Preparation for the Food Pantry & Clothing Closet
Volunteers are needed to pick up food from River Bend Food Bank at 8:30 am and to unload/put away food at All Saints Lutheran Church at 9:30 am on Friday, September 1st.
Food Pantry & Clothing Closet
The Food Pantry & Clothing Closet are open every Saturday from 11 am – 1 pm, even holiday weekends. Volunteers are needed while the food pantry and clothing closet are open to the public.
Information for Sunday, September 3rd
All are welcome to join us for contemporary worship and fellowship time at All Saints Lutheran Church!
Ardor Rehearsal – 9 am
Worship – 10 am
Fellowship Time/Refreshments – following worship
Introduction for the 14th Sunday after Pentecost
The prophet Jeremiah speaks of the incurable wound of his suffering yet finds in God’s words the delight of his heart. When Peter doesn’t grasp Jesus’ words about suffering, Jesus tells the disciples they will find their lives in losing them. Such sacrificial love is described by Paul when he urges us to associate with the lowly and not repay evil with evil. In worship we gather as a community that we might offer ourselves for the sake of our suffering world.
Scripture (only two (2) used Sunday morning)
Jeremiah 15:15-21: God fortifies the prophet against opposition
Psalm 26:1-8: Your love is before my eyes; I have walked faithfully with you. (Ps. 26:3)
Romans 12:9-21: Live in harmony
Matthew 16:21-28: The passion prediction and rebuke to Peter
Theme & Write Up for the Season of Pentecost Autumn/November
written by Matt Reece, Director of Music Ministries
Open our hearts, Open our eyes, Open our hands
As we approach the end of the Pentecost season, our worship theme is “Open our hearts, Open our eyes, Open our hands.” This theme will guide us in a journey of spiritual growth and interconnectedness. Rooted in the teachings of Christ and the imagery of the vineyard, we will explore the transformative power of opening ourselves to God and others, fostering spiritual relationships characterized by understanding, forgiveness, and compassion.
Through our worship, we will reflect on the metaphor of the vineyard, understanding ourselves as branches of the same vine tended by God. This imagery will remind us of our interconnectedness and shared dependence on God’s love and grace. As we open our hearts, we will cultivate a disposition of humility and non-judgment, recognizing that every individual is a unique creation of God. By opening our eyes, we will seek to perceive the world with Christ-like compassion, acknowledging the struggles and joys of those around us. As we open our hands, we will embrace the transformative power of forgiveness and extend kindness to others, nurturing the spiritual relationships that bind us in the shared journey of faith. In this season, we will strive to embody Christ’s teachings by becoming vessels of His love and grace, fostering unity and renewal within our faith community and beyond.
By embodying these principles, we will actively participate in the flourishing of God’s Kingdom here on Earth, creating an environment of love, compassion, and grace that extends far beyond the boundaries of our congregation.
Labor Day
Labor Day is Monday, September 4th. Please be safe as you celebrate with your family and friends.
Why Do We Celebrate Labor Day?
Labor Day, an annual celebration of workers and their achievements, originated during one of American labor history’s most dismal chapters.
In the late 1800s, at the height of the Industrial Revolution in the United States, the average American worked 12-hour days and seven-day weeks in order to eke out a basic living. Despite restrictions in some states, children as young as 5 or 6 toiled in mills, factories and mines across the country, earning a fraction of their adult counterparts’ wages.
People of all ages, particularly the very poor and recent immigrants, often faced extremely unsafe working conditions, with insufficient access to fresh air, sanitary facilities and breaks.
As manufacturing increasingly supplanted agriculture as the wellspring of American employment, labor unions, which had first appeared in the late 18th century, grew more prominent and vocal. They began organizing strikes and rallies to protest poor conditions and compel employers to renegotiate hours and pay.
Many of these events turned violent during this period, including the infamous Haymarket Riot of 1886, in which several Chicago policemen and workers were killed. Others gave rise to longstanding traditions: On September 5, 1882, 10,000 workers took unpaid time off to march from City Hall to Union Square in New York City, holding the first Labor Day parade in U.S. history.
The idea of a “workingmen’s holiday,” celebrated on the first Monday in September, caught on in other industrial centers across the country, and many states passed legislation recognizing it. Congress would not legalize the holiday until 12 years later, when a watershed moment in American labor history brought workers’ rights squarely into the public’s view. On May 11, 1894, employees of the Pullman Palace Car Company in Chicago went on strike to protest wage cuts and the firing of union representatives.
On June 26, the American Railroad Union, led by Eugene V. Debs, called for a boycott of all Pullman railway cars, crippling railroad traffic nationwide. To break the Pullman strike, the federal government dispatched troops to Chicago, unleashing a wave of riots that resulted in the deaths of more than a dozen workers.
Who Created Labor Day?
In the wake of this massive unrest and in an attempt to repair ties with American workers, Congress passed an act making Labor Day a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories. On June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed it into law. More than a century later, the true founder of Labor Day has yet to be identified.
Many credit Peter J. McGuire, cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, while others have suggested that Matthew Maguire, a secretary of the Central Labor Union, first proposed the holiday.
from www.history.com
Blood Drive
Grace Lutheran Church invites you to participate in their blood drive Thursday, September 7th from 2 – 6 pm in their multi-purchase room A. See the flyer on the kiosk for more information.
Council Meeting
The next Council Meeting will be Tuesday, September 12th at 6 pm in the church library.
2023-2024 Program Year
The 2023 – 2024 program year is here. Where has summer gone?
Sunday school will begin on September 17th at 9 am in the library. This year Sunday school will meet the 1st, 3rd, & 5th Sundays each month. Currently we are planning to do service/intergenerational activities on the 2nd and 4th Sundays. Stay tuned for more information.
We are also looking for teachers – whether it be for an occasional Sunday or on a routine basis. Contact Amanda or Marilyn.