From The Pastor’s Desk: WHERE IS THE KING?

by | Dec 23, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

“WHERE IS THE KING?” Matthew 2:1-12 1  Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east,...

From The Pastor’s Desk: “PEACE OR FEAR?”

by | Dec 9, 2021 | Uncategorized

“PEACE OR FEAR?” The power of choice is a reality; for example, we choose peace by choosing God.  Peace is the third component of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22) which suggests that peace is a benefit of being born again.  Believers can have perfect peace when our...

From The Pastor’s Desk 12/2/21

by | Dec 2, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

“IF IT HAD NOT BEEN THE LORD WHO WAS ON OUR SIDE” (Psalm 124:1-8) 1  If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say; 2  If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: 3  Then they had swallowed us up quick, when...

Bereavement: Sis. Kathy Love, Sis. Gail Autry & Family

by | Dec 2, 2021 | Bereavement

Sis. Lois Irving passed last Tuesday, November 23, 2021.  She was the mother of Sis. Kathy Love and Sis. Gail Autry.  The viewing will be Thursday, December 9th from 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the Funeral Service will be Friday, December 10, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at the...

From The Pastor’s Desk: Happy Thanksgiving

by | Nov 25, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

“HAPPY THANKSGIVING” “Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.” (Psalm 75:1)   Every day is a day of thanksgiving, but we recognize every fourth Thursday of November as a special day of...

From The Pastor’s Desk: “ARE YOU BLESSED?”

by | Nov 11, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

“ARE YOU BLESSED?” Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalm 1:1-2...

Bereavement: Rev. Otis Harris

by | Oct 30, 2021 | Bereavement

God has called Rev. Otis Harris, one of the pillars of St. John, to transition from earth to glory.  Rev. Harris served faithfully in so many capacities as a minister of our congregation.  Personally, my heart is heavy. Let us pray for his family, and I hope to share...

From The Pastor’s Desk: “GOD REALLY CARES”

by | Oct 28, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

“GOD REALLY CARES” “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)   We live in a world where people seemingly do not care.  Unfortunately, some people have mates, children, and ostensibly loved ones who do not care.  Notwithstanding the...

From The Pastor’s Desk: “HOW TO SUFFER”

by | Oct 14, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

“HOW TO SUFFER” “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” (1 Peter 4:19)   To suffer is not what most desire to do, but it is what most will experience at some...

From The Pastor’s Desk: “PRAY FOR RAIN!”

by | Sep 30, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

“PRAY FOR RAIN!” “Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who makes the storm clouds.  He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone.” Zechariah 10:1 (NIV)   Among all of the perils that confront us, in some places such as...

From The Pastor’s Desk: “GOD LOVE YOU!”

by | Sep 23, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

“GOD LOVES YOU!” “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,  that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Jesus spoke these words in the context of his discussion with Nicodemus which the Apostle John...

Bereavement: Sis. Paulette Preston & Her Family

by | Sep 23, 2021 | Bereavement

SIs. Paulette Preston’s father (Ernest Palmer) passed, on September 12th at the age of 100 (and 5 months).  The Funeral Service will be Tuesday, September 28th at 11:00 a.m. at the Wilson & Kratzer Mortuary, 455 24th Street, Richmond, California.  The...

Bereavement: Sis. Shica Worley & Her Family

by | Sep 15, 2021 | Bereavement

SIs. Shica Worley (the wife of Min. Bahati Worley) needs our prayers because her mother, Vikki Brown, passed Sunday, September 12th.  Funeral arrangements are pending.  Condolences may be sent to: Please pray for Sis. Shica Worley and her family.  Thank You. Your...

Sis. Zodia Jordan’s 90th Birthday 🎂

by | Aug 26, 2021 | Membership News

We praise God for blessing Sis. Zodia Jordan to celebrate her 90th birthday on August 12, 2021.  We pray that God will continue to bless her and keep her in good health for many more years. “Mother Jordan,” we love you and thank God for you. Your Servant...

From The Pastor’s Desk 8-12-21

by | Aug 12, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

“And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the...

From The Pastor’s Desk 8-5-21

by | Aug 5, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

Greetings to each of you in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  Although we are truly blessed, we are also living in perilous and unprecedented times.  We are told that we are amidst a pandemic that has affected the entire world.  As your pastor, I...

From The Pastor’s Desk: “God’s Word”

by | Jul 29, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

God’s Word “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22 One of the greatest challenges for believers is to be “doers of the word.”  People can easily talk, but walking what we talk about is more arduous.  To be “doers of...

A Very Important Announcement

by | Jul 16, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)  A Change Of Plan I greet each of you as God’s servant in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and...

From The Pastor’s Desk 7-15-21

by | Jul 15, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19). Greetings to each of you in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  In my 34 years as a pastor...

From The Pastor’s Desk 7-8-21

by | Jul 8, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

“This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”  (Psalm 118:23)  Greetings to each of you in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  I am so grateful to God for all that He is doing.  Since the reopening of our church (almost 5 weeks ago), God...

From The Pastor’s Desk 7-1-21

by | Jul 1, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

By the grace of God, we have now begun the second half of the year which means that half of the year is already behind us.  We are so thankful to God that we are still alive, for the Lord has blessed and sustained us which has been my constant prayer.  As a...

From The Pastor’s Desk 6-24-21

by | Jun 24, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

What a mighty God we serve!  Despite all of the perils of this world, by the grace of God, we are still alive!  We want to do all that we can to experience quality living, so we encourage everyone to be conscientious concerning our well-being and safety. As of June...

From The Pastor’s Desk 6-17-21

by | Jun 17, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

Greetings to each of you in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. In these unprecedented times, people are faced with many challenges and forced to make many adjustments. Nobody envisioned most of the world, even churches, being shut down 15 months ago, but...

From The Pastor’s Desk 6-10-21

by | Jun 10, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Acts 20:28   Paul summoned the elders of the church of Ephesus, and he commanded...

From The Pastor’s Desk 6-3-21

by | Jun 3, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

By the grace of God, we have entered into a new month.  June is the month for a lot of congregations, including St. John, to return to corporate worship.  At St. John, our facilities have been closed for 14 ½ months, so many of us are excited about reopening this...

From The Pastor’s Desk 5-27-21

by | May 27, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

Greetings to each of you in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  Truly, God has brought us from a mighty long way, and we give Him all the glory!  As succinctly as possible, let me address six major ecclesiastical concerns. 1.  CHURCH REOPENING We are...

From The Pastor’s Desk 5-20-21

by | May 20, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

I greet each of you in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Let’s get right to the point in regards to subjects that concern us. CHURCH REOPENING If God wills, we are preparing for two Worship Celebrations on the 1st Sunday of June (June 6th): The North...

Bereavement: The Family Of Sis. Betty Marshall

by | May 19, 2021 | Bereavement

Sis. Betty Marshall passed, and she was the sister of Mother Geraldine Johnson, Mother Annie Johnson, Sis. Dolores Rollins and Bro. Gary Briggs.  Also, she was the aunt, relative, and loved one of many. The viewing will be Thursday, May 27th (12-2 pm) at the Wilson...

From The Pastor’s Desk 5-13-21

by | May 13, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

WE NEED TO WORSHIP TOGETHER   “Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Heb. 10:25 – ESV).The writer of Hebrews was exhorting believers not to become like some who...