Colossians4:15-17
15Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters* in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea. 17And say to Archippus, ‘See that you complete the task that you have received in the Lord.’
I forget sometimes, in this age of quick communication and instant messaging, that not that long ago letters (actual hand-written letters) were not only rare, but treasured and shared. The letters, or epistles, included in our scriptures contain teachings and news to particular groups or churches and they have been passed through generations. Originally these letters would have been read in a gathered assembly, and as we see from the verses above, they would have also been shared with neighboring communities that perhaps did not receive a specific letter addressed to them. We can and do still learn from reading these early Christians' mail.
And while we might not write that many letters anymore, there are still similarities to how we communicate today. After you've read this email, share it with someone else, your neighbors or friends or family, and make sure you read their response. And say to the one in your life whom you know has a task from God, "Don't forget to complete what you have been given."
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
Monday, September 6, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Thursday
Philippians 2:29-30 Welcome him then in the Lord with all joy, and honour such people, because he came close to death for the work of Christ,* risking his life to make up for those services that you could not give me.
The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the people of Philippi. There was no US Postal Service at the time, so letters were carried by hand ideally by trusted messengers. Paul sent this letter along with his friend and co-worker Epaphroditus. So in the letter he wrote some words of recommendation for good ol' Epaphroditus (his friends maybe called him Paphie). Paul encouraged the people of Philippi to welcome and honor Paphie, for all the work that Paphie had done for the sake of the church and of the gospel.
We live in a very different time and place than Paul did. The church is in a very different position. Very few of us are thrown in jail for our belief, thanks be to God. Very few of us encounter real physical hardships at all because of our faith, thanks be to God.
But we're in the same place in that there are saints among us who show us the way. For Paul, it was Epaphroditus. For me, it's Mrs. Pugh. Mrs. Pugh was the woman in my Teaching Parish congregation who showed up first to make sure all the bulletins were laid out. She turned on all the lights. She made sure the lunch was hot and ready when worship ended. And she sat on the front pew singing her heart out in praise during worship. Mrs. Pugh never came close to death for the work of Christ, but I honour such people anyway. And I honour all of you for the ministry that you do in Christ's name.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the people of Philippi. There was no US Postal Service at the time, so letters were carried by hand ideally by trusted messengers. Paul sent this letter along with his friend and co-worker Epaphroditus. So in the letter he wrote some words of recommendation for good ol' Epaphroditus (his friends maybe called him Paphie). Paul encouraged the people of Philippi to welcome and honor Paphie, for all the work that Paphie had done for the sake of the church and of the gospel.
We live in a very different time and place than Paul did. The church is in a very different position. Very few of us are thrown in jail for our belief, thanks be to God. Very few of us encounter real physical hardships at all because of our faith, thanks be to God.
But we're in the same place in that there are saints among us who show us the way. For Paul, it was Epaphroditus. For me, it's Mrs. Pugh. Mrs. Pugh was the woman in my Teaching Parish congregation who showed up first to make sure all the bulletins were laid out. She turned on all the lights. She made sure the lunch was hot and ready when worship ended. And she sat on the front pew singing her heart out in praise during worship. Mrs. Pugh never came close to death for the work of Christ, but I honour such people anyway. And I honour all of you for the ministry that you do in Christ's name.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Wednesday
Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I was humbled,
so that I might learn your statutes.
The psalmist is on the other side of a bad experience. This bad experience presumably reminded him that he couldn't go through life all on his own and that he didn't have all the answers. This was presumably one of those biblical bad experiences that drove the psalmist back to a dependence on God and on God's teaching (what he calls statutes). Looking back through this experience to the blessings that have come to him on the other side, he says "It is good for me that I was humbled, so that I might learn your statutes."
Easy for him to say.
Easy for me to say. It's easy enough to say from a place of blessing and a place of looking backward through hard times to see the blessings that have come through it. The silver lining is easiest to see when you've gone through the cloud, not when you're in the middle of it. In the middle of the cloud, we don't say "It is good for me to be here." What we do is trust. We trust that God will always be God and that God is good all the time. And we hold on.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
so that I might learn your statutes.
The psalmist is on the other side of a bad experience. This bad experience presumably reminded him that he couldn't go through life all on his own and that he didn't have all the answers. This was presumably one of those biblical bad experiences that drove the psalmist back to a dependence on God and on God's teaching (what he calls statutes). Looking back through this experience to the blessings that have come to him on the other side, he says "It is good for me that I was humbled, so that I might learn your statutes."
Easy for him to say.
