Surrounded by Saints

First, read Tim McClendon's blog entry on All Saints Day.
The link to his blog is at the left, and his entry is "Great Cloud of Witnesses".

Now consider my All Saints Sunday. I began it by leading worship in a church that lost three saints, two very active members who were also well-known and loved in the community. As I preached, as we lit candles while naming these names, as we listened to the bells on the memory banner, I could sense the sadness. I could hear the tears. I watched three grieving families know that their loved ones are missed by not just their families, but by the whole family of Christ. Then I moved to lead worship in a church family that lost two of its saints, one much too young and one after a long battle with debilitating illness. Again, we gave thanks to God for their witness and love, and we grieved the loss we feel so deeply.

Then this afternoon (after some last-minute preparation), one of my churches hosted ten or so others in a "cluster" charge conference. We worshiped together in a packed sanctuary, we conducted business briefly in individual rooms, and we fellowshipped. The sanctuary was packed with people and bursting with Charles Wesley's hymns of praise. I wish that sanctuary looked and sounded that full each Sunday at 11:15!

In everything, in this All Saints week, I could sense the presence of the great "cloud of witnesses." They joined us at Christ's table. Their voices mingled with ours as we sang eternal praise to our Lord. They dried our tears. They cheered us on.

It is an amazing mystery, this communion of saints, this being surrounded by those who have preceded us in faith. They are at once with us and in Christ's nearer presence. They are at once present with us and gone from us. And we at once grieve our loss and rejoice in our hope and God's promise. Thanks be to God for All Saints' Day, and for all the saints who have shown us the way of faith, and who still cheer us on as we run the race of a faithful life. Thanks be to God for Hank, and Gene, and Bobby, and Vicki, and Ronnie. Thanks be to God for the gift of the Holy Spirit in each of us. Thanks be to God for the promise of eternal life, a life that begins now, and never ends. Thanks be to God. Amen.