Psalm 126:1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,*
we were like those who dream.
I love the yearning in this verse. I love the bare honesty that comes only from someone who has experienced deep pain and has also experienced the relief and the joy of restoration.
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, it was like some crazy dream.
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, all of our dreams had come true.
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we walked through the world in a haze... unsure whether we were really awake.
I am enough of a cynic and a grumpy old man inside to get pretty tired of all the Hallmark commercials this time of year with the kids staring wide-eyed at Santa around the tree. But... that joy of Christmas can be a sign for us of something much bigger: a sign of the joy and the wonder with which we can look at the world and our lives and see all that God has done. Because the Lord has restored our fortunes, and we are like those who dream.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
There will NOT be Holden Evening Prayer this evening.
To discuss this passage and others, visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com. Remember to join us for our special cantata presentation and Communion worship this Sunday at 8:30 and 11.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Lenten Devotional Being Prepared
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 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:
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 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 early January)
- instructions and guidance, as much as you'd like.
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 2010.
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 -- Tuesday
Isaiah 19:23 On that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians.
Do you ever get tired of people arguing and fighting and killing each other because they disagree about what God looks like, or what God wants them to do in the world? It's a particularly sore spot for me because talking about God is sort of, well, you know... my job. And I believe that God weeps when people's arrogance and condescension gets in the way of worship and praise.
The promise of God is that someday a superhighway with open road tolling will be built. And it will connect Egypt and Assyria. It will connect Chicago and Tehran. It will connect Rome and Wittenberg. It will connect Jerusalem and Mecca. And Christian will worship with Muslim. Sunni will worship with Shia. Jew will worship with Roman Catholic. Lutheran will worship with Anglican. Lutheran will worship with, well, other Lutheran. That's the promise of God. Come, Lord Jesus!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
To discuss this passage and others, visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com. Remember to join us for our special cantata presentation and Communion worship this Sunday at 8:30 and 11.
Do you ever get tired of people arguing and fighting and killing each other because they disagree about what God looks like, or what God wants them to do in the world? It's a particularly sore spot for me because talking about God is sort of, well, you know... my job. And I believe that God weeps when people's arrogance and condescension gets in the way of worship and praise.
The promise of God is that someday a superhighway with open road tolling will be built. And it will connect Egypt and Assyria. It will connect Chicago and Tehran. It will connect Rome and Wittenberg. It will connect Jerusalem and Mecca. And Christian will worship with Muslim. Sunni will worship with Shia. Jew will worship with Roman Catholic. Lutheran will worship with Anglican. Lutheran will worship with, well, other Lutheran. That's the promise of God. Come, Lord Jesus!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
To discuss this passage and others, visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com. Remember to join us for our special cantata presentation and Communion worship this Sunday at 8:30 and 11.
Monday, December 7, 2009
ASLC Devotions -- Monday
Isaiah 40:11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead the mother sheep.
I love Advent. I love the waiting and the anticipation. I love the promise and the hope. There are days when the promise seems far off and the hope seems hard to cling to. There are days when it seems as though God will never come to feed us like a shepherd. There are days when all I do is hope for someone to gently lead me like a mother sheep.
Those days come all through the year. The yearning for a better future, for a more hopeful and just and Godly future isn't limited to these four weeks before Christmas. But in this season we are reminded of the promise. We are shown signs of the promise. We are reminded that, in a crying baby, God has already fulfilled the promise. And we are reminded that it is our job as Christians to pray 'Come, Lord Jesus.'
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
To discuss this passage and others, visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com. Remember to join us for our special cantata presentation and Communion worship this Sunday at 8:30 and 11.
he will gather the lambs in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead the mother sheep.
I love Advent. I love the waiting and the anticipation. I love the promise and the hope. There are days when the promise seems far off and the hope seems hard to cling to. There are days when it seems as though God will never come to feed us like a shepherd. There are days when all I do is hope for someone to gently lead me like a mother sheep.
