ASLC Devotions -- Friday

Paul's words to the church in Ephesus:

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

One of the greatest frustrations in my life as a Christian, let alone as a pastor, is division and divisiveness in the body of Christ. And so I need to remember (maybe you do too) that there IS one body, whether we act like it or not. There IS one Spirit, whether we pray together or not. There IS one God and Father of all.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Join us for worship this weekend at 5 pm Saturday and 9 am Sunday. Bring all your wheeled toys (bicycles, motorcycles, tricycles, scooters) and helmets/pads to worship on Saturday for a blessing of the bicycles.

ASLC Devotions -- Thursday

Ephesians 1:17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him

Paul prays that the Ephesians would receive the gift of the spirit. On Sunday we celebrated the gift of the Holy Spirit to the first church and the gifts that the Holy Spirit continues to bring to the church today. Paul prays though that the spirit, the Holy Spirit, would bring some pretty specific gifts to the people of Ephesus. Paul prays that they would receive not just some nebulous, nice-sounding spirit. Paul prays that they would receive a spirit of wisdom and revelation. Those are pretty specific gifts.

The spirit of revelation is the gift of the spirit that allows things to be revealed to us. I'm not talking about some kind of sci-fi special effects revelation where you see the future. The spirit of revelation is what allows you to see and understand that God is at work when an alcoholic neighbor admits the need for help. The spirit of revelation is what allows you to see and understand that God is at work when people come together to pray for peace in time of war. The spirit of revelation is what allows you to see and understand that God is at work in the world and in your life. So I pray that you would have a spirit of revelation today. May it be so!

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Remember our summer worship schedule begins this weekend with worship at 5 pm on Saturday and 9 am on Sunday. Also, remember to bring bicycles, scooters, motorcycles, tricycles, helmets and pads to worship on Saturday for a blessing of the bicycles.

ASLC Devotions -- Wednesday

Psalm 48:12-14 Walk about Zion, go all around it,
   count its towers,
consider well its ramparts;
   go through its citadels,
that you may tell the next generation
  that this is God,
our God for ever and ever.
   He will be our guide for ever.

Telling the story is what the life of faith is all about. The psalmist wants the people to walk around and take a good look at Zion (Jerusalem) and take in all the fortifications, take in all the strength of the holy city. Why? So they can tell the next generation about how good and strong and faithful God is. Encounters with God in the Bible are riddled with this justification and this call to tell people about it. God saved the people from slavery so they could tell the nations about God. Jesus healed the blind man so that his (Jesus') glory would be revealed. We exist to tell the story. We are saved to tell the story. We are healed to tell the story.

What story is your life telling today?

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Visit http://www.allsaitnspalatine.org for more information on all of our story-telling ministries. Remember that our summer worship schedule begins this weekend: Saturday at 5 pm and Sunday at 9 am. Bring your bicycles, tricycles, scooters, and motorcycles (or helmets) to worship on Saturday evening for a blessing of bicycles!

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

Ezekiel 11:16 Therefore say: Thus says the Lord God: Though I removed them far away among the nations, and though I scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a little while^* in the countries where they have gone.

It's hard for us to understand and we don't like to think about it, but the Bible is pretty clear that when the Israelites were defeated and conquered and led off to slavery, God was in control. God let it happen or God planned for it to happen, or God worked it into God's plan. Whatever. But Ezekiel bears witness to the enduring faithfulness and love of God, even in the midst of that horrible situation. Even when the people are in exile, even when the people are far from everything comfortable, even when it seems (rationally so) that God has left the people for dead, God is still there.

The people may have had to leave their home for a while. The people may have had to have been distant from the place where God promised to dwell with them for a while. But God's flexible. God went with them. "I have been a sanctuary to them for a little while in the countries where they have gone." If the people couldn't be in God's house, God was in their house. Or tent. Or prison cell. It's nothing we'd want. It's nothing we'd wish for. But wherever you go, God will be with you. As a sanctuary for you.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Remember we move to our summer schedule this weekend. Saturday at 5 pm or Sunday at 9 am. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for more information

ASL Devotions -- Monday

Joel 2:25 I will repay you for the years
   that the swarming locust has eaten,
the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,
   my great army, which I sent against you.

