Thoughts on All Saints Sunday (3.xi.2019)

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
today (Sunday, 3 November 2019) we gather in the wake of a night and day of remembrance of all our dear departed ones.
As we worship, in the grip of memories of our dead, we also celebrate God's gift to us of the communion of All Saints.
As we do so:
• Let us count ourselves blessed to be numbered amongst God's saints - the great company of the redeemed.
• Let us the pray for the courage to follow, in step with Christians everywhere, Jesus' challenge to keep saying YES to God's great love for us and all the world.
• Let us, yet again, promise to USE that love to redeem every poverty and hurt in the world around us.

God of holiness,
your glory is proclaimed in every age:
as we rejoice in the faith of your saints,
inspire us to follow their example with boldness and joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.