Bill Berger.org

Hey, All Saints!

A few thoughts:

#1 - I am grateful for All Saints Church and it's mission. (help the people of Seattle grasp the abundant life of Christ) I am proud of the fact that we can have healthy dialogue about various cultural issues and our church is able to digest them and ask good questions about them. I enjoyed Jim Henderson and his interview with our own Kaye Straight. I am so happy that women in leadership is not an issue for All Saints. I am happy that we can empower people to be on the mission of God. Thank you Jim for the challenge and encouragement. Thank you Kaye for your strength and courage.

#2 - Serving in Seattle. We are praying and designing the summer to be a time to serve our city, neighborhoods and friends. I am convinced of this, you are never more like Jesus when you are serving. It is so vital that we make this normal in our church culture. Let's do more than talk about it, let's find places to serve and give. Here is where you can get started.

#3 - We are starting a new series called After Eden, this Sunday. This series will be a dialogue about biblical sexuality, singleness and marriage. There is so much of this being talked about right now in our culture. It is important, as a Christ follower, to have a healthy perspective and conviction about all 3 of these. Let me say this, I am NO EXPERT. I am a teacher and a pastor and I want our church to be able to have conversations that are healthy regarding these subjects. We will have to sift through perspective, conviction, and absolutes. It will definitely stir you up a bit. What I mean by that is this, it should challenge you and encourage you. That is my goal. We will have a forum on Sunday, June 3rd at 6pm to discuss questions you may have. Fun, right?

#4 - We have various places for you to get info. We have a website, an app and a facebook page. Check them all out!

#5 - Please join us for prayer on Wedensday, May 30 at 7pm. We are going to pray for our city, our church, our neighborhoods and our friends. There are 560,000 people in Seattle, It is our hope to reach 2% of that population or (roughly, 12,000 people!). Let's do whatever we need to do to serve and make room for them!!!

I am so proud to be the pastor at All Saints! Thank you!!!!

Praying for Seattle

I am praying for Seattle today. Please join me.

Hey, All Saints!

I am late in getting this out, I apologize. I do have a few things to share with you:

#1  Easter Sunday was incredible on many levels. It was good seeing many people I have never met before. It was fun having a house full of people! I thoroughly enjoyed the music, Jimmy and Rachel Nichols did such a great job. I am so proud of All Saint'ers, I noticed how every person was treated as a wonderful and precious gift from God and I am quite sure Jesus was made even more popular. 

#2 I am so proud of all the incredible volunteers at All Saints! We had so many people step up to serve every person that was in attendance. I am grateful for the incredible passion and attitude of our entire team. Thank you all so much!

#3 An update from our "one day's wage to feed the world" campaign. We are currently at $9808, our goal is $10k. I am so proud of our church, this is what makes a church "famous." They will know we follow Jesus by our love...in serving and giving. Thank you, All Saints!

#4 Let me introduce Warren Kinser, our most recent staff hire. Warren is coming on to be our associate pastor. He will over see our assimilation system and help with organizational management. Warren is a great guy who is very gifted. We are very fortunate to have him on board. Take some time to "Welcome Warren" this Sunday.

#5 This Sunday we will continue our look into I Corinthians 15. We are going to look at the apostle Paul and his amazing transformation. We can learn alot from Paul and what it means to become a Christ follower, also get some glimpses into what that might look like for you and me and our friends. I am really excited about teaching this Sunday.

#6 Don't forget to download the All Saints Church APP. At last check we had 522 launches and 416 downloads. The team from subsplash has spoiled us rotten. You can get it here

#7 I am so grateful and honored to pastor at All Saints Church. I truly believe we have what it takes to show Seattle how much Jesus loves this city. Let's pray, serve and give extravagantly to do whatever it takes to demonstrate the abundant life of Jesus. Our goal isn't to make All Saints better, our goal is to make Seattle better. Let's get to work!

See you Sunday!

Compassion for the City

"When he approached Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it." Luke 19:41

Jesus wept over Jerusalem because he knew they were going to reject the King and his Kingdom. The city was on a collison course, and Jesus knew it. The people were doing whatsoever they wanted, looking for the freedom to be. The only way Jesus could do something about it was to go to the cross and die for them.

Today, over 2000 years later, we have the same problems. People are trying to do whatsoever to find an identity and a way that is suitable and satisfactory. As a pastor in the city, I want the same compassion as Jesus, I want my heart to break for the people that live in my city. Jesus didn't engage in silly philosophical arguements, he didn't draw a line in his fundamentalist sand box, he drew the people in by his love, grace and mercy. He was compelling because he was completely true to his character. As we enter into the Easter weekend, I think it is vital that we weep (with compassion and love) over our cities and neighborhoods.

I came across this great video that tells the story of people in Richmond, Virginia who have this same compassion for their city. You can see it here.

Take some time today to pray for Seattle or whatever city you live in. Pray for your neighborhood and your neighbors. Look for opportunities to be compelling, and above all, serve.

Hey, All Saints!

A have a few things to share with you today:

1. I am so grateful to Craig Mathison who did a fantastic job speaking this past Sunday. What a gift he is to our church and soon, to the people of the United Kingdom. I so appreicate Craig's insight and wisdom on the things of God and how we relate to Jesus. Thank you, Craig! Keep up with Craig here

2. This Sunday is Palm Sunday, the text we are working from is I Corinthians 15:1-11 this is going to be incredible. Here are a few hilites:

- We are offered new life overcoming fear, anxiety, anger and depression.

