because that matters to me. Ancient faith has to touch where people actually live.


We serve Communion on Easter Sunday. At St. John's, our table is open: if you trust in Christ, you're welcome to receive the bread and cup, regardless of your denomination. We pass the elements through the pews. There's something about taking Communion alongside people you don't know yet that does something to you. Something you can't quite explain.


After the service, people gather in the fellowship hall. Coffee, some food, conversation that isn't rushed. If you've ever slipped out of a large church before the service ended to avoid the parking lot, this will feel different. People actually want to talk to you.


Why Smaller Is Different

I know the word "small" can sound like a downgrade. We live in a city that measures things in units of more. More capacity, more campuses, more services, more parking.

And for some people, bigger is genuinely better. If you want anonymity, a large church gives you that. If you want a specialized ministry for every demographic in your family, a large church is probably more equipped to offer that.

But there's something that smaller churches do that larger ones mostly can't. We know people. Not just their names but their situations. When someone in our congregation loses a job or goes through a health crisis, I know about it, and so do others, and people show up. Literally show up. With food, with help, with company.

I've had people tell me they'd been attending a much larger Houston church for two years without anyone knowing their name. Two years. That's not a dig at those churches. They're doing good work with a different model. But it is a real thing to consider when you're deciding where to put your spiritual roots.

Easter at a small church like St. John's means you're not a visitor getting processed through a guest experience system. You're a person walking through a door, and people are going to notice you and welcome you like we mean it.


The Mission Behind the Service

One thing that probably doesn't show up in your average Easter bulletin: the connection between resurrection and what the church does Monday through Saturday.

At St. John's, we're active. Our community garden has 18 raised beds, and what we grow goes to the Braes Interfaith Ministries food pantry, right here in the neighborhood. We support Lulwanda Children's Home in Uganda. We have a partnership with the Houston International Seafarers Center. Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services runs a Single Parent Family Ministry right on our campus. One Hope Preschool operates out of our building.

None of that is incidental to Easter. The resurrection is what motivates it all. If Jesus is alive and Lord of everything, then the hungry person in Westbury is someone we're responsible for. If death has been defeated, we should act like it.

I say this because Easter can become a beautiful annual sentiment that doesn't connect to anything. I've sat through services like that. Good music, moving moments, and then everyone goes home the same as before. We try hard not to let that happen at St. John's. Easter should send you somewhere.


For People Who Aren't Sure What They Believe

If you're reading this and you're not a committed Christian, I want to say something directly.

You are welcome at our Easter service. Completely welcome. You don't need to have your theological questions resolved before you walk in. You don't need to pretend you believe things you don't.

Some of the best conversations I've had after Easter services have been with people who came out of curiosity, or who came with a spouse while privately skeptical, or who grew up in church and walked away and weren't sure why they were back.

If you have questions after the service, I'd genuinely enjoy talking with you. There's no sales pitch. No pressure to sign anything or join anything. The resurrection either happened or it didn't, and it's worth thinking about carefully.

What I won't do is water down the claim to make it easier to swallow. That would be doing you a disservice.


For People Coming Back to Church

Some people find themselves drawn to Easter services after years away from church. Sometimes it's a life event. Grief, or a child being born, or something that happened that made you realize you didn't have the framework to make sense of it.

If that's you, St. John's is a good place to come back. We're not going to ask you to explain where you've been. We're not going to guilt you about your absence. People come back to faith on all kinds of timelines, and we've seen enough of those stories to know that grace doesn't keep office hours.

Our Sunday Bible study meets at 9:30 AM before worship if you want to get there early and ease in. There are also small groups during the week. You can read more about [Bible study options at St. John's] if you want to explore beyond Sunday morning.


Practical Information for Easter Sunday

Here is everything you need:

  • Service time: 11:00 AM, Easter Sunday
  • Address: 5020 West Bellfort Avenue, Houston, TX 77035
  • Parking: On site, with accessible spaces near the entrance
  • Dress: Whatever you're comfortable in. Some people dress up, some don't. We genuinely don't care.
  • Children: Welcome. There's a children's class during the service, or kids can sit with you. We have a rocking chair and a children's play area at the back of the sanctuary. If your toddler needs to move around, that's fine. Nobody minds.
  • Duration: About 60 minutes for the service, plus however long you want to stay for fellowship.
  • Accessibility: The building is wheelchair accessible with accessible restrooms.
  • What to bring: Nothing required. We'll provide everything.
  • You don't need to register. Just show up.
  • If you have questions ahead of time, call us at (713) 723-6262 or email office.sjpc@gmail.com.


What Easter at St. John's Will and Won't Be

This might be the most honest thing I can say.


