All Saints Lutheran Church, San Diego

6355 Radcliffe Drive, San Diego, California 92122
Church: 858.453.3595 • allstsofc@sbcglobal.net
Preschool: 858.453.5340 • allstspre@sbcglobal.net
September, 2017

FROM THE PASTOR...

Dear Christian Friends,

Like many, I lament the deep wounds in the body politic that divide our society. It seems that the ‘high and stormy gale’ of anger and accusation will overwhelm those who desire to live quiet and peaceable lives, insofar as it depends on them. And then comes a real hurricane.

I don’t usually spend a lot of time following the weather. (Part of that is living in San Diego—What kind of a day is it going to be? Nice.) But I have been riveted by reports of Hurricane Harvey hitting Texas again and again. I can’t really wrap my mind around 50 inches of rain in just a couple of days.

Natural disasters bring out the best and the worst in us humans. They provide us with object lessons of the Lutheran anthropological insight that we are simul justus et peccator, at the same time righteous and sinful. The sinfulness is evident in the price-gouging that was occurring before the storm even hit, and there will probably be looting once the waters subside enough to facilitate it.

But even more striking are the occasions of people reaching out to help their neighbors, taking no account of their race, class, gender, sexual orientation, political affiliation or correctness. People in a tough situation helping their neighbors. People in a tough situation not being picky about who it is that is helping them. Loving their neighbors—as themselves.

There’s a lesson here for our lives after the waters subside and we return to the elite infighting of the chattering classes and the high-horse lectures about the brazen immorality of the other side. When a sea of troubles rises around us, wounds that are not easily healed can be ignored for a time while we attend to the more basic needs of the human community.

And perhaps the selfless caring encountered in facing dreadful times together can work some healing. Because helping one another out, facing a tough situation together, is the real moral high ground, and we can only seize it together. Please pray for the people of the Texas Gulf Coast.

Grace and peace,
 
Paul Bieber+, STS, Pastor

ANNUAL BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS – SAVE THE DATE!

October 1st is the Sunday nearest St. Francis' Day (October 4). Please save the date for the Annual Blessing of the Animals
at 6:00 p.m. on the Patio

Please visit our Liturgical Ministries page
for schedules of acolytes, deacons, lectors, offertory giftbearers, and coffee hour setup hosts.

What's happening at All Saints? News & Notes is our online newsletter!

We Invite You to Join Us!

Sunday Eucharist – 9:00 am
We regard the Church's liturgy as the birthright of the baptized and invite Christians of all ages
to worship as they are able. At the end of the liturgy on the first Sunday of the month,
we encourage children to join the pastor for a children's sermon.

Sunday School and Adult Forum – 10:30 am

Confirmation Classes – 11:15 am every other Sunday

Wednesday Worship – 7:00 pm
      • Evening Prayer (Vespers) during Daylight Savings Time
      • Compline (Night Prayer) during Standard Time
      • Brief Eucharist when a Feast Day falls during the week


All Saints is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and its Pacifica Synod.

We are also a member congregation of the Community Christian Service Agency.


Website most recently updated on Friday of Pentecost XII – 01 September 2017.