For All The Saints

October 30, 2009

This Sabbath (October 31, 2009) is very special day. The world knows this weekend as Halloween. It’s always been a strange holiday for me. One which, because of my upbringing, I never fully entered. But there are many fun and harmless things to enjoy during Halloween. Our kids have been having a great time dressing up and spending time with their friends. I’m sure tonight will be excellent, as well. I hope you have a safe and enjoyable Halloween.

In the church, however, this day is often known All Saints Day. Each denomination that remembers All Saints Day does it a bit differently. This year, as we were preparing our worship calendar, I was tempted to skip over it, thinking, of all days, this one relates less to Adventism than all the others. But as I read the texts for today I completely changed my mind. Today is a day to remember first of all, that we are called to be God’s saints. Secondly, it is an important reminder that we are where we are today because of the saints that have gone before us. We don’t have to venerate people or pray to them to be mindful of the fact that we are living in continuity with a “great cloud of witnesses” as the author of Hebrews puts it. Or, in the words of one of our hymns this morning,

“For all the saints who from their labor rest / Who Thee, by faith, before the world confessed / Thy name, O Jesus, be for ever blessed, Alleluia! Alleluia!”

This morning we sing for all the saints. We stand in recognition and remembrance of those who now rest from their labors; who, in times past, have confessed Jesus before the world and now rest in the blessed hope. And we sing and pray for ourselves this morning – also saints – and all those saints who will trust Jesus because of our witness. We stand in solidarity with all these people today, across time, recognizing that God is bring all things together in Christ, in a world where God will live completely and all tears and sorrow will be wiped away.

Grace and Peace,

Ryan

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