Our Easter service will not blow your mind with production. There are no fog machines, no light shows, no video screens. The music is excellent but it's choir and organ, not a rock band. The preaching is serious and hopefully accessible but it's not entertainment.


What it will be is real. Real people singing real hymns they actually believe. Real Communion shared with actual neighbors. Real proclamation of a claim that Christians have been making for two thousand years.


Whether that's what you're looking for, only you know.


What I've found, in nearly twenty years of pastoral ministry in Houston, is that a lot of people are exhausted by the performance of church. They want something that doesn't feel designed to manipulate their emotions or maximize their engagement. They want to sit in a room with other people and be reminded of something true, and then go home with a little more strength than they came with.

If that's you, come Easter morning. We'll be at 5020 West Bellfort, doors open before 11:00 AM.


Christ is risen. That's the whole message, and it's enough.


You might also appreciate reading about Presbyterian worship at St. John's: what makes our tradition distinctive, or how St. John's builds genuine community in southwest Houston. If you're considering St. John's as your regular church home, we'd love to talk.


St. John's Presbyterian Church 

5020 West Bellfort Avenue, Houston, TX 77035

(713) 723-6262   stjohnspresby.org

Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM

Sunday Bible Study: 9:30 AM

About the Author

pastor houston, st johns presbyterian, bellaire texas church, serving since 1956, presbyterian pastor, west bellfort church

Pastor Jon has served St. John's Presbyterian Church in Houston for over a decade and is the author of 50+ books on Christian living available on Amazon. 


He is an innovator in both the community and at the church, bringing in major initiatives like the Single Parent Family Ministry housing with PCHAS, the One Hope Preschool program, and expanding the community garden that brings together church members and neighbors. 


Under his leadership, St. John's has become known for practical service that makes a real difference in the community. 


His approach is simple: "We're real people who worship and serve Jesus Christ with no frills."

