Pastor František's Page
January 23, 2026
Preaching Grace and Justice: A Brief Explanation of my Preaching Style
Beloved Community,
Every preacher has a distinctive voice shaped by their faith, life experiences, and theology. I wanted to share a little about my own style to help you understand not just what I preach, but why and how I preach it.
At its core, my preaching emphasizes God’s mission and an "incarnational theology"—meaning I believe God is present in the messy, real details of our lives. The Gospel does not exist in a vacuum; it must be lived out through radical transparency and compassion, addressing the real suffering in our world.
When preparing a sermon, I try to “live with” the assigned texts for days, allowing them to simmer. I let the Holy Spirit speak to me before I ever finish a manuscript. I try to immerse the text in the world around me so that my sermon is never just a history lesson. It is not enough to say these ancient texts are relevant; we must draw clear lines between Scripture and our present world again and again.
It is said that a preacher preaches as much to himself as to others. I can attest to that! My sermons reflect how I process the things that worry, uplift, or comfort me. Shallow platitudes don't work on me. To find peace in these "unprecedented times," I require deep research and discernment. Sermon preparation is my own spiritual practice before it becomes a public proclamation.
My goal is never to be partisan. Yes, I hold progressive values, and I believe we should promote God's grace and justice over judgment and retribution. Consequently, I feel called to speak on social issues through the lens of the Kingdom of God. I strive to use Biblical language rather than political buzzwords, but I also know that true neutrality is rare. I speak from my heart, guided by my values and my vision of God's love.
I hope this helps you know me a little better. Please rest assured that I will always do my best to root my preaching in the context of our specific community here in Concord. Let me know if you have any questions or feedback regarding my preaching or perhaps a topic about me you would like to see here!
Blessings,
The Rev. František Janák
Preaching Grace and Justice: A Brief Explanation of my Preaching Style
Beloved Community,
Every preacher has a distinctive voice shaped by their faith, life experiences, and theology. I wanted to share a little about my own style to help you understand not just what I preach, but why and how I preach it.
At its core, my preaching emphasizes God’s mission and an "incarnational theology"—meaning I believe God is present in the messy, real details of our lives. The Gospel does not exist in a vacuum; it must be lived out through radical transparency and compassion, addressing the real suffering in our world.
When preparing a sermon, I try to “live with” the assigned texts for days, allowing them to simmer. I let the Holy Spirit speak to me before I ever finish a manuscript. I try to immerse the text in the world around me so that my sermon is never just a history lesson. It is not enough to say these ancient texts are relevant; we must draw clear lines between Scripture and our present world again and again.
It is said that a preacher preaches as much to himself as to others. I can attest to that! My sermons reflect how I process the things that worry, uplift, or comfort me. Shallow platitudes don't work on me. To find peace in these "unprecedented times," I require deep research and discernment. Sermon preparation is my own spiritual practice before it becomes a public proclamation.
My goal is never to be partisan. Yes, I hold progressive values, and I believe we should promote God's grace and justice over judgment and retribution. Consequently, I feel called to speak on social issues through the lens of the Kingdom of God. I strive to use Biblical language rather than political buzzwords, but I also know that true neutrality is rare. I speak from my heart, guided by my values and my vision of God's love.
I hope this helps you know me a little better. Please rest assured that I will always do my best to root my preaching in the context of our specific community here in Concord. Let me know if you have any questions or feedback regarding my preaching or perhaps a topic about me you would like to see here!
Blessings,
The Rev. František Janák
January 8, 2026
Dear beloved community,
My heart is heavy today, and I wonder if yours is as well. The news out of Minneapolis regarding the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good—a mother, a poet, and a child of God—has left many of us shaken. Regardless of how we analyze the headlines or the politics, one tragedy remains undeniable: the light of a bearer of God's image has been extinguished.
In moments like this, when confusion and violence seem to dominate the public discourse, we often feel small and powerless. It led me to reach for the works of the American mystic Thomas Merton to find our footing. He offers us a necessary reminder about the true audience of Scripture:
"We must never overlook the fact that the message of the Bible is above all a message preached to the poor, the burdened, the oppressed, the underprivileged."
