The weekly Newsletter of
ALL SOULS ECC
A Welcoming Family of Faith!

WELCOME to our visitor and new parishioners. We have some new faces joining us for worship! Come join us this Sunday as we welcome new members to the All Souls Family!

By popular demand, our first ever BINGO NIGHT Pot Luck is coming up on February 18 – we hope to see you there!

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 listed 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 the light of Christ’s presence in me bring light to the darkness of racism, fear, hunger, oppression, and other evils in the world? How can I be a lamp on a lampstand?

Isaiah 58:7-10
Psalm 112:4-91
Corinthians 2:1-5
Matthew 5:13-16

MATTHEW 5:15-16

You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father.”

This may be one of the first verses you learned in Sunday school. No doubt you sang the song: This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. Jesus said that we (His disciples) are the light of the world. We must not hide that light under a bushel or in a church building. We must let it shine. How will people see that light? Through our good works.

What does Jesus mean by light? Jesus also calls Himself “the light of the world.” John calls Him “the life that is the light of men,” “the light that shines in the darkness” (John 1:4-5). The light in us is His light, the indwelling Christ, the Holy Spirit within us. The apostle Paul speaks of “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4). We have that light shining through our lives if our actions reflect the nature of Christ-His love, compassion, and forgiveness. His light shines through our attitudes, words, and deeds. When people see that our lives have been changed so that we have Jesus’ values and see the power of God at work in us, they will agree that we do have a great Savior. When they see redeemed people, they are more inclined to believe that we have a Redeemer. The Christlike life is the platform on which individual testimony becomes convincing.

The alternative is for the Christian to live in the dark. Scripture teaches that “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1 John 1:5-6). If no light shines from your life, either you have no relationship with Christ or you are bringing dishonor to Him. It is a sad thing for someone to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and continue to live an openly sinful life. It brings disrepute to Christ and the gospel. It is a stumbling block for unbelievers. It is certainly not effective in convincing anyone that Christ has the power to transform lives. Our responsibility as disciples and evangelists is to have lives so transformed by the Word and the inward presence of Christ that everyone can see His light reflected in our acts of kindness.

edited from John MacArthur

THIS SUNDAY – BLESSING OF THE THROAT

FEAST OF ST. BLAISE

Patron of throat illnesses, animals, wool combers, and wool trading

Little is known about Saint Blaise prior to his mention in a court physician’s medical journal. The physician, Aëtius Amidenus, spoke of Saint Blaise’s aid in treating objects caught in the throat. He was also mentioned in the book of Acts, where he was aided by animals and treated people and beasts alike.
Saint Blaise is believed to begin as a healer then, eventually, became a “physician of souls.” He then retired to a cave, where he remained in prayer. People often turned to Saint Blaise for healing miracles.

In 316, the governor of Cappadocia and of Lesser Armenia, Agricola, arrested then-bishop Blaise for being a Christian. On their way to the jail, a woman set her only son, who was chocking to death on a fish bone, at his feet.

Blaise cured the child, and though Agricola was amazed, he could not get Blaise to renounce his faith. Therefore, Agricola beat Blaise with a stick and tore at his flesh with iron combs before beheading him.

At the end of service on February 5, you are welcome to come forward for a “blessing of the throat.”

February 18

POT LUCK AND BINGO NIGHT!

6:00 pm – Pine Room

Friends and Family Welcome!

Bring your favorite foods, snacks, or deserts for Pot Luck to enjoy with your All Souls Family.

Then enjoy a fun filled night of BINGO! Win prizes of all sorts!

(Prize donations are also accepted)

SAVE THE DATES

2017 POT LUCKS & Other Socials

Please mark your calendar for these dates in 2017! Pot lucks all begin at 6:00 pm in the Pine Room (basement of Calvary).

Themes and/or activities will be announced for each month – so watch for those in the Good News! If you have ideas for activities, games, or themes for the pot lucks, please contact Wendy or any board member!

• Saturday, January 21
• Saturday, February 18
• Saturday, March 18 – BOWLING
• Saturday, April 8
• Saturday, May 20
• Wednesday, May 24 – (Friendly’s Family Fun Night & Fundraiser)
• Saturday, June 20
• Saturday, September 23 – ANNUAL PICNIC
• Saturday, October 21
• Sunday, November 5 – Annual Meeting & Potluck
• December 9 – Cookie Bake

PIANO RECITAL @ NATIVITY – February 5

On Sunday, February 5th, Gretchen Hull will play a piano recital at Nativity Lutheran Church, in Reading.

Gretchen is a doctoral student at Temple University, who focuses her studies on the music of Norway! This recital is part of her concert tours as she travels on the East and West coast of the country!

Come, enjoy!

What: Piano recital with refreshments before and after the concert!
When: February 5th, 12.30
Where: Nativity Lutheran Church
1501 N13th street
Reading, PA 19560
*Use the Amity Street Entrance

A $10.00 donation towards Nativity’s mortgage would be appreciated.

How are you doing answering this past week’s question of the week?
Today’s Beatitudes are the true test of the disciple. Do the words I hear in church today remain there? How can I allow God’s grace to work in me so that I begin to live the Beatitudes?