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!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
ASLC Bunko
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!
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
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.
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.
Friday, May 13, 2011
ASLC Devotions - Friday
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!
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!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
ASLC Devotions - Wednesday
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.
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.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
ASLC Devotions - Tuesday
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.
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.
Monday, May 9, 2011
ASLC Devotions - Monday
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.
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.
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