1 Peter 3:8-9 Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing.
Churches are interesting beasts. We are communities of healing and support for one another. We are communities of worship called to bear Christ's light into our world. And we are also human institutions. This is where lots of people's disillusionment with church (and with God) stems from... the way people treat one another in church too often. Because we are people and we have an institution to run together. Sometimes we disagree about the best ways to do that.
I think Peter's words above are good reminders for how we should do that institution-stuff. Living and working together is hard. It would be much easier to be the church if I could do it by myself. But that's not what the church is. We are people who live and work and dream together. So let's all remember to do it with sympathy and love and tender hearts and humble minds. And when someone else in the group doesn't do that and pays us with evil - that's not your concern. Your concern is to repay it with a blessing and with prayer. Let's give it a shot.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
This Sunday we return to our regular calendar with worship at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. This Sunday is Youth Sunday worship where your High School youth have planned the music and messages throughout. We will still celebrate Holy Communion. Come one and come all. Full details are available at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
ASLC Devotions - Wednesday
Luke 1:76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
This is a little excerpt from the song of Zechariah. Zechariah was the father of John the Baptist and spoke a prophecy about the wonderful role that his son was to play in God's plan of salvation. John was to go before the Lord (Jesus) to prepare the way.
So while this is an excerpt from a prophecy about a specific person, I think it applies to each one of us. We are all children of God. We are all called to be prophets (messengers) of God. And each one of us has a role to play in preparing the way for the Lord to come into our world. When you welcome a stranger at All Saints on Sunday morning, you are preparing the way for the Lord to enter that person's life. When you send a card of love and care to a grieving friend, you prepare the way for the Lord to bring healing and grace to that person. You prepare the way of the Lord every day, child of God.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
This Sunday we return to our regular calendar with worship at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. This Sunday is Youth Sunday worship where your High School youth have planned the music and messages throughout. We will still celebrate Holy Communion. Come one and come all. Full details are available at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
This is a little excerpt from the song of Zechariah. Zechariah was the father of John the Baptist and spoke a prophecy about the wonderful role that his son was to play in God's plan of salvation. John was to go before the Lord (Jesus) to prepare the way.
So while this is an excerpt from a prophecy about a specific person, I think it applies to each one of us. We are all children of God. We are all called to be prophets (messengers) of God. And each one of us has a role to play in preparing the way for the Lord to come into our world. When you welcome a stranger at All Saints on Sunday morning, you are preparing the way for the Lord to enter that person's life. When you send a card of love and care to a grieving friend, you prepare the way for the Lord to bring healing and grace to that person. You prepare the way of the Lord every day, child of God.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
This Sunday we return to our regular calendar with worship at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. This Sunday is Youth Sunday worship where your High School youth have planned the music and messages throughout. We will still celebrate Holy Communion. Come one and come all. Full details are available at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
ASLC Devotions - Tuesday
Psalm 27:10 If my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will take me up.
I was recently a part of a continuing ed event for pastors where we talked a lot about family relationships. One of the pastors raised the issue that, when talking about families and family relationships, we need to remember that there are plenty of families that have no relationship at all. Completely broken. It puts conversations about difficult mothers-in-law and annoying sisters-in-law in perspective.
Jesus came into the world to be light in the darkest places and hope in places without hope. Jesus came to take up those whose mother and father have forsaken them. Jesus came to call you sister or brother. Jesus came to welcome you into God's family.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
This Sunday we return to our regular calendar with worship at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. This Sunday is Youth Sunday worship where your High School youth have planned the music and messages throughout. We will still celebrate Holy Communion. Come one and come all. Full details are available at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
the Lord will take me up.
I was recently a part of a continuing ed event for pastors where we talked a lot about family relationships. One of the pastors raised the issue that, when talking about families and family relationships, we need to remember that there are plenty of families that have no relationship at all. Completely broken. It puts conversations about difficult mothers-in-law and annoying sisters-in-law in perspective.
