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From Pastor Bill...
NOTE: Pastor Bill is on vacation and so for this newsletter, Brian Lee, Media Director at All Saints, has this wonderful (and true) story to share. Pastor Bill will be back later in the week.
It was the week after Christmas. The garbage truck hadn't come for a week or two due to excessive amounts of snow and I had a fair amount of garbage and recycling to take out to the dumpster.
"That's a problem," I said to myself.
The dumpster was overflowing and in my attempt at being environmentally conscious, I wanted to keep the boxes that I had brought the recycling down in so I couldn't just leave it all there. I had to make room in the bins.
As I was cleaning up some of the mess, I noticed a book keenly hidden within the piles of paper and plastic bottles: A Theological Miscellany by T.J. McTavish. Aside from a little water damage on the edges, the book was pristine. It appeared as though it hadn't even been opened.
In the middle of my frustration at having to clean up other people's messes, I stopped and realized, "Who would throw away a book in perfect condition?" So, I picked the book up and carefully studied the front cover, "176 pages of odd, merry, essentially inessential facts, figures, & tidbits about Christianity". Satisfying my curiosity, I opened the book.
On the first blank pages was written, "To Dwane, may you find many of fun hours reading & questioning this book! Happy Birthday, Love Tim, Liz & Mickayla x o x o". My heart sank a little. I began to wonder about Dwane, whom I had never met, as well as the reasons that Tim, Liz and Mickayla chose to give him this book and why Dwane would have discarded it.
There is something deep within me that believes throwing away a book just feels wrong. Whether that book is interesting or agreeable is beside the point. Besides, the book can always be donated, or given to someone else. At the very least, it can be placed in a bookshelf.
Was it that Dwane didn't have room for extra stuff in his home or does he take issue with Jesus and his followers? Maybe he just doesn't see religion as something he needs in his life? The answer eluded me, but for the remainder of the evening I found myself thinking about Dwane, the book, and how it happened that I found this book. I brought the book back inside with me. It was an interesting read, containing everything from different creeds to papal hierarchy to Christian pickup lines.
Was all this a random coincidence? Perhaps this was a "divine appointment?" Honestly, I cannot tell you, but I guess I lean to the latter. You see, after I found the book and the message written inside its front cover, I found myself compelled to pray for Dwane. What to pray, I didn't know, but just to pray.
Through this whole experience, I am learning to ask another important question: How often does Jesus interact with me through the mundane, normal routines of life? How often do I see it? (Okay, so it was two questions,) but through all of this I find myself marveling at the heart of the Father and how He yearns for our hearts. As I sit in amazement of how he relentlessly pursues us, this incites awe within me and I find myself understanding what it means to worship a little more clearly.
There is a quote that says, "Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate."
When I think of the "great works of the Lord," I think of the parting the seas, restoring sight to the blind, and raising the dead. But I find myself more and more, seeing real miracles happening in the lives of people all around me and they are no less valuable than the dead being brought back to life.
When the average Seattlite who has never considered Jesus begins to grasp the depth of Jesus' love and takes a chance - that is a miracle. When another person is brought into your life because their name was written on the inside cover of a book and as a result, it causes you to talk to Jesus about this person, that is also a miracle.
I am inclined to believe that miracles are occurring all around me, right under my nose. Perhaps in trips to the dumpster and little notes written in books we find Jesus doing what he does best-- loving us. Maybe I'm wrong about the need to pray for Dwane, but it keeps nagging at me. I guess if I really thought that it did not matter nor make a difference, I would not keep praying for him. However, I do, and in doing so, I cannot help but ponder "the works of the Lord."
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Service Team Updates
Finances: Giving statements for your 2008 contributions will be sent out within the next few weeks.
Website: Our website is completely built! Our next steps are to make sure we fully understand how to make the most of it, and to start getting creative with it.
Childrens' Ministries: A new format was launched last Sunday for the 11am Children's gathering. This gathering is still for kids age 3 and up and will still start out in Room 102, but the new format will take the lesson of the day and develop it through music, crafts and activities. Initial feedback has been very positive!
Spiritual Formation: Journey: Beginnings will be launched this Sunday, the 11th. There is still room in the Journey class, so if you or someone you know might be interested, you are more than welcome to participate. The class will meet at 9:30am in the loft.
Updated information about life groups and service opportunities will also be released in our new 1+1+1 brochure this Sunday. We will be handing those out with the weekly handout so that everyone receives one. All leaders are asked to wear their name tags this week and be available to answer any questions and help people to get connected.
Speaking: This Sunday Craig Mathison will be continuing our series on Going Deeper, and next Sunday Joe Macias will wrap it up for us.
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All Saints may provide relief to flooded children's center
ll Saints has been contacted by Hilltop Children's Center in Queen Anne to be it's temporary learning space for the next six weeks due to a severe water damage situation caused by a faulty pipe.
The childcare would utilize the downstairs area of the church during the days on Monday to Friday and would work with us to minimize their footprint. Administrators, teachers, and inspectors have visited the church and we are working to prepare the building for this possibility.
Stay tuned for more information.
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And the survey says...
In our desire to continually improve our communications and your overall "church" experience, it is invaluable to us to receive your feedback. We are in the process of developing a survey which we hope you will take the time to complete with your most honest responses. A hard copy of the survey will be inserted into the weekly handouts beginning 1/18 and it will also be available on the website. We really appreciate your help with this!
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The All Saints Newsletter is sent out regularly to the community to engage and inform people of all that takes place through All Saints Church. This and previous issues will soon be available on the All Saints website.
If you have any ideas, submissions, or comments, please send them to life@believedoubtseek.org
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