Almighty God, you made this holy night shine with the brightness of the true Light. Grant that here on earth we may walk in the light of Jesus’ presence and in the last day wake to the brightness of his glory; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Merry Christmas!
Pastor Seth and Pastor Jenn
Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar. Plan to join us for Christmas Eve worship at 3 (Family Worship), 5 (Holy Communion and candlelight), and 11 (Holy Communion and candlelight). Pre-service music one-half hour before each service time. Then, we will gather for worship on Sunday, Christmas Day, at 10 am.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
ASLC Devotions - Friday
Romans 13:11-12 Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light.
Now is the moment for you to wake from sleep. The pitter-patter of reindeer feet on the roof and the "ho ho ho" of a jolly old man coming down your chimney may not wake you, but now is the time to wake from sleep. The night is far gone, the day is near. It's time to wake up with excitement and anticipation. Run down the stairs! Start the coffee pot!
No, it's not time to look under the tree. It's not time to check the cookie plate to see if the nighttime visitor left any crumbs. It's time to watch for the coming of Messiah - and to watch with anticipation and hope for his coming. Merry Christmas!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar. Plan to join us for Christmas Eve worship at 3 (Family Worship), 5 (Holy Communion and candlelight), and 11 (Holy Communion and candlelight). Pre-service music one-half hour before each service time. Then, we will gather for worship on Sunday, Christmas Day, at 10 am.
Now is the moment for you to wake from sleep. The pitter-patter of reindeer feet on the roof and the "ho ho ho" of a jolly old man coming down your chimney may not wake you, but now is the time to wake from sleep. The night is far gone, the day is near. It's time to wake up with excitement and anticipation. Run down the stairs! Start the coffee pot!
No, it's not time to look under the tree. It's not time to check the cookie plate to see if the nighttime visitor left any crumbs. It's time to watch for the coming of Messiah - and to watch with anticipation and hope for his coming. Merry Christmas!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar. Plan to join us for Christmas Eve worship at 3 (Family Worship), 5 (Holy Communion and candlelight), and 11 (Holy Communion and candlelight). Pre-service music one-half hour before each service time. Then, we will gather for worship on Sunday, Christmas Day, at 10 am.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
ASLC Devotions - Thursday
Romans 10:8 But what does it say?
‘The word is near you,
on your lips and in your heart’
(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);
This is a part of a larger argument that Paul is making about salvation where he quotes extensively from the Hebrew Scriptures. But for this week what is striking is that Paul makes very clear that we understand the closeness of the word - or is it the Word? "The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart."
In the events that we mark as our Christmas celebration, the Word of God, the Wisdom from on High, came near to us. God came down from a distant heavenly throne and took on flesh to walk among us. The Word came near, in the form of a crying and squirming human baby. The word has come near. Thanks be to God!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar. Plan to join us for Christmas Eve worship at 3 (Family Worship), 5 (Holy Communion and candlelight), and 11 (Holy Communion and candlelight). Pre-service music one-half hour before each service time. Then, we will gather for worship on Sunday, Christmas Day, at 10 am.
‘The word is near you,
on your lips and in your heart’
(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);
This is a part of a larger argument that Paul is making about salvation where he quotes extensively from the Hebrew Scriptures. But for this week what is striking is that Paul makes very clear that we understand the closeness of the word - or is it the Word? "The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart."
In the events that we mark as our Christmas celebration, the Word of God, the Wisdom from on High, came near to us. God came down from a distant heavenly throne and took on flesh to walk among us. The Word came near, in the form of a crying and squirming human baby. The word has come near. Thanks be to God!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar. Plan to join us for Christmas Eve worship at 3 (Family Worship), 5 (Holy Communion and candlelight), and 11 (Holy Communion and candlelight). Pre-service music one-half hour before each service time. Then, we will gather for worship on Sunday, Christmas Day, at 10 am.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
ASLC Devotions - Wednesday
Mark 1:9-11 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’
Is it possible that Mark, the gospel-writer, the Evangelist, was part of the war on Christmas? He didn't write about Christmas at all.
