Greetings St. John’s Lutheran Church!

So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” –Mark 10:42-45

This past month in worship, we heard from several people about what church means to them personally. Their words revealed how important it is as Christians to live in community. We receive support and inspiration from God and from one another during worship and the ministry we share.

This coming month, we are building up to Reformation Day on October 28th, a day of looking to the future and all of the possibilities of the Church, and All Saints Day on November 4th, a day of looking to the past and remembering faithful friends and family who have died.

Starting on Reformation Day, we will engage the theme of fearless generosity for four weeks in worship. In a world that teaches us to think first of our own good and play it safe, Jesus insists that we boldly serve others. The very meaning of grace is to turn towards God and the beloved world that God created: a world in need.

As we consider the future of St. John’s, let us consider the saints who first founded our congregation. It was farmers who first dreamed of a Lutheran church in Richlandtown. They wanted a place to worship in their neighborhood. Everyday tasks—sowing seeds and tending crops—kept them from realizing their dream for almost half the year. They hoped to start building in the spring, but it wasn’t until harvest time that someone finally asked, “Who will haul the first load of stone?” This question set in motion a gathering of resources that would lead to a church being built.

This coming month, we might ask, “Who will engage in the first act of fearless generosity?” Will it be you? What will you offer? How will it transform the world?

In Christ, Pastor Kat