PASTOR'S PERSPECTIVE FOR NOVEMBER 2019
GREETINGS, PEOPLE OF GOD AT UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH OF PROCTOR,
Each year, we set aside the first Sunday of November to recall those of faith who have died in the past year. All Saints Sunday is one of the few festival Sundays of the year that the focus is intentionally on people, instead of our usual focus on God’s holy and mighty work. This change is worth noting. As Lutheran Christians, we always return to the saving grace of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. He is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, as we read in Hebrews. Whenever we place our ultimate hope, trust, or faith in something other than the Lord, we are on the wrong track.
But All Saints Sunday is different because it gives us a holy space to honor the great cloud of witnesses (also from Hebrews!) who have encouraged our faith. Let’s face it – none of us would be the Christians we are today without those who taught us the faith. Grandparents and parents and relatives all model lives of faith in one way or another. Friends and mentors guide us to grow in our trust of the Lord. We all have a few saints in our lives who have had an extra-special place on our faith journeys.
On November 3rd, All Saints Sunday, we will recall the names of those from our congregation and community who have died in the past year. I encourage you to submit the names of people from outside of ULCP who have died in the past year. Along with our dearly departed members, I will read the names of those people in your lives who handed down the faith to you and now are at rest from their labors.
You can call the church office to leave the names. You can email us. Write down the names and deliver them to me. I will be collecting these to read aloud and pray for on All Saints Sunday. It is good and right that we give God thanks for the saints of our day who inspire us to love God and the world.
See you in worship,
Peace+ Pastor Kowitz
Each year, we set aside the first Sunday of November to recall those of faith who have died in the past year. All Saints Sunday is one of the few festival Sundays of the year that the focus is intentionally on people, instead of our usual focus on God’s holy and mighty work. This change is worth noting. As Lutheran Christians, we always return to the saving grace of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. He is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, as we read in Hebrews. Whenever we place our ultimate hope, trust, or faith in something other than the Lord, we are on the wrong track.
But All Saints Sunday is different because it gives us a holy space to honor the great cloud of witnesses (also from Hebrews!) who have encouraged our faith. Let’s face it – none of us would be the Christians we are today without those who taught us the faith. Grandparents and parents and relatives all model lives of faith in one way or another. Friends and mentors guide us to grow in our trust of the Lord. We all have a few saints in our lives who have had an extra-special place on our faith journeys.
On November 3rd, All Saints Sunday, we will recall the names of those from our congregation and community who have died in the past year. I encourage you to submit the names of people from outside of ULCP who have died in the past year. Along with our dearly departed members, I will read the names of those people in your lives who handed down the faith to you and now are at rest from their labors.
You can call the church office to leave the names. You can email us. Write down the names and deliver them to me. I will be collecting these to read aloud and pray for on All Saints Sunday. It is good and right that we give God thanks for the saints of our day who inspire us to love God and the world.
See you in worship,
Peace+ Pastor Kowitz
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