Of course I'm being ludicrous - the war on Christmas or lack thereof is completely an American 21st Century invention - but it's interesting to note that, for at least one of the four gospel-writers (and really, I'd include John as well), Christmas was largely irrelevant. How and where and when this person was born was not important to them.
Mark starts with Jesus' baptism - as an adult. What's important to Mark is not a birth and angels and shepherds - but a baptism. And what a baptism it was! In this baptism we get a voice from heaven to share the message. This is as close as we get in Mark to a Christmas proclamation - this is the message from heaven at the start about who this person is. Jesus is God's Son. Jesus is the Beloved One. God is pleased with Jesus. And that's the most important Christmas message of all - we are followers of the beloved Son of God. Merry Christmas!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar. Plan to join us for Christmas Eve worship at 3 (Family Worship), 5 (Holy Communion and candlelight), and 11 (Holy Communion and candlelight). Pre-service music one-half hour before each service time. Then, we will gather for worship on Sunday, Christmas Day, at 10 am.
Is it possible that Mark, the gospel-writer, the Evangelist, was part of the war on Christmas? He didn't write about Christmas at all.
Of course I'm being ludicrous - the war on Christmas or lack thereof is completely an American 21st Century invention - but it's interesting to note that, for at least one of the four gospel-writers (and really, I'd include John as well), Christmas was largely irrelevant. How and where and when this person was born was not important to them.
Mark starts with Jesus' baptism - as an adult. What's important to Mark is not a birth and angels and shepherds - but a baptism. And what a baptism it was! In this baptism we get a voice from heaven to share the message. This is as close as we get in Mark to a Christmas proclamation - this is the message from heaven at the start about who this person is. Jesus is God's Son. Jesus is the Beloved One. God is pleased with Jesus. And that's the most important Christmas message of all - we are followers of the beloved Son of God. Merry Christmas!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar. Plan to join us for Christmas Eve worship at 3 (Family Worship), 5 (Holy Communion and candlelight), and 11 (Holy Communion and candlelight). Pre-service music one-half hour before each service time. Then, we will gather for worship on Sunday, Christmas Day, at 10 am.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
ASLC Devotions - Tuesday
1 Samuel 1:25-28 Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. And she said, ‘Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed; and the Lord has granted me the petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.’ She left him there for the Lord.
Remember Hannah, the crazy praying woman from yesterday? Well, God granted her prayer and she had a son - a son whom she named Samuel.
So in thanks for this beautiful miracle, she brought the child to the temple to be blessed by the priest Eli (the one who thought mom was drunk before) and to sacrifice a bull. But not only does she bring the child for a blessing and a bull-sacrifice and then return home. No. She leaves the child there. She's so thankful for this wonderful gift that God has given her that she returns the gift to God. She turns Samuel over to Eli for service in the temple. Samuel becomes like a super-acolyte... not just showing up 15 minutes before the service on the times when he's scheduled. Samuel lives in the temple and serves and learns.
It seems counter-intuitive or strange to say the least. She prayed so fervently for a child that people around her thought she was drunk. Then... when the prayer was granted and she had a son, she gave him right up. She turned him over to the Lord. Her path need not be followed by all of us, but Hannah demonstrated that she knew where Samuel came from. She knew where all children, all good gifts come from - they come from God and they belong to God. End of story.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar. Plan to join us for Christmas Eve worship at 3 (Family Worship), 5 (Holy Communion and candlelight), and 11 (Holy Communion and candlelight). Pre-service music one-half hour before each service time. Then, we will gather for worship on Sunday, Christmas Day, at 10 am.
Remember Hannah, the crazy praying woman from yesterday? Well, God granted her prayer and she had a son - a son whom she named Samuel.
So in thanks for this beautiful miracle, she brought the child to the temple to be blessed by the priest Eli (the one who thought mom was drunk before) and to sacrifice a bull. But not only does she bring the child for a blessing and a bull-sacrifice and then return home. No. She leaves the child there. She's so thankful for this wonderful gift that God has given her that she returns the gift to God. She turns Samuel over to Eli for service in the temple. Samuel becomes like a super-acolyte... not just showing up 15 minutes before the service on the times when he's scheduled. Samuel lives in the temple and serves and learns.
