Life and Death and Life Beyond

All Saints Sunday was a beautiful time of worship. It was wonderful to hear the sounds of the harp, to join together in Holy Communion and to hear the names of the dear ones we’ve lost this past year.

From time to time, I’m asked questions about my thoughts about Halloween. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but it seems that Halloween is becoming a bigger and bigger deal. Halloween home décor rivals Christmas! And what about those giant skeletons?! While some see
Halloween as anti-Christian, I disagree. Halloween is our chance to challenge the fear of death, to laugh in the face of evil. When we make light of death we rob it of its power over us.

As Christians, we have a unique take on death, one that we proclaim the day after Halloween- All Saints Day. We don’t fear the dead. Instead, we celebrate and honor the dead. And that is what we did this past Sunday!

As we remember the saints, we bridge the gap between past and future, between life, death and life beyond death! Amen!

This Sunday, we welcome Melissa Lester to our pulpit. Melissa is a lifelong member of our church and current student at McAfee School of Theology where she is pursuing a Master of Divinity degree. She will be preaching her sermon, “Be Prepared,” from the lectionary. Come and
support Missy!