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Preaching: Rev. Dr. Kathryn G. N. Campbell

Text: Micah 6:1-8 & Mark 12:28-34

Fred Rogers wasn't just a television personality—he was a Presbyterian pastor whose ministry unfolded daily on screens across America. His deliberate choice to call his viewers "neighbors" wasn't coincidental but likely rooted in Jesus's teachings about loving our neighbors as ourselves.

When we examine the scripture readings from Micah 6:1-8 and Mark 12:28-34, we discover the blueprint for Rogers' approach to children's television. Micah reminds us that God requires us to "do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God," while Jesus teaches that loving God and loving our neighbors are the greatest commandments. These biblical principles formed the foundation of Rogers' 31-season, 895-episode ministry to children.

The words Rogers used most frequently reveal his commitment to active engagement rather than passive entertainment. "Know" invited curiosity, "make" encouraged understanding creation, "go" promoted movement, and "see" emphasized active perception over passive watching. Most significantly, Rogers used the word "oh" 918 times—expressing wonder, joy, and the desire to learn more about others. His famous closing words—"You've made this day a special day by just being you"—affirmed each child's inherent worth as a beloved creation.

As we navigate our own neighborhoods, Rogers' example challenges us to move beyond merely watching others to truly seeing them—recognizing their dignity, engaging with genuine curiosity, and valuing each person as a unique and precious neighbor. What might our communities look like if we embraced this biblical understanding of neighborliness with the same intentionality that Fred Rogers brought to television?

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