31 December 2020
This {article|short article|post} {is part of|belongs to|becomes part of} the News-Argus Faith Builders series, highlighting Central Montana’s faith {community|neighborhood}, and how spiritual beliefs are {helping|assisting} {people|individuals} {deal with|handle} {difficult|challenging|tough|hard} times.
Pastor Mark Wiegert, of Lewistown’s St. Paul Lutheran Church, {was reluctant|hesitated}. In hindsight it was a natural {progression|development} of his life’s {path|course} to follow in his {family|household}’s {tradition|custom} of serving Christ and the church he was raised in.
“My {father|dad|daddy} and his {father|dad|daddy} were pastors and I was asked if I would follow in their {footsteps|steps},” {said|stated} Wiegert who {originally|initially} {hailed from|came from} Missoula and {has|has actually} {resided|lived} in Lewistown for 18 years.Initially, Wiegert {considered|thought about} the calling, {but|however} his {marriage|marital relationship} and {family|household} took precedence over {moving to|transferring to|relocating to} St. Louis, Missouri to {attend|go to|participate in} seminary school. Years {later|later on} and {frustrated|annoyed|irritated} with an unfulfilling position, he pursued the calling. With {four|4} years of seminary training and education({mostly|mainly|primarily} {distance|range} {learning|knowing})he {was able to|had the ability to} continue the {family|household} {tradition|custom}, {first|initially} as a vicar in 2016 {and then|and after that} as an ordained pastor in July 2018. He now {serves as|functions as|works as|acts as} pastor at Lewistown’s St. Paul Lutheran church– Missouri Synod,(a more conservative {form|type|kind} of Lutheran {theology|faith}) and at Trinity Church in Stanford and at Our {Savior|Hero|Rescuer} Lutheran in Denton. What does it {mean|imply|indicate|suggest} to be a Lutheran?According to Wiegert
to be a Lutheran {means|implies|indicates|suggests} following the {teachings|mentors} of Jesus Christ.” Being a Lutheran {doesn’t|does not} {mean|imply|indicate|suggest} we are {followers|fans} of Martin Luther. We
follow Jesus,”{said|stated} Wiegert.In the 1500’s, Martin Luther a monk and theologian, {began|started} a reformation of the church that he {believed|thought} {had|had actually} lost its {way|method}. “{Before|Prior to} the reformation [in the 1500s] the church {had|had actually} lost its {way in|method} the sense that there was closed access to God’s grace and {a lack|an absence} of {access|gain access to} for the {common|typical} people.The churches hierarchy had more authority than {scripture|bible}, the church language was Latin (a language the {common|typical} {people|individuals} didn’t {understand|comprehend}){and then|and after that} there was the sale of {indulgences|extravagances}. The {basic|fundamental|standard} message of the reformation was God’s grace is {available|offered|readily available} to all through the Gospel’s message. We are {justified|warranted} or made right with God by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, “{said|stated} Wiegert.He {added|included},”Being Lutheran {means|implies|indicates|suggests} being {freed|released} by the Gospel of Jesus Christ in order to {love|like|enjoy} and serve our {neighbor|next-door neighbor}. It {means|implies|indicates|suggests} {faithfully|consistently} following Jesus {in that|because} we listen to him, we {trust in|rely on} him and we {look to|want to|seek to|aim to} him {rather than|instead of} to ourselves. It’s not that He was {just|simply} {a good|a great|an excellent} {teacher|instructor} for how we {should|ought to|must|need to} live, {but|however} he’s our {Savior|Hero|Rescuer}. Lutherans {believe|think} that {scripture|bible} is the inspired word of God. {We believe|Our company believe} that {salvation|redemption} {comes from|originates from} beyond ourselves. Out of love, God {sent|sent out} Christ into the world to {save|conserve} us. We {don’t|do not} {have to|need to} do something to please God. {{First and foremost|Firstly|Primarily|Most importantly} our faith rests in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.”| Our faith rests in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.”