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
NOVEMBER WITNESS
Spiritual Growth
“IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.” Worship is commanded by God. Yet we often try to meet God on our terms and not on His. As our Creator, God deserves praise. As our Savior, God deserves Thanks. As our sanctifier, God deserves faithfulness.
For all the saints who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
(Text: William W. How, 1823–97. Text: Public domain)
REMEMBERING THE PEOPLE OF GOD: On Sunday November 1, we shall celebrate All Saints Day and commemorate the faithful departed from our midst in the past year. These include:
Jean Donise Kartman Philippians 6:1
Danny Ray Miller John 12:23
Theodore Christian Stein Acts 16:31
Bonnie Lou Palenske Psalm 23:4
Jeannelle Ann Fink John 14:6
SUNDAY ADULT BIBLE CLASS is reading the book of Genesis. Pastor Grimm is leading this study to see how God set in motion all the grace planned for humanity. The opportunities for sin are many, and the patriarchs were often led astray, but God remains faithful in reaching out. Join us as we grow in wisdom in understanding God’s plan for the world – and how we may share it with the world.
REV. CHRISTIAN SCHULTZ - SEMINARY SUNDAY here at St. John on November 8, we will have Admission Counselor Rev. Schultz represent Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW). He will lead Bible Class, preach in our worship service, and be available to visit with people about the work of the seminary at a dinner after the service. The main dish will be provided. Please bring a side, salad or dessert.
Founded in 1846, CTSFW, forms servants of Jesus Christ in a vibrant, Christ-centered theological community that engages and resources the church and the world, domestically and internationally, with distinctively Lutheran teaching, practice, and worship. It trains men to serve as pastors, and prepares women to serve as deaconesses in the Lutheran Church.
DEATH IS A WORLDLY REALITY. Funerals are Christian testimonies which deal with God’s judgment against sin, and proclaim His rescue from everlasting death by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. God ought to be worshiped by us, and a funeral in church is expected by God’s people.
THURSDAY BIBLE CLASS: The Bible speaks about Christ second coming often. We believe that Christ will come again, and when He does, all things will change. Whether we call this Judgment Day, The Last Day, or the Great Reappearing of Christ, we believe Jesus will come again. We shall study "The End Times" in a LifeLight study on Thursday.
MISSION NOTES
October 24, 2026
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.
Shanna and I live in an area in Tanzania that many would consider rural. If you were to depart from our property you would see many worn paths. Some of those paths are made by cattle and goats that pass by our house and other paths are from the school children that pass by. These trails are made by the ongoing life of Tanzania. The packed trails will usually take you to another house, field, school or church. Shanna and I use a similar path on our way to the seminary where we serve.
While walking on these paths I am often times reminded of a spot I could not get grass to grow on in our back yard while we lived in Cleveland, Ohio. The spot was more like a trail. Our first dog as a married couple, Sunny, made the trail by pacing back and forth. The packed trail ran from one fence corner to the other as our devoted dog took on the occupation of protector. What she left behind from such a devoted occupation was a path with no grass. Is there grass growing on your path?
I read a few years ago about early African converts to Christianity. These new Christians were earnest and regular in private devotions. Each one reportedly had a separate spot in the thicket where he would pour out his heart to God. Over time the paths to these places became well worn. As a result, if one of these believers began to neglect prayer, it was soon apparent to the others. They would kindly remind the negligent one, "Brother, the grass grows on your path."
Unfortunately I believe this is the case for some of our loved ones today. Our paths are no longer recognizable. They have been grown over with grass. It used to be that our cars could drive themselves to Sunday worship for our benefit of receiving God’s gifts. Recently, it seems as if our cars have downloaded a new update which has given us the ability to take different paths.
It is the same throughout the world, whether it is in the United States in Missouri, Tennessee, Ohio, Florida or Kansas, I used to hear the same phrase, “Well Pastor, you know, I’ve been pretty busy.” Whether you are in Asia, South America or Africa, individuals are letting grass grow on their path.
If I may be so bold, let me kindly encourage you, “Brother, the grass grows on your path.” You are no longer listening to God’s command to worship and pray and you are unwilling to recognize His answer to your prayers. And yet our Lord still wants you to be where His Word is found. He pleads for you to be in conversation with Him. Our Lord says in the Gospel of Matthew, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8).
During this Reformation month the Lutheran Church around the world celebrates the great truth that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. He is the only path by which one is saved. As your brothers and sisters around the world celebrate this great truth delivered to us in Word and Sacrament, I would encourage you to reinvigorate your whole self and begin your path in prayer and worship once again. There is never a bad time to start stomping on the grass that has begun to grow on your path.
888-THE LCMS • lcms.org • infocenter@lcms.org
Date Bible Text Theme Hymns Order of Worship
11/01 Psalm 31 Commended to God 474 - 678 - 677 - 676 - 722 - 940 - 677 DS 1, page 151
11-08 Proverbs 8 Rev. Christian Schultz 869 - TLH 605 - 762 - 451 - 878 Matine, page 219
11-15 Matthew 9:18-26 Faith Makes it Okay 702 - 552 - 618 - 849 - 742 - 741 - 547 DS 3, page 219
11/22 Matthew 25:1-13 Come to Meet Him 672 - 516 - 680 - 770 - 644 P and P, page 260
11/25 2 Cor. 9:6-11 Thanks Be To God 537 - 785 - 790 - 894 - 893 - 806 RP 2, page 285
11/29 Jeremiah 23:5-8 Justice/Righteousness 892 - 359 - 392 - 331 DS 4, page 203
