ASLC Devotions

ASLC Devotions - Thursday

2012-01-05T07:00:00.000-06:00

Joshua 1:9 I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua was the successor to Moses in leading the people into the Promised Land when Moses died before the entry. The book of Joshua begins with Moses' farewell instructions to Joshua and the verse above is the very last line of that speech. These are Moses' parting words to Joshua: words to lift him up and encourage him in his leadership role for the people.

I love that Moses commands Joshua to be courageous: Moses commands him not to be frightened.... as if it were that easy. Don't be scared! I command you!

Sure Moses, no problem. Now I see the error of my ways.

So maybe it doesn't really work as a command; but if we think of these words as an encouragement they work a lot better. They work for us as well, even if we are not trying to lead people in conquering a land God promised them. You have no need to be afraid, no matter what is facing you today. Remember that the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar and newsletter. Worship returns to normal schedule this weekend with worship at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour between at 9:45.

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

2012-01-04T07:00:00.000-06:00

James 4:11-12 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers and sisters. Whoever speaks evil against another or judges another, speaks evil against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. So who, then, are you to judge your neighbour?

This is about the simplest and clearest kind of commandment we ever get in the Bible. "Do not speak evil against one another." "So who, then, are you to judge your neighbour?" It's about as simple and straight-forward as it comes.

And, like so many things that are simple and straight-forward, it is very rarely accomplished. Judging and speaking evil are pretty common human activities - and not just in Junior High locker rooms. So if you're looking for a New Year's resolution still for this year, might I recommend "No judging." It might make this year pretty wonderful all around!

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar and newsletter. Worship returns to normal schedule this weekend with worship at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour between at 9:45.

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

2012-01-03T07:00:00.000-06:00

Proverbs 1:20 Wisdom cries out in the street;
in the squares she raises her voice.

The Bible is full of poetry and poetic imagery of humanity and of God. In this case, the writer of Proverbs personifies Wisdom. If you read more of the passage, it becomes very clear that this isn't just an ode to a concept - Wisdom is seen as defining God. Just like we often say "God is love," the writer of Proverbs wants us to know that God is Wisdom.

And Wisdom is referred to with female pronouns. Wisdom is given a feminine voice - a feminine Godly voice. God is Divine Wisdom - She calls out to her people to call them to learn, to reflect, to gain wisdom. Sometimes it is extremely helpful for our faith just to jar ourselves for a moment from the conventions we know so well and call God her every once in a while. Think about God as female and Wisdom calling out to you. It might open your eyes just a bit.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar and newsletter. Worship returns to normal schedule this weekend with worship at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour between at 9:45.

ASLC Devotions - Monday

2012-01-02T07:00:00.000-06:00

Jeremiah 31:12 They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion,
   and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord,
over the grain, the wine, and the oil,
   and over the young of the flock and the herd;
their life shall become like a watered garden,
   and they shall never languish again.

In this season of Christmas we continue to celebrate. Even as vacations come to an end, children return to school, and parents return to work, the celebration of Christmas and what it means continues. We celebrate that the God of the universe has taken on human flesh to walk among us. We celebrate that Jesus has come into our world. We celebrate that Messiah has come!

And so we gather. We gather to sing aloud as Jeremiah prophesied. We gather to give thanks to God for all the gifts that we have received - and all the gifts that God continues to promise. Because there are yet more gifts to come, Jeremiah promises. There will come a time when our lives will be as lush and full as a watered garden and want will be no more. Thanks be to God for sustaining promises!

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar and newsletter. Worship returns to normal schedule this weekend with worship at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour between at 9:45.

ASLC Devotions - Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T07:00:00.000-06:00

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.

ASLC Devotions - Friday

2011-12-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

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.

ASLC Devotions - Thursday

2011-12-22T07:00:00.000-06:00

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.

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

2011-12-21T07:00:00.000-06:00

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.

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

2011-12-20T07:00:00.000-06:00

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.

ASLC Devotions - Monday

2011-12-19T07:00:00.000-06:00

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.

All Saints Lenten Devotional 2012

2011-12-09T11:19:00.001-06:00

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

ASLC Devotions - Friday

2011-12-09T07:00:00.000-06:00

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.

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

2011-12-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

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.

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

2011-12-06T07:00:00.000-06:00

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.

ASLC Devotions - Monday

2011-12-05T07:00:00.000-06:00

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.

ASLC Devotions - Friday

2011-11-25T07:00:00.000-06:00

Black Friday savings!
Savings galore!
Black Friday savings!

OK, do I have your attention now?

Because obviously this is not about Black Friday savings. This is about savings of an entirely different sort:

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship with us Sunday mornings at 8:30 and 11. This Sunday, there will be no Sunday School or other Education activities.

ASLC Devotions - Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T07:00:00.000-06:00

Looking for some words to say around your Thanksgiving table today? Looking for some words to pray alone today? Try these:

Almighty God our Father, your generous goodness comes to us new every day. By the work of your Spirit lead us to acknowledge your goodness, give thanks for your benefits, and serve you in willing obedience, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. - the Prayer of the Day from ELW (Evangelical Lutheran Worship)

OR

The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living creature. Amen. - Martin Luther's Table Prayer

Come by to join the meal today 11-2 at All Saints. Worship Sunday morning 8:30 and 11. No Sunday School or other Education classes this Sunday.

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

2011-11-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

John 5:24 Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgement, but has passed from death to life.

I love the finality of the gospel when it's purely and confidently stated. Like - period, end of sentence kind of finality. There's nothing more to say. No ifs, ands, or buts. No fine print, no "some exclusions may apply," no "not applicable in all states." None of that garbage. Just pure straight and to the point.

Jesus said, "Anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me [that would be God] has eternal life. Not will have eternal life. Not might have eternal life. Not has eternal life until they do something to mess it up. No. Anyone who hears and believes HAS eternal life. Count on it. Put it in the bank. You can put it on the board! Yes! Just a good reminder.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Invite your friends and neighbors to worship TONIGHT (Wednesday) at 7 pm, to eat tomorrow from 11-2 and to worship again on Sunday 8:30 and 11.

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

2011-11-22T07:00:00.000-06:00

Esther 8:17 In every province and in every city, wherever the king’s command and his edict came, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a festival and a holiday. Furthermore, many of the peoples of the country professed to be Jews, because the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them.

Yesterday's seed has sprouted. Esther had become queen while her identity as a Jew was hidden. Later, some of the king's assistants goaded him into issuing a decree that all Jews should be killed; but Esther was in a position to put a stop to it. Esther revealed her identity and used her influence with the king to save her people. A celebration of life and victory is still celebrated by Jews today in the holiday called Purim: it's a king of Thanksgiving for all those who have helped to preserve life and hope.

In Esther's case, the witness that she was able to bear was so strong that her people were saved. Not only that, many people professed to be Jews because of what she was able to accomplish. The tables were turned. Instead of Jews hiding their identity and pretending to worship other gods, others were pretending to be Jews. God can do amazing things, even in a book where God's name doesn't appear. Even in a life where God's identity and reality seem a little bit less real than it sometimes seems in the Bible, God can do amazing things.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Remember to invite your friends to Thanksgiving Eve worship at 7 pm on Wednesday (bring a bag of food pantry groceries), Thanksgiving meal Thursday from 11-2, and Sunday morning worship 8:30 and 11 as we kick off the Advent season.

ASLC Devotions - Monday

2011-11-21T07:00:00.000-06:00

Esther 2:18 Then the king gave a great banquet to all his officials and ministers—‘Esther’s banquet.’ He also granted a holiday to the provinces, and gave gifts with royal liberality.

This comes in the midst of one of the strangest books in the whole Bible: Esther. Read it sometime. Here's a little Esther trivia: Esther is the only book in the Bible where the name of God does not appear. God does not appear as an active participant in the book of Esther in the same way we read in other books. It's the story of a king who didn't want his queen anymore, so he got rid of her and held a kingdom-wide beauty contest to determine the next queen: Esther won. Esther was a Jew. She kept her religion and background a secret and became queen. This put her in position to save her people later - but she won the beauty contest and became queen.

I just am taken by the image of a king who is so excited about his new queen that he throws a party for the entire kingdom. Now of course, only the officials and ministers get to come to the actual Esther's banquet, but a holiday is declared for all the provinces and gifts are given "with royal liberality." That's the phrase. Royal liberality. I don't know the details of what the king gave, but I know I'd like to have been around. When things are thrown around with royal liberality, you want to be in the vicinity. And here's one point where God is found in this literally God-less book: God gives gifts with royal liberality every day. God gives life and hope and daily bread, with royal liberality. And we're here to see it.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Remember to invite friends and neighbors to Thanksgiving Eve worship Wednesday at 7, to Thanksgiving dinner Thursday 11-2 and to worship Sunday morning 8:30 and 11.

ASLC Devotions - Thursday

2011-11-10T07:00:00.001-06:00

Revelation 16:7 And I heard the altar respond,
‘Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty,
your judgements are true and just!’

Nobody wants to be judged. We want mercy and forgiveness and graciousness for ourselves. When we make mistakes, we want to be given another chance.

But if you've got to be judged, wouldn't you at least want a fair judge? Wouldn't you want to know that you were being judged by someone who is just and speaks and sees the truth?

That's the vision of Revelation - yes, there might be a time and a way in which God judges. And the judgements of God are true and just. The vision of Revelation is a promise that finally truth and justice will reign: it will no longer be might makes right or those with money and connections get the judgements to go their way. God will judge truthfully and rightly.

I don't know about you, but I'd much prefer that to what I see and read every day now. Come, Lord Jesus!

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship with us this Sunday 8:30 and 11, with Education Hour at 9:45. Remember to invite the community to our Community Thanksgiving Meal on November 24 11-2.

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

2011-11-09T07:00:00.001-06:00

Matthew 24:35 Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."

Eternity and constancy. I think that's what a lot of us are looking for. Maybe at it's heart that's what a lot of us seek in the urge to religion and thinking about God. We want to know that there's something more permanent than today's newspaper, something more lasting than human commitments and promises. We want to be part of something that will last longer than even our short span of years on this Earth.

Jesus said "My words will not pass away." Even the mountains and the stars shift and move. Science has taught us that the things that look permanent are moving and shifting and growing and dying. Even starts go through life-cycles and will one day die. But the words of Jesus are longer and truer and more constant than all of that. When God says "I love you," that's more permanent than anything you know. And there's comfort there.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship with us this Sunday 8:30 and 11, with Education Hour at 9:45. Remember to invite the community to our Community Thanksgiving Meal on November 24 11-2.

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

2011-11-08T09:55:00.000-06:00

Joel 1:14 Sanctify a fast,
   call a solemn assembly.
Gather the elders
   and all the inhabitants of the land
to the house of the Lord your God,
   and cry out to the Lord.

