November 6, 2016
All Saints Sunday

“I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:15-23

“All Saints Day is a witness to God’s way of blessing the world, not simply reinforcing the entitlement of the privileged to the way things are, but revealing God’s justice fulfilled in mercy. As in his kingdom prayer (Luke 11:2-4; Matthew 6:9-13), Jesus brought God’s way of ruling the world down to earth and invited his disciples into this holy venture. This is not an ideological agenda or a political platform, but a vision of God’s reign which he embodied. Jesus knew that people are possessed by their possessions. He lamented “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” But he also concluded that “What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.” (Luke 18:24, 27). That is the first miracle of All Saints Day! As the people of God pray in thanksgiving for the saints or light candles in remembrance of those who have died, Jesus has shown how his reign works. It’s not about how a few achieved perfection as the “holy ones” who are “blessed of God.” When we die, the prayer is the same for the most pious and those regarded as rascals, including us. Trusting in God’s love in Jesus Christ, we are all commended to God as “lambs of your own flock and sinners of your own redeeming.” (David Tiede, Working Preacher website, Saints are “holy ones” (Greek: hagioi), the “blessed of God” (Greek: makarioi: Luke 6:20-22). But who are they really?, November 7, 2010)

All Saint’s Sunday, no matter how we dress it up, is a Sunday about death. We lift up and remember the lives of friends, loved ones, and family members who have left this earthly plain – who have died. But we do not celebrate death so much as we celebrate life. And yet, these Saints are dead. Some died quickly – suddenly – without any warning. Some followed a long, slow decline that seemed to take a lifetime and was as much torture for the loved ones as for the one dying. No matter how they died, their flesh has been destroyed – but their influence on our lives…lives on. In many religious traditions, All Saints’ Day is part of the triduum of “AllHallowTide”, which lasts three days from October 31, “All Hallows Eve”, to November 1, “All Saints’ Day” to November 2, “All Souls’ Day”.

On All Saints Day our tradition is to remember the faithful who have passed on from this life to a life of eternal presence with G-d. But as Lutherans, we also lift up the presence of those who are still alive and faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ – they are also Saints. Martin Luther redefined a “Saint” as anyone who lives the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their daily work and life – and a Saint is a “Forgiven Sinner”. David Tiede ended his devotion above with these words: “Trusting in God’s love in Jesus Christ, we are all commended to God as “lambs of your own flock and sinners of your own redeeming.” All Saint’s Day is not about a few perfect and holy people who get festival days named after them – it is about recognizing the all encompassing love of Jesus Christ. And since, through Jesus Christ G-d sees us all as Saints, then shouldn’t we be getting to the business of being the hands and feet of Christ? There is no better way to celebrate this day than by accepting Christ’s invitation to his holy venture of sharing the “…fullness of him who fills all in all.”

Pastor Dave

November 5, 2016 – 49 Days Until My Head Explodes, Or Devotions to Prepare Us For Christ’s Coming

Oh, look at this  little party animal.  Juggling is cool, after all, especially when you’re doing it just to spell the word “party.”   But seriously, anyone could juggle if we all had a single, circular arm that stretched from one shoulder to the other, so just get over yourself.   Actually, the blob-like torso melting into the party banner makes one  think the monster from The Thing got confused  and is now attending or performing at a children’s birthday party.

Christmas is a party, but not an excuse to spend beyond our means, drink beyond our limits, or schedule ourselves beyond our abilities.  Too much of our time this Christmas season will be about doing, and not contemplating.  It is good to share the holiday spirit, but if this makes you exhausted, then perhaps you need to prioritize your Christmas celebrations.

Do you realize that every time we share the communion wine and bread with each other as part of a worship service, we are attending a party?  Christ intended the act of communion as a “foretaste of the feast to come.”  And that feast will be part of the heavenly party that awaits all who die in the faith.  The birth narratives of Jesus provide the imagery of people celebrating and giving glory to G-d, the angel announcing the birth of Jesus being joined by a great multitude of the heavenly host singing “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!”  It sure sounded like a party then, and it should be a party now—but not a party of the secular kind, but a party of the heavenly kind.   And so we celebrate the birth of Jesus with worship, singing, sharing food and other gifts, and praising G-d. 

There is a lot to juggle this Christmas season – just don’t let the “busy-ness” of the season to distract you from the “business” of grasping a foretaste of the feast to come as often as you can.

Pastor Dave