At All Souls Church, our mission is to bless,

not stress the church family.

From time to time, we offer events or resources that we hope would bless you, but we never want to bring you stress or a feeling of obligation.

As your pastor, I occasionally present challenges to you, the church family, that could potentially bring great blessing on your lives.

This year I am sending out a challenge to the members and attenders of All Souls Church. It is a challenge that many of you are already fulfilling. Others of you will find it too extreme, constraining or too “religious.” 

But what I am about to write here,

I want FOR you and not FROM you. 

For some of you my challenge is not possible because of a work schedule that is out of your control. I know for these few, you have expressed your desire to fulfill the challenge because it is what you need and who you desire.

Here is the challenge: 

Aim to be at church on Sunday at least 90% of the time.

Here are 3 reasons why:

1.) God commands it and encourages it for his glory and your good. 

“Do not forsake the gathering of the church,

as is the habit of some”

(Hebrews 10:25)

Every time you are there, God ministers to you and shapes you whether you “feel” it or not. The more you are under His Word and participating in the sacrament, the more your life will glorify him in all respects. 

I stand with most of the great theologians and pastors of the historical church in saying -

Weekly church attendance is the most important part of your spiritual life.

Why? 

Because Christianity is corporate, not just individual.

Practicing Christianity without a weekly influence from the body of Christ is like trying to run a marathon with a leg that only works 50% of the time.

2.) Every time you come to church God grants you his good gifts.

"The Sabbath-day is God’s market-day for the week’s provision; wherein he will have us to come to him, and buy of him without silver or money the bread of angels, and water of life, the wine of the sacrament, and milk of the Word to feed our souls; tried gold to enrich our faith, precious eye-salve to heal our spiritual blindness; and white raiment [fine clothing] of Christ’s righteousness, to cover our filthy nakedness."

- Lewis Bayly

If you want God to be active in your

life don’t miss the weekly family

meal where he feeds you

and leads you.

3.) Just by giving your weekly presence to the service you make a huge impact on the church.

When you are not at church your absence is felt even if you don’t interact much with others.

We all can be encouraged when we look around the room and see other believers of all backgrounds and ages singing and worshipping Jesus.

LA is a hard place to be a Christian. Other values and other gods are thrown in our face everyday.

When we pray together, 

sit under the Word together

and take the Communion together

we make a spiritual impact on

each other and our city.

Jesus asks us to make our spiritual life primary.

The challenge is actually from him.

“Will you make me primary in your life?”

“Will you give me your time?” 

“Am I your Lord or are you your own god?”

At the end of the day, we are a church that is all about GRACE. 

I’m not looking for people to be motivated by guilt or shame. No one is going to be keeping a record of your church attendance. And I know that sometimes life happens and you can't be there. 

Instead, see this as an invitation from Christ to come hear him speak to you and be fed by the sacrament. 

As your pastor, I want this for you. I want you to experience the love and goodness of Christ more in 2025 than you have in your whole life!

Grace and peace, 

Pastor Harvey