The writer of Ecclesiastes (not originally The Byrds) tells us that there is a time for everything. There are times that are appropriate for celebration and joy, and there are times that are more appropriate for weeping and mourning. There are many different types of prayer, appropriate to different times and situations. We don't always pray because we need something; sometimes we pray in thanksgiving for all the wonderful gifts of God.

Is there time in your prayer life for prayers of repentance? Is there time in your prayer life to confess your failings before God and cry out for mercy? That's what Joel calls the nation to in this passage, and truly, in his entire prophecy. Joel says - now is the time to repent. Now is the time to recognize our sin and cry out to the Lord for mercy. We know that God is merciful and forgiving and gracious - frankly, whether we ask for it or not. But we need to recognize our need, we need to recognize our failings, we need to recognize our dependence on God's mercy. So sometime - it may not be today - but I'd recommend crying out to the Lord for mercy. God won't be changed, but you just might be.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship with us this Sunday 8:30 and 11, with Education Hour at 9:45. Remember to invite the community to our Community Thanksgiving Meal on November 24 11-2.

ASLC Devotions - Thursday

2011-10-27T07:00:00.001-05:00

Romans 2:29 Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart—it is spiritual and not literal. Such a person receives praise not from others but from God.

A little circumcision with your morning email?

Of course, for us this has nothing to do with circumcision. But the concept still applies, I think. Because we still experience things like hypocrisy, things like people who live a life that's different from what they say about themselves. We still know the challenge of lining up our own life with our best choices. We still know the challenge of inward change to go along with the outward changes that sometimes come more easily.

Paul writes that God is more concerned with what's going on in the heart than with what's going on outside. Not that there is no concern with what's going on outside - it matters: but if it's done for the wrong motivation, with the wrong intent, with false pretenses, then God's not impressed. The challenge in all this is that it's hard to see someone else's motives - all we can see are their actions, so we can't judge the inside.

Come to think of it: perhaps that's the point: you can't judge someone else's motives, so all you can do is worry about your own.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Wear red on Sunday to celebrate Reformation Sunday. We will have worship at 8:30 and 11 (with Affirmation of Baptism/Confirmation at 11).

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

2011-10-26T07:00:00.001-05:00

Matthew 19:21-22 Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

What do you value most? That's the question that this gospel vignette poses to us. What would you be most sad if you had to give it up? That's a slightly different question than, what would you be most sad if you lost? Because in fact, there's an even greater sadness that comes if we have to make the choice to lose something of value? So what is it that you value the most?

Would someone observing your life from the outside know that you valued it the most? Would someone who looks at your calendar and your to-do lists and your checkbook know that you value your family the most? Or your relationship with God? Or whatever it is that you claim to value the most? Does your lifestyle line up with your stated values?

The young man that Jesus spoke with ran into a conflict with his stated values (he wanted to enter the kingdom of heaven) and his lifestyle: he didn't want to lose his possessions. And he went away grieving. Would you?

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

This Sunday is Reformation Sunday. Wear red to worship at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour in between at 9:45.

ASLC Devotions -- Tuesday

2011-10-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 So now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? Only to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord your God and his decrees that I am commanding you today, for your own well-being.

Be honest? Who is reading this has ever felt that the rules and demands that God makes of us as Christians are too hard? Who has ever felt that God was a little bit of a kill-joy? Who has ever resented the call to love your neighbor... yes, even THAT neighbor? Who has ever resented the call to turn the other cheek when you've been wronged instead of to fight back or just to walk away?

I know I have.

Just like I resented the rule when I was a child that I had to go to sleep at a certain hour and couldn't stay up reading all night. Just like I resented the rule when I was a child that I couldn't eat french fries for every meal. The commandments that the Lord our God has given are "for our own well-being." We don't know it. Sometimes we can't understand it. And that's the point. If we knew what was always best for us, we wouldn't need God right?

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

It's Reformation Sunday. Wear red and join us for worship at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour at 9:45.

ASLC Devotions - Monday

2011-10-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

Deuteronomy 6:20-21 When your children ask you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the decrees and the statutes and the ordinances that the Lord our God has commanded you?’ then you shall say to your children, ‘We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.'

Do you have a memory of God acting for you? Do you have a memory that you can fall back on when God seems distant or quiet or absent? Do you have a memory that continues to fuel your faith?

Moses spoke to the Israelites and admonished them never to forget. Never forget that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord brought you to freedom. I think that the times when we act without faith or the times when faith seems distant or irrelevant are really about forgetfulness. We've forgotten that we were once slaves. We were once slaves to sin and, in our baptism, we've been made free. We were once slaves to the power of death and, in our baptism, we've been made free. Reminders are important. I pray that today you will be reminded of your freedom in Christ: your freedom to live and breathe as a forgiven child of God.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

This Sunday's worship is about remembering the freedom we have been given in the gospel: it's Reformation Sunday. Worship at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour at 9:45.

ASLC Devotions - Friday

2011-10-14T07:00:00.001-05:00

1 Peter 5:1-5 Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you ²to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it—not for sordid gain but eagerly. ³Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. ⁴And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away. ⁵In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for
‘God opposes the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.’

I wanted to give you this whole extended passage today to read. It provides a vision of what leadership and community look like in the church. There are leaders in the church (today we call them pastors and Church Council members, etc). Those who are called to lead are called to do so as examples, not using power for power's sake, not "lording it over" anyone to get their own way.

The key part to me and the way leadership works in the church is in the final verse: all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another. Does humility mark your dealings? Would people describe you as humble? I pray for God's gift of humility for all of us.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Men's Breakfast meets tomorrow morning at 8 am. Worship Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour at 9:45.

ASLC Devotions - Thursday

2011-10-13T07:00:00.001-05:00

3 John 11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil but imitate what is good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.

First of all, a little Bible trivia: Notice there aren't two numbers after John separated by a colon. Usually the first number is chapter number and second is verse number. In this case it's 3 John 11. There's only 1 chapter in 3 John. It's a short book: a memo really. You could read the whole book in probably as much time as it's taking you to read this email message. Give it a shot.

In this short little letter, John is attempting to provide some direction and correction to groups of ancient Christians. Because in olden times things were not always better. Things were not always more holy. Things were not always more clear. There were controversies and arguments and disagreements. People did the wrong thing sometimes. And they needed a reminder.

That's what this is for us: we all know of course not to imitate the evil. And if things and choices came labeled as good and evil the vast majority of us would choose correctly. The challenge is that things don't come labeled that way. So we need to be reminded to think and discern carefully. When you're making choices, think about the evil and good. And, to the best of your ability, choose the good. Then, once you've chosen: trust God and God's grace and forgiveness. That's the Christian way of life. It's not neat and easy and clean all the time. Instead, it's real life.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Our website http://www.allsaintspalatine.org has information about all of our ministries. Worship together Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour at 9:45. Men's Breakfast meets this Saturday morning at 8.

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

2011-10-12T07:00:00.001-05:00

John 6:33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.

Jesus was speaking here, telling his disciples about what should be their priority. Don't work for bread that goes moldy if you leave it out on the kitchen counter, he said. Work for the bread of God. Seek the bread of God. Spend your time and your energy on the bread of God. The bread of God is what comes down from heaven. The bread of God gives life to the world.

So let's ask the question: what gives life to the world?

Food and water from a physical standpoint are obvious answers. The world needs food and water. Literal food and water. They are life-giving.
As Christians we know and we trust that eternal life comes to the world through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. All in the world who believe will know and experience eternal life even after the food and water are no more for them.
But when you think about those experiences that we call life-giving, or those experiences of the high-points of life, what defines them? If I had to boil it down to one word it would be love. Love gives life to the world. Where there is love, that's where I want to be. Where there is love, life happens. Where there is love, joy happens. The bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. And it's love. Find it today.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

More information is available at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11with Education Hour at 9:45. Men's Breakfast meets on Saturday morning at 9. Join in the fun!

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

2011-10-11T07:00:00.001-05:00

Amos 9:14 I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel,
and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine,
and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit.

The promise of God came through the prophet Amos. Amos had a word from God of promise, of restoration, and of healing. It came to people whose homes had been taken away from them or even destroyed. It came to people whose cities had been laid waste, whose job prospects were gone, who lost the hope that they'd be able to provide for their families, whose hope was gone. Do you know anybody like that?

The promise of God is always primarily a promise of restoration. God promises restoration of fortunes, rebuilding of cities, re-planting of vineyards and gardens. Come, Lord. Quickly. Come.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship with us tomorrow (WEDNESDAY) evening for Holden Evening Prayer at 7. Join us Sunday at 8:30 and 11 for worship and 9:45 for Education Hour. More information available at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org

ASLC Devotions - Monday

2011-10-10T07:00:00.001-05:00

Exodus 19:17 Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God. They took their stand at the foot of the mountain.

We want to meet God. What else are we doing when we gather for worship, when we gather together to speak about our faith? We want to catch some glimpse of God. We want to know something more fully about who God is and who we are in relationship with God.

Moses brings the people out of their camp to meet God. I think that's significant. It matters. The people had to leave camp, they had to leave their comfort zone in order to really encounter God. Our normal everyday experiences can limit our ability to see. Sometimes it's necessary to climb out of the valley so we can see. How can you metaphorically get out of your camp so you can meet God?

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship with us Wednesday evening for Holden Evening Prayer at 7. Then come back Sunday at 8:30 and 11 for worship and Education Hour at 9:45.

ASLC Devotions - Friday

2011-09-30T07:00:00.001-05:00

Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmuring and arguing,

I'm tempted just to hit send on the email button and not type any more. And essentially I will.
I'll just include the conclusion of Paul's sentence:

Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Join us for worship Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11. Education Hour is at 9:45 and a special congregational meeting will be at 10 am to consider a refinancing of the church mortgage.

ASLC Devotions - Thursday

2011-09-29T10:45:00.001-05:00

Colossians 2:16 Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths.

There was a LOT of controversy in the early church about proper behavior for a Christian. I don't mean things like whether killing or stealing are OK... those I think are pretty clear. The controversy came in about other, shall we say, lesser issues. Do Christians have to worship on the Jewish sabbath or could it be another day? Are Christians who worship on the Jewish sabbath wrong? Can Christians eat meat? Are Christians who eat meat wrong?

Those controversies have lived on through the centuries in a variety of forms. In some eras (and in some communions still) there are controversies about whether it's OK for Christians to play cards or dance or listen to certain kinds of music or consume alcohol or any number of other things. Some of these things (alcohol) have health and wellness issues attached to them and those are profoundly important for people of faith who believe that God has given us our bodies and our minds. But the simple yes or no seems out of place... that's what Paul is saying. Don't let anyone condemn you about these things he says, because they aren't of ultimate significance. Christ is of ultimate significance. Good to keep that straight.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Join us for worship Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour at 9:45. A special congregational meeting will be held at 10 am to consider refinancing the church mortgage.

