ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH
(The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod)
Alma, Kansas
A family united by faith in Christ gathering around God's Word and Sacraments.
To reach out in Christ-like concern and Christ-borne love to each other and to those without Christ!
In This Month's
St. John Witness
MARCH WITNESS
Pastor's Message
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Matthew 4:17
Mr. Fred Rogers, of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, was an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church. He took courses on how to preach during his time in the seminary. He related this story:
"Years ago, my wife and I were worshipping at a little church with friends of ours.We were on vacation, and I was in the middle of my homiletics course at that time.
During the sermon, I kept ticking off every mistake I thought the preacher – he must have been 80 years old – was making. When this interminable sermon had finally ended, I turned to one of my friends, intending to say something critical about the sermon.
“I stopped myself when I saw tears streaming down her face. She whispered to me: ‘He said exactly what I needed to hear.’ That was a really seminal experience for me. I was judging, and she was needing, and the Holy Spirit responded to need, not judgment.” 1
Some things we can learn from this example:
For us to be blessed as we worship and not distracted in worship
For us to be blessed as we worship and not distracted in worship for us to hear what God wants us to hear
for us to hear what God wants us to hear for us to examine ourselves in what we want
for us to examine ourselves in what we want for others who are attending worship and hear the message
for others who are attending worship and hear the message for others to be blessed by the word of God
for others to be blessed by the word of God for the pastor to speak God’s truth clearly
for the pastor to speak God’s truth clearly for the pastor to listen for what his flock needs to hear
for the pastor to listen for what his flock needs to hear for God to speak what is needed
for God to speak what is needed for the Holy Spirit to create, stir up, and encourage faith in Christ
for the Holy Spirit to create, stir up, and encourage faith in Christ1 Lisa Belcher Hamilton, The Gospel According to Fred: A Visit with Mr. Rogers," The Christian Century, April 13, 1994, p. 382.
Pray for God to speak clearly,
Pastor Grimm
