Pastor Kory's Page - June 2025

(This article was originally written for a Lutheran Women's Missionary League publication.)

Perhaps you remember the major celebration of the Reformation that took place in 2017. October 31st of that year marked the 500th anniversary of the posting of Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses. In the coming years, we’ll observe the 500th anniversaries of other significant Reformation occasions. For example, 2029 will be the 500th anniversary of the publication of Luther’s Large and Small Catechisms, and 2030 will be the 500th anniversary of the presentation of the Augsburg Confession.

This summer we remember a more personal milestone in Luther’s life. June 13, 2025 is the 500th anniversary of the marriage of Martin Luther and Katharina (“Katie”) von Bora. Their marriage was surprising on several levels. Luther was 42 and Katie was 26 when they were wed in Wittenberg, Germany. Luther was a former Augustinian monk, and just two years before their wedding, Katie had fled from a convent in a fish barrel! (Luther helped arrange for the nuns to escape.)

Martin and Katie weren’t particularly “in love.” After her escape, Katie had hoped to marry a man named Jerome, but the marriage didn’t transpire. Luther then tried to pair Katie up with another pastor, but Katie refused the match. Katie finally declared that she would only marry Luther himself or one of his best friends, Nicolaus von Amsdorf. Luther balked at Katie’s unusual proposal – after all, rebellion was raging around Europe, Luther had been branded a heretic and condemned by Rome, and he was no longer a young man.

But despite all the reasons to the contrary, Martin and Katie married anyway. Their marriage lasted over twenty years and was blessed with six children. In their large home in Wittenberg (a former cloister for monks), they also provided for orphaned relatives, theology students, and household servants. Katie was quite literally the original “Lutheran Woman in Mission” as she supported the Reformation, her husband’s ministry, and resourcefully fed all the hungry mouths in their ever-changing household. 

We give thanks in this 500th anniversary year of Martin and Katie’s marriage both for them and for what their marriage meant for the wider church. While Luther was not the first Protestant clergyman to marry, the marriage of the leading figure in the Reformation spoke volumes. Luther believe that marriage and family life are the Lord’s created gifts, not something to be avoided by pursuing “holier” callings as a celibate priest, monk, or nun. 

The Luthers pioneered the Protestant parsonage. Their return to the biblical example of marriage (1 Tim. 3:2) is one of the reasons that so many Lutheran and other Protestant pastors are married today. Katie Luther’s example of gladly serving the Lord as a wife, mother, household organizer, and member of the Wittenberg community reminds us of the importance of Christian women living out their faith in these everyday yet God-pleasing vocations.

As something to consider in your church or LWML group, can you think of some ways you can be of support or encouragement to your pastor’s wife and children (if he is married)? The same would apply to other church work households in your congregation. Perhaps your LWML group could purchase devotional materials for engaged or newly married couples, or support programs at our seminaries which benefit students’ wives and families. 

Finally, give thanks to the Lord for the simple wedding that took place in Wittenberg back in 1525, and pray to Him on behalf of the marriages and families in your congregation and extended family. And remember that marriage also points to something greater – the communion between Christ and His bride, the Church.

            Grace & Peace,

                        Pastor Kory Janneke

Pastor Kory’s Page for May 25, 2025

Holy Communion: The Common Cup and More

As Lutheran Christians, we give thanks for Christ’s gift of Holy Communion and we celebrate it often. We confess with Martin Luther and Christians through the ages that the Sacrament of the Altar (one of the other names for Communion) “is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink” (Luther’s Small Catechism). And not only do we place great emphasis on Christ’s presence with us in His Sacrament but on its chief benefit: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” To assure us that His forgiveness is applied personally to us, Christ left us with His means of grace, which include this holy meal, along with God’s Word, Baptism, and Confession and Absolution.

