St. John’s Lutheran Church

Pastor’s Blog

Matt Hardigree 9/19/25 Matt Hardigree 9/19/25

The Best Rally Day Ever!

Rally Day was a wonderful day, starting in church. Thank you to our Sunday School teachers, old and new, for teaching our children for another great year.

Matt Hardigree 9/11/25 Matt Hardigree 9/11/25

Enough

It's been a long time since the attacks of 9/11 - a whole new generation that never lived through it has grown up. It is one of the only attacks on American soil so that we, as a nation, always felt relatively secure until then.

Matt Hardigree 9/10/25 Matt Hardigree 9/10/25

It Was a Great Senior BBQ on Sunday

God’s Work. Our Hands. is a Sunday observed by all of the ELCA churches all over the country. Technically, there should be over 4,000 congregations participating in this day, doing all sorts of service projects. The one we have chosen since the beginning of this day is to serve food to the senior citizens of our community.

Matt Hardigree 8/7/25 Matt Hardigree 8/7/25

To Whom Do You Bring Joy?

Last week I mentioned Marie Kondo, the Japanese tidy-up guru, in a sermon. She said that if you want to minimize what you have, you are to hold the object up and say to yourself, “Does this bring me joy?” Of course, I have my response to that. I wonder, though, if you could turn the question around and say to yourself, “To whom do I bring joy?” That, to me, is the real question, especially since Christians like us are supposed to be about joy.

Matt Hardigree 8/6/25 Matt Hardigree 8/6/25

Can We Forgive and Forget?

On July 29 I received a shocking notice on my cell phone about a mass shooting in Manhattan, of all places. Apparently the gunman had driven 2,500 miles from his home in Las Vegas to a 44-story office building in midtown Manhattan to go on a shooting spree. His destination was the NFL office where he wanted to take revenge and kill employees because he blamed the NFL for his perceived brain disease. He killed four people in that building who had nothing to do with the NFL.

Matt Hardigree 6/6/25 Matt Hardigree 6/6/25

The Birth of the Church

This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost is a great festival day in the Church calendar. Behind Easter and Christmas, there is Pentecost. Pentecost is the birthday of the Church.

Matt Hardigree 6/5/25 Matt Hardigree 6/5/25

ST. JOHN’S RYE Y NURSERY SCHOOL ON LMC-TV

LMC Kids is a locally produced series that highlights the people, places, and values that help shape young children’s lives in the Sound Shore community. Produced by LMC Media Center.

This episode celebrates the role of faith communities and early childhood programs in fostering connection and inclusion.

Marvin Henk 5/23/25 Marvin Henk 5/23/25

TAKE A MOMENT THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

It’s interesting how you learn to play with guns early when you are a boy. You can play “cowboys and Indians” but you can also play army and soldiers. I watched enough World War II movies when I was young to get an idea about war, and especially World War II, of course.

Matt Hardigree 5/16/25 Matt Hardigree 5/16/25

Don’t Miss Our Big Tag Sale!

Tomorrow, Saturday, May 17, starting at 10 am, is your chance to find your unique treasure here. Don’t miss it!

Matt Hardigree 5/9/25 Matt Hardigree 5/9/25

How Much Is Your So/u/l/e Worth?

Sometimes we love to run barefoot, and other times we need a pair of shoes. We live in a world where many people have calloused feet because they can’t afford shoes. Foot pain is almost epidemic, no matter what your income is. There are those who buy and collect shoes. Imelda Marcos was known for owning over 3,000 pairs of shoes. On the Midnight Run people search for shoes. There are some in our country who stuff paper in the bottom of their shoes to cover the holes in the soles. You could be wearing Nike or Hoka or New Balance, or even Prada. One thing, for sure, is we all need a pair of shoes.