ASLC Devotions - Thursday

2 Timothy 3:7

Some, who are always being instructed and can never arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

So, um, Paul, when you talk about “some” who are always being instructed and can never arrive at a knowledge of the truth, did you have someone in particular in mind? Did you, perhaps, have someone named Seth in mind? Because I do.

I love being a pastor for lots of reasons (and truthfully, just like your jobs, there are some things I don’t love so much – but that’s for another day). One of the things I love most about being a pastor is learning from people like you. I learn faith and trust from people on their death-beds. I learn hopefulness and a giving spirit from our Church Council. I learn joy from our children and our older adults.

The truth is, I keep learning these things. Because I need to be reminded. I need to keep being instructed. Oh, I know I’m learning and growing in my faith. God is doing things through me, just as God is doing things through you. But God still sends people to instruct me, every day. And for that, I’m thankful.

Pastor Seth Moland-Kovash

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar and join us this weekend for the Third Sunday in Lent. Worship is at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour is at 9:45.

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

1Timothy 4:7-8

Train yourself in godliness, for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

We tend to spend a lot of time on our outward appearances: our clothing and embellishments of course, our smart way of saying things and attempts at humor, decorating our homes in a particular style that represents who we are, associating ourselves with people like ourselves. You get the picture. We have been trained by society to look, act and think in ways that describe us. But is that who you really are on the inside? Does your outward appearance reflect your godliness? Or do you hide your godliness except for when you are around other godly people for fear of being judged?

In youth group today we talked about how we so easily judge others at first sight. Those of us in the room over age 20 shared how we are less judgmental than in earlier years because we have found that there is more to be seen beyond someone’s appearance, title or actions.

It is my prayer, that as we mature in our faith, that we allow our godliness to shine through, and that we make the choice to see the godliness in others as well.

Linda Kinsella

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar and join us Wednesday (TONIGHT) for midweek Lenten worship. Dinner is served at 6:15 and worship (Holden Evening Prayer) is at 7 pm.

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

Galatians 5:16-18

Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law.

How many of us have had the feeling that we have expectations that all things should go our way? We all desire to have our ducks in a row and our plan for a happy life with friends and family. Then along comes an event/disaster/complication that takes all that planning away. We are sometimes left with feeling that life will never be the same. These are our desires for earthly things that make us happy in this world.

Events since June, 2011 have me feeling that life is a roller coaster and I’m definitely not in control. Today was Gasper’s Memorial Service and once again it hit me hard that a young life was taken away before his time. But, as Pastor Seth stated in his sermon, Gasper is experiencing more joy now than we will ever experience here. Keeping the Spirit in mind, the desire to understand God’s plan can truly be exasperating. We need to help each other get the message of the Spirit so we are not overwhelmed by the flesh.

Michael Nedzel

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar and join us Wednesday for midweek Lenten worship. Dinner is served at 6:15 and worship (Holden Evening Prayer) is at 7 pm.

ASLC Devotions - Monday

2 Peter 1:5-8

For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ

When I was a kid, I loved Star Wars. My sister and I both collected Star Wars cards and figurines and went to the first movie a few times and went to the next ones as soon as they came out. Now, my family watches any and all of the Star Wars movies rather regularly. Relevance, you ask? I think the request in this passage to make every effort to develop our faith in order to be effective Christians is much like Luke’s work at commanding the Force. Like us, he was given a gift—the gift to be able to feel the Force. That gift would be nothing to him, however, without his effort in seeking out, practicing, and becoming proficient in using it in order to be the hero on the side of good in the battle of good versus evil. Yoda and Obi Wan were his teachers, but he had to be a willing student, which took some time on his part. We, too, have many teachers in our lives. We just need to be open to them and commit to practicing what they teach us.

Luke was an unlikely hero, and I think most of us consider ourselves that way as well. Yet there is story after real-life story about how people happen into being heroes to others. So, work on your faith, your self-control, your endurance, your love. Practice them. Be ready. And may the Force be with you!

Margo Ban

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar and join us Wednesday for midweek Lenten worship. Dinner is served at 6:15 and worship (Holden Evening Prayer) is at 7 pm.

ASLC Devotions - Saturday

Matthew 11:28

Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

How many of us feel like we have more than we can handle? I know there are many days when I sure feel that way. I’m sure there are times when we believe the burdens we carry are just too great!

Where do we go?

What do we do to ease those burdens?

It’s really quite simple; just give up our burdens to God. Do you really think he expects us to handle them by ourselves? It’s pretty arrogant to think we can take care of our burdens without Him.

All we need to do is take a little time each day and “Take it to the Lord in prayer”.

Won’t you join me during this Lenten Season and take time to give your burdens up to God?

