“Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we may become co-workers with the truth.” 3 John 1:8

“Every man that is Christ’s companion is thereby bound to be a worker with the incarnate Truth. He needs our help. True, he finds all the capital, but we are His partners, His representatives and agents here on earth, as He has taught us in more than one parable. The pound or the talent is His; it is given to me, but it is left with me to determine whether it shall increase and fructify or not. On the Cross He said, ‘It is finished,’ but all through the ages He is working, and all through the ages His mightiest means of working is through the men by whom He works. The Lord works with them, and they work with the Lord. They are His tools; He makes them, but He cannot do His work without them. And notwithstanding the Cross, notwithstanding the adequate powers for the regeneration of humanity, and the salvation of individuals, which lie in that message of the Gospel, the co-operation of the Church is needed if the world is to be saved.” (biblehub.com; commentary on 3 John 1:8)

Co-workers. We have them at our places of employment, and sometimes we are thrilled with the people we call “co-workers.” Other times we complain and complain about our “co-workers” because they do not fit our ideas of work, cooperation, or enthusiasm. But having co-workers does not stop at our places of employment. We also have “co-workers” in the church (our places of worship), and in the Church (meaning the Church Universal). Our “co-workers” in the gospel will be our friends at church, and also the ones we just cannot stand to be around. They will be the ones we share bible study and ministries with, and others will be the people with whom we sit on church council and find them to be exhausting to be around. And yet, we are “co-workers” in the gospel of Jesus, and these volunteers sometimes have more power than our co-employees in the day to day operations of the church.

When we are “co-workers” in the gospel of Jesus Christ, we need to work very hard at limiting our need for power and influence. The human quest and need for power and influence will always squelch the power of the gospel — if not immediately, it will over time. We damage and limit the work of the gospel when we place our own individual needs above the power of the Holy Spirit.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, we are co-workers — not self-employed — but part of a team — ship-mates together fighting the storms of life. Help me live with Jesus as my captain and Lord. Amen.

Pastor Dave

November 2, 2022 – All Soul’s Day

The month of November begins with two days of remembrance: All Saint’s Day traditionally celebrated on November 1, and All Soul’s Day traditionally celebrated on November 2. So what is the difference between these two days? All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day are related, but they are two separate celebrations. On All Saint’s Day we remember all the saints who lived before us, the saints who live now, and the saints yet to come. We remember those mentors of the faith who remind us how we’re supposed to live. We are reminded to remember those who have impacted our lives, especially our lives of faith – people who have modeled for us the life of the faithful Christian.

On All Soul’s Day we remember all people – all who have died whether of the faith or not asking G-d’s mercy for them. We remember those people who have died before us and pray for their collective and individual souls through the grace of Christ.

This year we will combine these two celebrations on Sunday November 6 when we lift up and remember those members of the Christian Church who have lived lives that modeled the Christian life but now rest in Christ, while we also pray for all our connected earthly family and pray for Christ to hold them in his grace. Of course the question we may ask is “why?” Why are these days important to the church?

All Souls’ Day, Nov. 2, reminds us that in life and even in death, we are connected to each other. All Soul’s Day brings an awareness to us Christians in 21^st century America an understanding that people from many cultures have expressed for thousands of years — that the dead are bound still to the living, and the living to the dead.

From deepest Antiquity, even before the appearance of the Scriptures, people everywhere intuited this connection and so developed many different rituals to remember their dead loved ones year after year. Time may dull our memories but their presence remains – so it is appropriate we take one day out of each year to bind ourselves to all our dead — and we do so most especially on All Souls’ Day.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, grant all souls your rest, O Lord, and let your perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace through the mercy of God. Amen.

Pastor Dave