Revelation 2:11 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Whoever conquers will not be harmed by the second death.
John, the author of Revelation uses this refrain throughout the book and I love it: "Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches." Do you hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches? To the church? To you? How can you tell that you know? How can you be sure?
One thing John is sure that the Spirit is saying to the churches... to you... is that "whoever conquers will not be harmed by the second death." And I'm telling you that you've conquered. In your baptism you've been joined to the conquering of Jesus. He conquered on your behalf. You will not be harmed by the second death.
Religion today is really concerned with the here and now. Most of us are concerned with the here and now. And there's good reason for that. But I think sometimes we forget that eternity awaits us. Eternity will be a lot longer than the 60-90 or more years of our life on earth. And eternity has been assured for us. Thanks be to God!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
See http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for information about all of our ministries and a full calendar. Bring your pets for a service of blessing Saturday morning in the church parking lot at 9. Worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Wednesday
Daniel 12:1 At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book.
Today is the feast day of Michael and All Angels. The reading for the day is from Daniel's vision of the future and of Michael's role in the protection of God's people in that future.
I've never been a big angel guy. I'm not sure what I believe about angels and their existence and their role in the world and in God's plan for us. I'm fairly sure they don't look like Michael Landon or John Travolta. I say I'm fairly sure but I've been surprised before.
But there is one thing of which my faith is sure. God will protect God's people. God will save us. In fact, God has already saved us through Jesus' death and resurrection. And so today at least I'll give thanks for Michael, a protector of God's people. And most importantly, I'll give thanks for the God who protects and saves and defends us from all evil.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
See http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for information about all of our ministries and a full calendar. Bring your pets for a service of blessing Saturday morning in the church parking lot at 9. Worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11.
Today is the feast day of Michael and All Angels. The reading for the day is from Daniel's vision of the future and of Michael's role in the protection of God's people in that future.
I've never been a big angel guy. I'm not sure what I believe about angels and their existence and their role in the world and in God's plan for us. I'm fairly sure they don't look like Michael Landon or John Travolta. I say I'm fairly sure but I've been surprised before.
But there is one thing of which my faith is sure. God will protect God's people. God will save us. In fact, God has already saved us through Jesus' death and resurrection. And so today at least I'll give thanks for Michael, a protector of God's people. And most importantly, I'll give thanks for the God who protects and saves and defends us from all evil.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
See http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for information about all of our ministries and a full calendar. Bring your pets for a service of blessing Saturday morning in the church parking lot at 9. Worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Tuesday
Hosea 10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness;
reap steadfast love;
break up your fallow ground;
for it is time to seek the Lord,
that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.
I joined a congregation in Washington, DC during the tail end of my college years. Just before I began worshiping there, the congregation had experienced the death and funeral of Miss Judy, one of the shining light matriarchs of the congregation. From the way people talked, I gathered that she had touched a lot of lives with her faithfulness, with her kind words, with birthday cards and with an offer of a glass of lemonade on her front stoop. I also heard more people than I can remember say "I wish I had told her how much all that meant."
We all have people who mean a lot to us and we never tell them. We never say "I love you" or "Thank you." Or we don't say it as often as we should. It's like our faithfulness ground is lying fallow. It's just dirt. Nothing can grow in ungrateful soil. Nothing can grow in soil that isn't worked and turned. So...Hosea would say that we need to start sowing some righteousness and reaping some love. I'm going to make it simple: tell someone that you're grateful they're in your life today. Start with that. You never know what you might reap.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
See http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for information about all of our ministries and a full calendar. Bring your pets for a service of blessing Saturday morning in the church parking lot at 9. Worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11.
reap steadfast love;
break up your fallow ground;
for it is time to seek the Lord,
that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.
I joined a congregation in Washington, DC during the tail end of my college years. Just before I began worshiping there, the congregation had experienced the death and funeral of Miss Judy, one of the shining light matriarchs of the congregation. From the way people talked, I gathered that she had touched a lot of lives with her faithfulness, with her kind words, with birthday cards and with an offer of a glass of lemonade on her front stoop. I also heard more people than I can remember say "I wish I had told her how much all that meant."
