This Sunday, November 3, we will celebrate All Saints’ Day in worship, as we remember those who have blessed us, our community and our world. As part of the worship service, we will share the name and light a candle of remembrance (as a bell tolls), for each person, in the St. Mark’s fellowship, who has died in the past year. We will then invite all present, who wish, to remember other loved ones, and to light candles honoring and celebrating their lives, and the gifts of their spirit that live on through us.
Our scripture passage, this Sunday, arises from the Gospel according to Mark (12:28-34). Jesus is asked “What is the greatest commandment?” He responds “You shall love the Lord your God and with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” And the second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” We are fortunate that are saints who have come before us, and those who share the journey will us now, who model for us how to ways to live that love in our daily lives.
Kim Wolf, and his wife, Cheryl have blessed this community of faith for many years. For a time, Kim regularly volunteered to be a part of worship leadership: sharing a scripture reading, offering a prayer or sharing a reflection or sermon. While I don’t remember all the wise words he shared, I do remember he would start with the same greeting, “Good Morning, Saints!” Kim would remind us that each of us is a member of the community of Saints.
We will reflect on what that might mean for us today. We will also share a Children’s Moment, pray and reflect, and sing hymns. Our Chancel Choir will sing TBA. Our Scripture reading (Mark 12:28-34) will be read by Brenda Tewel. The sermon is titled “Finding our Place in the Community of Saints”.
If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for a long time, a short time, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or joining on the livestream.