It's dangerous to take one verse out of the whole Bible and create whole scenes of what God is like from them. We can't extrapolate whole characteristics of God from one verse. That being said, I'm going to give it a try.

That being said, this verse has always fascinated me. It's one of many promises of the prophets. The prophets spoke mostly in times when people were in very difficult circumstances. Their farms were destroyed. Their cities were destroyed. Many of them were in slavery. Everything was gone. And the prophets promised that God would restore things.

But Joel took it a step further here, at least as I read this. Joel promises not only that God would give back the farms and restore the land that has been destroyed by the locusts. But the God talked about by Joel believes in restorative justice. Not only will God give us the farms back. God will repay us for lost profits for the years that the farms were barren. God always takes things a step further than we might have expected. Take your idea of what would be fair and what would be right. Multiply it by a million. Now MAYBE you can see God's sense of things from where you're at.  Even God's restoring of fortunes is bigger than our imagination.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Remember that this weekend begins our summer worship schedule. Worship Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9.

ASLC Devotions -- Friday

^{Galatians 6:9-10
9}So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. ¹⁰So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.

If I ever had to pick a good theme for what it means to be part of a Christian community, say a church, I think verse 10 would be a good place to start. Whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all... How does what we do promote the 'good of all' within the family of faith? 

It can be a difficult question to keep in mind, just like any of the other (admittedly catchier) themes like "WWJD?" or even The Golden Rule, especially when we're wrapped up in a passionate discussion. And yet, it's in that moment especially when we need to keep the good of all in mind. Let's not get tired of doing what's right.

Peace,
Pastor Jenn

ASLC Devotions -- Thursday

Galatians 5:22-25
22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. ²⁴And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.

There are a few options if you're looking for a list of the "fruits of the Spirit." Perhaps my favorite part of this list is the final admonition -- if we live by the Spirit, let us be guided by the Spirit. I can start out the morning with full intentions to live out these fruits of the Spirit. But how does the joke go? I fail before I've even gotten out of bed...

These are not gifts or fruits that we can live into on our own. Left to ourselves, we probably resort to the contrasted "works of the flesh." However, through our baptism which unites to the death and resurrection of Jesus, we no longer have to strive for the fruitful living on our own. 

(fruitful) Peace,
Pastor Jenn

 

ASLC Devotions -- Wednesday

Psalm 29:10-12
¹⁰The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
   the Lord sits enthroned as king for ever.
¹¹May the Lord give strength to his people!
   May the Lord bless his people with peace!

There's little comfort when the waters have washed away all that you have, and all that you know -- home, belongings, job, even loved ones. Our world sees waters rise, and we respond with sandbags and flood walls. We respond with sandwiches and dry clothing for relief workers.

And our Lord? Our Lord is higher than the flood waters; our Lord cannot be washed away by raging waters. 

Peace,

Pastor Jenn

ASLC Devotions -- Tuesday

2 Chronicles 5:11-14
11 Now when the priests came out of the holy place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without regard to their divisions), ¹²all the levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kindred, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with one hundred and twenty priests who were trumpeters, ¹³it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord,
‘For he is good,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever’,
the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, ¹⁴so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.

If we all sanctify ourselves for worship, without regard to our divisions or disagreements, our praise and thanksgiving to the Lord will be heard in unison. Wow. If you had the opportunity to hear Pastor Seth preach Sunday morning, you'll remember the emphasis on what unites us -- God's promises that we receive in the waters of baptism and the grace of the meal around the Lord's Table.