When we witness tragedies like this, we are witnessing the very "burden" Merton speaks of. Our faith does not ask us to look away from these dark realities. Instead, it invites us to listen to those who are burdened and to see human dignity where the world sees only conflict. Let us pray for the family of Renee Nicole Good, and let us ask God for the courage to be people of hope and dignity in a fractured world.
Let us pray:
God of all compassion,
We lift up the grieving family, friends, and neighbors of Renee Nicole Good, asking that Your peace, which passes all understanding, would guard their hearts in this time of sudden loss.
In a world often ruled by power and fear, give us the grace to stand with the burdened and the broken, just as Your Word commands. Open our eyes to see Your image in every face, and make us instruments of Your healing light in the midst of the darkness.
Amen.
The Rev. František Janák
Dear beloved community,
My heart is heavy today, and I wonder if yours is as well. The news out of Minneapolis regarding the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good—a mother, a poet, and a child of God—has left many of us shaken. Regardless of how we analyze the headlines or the politics, one tragedy remains undeniable: the light of a bearer of God's image has been extinguished.
In moments like this, when confusion and violence seem to dominate the public discourse, we often feel small and powerless. It led me to reach for the works of the American mystic Thomas Merton to find our footing. He offers us a necessary reminder about the true audience of Scripture:
"We must never overlook the fact that the message of the Bible is above all a message preached to the poor, the burdened, the oppressed, the underprivileged."
When we witness tragedies like this, we are witnessing the very "burden" Merton speaks of. Our faith does not ask us to look away from these dark realities. Instead, it invites us to listen to those who are burdened and to see human dignity where the world sees only conflict. Let us pray for the family of Renee Nicole Good, and let us ask God for the courage to be people of hope and dignity in a fractured world.
Let us pray:
God of all compassion,
We lift up the grieving family, friends, and neighbors of Renee Nicole Good, asking that Your peace, which passes all understanding, would guard their hearts in this time of sudden loss.
In a world often ruled by power and fear, give us the grace to stand with the burdened and the broken, just as Your Word commands. Open our eyes to see Your image in every face, and make us instruments of Your healing light in the midst of the darkness.
Amen.
The Rev. František Janák
Greetings!
The Rev. František Janák is the pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church since April 2025, a Kaleidoscope Institute accredited facilitator, freelance artist and a PhD student in Practical Theology at Charles University in Prague (ResearchGate profile).
If you wish to contact me, I can be reached via email at pastor@clconcord.org
Tap or click here to schedule a meeting with me. If you prefer, you can also call the church office on 704-782-6923 during office hours to schedule a meeting
You can follow me on Bluesky* @rev-frantisek-j.bsky.social where I post ministry-related content
* Bluesky is a service similar to X, formerly known as Twitter
Pastor František’s usual weekly schedule:
- Mon-Thu: mostly present during general office hours, advance request for a meeting recommended
- Friday: home office, meetings by request only
· Saturday: emergencies only
You can request a meeting by email: pastor@clconcord.org
See the weekly enews for more information
My sermons are listed below for your reflection and consideration after worship. Please click or tap on the sermon of your choice to read it.
The Rev. František Janák is the pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church since April 2025, a Kaleidoscope Institute accredited facilitator, freelance artist and a PhD student in Practical Theology at Charles University in Prague (ResearchGate profile).
If you wish to contact me, I can be reached via email at pastor@clconcord.org
Tap or click here to schedule a meeting with me. If you prefer, you can also call the church office on 704-782-6923 during office hours to schedule a meeting
You can follow me on Bluesky* @rev-frantisek-j.bsky.social where I post ministry-related content
* Bluesky is a service similar to X, formerly known as Twitter
Pastor František’s usual weekly schedule:
- Mon-Thu: mostly present during general office hours, advance request for a meeting recommended
- Friday: home office, meetings by request only
· Saturday: emergencies only
You can request a meeting by email: pastor@clconcord.org
See the weekly enews for more information
My sermons are listed below for your reflection and consideration after worship. Please click or tap on the sermon of your choice to read it.