2013: The Year in Review by Pastor Jon Burnham

2013 was a year of growth in the life of St. John's Presbyterian Church in Houston. That growth was most evident in the four beautiful duplexes being constructed on our property on West Bellfort Avenue near Westbury United Methodist Church. The Single Parent Family Ministry is being built, financed and staffed by Presbyterian Children’s Home and Services (PCHAS), an outstanding partner in ministry. The homes are 

being built by Ryland Homes under the guidance of Home Aid Houston. New Covenant Presbytery is the other partner in this ministry. We look forward to the new ministries that may arise in the years ahead as we live into this new calling from God. 

Our church staff had a big transition this year as we lost the service of two faithful staff members. Curtis Brisch, our Financial Secretary, died on May 22, 2013. Curtis was tireless in his efforts to serve the congregation by keeping us financially grounded. After his death, Sally Shaw and Rebecca Amador took on the position of Interim Financial Secretary and we appreciate their faithful service.

Vivian Ivy, our Church Secretary for some 45 years, retired this fall due to health constraints. Vivian was an institution here with her deft pastoral care skills and organizational mind and depth of relationships. We look forward to honoring her for years of excellent service to St. John’s when she is feeling better.

We also gained a new staff member this year, Rev. Linda Herron, who volunteers her time and pastoral skills as our Parish Associate. Linda has blessed us with her preaching, singing, liturgical leadership, visitation and teaching. She has also helped fill some gaps in the church office and sings in the choir as well. We appreciate Linda’s pastoral leadership.

My time was spent serving as staff consultant for several committees: Administration and Personnel, Faith in Action, Property, Stewardship and Finance, and Worship. This work consisted of about 45 meetings, most of which were night meetings. As head of staff I led about 45 staff meetings and moderated about 14 Session meetings for a total of well over 100 meetings. I also led about 45 centering prayer meetings.

I enjoyed participating in the Southwest Ministerial Alliance and attended about 10 of their breakfast meetings and hosted one of them at our church. In the areas of pastoral care, teaching, and preaching, I made about 55 home visits, about 55 hospital visits and about 30 nursing home visits for a total of well over 100 visits in various locations around the city. I administered the Lord’s Supper about 12 times, conducted 2 memorial services, 1 baptism, 3 healing services, taught 45 adult classes, 2 officer training classes and preached about 46 sermons.

The Holy Spirit led a shift this year in the lives of many church members through the Unbinding the Gospel group studies. May God continue this movement toward deeper relationships and reaching out in mission to our community.

Seeking New Skin

The sloughing off of the old skin and putting on of the new is a natural part of life for a crab. 

It's similar to the cleansing I seek today which is well described by the ancient palmist. 

Nothing dramatic. Just a minor transformation. 

A minor transformation is my hope and perhaps yours as well. 

We can't make transformation happen in DC. 

We can't even make it happen in our own heart. 

But we can cry out to God for transformation. 

Shed the old skin. 

Put on new skin. 

As individuals and as a nation.

Just beyond our spectacular pride is a tiny glimpse of a way forward. 

Let's head in that direction today. 

- - -

Create in me a clean heart, O God, 

and put a new and right spirit within me.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, 

and put a new and right spirit within me. 

Do not cast me away from your presence, 

and do not take your holy spirit from me. 

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, 

and sustain in me a willing spirit. 

-Psalm 51:10-12 

Ride on the wings of the wind

Ride on the wings of the wind

Sleep in the tent of the heavens.

It's hard to hang with the God of heaven and earth.

You never know where you may get hung.

Could get hung from a cross.

Might get wrapped in light like a garment.

Such is the unpredictable life of a disciple.

You learn to take what comes.

Live into the vision. 

Learn as you grow.

That's how we roll.

~*~

Psalm 104

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. 

O LORD my God, you are very great. 

You are clothed with honor and majesty, 

2 wrapped in light as with a garment. 

You stretch out the heavens like a tent, 

3 you set the beams of your chambers on the waters, 

you make the clouds your chariot, 

you ride on the wings of the wind, 

4 you make the winds your messengers, 

fire and flame your ministers.

Gotta Serve Somebody

On my mind today is a song by Bob Dylan called "Gotta Serve Somebody." He wrote this song when he was going through his "born again Christian phase" as Rolling Stone would put it. I love the lyrics because they speak the truth. Here is one verse with the chorus:

You may be a construction worker 

working on a home

You may be living in a mansion 

or you might live in a dome
You might own guns 

and you might even own tanks
You might be somebody's landlord 

you might even own banks.

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes  

You're gonna have to serve somebody. 

Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord 

But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

We call ourselves servants of Christ. In the past at times we have been. Sometime we are in the present moment. We hope we will be in the future. Who will you serve in the next five seconds? How? That question will keep you focused and alert which was one of Jesus primary messages whenever he preached.

Too Hot to Handle?

The hot as blazes summer sun these days feels like a fulfillment of Jesus' saying in Luke 12:49: "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!" With temps above 100 several days in a row, it feels like that fire has already been kindled around here in Houston.

Jesus has a way of saying and doing the unexpected. For example, a few verses later in Luke's gospel, Jesus says: "Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three ... " -Luke 12:51-52

In some cultures today if you become a Christian you will be cast out of your family. That was also happening during the time when Luke's gospel was written. So Jesus says there will be divisions in the family due faith in Jesus and that is still true today.

"I call for a division of the house" is the terminology we use when there is a close vote on a controversial issue and we want a head count of who is "For" and who is "Against" the issue. Jesus would not be surprised by a call for a division of the house.

Conflicts even exist between family members of different Christian denominations. We hear of conflicts even within the same Christian denomination on certain hot button social issues. Such conflicts are anticipated and foreshadowed in this text.

According to Jesus, conflict is normal, natural, and to be expected in the church, in your family, even in your marriage. So let's not get stressed out over conflict. Note there is a difference between division and disconnection. Jesus says he generates division. Satan, on the other hand, generates disconnection. There is a big difference between division and disconnection. The key to a healthy church or family is how we stay connected even when we disagree.

There were three huts on an island. One of the islanders was asked by a tourist how the three huts were used. "That one is my house and that one is my church," said the islander. "So what's the third hut?" Said the islander, "That's my former church."

We have a preconceived idea of what Jesus is like and this text does not fit our perception. We think of Jesus as a mild mannered man of peace. Yet Jesus says I'm not here to give you what you expect. I'm here to give you what is hard to handle. I'm here to give you the Kingdom of God. Sometimes the Kingdom of God feels as hot as Houston in mid August. Is the Kingdom of God too hot to handle?