VOICE ONE:
To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:2-3, NRSV)
The followers of Jesus in Corinth had some serious problems, infighting and immorality to name a couple, yet Paul calls them saints. A saint is not a perfect person. Saints are simply persons who know their deep need of God. They recognize their need of wholeness and forgiveness, yet they don’t stop there. They continue to move forward- risking and growing and trusting in the marvelous grace of God in Jesus Christ.
Let us remember who we are in Jesus-
Beloved, Wounded Healers,
Saints set apart by God and for God
Let us remember our purpose-
To lead a devoted life of compassion, generosity, justice, and hope
A life worthy of the calling to which we have been called
A life which inspires faith in others
Let us remember and recommit ourselves to this life,
by first honoring the lives of those who have inspired us
The heroic and humble who ran the race before us
The martyrs who sacrificed all for the sake of Jesus
And especially those who we have known and loved
who led us to Jesus and encouraged us to deeper faith and service
Name those persons out loud now… pause
VOICE TWO OR ALL:
Blessed are you, O Lord our God
You surround us with witness after witness to your transforming love
Inspire us and empower us to endure
Fill our hearts with courage
Blessed are you, O Lord our God
You weep with us in our personal heartbreak and loss
Name those you are grieving out loud now… pause
Comfort us and protect us in our mourning
Fill our souls with hope
Blessed are you, O Lord our God
You weep with us in our communal heartbreak and loss
Pandemics… Fires… Storms… Division… Injustice… Death
Name the situations you are grieving out loud now… pause
Comfort us and protect us in our mourning
Fill our souls with hope
Blessed are you, O Lord our God
You cry out in victory over sin and the grave
Raise us and release us to fulfill your calling to be saints
Fill our lives with faithfulness and good works
Honor and hope
In Jesus’ Name and for His Glory, who taught us to pray…
Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer
Consider lighting candles or luminaria, tying ribbons to a branch or wreath, or placing flowers in a vase or body of water following the prayer.
All Saints Day Remembrance © 2021 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, www.revlisad.com
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