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
AUGUST WITNESS
Spiritual Growth
“LOVE THE LORD, YOUR GOD” We worship together as a response to God’s mercies, and in accord with His commands to pray, praise, and give thanks. When we worship, we hear God’s Word. When we worship, we pray for God’s mercies to be extended in various ways to many people. When we worship together, we receive gifts of God in the sacraments. When we worship together, we encourage others to be faithful.
THE WORSHIP CONFERENCE will be Saturday, August 29, at St. John’s, Topeka from 8:30-3:30. Come for continuing education and conversation: this is for pastors, church musicians, and congregation members interested in the song and worship of the Church.
The keynote speaker for this year’s conference is Rev. Timothy Frank, who is the associate pastor and Kantor at St. Paul’s LC in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Pastor Frank received a bachelor’s degree in church music from Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, MN in 2007. In 2011 he graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN and began the same year as pastor of a triple parish in Iowa. He completed a master’s degree in church music from Concordia University Wisconsin in 2014. Pastor Frank serves as Kantor at St. Paul’s and teacher at St. Paul’s Music Conservatory since 2016. He has been a as resource director for David’s Harp. The $40.00 registration will include lunch. The day will end with Vespers and an organ recital from Luther’s Duetsche Messe. A summary of the keynote presentations will be on this website (https://stjohnlcmstopeka.org/worship/worship-conference), Breakaway presentations will also be listed there.
To register for the conference, please fill out the form at https://forms.gle/PrBvhTxoV6CWfSxs8
Please complete your registration by August 26.
MENTORING ACTIVITIES are a service of the Christian Board of Education. Here’s what we do: Once a month we provide an opportunity for the confirmands to spend 45 minutes, with each other as part of the Wednesday evening confirmation class. During this time, we provide a fun activity for them to do together. Activities include:
1) service projects such as helping pack boxes for Operation Christmas Child; decorations for the residents at Heritage Home, making lap quilts for the elderly; 2) learning activities about organizations at Saint John Lutheran Church such as quilt tying, altar guild, Teens for Christ; 3) fun activities such as pumpkin carving.Sharing, bonding, laughs and getting comfortable with your mentors is our goal. We allow time for questions confirmands might want to ask someone who isn't their parent or pastor. Treats are usually provided for all to enjoy. If anyone wants to volunteer to be a mentor, to make a treat, or to bring drinks, we would welcome that. Ideas for an activity are also appreciated. Contact the Board of Christian Education or Pastor Grimm to help.
SUNDAY ADULT BIBLE CLASS is reading the book of Acts. Jim MacGregor is leading this study to share how the early Christians dealt with difficulties in being the church when things did not proceed as expected. Join us as we grow in wisdom for bringing the Gospel to the world in our community.
THURSDAY BIBLE CLASS: Paul wrote a number of letters to individuals which are included in the Bible. They often carry personal remarks, as well as divine guidance. We shall study the 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon in a nine-week LifeLight study beginning August 6. Call the church office to reserve a copy for you
LIFE CHOICE BANQUET will be held in Manhattan on August 27th at 5:45 p.m. For more information, talk to Jim MacGregor or Bruce Schultz.
THEOLOGY ON TAP: The next event will be Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. You may join them at Rockin’ K’s in Manhattan.
THE BOOK STUDY GROUP will not be meeting in August. They will meet again in September to read “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis. They will meet on September 10th in the SJLC Fellowship Hall with the MacGregors hosting. They will meet again on September 24th at Elaine Becker’s.
BIBLE BREAKFAST: You probably see it in the monthly newsletter but didn’t know what it is about. Bible Breakfast is a group of 12-15 men and women who meet Tuesday mornings at 6:15 to read and discuss Scripture; enjoy a hot, fresh-made breakfast; and share time in fellowship. Frank’s Plumbing is our host, and the table is big enough for more people. All you need is an alarm clock to get you moving, a Bible, and $5 for breakfast
GIFTS OF LOVE: LEAVING A LEGACY Do you have a plan to distribute God’s gifts when you live? Or when you die? We shall conduct a Gifts of Love workshop on October 4. Carol Von Soostern from the LWML (with the LCMS Foundation) will explain opportunities and provide guidance on how to share the gifts God has given to you.
THE QUILT IN MEMORIAL HALL was pieced by Pauline Stauffer, assembled by Charla Hess, quilted by our Friendship Circle Quilters, and displayed in this semi-quincentennial year.
Mission Notes
MISSIONARY Michael Hageman and his wife Shanna need our prayers as they go to a place hostile to Christianity in Tanzania, Africa. He will train pastors at the seminary there to reach out with the Gospel. You may provide financial support for Missionary Hageman through Together in Mission.
It’s the end of June in Iringa, and we are in the midst of the “cold” season here. We had to buy stocking caps from the mitumba (used clothing) market in town to stay warm in the mornings and evenings. We know at home many of you are celebrating the beginning of summer and enjoying all that entails.