There's a lot more that we can do when we're united, than when we're divided, but perhaps none is as important than our worship of the Lord. So, let's make ourselves holy, all of us, without regard to how much or little money we make, without regard to age or race or anything that divides us, and let's raise a song of praise to the Lord.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Pastor Jenn

ASLC Devotions -- Monday

Exodus 40:16-38

 

16 Moses did everything just as the Lord had commanded him. ¹⁷In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was set up. ¹⁸Moses set up the tabernacle; he laid its bases, and set up its frames, and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars; ¹⁹and he spread the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent over it; as the Lord had commanded Moses

If only the instructions that God commands us were as clear as the ones God gave to Moses, right? I mean, how often have you wished for a "clear sign" from God? Detailed instructions? A louder voice? It seems pretty normal to me that we'd probably all like a little more insight into a guide for our lives.

It can be particularly frustrating when we read scripture because it seems as if folks like Moses and David and Ruth were getting really clear messages from God. Do we start thinking that God isn't talking to us? Or that we aren't listening? I often say that scripture isn't a journalist's account of events, it's a faith story, and yet we tend to treat it like breaking news or end-of-day reporting. What happens when we view our life through the lens of a faith story instead of a series of breaking news events?

Peace,
Pastor Jenn

ASLC Devotions -- Friday

Acts 1:24-26 Then they prayed and said, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place^* in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’ And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid, Peter and James and John and Matthew and Andrew and Thomas. But do you recall, the last apostle picked of all.

Matthias, the little known apostle, had a very shiney nose.

Well, he might have? I don't know. Anyway... we all know that one of Jesus' initial twelve disciples was not around for the birth of the church after Easter. Judas was gone. He had killed himself after betraying Jesus. The disciples knew that a lot of work was ahead, now after Easter and after the Ascension. They knew they had a lot to do to spread the life-giving message about Jesus to all the world. No hole could be left unfilled. So they filled it with Mathias.

We have a lot of work to do too. Where are there holes that need filling?

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Join us for worship at 8:30 and 11. Visit http://allsaintspalatine.org for more information!

ASLC Devotions -- Thursday

Acts 1:11 They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’

Today is Ascension Day, the day we mark the end of Jesus' earthly presence. Remember to join us for a new and experimental worship experience in the Gathering Space tonight at 6:30. We'll combine a dinner and worship all throughout, being in the Gathering Space for the whole event. It'll be a great time.

But after Jesus ascended into heaven and his disciples and followers sat gawking up after him into the clouds, these angels had a few parting words. "Why do you stand looking up towards heaven?" I love that line.  What the heck are you looking for up in the clouds? Get your head out of the clouds and get to being a disciple. Look around you. Look down. Look around and see all that God has for you to do. Get your head out of the clouds. Good advice.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth


Remember to join us for Ascension supper and worship tonight at 6:30. Visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com for an archive of these messages and to leave comments.

ASLC Devotions -- Wednesday

Psalm 93 ¹The Lord is king, he is robed in majesty;
   the Lord is robed, he is girded with strength.
He has established the world; it shall never be moved;
²   your throne is established from of old;
   you are from everlasting.

³The floods have lifted up, O Lord,
   the floods have lifted up their voice;
   the floods lift up their roaring.
⁴More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters,
   more majestic than the waves^* of the sea,
   majestic on high is the Lord!

⁵Your decrees are very sure;
   holiness befits your house,
   O Lord, for evermore.

Amen.


Remember to join us for Ascension supper and worship on Thursday at 6:30. Visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com for an archive of these messages and to leave comments.

ASLC Devotions -- Tuesday

2 Chronicles 15:3-4 For a long time Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law; but when in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them.

Welcome to the department for the stating of the obvious. I'd like to let you know that God's not hard to find. God's not hard to see. If you look for God, God will be there.
Faith is not like those "Where's Waldo" books or those crazy pictures with a hidden image that you have to hold at just the angle to see the picture of the woman's head or something crazy like that. No... God's easy to find. All you've got to do is look.

All you've got to do is look for love, and you've found God. Look for peace and people working together with one another, and you've found God. Look for broken relationships being restored, look for forgiveness, and you've found God. Have you seen God yet today?