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The Epistle St. John's Presbyterian Church in Houston Seventy Years on West Bellfort Dear friends, Seventy years is a long time. Longer than most of us have been alive. Long enough to watch Houston transform from a mid-sized Texas city into one of the largest and most diverse cities in the country. Long enough to see whole neighborhoods rise, change, and find new life. St. John's Presbyterian Church has been here through all of it. Since 1956, this congregation has worshiped at 5020 West Bellfort Avenue. Think about that for a moment. The Astrodome had not even been built yet when the first members of St. John's gathered to sing hymns and hear Scripture. Houston was a different world, and a small group of Presbyterians planted a church in southwest Houston because they believed this neighborhood needed a community of faith that would stay. They were right. And they stayed. I did not arrive until 2007, so I cannot claim credit for those first decades. When I came, the congregation handed me something they had been building for fifty-one years. That is a humbling thing to receive. You walk into a story that was already going long before you showed up. What struck me most in those early years was not the building or the programs. It was the people who had been here for decades and still showed up every Sunday like it was the first time they had discovered something worth getting out of bed for. That kind of faithfulness is rare. You do not manufacture it. It grows slowly, year after year, in the soil of shared prayer and shared loss and shared meals and shared mission. Seventy years of names and faces. People who showed up with mops and buckets after Harvey flooded this building, who worked until the Education Building was clean and dry and whole again, and who then turned around and opened those same doors to One Hope Preschool. Families who buried loved ones from this sanctuary and then came back the following Sunday because they needed to be with their people. Young parents who brought infants for baptism and then watched those same children come back as adults, sometimes with infants of their own. Choir members who sang the same hymns for forty years and somehow found new meaning in them every time. The community garden did not exist in 1956. The columbarium was not there. The partnership with Lulwanda Children's Home in Uganda would have seemed impossible. The PCHAS Single Parent Family Ministry on our campus was not yet a dream anyone had dreamed. But the spirit behind all of those things was already present. The belief that the church exists to serve people, and that serving people in the name of Christ changes both the server and the served. That belief has carried this congregation through good years and hard ones. I want to be honest about something. Celebrating seventy years could easily become a kind of self-congratulation. We did it! Look at us! And I understand the temptation. Reaching this milestone as a small congregation in a city full of large and well-funded churches is genuinely something to be grateful for. But I think the truer celebration is this: God was faithful. Generation after generation of people at St. John's said yes when they could have said no. They gave money when money was tight. They showed up to committees and Session meetings and fellowship dinners when they were tired. They welcomed strangers. They prayed for each other by name. God worked through all of that ordinary faithfulness to keep this church alive and keep it useful. That is what is worth celebrating. What do the next ten years look like? Or the next seventy? I do not know, and I suspect that is fine. The people who started this congregation in 1956 probably could not have imagined the church we are today. They just tried to be faithful with what they had in front of them. So that is still the job. Worship well on Sunday mornings. Study Scripture together. Tend the garden. Bring food to Braes Interfaith Ministries. Sit with people who are grieving. Welcome whoever walks through the door. If we do those things, we will probably still be here in 2056. And some pastor who is not yet born will walk into this congregation and receive what you have been building, and they will feel the same weight of gratitude I felt in 2007. God willing, they will also feel the same joy. Seventy years is a long time. And we are just getting started. Peace, Pastor Jon Burnham Welcome New Members: New Faces, Familiar Grace Last night, our Session had the joy of receiving new members into the life of St. John's. We welcomed the Layman family: Zach, Jessica, and their two little ones, Mark and Eric. They did not stumble upon us by accident. They came looking specifically for a congregation that takes the gospel seriously enough to live it out even when it costs something. Some of you will remember the opposition that arose when PCHAS brought its Single Parent Family Ministry to our campus. The Laymans heard about that, and it told them something about who we are. They will be scheduling baptisms for their boys here soon, and we look forward to that celebration. We also received the Rev. Valerie Bell into our fellowship. Valerie is an honorably retired PC(USA) pastor who now makes her home in Meyerland. She has served congregations in Florida and Arkansas, and she brings with her real gifts for teaching and pastoral care among others. As a minister, Valerie will be joining our presbytery rather than our membership roll, but in every way that matters she is one of us, sharing her time and her talents alongside the rest of the congregation. We are glad she is here. Receiving new members during the month of our 70th anniversary year feels like exactly the right kind of gift. God is not finished with St. John's yet. Welcome home, Laymans. Welcome home, Valerie. We will share their photos in the Epistle as soon as they become available. A Word of Celebration We received a wonderful note this week from Loic, grandson of our own Leonie. He wanted the St. John's family to know that he is graduating this May 15th with a 4.0 GPA and an Associate's Degree of Science in Chemistry. After that, he plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in Energy and Environmental Engineering at a four-year school in Canada. He wrote to say thank you, and his words were simple and sincere: "Y'all really made it easier for me." Pastor Jon replied: "A 4.0 in Chemistry does not just happen. That takes discipline, long nights, and a steady kind of determination. And now you are stepping into Energy and Environmental Engineering, which tells me you are not only thinking about your future, but about the future of the world God has given us to care for. We are proud of you, Loic. Truly." Please keep Loic in your prayers as he heads into this exciting next chapter. He carries St. John's love with him all the way to Canada. Tomorrow: PCHAS Luncheon at Lakeside Country Club The annual PCHAS luncheon is tomorrow, Wednesday, April 16th, at noon. It will be held at Lakeside Country Club, 100 Wilcrest Drive, Houston, 77042. The theme this year is "Hope Outlives