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

2011-09-28T08:19:00.001-05:00

Matthew 9:2 And just then some people were carrying a paralysed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.’

You might remember this healing story from the Gospels. Jesus was teaching and some people came to interrupt his teaching - they plopped their paralyzed friend on his bed right down in front of Jesus as if to say "What are you going to do about this, Jesus?"

What I find really interesting here is the word choice: when Jesus saw THEIR faith... not when Jesus saw HIS faith. There's something really powerful and inter-personal and community-oriented going on here. The healing and the kudos from our Savior aren't about the man's individual faith. They're about the faith of the community. Somehow the faith of the community is shared and built up together and is almost credited to the man lying on the bed. It's about community. Much more than we can even know or understand, it's about community. Jesus saw their faith. And Jesus sees YOUR (that's plural, people) faith.

Let me try that again and put on my southern accent: Jesus sees ALL Y'ALL'S faith. And your sins are forgiven.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Join us for worship Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with education at 9:45. Remember a congregational meeting at 10:00 to vote on a refinancing of the church's mortgage.

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

2011-09-27T07:00:00.001-05:00

Judges 16:22 But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.

Some of you may remember the story of Samson and Delilah. Samson was a strong strong man who could defeat and entire army. Delilah wooed him and got him eventually to tell the secret of his strength so she could use it against him and weaken him for his enemies. One of those classic Old Testament Sunday School stories. Also one of those classic Sunday School stories that has seemed really strange to me - why do we tell this story to children? Do we want to warn them to stay away from beautiful women? Do we want to tell them to grow their hair out (that was the secret of Samson's strength) and they'll be super-strong and can be the playground bully? Or do we just like it because it's a lot like a comic-book story - the Amazing Hulk comes to mind.

But this little line at the end of the story of Delilah's betrayal is very telling. She shaved of his hair while he slept, his enemies came in and captured him easily and they put him in a prisons. "But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved." His strength began to return. When he was at his weakest, his strength began to return. God did not leave or abandon Samson, even if it looked like it for a while. God didn't leave him weak. The hair would come back. The strength would return. And the promise of God is that God will return to you as well. Always.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Join us for worship this weekend at 8:30 and 11. Also remember the congregational meeting regarding the church mortgage at 10 am.

ASLC Devotions -- Thursday

2011-09-22T10:10:00.000-05:00

James 4:13-14 (NRSV)

¹³Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a year there, doing business and making money.” ¹⁴Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Have you ever made a five-year plan, or an even more audacious 10-year plan? It can be kind of fun to make these sorts of plans and dreams, but often we look back at the designated time and marvel at the twists and turns life has taken. I found myself putting events on my calendar well into 2012 the other day, thinking, “I wonder how my life will change between now and then?”

These words from James certainly speak truth – we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. And, while I protest a bit at the idea that I’m a mere mist appearing for a while and then disappearing, it is good that I am reminded to be a bit more present in the, well, present.

Enjoy *today.*

Peace,

Pastor Jenn

ASLC Devotions -- Wednesday

2011-09-21T06:46:00.001-05:00

Matthew 18:1-5 (NRSV)

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He 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. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

Jesus did many surprising and shocking things during his life and ministry. Placing a child in the midst of the disciples ranks up there as one of the more surprising actions. Perhaps we don’t think of it that way because of the way we value children in our time and culture; it is almost natural for us to welcome a child into our midst. However, that was not the situation for the disciples – they would have been startled that Jesus would take someone young and lift that one up as not only someone they should welcome, but also that they should become (again) like a child. Children were among the lowest rank in society.

Who would Jesus lift up today as the one whom we should become like? Who are the humble of heart that we should seek to be more like? Who is Jesus telling us to welcome into our midst?

Peace,

Pastor Jenn

ASLC Devotions -- Tuesday

2011-09-20T14:25:00.001-05:00

Genesis 28:15-16
God spoke to Jacob in a dream:

"...Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

¹⁶Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!”

There are times when we awake from a dream so vivid, so real that we wonder, “Did that really happen? Did I really hear those words?” Sometimes those dreams speak to a greater truth in our life, other times the dream merely confuses us. Jacob’s dream revealed God’s presence to him, and gave him great comfort.

God’s promises to Jacob come to us, too – if not in our dreams, then certainly in our baptism. Know, dear ones, that God is with you and will keep you wherever you go.

Peace,

Pastor Jenn

ASLC Devotions - Thursday

2011-09-15T07:02:00.000-05:00

2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

The very end of Paul's letter to the Corinthians contains this blessing and exhortation. Paul wanted them to hear these words at the very end.

Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Agree with one another. Live in peace. These are some more of those very simple-sounding biblical concepts that seem so hard for us to live out "in the real world." Because the call is to agree with one another. The call is not to be so convincing that everyone would turn and agree with you. The call is not to defeat those who disagree with you through logical reasoning or illogical whining. The call is to agree with one another. Simple. Straight-forward. And the quest of a lifetime is to see if we can do it.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship together at 8:30 and 11 this Sunday with Education Hour in between at 9:45. Visit our website at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for more information

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

2011-09-14T07:01:00.000-05:00

Mark 11:25 Jesus said, ‘Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.’

This is a very hard thing for me to think about. It's a hard thing for me to try to wrap my head and my faith around and to make it fit into my images and strong convictions that God is an endlessly forgiving God who forgives out of God's grace and not out of our deserving. If that's true, then God should forgive my trespasses whether or not I forgive the people that I have anything against. Jesus' statement here in Mark makes it seem as if my receiving forgiveness from God is dependent on whether or not I've forgiven everything I possibly can.

In an ultimate and strict and simplistic sense, I don't believe that's true. I don't believe that God would withhold forgiveness from me if I fail to forgive someone else. It's just not what the rest of Scripture and the tradition teach. But there's something very powerful and powerfully convicting about the statement anyway. Obviously, my forgiveness of others or lack thereof has very real consequences. Obviously, my forgiveness of others is something that's very important to God. And for now, knowing that is enough. I'll work on it.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship with us and receive Holy Communion 8:30 and 11 on Sunday morning. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a current monthly newsletter and calendar.

ASLC Devotions -- Tuesday

2011-09-13T07:01:00.000-05:00

Genesis 49:53 When Jacob ended his charge to his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed, breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.

When someone dies, we have lots of euphemisms that we use to talk about it. It often seems out of place or in poor taste to simply say "He died." So we have come up with dozens of other ways to say the same thing: he passed away or he passed on or he met his maker, etc.

Generally, I'm not a fan of any of these euphemisms. I think that as Christians who are confident that death is not the end we don't need to be afraid or squeamish about death. But if I were to use a euphemism, I might be inspired by this verse to use one I don't hear very often, "He was gathered to his people." That speaks of being wrapped in teh loving embrace of God. That speaks of a confidence in resurrection and new life. That speaks of the reunion that we all long for and believe in. Yes... someday I would like to be gathered to my people.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Join us for worship at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour at 9:45. Full information on all our ministries is available at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org

ASLC Devotions -- Monday

2011-09-12T07:01:00.000-05:00

Genesis 48:21 Then Israel said to Joseph, ‘I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your ancestors.

Parents and grandparents, indeed all of our elder, our forefathers and foremothers, give us many gifts. We learn many things from those who have gained knowledge and wisdom through life's experiences. It is always a good idea to listen carefully to what we can learn from those who have seen more. And, as we are able to be in the position to share wisdom and knowledge, to remember to do that with grace and care.

Of all the gifts we can receive from generations past and all the gifts we can pass on to the generations to come, there is nothing more significant than faith. There is nothing more significant we can share or receive than the blessing it is to know that God will be with us. Israel (also known as Jacob) was about to die and was passing on some final wisdom and assurances to his son Joseph. The final word that he wanted to leave was a word of faith and promise and hope. "God will be with you." What are the gifts of faith you have received? How have you passed them along?

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

For full calendar, visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org. Worship with us Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 with Education Hour at 9:45.

ASLC Devotions - Friday

2011-08-05T07:05:00.000-05:00

Acts 18:24-25 Now there came to Ephesus a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria. He was an eloquent man, well-versed in the scriptures. He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord; and he spoke with burning enthusiasm and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.

Apollos was one of the earliest Christian evangelists, responsible for spreading the good news about Jesus through lots of the ancient world. He did not write any books or letters which are part of the Bible so we don't know him quite as well. But here is a bit of his story. The important thing that strikes me today is that he did not know Jesus - he had only known the baptism of John. He didn't walk with Jesus or see Jesus. But he had been instructed in the Way of the Lord and so he could speak with burning enthusiasm and teach accurately.

We sometimes think we don't have what it takes to share our faith. Some of us may not have a deep personal experience of knowing Jesus' presence in our lives - and we feel jealous of those who do. We feel inadequate. We feel that we don't have what it takes then to share. Because we can't say "I've seen Jesus." But neither did Apollos. Apollos knew what he had been taught. And it was enough. What God had given him was enough. What God has given you is enough.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship with us Saturday at 5 pm or Sunday at 9 am. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a current newsletter and calendar.

ASLC Devotions - Friday

2011-08-05T07:03:00.000-05:00

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

2011-08-03T07:01:00.000-05:00

Matthew 15:37 And all of them ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.

Jesus started out with seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. He did his thing and fed 4000 men, plus a unnumbered number of women and children. When the leftovers were gathered, there were seven baskets full.... more than he had started with in the first place before feeding the crowds. The leftovers were more than the raw ingredients.

The kingdom of heaven is like leftovers that are far more than we even knew possible.
The kingdom of heaven is like enough for everyone - and more than enough to spare.
In the kingdom of heaven, God has given so many gifts, that what we think we see is only the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more yet to come!

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship with us and experience a little taste of the kingdom of heaven on Saturday at 5 pm and Sunday at 9 am.

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

2011-08-02T07:02:00.000-05:00

Deuteronomy 26:1-2 When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his name.

This chapter lays out all the rules and procedures and justifications for the tithe - for offering to God's service one tenth of all that you have and all that you produce. I love that it calls us to take some of the FIRST of all the fruit of the grand, the FIRST of the harvest... and bring that to the Lord's house. God calls on us to bring what we've come to call the firstfruits.