} {Technology|Innovation} {assists|helps} with the message {The {diversified|varied} {congregation|parish|churchgoers} of St. Paul Lutheran church {faced|dealt with} {a disruption|an interruption|a disturbance} in their {regularly|routinely|frequently} {attended|went to|participated in} Sunday services once the pandemic {became|ended up being} present in Central Montana.|Once the pandemic {became|ended up being} present in Central Montana, the {diversified|varied} {congregation|parish|churchgoers} of St. Paul Lutheran church {faced|dealt with} {a disruption|an interruption|a disturbance} in their {regularly|routinely|frequently} {attended|went to|participated in} Sunday services.} For Pastor Wiegert and his {wife|spouse|partner|other half|better half} Kim, {incorporating|integrating|including} {technology|innovation} {helped|assisted} church members {stay in|remain in} touch with their fellow parishioners {as well as|in addition to|along with} {a regular|a routine} connection to God’s word through the {worship|praise} service.The back of the church sanctuary {resembles|looks like} a recording studio with {{cameras|video cameras|cams|electronic cameras} and recorders|recorders and {cameras|video cameras|cams|electronic cameras}}. At her command post behind the {equipment|devices}, Kim Wiegert {manages|handles} the {technology|innovation} {required|needed} to reach church members {unable|not able} to {congregate|gather|gather together}
in the {quaint|charming} chapel or to {provide|offer|supply} visuals to accompany the audible message {provided|offered|supplied} by her {husband|hubby|spouse|other half|partner} at the pulpit.”I {use|utilize} Facebook live and music with I-tunes. I do power point slides on the {sermon|preaching},”{said|stated} Kim. On {providing|offering|supplying} {answers|responses} {during|throughout} {a challenging|a difficult|a tough} time {Despite|In spite of|Regardless of} the {challenges|difficulties|obstacles} of COVID-19, the trials of {regular|routine} {day-to-day|daily|everyday} living and answering {difficult|challenging|tough|hard} {questions|concerns} {is one of|is among} the {many|numerous|lots of} {responsibilities|obligations|duties} {associated with|connected with|related to} being a spiritual leader.One of Wiegert’s {challenges|difficulties|obstacles} is pastoral care,”… how do I {apply|use} God’s word to this {person|individual}’s {situation|circumstance|scenario}? What part of God’s word does this {person|individual} {need|requirement} to hear?” With the {challenges|difficulties|obstacles} {also|likewise} comes the {rewards|benefits},” Seeing God at work in and through {the people|individuals} he’s {entrusted|delegated|turned over} in my care,” {said|stated} Wiegert. On looking towards 2021 and {an encouraging|a motivating} word Wiegert {describes|explains} his {congregation|parish|churchgoers} as, “Faithful, in the sense that they value what the church {family|household} is here for. It{‘s important| is essential| is very important| is necessary} for them to be with
their fellow Christians at St. Paul. It’s {a priority|a concern|a top priority} to come together to {receive|get} God’s {gifts|presents} of {forgiveness, life, and {salvation|redemption}|forgiveness, {salvation|redemption}, and life|life, forgiveness, and {salvation|redemption}|life, {salvation|redemption}, and forgiveness|{salvation|redemption}, forgiveness, and life|{salvation|redemption}, life, and forgiveness}.
“{During|Throughout} the pandemic and as the year closes and
{a new|a brand-new} year {begins|starts}, Wiegert {is aware of|knows|understands} the {many|numerous|lots of} {questions|concerns} surrounding the pandemic and {turns to|relies on} Romans 8:28( ESV )for {assurance|guarantee} that in all things Jesus is working for our {good|great|excellent} {even though|although|despite the fact that} we {don’t|do not} {always|constantly} {{understand|comprehend} or {know|understand}|{know|understand} or {understand|comprehend}} all the {answers|responses}.”And {we know|we understand} that for those who {love|like|enjoy} God all things {work together|collaborate|interact} for {good|great|excellent}, for those who are called according to his {purpose|function}. “Source: lewistownnews.com