Hardship." The one-hour program will share updates on the many services PCHAS provides across Texas, Louisiana, and Missouri, with real stories of lives changed. It is a heartwarming event and always worth the time. We are glad to say that 20 people from St. John's are registered and ready to go. St. John's has had deep ties to PCHAS for many years, and especially since partnering with their Single Parent Program right here on our campus beginning in 2012. There will be an opportunity to give toward this ministry if you feel led to do so, but it is not required. If you are registered and have questions about tomorrow, please call or text Shirley at 713-598-0818; or Ann at 713-240-2690. Men of the Church The next meeting of the Men of the Church will be 15 April at 6:30 PM in the Session Room. Come for a time of study and service projects that benefit the church. Fellowship and Caring Committee Meeting this Sunday after worship Our Caring Committee will be gathering near the Session Room for a meeting on Sunday, April 19 , immediately following our worship service. We invite all members to join us as we reflect on our recent outreach efforts and discuss new ways to support and uplift our church family in the coming months. Your heart for service and your thoughtful ideas are what make this ministry so vital. We look forward to seeing you there! Myrtis McPhail Scholarship Attention all high school seniors, undergraduate college, and/or technical/trade school students! St. John’s is once again ready to accept applications to the Myrtis McPhail Scholarship Fund . These funds are available to any church member or relative of a church member who will be enrolled full time in undergraduate college or a technical/trade school in the Fall of 2026. You must reapply for the scholarship each year, and you may apply for a maximum of 5 years. Applications are available by email request to Kathy Barnhill ( jabarnhill@comcast.net ) or Mindi Stanley ( mstanley@bcm.edu ) or click on this link: Applications will be accepted until May 15, 2026 and we hope to distribute funds to recipients in June. The Scholarship Fund also is open for donations! If anyone would like to donate, please indicate the McPhail Scholarship Fund on a check or via Zelle. McPhail Hall Temporarily Closed This past Sunday, we discovered that several ceiling tiles had fallen in McPhail Hall. Unfortunately, additional tiles fell later in the week. While we have cleaned the area and secured the immediate surroundings, our top priority is the safety of our congregation and guests. Therefore, all events scheduled in McPhail Hall are canceled until further notice while we investigate the cause and ensure the space is fully safe for use. We apologize for the inconvenience and will provide updates as soon as we know more. 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. Next Meeting for Healing Hearts Wednesday, April 8, 7:00 - 8:00 PM in the Prayer Room Monday, April 27, 11:00 AM to Noon Prayer List Becky Crawford, hip surgery Glen Risley, recovering from surgery Scenacia Jones family Jessica Ivete Robles, a friend of Alice Rubio, awaits a kidney transplant Family of Sue Benn Tom Edmondson, recovering from spinal surgery Holly Darr, health concerns Kelsey Wiltz, health concerns Madalyn Rodgers, Kathleen Captain's sister Joe Sanford, Scott Moore and Alice Rubio St. Johns College Students Raina Bailey and the families in our PCHAS homes One Hope Preschool families and staff Caring for One Another in Prayer Our prayer list is a vital way we support one another, lifting up joys and concerns before God. From time to time, we update the list to ensure it reflects current needs. If a name has been removed and you would like it added back, please reply to this email and let us know who they are and why you would like them included. Your input helps us pray more intentionally and stay connected to those in need of ongoing support. Thank you for being part of this ministry of care and intercession. Happy Birthday Jo Ann Golden (April 8) Winnie Georgiev (April 9) Samuel Okwudiri (April 9) Emmanuel Okwudiri (April 9) Pat Ragan (April 12) Tom Edmonsond (April 13) Allen Barnhill (April 14) Austin Gorby (April 14) Jenny Pennycuff (April 17) Kennedy Muanza (April 24) Jon Burnham (April 26) Wednesday, April 15 6:30 pm Men’s Group, Session Room Thursday, April 16 12:00 pm PCHAS Luncheon. Church Office Closed 5:00 pm Exercise Class in Building 2 7:00 pm Maundy Thursday service, Sanctuary Sunday, April 19, Third Sunday of Easter 9:30 am Sunday School for Adults, Systematic Theology, Session Room 11:00 am Worship Service, live in sanctuary and on Facebook, Rev. Herron preaching 12:00 pm Brunch, hosted by the Worship Committee 1:30 pm Book Study, Zoom 3:30 pm Girl Scouts in Session Room and Room 203. Wed, April 15, Men’s Group Thurs, April 16, 12 pm, PCHAS Luncheon; Church Office Closed Sun, April 19, Fellowship and Caring Committee meeting after worship Mon, April 27, Healing Hearts, 11 am Thurs, April 30, BIM Gala (tentative date) Church Calendar Online For other dates, see St. John’s Calendar online: https://www.stjohnspresby.org/events/ 2026 Session Members and Roles Elders on the Session: Class of 2026 Ann Hardy: Finance and Stewardship Michael Bisase: Buildings and Grounds Jan Herbert: Christian Education Elders on the Session: Class of 2027 Lynne Parsons Austin: Worship Omar Ayah: Faith in Action Marie Kutz: Personnel and Administration Elders on the Session: Class of 2028 Mary Gaber: Christian Education Peter Sparaco: Faith and Action Tina Liljedahl Jump: Fellowship and Caring Other Session Leaders and Support Staff Jon Burnham: Moderator of Session Lynne Parsons Austin: Clerk to Session Tad Mulder: Church Treasurer Tap Here to leave a Google Review for St. John's Presbyterian Church 👉 Tap here to leave a review: [ Direct Google Review Link ] (Currently 4.9 stars from 37 reviews – thank you!) Sermon Series Resurrection Disruptions Most Easter sermons make a promise that is hard to keep on Monday morning. Death is defeated. Christ has risen. And then the diagnosis is still real. The grief hasn't lifted. The loss is still just there. This Easter season we are going to be honest about that tension. The series is called "Resurrection Disruptions: When Death Gets Interrupted," and it runs from Easter Sunday through the Day of Pentecost. Eight weeks, eight stories of God showing up for people who weren't ready, weren't expecting it, and probably weren't facing the right direction when it happened. Ezekiel in a valley of dry bones. Thomas with his hand near a wound. Disciples huddled behind a locked door. Each week is a disruption story. Each week the resurrection interrupts something that looked finished. The arc moves from the disorientation of early Easter morning all the way to Pentecost, from silence to fire, from a sealed tomb to a wide open street. If you have ever wondered whether faith has anything real to say to people who are actually suffering, these eight weeks are for you. Bring someone who is carrying something heavy this spring. We'll start at an empty tomb and see where the risen Christ takes us from there.