But what exactly are the firstfruits? I guess it's exactly what it sounds like... the first of your harvest. What does it mean for those of us who aren't really farmers? It means the best. It means that you prioritize giving to God over anything else - including giving to self. It means that when giving to the food pantry, we don't give the leftover can of peas we were never going to eat anyway and we don't remember when we bought them. Instead we give what we prize the most - we give the food we actually wanted. Instead of making giving the thing we do when there's something (or some time) left over... giving is the first thing on our minds. It's simply a way of looking at the world - a way of walking in the world - a way of walking generously.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship with us at 5 pm Saturday or 9 am Sunday. More information about all of our ministries is available at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org

ASLC Devotions - Monday

2011-08-01T07:02:00.000-05:00

Deuteronomy 8:6 Therefore keep the commandments of the Lord your God, by walking in his ways and by fearing him.

As part of his big long speech before the people finally enter the promised land after escaping from slavery in Egypt and after wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, Moses summarizes the law for them. Before they settle down to live together as a free people (subject to God), Moses wants to remind them of the ways that God has laid out to make life liveable in community. Moses wants them to understand the boundaries of freedom, the way of life that leads to hope and life. So most of the book of Deuteronomy is a rehash and reinterpretation of these rules and community-life guidelines.

In one way, Moses summarizes all the laws and all the rules with this one simple phrase: "walking in his ways and by fearing him." Walking is a wonderful metaphor for life. How do you walk? Do you walk with your head down afraid to look anyone else in the eye? Do you walk dominating the sidewalk and not letting anyone else have the right of way? Do you walk in front or in back? Do you try to stick somewhere in the middle? How do you walk in the world? Today, focus on your walking. Walk humbly with others, seeing everyone you meet as the face of God. See how it affects your walk.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship with us this weekend at 5 pm Saturday and 9 am Sunday. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full calendar and information.

ASLC Devotions -- Thursday

2011-07-21T07:00:00.000-05:00

1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power.

If you're going to talk the talk, you better walk the walk.
People take in 90% of information from body language and non-verbal cues... only 10% from verbal cues.
As St. Francis said, our job is to preach the gospel. Only when necessary should we use words.

These truths are hard truths for those of us who like to talk about our faith... people who like to talk about Christianity and about God. I've got no end of words about God. But the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power.

In this particular verse, Paul doesn't lay this out but in other passages he's very clear on whose power he's talking about... what the source of the power is. In my weakness, then I am strong. When I am weak, then God is strong. The power to live the faith that is transparent and shows Christ to our neighbors and coworkers can only come from God. On my own, I am weak and full of simply words... a noisy gong or a clashing cymbal. But, through the grace of God, we are all given the power to love and to show mercy. Thanks be to God.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Don't forget to spread the word about "Pandamania" Vacation Bible School the first week of August. Registration forms and more information are available at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org

ASLC Devotions -- Wednesday

2011-07-20T07:02:00.000-05:00

Matthew 12:21 And in his name the Gentiles will hope.

This short little verse is a quotation from Isaiah that Matthew uses to talk about Jesus. It's nothing really special I guess by itself. But it gives me a moment and an excuse to talk about the word Gentiles and the hope that is Jesus. Gentiles just means "the nations"... as in ALL the nations... all the ethnic groups...all the people of the world. It's often used in the Bible to contrast Israel... like, there's Israel on one side and the Gentiles on the other. They talk about it that way because God chose Israel out of the nations, out of the Gentiles, to be special. But really Gentiles just means all the nations.

Jesus was sent to the world not just for Israel, but for the Gentiles... for ALL the Gentiles... for ALL the nations. This is one of those religious concepts that we say over and over so we've lost the radical nature of it. Jesus wasn't sent just for one group, for one kind of person. Jesus was sent to be the hope of all the nations. Jesus doesn't belong to Israel; Jesus doesn't belong to Western Europe or North America. Jesus was sent to bring hope to Tanzania; Jesus was sent to bring hope to Iran; Jesus was sent to bring hope to Moldovia; Jesus was sent to bring hope to Myanmar. Jesus was even sent to bring hope to Canada. A radical truth that I don't think we've really digested these 2000 years on.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Calendars and lots of information can be found at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org Also there are registration forms for "Pandamania' Vacation Bible School the first week of August.

ASLC Devotions -- Tuesday

2011-07-19T07:01:00.000-05:00

Zephaniah 3:9 At that time I will change the speech of the peoples
to a pure speech,
that all of them may call on the name of the Lord
and serve him with one accord.

Picture that great day when all the pain and all the suffering and all the division and all the wars come to an end in the world. John Lennon sang and invited people to imagine a world without religion... in his vision of paradise and hopefulness there was no religion. While John Lennon was a musical genius I think he missed it on that point. Zephaniah invites us to imagine a world not without religion, but without religions. Zephaniah invites us to imagine a world where all the religions of the world are brought together. Zephaniah invites us to imagine a place where our feeble attempts to talk about God and our experiences with God are cleansed. Zephaniah invites us to imagine a world where all peoples call on the name of the Lord and serve the Lord with one will and one purpose in mind.

Any talk about God is necessarily incomplete. We use human (limited and finite) language to talk about someone who is by definition limitless and infinite. No human words can really capture the glory and the majesty and the mercy and the love that is God. I'm aware of that each day I sit down to write one of these devotional messages or to write a sermon. I look forward to the day when all of us have our speech about God purified and we are able to experience, to know, and to worship God in truth and in wholeness.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for lots of information. It's not too late to sign up as a volunteer or attendee at "Pandamania" VBS the first week of August.

ASLC Devotions -- Monday

2011-07-18T07:01:00.000-05:00

Nahum 1:12-13 Thus says the Lord,
‘Though they are at full strength and many,
   they will be cut off and pass away.
Though I have afflicted you,
   I will afflict you no more.
And now I will break off his yoke from you
   and snap the bonds that bind you.’

What's the enemy that's got you down today? For the kingdom of Judah, to whom the prophet Nahum wrote, it was a literal enemy: a foreign power who was threatening to invade and conquer them. But what's the enemy that's got you hiding in the corner today? Is it the national debt ceiling? Is it more your household debt ceiling? Is it the seeming inability of our nation's political leaders to accomplish anything together? Is it the seeming inability of people in your own house, or your own workplace, to talk together with respect and a spirit of compromise? What's the enemy that's got you fearing for your very sanity today?

Hear the promise of the Lord. Picture that enemy. Picture that power that seems way too big for you. Picture that power that IS way too big for you. And hear the promise of the Lord for you. The Lord will break off the yoke of whatever power has you down. The Lord will snap whatever bonds bind you as if they were made of balsa wood. Snap.. And the bonds are gone.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for lots of information about our ministries. It's not too late for you to sign up to either bring a child and/or volunteer for our "Pandamania" Vacation Bible School the first week of August.

ASLC Devotions - Thursday

2011-07-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

Romans 2:13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but the doers of the law who will be justified.

Paul is writing to the Romans and questioning the ways that people try to show that they are faithful disciples of Jesus. He questions how people want to show their faithfulness.

Don't quote the Ten Commandments if you want to show me you're faithful. Show me a life that lives the Ten Commandments. Don't tell me the life-story of Jesus. Let me see Jesus in your life. That should be our goal. Let the world see Jesus in your life.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

See you in worship on Saturday at 5 or Sunday at 9.

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

2011-07-06T07:07:00.000-05:00

John 13:14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

Jesus washed his disciples feet. Jesus lowered himself in all of the assumed priorities and all of the assumed roles, taking the role of a servant (even a slave) and washed his disciples feet. It was one of his last actions before his arrest, trial, and crucifixion. Jesus did it to set the priorities for the church... for the Jesus movement that was to come into being after Easter.

If you want to be important in the church, don't stand up and talk every Sunday morning (says the pastor). If you want to be great in the church, don't claim the spotlight. Wash some feet. Clean up some dirty diapers. Empty the trash. Serve without looking to be served. Serve without looking to be thanked. Serve without looking to be praised or asked. That's what the church is like.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

See you in worship this weekend. Saturday at 5 or Sunday at 9.

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

2011-07-05T07:02:00.000-05:00

Jeremiah 28:14 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: I have put an iron yoke on the neck of all these nations so that they may serve King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and they shall indeed serve him; I have even given him the wild animals.

The Hebrew prophets were great at the analysis of international relations. They were excellent at understanding the movements of history and the rise and fall of nations.

In Jeremiah's time, the Babylonians were everything... they were the superpower. Nebuchadnezzar was their king and ruled most of the world that they knew about. Nobody could challenge them. It seemed inevitable that they would continue to rule for all time.

But Jeremiah gets it: Jeremiah said God put a yoke on the neck of the nations who were conquered by Nebuchadnezzar. The why isn't really important right now. What's important is to recognize that the power and the might of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was a tool in God's great toolbox. God gave Babylon the power. And God used Babylon's power. It was God all the time. God is in control. Even when we think we are.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship on Saturday at 5 or Sunday at 9.

ASLC Devotions - Monday

2011-07-04T07:02:00.000-05:00

Jeremiah 27:5 It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the people and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomsoever I please.

Today is a day for celebrating... for parades and fireworks and barbecues and all the rest. Mostly it's a day to give thanks to God for the gifts that we have in living in this nation... the rights and the freedoms and the responsibilities. The search for justice and peace.

In the midst of all of that though, I hope we also remember that... as great as the United States is... as powerful as the United States is... as mighty and large and all of that... God is bigger. It seems obvious, but I think it's a helpful reminder every once in a while. God is bigger. God is first. God's great power and God's outstretched arm made the whole earth. God's love and grace covers the whole earth. God sent God's Son Jesus to the whole earth. And that is something for which we can be thankful.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship with us next weekend: Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9

ASLC Devotions - Friday

2011-06-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

Galatians 5:7 You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth?

In Paul's words to the church in Galatia above you can hear the parental frustration... "Why would you do such a thing?" "What made you think of that?" "I taught you better than that?" "If all your friend did ____, would you!?"

This is one reason why I think it's so important to remember the great teachers and mentors you've had through life. From time to time, ask yourself whether the way you're living your life honors the best in that person. My internship supervising pastor, Pastor Fred, was and is a great pastor. I'm not saying he's perfect, but he's a great pastor and he taught me good lessons. From time to time, I like to ask myself... "What would Fred do?" After a good laugh about "Yabba Dabba Do" I usually find myself at least moving in the right path... moving in the consistent path. Who are the important mentors and teachers in your life?

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

See you in worship this weekend! Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday at 9.

ASLC Devotions - Thursday

2011-06-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love.

Galatians is the book/letter in which Paul probably most clearly and concisely lays out his ideas of the gospel: the free gift of grace that gives life to all who believe regardless of any other human institution or human practice. It's all a gift given to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Nothing else matters. Nothing else makes us more valuable or less valuable. Nothing else makes us more important or less important.

