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Hello St. John’s Family,
Our first frost that blanketed the ground this morning provided me with a vivid reminder that fall is marching on. As the calendar flips to November, the theme of thankfulness immediately comes to mind. And yes, I am aware the Thanksgiving holiday is still a few weeks off. Yet Thanksgiving Day isn’t the only day that holds deep associations with giving thanks. November 1st is All Saint’s Day – an excellent opportunity for us to remember and give thanks for those who have been instrumental in showing us what faithfulness to God looks like.
Some of us can recall experiences from our earliest days when someone extended the love of Christ to us in a meaningful way that stuck with us. I was fortunate to have a loving church family around me as a child, where the congregation genuinely cared for me and every person there. That church family celebrated their 165th anniversary last Sunday, and I had the opportunity to write a letter sharing a few of the many ways they influenced my life. I have been humbled by messages I have received in response, noting that I remain in their prayers to this day. Our connection in Christ is truly a bond that cannot be broken.
Others have much different experiences, where a relationship with Christ or the love and support of a church family is new. Somewhere along the way, an invitation was extended; a word of encouragement was offered; or perhaps a challenging conversation was engaged, followed by heartfelt prayers. Someone acted in some way to help connect you with the love of Christ: that amazing, unconditional love that we receive not based on what we do, but on our true identity as God’s beloved child. Because of that faith-filled act of someone else, you have experienced God’s peace.
Whether our faith journey stretches over a few months or over many decades, we have been uplifted and strengthened by saints who walk with us. We often think of a saint as someone who is close to perfect, yet that isn’t accurate. Saints are those who are willing to step out in faith; those who struggle to do the right thing – and make plenty of mistakes – yet keep pressing on without giving up. Saints are those who show us what it means to try to live a life of faith, stumble at points along the way, yet trust in the unconditional love of Christ to guide us through every stumble and every challenge we face. All Saint’s Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to pause, reflect on the impact that others had on our faith journey, and give thanks to God for placing those saints in our lives.
This Sunday, we’ll remember and give thanks to God for all the saints at St. John’s. We’ll offer a special remembrance for our saints who entered into eternal life over the past year. We’ll read Revelation 7:9-17 and be reminded of the goodness and eternal glory that await all who faithfully persevere through the brokenness and trials of this world. We’ll join around our Lord’s table and commune with the saints across the ages. I hope you’ll join me Sunday morning for a meaningful time of worship .
As you prepare for worship, I want to extend an invitation I often make at this time of the year: I invite you to reflect on those who were instrumental in cultivating your faith. Consider writing a note of thanks, sharing how that person’s faith has impacted you. If that person is alive, pass it on as a note of encouragement. If not, offer your note as a prayer of thanksgiving to Christ for the blessing of an amazing example. Above all, give thanks to God for the blessing of all the saints who have impacted our lives.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Brad
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