Worship Bulletin for April 12, 2026

By Jon Burnham • April 9, 2026
St. John's Presbyterian Church in Houston

The Epistle for April 8, 2025

By Jon Burnham • April 8, 2026
The Epistle for April 8, 2026 Resurrection Disruptions: The Easter Season Is Just Getting Started Dear friends, Last Sunday's Easter worship was one of those mornings you carry home with you. The sanctuary was full, familiar faces and a few new ones, and when we gathered around the Lord's table there was room for everyone who came forward. That is always the best kind of full. We sang, we prayed, we heard again the staggering news that the tomb was empty and the women ran to tell someone. I am still thinking about that image, those women running. As we move now through the weeks of the Easter season, I hope you will keep coming back. The story does not end at the empty tomb. In some ways, it is just getting started. This Sunday continues our new series, "Resurrection Disruptions: When Death Gets Interrupted." The title came to me because Easter keeps disrupting things. Grief gets disrupted. Despair gets disrupted. Our careful plans for how life should go get disrupted. Each week we will look at one of those disruptions through the lens of both the Old Testament and the New. We started last week with "The Stone Rolls Away," reading Ezekiel's valley of dry bones alongside Matthew's account of the women at the tomb. Both passages ask the same question, really. Can these bones live? And both give the same impossible, wonderful answer. The series will run all the way through Pentecost and Trinity Sunday. We have some rich ground to cover. Thomas and his wounds. Elijah sitting under a broom tree, done with everything, then getting fed by angels and told to get back up. The road to Emmaus, where two heartbroken disciples walk miles with a stranger and only recognize him when he breaks the bread. These are not tidy stories. They are full of confusion and doubt and grief. I think that is why they still feel true. On April 26 we will spend time with Psalm 23 and the Good Shepherd passage from John, which feels right for spring. And on May 10, the Sixth Sunday of Easter, we will look at Paul standing in Athens trying to explain the unknown God to a crowd who had never heard of Jesus. I find that passage quietly hilarious and deeply moving at the same time. We land on Pentecost Sunday, May 24, with "Fire-Tongued Gospel," reading Isaiah's burning coal alongside Acts 2. Then we close the season on Trinity Sunday, May 31, with "God Beyond Our Boxes." Genesis 1 and the Great Commission together. I have a feeling that one will give us more to talk about than we can finish in an hour. I hope you will join us for as many of these Sundays as you can. Peace, Pastor Jon Burnham Friends United Lunch April 9, 11 am In the room next to the Session Room Join the Friends United group for lunch and a fun game of bingo on Tuesday, April 9th, at 11 am. Please bring your own sack lunch, while dessert and drinks will be happily provided. Come ready to enjoy good company, food, and friendly competition as we play bingo and celebrate together. Myrtis McPhail Scholarship Attention all high school seniors, undergraduate college, and/or technical/trade school students! St. John’s is once again ready to accept applications to the Myrtis McPhail Scholarship Fund . These funds are available to any church member or relative of a church member who will be enrolled full time in undergraduate college or a technical/trade school in the Fall of 2026. You must reapply for the scholarship each year, and you may apply for a maximum of 5 years. Applications are available by email request to Kathy Barnhill ( jabarnhill@comcast.net ) or Mindi Stanley ( mstanley@bcm.edu ) or click on this link: Applications will be accepted until May 15, 2026 and we hope to distribute funds to recipients in June. The Scholarship Fund also is open for donations! If anyone would like to donate, please indicate the McPhail Scholarship Fund on a check or via Zelle. Christian Eduction Committee Meeting this Sunday after worship Following our worship service this Sunday, the Christian Education Committee will gather in the Session Room to continue our planning for the church's learning ministries. We invite all committee members to join us as we discuss upcoming curriculum and new opportunities for spiritual growth across all age groups. Your presence and insights are deeply valued as we work together to nurture the faith of our congregation! Fellowship and Caring Committee Meeting this Sunday after worship Our Caring Committee will be gathering near the Session Room for a meeting on Sunday, April 19 , immediately following our worship service. We invite all members to join us as we reflect on our recent outreach efforts and discuss new ways to support and uplift our church family in the coming months. Your heart for service and your thoughtful ideas are what make this ministry so vital. We look forward to seeing you there! Protect Your Mail, Prep Your Taxes by Dan Herron Things to think about, safety in our modern age Incoming U S mail This has your name and address of course. Some advertising items have