In Christ,
Pastor Seth


Remember to join us for Ascension supper and worship on Thursday at 6:30. Visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com for an archive of these messages and to leave comments.

ASLC Devotions -- Monday

1 Chronicles 12:17 David went out to meet them and said to them, ‘If you have come to me in friendship, to help me, then my heart will be bound to you; but if you have come to betray me to my adversaries, though my hands have done no wrong, then may the God of our ancestors see and give judgement.’

David found himself in a tough position. He was engaged in a battle with Saul for kingship and was finding it difficult to know who was on his side and who was on Saul's side. So when some leaders and troops came out to where he was hiding, he was apprehensive. Not sure if they came in peace or came to grab him for Saul.

I'm assuming nobody reading this is actively engaged in insurrection or a civil war. You've got slightly different problems than David had. And yet... we'd do well to follow David's example. Those who come to us in friendship should be bound to our hearts. If you are not against me, you are tied to my heart. And those who come as adversaries... let God figure it out. Not bad advice for an insurrection, or a high-school argument, or a workplace conflict, or a neighborhood dispute. Give it a shot!

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Remember to join us for Ascension supper and worship on Thursday at 6:30. Visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com for an archive of these messages and to leave comments.

ASLC Devotions -- Thursday

Acts 15:39-41
³⁹The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. ⁴⁰But Paul chose Silas and set out, the believers^* commending him to the grace of the Lord. ⁴¹He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

The disagreement that's referenced in verse 39 was over who should accompany Paul and Barnabas -- Paul did not want to take someone who had abandoned them and not accompanied them in their work. We don't hear Barnabas' argument for bringing this person  -- what redeemable qualities did he have? It's not uncommon for disagreements to happen -- today or in the early church.

We don't really get to know what happened with Barnabas and Mark (who was really named John), but we learn that Paul and Silas strengthened the church. I imagine that the other team did the same, even if their process and strategy differed. What can we do to strengthen the church (not just our local congregations) in the midst of disagreement?

Peace, 
Pastor Jenn

ASLC Devotions -- Tuesday

2 Samuel 1:11-12
¹¹Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them; and all the men who were with him did the same. ¹²They mourned and wept, and fasted until evening for Saul and for his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

Yesterday's scripture told of the deep love and friendship between David and Jonathan, a friendship that drove David to send Jonathan away for safety. Today, though, we learn that Jonathan and his father Saul have died in war. How do we respond when we learn of the death of a loved one? There is, of course, a range of emotions and reactions -- some determined by circumstance and some by culture. Few people today tear their clothing in grief, but in some times and places that was a common response to deep grief.

While our responses to grief vary, our mourning and weeping, our anger and relief are all normal. What becomes important is that we do grieve -- in whatever way we are able -- to the losses in our lives. May God's presence bring comfort to us all in our times of grief.

Peace,
Pastor Jenn

ASLC Devotions -- Monday

1 Samuel 20:1-23, 35-42

Part of the style of these devotions has been to take a verse or two or three from the lessons appointed for the day. We then reflect on these verses for a couple of paragraphs and hopefully raise either a point or a question for you to think about throughout the day. Our hope is always to connect scripture with daily life -- beyond Sunday morning. Occasionally, though, the scripture appointed for the day shares a message that doesn't come from a verse or two (at least easily!). Such is the case with today's scripture.

From 1 Samuel 20, we hear the story of the friendship between Jonathan and David, and how David protected Jonathan. I invite you to read the passage referenced at the top of the devotion, and to think about the gifts of relationship that God has given to all of us. We are called to be in relationship with one another, and to care for each other other. Few of us will travel to a field and shoot arrows as a signal of safety or departure, but we show one another signs of care and compassion -- or, sadly, we set off signs that we don't care for one another. Let our goal and our hope be that the signs we show to one another are those of care and compassion. 

Peace,

Pastor Jenn

If you don't have your Bible handy, you can find daily Bible reading at: http://www2.elca.org/scriptLib/CO/bible/tbrBibleView.asp