Circumcision is not the burning concern for any of us, like it was for Christians in Galatia. We have other theological/moral/political/whatever-ical issues that we deal with. We have other reasons we judge one another. We have other bases we use in which to draw distinctions and say one person is more valuable and another is not. So let's try to translate.

In Christ Jesus neither a large bank account nor a small bank account counts for anything;
In Christ Jesus neither athletic ability nor three left feet counts for anything;
In Christ Jesus neither intellectual prowess nor a lacking counts for anything;
THE ONLY THING THAT COUNTS is faith working through love.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship with us Saturday at 5 or Sunday at 9. See you then!

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

2011-06-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

John 14:25-26 Jesus said ‘I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.'

When you ever start to get jealous of the disciples or of people who seem to have a closer relationship with Jesus, this quotation should come to your mind. When you start to think: if only I could experience Jesus like Peter did, or like Mother Theresa did, then I could believe and I wouldn't have all these doubts and I wouldn't backslide all the time. But Jesus promised that the Advocate would come to all of us. The Holy Spirit would teach us new things... and remind us of all the things that Jesus ever wanted to teach. And the Advocate would come to all.

The Holy Spirit has come to you. Whenever you have the urge to pray, that's the Holy Spirit calling out from inside you. Whenever you have the itch to gather with sisters and brothers and pray or sing or laugh or cry together, that's the Holy Spirit calling you into Christian community. When the right words come to you when a friend needs comfort, that's the Holy Spirit. When the urge to keep silence comes to you, that's the Holy Spirit too. God has sent the Holy Spirit to you. And to me. To all of us, and to each of us.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship this weekend with us: Saturday at 5 and Sunday at 9.

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

2011-06-21T07:00:00.000-05:00

Psalm 121:1-2  I lift up my eyes to the hills—
   from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
   who made heaven and earth

I love it when a poet/writer asks a questions and then immediately provides the answer. It makes life so much more convenient to have the answers to these questions so quickly available. Where will my help come from? From the Lord... you remember the Lord, don't you? The one who made heaven and earth. In real life the gap between the asking of an existential question like "From where will my help come?" and the ability to provide the answer of faith provided here takes a bit longer. It takes longer than the length of one verse. It takes more than a split-second.

And that's OK. It's OK to take time in the question. It's OK to take time looking and searching for answers and help. It's OK to stare up at the hills for a while wondering what's going on and where the help's going to be. When you take that time to be honest with the question... when you take the time to let the question get real in your life... then the answer can be that much more real as well. When you've been in the depths, you know that the help you need can only come from the Lord, from the maker of heaven and earth.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for more information about our ministries. Worship this weekend on Saturday at 5 or Sunday at 9.

ASLC Devotions - Monday

2011-06-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

Job 39:1-3 ‘Do you know when the mountain goats give birth?
   Do you observe the calving of the deer?
Can you number the months that they fulfil,
   and do you know the time when they give birth,
when they crouch to give birth to their offspring,
   and are delivered of their young?'

The quotation marks in the above passage indicate of course that someone is speaking. In this case, God is speaking. God is speaking to Job, the victim of terrible tragedy. Job did what we all do: he asked questions of God and of the universe in general: why? why now? what does it mean? does it mean anything? God speaks to Job to try to reassure him... God wants to reassure Job that God is in charge of the universe and that God knows what is happening... that God cares for everyone and every thing in the universe.

Because God knows when the mountain goats give birth. God watches the calving of the deer.... knows exactly the months involved. God knows and God sees. And God cares. In the midst of tragedy, we hurt. In the midst of tragedy we ache. In the midst of tragedy we weep. But at the end of the book of Job, Job makes a confession of faith: I believe. I believe that God cares. Sometimes it's a radical and a desperate cry of faith in the face of pain and agony... it is the rope to which we hold when all else is melting away. I believe. And I believe that God cares.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for information about all of our ministries. Worship with us this weekend: Saturday at 5 and Sunday at 9.

ASLC Devotions -- Friday

2011-06-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

As we close out this last week of the Easter season and prepare for a great weekend of Pentecost worship Saturday at 5 and Sunday at 9, pray these psalm of praise with me:

Psalm 104:24-34

²⁴O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
²⁵Yonder is the sea, great and wide, creeping things innumerable are there, living things both small and great.
²⁶There go the ships, and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it.
²⁷These all look to you to give them their food in due season;
²⁸when you give to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
²⁹When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
³⁰When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.
³¹May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works—
³²who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke.
³³I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
³⁴May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.

ASLC Devotions -- Thursday

2011-06-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

Romans 8:14-17 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

We are all children of God.
The fatherless have been adopted and made co-heirs.
The motherless have been adopted and given a home.
The beat-down have been given a spirit... check that, a Spirit of adoption.
We will be glorified in our great God.
Praise be to our Abba!
Praise be to our Daddy!'
Praise be to our God!

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Join us as we thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost - Saturday at 5 and Sunday at 9.

ASLC Devotions -- Wednesday

2011-06-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

John 3:31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all.

This verse is a great summary of a deep theological mystery: the dual identity of Christ... notice I didn't say the multiple personalities. That's a psychiatric diagnosis, not a theological mystery. By the dual identity of Christ I mean what Christians have affirmed since the very earliest group of Christians existed: Jesus Christ is fully human and, at the same time, fully divine.

Here we don't read so much proof of the fact, but an argument about why it's valuable to us as Christians. "The one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things." Our Savior is of the earth and speaks about earthly things. Jesus did not just come to tell us about God: Jesus came to tell us about ourselves. However, Oprah does a really good job of that. We don't need Jesus if we just want to hear about earthly things. We need One who comes from above and is above all. Jesus is both. The relevant earthly preacher/teacher who speaks real truth about real lives.... and the One who comes from above and reigns over all. Thanks be to God for the fully human and fully divine Christ.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Gather for worship and fellowship THIS evening at 7 pm at the home of Stan and Dotty Shearer (2309 Kingfisher Lane in Rolling Meadows). Then join us this weekend as we celebrate the birthday of the church on Pentecost... Saturday at 5 and Sunday at 9. Wear red!

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

2011-06-07T10:38:00.000-05:00

Numbers 16:46-48 Moses said to Aaron, ‘Take your censer, put fire on it from the altar and lay incense on it, and carry it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them. For wrath has gone out from the Lord; the plague has begun.’ So Aaron took it as Moses had ordered, and ran into the middle of the assembly, where the plague had already begun among the people. He put on the incense, and made atonement for the people. He stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stopped.

Aaron was the first priest for the people of Israel. When a plague struck them, he got right there in the middle and did what priests do. He atoned for the people, he prayed for the people, he got in the middle of the muck and mire and helped. One way that we often think about the priestly role is to stand in the middle, between the people and God. The priest stands in the middle and mediates the conversation: translating, if you will, between God and the people.

In the Christian era, we think of the whole church as standing in that priestly role. You, church, are priests. You are priests standing in the middle between God and the whole world. Your job is to stand there in the middle, like Aaron. Your job is to stand there in the middle with plague and fire and yucky stuff (technical biblical term) going on all around you, and pray. For whom are you praying today?

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Join us tomorrow (Wednesday) evening at 7 for Holden Evening Prayer at the home of Stan and Dotty Shearer. Call the church office at 847-991-2080 for directions. Then, celebrate Pentecost this weekend (Saturday at 5 and Sunday at 9) by wearing red.

ASLC Holden

2011-06-06T19:00:00.000-05:00

The second Wednesday of each month, we gather as a congregation for Holden Evening Prayer at 7 pm. It's a great opportunity for prayer and singing. For the three events this summer (June 8, July 13, and August 10) we will be gathering for the same purpose, but away from the All Saints building.

At 7 pm on Wednesday, June 8 gather with us at the home of Stan and Dotty Shearer (2309 Kingfisher Lane E in Rolling Meadows). Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on. Bring a dish or drink to pass in some fellowship following the prayer service.

Click here for a Google map of Stan and Dotty's address.

ASLC Devotions -- Friday

2011-06-03T06:45:00.000-05:00

2 Kings 2:11-12

¹¹As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. ¹²Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

In the preceding verses Elisha has told Elijah three times, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” Even after Elijah has told him that he’s about to be taken by a whirlwind, after he’s been sent to Jericho and after he’s been sent to the Jordan – each time Elijah says, “Stay here.” And, Elisha goes along, pledging commitment and companionship. It is that depth of relationship that causes him to grasp his clothes and tear them in two when Elijah does get swept up by a whirlwind.

Before he gets swept away, though, he asks Elisha what he may do for him, and Elisha asks for a double share of his spirit. It makes me wonder whose spirit you would like a double-share – which of your friends or mentors would you continue to travel with to the end?

Peace,

Pastor Jenn

ASLC Backyard Holden

2011-06-02T15:12:00.000-05:00

ASLC Devotions -- Thursday

2011-06-02T06:45:00.000-05:00

Acts 1:6-7

⁶So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.

Today is Ascension Day (worship at All Saints tonight at 7:00!), the day when we read: “When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” It’s one of those scripture passages that feels surreal to even read it, let alone imagine being there, among the crowd of disciples. The disciples had been encountering the post-resurrection Jesus for about forty days now, and so it is that forty days after Easter we mark the ascension.

After he is lifted up, and as the disciples watch Jesus’ feet disappear into the clouds, two men in white robes (angels?) appear and ask the group, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven?” It might seem logical that the group would have been a little neck-stretched at that moment, but they again receive the reminder to get their heads out of the clouds. Are there times when we focus on things that aren’t where we should place our attention?

Peace,

Pastor Jenn

Join us for worship tonight at 7:00 -- followed by an Ice Cream Sundae pot-luck!

ASLC Devotions -- Wednesday

2011-06-01T06:45:00.000-05:00

John 16:16-18

¹⁶”A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me.” ¹⁷Then some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying to us, ‘A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” ¹⁸They said, “What does he mean by this ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.”

This exchange between Jesus and the disciples might be one of the most enlightening and amusing passages to me. Truly, if you read verse 16 apart from anything else, it does not make any sense. It’s almost as if Jesus is playing peek-a-boo – now you see me! Now you don’t! Oh, wait, now you see me again!

No wonder the disciples were confused.

What is important for us to remember, of course, is the context – especially for those bewildered disciples. Yes, Jesus had been telling them these things all along, and we could argue they should have been a little more clued in. However, we have the benefit of being steeped in the story from the other side of the tomb and we don’t always understand, either. We have the gift of generations of teachings and scholarship to provide insight, and yet the mystery often remains for us.

In those days and times when we feel weighted down with mystery (instead of delighting in it), we pray for trust, knowing that Jesus’ promises remain true – regardless of our understanding.

Peace,

Pastor Jenn

ASLC Devotions - Friday

2011-05-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

Acts 27:35 After Paul had said this, he took bread; and giving thanks to God in the presence of all, he broke it and began to eat.