²⁹

Sandy Herweg

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar and join us this weekend for the Second Sunday in Lent. Worship is at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour is at 9:45.

ASLC Devotions - Friday

Matthew 21:1-3

When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.

What would you have done if a stranger came to your home and asked for something of value to you? Would you have given it to him just because “The Lord needed it”?  

I am not so sure I would have been that generous to a stranger.  In today’s world that would be like giving a stranger your car as the donkey may have been his only means of transportation or used to work his fields.

I wonder what else was at work that day. Why would someone be so generous?  What motivated him to do this?  Was the Holy Spirit a part of this action. There were no papers, radios etc. to broadcast the news of Jesus coming to Jerusalem, so how did everyone know to be there on this special occasion. The work of God is truly amazing. I am glad he is there to guide me so I do not miss any special events with him.

Kathy Garner

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar and join us this weekend for the Second Sunday in Lent. Worship is at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour is at 9:45.^*

ASLC Devotions - Thursday

Matthew 18:2-3

Jesus called a child, whom he put among them and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

For the past 15 years, I have worked with the youth group at All Saints. I have enjoyed this role, coming to church every Sunday, and putting myself among the young people of our congregation. I often say that I have learned more from them about the strength of faith, the art of forgiveness, and how to be humble than I have ever taught. Being a part of the youth program has helped to strengthen my own personal faith in times of deep sorrow and struggle, and it has helped me to value the community of faith we have here at All Saints.

Nothing could be a better example of this than recent events within the group. As I write this, one member of your youth group is dealing with a deep personal loss. My heart was touched this past Sunday morning as the entire group, regardless of class, gender, long-standing friendship or new acquaintance, lined up in a show of their love and support.  What a great example of serving others, and showing Jesus’ love for us to others around us. We can all learn from the youth, I think.

Karen Goodlow

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar and join us this weekend for the Second Sunday in Lent. Worship is at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour is at 9:45.

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

1 Peter 5:6

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time.

My only personal experience with wrestling was in high school gym class, a time in my life when I was far more concerned with humiliation than humility. Let alone learning or training to be humble. It was many years before I recognized and accepted the difference between humiliation and humility. That’s difficult to acknowledge for someone who made his living as a writer and attests to my ego. That I’ve made any change hopefully says I’ve learned something about being humble, or just gotten older.

But in today’s text Peter exhorts us to humble ourselves before God “so that he may exalt you in due time.” While I don’t have any expectation of being exalted, I’ve come to know that I must show the Lord my God deference and respect—greater deference and respect than I’d show a worthy opponent in the wrestling ring had I been a better athlete.

Tom Germuska

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar and join us Wednesday (TODAY) for midweek Lenten worship. Dinner is served at 6:15 and worship (Holden Evening Prayer) is at 7 pm.

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

Philippians 2:5-7

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

who, though he was in the form of God,

   did not regard equality with God

   as something to be exploited,

but emptied himself,

   taking the form of a slave,

   being born in human likeness. 

Look, up in the sky!  It’s God.  It’s a man.  It’s Jesus!  Jesus – the great shape-shifting God-man.   With the power of a God, Jesus might have been an awesome hero – but maybe we deserved a terrible villain.  He might have come to our sinful world with judgment, shock and awe, raining down death and destruction – instant pain and punishment for all.  God might have sent us a villain like Lex Luther (no relation to Martin).  Jesus also might have come as an almighty benevolent healer, dousing Earth and humanity in healing pixie dust as He flew fist-forward across the sky – instant comfort and forgiveness for all.  God might have sent us a hero like Superman. 

The book of Genesis tells us that we too have been created in God’s image.  There is a little bit of Superman and Lex Luther in each of us.  We have big powers within us – ones that might be exploited for healing or judgment.  But, let us be of the same mind as Jesus.  Let us not exalt in our triumphs or rage in our frustrations.  Let us be humble and obedient to God’s calls.  Look to Jesus to keep you grounded.  Look up to the cross!  It’s God.  It’s a man.  It’s Jesus!

John Lofgren

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar and join us Wednesday for midweek Lenten worship. Dinner is served at 6:15 and worship (Holden Evening Prayer) is at 7 pm.

ASLC Devotions - Monday

Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Often, after complimenting one of our pastors after a particularly meaningful sermon or devotional – one that seems to have been written specifically to/for me – one (or both) has told me that they just wrote what they needed to hear. Well, I'm taking that advice to heart with this devotional. Which is really just a long-winded way of saying, sorry if this is preachy, but you're not the intended target. I am.

Being served seems so much more appealing than serving. As the served, you get cool stuff and don't have to work so much. However, having been on both the serving and served side, I know, deep in my heart, that serving ultimately feels better than being served. Yet, despite my own experience and Jesus' words above, I often choose to be served instead of to serve. Why?

