Good morning.
Today is Sunday,
November 1,
2020.
It is All Saints Day.
Since its earliest centuries,
The Church has set aside a day to remember the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us in the faith,
Stretching across the centuries and around the globe.
However hard it might seem to follow the way of Jesus in our own time and place,
This is a day to remember that we may be crazy,
But we are not alone.
Those words are from the book Common Prayer,
Edited by Shane Claiborne.
Oh Lord,
Let my soul rise up to meet you as the day rises to meet the sun.
Glory to God,
The three-in-one,
Creator,
Redeemer,
And sustainer.
As it was in the beginning,
Is now and will be forever.
Amen.
Come let us sing to the Lord.
Let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.
Remind yourself that you are in God's presence.
Notice how God may be speaking to you today.
Let yourself dwell on a word or a phrase that jumps out at you and let your heart respond to God in prayer.
Please repeat these words.
You order your kingdom with justice and establish the world in peace.
Our scripture reading this morning is Ephesians 4 verses 24 through 32.
Therefore,
Let's have no more lies.
Speak truthfully to each other for we are all members of one body.
When you are angry,
Don't let it become a sin.
Don't let the sun set on your anger or you will give an opening to the devil.
You who have been stealing,
Stop stealing.
Go to work.
Do something useful with your hands so you can have something to share with the needy.
Be on your guard against foul talk.
Say only what will build others up at that moment.
Say only what will give grace to your listeners.
Don't grieve the Holy Spirit of God with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Get rid of all bitterness,
All rage and anger,
All harsh words,
Slander and malice of every kind.
In place of these,
Be kind to one another,
Compassionate and mutually forgiving,
Just as God has forgiven you in Christ.
Please repeat these words.
You order your kingdom with justice and establish the world in peace.
On Sundays,
We pray for ourselves and we lift ourselves up to the Lord in thanksgiving.
So I invite you now to feel gratitude.
Locate that experience in your mind and in your heart and lift yourself grateful before the Lord.
And as you hold your gratitude before God,
Hear these words of blessing spoken over you.
May the light of Christ go before you and behind you,
Beneath you and above you,
On your right and on your left.
When you rise and when you lie down,
May the light of Christ be with you.
May the light of Christ be in you.
May the love of God go before you and behind you,
Beneath you and above you,
On your right and on your left.
When you rise and when you lie down,
May the love of God be with you.
May the love of God be in you.
In the name of Jesus who taught us to pray,
Our Father which art in heaven,
Eternal God,
Earth maker,
Pain bearer,
Life giver,
Source of all that is and all that shall be,
Not only Father but Mother of us all.
May the hallowing of your name echo through the universe.
May the way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world.
May your heavenly will be done by all created beings.
May your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another,
Forgive us.
In times of temptation and test,
Strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure,
Spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil,
Free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love now and forever.
Amen.
Gracious Lord,
Within your community we are strengthened to persevere,
Empowered to proclaim your truth,
And shaped to wait on you.
Teach us anew what we can learn from other faithful sisters and brothers who serve you in their particular ways of worship and proclamation.
Amen.
And now my friends may the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ go with you wherever he may send you today.
May he guide you through the wilderness,
Protect you through the storm.
May he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you.
May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
Go in peace.