It seems counter-intuitive or strange to say the least. She prayed so fervently for a child that people around her thought she was drunk. Then... when the prayer was granted and she had a son, she gave him right up. She turned him over to the Lord. Her path need not be followed by all of us, but Hannah demonstrated that she knew where Samuel came from. She knew where all children, all good gifts come from - they come from God and they belong to God. End of story.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar. Plan to join us for Christmas Eve worship at 3 (Family Worship), 5 (Holy Communion and candlelight), and 11 (Holy Communion and candlelight). Pre-service music one-half hour before each service time. Then, we will gather for worship on Sunday, Christmas Day, at 10 am.
Monday, December 19, 2011
ASLC Devotions - Monday
1 Samuel 1:13 Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk.
Practices of faith can be strange things indeed. Hannah was praying silently - in this case, she was praying fervently for God to give her a son; hence the tie-in to the week before Christmas. But what strikes me is just the strangeness of the act. She was praying silently so people around her thought she was talking to herself. Eli thought she was drunk. How often have each of us done the same thing when we see someone muttering to themselves walking down the street? We think they're crazy. Or drunk. Or dangerous.
Now obviously mental illness is real and sometimes people are truly talking to nobody: but how would it change you and how you react to someone you see muttering to themselves if you assume first that they are in prayer? Might it change how you approach, how you think about them, whether you cross to the other side of the street or not?
OR... how might it change your relationship with God if you were a little less afraid of being seen as strange? I'm talking to myself here too. Might we be more willing to pray, to shout for joy, to speak with God, to speak about God, if we were not so afraid that Eli might think we were drunk?
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar. Plan to join us for Christmas Eve worship at 3 (Family Worship), 5 (Holy Communion and candlelight), and 11 (Holy Communion and candlelight). Pre-service music one-half hour before each service time. Then, we will gather for worship on Sunday, Christmas Day, at 10 am.
Friday, December 9, 2011
All Saints Lenten Devotional 2012
Hi all.
Your help is needed.
Do you ever read these daily devotionals and think, "I've got something to say too?"
Do you ever wonder why Pastor Seth and Pastor Jenn get to have all the fun of writing these messages?
Do you have something to share?
I'm sure that you do, whether you know it or not.
So, we are again this year preparing a Lenten devotional booklet for All Saints written by the people of All Saints.
If you should decide to put your name on the writer's list, you will get:
an assigned biblical text (usually 6-10 verses)
a deadline (in mid-January)
a template
instructions and guidance, as much as you'd like.
What we'll ask you to do is to read your assigned passage and choose one or two key verses.
Write your thoughts about what these passages are saying to you. What do they make you think of? What do you learn about God from them? What do you learn about yourself from them? Use the booklets "Christ in our Home" or the daily email devotionals as inspiration. But make it your own. Share your thoughts with your sisters and brothers.
Finally submit the following via email: your key verses, 250-350 word reflection, and how you would like your name to be printed.
These will be printed together in a booklet for our congregation, the booklet will be made into a pdf and put on our congregation's website, and the devotions will be emailed as part of our daily email devotional plan for the season of Lent 2012.
If you would be willing to share your thoughts and to help us create this project, please respond via email to pastorseth@allsaintspalatine.org
Your help is needed.
Do you ever read these daily devotionals and think, "I've got something to say too?"
Do you ever wonder why Pastor Seth and Pastor Jenn get to have all the fun of writing these messages?
Do you have something to share?
I'm sure that you do, whether you know it or not.
So, we are again this year preparing a Lenten devotional booklet for All Saints written by the people of All Saints.
If you should decide to put your name on the writer's list, you will get:
an assigned biblical text (usually 6-10 verses)
a deadline (in mid-January)
a template
instructions and guidance, as much as you'd like.
What we'll ask you to do is to read your assigned passage and choose one or two key verses.
Write your thoughts about what these passages are saying to you. What do they make you think of? What do you learn about God from them? What do you learn about yourself from them? Use the booklets "Christ in our Home" or the daily email devotionals as inspiration. But make it your own. Share your thoughts with your sisters and brothers.
