The Weekly View - October 29, 2021
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In This Issue
- Weekly Message from Rev. Joanne Whitt
- Weekly Facebook Video
- Announcements & Upcoming Events
- Outreach Opportunities & Updates
message from rev. whitt
Dear St. Luke family:
Or should I address you, “Dear saints of St. Luke”? A former president of Princeton Theological Seminary routinely greeted students with, “Good morning, saints!” The first time he greeted a particular trio of first year seminarians in this way as they headed from chapel to the dining hall, one of them stammered, “Oh, Dr. McCord, if you knew us better, you wouldn’t say that.” “On the contrary,” he replied, in his famous cement-mixer baritone, “if you knew your New Testament better, you would know precisely what I mean.” Then he asked, “Have you forgotten your baptisms?” With that question hanging in the air, the president turned to go into the administration building, proving that some of the most teachable moments in seminary occur outside the classroom.
In our tradition, saints are not exceptionally holy people who performed miracles. Although All Saints Sunday is when we remember our loved ones who have died, sainthood isn’t even reserved for the dead. In the Reformed Tradition, which includes Presbyterians, saints are all those who are intentionally living out their faith in Christ, now and in the past. Every time we celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, we pray in the Great Prayer of Thanksgiving that we raise “our voices with all the faithful of every time and place, who forever sing to the glory of [God’s] name.” On All Saints Sunday, we call special attention to those who join us as one community across time and space. We are in communion not only with each other and with Christ, but also with all who belong to him both in heaven and on earth.
So this Sunday, you are invited to bring to worship photos of your loved ones who have died. As in years past, the photos will be arranged around the communion table. During the service, worshipers will be invited to scatter fall leaves on the chancel in memory of our friends and family who have “completed their baptisms” – who have joined the throng of the faithful who belong to God in death, just as we belong to God in life. We will also lift up their names aloud.
Looking ahead to November 7, don’t forget that Daylight Savings ends at midnight on Saturday, November 6. We will “fall back” – turn our clocks back an hour and get an extra hour of sleep. That morning in worship we will celebrate the culmination of the stewardship campaign. As Stewardship Chair Carolee Mech will remind you, this year’s pledge campaign is exceptionally important because very soon, the Pastor Nominating Committee will be offering a salary package to one of the excellent candidates interested in serving as your new pastor! Please keep that exciting development in mind as you complete your pledge cards and get them to the church office by November 5.
Just a heads up: I’ll be on crutches Sunday morning, and I’ll preach from a stool. It turns out that knee injury I suffered about 7 weeks ago actually is a small fracture near the top of my shin bone, and I’m not supposed to put any weight on it for a few weeks. It didn’t show up in the x-ray but it showed up in an MRI.
I look forward to seeing all you saints this Sunday!
Grace and peace,
Joanne Whitt
Interim Pastor