This Sunday, we will be joined by one of our longtime ministry partners, Men of Nehemiah. As you may know, Men of Nehimiah is a ministry that helps men dealing with drug and alcohol addiction find strength and healing. There will be teaching, testimonials, and special music, all led by men intimately acquainted with their own brokenness, and equally acquainted with God's healing and freeing grace.

+Philip often describes All Saints as a place where no one has to do "image management." This is a church for the broken, the confused, the needy. When we pretend to be otherwise, to "have it all together," we rob both ourselves and our fellow sojourners of experiencing the fullness of God's love and mercy.

“In a futile attempt to erase our past," writes Brennan Manning, "we deprive the community of our healing gift." He goes on to say: "If we conceal our wounds out of fear and shame, our inner darkness can neither be illuminated nor become a light for others.”

I remember vividly the words spoken to me by a friend after church following a sermon in which I shared my own struggle with alcoholism: "I thought I was the only one." That remark was the first step in that individual's journey toward sobriety. Once my friend realized he wasn't alone in his struggle, he felt the freedom to reach out for help.

When we honestly acknowledge our brokenness and need, we create space-both in our own lives and in the lives of others-for God to reveal His love and grace in fresh and powerful ways. And that's exactly what we will do together on Sunday: experience God's love and grace anew!

(With Men of Nehemiah coming, Sunday will be a full house! Please consider trying out the 8am or 11am services!)