We all have people who mean a lot to us and we never tell them. We never say "I love you" or "Thank you." Or we don't say it as often as we should. It's like our faithfulness ground is lying fallow. It's just dirt. Nothing can grow in ungrateful soil. Nothing can grow in soil that isn't worked and turned. So...Hosea would say that we need to start sowing some righteousness and reaping some love. I'm going to make it simple: tell someone that you're grateful they're in your life today. Start with that. You never know what you might reap.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
See http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for information about all of our ministries and a full calendar. Bring your pets for a service of blessing Saturday morning in the church parking lot at 9. Worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11.
Monday, September 27, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Monday
Amos 6:8 The Lord God has sworn by himself
(says the Lord, the God of hosts):
I abhor the pride of Jacob
and hate his strongholds;
and I will deliver up the city and all that is in it.
God's got a problem with pride. I've never quite understood why God doesn't like groups of lions... let that one sink in. Bad humor on a Monday morning.
Back to the point, if there was one: the problem with our pride is that it hurts us. As a loving parent, God does not want to see us hurt. And God knows that our pride (or pridefulness) will make us think we've got it figured out. It will make us think we don't need help. It will make us say in the immortal words of a 3-year old "I do it myself." And sometimes that works out just fine.
Until it doesn't. Until we get hurt. Until we cry. Until we hurt someone else. And they cry. And we cry. The problem with pride is NOT that God doesn't want us thinking highly of ourselves. The problem with pride is that God doesn't want us getting hurt. You need help today. I need help today. I cannot do it myself. Praise God that the important things have already been done.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
See http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for information about all of our ministries and a full calendar. Bring your pets for a service of blessing Saturday morning in the church parking lot at 9. Worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11.
(says the Lord, the God of hosts):
I abhor the pride of Jacob
and hate his strongholds;
and I will deliver up the city and all that is in it.
God's got a problem with pride. I've never quite understood why God doesn't like groups of lions... let that one sink in. Bad humor on a Monday morning.
Back to the point, if there was one: the problem with our pride is that it hurts us. As a loving parent, God does not want to see us hurt. And God knows that our pride (or pridefulness) will make us think we've got it figured out. It will make us think we don't need help. It will make us say in the immortal words of a 3-year old "I do it myself." And sometimes that works out just fine.
Until it doesn't. Until we get hurt. Until we cry. Until we hurt someone else. And they cry. And we cry. The problem with pride is NOT that God doesn't want us thinking highly of ourselves. The problem with pride is that God doesn't want us getting hurt. You need help today. I need help today. I cannot do it myself. Praise God that the important things have already been done.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
See http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for information about all of our ministries and a full calendar. Bring your pets for a service of blessing Saturday morning in the church parking lot at 9. Worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11.
Friday, September 24, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Friday
Ephesians 2:4-5
4But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us 5even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
In yesterday's devotion I reflected about how we have been made rich through Christ, and while I still stand by that statement, today's scripture reminds us that first and foremost God is rich -- rich in mercy. We use this verse as part of our worship during the Confession and Forgiveness, and it moves me as we speak of our God being rich in mercy. Of course God is rich in all things -- mercy and love and kindness and justice and grace, to name a few.
And, those are all areas in which we can strive to build our riches, too. We can be rich in kindness and mercy toward others. We can be rich in grace. We can be rich in love. My prayer is that we can see the many ways that we are rich -- as people and as a congregation -- and continue to share what we have been given as we are alive in Christ.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
4But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us 5even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
In yesterday's devotion I reflected about how we have been made rich through Christ, and while I still stand by that statement, today's scripture reminds us that first and foremost God is rich -- rich in mercy. We use this verse as part of our worship during the Confession and Forgiveness, and it moves me as we speak of our God being rich in mercy. Of course God is rich in all things -- mercy and love and kindness and justice and grace, to name a few.
And, those are all areas in which we can strive to build our riches, too. We can be rich in kindness and mercy toward others. We can be rich in grace. We can be rich in love. My prayer is that we can see the many ways that we are rich -- as people and as a congregation -- and continue to share what we have been given as we are alive in Christ.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
Thursday, September 23, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Thursday
2 Corinthians 8:8-9
I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. 9For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
All too often we equate rich, poor, poverty and wealth with a bank account balance. It's not surprising -- after all, we have bills to pay and projects to complete and basic living to do. But it's clear that the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ really had nothing to do with money.
