Happy Valentines Day to our All Souls Family and Friends. May God’s love surround you – and my you share the love with others!
We are expanding our “themed potlucks” this month. See below for information about our “International Dinner” coming up February 20.
Please take the time to read the articles and information in this week’s “GOOD NEWS” including clicking on our prayer list and pray for the requests there. Feel free to forward this newsletter to a family member or friend, or share it on your facebook page or twitter by using the “like” and “share” icons at the top of the page.
This weeks readings and question of the week:
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:
How can I say no to selfishness and power over others and yes to placing myself in God’s merciful hands?
Deuteronomy 26:4-11
Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
Romans 10:8-13
Luke 4:1-13
Luke 4: 1-4
After his baptism, Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.'”
During Lent the church often focuses on repentance, resisting temptation, and the passion of Jesus.
Today’s text reminds us that our capacity to repent and to resist temptation comes from our relationship with God and the grace of his deliverance rather than from our own strength and initiative.
We live in a world of competing stories. In such a world, we must know the Christian story in order to resist the false stories that seek to take us captive. The reading in Luke 4:1-13 is the familiar story of Jesus’ temptation by the devil in the wilderness. This story is so well known that we sometimes conflate the different accounts in Matthew, Mark, and Luke into one story about Jesus’ temptation. But each account is unique from the others. As we read Luke’s version carefully, we can see two competing stories: the story that Jesus taps into in order to resist the devil and successfully navigate the temptations laid before him and the narrative the devil presents.
Special Lenten Charity Offering
As mentioned in Henry’s “Lenten Pastoral Letter” – we will be collecting a special Lenten offering. We encourage you to set your extra change aside during the 40 days of Lent. We will collect the change at the end of Lent and use this for some of our special outreach missions like Opportunity House; Family First; etc.
We do have special plastic containers that you can use – just pick them up at this Sunday’s service if you did not get it last week or at the Ash Wednesday service.
Saturday, February 20 – 6:00 pm – Pine Room
All Souls wants to celebrate our family of diversity! Prepare your favorite food to showcase your cultural heritage! Or bring your favorite fare from around the globe!
If you can, print out some information about the particular food and/or cultural heritage highlighted by what you bring! Then share this info with others during our potluck.
Sharing food and knowledge – while enjoying the fellowship of your All Souls family! We hope you can join us! Mark it in your calendar today!
NEW ROTAS – NEW VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! FINDING YOUR MINISTRY
At All Souls, we are ALL MINISTERS! We welcome everyone to participate in the ministry of all Souls. Besides our periodic outreach ministry opportunities – we also have ways you can be part of our ministry each week.If you can come early, we need help setting up each Sunday or clean up after the service. Hospitality, reading scriptures, greeting, sharing musical talent, helping with children education, and even helping provide rides for individuals or families that need a ride to or from the church. You don’t have to do these things every week – but even if you volunteer once or twice a week – that would be great!
We will also be doing a training course for those wanting to explore being a Lay Assistant later this spring.
You can click on the ROTA links to the left to see where we have current openings for various Sundays. Or talk to Ben Renkus or any board member about how you can get more involved in the ministry of All Souls.
A Good Thyme for Life -Tuesday, March 1
A Good Thyme For Life is an annual dining out event to benefit Co-County Wellness Services. The event will be held on Tuesday, March 1, 2016. Click below for more information
We had a great January Pot Luck Game Night. We had rousing round of UNO!
Please make plans to join us for our remaining Winter/Spring Pot Lucks!
February 20
March 12
April 16
If you have ideas for future pot luck activities – please let anyone on the board know your ideas!!!!
HOSPITALITY UPDATE:
Jay and Jasmine have volunteered to take over as Hospitality Coordinators! Wendy, Val and Danny will assist them but we still need other volunteers to help out. If you would like to help out with our hospitality ministry before and/or after service please see Jay, Jasmine or Wendy.
We can still use some help with transportation ministry as well. If your willing to pick up parishioners from time to time and bring them to church, please let Jerry know. This is a great way to build friendships – its amazing how you can get to know someone or a family with a short 10 minute drive.
Reminder about Winter Weather:
Just a reminder that if service is cancelled this weekend or anytime this winter – we do put a notice on WFMZ-TV / Channel 69. We will also post on our All Souls Website and send out an email via Constant Contact. Of course these only work if the electricity is on. If you are still unsure, you can call the church phone @ 610-621-1738 – again, if we are able to, we will update the message if service is cancelled or not.
OF COURSE – ALWAYS USE YOUR BEST JUDGMENT AND INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES TO DECIDE IF YOU FEEL SAFE TRAVELING. Depending on where you live – you may have more snow or ice (or vice-versa). We also take into account if Calvary has had time to shovel and/or plow the sidewalks and parking lots. We will make this judgement call no later than 11 am on Sunday – earlier if possible.
How are you doing answering this past week’s
question of the week?
How willing are we to respond to God’s daily call and how quickly will I respond: Here I am, Lord, send me as your messenger?