a small place to “SCAN HERE” for quick service. Be careful when throwing this envelope/document into the trash. If anyone gets that SCAN HERE Spot, guess what they might have. Your scanned name and address, of course. And, from that SCAN spot, perhaps your credit card information! So, to be absolutely safe, tear up and destroy these scannable spots! Some have a computer virus. Tear up your name and address also. Then, no one can use those items to do any fraud on you. Mailing checks Do not use the blue mailbox outside the US post office to mail your check payments and tax documents. Look up stories about how mail thieves actually remove mail from inside that kind of mailbox. The thieves know we mail checks this season because of income tax payments. Tax Season 2026 for 2025 returns This article is for Tax Education only. Income tax time is here! Be sure to take care of your 2025 income tax forms very soon. If you cannot file by the due date be sure to file for an extension. Look up this topic on the internet at IRS.Gov for the due dates to file and other information about filing. Do not put this off. Be sure to be on time. Get help if you need it, but don’t wait. These days you can usually print any form you need from IRS.GOV. It is also nearly time for the 1040-ES which is for an early estimate of your 2026 taxes. The form 1040-ES is used for this quarterly payment to the IRS. They send 4 of these forms to me early in the year. I guess this is to be sure I don’t miss paying taxes before the tax season. Check online for the due date of 1040 ES form and payment. Dan Herron Thank you from Scenasia and Family Thank you St. John's family. As Moses grew weary, Aaron and Hur placed a stone for him to sit on and held his hands steady-- I didn't know how tired I was until you all were there!! The thoughtfulness gave me something I didnt know I needed-help!! But sometimes you don't know where you need the help-- as you guys just said let us - I surrendered. Thank you simply does not express the gratitude of the thoughtfulness of everything. I didn't have to worry about what to cook/when to cook/when to eat- it was just there!! Y'all thought of us-- including Nyjel's special dietary needs, "extras", salad w dressing, cornbread, crackers, cookies and meals enough for a couple days! More importantly I appreciate the hugs and prayers. We are honored to be loved by y'all. Much love, Scenacia, Nnaji & Nyjel Faith in Action: A Few Important Updates I want to share a few quick updates and invitations as we continue our work alongside our neighbors through Braes Interfaith Ministries. BIM Gala Tickets Coming Soon You should be receiving tickets soon from Eloy for BIM’s annual gala. The event is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, April 30, though we are still waiting on final confirmation. As soon as the date is set, we will pass that along. Faith in Action Committee Meeting We will gather for a Faith in Action Committee meeting following worship on Sunday, April 12. If you have a heart for mission or simply want to learn more about how we serve our community, you are welcome to join us. Supporting BIM in a Critical Season Many of BIM’s programs are facing funding challenges right now, which makes this moment especially important. We invite you to consider a cash donation to support their work in advance of the gala or shortly after. Checks can be made payable to Braes Interfaith Ministries, with “BIM Gala Fundraiser” noted in the memo line. This is one of those quiet ways the church makes a real difference. No spotlight. Just steady care for people who need it. Thank you for being part of that work. PCHAS Luncheon - Register Now - Details Below "Hope Outlives Hardship" is the theme for the annual luncheon for PCHAS at the Lakeside Country Club (100 Wilcrest Dr., 77042). The April 16th one-hour noon-time program provides an update on the many services PCHAS provides in Texas, Louisiana and Missouri through heartwarming examples of how lives are changed. St. John’s ties to PCHAS go back many years, but especially since partnering with their Single Parent Program beginning in 2012. Do you feel a sense of pride when someone in the community comments or asks about these duplexes? We hope to fill (at least) two tables (of 10-11 guests) for this annual major fundraising event here in Houston for PCHAS. Special diets are available on request. Yes, you will have an opportunity to donate toward this amazing ministry should you so choose, but it is not required! Many who have attended in the past have already received email or snail-mail notifications. More information will be in the Epistles and announcements during worship services through mid-April. Those interested in attending are asked to register either directly to Marla Endieveri at the PCHS Office here in N.W. Houston(832-241-5921), or on-line (marla.endieveri@pchas.org); by calling or texting Shirley at 713-598-0818; by calling or texting Ann Hardy at 713-240-2690; or by leaving a message at the church office (713-723-6262) no later than April 11. Please consider attending this special time of fellowship and hope! McPhail Hall Temporarily Closed This