We are rich in our life with Jesus Christ. We have been on the receiving end of the most generous act that we could imagine. God has already determined your value and worth -- and nothing can change that.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. 9For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
All too often we equate rich, poor, poverty and wealth with a bank account balance. It's not surprising -- after all, we have bills to pay and projects to complete and basic living to do. But it's clear that the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ really had nothing to do with money.
We are rich in our life with Jesus Christ. We have been on the receiving end of the most generous act that we could imagine. God has already determined your value and worth -- and nothing can change that.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Wednesday
Psalm 12:6-7
6The promises of the Lord are promises that are pure,
silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.
7You, O Lord, will protect us;
you will guard us from this generation forever.
The psalmist often writes from a point of view that makes it seem as if he is always under attack, which I'm not going to argue might have been the case. But he also writes from a position of deep faith that the Lord will protect. There are certainly days when the world does seem to conspire against us -- whether at work or school or simply driving from home to the grocery store. (Really, did ALL of the lights have to be red?) And, while I don't really think that God cares about red lights, I do believe deeply that God cares about us as God's children.
Chances are the whole world is not against you -- nor is this entire generation... However, God's promises and protection, perfected and made strong as if silver in a refiner's fire, are steadfast through the ages.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
Friday, September 17, 2010
ASLC Devotions - Friday
Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So what else did you want to know?
This passage is my go-to for funerals or at the bedside of someone facing surgery or death. Seems to me that it sums up all the most important things we need to know at those most important points in life: nothing can separate us from God's love... not this funeral, not this surgery, not this death.
But it's probably a good reminder for those of us not going through a death or particular grief right now as well.
So what else did you want to know?
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour for ages 3 through adult at 9:45. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
So what else did you want to know?
This passage is my go-to for funerals or at the bedside of someone facing surgery or death. Seems to me that it sums up all the most important things we need to know at those most important points in life: nothing can separate us from God's love... not this funeral, not this surgery, not this death.
But it's probably a good reminder for those of us not going through a death or particular grief right now as well.
So what else did you want to know?
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour for ages 3 through adult at 9:45. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Thursday, September 16, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Thursday
Romans 3:3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?
We are an arrogant bunch, aren't we? Even when we are down on ourselves and feeling worthless, it comes out in arrogance. I can't tell you how many times I've thought "I don't deserve it." I have thought that whatever I had done was just so bad that nobody, not even God, should or would forgive me. When good things have come my way, like family and love, I've thought "I don't deserve it." I have thought that there was nothing I could possibly have done to deserve those things. There must be some kind of cosmic mistake.
And that's just it. I don't deserve it. I don't deserve any of it. And God gives it anyway. God has promised to give us life. End of story. If we, by being unfaithful, could make God not give us life, then we'd have some power over God, wouldn't we? And that's ridiculous. God promises to love us and God will love us no matter what.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour for ages 3 through adult at 9:45. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
We are an arrogant bunch, aren't we? Even when we are down on ourselves and feeling worthless, it comes out in arrogance. I can't tell you how many times I've thought "I don't deserve it." I have thought that whatever I had done was just so bad that nobody, not even God, should or would forgive me. When good things have come my way, like family and love, I've thought "I don't deserve it." I have thought that there was nothing I could possibly have done to deserve those things. There must be some kind of cosmic mistake.
And that's just it. I don't deserve it. I don't deserve any of it. And God gives it anyway. God has promised to give us life. End of story. If we, by being unfaithful, could make God not give us life, then we'd have some power over God, wouldn't we? And that's ridiculous. God promises to love us and God will love us no matter what.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour for ages 3 through adult at 9:45. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
ASLC Devotions - Wednesday
Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength* of my heart and my portion for ever.
Are you having a bad week? Things dragging you down? Are the bills piling higher than you thought they might? Had you hoped for a little relief, for a little bit easier time this week than last and it's just not there.
I don't have and won't attempt to give any easy answers to life's very complicated troubles. I know that pain and stress and heartache are just too real for that.
All I know is this: there is a God who is strong and powerful. The God of all the universe has claimed you and washed you and promised to be with you forever. Try something: memorize this verse and repeat it to yourself when it feels like the end of the line:
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength* of my heart and my portion for ever.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour for ages 3 through adult at 9:45. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
but God is the strength* of my heart and my portion for ever.
Are you having a bad week? Things dragging you down? Are the bills piling higher than you thought they might? Had you hoped for a little relief, for a little bit easier time this week than last and it's just not there.
