Tuesday, November 1, 2005

Good Morning! 

 

Hope you had a good Halloween.  You may or may not know it, but today is All Saints Day.  Here is a quick blurb about All Saints Day from the UMC web site:

Christians celebrate All Saints' Day on November 1 or on the first Sunday in November. The day celebrates the lives of all the "saints," that is, Christians who are no longer living among us. Those who have died since the previous November 1 receive special recognition. One of the most familiar scripture passages usually heard during All Saints' Day observances refers to the saints who have gone before us as "so great a cloud of witnesses" (Heb. 12:1, NRSV).

Interestingly, a ran across another blurb on the UMC site that noted that All Saints Sunday was John Wesley's favorite service -- I didn't see anything more to explain the why or what of that statement, but it is an interesting point.

Today's Scripture:   

 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great crowd of witnessess, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perserverance the race marked out for us.

 

Hebrews 12:1

 

This is one of my favorite scriptures.  In Hebrews, it follows a long section where Paul writes about all of those who had been faithful to God over the centuries -- such as Abraham and Moses and Jacob and Joseph.  The point Paul was making is that we have all of this history of those who have been faithful to draw upon to encourage us to be faithful.  I think at Pleasant Hill, it is easy for us to think about those who have gone before us, because of the history that surrounds us.  People have been worshipping at our spot for almost 175 years, and we should be able to draw encouragement from that long history of faithfulness.  I try to go into the old sanctuary every Sunday before our class, because I get such a feeling of connection to those who have gone before us here in this place.  I feel that great crowd of witnessess around me at that time, and I do feel a part of that tradition of worship.

 

I think that on today, it goal is to connect and remember with those who have gone before who inspires your faithfulness.  Is it someone from the Bible that you connect with, or is it a family member or friend whose faithfulness inspired you? 

 

Today's prayer request:   Prayer of thanksgiving

 

Let's give thanks for all those who have gone before us, who have lived out a life of faith and who continue to inspire our faithfulness.

 

Today's class member prayer: 

 

Susanne Russell

 

Have a great day.

 

Jay