St. John’s watchword: Feed My Lambs

What is a “watchword?” A watchword is a word—or phrase—that rallies a congregation. Historically a watchword was used in militaries as a word, phrase, or signal that identified oneself to a sentry or guard. St. John’s is a congregation that throughout its history has found ways to feed its community through the gospel, parochial education, and food. We earnestly believe that God is present with us as the gospel is shared and church members and community members have their needs met. We have decided as a congregation that everything we do will follow the watchword—”Feed my lambs.”

Found in John 21, “Feed my lambs” is what the risen Lord Jesus says to Peter after breakfast on the beach. Jesus restores Peter back into a right relationship with himself after Peter denied Jesus three times on the night in which Jesus was betrayed. Jesus does this through a three-fold restoration with the phrase, “Feed my lambs/sheep.” Peter receives a word from God that rallies him to be the leader in the early church. We at St. John’s believe Jesus’s words, “Feed my lambs,” are also for us and our ministry.

In Word and deed we aim to keep before our eyes the watchword, “Feed my lambs.”

St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church is a parish on Myrtle Avenue in Glendale, Queens. St. John’s receives and shares the good news of God’s grace in Jesus and supports our neighbors in life’s needs. We are a community of people in the Atlantic District LCMS, which is a member district of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). Our worship is steeped in the liturgy of the means of grace, in which we come before God to receive his gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation. And we stand in the theological tradition that gives confession to the documents compiled in the Book of Concord.