- Whether you are a skeptic, doubter or believer, the basics of  faith are so important to grasp the work of Jesus in our lives.

- The resurrection life comes as we are receptive to the truth.

3. We are putting the final touches on our Good Friday gathering, April 6, 7-8:15 pm. It will be a time of contemplation, music, communion and prayer. We also have something for our children, our City Kids team has put together a kid version of Good Friday that is incredibly creative and a great learning experience. I pray you make time for this important gathering at the end of Holy Week.

4. Trust me, Easter Sunday is going to be celbration day! We are excited about DAY 3, the day of hope, resurrection, and joy. We are going to learn about the fact of Jesus' resurrection and also the fact that it is a life changer. We have been praying for friends and family to be in attendance that day, we are expecting a full house! I would ask that our regulars make it a point to come to the 9:30 gathering to make room for many guests that will be at the 11. Please continue your 3-1-1 (3 people, 1 day a week, 1 minute a day). Our goal is to meet 50 new people who have never been to a church before, be our guests on Easter Sunday. 

5. I am so excited to tell you this, at this point in our One Day to Feed the World campaign we have raised $5513.40! I am so proud of my church! All Saints is such a generous community and I am grateful! Thank you!

6. Let's remember this every Sunday, every person that walks through the door is a gift from God. Every person has a story that has the potential of connecting to God's story. Let's treat each person as a gift and show the city of Seattle that we care and mean it! 

See you Sunday!

 

What's your mission?

This Sunday we are working out of Genesis 3. The questions of the day are: what are you living for? What is your mission? Not necessarily your life statement, but the very thing that motivates you and gives you passion and joy? Does your mission in life prepare you for anything?

It is a lie to to think we can decide our own meaning. This is what culture says, we can decide our own way of life. I'm not sure that is really true. Jesus made it his mission to crush the lie that we are all we need. When our mission is serving Jesus, we discover exactly who we are.

Yeah, you should probably come check this out.

See you Sunday.

 

 

What's holding you back?

I'm ready for the New Year. I'm always ready for change. I think I am odd that way, but change is what keeps things interesting and fresh. 2011 was a year for change for me and All Saints. It has been fun and difficult; exciting and mundane; personal and corporate; some gains and some losses. I am excited about how change will affect the future and what new stories will be created from it.

I am grateful that God's love doesn't change inspite of circumstances, pain, good news and loss. Here are a few reminders:

"Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations" Deuteronomy 7:9

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God." I John 4:7

"The steadfast love of God endures all the day." Psalm 52:1

As much as change has occured in 2011, you can count on change in 2012. However, the love of Jesus will remain something that you can depend on, lean into and embrace. Don't be afraid or worried, Jesus will hold you steady through the storms.

A few reminders:

1. We will be having one gathering on Sunday, (New Years' Day) at 11 am. We look forward to seeing you.

2. We are excited to send a team to El Salvador, January 13-21. Please be in prayer for them as they travel and work with children in San Salvador.

3. Life Groups are about to start! On January 22, we will have a Life Group Fair for you to join one of our many groups that will be offered in a neighborhood near you.

4. Starting on the Mission and Journey classes will start February 1, 2012. We are excited about this spiritual growth class. This  will be a class where you learn spiritual practices and habits as a Christ Follower. Starting on the Mission is where you learn everything about being on mission with All Saints; history, philosophy, beliefs, and your part on the mission.

5. We being a new series on January 8th called, "Living a Generous Life: Generosity happens in the margin." We are really excited about this 6 week series where we will learn about putting margin into our life so we can serve, give and love lavishly and freely. Bring a friend!

Happy New Year!

See you Sunday,

Bill

Vision for Seattle: believe doubt seek style.

As much as I enjoy being in Europe, the bigger excitement is what can and will be done in Seattle! The interesting part for me is how similar Amsterdam/Copenhagen are to Seattle culturally. The people are post modern and post christian, they are indifferent to religion and claim to be spiritual. Jesus is a big question mark for people.

The opportunity to meet with churches that are swimming in these waters is vital for All Saints development as a church for all who believe, doubt and seek in Seattle. I have always wanted All Saints to be a center for spiritual seeking and ultimately encounter the person and work of Jesus Christ. I see All Saints introducing the abundant life of Christ in many ways and forms. One of the ways is for our church to have very thin walls. Huh? What do thin walls mean?

It means that believe doubt seek culture can look like there are no walls. We have never wanted to be a church that is a fortress. We have never wanted to be a big church. We have always wanted to be people who are the church, we look for the imago dei (image of God) in everyone. In other words, the church is in us, we take the church to the people of Seattle.

Our gatherings are amazing, they are wonderful moments of sensing the presence of a real God. They are moments of authenticity and transparency. Those moments are meant to send people to their neighbors, their jobs, and their city to change and influence it.

I am excited for what is to come. I am thankful that God has all the resources, I want to provide him with ideas to utilize those resources. I see the city of Seattle blessed that All Saints Church is part of the culture and I want to be a blessing to the city I love.