Across the Pastor's Desk - November 3, 2006

For All The Saints

On November 1 many within the Christian Church celebrated All Saints Day. This day was originally established to remember those martyrs who had died for the faith whose dates of death were unknown. Such a day may have been celebrated in the Church for nearly as long as the celebration of Christmas, which began in the 4^th century. Eventually the date included the remembrance of non-martyrs as well.

On the one hand the purpose of this date is to look back into the life of the faithful and celebrate the witness of those who have gone before. It is an opportunity to see clear examples of faithful witness and service, for some even to the point of death, in the lives of others and to celebrate those lives and the impact that they have had on generations that have followed.

On the other hand it is a time to find strength and encouragement in the faithful live of others so that contemporary believers will be as faithful and committed in their witness and service today. To celebrate the saints is as much about the present and the future as it is about the past. In the broadest sense all believers are at the same time saints and sinners. By the power of God’s Spirit at work in them, people are called to faith and witness as God’s children. No one sets his or her heart on being a saint. It is the Spirit of God that leads and guides and directs and as a result a person is able to live out the life to which he or she has been called. To be a "saint", a believer, is not a matter of pride and an attitude of being holier somehow than anyone else. To be a saint is to live faithfully each day secure in the promise of God’s love and grace. So secure in fact that a believer is willing to give himself or herself completely for the sake of the gospel in acts of witness and service to those who are most in need in the world.

It is good for the Church to remember those who have gone before in faith and witness. It is helpful to see their lives as the models and examples that they are. It is equally important for believers today to pray that God’s Spirit will be at work in them that they may be the "saints" who will be remembered in the generations yet to come.

Pastor's Pen - November 2006

Dear Friends in Christ,

The month of November brings us to the end of another year in the Church. As the year comes to a close we will remember the saints, the believers, who have gone before us. We will celebrate the witness that they made that helped bring the message of salvation alive for us. We will celebrate new believers who have joined our fellowship throughout the past year in the sacrament of Holy Baptism. New saints encourage us to live faithful lives of witness and service today.

We will also celebrate the very American holiday of Thanksgiving. Though just one day set aside to give thanks for the bounty of the earth and the blessings in our lives, this celebration is an encouragement to live lives of thanksgiving in each and every day. Blessed by God we are called to be a blessing to others that they might also come to know the life saving graces of God. Recognizing all that God has done for us we are free to share blessings and good fortune with those who are in need in the world. Blessed by God we are called to be generous stewards of the gifts with which we have been blessed.

At the very end of the month we will celebrate the last Sunday of the Church year, the Festival of Christ the King. This day celebrates Christ as th ruler of the universe, enthroned in power and glory as the sign of the fulfillment of God's promise of salvation. The victory over sin and death has been won. Christians celebrate and rejoice and proclaim the victory of God's love for the sake of the whole of God's creation. In a world in which many things are worshiped as king, we witness to one king and one lord of all. The readings at the end of the church year speak of the end times and of the promise of victory for all in the Savior. As a result of what God has already done for us in Jesus, we are assured that no matter what comes we will share in the victory of the end times as the Spirit works and renews faith in us each day.

Even as the church year comes to a close, we will be anticipating the beginning of a new year and the promise of the return of the Savior. Beginning to end the church year witnesses to the love of God freely given in the Savior, Jesus the Christ. Season to season we are called to follow Christ more and more as we are renewed and transformed for faithful living every day.