For All The Saints

One of the most meaningful worship services of the year happens on the first Sunday in November, All Saints. This is a time that we remember all those who have died and now rest in the bosom of our God. This is a time that we remember that we, who have died to sin, death and the devil in our baptisms, also rest in the Lord. We are all saints.

The Apostle Paul writes: ... since we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God ... we are now justified by God's grace as a gift. (Romans 3:22) Our sainthood is a sweet gift of God, one that we can rest easy, free from worry of our God's love and care for us.

With this knowledge I often wonder why I am so full of worry and angst. Why am I so consumed with that feeling that I am not worthy of the work that God has placed in my hands. As I light a candle in the memory of my father and my mother, the ones who fulfilled the promises they made at my baptism by placing the scriptures in my hands, taking me to worship regularly and teaching me how to serve God in this world, I wonder if I am living up to those same promises. Do you have these feelings?

The future of First Lutheran Church is in our hands, placed there by a God who promises to be with us in the future place we are drawn by the Holy Spirit. What gift will we leave future generations who will worship and serve in this place? What legacy will they be able to build on to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ, making disciples and baptising future generations?

It is good to know that even though I fall short the grace of God is still poured out on me. This precious gift sustains me in the most troubling of times and inspires me in the most exciting of times. God's love is the one constant that I can trust in this world. This faith sustained the saints we honor on All Saints Sunday. It sustains you as well.

As we continue in our Visioning Process I pray that you will entrust this good work to God and look to the preferred and promised future that is there waiting for us. I truly am proud of the work we do here at FLC. This work is worth our attention and worthy of God's blessing.

For all the saints who from their labors rest, who thee by faith before the world confessed, thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest. Alleluia. ( William How, 1823-1897)