ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

Matthew 12:40 For just as Jonah was for three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so for three days and three nights the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth.

God is into patterns. Or at least, the Bible is into patterns. The Bible has been collected by faithful people throughout generations looking for ways that God is active in their lives. And so patterns begin to emerge as to how God works in the world. Here we see a pattern - just like Jonah was DOWN in the belly of a sea monster for 3 days and nights, Jesus also was DOWN in the tomb for 3 days and nights.

But beyond the significance of the number, there's a deeper pattern. Here's how God chooses to interact with the world and with God's people. The end result is life. It may be a wait. It be a long wait. It may be three days and nights or even more. But God is about bringing us UP to life.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

This devotional message is a ministry of All Saints Lutheran Church. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list or to be added.

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Jesus is in the process of destroying all enemies. Sin and darkness are gone. Guilt and hopelessness are on the way out. And the last one to be completely destroyed is going to be death. Obviously people still die. It happens. It happens every day. So what does Paul mean by saying that the last enemy to be destroyed is death?

I think of it in those famous Lutheran "already but not yet" terms. Death has been defeated. That first Easter morning, Jesus destroyed death. It's over. Death has been defeated. But the victory has not been brought to full fruition. People still die. But let's stick with the promise right now - the victory WILL be brought to full fruition. Trust the promise.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

This devotional message is a ministry of All Saints Lutheran Church. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list or to be added.

ASLC Devotions - Monday

1 Corinthians 15:20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.

Paul is here helping people to understand what really matters about Easter. Yes, it means that Jesus was raised from the dead. But one could say "Big whoop! Why does that matter to me?" Paul is making it extremely clear to us all that this isn't just about Jesus. This isn't just about one person who lived 2000 years ago. This isn't just about his life and the fact that he got to walk around for a few more weeks with his disciples.

It extends to us. His life becomes our life. The resurrection of Jesus is the first fruits of all those who have died. Jesus' resurrection becomes our resurrection. It's not just about Jesus. It's about you and I. It's about your father and mother, your husband and wife. It's about life. For all.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

This devotional message is a ministry of All Saints Lutheran Church. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list or to be added.

ASLC Devotions - Friday

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures,⁴and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures,

Paul writes here to remind the Corinthians that the gospel he has proclaimed was not original to him. He didn't make it up. He wasn't the first one to say that Jesus has risen. He was just passing on what he received. He had received a wonderful gift in the gospel (good news) and he was passing it along.

Sometimes we engage a bit in a cult of newness and originality. Something is only valuable if it's never been done before, an idea is only worth listening to if it's new. But the most important truths of life are ancient truths. Do unto others as you'd have them do to you. Honor the past and leave a legacy for the future. And Jesus rose from the dead. These are important messages. You've heard them. Pass them along.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

This devotional message is a ministry of All Saints Lutheran Church. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list or to be added.

ASLC Devotions - Thursday

Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.

Want to know how to live an Easter life? Want to know how to live now that we know death isn't final? Here are the apostle Paul's instructions: devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. Keep praying. Pray for yourselves, pray for others, pray for the world, pray in thanksgiving, and pray in awe at the wonder of God and God's world.

There are many types of prayers that are acceptable and good to use. But one we sometimes forget and one that seems so appropriate this week is a prayer of thanksgiving. That's what Paul is talking about. Because how do you respond to the gift of eternal life? Saying thanks is a really good place to start.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

This devotional message is a ministry of All Saints Lutheran Church. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list or to be added.

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

Matthew 28:8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

The Marys who came to the tomb got quite a surprise that Sunday morning long ago, didn't they? They didn't find the body they came to anoint. Instead they met an empty tomb and an angel who told them Jesus had risen. And their response is recorded here.

Fear and great joy. They can go together. New things are scary even if we know they might be wonderful. Change is difficult. Changing our entire way of thinking about the world is harder still. Fear and great joy. That is our response to the Easter news as well, isn't it? Because if death isn't final, what else is not the way it seems?