I don't have and won't attempt to give any easy answers to life's very complicated troubles. I know that pain and stress and heartache are just too real for that.
All I know is this: there is a God who is strong and powerful. The God of all the universe has claimed you and washed you and promised to be with you forever. Try something: memorize this verse and repeat it to yourself when it feels like the end of the line:
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength* of my heart and my portion for ever.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour for ages 3 through adult at 9:45. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Tuesday
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
In the Christian calendar, today is Holy Cross Day. It's a day born of a mama's boy and son and mother's devotion to Christ. Helena went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land some time around the year 325. She found what she believed to be the actual cross where Jesus had been killed. Well, it just so happened that Helena's son was named Constantine and he happened to be the ruler of most of the known world, the Roman emperor. So he built a church on the spot and started a festival to honor the cross, Holy Cross Day, September 14.
This story of an emperor and his mother connect the cross to historical greats and to powerful people with massive influence, more influence than we can even imagine. And Paul reminds us, as he reminded the Corinthians, that the cross is all about foolishness and overcoming power. It's a message of foolishness to say that one killed by another Roman emperor became worshiped and adored by this Roman emperor, and down to thousands and millions of Christians 2000 years later, including you and I. The cross that Helena found may or may not have been the actual cross on which Jesus died. I don't know. But I do know that the cross and what Jesus did there for you and I have opened life to us.
A few light thoughts for your Tuesday morning!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour for ages 3 through adult at 9:45. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
In the Christian calendar, today is Holy Cross Day. It's a day born of a mama's boy and son and mother's devotion to Christ. Helena went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land some time around the year 325. She found what she believed to be the actual cross where Jesus had been killed. Well, it just so happened that Helena's son was named Constantine and he happened to be the ruler of most of the known world, the Roman emperor. So he built a church on the spot and started a festival to honor the cross, Holy Cross Day, September 14.
This story of an emperor and his mother connect the cross to historical greats and to powerful people with massive influence, more influence than we can even imagine. And Paul reminds us, as he reminded the Corinthians, that the cross is all about foolishness and overcoming power. It's a message of foolishness to say that one killed by another Roman emperor became worshiped and adored by this Roman emperor, and down to thousands and millions of Christians 2000 years later, including you and I. The cross that Helena found may or may not have been the actual cross on which Jesus died. I don't know. But I do know that the cross and what Jesus did there for you and I have opened life to us.
A few light thoughts for your Tuesday morning!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour for ages 3 through adult at 9:45. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Monday, September 13, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Monday
Amos 7:3 The Lord relented concerning this;
‘It shall not be,’ said the Lord.
Looking for a bit of inspiration, I looked up relent on dictionary.com. Here's what I came up with: "to soften in feeling, temper, or determination; become more mild, compassionate, or forgiving."
I love the image of God softening in feeling, temper, or determination. God softening, God melting, God's angry face turning into a soft and compassionate face of love. It brings to mind one of those tear-jerking Hallmark commercials. Picture the parents coming down the stairs early in the morning bleary-eyed to find their children in the kitchen in the middle of a big mess. Broken eggs on the floor, flour spread all over the place, coffee sputtering out of the pot onto the counter. At first, anger. And then, when the kids look up sweetly offering their homemade breakfast, the parents melt.
God softens toward us. God relents. Even if we're not trying to do something nice like make breakfast. Even if we're not trying to do anything nice at all. God relents. God forgives. God softens. Thanks be to God!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour for ages 3 through adult at 9:45. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
‘It shall not be,’ said the Lord.
Looking for a bit of inspiration, I looked up relent on dictionary.com. Here's what I came up with: "to soften in feeling, temper, or determination; become more mild, compassionate, or forgiving."
I love the image of God softening in feeling, temper, or determination. God softening, God melting, God's angry face turning into a soft and compassionate face of love. It brings to mind one of those tear-jerking Hallmark commercials. Picture the parents coming down the stairs early in the morning bleary-eyed to find their children in the kitchen in the middle of a big mess. Broken eggs on the floor, flour spread all over the place, coffee sputtering out of the pot onto the counter. At first, anger. And then, when the kids look up sweetly offering their homemade breakfast, the parents melt.
God softens toward us. God relents. Even if we're not trying to do something nice like make breakfast. Even if we're not trying to do anything nice at all. God relents. God forgives. God softens. Thanks be to God!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour for ages 3 through adult at 9:45. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Wednesday
Psalm 101:1,5
1I will sing of loyalty and of justice;
to you, O Lord, I will sing.
