Sunday, November 3, 2013 (full size gallery)
We had 37 on a beautiful blue sky with relatively mild temperatures for November. This is the first week that the leaves have been turning. See the Port Royal leaf gallery of today.
Today we welcomed Susan Mitchell, a Roman Catholic lay chaplain and author to be our preacher. Her field of ministry has been primarily with hospice patients and their families. She is a friend of Catherine from her study of spiritual direction. The readings were here.
In her sermon, she explored the idea of communion of saints. For Paul it was faith exhibited by worshiping together. The first saints were martyrs but then came to be broader. We identify with them a shared name or characterisitc. Later out it expanded to include living in harmony and expansive view nature.
The communion of saints extends to those today and those who lived in the past. We are never alone with God since we are part of the communion of saints, reflecting the trinity of God’s love. We can hold dear what we remember about our love ones which will strengthen us for the rest of our lives. We can forgive them for their faults This needs to be passed on to future generations
We read of the names in our bulletin for each who have died over the last year. Roger in turn rang the bell for each.
Coffee hour was prepared by Bill and Mike. Bill prepared two good soups – split pea and vegetable. Plus there were assorted cheeses, fruits, bread and cake.
In addition, we celebrated Andrew’s birthday and the Kunstmanns 60th wedding anniversary. The flowers that Cookie prepared were magnificent done with assorted fall foliage.
This was an all-star Sunday as far as the music, all pieces with strong melodies. Brad began with an organ arrangement of "Jesus Christ is Risen Today." It wouldn’t be All Saints without singing "For all the Saints" using Vaughn Williams melody. The Hymn of praise was "Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones" followed by "A Simple Gift" that was featured in Copland’s "Appalachian Spring."
The lectionary’s emphasis this Sunday is in celebrating the people of God. All Saint’s Days commemorates not only all the martyrs but all the people of God, living and dead, who form the mystical body of Christ. The saints have come to know God, not by their own efforts, but by the power of God in Christ. Those who have put their lives in Christ’s hands should trust the one whom God has made the head of all things for the church which is his body.
The Psalm emphasizes the praise response we should have. Paul in Ephesians gives thanks for the blessings we have received through Christ: bringing us into union with God. The Old Testament from Daniel is a vision – emphasizing a progression that earthly kingdoms will pass to make way for the kingdom of God.
The Gospel is Luke’s version of Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount. Matthew has a much more elaborate sermon, and it on the mount, the place of revelation and transcendence. Luke has the sermon on the level place, among the people, talking to them about how to live in this world.
Luke tells us of four beatitudes (vv. 20-22) and corresponding woes or warnings of deprivation in the age to come. The law is to give direction to our lives and lead us to Christ
Some of the beattitudes are “blessed” (happy) by being included in the Kingdom Jesus brings. The warnings are prophecies, cautions. The pairs are:
the “poor” (v. 20) and the “rich” (v. 24);
the “hungry” (v. 21a) and the “full” (v. 25a);
the sorrowful (v. 21b) and the joyous (v. 25b); and
the persecuted (v. 22) and the popular (v. 26).
The “poor” are those who acknowledge their dependence on God. The “rich” do not want to commit themselves to Jesus and the Kingdom; they are comfortable in their self-sufficiency. The word translated “consolation” (v. 24) is a financial term: they do not realize what they owe to Jesus.
If we understand that God’s kingdom, God’s culture, is one not based on such divisions, then we are already blessed. God’s cultural order does not depend on divisions between rich and poor.