Yesterday's story of Paul's journey to Rome as a prisoner continues in Acts 27 with a great story of a shipwreck and the very real threat of drowning and death. The group of prisoners and guards and sailors are in a terrible mess and terribly afraid. Altogether there were 276 people onboard, facing certain death.

In the midst of it all, Paul takes charge of the situation (remember, he's a prisoner here). He tells everyone to have courage because his God will not abandon them. He tells them they need to keep up their strength so they should eat - then he takes bread and gives thanks to God.

In the middle of a terrible storm with islands all around that could break up his boat, Paul takes out the time to give thanks to God and share in the blessing of God's food. Amazing what faith can do in the midst of a storm!

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Our summer worship service begins this coming weekend (May 28/29) with Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9. This Saturday only, bring your bicycles and tricycles and other wheeled toys for a special blessing following worship.

ASLC Worship Times Update

2011-05-26T10:00:00.000-05:00

Saints of All Saints,

Remember that beginning this weekend, we are on our summer worship schedule. So starting now through Labor Day weekend (September 3/4), we will have worship as follows:

Saturday evening at 5.
Sunday morning at 9.

Each of these services will feature Word and Holy Communion. The Saturday evening service generally takes on a casual summer-time feeling with little sung liturgy and all piano-accompanied.
The Sunday morning services will continue to rotate our liturgies that we know and love: ELW, "Now the Feast," and Contemporary.

See you Saturday at 5 or Sunday at 9.

ASLC Devotions - Thursday

2011-05-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

Acts 27:1 When it was decided that we were to sail for Italy, they transferred Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort, named Julius.

A little bit of biblical history here: the apostle Paul traveled all through what is now Turkey and Greece spreading the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ and founding churches. He did this in places we know mostly because of the letters he then wrote to them later: Thessalonica, Philippi, Corinth, etc. He wrote the book of Romans as a kind of introductory letter. He'd never been to Rome but wanted to go. He never quite made it, at least in the way he planned. But God still worked good from a bad circumstance.

Paul got himself arrested for his preaching. Because he was a Roman citizen he had the right to appeal his prosecution all the way to the emperor in Rome. So he did that. So eventually Paul made it to Rome (the beginning of the journey is what we read above), but not as a free man. God took the awful circumstance of Paul's arrest and made it possible for him still to reach Rome, preaching the gospel to his fellow prisoners and to his captors.

Whatever bad situation is happening in your life, God is able to provide good news out of it. Even if you're in prison.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Our summer worship service begins this coming weekend (May 28/29) with Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9. This Saturday only, bring your bicycles and tricycles and other wheeled toys for a special blessing following worship.

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

2011-05-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

John 8:38 Jesus said: 'I declare what I have seen in the Father’s presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.’

Practice what you preach. Preach what you practice. Talk the talk and walk the walk. Or is it, talk the walk and walk the talk?!? Anyway, we all know that there is a strong connection between spoken things and actions. Or at least, we'd like there to be. There's a strong connection sometimes in the dissonance we notice: we notice when someone isn't living what they say. We notice when someone's non-verbal communication doesn't match up to the words coming from their mouth. And we strive to have them match in our own lives.

Jesus speaks of this connection here in a slightly different way. We shouldn't so much strive to have our actions match up with our words... instead, we should strive to have our actions match up to God's words.

Love your enemies.
Pray for those who persecute you.
Trust in the Lord always.

How well do your actions today match up with these words?

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Join us TONIGHT (Wednesday) at 7 for a dessert reception and stories from South Africa with our missionary Brian Konkol. Then, our summer worship service begins next weekend with Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9.

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

2011-05-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

Humility is one of the most important and common biblical concepts. We all need to recognize that, there is a God and you're not it. Humility is also one of the most counter-cultural things that we can do as Christians in our society. We live in a society that does not encourage humility. We are encouraged to build ourselves up, to win and to be proud, to metaphorically thump our chests. We all attend workshops and seminars on how to write our resumes to most fully show all our accomplishments and skills.

The problem is when you believe your own hype. The problem is when you actually begin to think that you can walk on water. When that happens, to paraphrase Martin Luther, you should reach up and feel the top of your head. Chances are, you'll feel some donkey ears up there. [He used a less family-friendly word for donkey] But when we recognize our own faults and failings, we can turn to the One who provides all. The Lord, who will turn us away from evil.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Join us Wednesday evening at 7 for a dessert reception and stories from South Africa with our missionary Brian Konkol. Then, our summer worship service begins next weekend with Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9.

ASLC Devotions - Monday

2011-05-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

Exodus 13:17-18 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was nearer; for God thought, ‘If the people face war, they may change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people by the roundabout way of the wilderness towards the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of the land of Egypt prepared for battle.

George said to me as he was facing his last days and looking back over his life "Pastor, my life sure didn't work out according to my plans. And boy am I thankful!"

In the midst of disappointments and hurts and sideroads and what seem like closed doors, life can seem random and disappointing. But when we look back, when we see things from a bit of perspective, generally I think we can see that God has carried us through all those sideroads and byways to something better (or at least more interesting) than what we would have chosen. If we're choosing and making our plans, we generally follow the advice that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. But God knows that there may be a stronger army standing in the middle of that straight line. God knows that the smarter course may be to go around.

It brings to mind one of my favorite church signs ever: "If God is your co-pilot, you better switch seats."

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Join us Wednesday evening at 7 for a dessert reception and stories from South Africa with our missionary Brian Konkol. Then, our summer worship service begins next weekend with Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9.

Missionary Visit

2011-05-20T15:00:00.000-05:00

Hi all,

Brian Konkol, one half of the ELCA Missionary team we support in South Africa, will be visiting with us next Wednesday, May 25. Brian's partner and wife Kristen, will be staying in Wisconsin with their child to have some grandparent time.

Brian will be with us on Wednesday evening for a 7 pm dessert reception in the Gathering Space. He will share pictures and stories of their ministry in South Africa, and we will have an opportunity to ask questions and have conversation. Please join us for this great opportunity to thank Brian for his partnership in our ministry.

Pastor Seth

ASLC Devotions - Friday

2011-05-20T07:00:00.001-05:00

Acts 6:8 Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

George, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

Lydia, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

Nancy, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

[Insert your name here], full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

The power to do great wonders and signs is not limited to Jesus. Never was. Never was meant to be. The power to do great wonders and signs also passes to those who follow Jesus, to those who bear the name Christian. You do great wonders and signs. You make the blessings that God has given to you spread to all the people. You feed the poor. You shelter the homeless. You provide little geese for subsistence farmers in Guatemala. You proclaim the saving gospel that Jesus has risen in Palatine. You, saints, full of grace and power, do great wonders and signs among the people.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Come on Sunday morning for some more great wonders and signs. Worship is at 8:30 and 11.

ASLC Devotions - Thursday

2011-05-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

Acts 7:6 And God spoke in these terms, that his descendants would be resident aliens in a country belonging to others, who would enslave them and maltreat them for four hundred years.

This is a quote from a speech before the High Council by Stephen, one of the early Christian leaders. He's talking about ancient Israel being enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. So it's a guy from 2000 years ago talking about something that happened about 1200 years before his time. This is old stuff. Ancient stuff. And yet it resonates today. "Resident aliens in a country belonging to others" is an amazing phrase that describes Christian disciples today.

Many years ago (1989 to be exact) two theologians name Stanley Hauerwas and William Willimon cowrote a book called "Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony." I have been influenced and challenged by this book in many ways. One of the things they mean by the title and that strikes me when I read this passage again is that we as Christian live in a culture that is not our own... if we're doing it right. Instead of winner-take-all, we are servants of all. Instead of the best and the brightest, we are the last shall be first. Instead of the survival of the fittest, we are the meek shall inherit the earth. It makes life difficult sometimes as a Christian in this alien culture we call the 21st Century West. But it's where God has called us to live. And just as God saved ancient Israel from their time of being resident aliens in Egypt, God has provided salvation for us as well. In Christ, the resident aliens find their home.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Join all the other resident aliens for worship at 8:30 and 11 this Sunday morning.

ASLC Devotions Wednesday

2011-05-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

Matthew 20:25-28 But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’

These verses are on my mind a lot as someone who is called to lead in the church. But this isn't just about pastors: all of you are Christian leaders in various ways and forms as well.

So what the heck is it about? To state the obvious, I think it's saying that we as a Christian community ought to look different than the rest of the world. And yes, we ought to look different than the world of Jesus' time with the Roman empire and slavery and all that. But I think we ought to look different than today's dominant culture as well. The details could fill volumes, not just one email screen (which is our goal for these morning messages) but I think it means that ego ought to have no place for us in our relations with one another. A desire to prove that you're right, a desire to win the argument: these are the things we should strive against. Service, honoring the other: these are the things we should work for... not just in worship, but in a Sunday School classroom, in a committee meeting, in a conversation over coffee.

It's my goal, and I hope you share it, that on those occasions when life at All Saints starts to look a little bit too much like life everywhere else, we ought to ask questions. It's not necessarily wrong, but we ought to ask the question, and think about this passage and instruction from Jesus. As disciples (followers) of Jesus, we indeed have different priorities.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship with us at 8:30 and 11 on Sunday. Join us this Saturday night for an evening of fellowship and Bunko - 6:30 gathering and 7:30 game!

ASLC Bunko

2011-05-17T09:31:00.000-05:00

Hello all,

Remember that All Saints' annual Bunko party is THIS SATURDAY, May 21 at 7:30. Social hour will start at 6:30 with the games to begin at 6:30.
The cost for the game is $5.
Suggested donation for the bar beverages if you choose is $5.
Folks are also invited to bring either a dessert or appetizer to share.

If you haven't had the chance yet to sign up, please call (847-991-2080) or email the church office at office@allsaintspalatine.org by Wednesday. Thanks!

ASLC Devotions

2011-05-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

Ezekiel 34:23 I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd.

Sunday was a great day for sheep and for shepherds. Jesus is the Great Shepherd and we reminded ourselves of that. We reminded ourselves that the Great Shepherd provides for, cares for, feeds, and protects his sheep. We are sheep and we are fed and nurtured. It's good to be taken care of. Whether you're a parent responsible for someone else or you're in the case of being cared for by another person - whether a nurse or a mother or a child... it's always good to know that you are being taken care of.

Jesus is our Great Shepherd. Jesus cares for us.

And Jesus/God have given us people in our lives over and over who care for us as more temporal shepherds. David. Your mom. Many others. They are all "God with skin on." Thanks be to God for all of these people who shepherd us in our lives.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship this Sunday at 8:30 and 11.