past Sunday, we discovered that several ceiling tiles had fallen in McPhail Hall. Unfortunately, additional tiles fell later in the week. While we have cleaned the area and secured the immediate surroundings, our top priority is the safety of our congregation and guests. Therefore, all events scheduled in McPhail Hall are canceled until further notice while we investigate the cause and ensure the space is fully safe for use. We apologize for the inconvenience and will provide updates as soon as we know more. Men of the Church The next meeting of the Men of the Church will be 15 April at 6:30 PM in the Session Room. Come for a time of study and service projects that benefit the church. St. John's Snapshots Photos by Ken Krueger Vivian and her grandaughter, Kathleen. Photo by Virginia Krueger 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. Next Meeting for Healing Hearts Wednesday, April 8, 7:00 - 8:00 PM in the Prayer Room Monday, April 27, 11:00 AM to Noon Prayer List With hearts united in hope, we lift these names into the healing presence of God. Glen Risley, recovering from surgery Scenacia Jones family Jessica Ivete Robles, a friend of Alice Rubio, awaits a kidney transplant Gerry Jump, Brazos Towers Family of Sue Benn Tom Edmondson, recovering from spinal surgery Holly Darr, health concerns Kelsey Wiltz, health concerns Glen Risley, health concerns Madalyn Rodgers, Kathleen Captain's sister Joe Sanford, Scott Moore and Alice Rubio St. Johns College Students Raina Bailey and the families in our PCHAS homes One Hope Preschool families and staff Caring for One Another in Prayer Our prayer list is a vital way we support one another, lifting up joys and concerns before God. From time to time, we update the list to ensure it reflects current needs. If a name has been removed and you would like it added back, please reply to this email and let us know who they are and why you would like them included. Your input helps us pray more intentionally and stay connected to those in need of ongoing support. Thank you for being part of this ministry of care and intercession. Prayer List Update – How Can We Pray for You? As part of our commitment to intentional and meaningful prayer, we periodically refresh our prayer list to ensure we are staying connected with those who need support. If you or someone you previously requested would like to remain on the prayer list, or if you have a new name to add, please reply to this email and let us know. We are grateful for the opportunity to pray with and for you. Happy Birthday Jo Ann Golden (April 8) Winnie Georgiev (April 9) Samuel Okwudiri (April 9) Emmanuel Okwudiri (April 9) Pat Ragan (April 12) Tom Edmonsond (April 13) Allen Barnhill (April 14) Austin Gorby (April 14) Jenny Pennycuff (April 17) Kennedy Muanza (April 24) Jon Burnham (April 26) Wednesday, April 8 7:00 pm Healing Hearts, Prayer Room, Room 202 Thursday, April 9 11:00 am Friends United, Room 203 and Session Room 5:00 pm Exercise Class in Building 2 7:00 pm Maundy Thursday service, Sanctuary Saturday, April 11 9:30 am Daisy Troop, Room 203 Sunday, April 12, Second Sunday of Easter 9:30 am Sunday School for Adults, Session Room 11:00 am Worship Service, live in sanctuary and on Facebook 12:00 pm CE Committee and Fellowship and Caring Committee Meetings 1:30 pm Book Study on Zoom 4:30 pm Pack 8 Meeting, Exercise Room Coming Events Sun, April 12, CE and Fellowship and Caring Committees meet Tue, April 14, Session Meeting Wed, April 15, Men’s Group Thurs, April 16, 12 pm, PCHAS Luncheon; Church Office Closed Sun, April 19, Brunch, Worship Committee Host Mon, April 27, Healing Hearts, 11 am Thurs, April 30, BIM Gala (tentative date) Church Calendar Online For other dates, see St. John’s Calendar online: https://www.stjohnspresby.org/events/ 2026 Session Members and Roles Elders on the Session: Class of 2026 Ann Hardy: Finance and Stewardship Michael Bisase: Buildings and Grounds Jan Herbert: Christian Education Elders on the Session: Class of 2027 Lynne Parsons Austin: Worship Omar Ayah: Faith in Action Marie Kutz: Personnel and Administration Elders on the Session: Class of 2028 Mary Gaber: Christian Education Peter Sparaco: Faith and Action Tina Liljedahl Jump: Fellowship and Caring Other Session Leaders and Support Staff Jon Burnham: Moderator of Session Lynne Parsons Austin: Clerk to Session Tad Mulder: Church Treasurer Tap Here to leave a Google Review for St. John's Presbyterian Church 👉 Tap here to leave a review: [ Direct Google Review Link ] (Currently 4.9 stars from 37 reviews – thank you!) Resurrection Disruptions New Sermon Series Starts Easter Sunday Most Easter sermons make a promise the people in the pews already know is hard to keep. Death is defeated. Christ has risen. Hallelujah. And then Monday arrives. And the diagnosis is still real. The grief hasn't lifted. The loss is still just... there. This Easter season at St. John's, we're going to be honest about that tension. The sermon series is called "Resurrection Disruption: When Death Gets Interrupted," and the central claim is this: Easter Sunday announces something more specific than "death lost." What it announces is that death got