September Happenings

Bible Study

Join Pastor Pokora for Bible Study this evening at 7 pm (via Zoom). E-mail Pastor Pokora (richpokora@yahoo.com) to request the meeting id and password needed to join.

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 15th.

Food Pantry & Clothing Closet Open on Saturdays

The Food Pantry & Clothing Closet are open every Saturday from 11 am – 1 pm, even holiday weekends. Several volunteers are needed while the food pantry and clothing closet are open to the public. The food pantry & clothing closet serve about 125 families each and every week.

Children’s Sunday School

Calling all youth! Children’s Sunday school will begin this Sunday, September 17th at 9:00 am in the library. As previously announced, Sunday school lessons will be on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sundays of the month and Sunday school activities/service projects will be on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month.

 Contact Amanda or Marilyn if you would like to help teaching Sunday school and/or helping with activities/service projects.

Proclamation Ministry Team

Adult Forum

You are invited to join Pastor and Roger at 9 am in the gathering space for an Adult Forum for the next four weeks (September 17, September 24, October 1, & October 8). During these four weeks the focus will be Stewardship (see the article below).

Worship Information

All are welcome to join us for contemporary worship and fellowship time at All Saints Lutheran Church at 10 am!

Introduction for the 16th Sunday after Pentecost

In Sunday’s second reading Paul questions why we judge one another, since we all stand before the judgment of God. Yet we do sin against one another, and Jesus’ challenge that we forgive seventy-seven times reveals God’s boundless mercy. When we hear the words of forgiveness in worship and sign ourselves with the cross, we are renewed in baptism to be signs of reconciliation in the world.

Scripture (two (2) read Sunday morning)

Genesis 50:15-21 – Joseph reconciles with his brothers

Psalm 103:[1-7] 8-13 – Lord, you are full of compassion and mercy. (Ps. 103:8)

Romans 14:1-12 – Accepting diversity in the community of faith

Matthew 18:21-35 – A parable of forgiveness in the community of faith

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.