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

This devotional message is a ministry of All Saints Lutheran Church. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list or to be added.

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

Exodus 15:11
Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?
   Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
   awesome in splendour, doing wonders? 

This is part of the song that the Israelites sang to praise God after the exodus. If you remember from yesterday, they were singing under the leadership and inspiration of Miriam. They were singing to praise God for the mighty deeds of salvation with which God had brought them out of slavery.

This week we too sing songs of joy and thanksgiving. We honor the God who has saved us all from death and darkness, welcoming us into heaven's splendor through the death and resurrection of Jesus. We sing our "Alleluias," we sing "Jesus Christ is Ris'n Today." My prayer is that these songs continue to fill your heart long after all the Peeps have been eaten and all the eggs have been cleaned up.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

This devotional message is a ministry of All Saints Lutheran Church. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list or to be added.

ASLC Devotions - Monday

Exodus 15:21 
And Miriam sang to them:
‘Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.’

Miriam was the sister of Moses and Aaron. Moses was God's chosen instrument to lead the people out of slavery into freedom, out of darkness into light, out of death into life. Aaron and Miriam helped in various ways - they played the part to use the gifts that God had given them. Miriam was a musician. Miriam sang a song to commemorate the occasion.

When God does amazing things in our lives, song is one way we respond. Some of us have wonderful musical gifts and others are best to sing in our cars.... alone. But either way, music helps us to respond with thanksgiving to God's gifts. Coming off this Lenten season and Triduum into Easter's light I am particularly thankful for the musical gifts of composers and hymn-writers, for organists and choir members, for soloists and trumpet players who have helped us all to sing God's song. Because we have a song to sing... Christ is risen indeed!

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

This devotional message is a ministry of All Saints Lutheran Church. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list or to be added.

ASLC Devotions - Easter Morning

Matthew 28:1-10

 

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.” This is my message for you.’ So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’


Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Join us as we celebrate the resurrection this morning at 8:30 and 11.

ASLC Devotions - Vigil of Easter

Romans 6:3-11

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Join us for worship as we continue the Triduum, the Great Three Days of our salvation story. The Easter Vigil (7 pm TONIGHT) begins around a new fire in darkness until the light of Easter shines. We follow the service with champagne and refreshments. Easter morning we worship at 8:30 and 11. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.

ASLC Devotions - Good Friday

Hebrews 10:16-25

 

‘This is the covenant that I will make with them
   after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
   and I will write them on their minds’, 
he also adds,
‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.’ 
Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

 Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Join us for worship as we continue the Triduum, the Great Three Days of our salvation story. Good Friday (TODAY), we will have a family-focused service at 10 am as well as a choir and orchestra cantata at 7 pm. The Easter Vigil (7 pm on Saturday) begins around a new fire in darkness until the light of Easter shines. We follow the service with champagne and refreshments. Easter morning we worship at 8:30 and 11. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.

ASLC Devotions - Maundy Thursday

1 Corinthians 3:1-17

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogantor rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

This Lent, we are sharing the offerings of members of All Saints who worked together to create a daily Lenten devotional book. Join us for worship as we enter the Triduum, the Great Three Days of our salvation story. Maundy Thursday worship is at 7 pm TONIGHT and involves foot-washing as well as a light meal. Good Friday, we will have a family-focused service at 10 am as well as a choir and orchestra cantata at 7 pm. The Easter Vigil (7 pm on Saturday) begins around a new fire in darkness until the light of Easter shines. We follow the service with champagne and refreshments. Easter morning we worship at 8:30 and 11. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

Hebrews 12:1-3

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 out faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, disregarding his shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God”

Upon reading this, my first thought was that Paul was lucky he didn’t have Mrs. Isley (my high school teacher) as his English teacher.  I mean, really: an 81-word sentence?  But the good news is I don’t have to write much to complete my 250 word assignment.