Easy for me to say. It's easy enough to say from a place of blessing and a place of looking backward through hard times to see the blessings that have come through it. The silver lining is easiest to see when you've gone through the cloud, not when you're in the middle of it. In the middle of the cloud, we don't say "It is good for me to be here." What we do is trust. We trust that God will always be God and that God is good all the time. And we hold on.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Tuesday
Isaiah 2:12 For the Lord of hosts has a day
against all that is proud and lofty,
against all that is lifted up and high;*
The turning is coming. God has a plan to turn things right. God has a plan to lift up those who have been bowed down in this world and to lower those who have placed themselves above their sisters and brothers. That's the essence of the gospel. That's God's message for the world. That's what Jesus came to proclaim, and it's what his mother Mary sang about before he was even born. Long before he was born, Isaiah sang about it. Isaiah sang about the day that the Lord would have to turn things right.
This morning I pray that that day is today.
against all that is proud and lofty,
against all that is lifted up and high;*
The turning is coming. God has a plan to turn things right. God has a plan to lift up those who have been bowed down in this world and to lower those who have placed themselves above their sisters and brothers. That's the essence of the gospel. That's God's message for the world. That's what Jesus came to proclaim, and it's what his mother Mary sang about before he was even born. Long before he was born, Isaiah sang about it. Isaiah sang about the day that the Lord would have to turn things right.
This morning I pray that that day is today.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Monday, August 30, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Monday
2 Chronicles 12:1 When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he grew strong, he abandoned the law of the Lord, he and all Israel with him.
Rehoboam was one of the ancient kings of Judah. Judah was one of the two kingdoms that grew out of the division of Israel after the good times of Kings David and Solomon. Rehoboam thought he was pretty great. He was the king. He'd defeated some internal rebellions. He'd built up some fortresses. He had it all together. And so he abandoned the law of the Lord.
Now the writer of Chronicles doesn't put it in the same cause and effect terms that I just did. Chronicles itself just says that WHEN the rule of Rehoboam was established and he grew strong, he abandoned the law of the Lord. Not BECAUSE the rule was established. But WHEN. So the writer of Chronicles doesn't make the strength a cause of abandoning the law of the Lord. But I'm telling you from my life experience and the life-experiences of thousands of others, that there was some cause there. When we think we've got it all together, why do we need the teaching of God? When we're strong and prosperous, why do we need God? If we've got it all figured out, then what need do we have of God?
So if you're having a good day today, if things are going smoothly... just be careful that you remember that it's all a gift from God.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Rehoboam was one of the ancient kings of Judah. Judah was one of the two kingdoms that grew out of the division of Israel after the good times of Kings David and Solomon. Rehoboam thought he was pretty great. He was the king. He'd defeated some internal rebellions. He'd built up some fortresses. He had it all together. And so he abandoned the law of the Lord.
Now the writer of Chronicles doesn't put it in the same cause and effect terms that I just did. Chronicles itself just says that WHEN the rule of Rehoboam was established and he grew strong, he abandoned the law of the Lord. Not BECAUSE the rule was established. But WHEN. So the writer of Chronicles doesn't make the strength a cause of abandoning the law of the Lord. But I'm telling you from my life experience and the life-experiences of thousands of others, that there was some cause there. When we think we've got it all together, why do we need the teaching of God? When we're strong and prosperous, why do we need God? If we've got it all figured out, then what need do we have of God?
So if you're having a good day today, if things are going smoothly... just be careful that you remember that it's all a gift from God.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Saturday evening at 5 and Sunday morning at 9. More information at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Friday, August 27, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Friday
1 Peter 4:9-10
9Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.
When I look out at the world, whether it's from the pulpit on Sunday morning, or simply observing the world, I'm always delighted to realize just how gifted everyone is. Each of you has a gift. Every single one of you. And, it's up to each of us to use that gift (or gifts) to serve one another with it.
We're called to be good stewards in all areas of our lives, and perhaps the first step to being a good steward is to recognize that you have gifts to share. Recognize your gifts, and share them.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
9Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.
When I look out at the world, whether it's from the pulpit on Sunday morning, or simply observing the world, I'm always delighted to realize just how gifted everyone is. Each of you has a gift. Every single one of you. And, it's up to each of us to use that gift (or gifts) to serve one another with it.
We're called to be good stewards in all areas of our lives, and perhaps the first step to being a good steward is to recognize that you have gifts to share. Recognize your gifts, and share them.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
Thursday, August 26, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Thursday
1 Peter 3:8
8Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
For the many students and teachers heading to Illinois classrooms for school today (and others around the country and world heading to school around this time, too), we lift a prayer of blessing for your days, that they would be graced with such a verse as this one.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
8Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
For the many students and teachers heading to Illinois classrooms for school today (and others around the country and world heading to school around this time, too), we lift a prayer of blessing for your days, that they would be graced with such a verse as this one.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
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