Over the past year, I’ve been approached by several members who were interested in adding the option of a common cup for our celebration of Holy Communion. I gathered more feedback on the possibility and started looking into options for adding the common cup. I inquired with our LCMS Mid-South District Office to see if they had an extra chalice and flagon on hand. As it happened, they had a silver set available for us! We recently received the chalice and flagon, and I look forward to using them in the Divine Service, beginning this Sunday, May 25.

The common cup is an option for receiving the blood of Christ in Communion. Through church history, a common cup was the normal way that Communion was distributed. The Words of Institution in the Gospels describe Christ using a singular cup. Paul also references a singular cup in his teaching on Communion in 1 Corinthians 10:16 & 11:26. A common cup can also serve as a fitting symbol of the oneness of body of Christ, the Church.

Individual communion cups are a more recent invention and are preferred by many communicants. Both options will be available as we go forward, and communicants will be free to choose either an individual cup or the common cup. The elder or assistant will continue to offer the individual cups on the tray. Communicants who wish to receive the common cup can simply wait as the individual cups are offered. The pastor will come by each table at Communion to offer the common cup after the elder has passed by. It can be helpful for communicants to extend an open hand or otherwise indicate to the pastor that they are wishing to receive the common cup. It is also helpful for communicants to help hold the chalice and tip it toward their mouth as the pastor offers it to them. 

Lastly, here are two other reminders of some options at Communion for you: for those with gluten sensitivities, gluten-free communion wafers are available. Also, for those with alcohol sensitives, an alcohol-free white wine is also provided in a few individual cups. Please let me know if you need either of these options at Communion and please also let me know if you have any other questions for me about this gift of Holy Communion!

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Kory Janneke

Pastor Kory’s Page for May 11, 2025

What is the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML)?

On this weekend of Mother’s Day, we thank the Lord for the gift of our mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and all the loving women He has graciously placed in our lives, homes, and churches. In this Easter season, we’ve also remembered how the Lord chose Mary Magdalene and other women as the first witnesses of Jesus’ empty tomb.

As we give thanks for faithful women both in Bible times, among us today, and throughout the church’s history, I’d like to share a little about a women’s organization in our church body. The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) is an auxiliary ministry of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS). The LWML was organized in 1942 and has been integral to the LCMS on both a local and national level ever since. 

To borrow a summary from their website, “the LWML has focused on affirming each woman’s relationship with Christ, encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries and to support global missions.” (Speaking of the LWML website, I’d encourage you to check it out yourself at lwml.org.)

I’ve been around LWML folks and activities for most of my life as both my mom and grandmother served in the LWML. Through my Lutheran education (5th grade – seminary), I received support, books, and scholarships from LWML groups on multiple occasions. As a pastor, I also worked with LWML groups in my previous congregations. Last year, I was elected to serve as a pastoral counselor to our Mid-South District LWML. In this capacity, I’ll be traveling to the national LWML convention next month in Omaha, NE. 

Next month we’ll also have an opportunity to learn more about the LWML here at St. Matthew. On Sunday, June 8 following the service, we’ll be joined by representatives from nearby LWML groups in our sister congregations. They’ll share about their experiences in the LWML and describe the process for St. Matthew’s women to potentially form a new LWML group. I encourage women of all ages in the congregation to stay and learn more about this possibility.

Generally, women in the LWML meet for regular Bible study and fellowship with their local group. Each LWML group also raises funds to support mission projects, missionaries, our seminaries, non-profit organizations, and more. A local recipient of a recent grant from our Mid-South LWML is the City of Hope Outreach (CoHO) here in Conway. Each LWML District also has regional retreats and workshops, giving women the opportunity to gather with those from sister congregations in the area. (Other nearby congregations with LWML groups include Peace Lutheran in Conway, Hope Lutheran in Jacksonville, and Our Savior Lutheran in Cabot.) You can learn more about the mission grants provided by our Mid-South LWML and other happenings in our region at their website, midsouthlwml.org.

In closing, I’d simply like to share a primary Scripture verse that inspires the women of the LWML: “Serve the Lord with gladness” (Psalm 100:2).  May that verse describe all of us as Christ’s faithful people!

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Kory Janneke