ASLC Devotions - Friday

2011-05-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

1 Peter 2:15 For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish.

How do you make your case when someone else is doing something wrong? How do you counter arguments that are hurtful, that are destructive, that bring completely the wrong perspective?
Are you the type to calmly state your case? Do you sometimes just walk away rather than engage in an argument?

Peter provides a bit of advice here: do right. Dr. Martin Luther King and others have used nonviolent resistance to counter "the foolish." One of the main purposes of nonviolent resistance is to show the world and others (and hopefully even the foolish one themselves) how foolish they are being. And you do that not by throwing stones back. You do that by doing right. By demonstrating justice. It just makes sense. AND it's God's will. It works in great social movements... and in everyday life.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Plan to join us for worship this Sunday morning. This Sunday morning at 11 we'll celebrate Holy Baptism and First Communion. A wonderful celebration!

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

2011-05-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

John 21:1-3 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. ²Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. ³Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Put yourself in the place of Jesus' disciples. They had dedicated their lives to this guy. They followed him around for three years. They had left home and family, jobs and boats. And then they watched him be arrested and executed.

But that wasn't the end of the story: they met him again. He came into their locked room and breathed peace on them. So what were they supposed to do now? Start a bunch of churches? Get seminary degrees? Write books of theology?

I think Simon Peter had it about right - get fishing. Get on with your life. Do the things that God has created you to do. But do it as a changed person now. Do it as someone who knows that death isn't the end anymore. Do it as someone who knows that Jesus truly is the Son of God.

Not a bad idea for us either. So today - get fishing.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Join us for Holden Evening Prayer tonight at 7 pm.

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

2011-05-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 9:1-6
Wisdom has built her house,
   she has hewn her seven pillars.
² She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine,
   she has also set her table.
³ She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls
   from the highest places in the town,
⁴ ‘You that are simple, turn in here!’
   To those without sense she says,
⁵ ‘Come, eat of my bread
   and drink of the wine I have mixed.
⁶ Lay aside immaturity, and live,
   and walk in the way of insight.’

This a part of a beautiful poem in Proverbs that personifies Wisdom... as a female, though I'm not going to comment on that.

I just thought you should read more of this this morning than the one verse we usually do. Wisdom is throwing a party. And you're invited. Come, eat of Wisdom's bread. Come, drink of Wisdom's wine. It's waiting for you.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for more information about our ministries. Join us Wednesday evening at 7 pm for Holden Evening Prayer.

ASLC Devotions - Monday

2011-05-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

Genesis 18:14 'Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.’

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

The Easter season rolls on. And we read from Genesis a part of the story of the angel announcing to Abraham and Sarah that they will have a child - while both are well past the age of child-bearing. And the angel responds to Sarah's laughter: "Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?"

Indeed. Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? The Lord who raised Jesus from the dead... the risen Lord who revealed himself to his disciples as they broke bread together... the Lord who conquered death and the devil forever... is anything too wonderful for the Lord?

What's your deepest longing? What is that thing you long for but don't even dare to speak out loud because it sounds too ridiculous? Reconciliation with a family member? A job? Retirement? Peace on the face of the earth?

Go ahead. Speak it. Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for more information. Join us Wednesday evening for Holden Evening Prayer at 7 pm.

ASLC Easter Vigil

2011-04-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

Join us in worship this evening at 7 pm. We will move from darkness to light, we will witness the baptism of a new brother in Christ, and we will proclaim Christ risen. Then tomorrow morning, we will continue the celebration with two worship services at 8:30 and 11.

This is the night! This is our Passover with Christ from darkness to light, from bondage to freedom, from death to life. Tonight is the heart of our celebration of the Three Days and the pinnacle of the church's year. The resurrection of Christ is proclaimed in word and sign, and we gather around a pillar of fire, hear ancient stories of our faith, welcome new sisters and brothers at the font, and share the food and drink of the promised land. Raised with Christ, we go forth into the world, aflame with the good news of the resurrection.

Gospel

John 20:1–18

John's Gospel describes the confusion and excitement of the first Easter: the stone is moved, disciples race back and forth, and angels speak to a weeping woman. Then, Jesus himself appears.

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. ²So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." ³Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. ⁴The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. ⁶Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, ⁷and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. ⁸Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; ⁹for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. ¹⁰Then the disciples returned to their homes.
¹¹But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; ¹²and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. ¹³They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." ¹⁴When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." ¹⁶Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means Teacher). ¹⁷Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" ¹⁸Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

ASLC Good Friday

2011-04-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

Join us today for two worship services.
We'll gather at 10 am in a service designed for families with young children. Come and hear the greatest story of all, sing together, share a craft and a snack.
Then at 7 pm, we will gather as the darkness of Jesus' death descends to pray together and to contemplate the mystery through the proclamation of the Gospel story by the All Saints choir.

At the heart of the Good Friday liturgy is the passion according to John, which proclaims Jesus as a triumphant king who reigns from the cross. The ancient title for this day—the triumph of the cross—reminds us that the church gathers not to mourn this day but to celebrate Christ's life-giving passion and to find strength and hope in the tree of life. In the ancient bidding prayer we offer petitions for all the world for whom Christ died. Today's liturgy culminates in the Easter Vigil tomorrow evening.

Gospel

John 18:1—19:42

On Good Friday, the story of Jesus' passion—from his arrest to his burial—is read in its entirety from the Gospel of John.

Chapter 18

After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. ²Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. ³So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. ⁴Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, "Whom are you looking for?" ⁵They answered, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus replied, "I am he." Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. ⁶When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they stepped back and fell to the ground. ⁷Again he asked them, "Whom are you looking for?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." ⁸Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go." ⁹This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, "I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me." ¹⁰Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave's name was Malchus. ¹¹Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?"
¹²So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. ¹³First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in- law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. ¹⁴Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people.
¹⁵Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, ¹⁶but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. ¹⁷The woman said to Peter, "You are not also one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." ¹⁸Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself.
¹⁹Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. ²⁰Jesus answered, "I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. ²¹Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said." ²²When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, "Is that how you answer the high priest?" ²³Jesus answered, "If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?" ²⁴Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
²⁵Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, "You are not also one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not." ²⁶One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" ²⁷Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed.
²⁸Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate's headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. ²⁹So Pilate went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?" ³⁰They answered, "If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you." ³¹Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law." The Jews replied, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death." ³²(This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.)
³³Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" ³⁴Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?" ³⁵Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" ³⁶Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." ³⁷Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." ³⁸Pilate asked him, "What is truth?"
After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, "I find no case against him. ³⁹But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?" ⁴⁰They shouted in reply, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a bandit.

Chapter 19

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. ²And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. ³They kept coming up to him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and striking him on the face. ⁴Pilate went out again and said to them, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him." ⁵So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!" ⁶When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him." ⁷The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God."
⁸Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. ⁹He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰Pilate therefore said to him, "Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?" ¹¹Jesus answered him, "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." ¹²From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor."
¹³When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge's bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. ¹⁴Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, "Here is your King!" ¹⁵They cried out, "Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!" Pilate asked them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but the emperor." ¹⁶Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.
So they took Jesus; ¹⁷and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. ¹⁸There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. ¹⁹Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." ²⁰Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. ²¹Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.'" ²²Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written." ²³When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. ²⁴So they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it." This was to fulfill what the scripture says,
"They divided my clothes among themselves,
and for my clothing they cast lots."
²⁵And that is what the soldiers did.
Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." ²⁷Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
²⁸After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), "I am thirsty." ²⁹A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. ³⁰When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is finished." Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
³¹Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. ³²Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. ³³But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. ³⁴Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. ³⁵(He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) ³⁶These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, "None of his bones shall be broken." ³⁷And again another passage of scripture says, "They will look on the one whom they have pierced."
³⁸After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. ³⁹Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. ⁴⁰They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. ⁴¹Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. ⁴²And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

ASLC Maundy Thursday

2011-04-21T07:00:00.000-05:00

Gather to worship tonight at 6:15. We will begin in the sanctuary for Confession and Forgiveness, we'll move to the Gathering Space for a meal and to hear from the apostle Peter. Then we'll return to the sanctuary for foot-washing, Holy Communion, and the stripping of the altar.

With nightfall our Lenten observance comes to an end, and we gather with Christians around the world to celebrate the Three Days of Jesus' death and resurrection. At the heart of the Maundy Thursday liturgy is Jesus' commandment to love one another. As Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, we are called to follow his example as we humbly care for one another, especially the poor and the unloved. At the Lord's table we remember Jesus' sacrifice of his life, even as we are called to offer ourselves in love for the life of the world.

Gospel

John 13:1–17, 31b–35

The story of the last supper in John's gospel recalls a remarkable event not mentioned elsewhere: Jesus performs the duty of a slave, washing the feet of his disciples and urging them to do the same for one another.

Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. ²The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper ³Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, ⁴got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. ⁵Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. ⁶He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" ⁷Jesus answered, "You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand." ⁸Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me." ⁹Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" ¹⁰Jesus said to him, "One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you." ¹¹For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, "Not all of you are clean."
¹²After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? ¹³You call me Teacher and Lord — and you are right, for that is what I am. ¹⁴So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. ¹⁵For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. ¹⁶Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. ¹⁷If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. ³¹^b"Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. ³²If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. ³³Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' ³⁴I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. ³⁵By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

2011-04-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

Wednesday, April 20

John 13: 25-27

So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, ‘Lord, who is it?’ Jesus answered, ‘It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.’ So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, ‘Do quickly what you are going to do.’

This is the part of the story that confuses me the most. Jesus knows he is going to be betrayed. Jesus tells his disciples that one of them will betray him, and with the bread even shows them who it is going to be.

There is part of me that thinks “Run, Jesus, RUN!” everytime I read this. “Don’t let the bad guys get you! RUN!”

But then I realize, if Jesus wasn’t betrayed, he would not have been captured, sentenced to death, and crucified. If Jesus wasn’t crucified, he would not have risen from the dead. There would be no Easter. No Easter eggs. No chocolate bunnies. No eternal life. No forgiveness. No Holy Communion; no wine; no bread. No Bread.

Jesus knew what was going to happen, and he knew the ultimate meaning and importance in it. Isn’t it interesting, though, that Jesus gave bread to Judas to indicate his future betrayal—bread, the sign of his body given for us, the sign of God’s ultimate forgiveness.

Karen Goodlow

ASLC Devotions

2011-04-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

Tuesday, April 19

John 12:35

Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.

Winter is the darkest time of the year and spring signals the rebirth of nature. As I write this on a dreary cold winter day the days are starting to get longer - but by the time you read this it will be spring time. Daylight will be significantly longer and it will be much warmer than the string of sub freezing days we have been experiencing! The waiting is almost over; Lent is drawing to a close.

What do you regularly take for granted? Today, as I shovel snow at the end of my driveway it’s hard to imagine just how hot and dry the little patch of grass covered by the ice and snow will be this summer. When we read this in the spring the ice will be gone and it will be easier to believe that the heat will come.