I’ve always thought it is much easier to be a Christian today than in the days when Jesus was actually walking the earth.  I’m pretty sure; I would not have believed this ragged, homeless man was the Son of God.  Would I have believed the water into wine, walking on water, the curing of leprosy (today’s cancer), and waking the dead? Probably not.

But, as Paul says, today “we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…” One only has to look at the impact this ragged, homeless, guy has had on the world over the past 2,000 years. It is so much easier to believe Jesus WAS the Son on God.

During Lent, let us celebrate this gift that is so easy to take for granted. This gift didn’t exist 2,000 years ago.  “Thanks be to God."

George Buerger

This Lent, we are sharing the offerings of members of All Saints who worked together to create a daily Lenten devotional book. Join us for worship as we enter the Triduum, the Great Three Days of our salvation story. Maundy Thursday worship is at 7 pm and involves foot-washing as well as a light meal. Good Friday, we will have a family-focused service at 10 am as well as a choir and orchestra cantata at 7 pm. The Easter Vigil (7 pm on Saturday) begins around a new fire in darkness until the light of Easter shines. We follow the service with champagne and refreshments. Easter morning we worship at 8:30 and 11. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.

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.

All I can think about when I read this is “I’ve got the power! ”

The power of God was never more strongly apparent than on a Tuesday night last August. I’m sure many of you are not aware of the many health struggles my mom has experienced this last year. On that particular night after a week of watching my mom getting progressively worse, it appeared that she was at death’s door and would not make it through the night.

All my sister and I could do was watch helplessly as she was slipping away. As we struggled with what to do, we looked at each other and said it was in God’s hands. The only thing left to do was pray and with the help of the Internet, reach out to our friends and families to pray too.  We did just that and we got a miracle! The collective power of prayer from our friends and families was answered. My mom has slowly gotten better there are still ups and downs since then and those will continue for the rest of her life. So I guess it is really “We’ve got the Power!”

As it says in 1 Corinthians 1.31, “In order that as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

So I will boast at the time when we needed God, he answered the collection of prayers that were uplifted for my mom. That is truly the power of God!

Sandy Herweg

This Lent, we are sharing the offerings of members of All Saints who worked together to create a daily Lenten devotional book. Join us for worship as we enter the Triduum, the Great Three Days of our salvation story. Maundy Thursday worship is at 7 pm and involves foot-washing as well as a light meal. Good Friday, we will have a family-focused service at 10 am as well as a choir and orchestra cantata at 7 pm. The Easter Vigil (7 pm on Saturday) begins around a new fire in darkness until the light of Easter shines. We follow the service with champagne and refreshments. Easter morning we worship at 8:30 and 11. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.

ASLC Devotions - Monday

Hebrews 9:14

How much more will the blood of Christ, who through The eternal spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Sculptors and inventors have a term for a person’s ability to look at a rough piece of stone or metal and see it in its final perfected form. It is called “hyperseeing”.

Our God has the talent of “hyperseeing”.  He sees all that we are and all we are to become.  God the Father saw what Jesus would do for the world.  In the Old Testament sacrifices of animal blood were used to wash away sin but with the new Covenant, Christ’s blood was all that was needed to wash away the sins of the world.  The God who started His creation completed his work through the sacrifice of His Son. He saw in the man Jesus, a Savior who would change the world forever.  God’s creation proved to be the most beautiful and wonderful gift ever given.  Grace is ours and all we have to do is believe. 

Nate Drucker

This Lent, we are sharing the offerings of members of All Saints who worked together to create a daily Lenten devotional book. Join us for worship as we enter the Triduum, the Great Three Days of our salvation story. Maundy Thursday worship is at 7 pm and involves foot-washing as well as a light meal. Good Friday, we will have a family-focused service at 10 am as well as a choir and orchestra cantata at 7 pm. The Easter Vigil (7 pm on Saturday) begins around a new fire in darkness until the light of Easter shines. We follow the service with champagne and refreshments. Easter morning we worship at 8:30 and 11. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.

ASLC Devotions - Saturday

Mark 10:34

 ... they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again. 

