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November 4, 2007 - All Saints Sunday
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and
for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.
I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit
of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart
enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the
riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable
greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
-- Ephesians 1:15-19
On October 31st, we celebrated the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
Tradition has it that on this day Martin Luther nailed 95 theses to the Castle Church
door in Wittenberg, Germany and hoped his complaints would be taken seriously by the
religious powers that be. Little did Luther know what his actions would set into place.
God is always about reformation - always about bringing about truth and love and
new life. Many times this reforming takes place in and through our relationships with
one another. This weekend we will gather to give thanks to God for all the saints that
bring God's truth and love and new life alive in our lives and in the world.
We give thanks for the boldness of Martin Luther as well as the truth and love that
comes to us through family members and friends that have gone before us.
For whom do you give thanks? How have they formed/reformed your perspective?
Your heart? Your life?
We pray: Almighty God, you have knit your people together in one communion
in the mystical body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant us grace to follow your
blessed saints in lives of faith and commitment, and to know the inexpressible joys
you have prepared for those who love you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
Lessons for All Saints Sunday:
- Psalm 149
- Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18
- Ephesians 1:11-23
- Luke 6:20-31
Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible,
copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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