5One who secretly slanders a neighbor I will destroy.
A haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not tolerate.
It can feel pretty innocent, those hushed-tone conversations that happen behind the backs of our neighbors and colleagues, in parking lots and backyards, on the phone or over e-mail. And yet, let's all be really honest -- bullying doesn't stop when we leave school. As adults we often engage in versions of the very behaviors that we find appalling among children. The slandering of neighbors and our arrogant hearts do nothing to sing of our loyalty to the Lord and the justice that God seeks.
God calls us into relationship with one another, and David's psalm rejects the ways that we often function in those relationships. It is my prayer and hope that we can reject the slandering, haughtiness and arrogance that permeates our cultures. Let our song be of loyalty and justice to the Lord. Let us sing that song together.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
1I will sing of loyalty and of justice;
to you, O Lord, I will sing.
5One who secretly slanders a neighbor I will destroy.
A haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not tolerate.
It can feel pretty innocent, those hushed-tone conversations that happen behind the backs of our neighbors and colleagues, in parking lots and backyards, on the phone or over e-mail. And yet, let's all be really honest -- bullying doesn't stop when we leave school. As adults we often engage in versions of the very behaviors that we find appalling among children. The slandering of neighbors and our arrogant hearts do nothing to sing of our loyalty to the Lord and the justice that God seeks.
God calls us into relationship with one another, and David's psalm rejects the ways that we often function in those relationships. It is my prayer and hope that we can reject the slandering, haughtiness and arrogance that permeates our cultures. Let our song be of loyalty and justice to the Lord. Let us sing that song together.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
ASLC Devotions-- Tuesday
1 Timothy 4:14
14Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.*
This section of 1st Timothy contains instructions under the modern heading of "A Good Minister of Jesus Christ." Let me remind you that you are ALL ministers of Jesus Christ. Also, those headings were added by 20th Century editors. There are a number of times when we lay hands on people in the church -- at baptism, at an affirmation of baptism (often called "confirmation"), an ordination, and during times of healing and commissioning.
Within you is a gift, a gift from God. As with most things from God, it seems in poor taste to ignore it or neglect it. Instead, nurture it, use it, expand it, and respect it. A gift from God is far more than an ill-fitting sweater or book you've already read. What is the gift God has given you? How will you use it today?
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
14Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.*
This section of 1st Timothy contains instructions under the modern heading of "A Good Minister of Jesus Christ." Let me remind you that you are ALL ministers of Jesus Christ. Also, those headings were added by 20th Century editors. There are a number of times when we lay hands on people in the church -- at baptism, at an affirmation of baptism (often called "confirmation"), an ordination, and during times of healing and commissioning.
Within you is a gift, a gift from God. As with most things from God, it seems in poor taste to ignore it or neglect it. Instead, nurture it, use it, expand it, and respect it. A gift from God is far more than an ill-fitting sweater or book you've already read. What is the gift God has given you? How will you use it today?
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
Monday, September 6, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Monday
Colossians4:15-17
15Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters* in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea. 17And say to Archippus, ‘See that you complete the task that you have received in the Lord.’
I forget sometimes, in this age of quick communication and instant messaging, that not that long ago letters (actual hand-written letters) were not only rare, but treasured and shared. The letters, or epistles, included in our scriptures contain teachings and news to particular groups or churches and they have been passed through generations. Originally these letters would have been read in a gathered assembly, and as we see from the verses above, they would have also been shared with neighboring communities that perhaps did not receive a specific letter addressed to them. We can and do still learn from reading these early Christians' mail.
And while we might not write that many letters anymore, there are still similarities to how we communicate today. After you've read this email, share it with someone else, your neighbors or friends or family, and make sure you read their response. And say to the one in your life whom you know has a task from God, "Don't forget to complete what you have been given."
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
15Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters* in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea. 17And say to Archippus, ‘See that you complete the task that you have received in the Lord.’
I forget sometimes, in this age of quick communication and instant messaging, that not that long ago letters (actual hand-written letters) were not only rare, but treasured and shared. The letters, or epistles, included in our scriptures contain teachings and news to particular groups or churches and they have been passed through generations. Originally these letters would have been read in a gathered assembly, and as we see from the verses above, they would have also been shared with neighboring communities that perhaps did not receive a specific letter addressed to them. We can and do still learn from reading these early Christians' mail.
