ASLC Devotions - Friday

2 Timothy 4:2 Proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.

When we put the term "evangelist" in the context of our own lives, we may think of sharing the news with our friends and co-workers.  But, we should not forget that we need to share God’s Word with people of all ages. When reading this verse from 2 Timothy, I could not help but think of how we teach our children about Jesus. Timothy asks us to “proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable.” I have had many moments where my children have asked difficult questions about the church or Jesus.  While, the best and easiest answer is to say that we can ask Pastors Seth or Jenn the next time we see them, I also know this will not satisfy.  I usually try to give them an answer that will be satisfying to their curiosity, but also give them the confidence to ask more questions about their faith. 

As the reading continues on to say, “for the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires.” This makes me mindful that like adults, children will continue to search, if they do not get answers to their questions.  These may come from rock stars, TV personalities, or others who will give them answers that may be easier to accept, but not necessarily the truth as we Christians would like to see it.  Now is our chance to give our children, and other adults, the right answers. While it may seem like “suffering” to find an instant answer to “Who created God?” or “How does God make it snow?”, Timothy reminds us that if we do our work as an evangelist and a child of God, we are fulfilling God’s will for us.

Vikki Drucker

Join us for worship this First Sunday in Lent at 8:30 and 11. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar.  

ASLC Devotions - Thursday

1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.

During the long winter days the darkness is upon us and I cannot wait for the days to get longer to let there be light.   Then I remember God is light and the darkness is only there if I do not let the light of God into my life.

What do you do to remember that God is light and to keep yourself out of the darkness?  Do you pray, read the bible or just look around and see all the beautiful things God has given us?  Let us all remember to walk in the light with God each and every day and to enjoy each other’s friendship as we walk with God.  Together we can keep out the darkness. May the light of God be with you always.

 

Kathy Garner 

Join us for worship this First Sunday in Lent at 8:30 and 11. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar.

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

With this message, we begin hearing from members of All Saints who wrote for our Lenten devotional:

Joel 2:12-13 “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.

Joel speaks about the return of our Lord and how we are to wait for God.  During the time when this was written, King Uzziah was in the height of his reign.  The lifestyle most lived was one of self-indulgence.  It was also a time when people would observe various religious practices.  However, what they practiced and what was in their heart were often two different things. 

Joel first states that God will return and what would God think of returning to a people who were not giving everything they had to God?  In verse 12, the Lord says, “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”   God is saying, if you are going to doing something in my name, put your heart into it.  Let it mean something.  Don’t just do it because you think it puts on a good show.

It goes on to say, in verse 13, “rend your heart, and not your garments.”  If you look up rend in the dictionary, it doesn’t just mean to give something up, it means to rip violently from its place.  What an image!  Don’t just give your heart to God, but rip your heart violently away from the things that hold you back from God. 

What things are holding you back from being fully able to wait on the Lord?  Take time during Lent and make this a time to return to God with all your heart.

Kimberly Kuhlman 

Join with the All Saints community for Ash Wednesday worship (Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes) at both noon and 7 pm. A dramatic interpretation of the Gospel will happen at the 7 pm service.

ASLC Devotions - Thursday

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

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

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

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.