Jesus came into the world to be light in the darkest places and hope in places without hope. Jesus came to take up those whose mother and father have forsaken them. Jesus came to call you sister or brother. Jesus came to welcome you into God's family.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
This Sunday we return to our regular calendar with worship at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. This Sunday is Youth Sunday worship where your High School youth have planned the music and messages throughout. We will still celebrate Holy Communion. Come one and come all. Full details are available at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Monday, January 27, 2014
ASLC Devotions - Monday
Judges 6:12 The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, ‘The Lord is with you, you mighty warrior.’
I must confess that I am much more drawn to biblical imagery of peacemakers and shepherds and those who tend the poor and the outcast. I usually skip over imagery of warriors and boots in trampling blood and all that stuff. Generally I find it just not to be consistent with the God I have known in Jesus Christ. And not helpful spiritually in the violent world in which we live.
But there are times when it wouldn't be bad to think of oneself as a mighty warrior with the Lord at your back. We all have life challenges that scare us. They may be work-related or school-related; it may be a conversation you know you have to have but you know will be difficult. Next time you face one of those situations, remember... The Lord is with you, you mighty warrior.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
This Sunday we return to our regular calendar with worship at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. This Sunday is Youth Sunday worship where your High School youth have planned the music and messages throughout. We will still celebrate Holy Communion. Come one and come all. Full details are available at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
I must confess that I am much more drawn to biblical imagery of peacemakers and shepherds and those who tend the poor and the outcast. I usually skip over imagery of warriors and boots in trampling blood and all that stuff. Generally I find it just not to be consistent with the God I have known in Jesus Christ. And not helpful spiritually in the violent world in which we live.
But there are times when it wouldn't be bad to think of oneself as a mighty warrior with the Lord at your back. We all have life challenges that scare us. They may be work-related or school-related; it may be a conversation you know you have to have but you know will be difficult. Next time you face one of those situations, remember... The Lord is with you, you mighty warrior.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
This Sunday we return to our regular calendar with worship at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour at 9:45. This Sunday is Youth Sunday worship where your High School youth have planned the music and messages throughout. We will still celebrate Holy Communion. Come one and come all. Full details are available at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
Friday, January 24, 2014
ASLC Devotions -- Friday, January 24
Psalm 27:1-6
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
Let’s be honest: We all have moments when we’re afraid. Sometimes our fears have to do with our health. Other times it’s our safety and surroundings that have us afraid. Maybe we’re afraid when we wake up in the middle of the night, hearing a strange noise. Other times what wakes us has nothing to do with our surroundings, but rather the fears in our hearts and minds.
The Psalms are full of trust and assurances. Sometimes I think they were sung and prayed as statements of faith. But other times I think they are prayed and sung as reminders to ourselves for those middle-of-the-night moments. What a powerful reminder that the Lord’s light and salvation is much stronger than our fears. Remember that the next time you awake with fear. Sleep well.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
Thursday, January 23, 2014
ASLC Devotions -- Thursday, January 23
1 Samuel 1:1-20
20In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, ‘I have asked him of the Lord.’
I’m always fascinated by the stories people tell about their names. As a Jennifer born at the height of the name’s popularity, there’s not a lot of mystery behind my name. When we named our son, we joined our generation reaching back in time, passing on the names of our ancestors.
When Hannah gave birth, she named her son Samuel. She’d gone to the temple previously and prayed to the Lord for a son – a son whom she would give back to the Lord, set aside to be holy. Do you know what your name means? Or why you were named what you are? Don’t forget you have one more name, one you maybe don’t use to introduce yourself: Child of God, Beloved.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
ASLC Devotions -- Tuesday, January 21
Psalm 40:16
16 But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
say continually, ‘Great is the Lord!’
At some points in my life (and still on some days) I see the word “rejoice” and I think of celebrations – balloons, confetti, loud shouts of joy. We say “Let us rejoice and be glad!” We rejoice with people during times of good news, and while we don’t always break out the party hats, there can be this sense of whooping it up when it comes to rejoicing. I love that. I love a good party.
I have been deeply influenced by the faith of the many ‘saints’ I’ve encountered. And as these men and women have witnessed to their deep faith, I have seen a different kind of rejoicing – a steadfast contentment. There is joy in their faith, but it isn’t always a party. There is a constant recognition that “Great is the Lord” but sometimes the confetti stays in the drawer. And I think that’s about perfect. May you rejoice and be glad in the Lord, whatever that celebration looks like today.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
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