Three is a pretty amazing number. Go to the Wikipedia homepage online and enter “3” and you’ll see what I mean. For Christians, three can help define the concept of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Spirit) and also Christ’s threefold office (prophet, priest, king).

In Mark’s Gospel Jesus foretells of his death and resurrection three times while teaching his disciples. The verse above is the last part of the third time Jesus talks about his impending course. Earlier in the chapter the disciples are described as being afraid, not understanding what Jesus is saying. I can sympathize with them – I don’t know what I’d make of Jesus telling me in words like that about what was to come in the week ahead. After hearing it three times, I’d be just as afraid, no doubt.

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, also known as Sunday of the Passion, the beginning of Holy Week. This year we hear Matthew’s account of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and then the passion story about what he endured on his way to the cross – and his rising three days later.

Did you catch that last part? And after three days – resurrection! Fear, be gone!

Doug Williams

This Lent, we are sharing the offerings of members of All Saints who worked together to create a daily Lenten devotional book. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. This Sunday is Palm Sunday. Weather-permitting we will begin our procession outside. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.

ASLC Devotions - Friday

Philippians 1: 29-30

And this is God’s doing. For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well, since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

I love the Apostle Paul’s writing style.  Sometimes he uses long and winding phrases that never seem to end and then there are times he uses short but powerful sentences, all of course coming from the Holy Spirit.  Our verse today starts with five short words “And this is God’s doing.”  It amazes me how the world has difficulty understanding and believing those powerful five words; “And this is Gods doing.”     

God is the action in our lives!  His son Jesus loves us, died for us, and forgives us.  He graciously gives us the gift of faith through the Holy Spirit.  He comes to us in Baptism, in the Eucharist, and in his Word each and every day.  The good news is that Jesus also comes to us during the bad times in illness, suffering, job loss, family challenges, financial issues, and a host of other issues.  As we continue our journey with Jesus to the cross this Lenten season; let’s make sure we reach out to those who are suffering and needing to know those five words about Jesus love for us on the cross:  And this is God’s doing…….for us!

Wayne Kolweier 

This Lent, we are sharing the offerings of members of All Saints who worked together to create a daily Lenten devotional book. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. This Sunday is Palm Sunday. Weather-permitting we will begin our procession outside. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list. 

ASLC Devotions - Thursday

Philipians 1:11

 

May you always be doing those good kind things which show that you are a child of God for this will bring much praise and glory to the Lord.

God is present in places where your fears live.  You meet God’s messengers in the strangest places.  I met such a lady over ten  years ago when I was having my mammogram.  She was the  technician who administrated the procedure.  I go yearly so I knew what to expect but this year was different as my best friend had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was going through intense chemo after her surgery.  This time I was visibly nervous and  apprehensive but instead of hurrying me through, she talked me through and listened to my concern.  Her support and care at the moment  meant so much and thanking her just didn’t seem enough.  She shared with me that her job was not only her career but her mission to share God’s peace with the patients.  Her gentleness and reassurance made a dreaded   procedure tolerable.  When I schedule my appointment I ask for her and enter the room each year with a smile on my face for she has the love of Christ in her heart.  Glory to you oh Lord!

Sandy Drucker

This Lent, we are sharing the offerings of members of All Saints who worked together to create a daily Lenten devotional book. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. This Sunday is Palm Sunday. Weather-permitting we will begin our procession outside. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

Matthew 22:29-33

Jesus answered them, ‘You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”? He is God not of the dead, but of the living.’ And when the crowd heard it, they were astounded at his teaching.

I’ve always thought that the link between life on Earth and the afterlife is a strong one. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking on my part—I like the thought of being able to be close to those I love who have passed on. This passage comforts me because I want to think of my mother and my grandmothers and grandfather as angels watching over me, close by whenever I need them. I love the way this passage depicts heaven as an angelic existence unlike anything we know on earth. I like knowing my loved ones are in a better place, and that someday, as much as I love life here, an even better place awaits.

