ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH
(The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod)
Alma, Kansas
Sharing the Gospel through Word and Sacraments to inspire Christ-centered living!
In This Month's
St. John Witness
SEPTEMBER WITNESS
Pastor's Message
“Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him!
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.” 1 Chronicles 16:29
Jacob Needleman wrote about an amazing experience: “I was an observer at the launch of Apollo 17 in 1975. It was a night launch, and there were lots of cynical reporters all over the lawn, drinking beer, wisecracking, and waiting on this 35-story rocket. The countdown came, and then the launch. The first thing you see is this extraordinary orange light, which is just at the limit of what you can bear to look at. Everything is illuminated with this light. Then comes this thing slowly rising in total silence because it takes a few seconds for the sound to come across to you. You hear a “WHOOOSH! HMMMMMMM!” It enters right into you. You can practically hear jaws dropping. The sense of wonder fill everyone in the whole place as this thing goes up and up. The first stage ignites this beautiful blue flame. It becomes like a star, but you realize there are humans on it. And then, there’s total silence.
“People just got up quietly, helping each other. They’re kind. They open doors. They look at one another, speaking quietly and interestedly. These were suddenly moral people because the sense of wonder, the experience of wonder, had made them moral They were changed.”
World of Ideas, Bill Moyers, New York: Doubleday, 1989
When have you been in the presence of that which is bigger and grander than imagination can tell? I spent three mornings on the rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona this year, and there is a common sense of awe by all who are there.
I also feel astounded when I think of God’s majesty: He is the King of Heaven, come to earth to bless me and those who trust Him. This mighty God has entered our world, and in Jesus Christ, He has done more than my understanding and my knowing can grasp.
That is why we worship. We need to gather with those who share a common amazement at the grace of God. We must respect His power, rejoice in His mercy, trust His promises, and sing His praise. By Him, we are changed.
Rejoice for God’s grace! Pastor Grimm
