Rest in peace. Like many of you, I was moved by the All Saints Day service this past Sunday. As was stated during the service, our ability to grieve together and celebrate together has certainly been limited this year. Seeing the pictures of our saints during the service had a cathartic effect for me. In the quiet of my heart, I recited the words spoken graveside that I was not able to hear for each of these saints: ‘In sure and certain hope of the resurrection from the dead through Jesus Christ our Lord, we commend to Almighty God our sister/brother. We commit their body to the ground—ashes to ashes, dust to dust, earth to earth. We affirm those words spoken by the Spirit—those who die in the Lord truly rest from their labors.’ May each of our saints rest in peace. May those who remain live in peace.
Be at Peace. This Sunday, November 8, we have the opportunity to see each other again! On this second Sunday of the month, we will gather—in person—at the Peace Center for morning worship. The service will still be broadcast via the usual formats for those who cannot or do not wish to attend. The same protocols will be in place as was used at prior Peace Center worship gatherings. Masks are to be worn at all times while in the building, we will be seated at safe distances, we will not have congregational singing, and we will be egressed by the Peace Center staff. While the elements of worship will be meaningful as always, an added blessing is simply seeing each other and patting our hearts. Make your reservation here.
Pray for peace. Work for peace. Be a peacemaker. Today is Monday. Tomorrow is election day. I hope each of you will take advantage of your treasured civic freedom and duty…and vote. When the votes are counted and a winner is declared, pray for peace, work for peace and be a peacemaker. Peacekeepers simply attempt to settle the system into the status quo. Peacemakers pray and struggle and work to understand the issues and arrive at just solutions. Regardless of the election outcomes—the sermons remain the same, our work remains the same, and God is still sovereign. There will be work to be done. Let’s not lapse into complacency or vitriol. Let us be peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.
—Jim