Today, take the opportunities in your life to serve others. It may be simply letting a car into a line of traffic, or it may be as much as helping build a house for Habitat for Humanity. Regardless, let's work today to follow this command. And see how much our lives are enriched by it.

Doug Kuhlman

For a full calendar, visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org Join us for Wednesday evening dinner at 6:15 and worship (Holden Evening Prayer) at 7 pm.

ASLC Devotion - Saturday

Matthew 17:5 While he [Peter] was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them [Jesus, Peter, James and John], and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!”

That bright cloud, the big voice from Heaven, the approval!  Wouldn't we all like to have that kind of affirmation for ourselves and our children--the assurance that we are loved and valued, that we make a positive difference in the world?

I think I just witnessed the transfiguration of Beyonce on the Superbowl half-time show.  The bright lights, the larger-than-life radiance, the announcer's big voice, the screaming adoration of 70,000 fans....  What a difference from Jesus' private revelation to his three closest friends!

Jesus told Peter, James and John not to tell anyone about his Transfiguration on the mountaintop until after he was raised from the dead.  They couldn't have known then what he was talking about, but later they were crucial witnesses that Jesus is who he claims to be. 

With all this world's distractions, can we focus enough to listen to him?

Linda Foltz

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar. We will see you in worship for the First Sunday in Lent at 8:30 and 11. The Adult Forum this week kicks back into gear with a special conversation about the Pope and his resignation from a Lutheran perspective: during Education Hour at 9:45

ASLC Devotion - Friday

2 Timothy 4:6b-8a The time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day.

St Paul, nearing the end of his years of ministry, carefully and with great intensity writes words of encouragement and detailed instruction in two letters to his young colleague, Timothy. Here, near the end of his second letter, Paul foretells his rather imminent departure from this life.

How well I remember my first 'sign of aging'----when one day I realized that I was closer to 50 than to 21. (How many decades ago was THAT?)

But somehow, over these subsequent years, words of a much younger Paul, recorded in Romans 14:7-8, have often come to mind, helping to put youth and age into a marvelous kind of "divine perspective"--------

We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.

God's GOOD NEWS doesn't get more all-encompassing than this. What more then can we say, but THANKS BE TO GOD!

Del Anderson

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar. We will see you in worship for the First Sunday in Lent at 8:30 and 11. The Adult Forum this week kicks back into gear with a special conversation about the Pope and his resignation from a Lutheran perspective: during Education Hour at 9:45

ASLC Devotion - Thursday

1 Corinthians 9:25 Athletes exercise self-control in all things to receive a perishable wreath, but we receive an imperishable one.

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul seems so contemporary in this writing.  As I write this I’m watching the emergence of Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens win an upset over the New England Patriots.  After 17 years of incredible self-control, he has a chance to win a Super Bowl ring.  And yet, even if he wins it, it will probably end up in a jewelry box and worn very rarely.  A lifetime of self-control to win a perishable wreath. 

And so it is with all of us today, just it was in Paul’s age.  We all strive to win our perishable wreaths.  I’m currently in the process of “downsizing” after an incredible life of achieving many perishable wreaths.  What a cleansing process it has been.  I’ve had to make many decisions in what wreaths to keep and which ones to discard.   It’s amazing how little those perishable wreaths meant to me.  The one decision I made was not to move away from All Saints, for it reminds me to exercise self-control to achieve my imperishable wreath.

This is my prayer for the day:  “Dear Lord.  Remind us to exercise self-control so we may all receive your promise of an imperishable wreath in the life ever after.”

P.S.  Happy Valentine’s Day I hope you experience an extra dose of love today

George Buerger

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar. We will see you in worship for the First Sunday in Lent at 8:30 and 11. The Adult Forum this week kicks back into gear with a special conversation about the Pope and his resignation from a Lutheran perspective: during Education Hour at 9:45

ASLC Devotion - Wednesday

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

During the season of Advent, your email devotionals will be brought to you by YOU, by members of All Saints who agreed to write and share their thoughts with a given passage of Scripture. As we begin the season today on Ash Wednesday, we begin with the passage that inspired the entire outlook of the devotional project: the call from the letter to the Hebrews to run the race that is set before us. In order to run the race, we need some training. In the case of our Lenten journey, we need some cross training. So it will come to you, and we invite you to join this cross training journey. 

Printed copies of this devotional are available at church in regular and large-print versions.

We invite you to begin the season of Lent today (Ash Wednesday) with Holy Communion worship and imposition of ashes at either noon or 7 pm. See you there. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar and more announcements.