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From the Pastor
Three words that change a city
by Joel L. Domingo, Executive Pastor
I read a story the
other day that reminded me of the simplicity of the message of Jesus:
The great apostle,
John, was once invited to speak at a church in Ephesus when he was very
old. People highly anticipated the message they were to hear from the
only disciple still alive. When he rose to speak, he just said these
words: "Love each other", and sat down again. This was his grand message,
the message summing up a lifetime of being a servant of Jesus.
Why is it that it is
so easy to make this simple message more complex with our lives? Have we
made the mission of following Jesus so dependent upon our ideas about social
causes, theological positions, dogmatic statements, or even political
concerns?
This is not to say that those things are not important, because
they are, but it underscores the reminder that the Church (big "C") does not
necessarily have a mission in so much as it is a mission. How we express our lives as a community
should based upon how we organize as a community, which is in ultimately rests
upon the person and work of Jesus.
Individually, this
means that what you do and how you live that out (expression) is based upon who
you are (impression), and who you are is defined by Jesus. It has been
said that if you want to know what real love is, then look at the life of
Jesus. It is truly beautiful when we realize that as we are rooted in
Jesus, it affects everything we do, and one cannot help but express that
outwardly to others.
Christ followers
are called to be a "sent" people. This means that we are called to Jesus in order to be a blessing to others. As we
are sent out into our various communities and contexts, could you imagine what that would mean for Queen
Anne, Seattle, and the world? Imagine a
group of people, truly being sent to love, serve and give because it is a
simple expression of who they are. Could that change a city, just those three words: "Love each other." How
powerful would that be to love each other at home, at your workplace, at your school, on the bus, to those who you encounter walking around downtown or in your own neighborhood. My prayer would
be that this idea of being sent and truly loving each other resonates with each and every one of us.
This upcoming
Sunday, we launch the summer season of Life Groups. There are a variety
to choose from and I encourage you to get involved in one. Better yet, I encourage you to bring someone new along with you.
What better way to explore together with others who will encourage, support, challenge with you what it means to be a Christ follower and how that message is always an invitation to those that are not part of the
community. It is why we exist as a
church, and it is being sent out to with that call to love each other, one
person at a time. That's mission.
I'll see you Sunday.
Grace to you.
Pastor Joel
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This Sunday...
ALIVE!
Colossians 2:6-15
 This passage in Colossians deals with the amazing knowledge that Jesus Christ the Lord gives me life. I am fully alive by seeing him as THE Christ, The Lord, and as Jesus the God-man. We can see him as the one whom everything is subject to. What a relief to live with that knowledge - everything is subject to Jesus. There is nothing higher or greater than him.
This is what gives us life! Jesus makes us fully alive by transforming our hearts into his. We are not at all rescued by religion or some kind of mix and match philosophy that makes us feel better, but by the fact that Christ paid a debt that we cannot pay. It was "nailed to the cross." (2:14)
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Summer Life Group Launch!
This Sunday
The summer season of life groups starts the week of May 31st, and sign-ups begin this Sunday! Our summer life group line-up has something for everyone so this Sunday, check out our latest 1+1+1 catalog or www.believedoubtseek.org to find a group that's right for you. You'll be able to sign up at All Saints using a card inserted in your Sunday hand-out or you can do so right on the website. For questions, contact Stacy Baas at lifegroups@believedoubtseek.org.
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Just so you know...
All Saints Volunteers:
- Leaders@7 - this Tuesday from 7-9pm at All Saints. A time for vision casting and touching bases. If you serve at All Saints, this meeting is mandatory. *Childcare will be provided.
- Volunteer Appreciation Night - Friday, June 5th. This is our opportunity to show our appreciation for our volunteers with an evening of free bowling, food, awards, and fun.
Web Team: A team is coming together to help develop the creative design aspect of the All Saints website and assist in keeping the site updated, helpful and appealing!
Children's Ministries: There will be a mandatory meeting for Children's MInistries volunteers this Sunday at 12:30pm in the multipurpose room. If you have considered joining the kid's team, you are welcome to participate!
Youth: The Amazing Race event for youth last Saturday was a blast! 8 young people spent the afternoon racing all over Seattle to places indicated by clues they found.
Registration packets for the Annual Youth Beach Retreat are now available at the concierge desk. If you know a young person in middle school or high school that might enjoy spending a week on the Oregon Coast growing closer to Jesus, please feel free to pick up a packet for them! Any questions can be directed to: youth@believedoubtseek.org
Fall Launch! Yes, it's still May, but we're already getting excited about our Fall Launch on September 27th! The summer is going to be amazing as we continue our study of Colossians, roll out our amazing line up of summer life groups and look forward to our Summer Baptism and Picnic at Golden Gardens on August 30th. Then come September 27th we'll be jumping into our Fall quarter in a BIG way!
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All Saints News is sent out regularly to the community to engage and inform people of all that takes place through All Saints Church. This and previous updates are 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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Free Espresso!!!
Turn in a completed info card to the Beanaddiction Cafe and receive a beverage of your choice FREE!
(Info cards are inserted weekly into the Sunday handout and are also available at the concierge desk or beside the offering boxes at the back of the auditorium. They're an easy way to ask questions, pursue an interest, request prayer, or otherwise connect with All Saints staff!)
Cafe Hours: Sunday 9:20-11am
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