Those days come all through the year. The yearning for a better future, for a more hopeful and just and Godly future isn't limited to these four weeks before Christmas. But in this season we are reminded of the promise. We are shown signs of the promise. We are reminded that, in a crying baby, God has already fulfilled the promise. And we are reminded that it is our job as Christians to pray 'Come, Lord Jesus.'
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
To discuss this passage and others, visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com. Remember to join us for our special cantata presentation and Communion worship this Sunday at 8:30 and 11.
Friday, December 4, 2009
ASLC Devotions -- Friday
From Paul's letter to the community at Philippi:
It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death. (Philippians 1:20)
Amen.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death. (Philippians 1:20)
Amen.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
Thursday, December 3, 2009
ASLC Devotions -- Thursday
Philippians 1:18a
18What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice.
Paul has been imprisoned, and from that place writes that he knows some people proclaim Christ out of false motives -- motives that keep him imprisoned. And others, well, they make proclamations from a place of goodwill and love. What is amazing to me is that he rejoices regardless of the motives -- because of the proclamation of Christ.
I'm more inclined to rejoice in those things done and said from the place of goodwill and love. I often can't see beyond the false motives of envy or rivalry. And, yet, there's something to learn from rejoicing in all that proclaims Christ. These words from Paul will give me something to think about, that's for sure!
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
Want to share what these words from Paul make you think about? Visit aslcdevotions.blogspot.com
18What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice.
Paul has been imprisoned, and from that place writes that he knows some people proclaim Christ out of false motives -- motives that keep him imprisoned. And others, well, they make proclamations from a place of goodwill and love. What is amazing to me is that he rejoices regardless of the motives -- because of the proclamation of Christ.
I'm more inclined to rejoice in those things done and said from the place of goodwill and love. I often can't see beyond the false motives of envy or rivalry. And, yet, there's something to learn from rejoicing in all that proclaims Christ. These words from Paul will give me something to think about, that's for sure!
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
Want to share what these words from Paul make you think about? Visit aslcdevotions.blogspot.com
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
ASLC Devotions -- Wednesday
Psalm 90: 1-2
1Lord, you have been our dwelling-place*
in all generations.
2Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
We, as a people, tend to be a little short-sighted sometimes, especially when it comes to history. I often lose perspective and think this is either the greatest or the worst time, ever, forgetting about the triumphs or tragedies of the past. When we scan the past 100 years, or even more, we can gain some breathing space that might allow us to step back from whatever mountain sits on our desk or in our planner today.
I've preached and written a few times recently about re-focusing and remembering God in our daily lives. It can be difficult, I know, and often it's not long after I've hit "send" or stepped away from the pulpit that I slip back into despairing or worrying. So verses like these are good reminders, as are so many, that God is God from everlasting to everlasting. And, on those days when the hustle-bustle of the world is simply too much -- too many gifts to buy, too many bills to pay, too many appointment to meet (or forget) -- then the Lord is still our dwelling place.
Dwelling in the Lord,
Pastor Jenn
Share your own experiences of dwelling with the Lord, or experiencing God's everlasting presence at: www.aslcdevotions.blogspot.com
See you there!
1Lord, you have been our dwelling-place*
in all generations.
2Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
We, as a people, tend to be a little short-sighted sometimes, especially when it comes to history. I often lose perspective and think this is either the greatest or the worst time, ever, forgetting about the triumphs or tragedies of the past. When we scan the past 100 years, or even more, we can gain some breathing space that might allow us to step back from whatever mountain sits on our desk or in our planner today.
I've preached and written a few times recently about re-focusing and remembering God in our daily lives. It can be difficult, I know, and often it's not long after I've hit "send" or stepped away from the pulpit that I slip back into despairing or worrying. So verses like these are good reminders, as are so many, that God is God from everlasting to everlasting. And, on those days when the hustle-bustle of the world is simply too much -- too many gifts to buy, too many bills to pay, too many appointment to meet (or forget) -- then the Lord is still our dwelling place.
Dwelling in the Lord,
Pastor Jenn
Share your own experiences of dwelling with the Lord, or experiencing God's everlasting presence at: www.aslcdevotions.blogspot.com
See you there!
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