And while we might not write that many letters anymore, there are still similarities to how we communicate today. After you've read this email, share it with someone else, your neighbors or friends or family, and make sure you read their response. And say to the one in your life whom you know has a task from God, "Don't forget to complete what you have been given."
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
Thursday, September 2, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Thursday
Philippians 2:29-30 Welcome him then in the Lord with all joy, and honour such people, because he came close to death for the work of Christ,* risking his life to make up for those services that you could not give me.
The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the people of Philippi. There was no US Postal Service at the time, so letters were carried by hand ideally by trusted messengers. Paul sent this letter along with his friend and co-worker Epaphroditus. So in the letter he wrote some words of recommendation for good ol' Epaphroditus (his friends maybe called him Paphie). Paul encouraged the people of Philippi to welcome and honor Paphie, for all the work that Paphie had done for the sake of the church and of the gospel.
We live in a very different time and place than Paul did. The church is in a very different position. Very few of us are thrown in jail for our belief, thanks be to God. Very few of us encounter real physical hardships at all because of our faith, thanks be to God.
But we're in the same place in that there are saints among us who show us the way. For Paul, it was Epaphroditus. For me, it's Mrs. Pugh. Mrs. Pugh was the woman in my Teaching Parish congregation who showed up first to make sure all the bulletins were laid out. She turned on all the lights. She made sure the lunch was hot and ready when worship ended. And she sat on the front pew singing her heart out in praise during worship. Mrs. Pugh never came close to death for the work of Christ, but I honour such people anyway. And I honour all of you for the ministry that you do in Christ's name.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the people of Philippi. There was no US Postal Service at the time, so letters were carried by hand ideally by trusted messengers. Paul sent this letter along with his friend and co-worker Epaphroditus. So in the letter he wrote some words of recommendation for good ol' Epaphroditus (his friends maybe called him Paphie). Paul encouraged the people of Philippi to welcome and honor Paphie, for all the work that Paphie had done for the sake of the church and of the gospel.
We live in a very different time and place than Paul did. The church is in a very different position. Very few of us are thrown in jail for our belief, thanks be to God. Very few of us encounter real physical hardships at all because of our faith, thanks be to God.
But we're in the same place in that there are saints among us who show us the way. For Paul, it was Epaphroditus. For me, it's Mrs. Pugh. Mrs. Pugh was the woman in my Teaching Parish congregation who showed up first to make sure all the bulletins were laid out. She turned on all the lights. She made sure the lunch was hot and ready when worship ended. And she sat on the front pew singing her heart out in praise during worship. Mrs. Pugh never came close to death for the work of Christ, but I honour such people anyway. And I honour all of you for the ministry that you do in Christ's name.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Wednesday
Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I was humbled,
so that I might learn your statutes.
The psalmist is on the other side of a bad experience. This bad experience presumably reminded him that he couldn't go through life all on his own and that he didn't have all the answers. This was presumably one of those biblical bad experiences that drove the psalmist back to a dependence on God and on God's teaching (what he calls statutes). Looking back through this experience to the blessings that have come to him on the other side, he says "It is good for me that I was humbled, so that I might learn your statutes."
Easy for him to say.
Easy for me to say. It's easy enough to say from a place of blessing and a place of looking backward through hard times to see the blessings that have come through it. The silver lining is easiest to see when you've gone through the cloud, not when you're in the middle of it. In the middle of the cloud, we don't say "It is good for me to be here." What we do is trust. We trust that God will always be God and that God is good all the time. And we hold on.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
so that I might learn your statutes.
The psalmist is on the other side of a bad experience. This bad experience presumably reminded him that he couldn't go through life all on his own and that he didn't have all the answers. This was presumably one of those biblical bad experiences that drove the psalmist back to a dependence on God and on God's teaching (what he calls statutes). Looking back through this experience to the blessings that have come to him on the other side, he says "It is good for me that I was humbled, so that I might learn your statutes."
Easy for him to say.
Easy for me to say. It's easy enough to say from a place of blessing and a place of looking backward through hard times to see the blessings that have come through it. The silver lining is easiest to see when you've gone through the cloud, not when you're in the middle of it. In the middle of the cloud, we don't say "It is good for me to be here." What we do is trust. We trust that God will always be God and that God is good all the time. And we hold on.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
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