Reflections
On Sunday we will celebrate the lives of the saints of God, those known and famous, and those whose witness has been more intimate and personal to us. Each has in his/her own way been an instrument of God’s grace in our lives.
We’ll be singing two of my favorite hymns: “I Sing a Song of the Saints of God”- a hymn that evokes in me memories of my youth choir singing those words in the midst of my father’s civil rights leadership in the 1950’s and 1960’s:
“They loved their Lord, so dear, so dear, and his love made them strong;
And they followed the right, for Jesus sake, the whole of their good lives long.
And one was a soldier, and one was a priest…”
The other hymn is one that has been sung at many funerals of my personal saints,
“For all the Saints”, and always touches me in a place beyond words where I feel enormous gratitude for what they have given me:
“Thou wast their rock, their fortress and their might:
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, the one true light…”
This second hymn goes on to say something that is so terribly important for me/ us to remember:
“O bless communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in thee, for all are thine…”
There is an eternal communion with those who have gone before us and those who will follow. It is a part of the mysterious reality of our celebration of the Holy Eucharist that we believe that we are joined at the altar “with Angels and Archangels and all the company of heaven…”. We are not, nor will we ever be, separated from those who have been the bearers of God’s love. In “church speak” we call it the “Communion of Saints”, but our heart knows its truth even if we don’t have the theological language.
And so on All Saints Sunday, as we baptize Dawn Denham and Townsend Harlow into this fellowship, we will remind ourselves of those who have touched us in years past- and our unique place in this extraordinary story of hope and courage and love. Alleluia!
Other Matters of Importance:
Prayers and Pledge Cards-
On this All Saints Sunday, if you have personal saints that you would like to be remembered by name during our Prayers of the People, please write their names on the prayer list in the rear of the church.
Also, this will be our formal Ingathering of our financial pledge commitment cards for 2025. The Mission Committee will, of course, accept your pledge commitments at any time, but Sunday gives us a special liturgical opportunity to offer “ourselves, our souls, our bodies” for the ministry of Nativity for the coming year.
November 10: “Friend Sunday”-
While our Eucharistic liturgy is beautiful, it can also be very intimidating to those unfamiliar with its language and customs. Thus, I will be- in place of a sermon-doing a teaching on the liturgy that should be helpful to those who are both attracted to, and intimidated by, our worship. Invite a friend who might be searching for a spiritual home to come to worship with you that day. I will also have a very accessible book on the Holy Eucharist to give to those who would like to dig deeper.
Lunch for Those in Jail: November 23-
Laura Pitre is coordinating our new ministry to those in our local jail. After lengthy conversations with the Sheriff’s Department we have decided that our first formal outreach will be to prepare a home cooked meal to be delivered to the jail on Saturday, November 23. There will be a sign up sheet in the back of the church for specific dishes that will be needed for this lunch. Help us launch this new ministry with gifts from your kitchen!
“I was in prison, and you visited me…” Jesus
See you Sunday!
Blessings and Peace,
Duncan
(601)260-1937
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