Margo Ban

This Lent, we are sharing the offerings of members of All Saints who worked together to create a daily Lenten devotional book. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. Wednesday (TONIGHT), we will have supper at 6:15 and worship at 7 as we meet John in our series "Christ on Trial." Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

Ephesians 2:4-5

God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ---by grace you have been saved.

We are told that the word "trespass", in the Greek language in which the New Testament was first written, literally means "missing the target"  or "taking the wrong road."

Somehow this makes me think of one of the most interesting Olympic cross-country ski events we watched back in February, the biathlon. In this event, athletes ski 12.5 kilometers, or maybe more, depending on how many times they miss the target when shooting their rifle at designated places along the racing trail. Skiers pay a heavy price for "missing the target". For each missed shot, a penalty loop of 150 meters must be skied. As Wikipedia puts it, each missed target must be "atoned for".

"Forgive us our trespasses" we pray in the Lord's Prayer, and give thanks indeed that Christ is the one who atones for US---that God is "rich in mercy", strengthening us and pointing us in the right direction---calling us to follow Christ on his Lenten journey all the way to the cross.

And as Paul emphatically reminds us three verses later, "by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God".

Del Anderson

This Lent, we are sharing the offerings of members of All Saints who worked together to create a daily Lenten devotional book. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. Wednesday, we will have supper at 6:15 and worship at 7 as we meet John in our series "Christ on Trial." Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.

ASLC Devotions - Monday

Acts 20:9-11

 A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window, began to sink off into a deep sleep while Paul talked still longer. Overcome by sleep, he fell to the ground three floors below and was picked up dead. But Paul went down, and bending over him took him in his arms, and said, ‘Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.’ Then Paul went upstairs, and after he had broken bread and eaten, he continued to converse with them until dawn; then he left.

Have you ever sat in church on a warm summer Sunday and the sermon just seemed to go on and on and on until you felt like you might fall over dead or at least asleep? I didn’t think so; that has never happened at All Saints that I know of.  In this passage, we find Paul continuing to go about his conversation with the group gathered just after he has brought Eutychus back to life.  Oh, raising someone from the dead?  No big deal. Rather than draw attention to this miracle, he quietly continues where he left off, talking with people – after giving thanks. He let the power and possibilities of God sink in without fanfare.

The one thing I take from these verses besides Paul liking to talk a lot is that all things are possible for God and, if you believe, you need not be alarmed.

Joseph Quinn 

This Lent, we are sharing the offerings of members of All Saints who worked together to create a daily Lenten devotional book. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. Wednesday, we will have supper at 6:15 and worship at 7 as we meet John in our series "Christ on Trial." Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.

ASLC Devotions - Saturday

Luke 24:51

While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.

This is a little bit of the picture of Jesus’ ascension into heaven which we mark after Easter. But I think it’s interesting that WHILE he was ascending into heaven, Jesus continued to bless his disciples. Jesus just loves blessing so much, he can’t even stop to finish ascending into heaven.

If Jesus blessed disciples while ascending into heaven, that means he’s blessing you constantly as well. You’re never too busy to be blessed by Jesus. You might get too busy to notice it, but know that it’s there.

Pastor Seth

This Lent, we are sharing the offerings of members of All Saints who worked together to create a daily Lenten devotional book. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.

ASLC Devotions - Friday

Revelation 11:19

Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant was seen within His temple; and there were flashes of lightening, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

There is some controversy amongst bible studiers about this verse. It is smack dab in the middle of the book of Revelations. Some say it is in the first half, some say it should be in the second half.

The verse represents the culmination of the anticipation of God’s wrath, but also shows God’s evidence of keeping His covenant with His people by opening the temple and the ark being seen within the temple.

During this vision is also mass chaos with the lightening, rumblings, peals, quakes and hail!

Anticipation.  Which will it be? Fear, or joyous wonder?  Those who do not believe in Our Lord, will feel the fear only. They will tremble and hide.

Those who are believers will be saved from this chaos.

