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...

From The Pastor’s Desk 5-6-21

by | May 6, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

Greetings to each of you in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  By the grace of God, we are alive to witness the month of May, and we have so much to thank God and to entreat God for. VOLUNTEERS AT THE NORTH CAMPUS We thank God for many of you who served...

The Pastor’s Desk 4-29-21

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

Psalm 118:24 “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” By the grace of God, we are alive to witness the completion of another month.  Many who began this month with us are not alive today, but we are still alive; therefore, we...

From The Pastor’s Desk: Let’s Work Together!

by | Apr 22, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

LET’S LABOR TOGETHER Matthew 9:37-38 (KJV) 37  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38  Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.   Greetings to each of you in...

Tonight Is Big!

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

“KEEP PRESSING ON!” Philippians 3:13-14 Reads:  13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14  I press toward the mark for the prize of...

COVID-19 Vaccinations

by | Mar 28, 2021 | Membership News

To All St. John Members & Friends: Our church is committed to assist people in many ways, especially during this pandemic.  We made attempts to host and be a vaccination site but were told to try again at a later date.  If you have influence with people in...

Update from The Pastor’s Desk 3-25-21

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

TOGETHER WE CAN! Greetings to each of you in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  I often reflect and apply to my life (especially when faced with a challenge) Philippians 4:13 which reads:  “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” ...

Update from The Pastor’s Desk 3-18-21

by | Mar 18, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

GET INVOLVED! In life, people should strive to make a difference, but we cannot make a difference by being spectators and naysayers.  I challenge each of us to get involved!  Let’s consider some areas where our involvement is needed. First, we still need a lot of...

Update from The Pastor’s Desk 3-4-21

by | Mar 4, 2021 | Uncategorized

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.…” (2 Corinthians 13:5) As we are already in the third month of the year, we should examine ourselves to ensure that we are on the right road.  Doing the following faithfully amid this pandemic...

Update from The Pastor’s Desk 2-25-21

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

FROM THEN TO NOW By the grace of God, we are alive to witness February which is Black History Month.  In the last three weeks, we discussed how Black History Month emanated, we highlighted the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and we accentuated the life of Rosa...

Update from The Pastor’s Desk 2-18-20

by | Feb 18, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

“For We Walk By Faith, Not By Sight”  (2 Cor. 5:7) February Is Black History Month!  We began this month discussing the history of Black History Month, and then last week we highlighted the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Today, let’s reflect on the life of one...

Mother Rucker Viewing and Service

by | Feb 11, 2021 | Bereavement, Membership News

Mother Inez Rucker passed Tuesday, January 12th at about 10:30 am.  (I am thankful that I visited and prayed with her the evening before she passed.)  The viewing will be next Wednesday, February 17th (10 – 11 am) at Baker Funeral Home which is located at 980...

Update from The Pastor’s Desk 2-11-21

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

“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 By the grace of God, I greet each of you in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  We have so many reasons to praise God mainly because of who He is and what He is...

Update from The Pastor’s Desk 2-4-21

by | Feb 4, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

CELEBRATING OUR HERITAGE We glorify God who has blessed us to enter into the second month of this year, for we can never take life for granted since tomorrow is not promised to anyone.  The existence of the United States of America is officially only 244 years,...

Update from The Pastor’s Desk 1-28-21

by | Jan 28, 2021 | Uncategorized

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  I woke up this morning with Psalm 37:1-5 on my mind; hence, I would like to encourage you with these verses written by David along with my brief applicative exposition. 1 Fret not thyself because of...

Update from The Pastor’s Desk 1-21-21

by | Jan 21, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

As your Pastor, I greet each of you in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  Like so many, I assume that you are being inundated with the cares of this world.  As my mother would say, “If it ain’t one thing, it’s another!”  Despite all the problems...

Update from The Pastor’s Desk 1-14-21

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

Greetings to each of you in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  Today, I am divinely inspired to provide encouragement through an applicable exposition of Psalm 33:18-22 which reads: 18  Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them...

Update from The Pastor’s Desk 1-7-21

by | Jan 7, 2021 | The Pastor's Desk

Psalm 113:1-3 (KJV) 1  Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. 2  Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. 3  From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is...

Update from The Pastor’s Desk 12-31-20

by | Dec 31, 2020 | The Pastor's Desk

By the grace of God, we have lived to witness the last day of the year.  If God is willing, we may enter tomorrow into a new year.  Let’s begin now by saying “A Farewell To 2020” which has been an unprecedented and tumultuous year for many and which, as you recall,...

Update from The Pastor’s Desk 12-24-20

by | Dec 24, 2020 | The Pastor's Desk

Matthew 1:18-25 (KJV) 18  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her...

Update from The Pastor’s Desk 12-10-20

by | Dec 10, 2020 | The Pastor's Desk

We praise God for allowing us to live and witness the last month of the year.  Unfortunately, 2020 will not be the greatest year in the lifetime of most people, but it is still a year to acknowledge God who has graciously kept us alive.  As I shared in last Sunday’s...

Update from The Pastor’s Desk 12-3-20

by | Dec 3, 2020 | The Pastor's Desk

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these...

Update from The Pastor’s Desk 11-26-20

by | Nov 26, 2020 | The Pastor's Desk

HAPPY THANKSGIVING Today is another day to give thanks unto the Lord.  Our Podcast Message last Sunday was entitled:  “Thanking God Even In Times Like These.”  David said in 1 Chronicles 16:8, 34:  “Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds...