In preparation for All Saints Sunday, I ordered 120 taper candles to light during worship as we remembered the people of faith who have died, yet who are still present with us in the one body of Christ throughout every time and place.
They showed up melted together thanks to the November Texas heat. As I scrambled to gather other candles to use, I also realized that these many candles, now melded together as one, were the perfect representation of the communion of saints.
In Christ, all of us have been bound up together, united as one body with many members. Looking closely, all 120 candles were individually visible, and yet they were unbreakably linked together as one.
Our Lutheran view of sainthood reminds us that all of us are saints, not just those we would call heroes of the faith from long ago. You are a saint. You are an example of faith active in love for God and for neighbor. People are looking to your example of what it means to live as a follower of Jesus.
You, my sibling in Christ, are an example of faith to me. You teach me what it means to live God’s call. I think of all of you saints at Spirit in the Hills.
- You who see a need the congregation has and set to work to meet it inspire me to be on the lookout for where God is calling me to meet needs – a new sound system so that we can work to better hear one another when we are gathered, a revamped children’s area to make more space for our youngest members, those of you who are willing to serve on council and lead our congregation.
- The immense generosity with which you share your time and your resources reminds me that when we are filled up with God’s grace we cannot help but give generously of ourselves.
- The joy you find and share even in a chaotic world is light for the world that shines in the darkness.
- You who gather together with people of different backgrounds, points of view, political leanings, ages, life stages, or anything else we would typically use to divide ourselves are a living example of what it means to be the communion of saints here and now, living as one in love and in Christ.
On All Saints Day and every day, I give thanks for you, dear saints.
Continue to be you.
Blessings on your week,
Pastor Drew