"For all the saints who from their labors rest...."

November 1 is "All Saints Day" and at Grace Lutheran Church in Hendersonville, NC, we celebrated as a congregation the saints on Sunday, November 6.  Lighted candles on the altar burned brightly throughout the service to remind us of all who have gone before us and that we are "surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses."

So many country churches have their cemeteries flanking the church, some even surrounding the building so that those coming to worship literally are "surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses."   And at the church when we came forward to receive communion, as we knelt at the rail that surrounded the altar, we communed with those witnesses as well.  It is an awesome thing to commune not only with the flesh and blood about us, but also with those who have gone before us.

When I go to communion ANY Sunday, not just All Saints Sunday, I am communing with my dad, with my grandparents,
with my Sunday School teacher Sis,
with my drill-sargent-like confirmation teacher Mr. Liebert,
with my in-laws, Margaret and Bernard (yes, Catholics and Lutherans can commune together!)
with my dear neighbors Jerry and Linda,
with over 1,000 residents of Emmanuel Nursing Home, Lamplighter Manor and Madison Apartments who were part of my "flock" as I served as their chaplain for almost 20 years,
with.....oh, my, how do I end this list!

I also commune with the Apostle Paul,
the disciples of Christ,
Dietrch Bonhoeffer
and the Kennedys!

The body of Christ is indeed massive for it includes the saints, the believers, those made in the very image of Christ from all the ages who now from their labors rest along with those of us who are walking this earth, living our faith (fragile though it may be), and praying for the Kingdom to come in its fullness.

The fullness will be full!  And as we draw near to Thanksgiving all I can say is "Thanks be to God!"
Now and forevermore,
Amen.