ASLC Devotions - Thursday

 1 Peter 2:5 Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood.

For too long I was just a “stone” in my faith.  I was raised a Christian and have always believed in God but I didn’t really build on that belief.  I suppose at times in my life I didn’t feel I needed more or I just didn’t take the time to learn and build onto the foundation that my parents and grandparents had taught me.  In recent years I felt the need to understand and know more about God’s words so I started going to Bible study.  It has opened my eyes and heart to so much. 

When my “bible mates” and I are reading and discussing the Bible, it helps so much to put the printed words into a better understanding.  We read and discuss, laugh and sometimes even share very strong feelings about a passage and through it all; we are growing or building ourselves into a better understanding of what it means to be a Christian.   With more knowledge brings more confidence in sharing with others the good news of Gods love.

As we live a life of a living stone we are able to not only share the written words of Jesus’ love for us but also to show God’s love in our actions towards all people.

Ann Lynch

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

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

 John 12:40-41
'He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,
so that they might not look with their eyes,
   and understand with their heart and turn—
   and I would heal them.’ 
Isaiah said this because he saw his glory and spoke about him.

Has there been a time in your life where you felt that you had your eyes blinded or your heart hardened? Maybe you were walking downtown and there was a homeless person on the street with his hat out and you walked right on by. Or could it have been when your neighbor asked you to help him move and you made up an excuse so you didn’t have to take time out of your day to help another person.

I know there have been times in my life where my eyes were blinded and my heart hardened. It’s not easy to admit that we are human and these things happen. But that’s the point, we are human and without Jesus we don’t stand a chance.

Jesus wants us to understand that when we turn to him he will heal us as well as open our eyes and soften our heart that we may see his glory.

Maybe it’s time we all trust in Jesus and we will see his glory that Isaiah talked about.

Joe Quinn

Join us for midweek Lenten supper and worship on Wednesday (TONIGHT). Soup supper at 6:15 and worship at 7. This week, we will encounter a reflection by Mrs. Noah on her Flood experiences. Then, join us for the Second Sunday in Lent at 8:30 and 11. Full calendar is available at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org 

ASLC Devotions - Tuesday

 Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Oh, doesn’t that sound lovely. Good Christians have faith, hold on, believe, trust in our Lord. Or so we’re told.  But life can be tough and sometimes faith isn’t that easy to grab onto.

Over the years, I’ve discovered that wavering, doubting, and even arguing with God isn’t unchristian, but simply human and something God appreciates from us.   See, God wants to hear from us, even in our most imperfect, fragile state.

Years ago I faced a serious surgery and I was scared. I had never had surgery, and the thought of facial paralysis and total deafness in one ear, was frightening to me. I was terrified and yes, angry with God.  My child-like faith had always counted on God to protect me, act as defense against all sorts of dangers. In that fog of fear and anger, God felt far from me; I could barely see, feel or hear him.

And then one night, I let God have it. I blasted him with my anger and fear. I told God how betrayed I felt. He was my faithful shepherd, after all. But through that long night I began to feel God’s presence, like a distant light, shining through the fog of my fragile faith.

Jane Oppermann

Join us for midweek Lenten supper and worship on Wednesday. Soup supper at 6:15 and worship at 7. This week, we will encounter a reflection by Mrs. Noah on her Flood experiences. Then, join us for the Second Sunday in Lent at 8:30 and 11. Full calendar is available at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org 

ASLC Devotions - Monday

Hebrews 1:8-12 But of the son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”  And, “You, Lord laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands: they will perish, but you remain;  they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same and your years will have no end.”

Fashion is ever changing and temporary.  It comes and goes, and eventually fades away.  Depending on your age, you might remember Twiggy with her brightly patterned miniskirts, bellbottom pants, patent leather go-go boots, and who could  forget the ever popular and versatile leisure suit.  If we still have these articles of clothing, they probably hang in the back of closets or in basements for our grandchildren to wear for play. The author of Hebrews reminds us how temporary the things of this life are.

In the passage, the writer’s emphasis remains the same, Christ will outlast the earth that he so carefully created.  God’s Son is constant and we can trust his  promises.  He never changes and is always faithful and forgiving. His reign is eternal and His power mighty. Earthly things will pass away but Christ’s covenant will never change.

Worldly things come and go but Christ is the same; yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  His love and forgiveness is never ending and will last for eternity. Let us always rely on His grace and love, especially during this Lenten season.  Thanks be to God!

Nate Drucker 

Join us for midweek Lenten supper and worship on Wednesday. Soup supper at 6:15 and worship at 7. This week, we will encounter a reflection by Mrs. Noah on her Flood experiences. Then, join us for the Second Sunday in Lent at 8:30 and 11. Full calendar is available at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org

ASLC Devotions - Saturday

 Mark 8:27-29
Jesus and his disciples now left Galilee and went out to the villages of Caesarea and Philippi.  As they were walking along he asked them, "Who do people think I am?  What are they saying about me?" The disciples replied, "Some think you are John the Baptist and others say that you are Elijah or some other prophet come back to life again." Then he asked, "Who do think I am?"  Peter replied, "You are the Messiah."

This is one of the most fundamental questions for Christians - who do you think Jesus is?

When my husband and I were in Israel some years ago, we went to the Garden of Gethsemane. We experienced a very spiritual moment at this site as did others. We somehow felt how much God loves us.

There is a small church there with a large rock inside. The story goes that this is where Jesus prayed that he would not have to suffer, but then asked for strength to do his father's will. At that moment Jesus decided to go to the cross and die for me and you. The result is that we can have abundant life here on earth and eternity with God.

I wish I could say that this feeling lasted but I can remember it and make a choice to follow Christ.

Each one of us should  think about who is Jesus, and if we truly accept him as the crucified Son of God, live like we know it and pass it on. 

Kay Weir

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

ASLC Devotions - Friday

 Romans 4: 7-8 Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven,
   and whose sins are covered;
blessed is the one against whom the Lord will not reckon sin.

Reading the passage that I was supposed to write this devotion for over and over for about a month, I wanted to say something wise, something that someone might copy and paste and send to someone else.  But I was having trouble finding “the true meaning” of the full passage assigned because it also talked about wages and circumcision.  Then I re-read the instructions and it said “choose one or two verses”.  I don’t know about you, but sometimes I just make things harder than they have to be. There was beauty right smack dab in the middle of the assigned passage!! The beauty of the Lenten Season:

Sinners are not only forgiven, but they are BLESSED! Once sinners ask for forgiveness, they are BLESSED…….and God will NEVER reckon with that sin again! The sin is gone!

We make our faith so much more difficult than it has to be sometimes, when the answer is always right in front of us. We are forgiven and BLESSED!

Linda Kinsella

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

ASLC Devotions - Thursday

 Romans 3:21-31 The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.  For there is no distinction since all have sinner and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus who God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood effective through faith.

 This just says it all and there's nothing else I can add.  My youngest granddaughter helped me to understand it by saying to us that she wouldn't be eating the chicken noodle soup Carole was making.

As she simply stated, "What is it you don't get?  I do chicken and I do noodles but I don't do soup"

It is what it is.

Well, as Christians, we get this bible passage as we journey through the Lenten season.  It is what it is.

And it's O.K. to pass it on.

Dutch Graesser

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