Finally submit the following via email: your key verses, 250-350 word reflection, and how you would like your name to be printed.
These will be printed together in a booklet for our congregation, the booklet will be made into a pdf and put on our congregation's website, and the devotions will be emailed as part of our daily email devotional plan for the season of Lent 2012.
If you would be willing to share your thoughts and to help us create this project, please respond via email to pastorseth@allsaintspalatine.org
ASLC Devotions - Friday
Philippians 3:14 I press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.
When you envision heaven, what do you see? Do you picture clouds and little cherubic angels with wings and harps? Maybe you picture gates and a maitre d' checking to see whether your name's in the book.
Paul saw a goal. When Paul envisioned heaven, he saw it as a goal. Like an endurance runner pressing on toward the end of the marathon (just a few more steps! you can make it!), Paul was encouraging his hearers to keep at it. They were almost there. Keep pressing on. The thing I like about imagining heaven as a goal is the huge exhale of relief that goes along with that. The goal is the place where we can finally rest, the place where we can exhale, where we can lay down for a bit. Keep pressing, Paul says. You're almost there.
People of God, keep pressing on toward the goal - because what a goal it will be!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Remember that this Sunday is Cantata Sunday - Vivaldi's "Gloria" and Holy Communion at both 8:30 and 11.
When you envision heaven, what do you see? Do you picture clouds and little cherubic angels with wings and harps? Maybe you picture gates and a maitre d' checking to see whether your name's in the book.
Paul saw a goal. When Paul envisioned heaven, he saw it as a goal. Like an endurance runner pressing on toward the end of the marathon (just a few more steps! you can make it!), Paul was encouraging his hearers to keep at it. They were almost there. Keep pressing on. The thing I like about imagining heaven as a goal is the huge exhale of relief that goes along with that. The goal is the place where we can finally rest, the place where we can exhale, where we can lay down for a bit. Keep pressing, Paul says. You're almost there.
People of God, keep pressing on toward the goal - because what a goal it will be!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Remember that this Sunday is Cantata Sunday - Vivaldi's "Gloria" and Holy Communion at both 8:30 and 11.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
ASLC Devotions - Wednesday
Luke 1:17 With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
This is part of the angel's message to Zechariah proclaiming the birth of a special son for him: John the Baptist. It describes John's role in the salvation story: John's role is to make the people ready for the Lord. Jesus was coming, but the people needed to be prepared to hear and receive his message and his person. So John was sent to prepare the way. I'm intrigued by the fact that the angel says one way John will do that is "to turn the hearts of parents to their children." Concern for someone else, concern for the future, care for the next generation: that is part of what it means to be prepared for the Gospel message. Intriguing.
To experience and think about this proclamation in a new way, join us for Midweek Advent Worship tonight. We'll view artistic images of Zechariah and the angel, we'll hear some new music, and we'll talk about the angel's proclamation. Supper is at 6:15 and worship with dessert at 7. Come and join in the fun!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Our website at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org has information about all of our ministries. This Sunday is Cantata Sunday at 8:30 and 11. We'll have Education Hour between at 9:45 as well.
This is part of the angel's message to Zechariah proclaiming the birth of a special son for him: John the Baptist. It describes John's role in the salvation story: John's role is to make the people ready for the Lord. Jesus was coming, but the people needed to be prepared to hear and receive his message and his person. So John was sent to prepare the way. I'm intrigued by the fact that the angel says one way John will do that is "to turn the hearts of parents to their children." Concern for someone else, concern for the future, care for the next generation: that is part of what it means to be prepared for the Gospel message. Intriguing.
To experience and think about this proclamation in a new way, join us for Midweek Advent Worship tonight. We'll view artistic images of Zechariah and the angel, we'll hear some new music, and we'll talk about the angel's proclamation. Supper is at 6:15 and worship with dessert at 7. Come and join in the fun!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Our website at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org has information about all of our ministries. This Sunday is Cantata Sunday at 8:30 and 11. We'll have Education Hour between at 9:45 as well.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
ASLC Devotions - Tuesday
Isaiah 4:5-6 Then the Lord will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over its places of assembly a cloud by day and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night. Indeed, over all the glory there will be a canopy. It will serve as a pavilion, a shade by day from the heat, and a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.
