The All Saints Women Who Incarnate Christ Educational Forum continues on December 16th at 11:30 AM in the parish hall.

Mystics are persons who, in their ordinary lives, are so interiorly focused that they experience God, not only in times of formal prayer, but throughout the events of each day. God raises up, however, some especially graced mystics to be our mentors and companions in order to empower and encourage us in our spiritual journey. Julian of Norwich and Hildegard of Bingen are among the most famous of such mystics. The presentation will focus on their wonderfully alive and profound spirituality and will give guidelines on how to integrate their spirit and wisdom into our relationship with God, others and ourselves.

Sr. Norma Rocklage, OSF, is the Executive Director for Education Formation Outreach at Marian College. She is a Sister of St. Francis of Oldenburg, Indiana, and holds a M.A. and Ph.D. from St. Louis University. Sr. Norma has experience as an educator, administrator, lecturer, and retreat and spiritual director. Sr. Norma has done postgraduate work in theology at the Weston School of Theology, Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is president of the governing board of Indiana Network for Higher Education Ministries, and Indiana Newman Foundation, and serves on the Brebeuf Jesuit Board of Trustees.

I think we can feel good about the progress our parish has made in taking care of this building. At the same time our programs are strengthening and increasing in number. These are things to feel good about but it isn’t time for complacency.

We all want to see our outreach to the community and each other grow. That requires each of us to be open to thinking about our stewardship in a positive way. Sharing our time, talent, and treasure are all part of ensuring a future for All Saints Parish.

Because it is time to start preparing a budget for next year I need to focus on money this morning.

For half the time that All Saints has existed the operating budget has been subsidized by financial aid from the diocese. Times have changed, the diocese is phasing out the assistance over the next three years, we must take charge of our own finances.

If that sounds daunting think of it this way, we are supporting most of the budget already and the increase in giving needed to be self supporting is doable if we all do our share. We have inspiring examples of people in our parish who are living the parable of the widow’s mite. That means those of us who have been blessed with more financial resources will need to be as generous as possible if we are to reach our goal.

Please come to the Adult Forum next Sunday to see some specifics (not lots of detail) of the budget. I think you will see that if each of us will stretch a little in our individual giving it is within our ability as the All Saints family to fund a balanced budget that will support program enrichment and growth.

Please join us in making the future of our community even better than the achievements of the first 100 years.

Holy Scripture states, “No one has seen God.” That is true. BUT, everyone that is in this church heard a call from God today to get up, got showered and dressed and walked through those doors. Now that call probably sounded like an alarm clock rather than the deep, resonating bells of a monastery. But, the reality is, no one forced you to be here today. The only people that have to be here today are Fr. Steven and Jason.

I came here today, and I believe you came, because there is something inside of me and something inside each of us that draws us to All Saints. Remember that scripture also says that God often calls us in tiny whispers. God’s call to us is very subtle at times. It is found in the stirring of our heart that says “I have found my spiritual home.” “It feels like I belong here.”

As you made your way here today, you probably passed several churches. I know that it would be closer to home for us to attend Nativity, or St Alban’s or St Matthew’s. But, God has called us here. God has called you here. God calls us to this spiritual home to nurture us, to feed us, to challenge us and to embrace us and provide us respite. So, “No one has seen God,” but each of us has heard God’s call and we have felt God’s embrace in this sacred place.

When Joan and I made a commitment to share our lives together, it was just implied that we would also pay the mortgage, the utility bills and other sundry costs that are a necessary obligation of living in society. In my thinking, the material obligations I have to meet to maintain my physical home are the same material obligations I have to meet to maintain my spiritual home. The one difference, of course, is that the law defines and directs my obligations to society and love defines and directs my obligations to All Saints.

When I write my pledge to All Saints each week, on the surface, it looks no different than when I write out my check for the mortgage. But, there is a qualitative difference, not only in words, but in motivation. A pledge is a vow, a promise, an assurance and a witness to what I believe about this place and my relationship to God. Every time I write a check to All Saints, it is a “thank You” to God for leading me here, for nurturing, and challenging, and embracing me through the liturgy and the people of God in this community. Each one of us was loved into being by God and led by God to the doors of All Saints. And the question the Psalmist asks is also our question today, “How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good God has done for me?” (Psalm 116 v. 12).