Haven’t You Heard?

Greetings, Blessings, and GOOD NEWS!  May you be blessed by this weeks readings, and enjoy reading this weeks edition of GOOD NEWS.  There are a few more articles in this edition – please take the time to read them!
To update you on our PASTOR SEARCH.  The opening was put in the February edition of the ECC Newsletter.  It also linked to a packet of information that the Board prepared about All Souls, Reading, and Berks County.  Much of your feedback from the Annual Meeting was used in describing All Souls and what we were looking for in a pastor – so THANK YOU to everyone who was at the Annual meeting.  The due date for applications is Friday, February 13.   After this the Board will review candidates and filter them down if needed.   We will then bring information about the applicants to the congregation for comment.  Our process and time line after that will depend on how many applicants we have have and how far they are.  We will keep you informed along the way to be as transparent as possible.  If you have any questions, please let me or any board member know.
We hope you see you soon!   Feel free to pass on your Weekly All Souls Good News to a Friend!  Seeing this for the first time?  Click on “JOIN OUR MAILING LIST” over on the left hand blue column to get this directly to your email.
– Jerry

This weeks readings:

Take time to mediate on God’s word and prepare for worship this Sunday.  And as you meditate on them, consider the question of the week: “With less than two weeks away, how will my renewed commitment to discipleship express itself in service to others?”

Isaiah 40:21-31

Psalm 147:1-6

1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Mark 1:29-39

 

Isaiah 40:28-31

Have you not known? Have you not heard? 

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary;

his understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the faint,

and strengthens the powerless.

Even youths will faint and be weary,

and the young will fall exhausted;

but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,

they shall mount up with wings like eagles,

they shall run and not be weary,

they shall walk and not faint.

I really encourage you this week to go back and read this passage from verse 21 at the start of the reading. I usually only put a portion of the reading in to save space – but in fact read the whole chapter.

 

We often say that we can see how big and awesome God is by looking at his creation.  But for many, knowing his love and grace to us is not as obvious.  A glance into the night sky would not lead us to conclude that we matter so much to God that he worries about the same things that vex little old us. But that’s where the revelation of Scripture comes in. It tells us so many wonderful things, not the least of which is that we matter. We are loved.

The promise of these verses is for those who wait on the Lord. These are the ones who will find new strength to carry them through the trials of life. Our word “comfort” comes from the Latin “cum fortes” to give strength.? As our Comforter, God gives us new strength when we learn to wait on Him.

Bring your Palms!!! Feb 8 or 15

 In preparation for Ash Wednesday on February 18, we ask that you bring back your old palms on Sunday, February 8 or 15.
As is tradition, old palms are burned and the ashes used on Ash Wednesday.

Friday, February 6 – 7:00 pm – First Unitarian Church

In Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story, former U.S. Navy SEAL Christopher Beck embarks on a new mission as Kristin Beck. Kristin’s journey in search of the American ideals that she protected have a whole new meaning as she lives her life truthfully as a transgender woman.

First Unitarian Universalist Church of Berks County 416 Franklin Street, Reading, PA 19602(610-372-0928) will be hosting a showing of “Lady Valor” on Friday, February 6 at 7pm, free and open to the community – with a general sharing of reaction/responses to the film afterward.

Reading Pride Celebration wishes to thank the First Unitarian Universalist Church for the invitation to the community for this showing and conversation of a film dealing with transgender issues, so important to our LGBTA+ Community. 

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE – February 18, 7:00 pm

Begin your Lent with our Ash Wednesday service. Invite a friend!   Service will begin at 7:00 pm in the Chapel.  Hope to see you there!

Next Potluck – Saturday, February 21

We love spending time with our All Souls family and we are a family that enjoys food.   What a blessing it is when we combine the two at our pot-lucks.

Just a reminder, our next pot luck is just a couple of weeks away!  6:00 pm in the Pine Room (basement).

Help Support Co-County Wellness Services – March 3

17 Berks County restaurants host A Good Thyme for Life, a special dining event raising funds for the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Each restaurant generously donates a percentage of their evening revenue to Co-County Wellness Services.

 

www.goodtymeforlife.org

TO CANCEL SERVICE or NOT?
How you can be sure!

Certain members of the board have been tasked with making the decision to cancel services or not.  We try to carefully watch the weather,  predict what might happen by 1pm service time, and make a careful decision.  If canceled we will post as early as possible on our Facebook Page, send an email, and we do have an account with channel 69 news and you can see those closings at wfmz.com
Of course if power or internet becomes a problem, you may also call the church phone and the voice mail will be updated as well.  If your still not sure, then always better safe than sorry. Spend some time meditating on the weeks scriptures in the safety and warmth of your home.

How are you doing answering this  past week’s question 
of the week from the bulletin? 

 

 “How do we, as disciples of Jesus Christ, hear that word of God and put it into practice in our lives? What will I do this week to help another and be of service?”