Our ancestors in the faith who lived thousands of years ago had a much different relationship to nature and the elements than we do. We have roofs and insulation and heaters and air conditioners. We walk from one climate-controlled room to another climate-controlled room and mostly think nothing of it. But not true for our ancestors in the faith who lived in the desert and the mountains of the Near East. Shade and comfort and shelter from the elements were profoundly important to them.
And so it was those metaphors they used to understand God's role in their life. God is the canopy that preserves life. God is the shade from the heat of the day, allowing us to breathe more easily. God is the shelter from the rain and the storm. Maybe today God is the wise investment advisor, the ever-stable Dow, the job that's always there, the car that doesn't need a mechanic. I admit it's not quite as poetic, but whatever your metaphor: God is the present protector and comfort, the preserver of life.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for more information and full calendar. Invite friends and family and come yourself to hear the Word proclaimed through Vivaldi's "Gloria" this Sunday during both our 8:30 and 11:00 worship services: Education Hour at 9:45.
Our ancestors in the faith who lived thousands of years ago had a much different relationship to nature and the elements than we do. We have roofs and insulation and heaters and air conditioners. We walk from one climate-controlled room to another climate-controlled room and mostly think nothing of it. But not true for our ancestors in the faith who lived in the desert and the mountains of the Near East. Shade and comfort and shelter from the elements were profoundly important to them.
And so it was those metaphors they used to understand God's role in their life. God is the canopy that preserves life. God is the shade from the heat of the day, allowing us to breathe more easily. God is the shelter from the rain and the storm. Maybe today God is the wise investment advisor, the ever-stable Dow, the job that's always there, the car that doesn't need a mechanic. I admit it's not quite as poetic, but whatever your metaphor: God is the present protector and comfort, the preserver of life.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for more information and full calendar. Invite friends and family and come yourself to hear the Word proclaimed through Vivaldi's "Gloria" this Sunday during both our 8:30 and 11:00 worship services: Education Hour at 9:45.
Monday, December 5, 2011
ASLC Devotions - Monday
Hebrews 1:1-2 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.
God has spoken to us "in these last days" by a Son. We sometimes have a hard time with that, I think, given that we live 2000 years after Jesus. That's what gets us confused sometimes about trying to pick dates that we think the end is going to come. But as Lutherans we have a pretty clear way of understanding it: we live in the last days. The world has been in the last days ever since Jesus. It has turned out to be a lot longer than most of Jesus' followers probably thought, and may be lots longer now. We have no way of knowing. It's not our job to know - let's leave that one to God.
But we live in the last days. We live in the days of hope and promise: the days when we have Jesus' words to guide us and to give us hope. So each Advent we prepare ourselves again to celebrate Christmas: the beginning of the last days. And in these last days we have a very important job. In these last days, our job is to believe in God's promises through Jesus, to hold fast and to walk as children of light.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
For more information about All Saints and our ministries, visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org. This Sunday is Cantata Sunday. Come and hear the Word proclaimed through Vivaldi's "Gloria" at both 8:30 and 11.
God has spoken to us "in these last days" by a Son. We sometimes have a hard time with that, I think, given that we live 2000 years after Jesus. That's what gets us confused sometimes about trying to pick dates that we think the end is going to come. But as Lutherans we have a pretty clear way of understanding it: we live in the last days. The world has been in the last days ever since Jesus. It has turned out to be a lot longer than most of Jesus' followers probably thought, and may be lots longer now. We have no way of knowing. It's not our job to know - let's leave that one to God.
But we live in the last days. We live in the days of hope and promise: the days when we have Jesus' words to guide us and to give us hope. So each Advent we prepare ourselves again to celebrate Christmas: the beginning of the last days. And in these last days we have a very important job. In these last days, our job is to believe in God's promises through Jesus, to hold fast and to walk as children of light.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
For more information about All Saints and our ministries, visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org. This Sunday is Cantata Sunday. Come and hear the Word proclaimed through Vivaldi's "Gloria" at both 8:30 and 11.
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