Claimed, gathered and sent

This is the sermon I preached on All Saints' Sunday, 11/3/19 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church . The text was Ephesians 1:11-23 . On All Saints’ [Sun]day, it is not just the saints of the church that we remember in our prayers, but all the foolish ones and wise ones, the shy ones and overbearing ones, the broken ones and whole ones, the despots and tosspots and crackpots of our lives who, one way or another, have been our particular fathers and mothers and saints, and whom we loved without knowing we loved them and by whom we were helped to whatever little we may have, or ever hope to have, of some kind of seedy sainthood of our own [says Frederick Buechner in The Sacred Journey]. Today’s second reading is telling us that all we need to know to be a saint we find in Christ. The fabulous, flowing language sweeps us away as we hear about all the wonderful things Paul asks God to do for the saints of Ephesus. This letter was meant to be circulated to other churches as well ...

Let's talk. Here are some thoughts on this coming Sunday's second lesson. We're celebrating All Saints Sunday. This was sent out to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church . What are your thoughts? Second Reading: Ephesians 1:11-23 11 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14 this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.   15 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God ...

This is the sermon I preached at St. Timothy Lutheran Church on All Saints' Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018. The text is John 11:32-44. Today we celebrate all the saints. We remember loved ones who are laid to rest. Though they have died, yet they live. And though their work is ended, yet their dream of God’s love for the world is also still alive.  We identify with the grief of Mary, Martha and Jesus. We know the reality of death that lies so close, that at any moment the phone call or text could come with news we dread. I felt that way when my daughter Sarah was in the emergency room with blood clots in her lungs. We live forever in the shadow of death. But the thing is, All Saints means all. Being a saint comes as a gift from God. We are saints because of our contact with the Holy God and because the Holy God has come in contact with us. Look around the sanctuary. You are looking at the living saints of God who are also part of All Saints. We celebrate each of you as well....