Rev. Dr. Robert Linders at St. Matthew Lutheran on Sept. 17

The Rev. Dr. Robert H. Linders will deliver the sermon at the 10:30 Service on Sept. 17 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Martinsburg. All are welcome.

Dr. Linders has been nationally recognized for his compelling sermons and engaging preaching style. Rev. Linders has served as senior pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Doylestown, Pa., since August 1977. One of the largest Lutheran congregations in the greater-Philadelphia area, the church celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2011. Rev. Linders has inspired eight members of St. Paul’s to enter the seminary and prepare for the ordained ministry.

Rev. Linders was ordained in 1967 following his graduation with a master of divinity degree from The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. A graduate of Gettysburg College, he also holds an M.A. in English from Monmouth College in New Jersey. In addition, he has earned master’s and doctoral degrees, both from Princeton Theological Seminary.

Rev. Dr. Robert H. Linders From 1970 to 1977, Rev. Linders served as pastor of Lutheran Church of the Reformation, West Long Branch, New Jersey. From 1967 to 1970, he was pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Leonia, New Jersey.

The New Jersey State Champion in the 800-meter run in 1960, Robert Linders was recognized as the Most Valuable Athlete in his high school graduating class at Northern Valley Regional High School in Dearest. He was inducted into the inaugural Hall of Fame class at his high school in 2011. In 1964 he represented the United States in its annual track meet against Great Britain in London, England. He was inducted into the College Hall of Athletic Honor at Gettysburg College in 2001. His 800-meter record of 1:50.7 has been unsurpassed at Gettysburg for 59 years.

Rev. Linders has lectured or preached at Catholic, Princeton, Cornell and Penn State Universities, as well as The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. In addition, he has conducted numerous seminars on preaching. His publications include “Preaching About Evil,” an article in Homiletical Accents; sermons in the book Selected Sermons published by the Episcopal Church; articles in Partners and Theology Today; as well as an article included in Book of Readings used in the Second International Ecumenical Congress on the Meaning of Human Suffering in Houston, Texas. He has also published three books of sermons and essays: “No Time for Rest,” “No Safe Route,” and his recently published “Musings on Main Street.”