How should Christians participate in the world? It’s an age-old question. Is it best to keep faith private and separate, to transform the world with the values of faith, or something in between? 

This fall we gathered in the midst of the great pandemic, with an election on the horizon, with the awareness of injustice and division always with us. All of us are wondering what the future will hold. So much is beyond our direct control, and yet each of us is responsible for shaping the experience ahead, beginning with our own hearts and minds. In a time of personal stress and uncertainty from prison, Paul wrote: “but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.” These words and others from Paul allow us to reflect and discover life-giving perspective and grounding, as we press on toward what lies ahead for ourselves, our world and our church.

Can we agree that the old blessing “May you live in interesting times” has been fulfilled? With that interest comes significant change and challenge and also great opportunity. What are the historic realities most impacting you? Discovering new ways of not simply surviving but thriving in interesting times is our calling. Fortunately, it’s something Jesus provided ongoing guidance about.

During this series, we found inspiration in an image from the Southwest. Joshua tree forests tell a story of survival, resilience, and beauty borne through perseverance in the midst of their desert environment. They can provide shelter and nourishment to many living things for up to a thousand years in some cases. 

Throughout the series, we followed Jesus and his disciples through their own interesting times on the way to some wisdom that is still relevant for us today.

Jesus used parables about the nature of faith and the kingdom of God using illustrations of agriculture and growth. We explore three of those stories from our lectionary readings that help us understand and approach our life of faith.

Jesus sent his disciples to bring a message of life and healing to the world, but he prepared them for the adversity they would face. No great mission or action worth our attention comes without adversity. In this series, Jesus prepares us for that reality and provides some practices to help us experience life despite it. 

The disciples had to find a way forward in the days after Jesus' death and resurrection, when all that they knew changed in a moment. Join us as we find our way and discover God's continuing presence even in uncertain times.

All Saints’ new vision paints a picture of where we will be in five years. It envisions making a relevant impact by creating increased connections in our local community. It articulates the need for all of us to engage in a spiritual journey or process and tend to the ongoing task of cultivating healthy souls, in connection to Christ. It challenges us to connect with the next generation and invest in children, youth and their families. Finally, it invites each of us  to make meaningful connections between faith and life as we act upon our unique purpose to serve. 

Our world is filled with restless hopes and needs. Getting to a place where our yearnings are fulfilled requires us to venture out from where we are. It starts when we light a path for ourselves and others to the place we need to go. At the start of the year we trace the first steps of one of the greatest movements in history—the beginnings of Jesus’ ministry, which brought a new vision filled with hope. Come and explore how you can help light a path toward a more hopeful future for yourself, your family and our communities.   

We discover true life through the one true God. As our lives transition with the seasons, we are reminded once again that our deepest yearnings and aspirations rest in the God of all creation. As the church year draws to a close, we come back to focus on our center and the hope of our lives and all the world.

We live in uncertain times. We find plenty of reasons for concern. Some of our fears are legitimate. But, fear can also drive people to bad decisions on one hand, or inaction on the other. We’ll use Adam Hamilton’s book, Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times, as the backdrop for this five-week sermon series.

We’ll find encouragement to break through our fears like disappointing others, failure, health, loneliness, insignificance, aging and the challenges of our time. By doing so, we can become the presence of Jesus, and a light in our relationships, our community and our world.  

What's on your storyboard? Filmmakers create storyboards to capture the key moments in a story. The same could be done with our lives. If you were going to tell the story of your life, what are the inspiring scenes you would include, especially those where you felt spiritually engaged? The key conversations or relationships that were formative? The moments where you were challenged or had to stretch, whether welcomed or not? As you look at your life, can you see where God has been present? Have you experienced grace and discovered the joy and wisdom of faith? What does your next chapter look like?

Close out the summer on Sundays at All Saints as we share one of our favorite series of the year. Have you ever sat through a movie and seen connections to Christian faith? Join us as we explore four unique movies and share our takeaways for living our faith in the world today.

Join us for a mid-summer series exploring the earliest writing in the New Testament — St. Paul's letter to the Christians in Thessalonica. Faith, hope, and love are hallmarks of authentic faith and they marked the lives of the church there, even as they faced uncertainties and a lack of clarity about their situation.

“We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted
by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”      

– 1 Thessalonians 1:3

Summer in Minnesota is a great time to air out the house. New homes are built to be air tight and, although they’re efficient, the air inside gets stale. Our lives, our relationships and our faith can feel the same way. We live in controlled, comfortable and efficient environments that may prevent us from experiencing the fresh air we need to thrive. God challenges us to crack open our tightly controlled lives and faith to let the Spirit in.                               

From the first sound of a parent’s voice to a newborn, to the sounds we make on social media and in late night conversations with close friends, our voice has an impact.  Our voice can be calming, encouraging, alarming, shaming or pleasantly memorable.  The tone of our voice is shaped by those we listen to.  In this series, we listen carefully to Jesus and how we can develop our own voice in a way that is consistent with the values we embrace.   

Jesus said that those who follow him are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). God’s love and grace, experienced through Jesus, is the source of that light. So, how can we allow God’s light to shine in the darkness we experience today — in our families, in the world and in ourselves? Come together in the weeks leading up to Easter and learn how we can let the light shine. Let there be light!

Jesus begins a movement that unifies people around a common identity. We celebrate what makes us unique, while we also affirm that what brings life is an identity rooted in: principles, commitments and a proper perception of ourselves and others. We’ll explore how our identity holds up under pressure and reflect on the true identity of Jesus. In claiming our deepest identity in Christ, we find the life we long for and the impact we hope to make.

As we move through winter, the mystery and beauty of the Christmas story still fresh, we reflect on the undercurrents of our faith. They are concerns, yearnings, and imaginings that point to something deeper:  Longing for Justice, Thirst for Spirituality, Hunger for Relationship and Beauty in Creation. They point to the presence and work of God. If you’re seeking to better understand why you are drawn to faith and yet remain restless at moments, join us. 

Faith is a series of awakenings. It’s not a single moment. It unfolds as we live through new experiences and situations.  It requires time for reflection on our past, present and future… on those who’ve come before us, our capacity, what’s truly important and where God is leading us. It invites us to look to both unseen spiritual realities as well as the very tangible and present needs before us. Faith in Christ draws us to this intersection where personal and communal transformation is not only possible, but experienced in Christ. 

Have you ever heard Christians say things that don't sound quite right? Sometimes we repeat phrases that have the ring of truth, but upon further examination aren't helpful. During this series we explore some of those phrases that might be best dropped. 

We are the Church. The Church is not a building or an institution. It's a movement of people centered on the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We believe that we are called to something bigger than ourselves and beyond ourselves. And yet, that mission begins here. Because of you, this mission handed off to us 2000 some years ago continues on. Jesus Christ is the light of the world that offers love, hope and transformational grace for all who will receive it.