How often do we take our sight for granted? Recently a popular TV show portrayed the value of a blind witness’s heightened senses in solving a crime. Part of the story line was the questionable creditability of the witness because he was blind. If we walk in darkness we don’t know where we are going – but our other senses can become sharpened. Why walk in the darkness, when we have the Light. Embrace the Light, believe in the Light; for although He is only with us for a few more days, His love endures.

Steve Fedota

ASLC Devotions - Monday

2011-04-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

Monday, April 18

John 12:3

Then Mary took about a pintof pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfurme.

This story is enough to make any good Lutheran cringe. Excessive, extravagant, expensive, one pint of perfume used all at one time…and on someone’s feet! You know how we Lutherans are: we don’t like to call a lot of attention to ourselves, be too “show-offy,” brag about what we have, waste things, etc. But that Mary, well, she’s something else. She holds nothing back. Not even the most valuable item in her home.

The perfume, made from spikenard, a plant that was grown only in the far east, cost 300 denarii, valued at about $27,000 today. So Mary takes this clay pot of amazingly fragrant and valuable perfume, pours it over Jesus' feet and then unbinds her hair - something no self-respecting woman would do in public - and dries his feet with her hair. She gave with abandon, without thought of what others might think. And her household was filled with the fragrance of her incredible act.

Judas, the group's book keeper criticizes her, saying like a good Lutheran, that this costly item should have been sold and used to benefit the poor.

Well, I've got to admit; I am no Mary. I am not willing to pour away my most precious and expensive possession, risk my reputation in the community for someone who, oh, wait a minute. That's exactly what God did for me. I guess I need to follow Mary's lead. You too?

Jane Oppermann

ASLC Devotions - Saturday

2011-04-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

Saturday, April 16

Mark 10:32

They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him

I read this verse and wondered why the disciples were amazed. What did they find amazing?

Was it the crowds they saw along the way during their travels with Jesus? Was it the miracles they saw Jesus perform? Was it what Jesus told them was coming, he would be killed and rise again in 3 days for our sakes? Was it he chose them to be his disciples?

I wonder how many of us take time to be amazed and appreciate all the amazing things God does. I try to find one thing each day I find amazing. It may be something as simple as a beautiful sunset or finding the answer to a problem. I always give thanks to God for whatever amazing thing I discover. I also give thanks for the most

amazing thing God did for us by giving his only Son to save us.

I hope all of you will take time each day to find something amazing to celebrate and give thanks to God for whatever that may be.

Sandy Herweg

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar. We'll see you all Sunday morning (Palm Sunday) at 8:30 and 11.

ASLC Devotions - Friday

2011-04-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

Friday, April 15

Philippians 1:27

Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel.

I don’t know about you but I am very proud of All Saints and talk about our church whenever I am talking to/visiting with friends and relatives.

Most of my longtime friends and relatives are outside Illinois, but I had the opportunity to show our church to seven who visited from New York, Idaho, Florida and Chicago. Every one of them felt the overflowing warmth that our church displays. They go home and tell others of their experience here.

The Outreach committee has done a great job of reaching out into the community and beyond to make All Saints known. It’s wonderful to hear that when I mention the name of our church people know who we are. The Holy Spirit is truly at work here.

Continue to proclaim the good news: For ALL to Know Christ!

Janet Lowe

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar. We'll see you all Sunday morning (Palm Sunday) at 8:30 and 11.

ASLC Devotions - Thursday

2011-04-14T07:01:00.000-05:00

Thursday, April 14

Philippians 1:6

I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.

Our church helps with a number of good works in our community. PADS, Christmas Angels, the blood drive, Foods Resource Bank, Habitat for Humanity, etc. There are many more examples. These good works are a lot of, well… work. A lot of people spend a lot of time on these activities. In the midst of all that work, it might be fair to ask – is this really worth it? Are we getting anywhere with this?

I am reminded of an old painting on the wall of my grandmother’s church basement. It showed a man in row boat on the sea, being tossed in the whitecaps, with dark skies rolling in, lightning flashing, and the lighthouse achingly far off in the distance. A Russian proverb printed along with the painting said “Pray to God, but row for shore.”

One of the biggest theological questions out there is whether we have free will to make our own decisions or whether all is predetermined. Personally, I believe that God has given us free will to make our own decisions. At the same time, however, I think God whispers to us in our daily lives, guiding us, correcting us, and giving us strength and encouragement when we need to row the boat to shore.

In this verse, Paul reminds us that it is God’s good works among us. These good things we are doing are God’s and it is God, through our hands, who will bring them to completion.

John Lofgren

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar. We'll see you all Sunday morning (Palm Sunday) at 8:30 and 11.

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

2011-04-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

Wednesday, April 13

Matthew 22:32

“I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”? He is God not of the dead, but the living.”

When I was a kid, I had a very hard time putting all “this religious stuff” in my head in an organized, logical “German” manner. My family went to church & Sunday School every Sunday. Annually I was taught the same stories. Jesus being born in December, then being crucified 3 months later with all those miracle stories in between just seemed like a whirlwind to me. Too fast. Too many questions. I was told to have faith and believe but it was hard. Jesus lived so long ago and the stories written in a book I couldn’t read, much less understand. My religious beliefs were a mess!!

It wasn’t until much later that I began to reflect on my life. A beautiful family, good health, a great job, and a nice home with many “toys” were all mine. What had I actually done to deserve these things? Why was I so “lucky”, when many of my friends had tragedies to deal with? As I couldn’t logically answer these questions, I decided to trot down the street to All Saints Lutheran to search for answers.

That was 10 years ago. I still don’t have any more answers than when I started. However, I have met many spiritual people, had many spiritual experiences, and truly enjoy being in a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. I’ve decided that maybe it’s not important to put logic to my story. I do know that God is not some ancient figure in a book that’s hard to read. God is living, here and now, and continues to be there for me everyday. That’s enough.

George Buerger

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar. Join us Wednesday evening (tonight!) for supper at 6:15 and worship at 7. Then we'll see you all Sunday morning (Palm Sunday) at 8:30 and 11.

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

2011-04-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Tuesday, April 12

Ephesians 2:1-10

In the past you were spiritually dead because of your disobedience and sins. At that time you followed the world’s evil way; you obeyed the ruler of the spiritual powers in space, the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God. Actually all of us were like them and lived according to our natural desires, doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds. In our natural condition we, like everyone else, were destined to suffer God’s anger.

But God’s mercy is so abundant, and his love for us so great, that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience he brought us to life with Christ. It is by God’s grace that you have been saved. In our union with Christ Jesus he raised us up with him to rule with him in the heavenly world. He did this to demonstrate for all time to come the extraordinary greatness of his grace in the love he showed us in Christ Jesus. For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s gift, so that no one can boast about it. God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do.

God’s grace is a gift. We hear that often during our pastors’ sermons. His grace is not the result of our own actions and good deeds. We should help others because it is the right thing to do and we should do it joyfully, not as a means to get us into God’s good graces.

We give and receive each other’s earthly gifts – a smile, a warm dinner at PADS, the message that Jesus loves us - without the requirement to reciprocate. That is the definition of a “gift”. And Paul assures us that God’s grace is a gift. It is a saving grace, no matter how much we mess up trying to be good and not sin. Grace be with you,

Monika Fiedler

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar. Join us Wednesday evening for supper at 6:15 and worship at 7. Then we'll see you all Sunday morning (Palm Sunday) at 8:30 and 11.

ASLC Devotions - Monday

2011-04-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

Monday, April 11

Acts 20:7-9

Paul was holding a discussion with them; he continued speaking until midnight. 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.

Who of us, trapped in an oxygen-deprived conference room and forced to endure yet another presentation from the CFO with eye charts of year-end financial reports, can’t identify with “Lucky” Eutychus? Here’s a young man (some say between 9–14 years old) who’s worked all day, who maybe was dragged to the upper room by his parents to hear the great Paul who, on first blush, seems to be so entranced by his own words that he can’t stop talking. And, finally succumbing to fatigue, does what any kid does and falls asleep—only unfortunately he’s positioned himself in front of an open window through which he falls to his death. Bummer.

I admit, when I got this assignment, I didn’t think all that charitably about Paul. Reading the entire passage, salvation and resurrection seemed to be less important to him than making sure the congregation at Toras got the full measure of his wisdom before he moved on. Why Luke decided to tell us about this event, I don’t know—but curiously, trying to find meaning and relevance in this passage lead me to explore dozens of commentaries I’d never have considered and learn stuff I never thought remotely interesting. But it is interesting… and approached from the perspective of “buried treasure,” the Bible is an endless gold mine of social, cultural, historical—and, yes, spiritual—knowledge. Fortunately, Eutychus was resurrected and, I hope, found knowledge and faith to sustain him all his days.

Faith Witt

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar. Join us Wednesday evening for supper at 6:15 and worship at 7. Then we'll see you all Sunday morning (Palm Sunday) at 8:30 and 11.

ASLC Devotions - Saturday

2011-04-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

Saturday, April 9
Luke 24:50-53
Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

And thus, ends Luke’s Gospel, with Jesus heading off into the sunset, and they all lived happily ever after. I love happy endings.
But I don’t believe this is the end of the story. Do you? To me, this is only the beginning. Jesus saves us from all our sins here on earth, so we may experience the big prize with him in heaven. The story lives on—through each of us—and it will continue on and on and on.
This scripture also reminds me of the end of one of my favorite series of books, The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis:
“And for us this is the end of all stories, and we can most truly say they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.”

Karen Goodlow

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for more information about all of our ministries. We'll see you Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11.

ASLC Devotions - Friday

2011-04-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

Friday, April 8

Revelation 11:15

The seventh angel sounded his trumpet and there were loud voices in heaven which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever."

I love Handel's Messiah. Probably the most favorite section of the Messiah is the Hallelujah Chorus. It's so grand, majestic and triumphant. It's actually not the end of the Messiah as is our text not the last chapter of Revelation. The Hallelujah Chorus is the best known section. My favorite part of the Chorus is when they sing this line from verse 15 and the voices get real soft and legato. "The kingdom of this world . . ..” Then you hear strings. The voices still sing softly ". . . is become." And then the voices and the instruments jump back in full throttle and punch it," . . . is becomes. . . the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. And he shall reign for ever and ever." The music captures so well the theology of the text. The kingdom of the world is small and fading and lilting when compared to the majestic kingdom of our Lord of his Christ who burst on the scene in triumph power and royalty and reign forever and ever. Hallelujah! It's gospel text put to gospel music.

Carole Graesser

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for more information about all of our ministries. We'll see you Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11.