interrupted. Mid-sentence. A clause inserted into the story that changes everything after it, without pretending the story was never started. That might sound like a small distinction. I promise it isn't. We're going to spend eight Sundays together, from Easter all the way through Pentecost in mid-May, tracing this pattern across both the Old and New Testaments. Ezekiel in a valley of dry bones. Thomas with his hand near a wound. Three men walking out of a furnace not smelling of smoke. Disciples huddled in a locked room while the risen Jesus stands in the middle of them. Each week is a disruption story. Each week God shows up for someone who wasn't ready, wasn't expecting it, and probably wasn't facing the right direction when it happened. That pattern matters. Because most of us, if we're honest, aren't facing the right direction most of the time either. The series runs Easter Sunday through the Day of Pentecost, and the eight messages follow the shape of grief in a way that surprised even me when I saw it. We start with the disorientation of early Easter morning and end, eight weeks later, with the disciples finally breathing out what God breathed into them. The arc moves from receiving to sending, from silence to fire, from a sealed tomb to a wide open street. If you've ever wondered whether faith has anything real to say to people who are actually suffering, these eight weeks are going to give you a lot to hold onto. Bring a friend. Bring whoever in your life is carrying something heavy this spring. We'll start where we always start, at an empty tomb, and see where the risen Christ takes us from there. Church Office Hours and Contact Info Our church office is normally open Monday through Thursday, from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Pastor Jon is typically available on Monday and Tuesday mornings, Alvina Hamilton serves on Wednesdays, and Linda Herron staffs the office on Thursdays. If you need assistance outside of these hours, please don’t hesitate to call us at 713-723-6262. To submit updates for the Prayer List or contributions to the Wednesday Epistle , kindly email Pastor Jon directly . Put "Epistle" in the subject line to make sure it gets in the Epistle. Church Website and Calendar Online Our church website: https://www.stjohnspresby.org/ For dates, times, and events, see St. John’s Calendar online: https://www.stjohnspresby.org/events/ Email Pastor Jon to request an addition to the church calendar or to add an event or article to The Epistle. St. John's Bible Study & Faith Formation Groups 1. Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study Time: Sundays at 9:30 AM Location: In-person at church Description: Adult class that focuses on systematic theology. Open to visitors without needing to fill out forms or commit immediately. 2. Sunday Afternoon Zoom Study Time: Sundays at 1:30 PM Location: Zoom (virtual) Description: Tackles books and topics requiring sustained attention. Recently studied "The Way of Discernment" by Steve Doughty. Focuses on deep questions about following God's will, spiritual discernment, and making faithful life decisions. Small group format where everyone participates. 3. Tuesday Afternoon Women's Study Time: Tuesday afternoons at 1:30 PM Location: Zoom (virtual) Description: Long-standing women's group studying Christian books, praying together, and supporting each other through life's challenges. Not a stereotypical "ladies' Bible study" but rather women asking tough questions and wanting faith that matters in real life. Mothers, professionals, retirees, and caregivers dealing with aging parents, marriages, careers, and health issues. 4. Men's Group (Wednesday Evening) Time: Every other Wednesday at 6:30 PM (one hour or so) Location: In-person at church Description: Men dig into Scripture with focus and energy. They also hold each other accountable and pray for each other's struggles. They work on practical service projects such as upgrading lights are also on the agenda. Designed to respect men's time and intelligence. 5. Children's Bible Study Time: Sundays at 11:00 AM (during worship service) Location: Church office building Description: Age-appropriate Bible study for children that helps them engage with Scripture at their level. Not childcare but actual faith development that takes children seriously while allowing parents to focus on worship. Exercise & Wellness Groups 6. Stay Young, Stay Strong Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:00-6:00 PM Location: Room 209, Building 2 Description: Strength training class based on Miriam E. Nelson's book "Strong Women Stay Slim." Weights provided. Fellowship Groups 7. St John's Friends United (Older Adults Group) Time: Monthly luncheons (contact office for schedule) Location: Various Description: Group for older adults featuring trips and monthly luncheons with programs and meals. To join any of these groups, contact: Phone: 713-723-6262 Email: office.sjpc@gmail.com The church is located at 5020 West Bellfort Avenue, Houston, TX 77035 

Holy Week Houston: How This Sacred Season Shapes My Faith

By Jon Burnham • April 3, 2026
Holy Week Houston: What It Means to Me as Your Pastor