Giving Thanks for God's Saints

“To the church of God that is in... [Gwinnett County], to those who are sanctified in  Christ Jesus, called to be saints...” (1 Corinthians 1:2)

          “Rejoice in God’s saints, today and all days; 

a world without saints forgets how to praise.

           Their faith in acquiring the habit of prayer, their depth of adoring, 

           Lord, help us to share.

 

           Some march with events to turn them God’s way; 

            some need to withdraw, the better to pray.

            Some carry the gospel through fire and through flood; 

            our world is their parish; their purpose is God.

 

 Rejoice in those saints, unpraised and unknown, 

who bear someone’s cross or shoulder their own. 

They shame our complaining, our comforts, our cares; 

 what patience in caring, what courage, is theirs!

 

 Rejoice in God’s saints, today and all days, 

 a world without saints forgets how to praise.

            In loving, in living, they prove it is true: 

            the way of self-giving, Lord, leads us to you.”

                                           [--Fred Pratt Green, from the United Methodist Hymnal, #708]

Each November 1^st is “All Saints Day” on the church calendar -- a day for God’s people to celebrate and remember the lives of all God’s “saints”: those living now who call Jesus their Savior; and those who’ve gone on to be with the Lord this past year. 

I pray that you will join me this Sunday (November 7^th) as we celebrate and remember the lives of all God’s “saints,” including those of our church membership who’ve gone on to be with the Lord this past year. Remember, God loves you and I do, too!