St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 502 W. Chestnut Street in Rome, welcomes Rev. Robert Catherwood Jr. as our new pastor. Rev. Robert Catherwood, Jr. will be installed as pastor on June 12 at 3:00pm. Deacon Richard Wolf of St. John's Lutheran in Rome, Pastor Richard Mokry of Trinity Lutheran Church in Utica, and Pastor David Bernard of Grace Lutheran Church in Canastota will be officiating in the ceremony. Rev. Charles B. Hanna Jr. has retired after over 22 years of service and Deacon Wolf has been ministering in the interim.
Pastor Catherwood comes to Rome from southeast New Mexico where he has been the pastor of a dual parish for almost 8 years. He was born and raised in the Rochester area before his family moved to New Mexico in 1989. He and his wife, Michelle have been married for almost 19 years and have 4 children. Before studying to become a pastor, he and his wife served in the United States Air Force. They are looking forward to living in the beautiful state of New York.
The Lutheran faith is centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ. We believe that God is three Persons, but still One. We believe that the Son of God became a human being to suffer and die for the sins of the world so that all who believe in Him will not perish but through His substitution for us on the cross we are given forgiveness and eternal life.
Lutherans take their beliefs from the Holy Scriptures. Lutherans of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod continue to believe the Bible to be the inspired and inerrant Word of God and the only revelation on both belief and practice. This gives rise to the Lutheran phrase of "Scripture Alone!"
Lutherans believe that salvation was made possible 100% by the work of Jesus Christ. This gives rise to the Lutheran phrase "Christ Alone!".
Lutherans believe that we are saved by God's mercy and forgiveness and not by works of righteousness to atone for our past or even by a personal action of deciding to follow Jesus. Rather, the work is entirely God's. This gives rise to the Lutheran phrase of "Grace Alone!".
Lutherans do believe that trust in Jesus is necessary for salvation. However, we understand that such trust is the work of God the Holy Spirit working through the Scriptures and the Sacraments to create such faith. We understand that simple trust in the promises of God in Jesus Christ are sufficient to secure an individual's salvation. This gives rise to the Lutheran phrase of "Faith Alone!"
If you are looking for a church that proclaims God's Word and believes in Scripture Alone, Christ Alone, Grace Alone, and Faith Alone; or if you are interested in the historic and traditional Christian faith as expressed in Holy Liturgy, Divine Word, and Blessed Sacraments, please join us for Divine Service on Saturdays at 5:30pm or Sundays at 10:00am.