November 2, 2022
November 2, 2022
“Were they to take our house, goods, honor, child, or spouse, though life be wrench away, they cannot win the day. The kingdom’s ours forever!”- A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, v. 4
The two Sundays of Reformation and All Saints (last weekend and this coming weekend, respectively) have always been a special time in the church year for me. Maybe it was the change of pace from regular worship; maybe it was the message of grace, love and hope; maybe it was the special red cheesecake; it’s hard to say, but I have always enjoyed these Sunday celebrations.
As we joined in singing “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” this past Sunday, the final words of the hymn (written above) struck me. It can be common in our daily lives to just join the grumble. You know what I mean: the piling on that happens at work about “that” guy or gal; the times when the school changes things and parents get together and “talk” about it; or just airing the general distaste for what is happening in the world. Joining in the grumble comes almost as second nature. This hymn resists that discourse. Instead, it leads us to proclaim a promise of hope, even in the midst of life’s pains and grumblings.
This weekend, the theme of hope continues. This Sunday – All Saints Sunday – we will sing and speak of our hope in God’s promise in our lives. We will speak that hope into the toughest times in our lives, times when we deal with loss, death, and grief. Throughout the Scriptures, God is with God’s people in the lowest times of their lives, bearing them up in their sorrow, and moving them ultimately to a place of hope. It is in that place where we see God conquering the sting of death by offering to us eternal life with God through Jesus Christ.
When we find ourselves in a place where all we want to do is grumble or where we feel overwhelmed by loss, my invitation is this: come to worship. Come to worship, where we experience a God who bears us up in our sorrow and moves us into a place of hope. All Saints Sunday reminds us that this world and its ways will not win; God’s word of love mercy and grace will win and is ours forever.
“But then there breaks a yet more glorious day: the saints triumphant rise in bright array” - For All the Saints, v. 6
God’s Peace,
Pastor Tim
P.S. Reminder this weekend we “Fall Back.” While you are always welcome to come early to pray, you might want to make sure to set your clocks on Saturday.