All Saints Sunday
Matthew 5:1-12 Psalm 31
All Saints' Day was observed already at an early date in the church's
history. Its intent was to honor the memory of departed Christians,
particularly martyrs. In the middle of the ninth century that day was
shifted from May 13 to Nov. 1.
The symbol shown here has the crown holding a good wheat, the faithful
whom the LORD of the church has gathered for His harvest. It shows the
Alpha and Omega, and the Chi Rho which are designations for the Savior,
who has made the harvest of souls possible.
What does it take to be numbered among the saints? Do you have to be
perfect, gifted, pure, virtuous, dead? In the NT, saint refers to . . .
All Saints Sunday
Matthew 5:1-12 Psalm 31
All Saints' Day was observed already at an early date in the church's history. Its intent was to honor the memory of departed Christians, particularly martyrs. In the middle of the ninth century that day was shifted from May 13 to Nov. 1.
The symbol shown here has the crown holding a good wheat, the faithful whom the LORD of the church has gathered for His harvest. It shows the Alpha and Omega, and the Chi Rho which are designations for the Savior, who has made the harvest of souls possible.
What does it take to be numbered among the saints? Do you have to be perfect, gifted, pure, virtuous, dead? In the NT, saint refers to all believers who have been made holy through the gift of the Spirit. We are made saints in baptism when God raises us up to a new life and pours the Holy Spirit upon us, that empowers us to live lives of faithfulness and service.\ In celebrating the lives of all the saints, we praise God for the extraordinary variety of those who have followed Christ, including saints we personally have known and loved. This celebration of All Saints is a celebration of our faith that we are counted in their number.
There is a familiar hymn for the observance of this day: "For all the saints who from their labors rest, All who by faith before the world confessed Your name, O Jesus, be forever blest. Alleluia!
Oh, blest communion, fellowship divine, We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; Yet all are one within your great design, Alleluia, Alleluia!
PRAY - O Almighty God, by whom we are graciously knit together as one communion, and fellowship in the mystical body of Jesus Christ, our LORD, grant us so to follow Your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys, which You have prepared for those who sincerely love You.
Amen