Worship Sundays at 9 am
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When I was eleven, my best friend Eric was killed when a neighborhood boy brought out his Fathers’ Colt 45 pistol to add to the play. Playing is an essential exercise in learning to dealing with life, but in this case it also became a horrific experience in how close at hand death can be. This tragedy for was for me an unimagined and savage introduction to life and death. At the time, I couldn’t imagine how to continue life with hope and joy. I’m sure that neighborhood boy playing with his Father’s gun, felt like his life ended that day as well.
When All Saints Sunday comes along I remember Eric with a mixture of emotion; some sadness for what could have been and wasn’t some prayer for the mercy and hope that entered my life since that tragic day, and some thanksgiving for the power and long suffering faithfulness of God who loves us, in and through and in spite of the suffering in the world.
Since that fateful day, I have learned to engage life and make connections and interactions really matter. I have sought to engage people who suffer in ways that really matter. I have sought to live life hopefully and urgently because death is a real experience, and it is not all there is to say.
I now have confidence that death isn’t the last word. It wasn’t for me. I really believe it wasn’t the last word for Eric. I pray and hope that for that neighborhood boy, death is not a last word for him either. God’s work of living hope since these events has helped to shape the life of faith I love and celebrate.
Remembering the Saints, is also about remembering how God has nurtured them in faith and nurtured our faith through them. I invite you to bring the names of people who have powerfully shaped your faith and hope in the activity of God for life and good. We will celebrate them and the long sighted goodness of God, together this Sunday at Good Sam. I will certainly bring Eric’s name as I give thanks for the hope, strength and resilient faith that God gives to those who are in Christ. Join us this week for All Saints’ Sunday.
Pastor Mitch