Pastor Ryan Groh

The Rev. Ryan M. Groh was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on September 21, 1999, to his mother, Elizabeth Groh, and his father, Jeffrey Groh. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Moore, Oklahoma.

He attended the preschool and elementary school at St. John’s in Moore, then went on to a local public junior high and high school. He later enrolled at Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska, where he met his beautiful wife, Grace. They were married on April 18, 2020, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbia, Missouri. He graduated from Concordia University with a degree in Psychology, having also completed the Pre-Seminary program.

Following graduation, they moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where Pastor Groh attended Concordia Theological Seminary. He did his fieldwork at St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Ohio City, Ohio, and his vicarage at Faith Lutheran Church in Capistrano Beach, California. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity and was ordained into the Office of the Holy Ministry on July 12, 2025, at St. John’s Lutheran Church - Schubert in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Jesus, I will ponder now

On Thy holy passion;

With Thy Spirit me endow

For such meditation.

Grant that I in love and faith

May the image cherish

Of Thy suff'ring, pain, and death

That I may not perish.

   TLH 140 “Jesus, I Will Ponder Now"

Dear Saints,

On February 18th, the Church enters the holy season of Lent, a period of focused repentance for our sins and a preparation for the celebration of our Lord’s resurrection. Our Ash Wednesday liturgy will begin with a brief description of this holy season, including these words, “From ancient times the season of Lent has been kept as a time of special devotion, self-denial, and humble repentance born of a faithful heart that dwells confidently on His Word and draws from it life and hope.” Our entire lives are to be ones of devotion to God, self-denial, and repentance before God. However, in this season that we will soon enter, the focus becomes ever more pointed. 

The first hymn in TLH under the section for Lent is the 17th century hymn above, “Jesus, I Will Ponder Now”. In it, we are reminded that we are to ponder our Lord’s Passion, to be reminded that it was our sin that led him to such a cross and death. It is a pondering that brings us to our knees, realizing the severity of our sins and not excusing them. This cross of our Lord, though, is an image that we also cherish, for it is by his cross that we have been delivered from sin and death. What a beautiful image Christ’s cross is for us! 

May God bless this Lenten season as we ponder our Lord’s Passion with prayer, fasting, and giving of alms, as we prepare to celebrate the coming feast on Easter! 

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor

February 2026