My hope is that as believers, we will not have to experience verse 19, but be able to envision, in the words of a Mercy Me song:

“Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for you Jesus, or in awe of you be still? Will I stand in your presence, or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine.”

Fear not believers, and only imagine the temple opening ….

Linda Kinsella

This Lent, we are sharing the offerings of members of All Saints who worked together to create a daily Lenten devotional book. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.

ASLC Devotions - Thursday

Revelation 10: 1-3

 

And I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. He held a little scroll open in his hand. Setting his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, he gave a great shout, like a lion roaring. And when he shouted, the seven thunders sounded.

 

Talk about imagery.  Spectacular visions flash before me as I read these verses. “Wrapped in a cloud”, “a rainbow over his head” conjures up a figure of huge proportion bigger than folklore legend Paul Bunyan. Amongst these larger than life canvases is the “little scroll”. A message.  A message of what? Given the messenger who is bringing it, you know it is something of great importance.  If the angel’s size doesn’t get your attention, you can bet his shouting and the thunder that followed certainly would.  Are you listening for what comes next?

I think these lyrics from a song sung by Christian artists Phillips, Craig and Dean describe my response. The song is aptly titled “Revelation Song”.

 

Clothed in rainbows, of living color

Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder

Blessing and honor, strength and

Glory and power be

To You the Only Wise King

 

Lori Quinn

This Lent, we are sharing the offerings of members of All Saints who worked together to create a daily Lenten devotional book. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

Matthew 9:27-34 

Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith let it be done to you.’  And their eyes were opened.

I went to a Super Bowl party this year.  On one particularly hard hit (early in the game when it was still interesting) I saw “my guy” get hit with a dirty tackle by “their guy”.  I moaned and cried out with indignation when the ref didn’t throw a flag.  At the same time, another guest let out a whoop and holler extolling the fine example of defense we had just seen.

So it is with these two stories of Jesus healing.  In the first story, Jesus heals two blind men while extolling their faith and belief in the power of God as what healed them and charges them to tell no one.  But they can’t keep their good news to themselves and go off and tell their story “throughout the district”.  In the second story Jesus casts out a demon from a mute man who was then able to speak. 

The Pharisees who witness this disparage what Jesus has done by saying, “By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons.”

So there we have it, two examples of Jesus healing power presented right after each other in Matthew with two very different interpretations of what just happened.

Have you ever had your faith story disparaged?  How do we watch and listen for the “Pharisees” in our lives and pray that they come to see the power of faith in Jesus in their own lives and in the world.

Jeffrey Witt

This Lent, we are sharing the offerings of members of All Saints who worked together to create a daily Lenten devotional book. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. Wednesday (TONIGHT), we will have supper at 6:15 and worship at 7 as we meet a woman who was caught in adultery in our series "Christ on Trial." Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

Colossians 1:13

He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son.

Water main breaks, sewer blockages, downed traffic signals and street lights, plus storms of all sorts… snow, rain, and wind.  Quite often my job requires that I assemble a crew to respond to these types of urgent situations.  While there is much to consider when preparing to tackle the job at hand, a big part of determining when to proceed is darkness.  I know that the hazards increase exponentially the longer the crew works into the night and I look to minimize that risk by postponing the work, whenever possible, until the sun rises.

Unfortunately, I too often fail to apply that practice to my spiritual life, forging ahead into the darkness and suffering the hazards that distance me from God’s will in my life.  In turning from the light, I undoubtedly end up somewhere other than where I know God wants me to be.

It is at the communion rail, in His body and blood, that I am reminded that the Son did rise up to rescue me so that I can join Him in His kingdom.

John Nicholas

P.S. If you’re reading this, you’re rescued too.

This Lent, we are sharing the offerings of members of All Saints who worked together to create a daily Lenten devotional book. Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. Wednesday, we will have supper at 6:15 and worship at 7 as we meet a woman who was caught in adultery in our series "Christ on Trial." Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information and respond to this email message to request to be removed from our distribution list.