We are in the final four weeks of our Swahili training and looking forward to moving to Shinyanga on July 22nd, where we will make our home and work with the seminary.
Our language program is twelve weeks long, and we had the opportunity to take a break after the first six weeks. During that time, we visited the Island of Zanzibar, known as the Spice Island. It is a truly beautiful place filled with lovely and welcoming people.
While we were there, we befriended several young men from the Maasai Tribe who were on the island for a short time in order to sell their handmade crafts to tourists. They use their proceeds to buy cows and care for their families. The men we met were Lutherans and Catholics, and were happy to meet a Pastor and talk.
On the morning of our departure, two of the young men came by to dress Michael in the traditional checkered Shuka of the Maasai. We have been invited to Arusha to visit their village once the boys return home from their entrepreneurial venture.
During a Swahili class, Shanna had “darasa nje” or class outside. One of our teachers took her to a wonderful fabric shop where cloth is purchased by the yard. She practiced bargaining and asking for what she needed to make a blouse and skirt. Afterward, they continued on to the “Fundi wa Nguo,” or seamstress. There she had her measurements taken and showed some photos of garments in a style that she liked. The Fundi promised to have the garments ready within a few days. Shanna was shocked to learn that a custom garment costs less than $10 from start to finish. It was a great cultural lesson and she learned so much.
We thank you for your love and prayers as we continue to learn Swahili, and learn how to live in a country so different from America. We feel waves of homesickness watching the news of many Europeans experiencing the US for the first time as they visit to see the World Cup. We miss all the people and things they are coming to appreciate about the good “ole” USA! Next month we will write you from Shinyanga!
Recent Blog from Rev. Hageman:
“These guys are slower than Moses,” I think to myself while kicking a rock on the edge of the dirt street. I’m beginning to learn the way of life in Tanzania and some days it can be annoying. Almost in a mocking tone the chirping birds of Africa reminded me that they were hard at work, while I was there only standing. Even the nearby early morning rooster was busy calling all to wake up from their slumber even though the sun had already been risen for 30 minutes. Even blaring horns of the “bodas” (motorcycles) down the mountain let me know that there were others doing important things. But here I was waiting, doing nothing, and that drives me crazy. Welcome to Tanzania. Welcome to the “Waiting Game.”
“How long, O Lord!” is a common cry in Scripture and in our everyday life. It is usually a desperate plea when we finally realize we are not in control of all things. Something as simple as waiting for a ride can drive one mad. In recent months we have been waiting for our work permits to come through but are told the system has been shut down for 6 months. The “Waiting Game” continues and life is once again disrupted.
Control and selfishness are close friends that rarely travel alone. When you lose control, selfishness usually chimes in and says you need to gain that control back. Sometimes, we do not even see this battle when we begin to lose control. The sin that lurks inside is difficult to see. And yet, thanks be to God! For He puts us in our place for the sake of repentance and for the sake of our salvation!
You probably remember when the Lord asked Pharaoh, “How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me?” (Exodus 10:3) He asked Moses something similar saying, “How long” would Israel despise Him while wandering in the wilderness. These two situations probably warranted some complaining, but what was really happening was the loss of control. The Lord, asks you and I the same. Through the Word and the prodding of the Holy Spirit we are eventually led to ask ourselves “how long?” How long will we reject the God of all Creation because we have lost control and placed into the Waiting Game?
The beautiful thing about waiting is that our Heavenly Father wants us to do something in the midst of the waiting. In the waiting times of life, we are able to turn God’s Word toward Him. We can cry before God using His very Word, for He hears us. In faith, we are able to complain, “How long will You hide Your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1b) In faith, we are able to be bold and set His promises before Him. When it looks as if the Lord has forgotten, we are able to moan for we know who He is through Christ. Our God is the one who waited for the perfect time to save us through His Son, Jesus. Christ Himself waited for the perfect time to be crucified, and to be risen. Our Lord is still patient and waits. He waits so that one more person may come to believe in Him before He returns on that Glorious Day.
Therefore, during those waiting times we trust in God’s steadfast love for we know that our heart will rejoice in our salvation. We turn our complaints into song for we are given a reason to sing and chirp with all of God’s creation. He has certainly dealt bountifully with us.
In Christ Alone,
Rev. Michael Hageman
Date Bible Text Theme Hymns Order of Worship
8/2/26 Luke 16:1-14 Good Stewardship 940 - 730 - 915 - 570 - 628 - 716 - 805 DS 1, p 151
8/9 Luke 19:41-48 Our Rock for Prayer 761 - 770 - 645 - 575 - 912 Matins, P. 219
8/16 Luke 18:9-14 True Humility 684 - 559 - 611 - 461 - 644 - 643 - 461:7-8 DS 3, p. 184
8/23 Isaiah 29:17-24 Sanctify My Name 427 - 398 - 856 - 827 DS 4, p. 203
8/30 2 Chronicles 8 House of the Lord 685 - 680 - 848 - 660 P and P, page 260
