From: "David Petersen (by way of Rev. Eric J. Stefanski, )" To: Subject: HP: Preaching All Saints Date: Thursday, November 01, 2001 12:56 PM The permissive rubric of SB&H and local custom warrant the observance of All Saints on the Sunday following the actual Day. Thus some thoughts on Matthew 5 and the theme of the Festival before us. The poor and mourning, the meek and hungry, those who are counted as cursed by men, the kingdom of heaven is theirs. In Christ, they shall be comforted. By Grace, they shall inherit the earth. With righteousness, they shall be filled. For they shall obtain mercy and not be judged by their sins but by His perfect life and death. In the resurrection, they shall see God. And they shall be called the sons of God. Theirs is the kingdom of heaven. So it is that Abraham lived in the promised land in a tent, as a foreigner, while pagan people claimed his land as their own and built fortified cities to prove it. He was an old man, with a old barren woman for a wife, with no prospects for children. The Scriptures say that he was as good as dead. So He waited. He waited for a Savior, a Son, a people, and a land. He desired not the land of Canaan, nor the riches of this world and its shallow honors, but a heavenly country, a city not built with hands. He embraced the promise, the impossible grace of God that brings dead men to life. And in that faith He was blessed. The kingdom of heaven is his. So it is with all the saints still on this side of glory. They are waiting. Mostly this is waiting in the midst of sorrow, travail, and uncertainty. Some days are better than others, but there are no days when we are safely at home. We are foreigners, living in tents, not putting down roots, always outsiders, always suspect. Always a target for the devil's tempting missiles. Always the object of the world's scorn. Thus the Word of God calls us, like Abraham, to live by faith. And to rejoice in things unseen, but believed, such as saints and angels, and a Holy Communion of the Church Militant and the Church Triumphant, one reality in Christ her Lord, and of better days to come. Those who live by sight are betrayed by it. For the eyes alone can only see the poverty, meekness, and hunger. If this living death is all there is, if everything that is is just everything we can see, then why bother? Life is not worth living. It is futile. But Faith sees more clearly than the eyes. It sees through today and into tomorrow. It grasps the promise. Thus, it sees blessedness in the cross, in suffering, and even in what seems to be death. For Faith knows that there is no death for those who die in the Lord. They pass through death from this living and temporary death we call "life" to real and lasting life. Our God is the God of the living. Abraham, though he was as good as dead, is not dead! Our departed loved ones, who have preceded us in the faith, are not dead. And neither shall you who believe in Him, who is the Resurrection and the Life, ever die. This is the peace that passes all, even angelic, understanding. It is peace that exists in turmoil, in sadness, and in the face of tragedy. It exists and endures because it comes from God. It lives by faith, by things unseen, things promised, things yet afar off, but not as far as they used to be. It is the everlasting hope of the Church which has been bought and redeemed by the deatha nd resurrection of Her Lord. We bear a cross now, 'tis true. But that cross will not last. The poverty, meekness, and hunger shall fade. Glory won by Christ will be delivered. That is the faith of our fathers, and by Grace, it is also ours. The formatting won't come through, but what follows is how we handle the Prayers of the Church on the first Sunday in November. It is a bit of a combination of All Saints with the Totenfest. This is a long tradition at Redeemer. The later part is from some old issue of Proclaim. Anyway, here it is: + + + In peace, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For the peace that is from above, for the well-being of the Churches of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For this holy house, and for those who in faith, piety and fear of God come to receive His gifts and praise His Name, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For Gerald and David, our shepherds and bishops in Christ, for David, our pastor, for all godly pastors and teachers, and for all the people of God who serve God and neighbor in their various vocations, for our synod and our sister churches, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For our nation and all our people; for our president and congress, our governor and legislature, our judges and magistrates and all who serve in public office, and for those having rule and authority among all the nations of the earth, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For the sick and the sorrowing, for those who mourn, for those in need and distress; for the home-bound and infirm (especially those for whom our prayers have been asked this day); for those to whom death is drawing near, and for us all, that when our last hour shall come we may depart this life in the confidence of a sure faith, the consolation of a right, devout, and holy hope, and in the communion of Christ's holy Church, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy "I heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord henceforth.' 'Blessed indeed,' says the Spirit, 'that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them.'" Let us remember with thanksgiving those who have gone before us with the sign of faith, for they were redeemed by God. He gave them new life through His Son in Holy Baptism. He nourished them in the company of His people at His holy table. In His mercy and wisdom, He summoned them to His nearer presence so that they may rest in His blissful peace forever. (The names of those who received the ministry of the congregation during their last days and received a Christian burial in the past year are read and the bell tolled.) In joyful expectation of the resurrection to life, we remember before Thee, O Lord, all our departed kin and friends who have gone before us in the faith. We offer thanksgiving for the gift of faith and hold fast to the certainty of Thy promises. We implore, Thee, remember Thy Church throughout the world; make all its members grow in love for Thee and for one another. As Thou hast received our brothers and sisters who have gone to their rest in the hope of the resurrection to eternal life, bring us at the last with them into the light of Thy presence, that in union with all Thy saints we may give Thee glory forever, through Thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Rev'd David H. Petersen Redeemer Lutheran Church Fort Wayne, Indiana + Historic Preaching + The Historic Preaching list is devoted to preaching on the Propers of the Historic Lectionary as found in The Lutheran Hymnal (TLH) and Service Book and Hymnal (SBH). Subscribe? Send ANY message to: Unsubscribe? Send ANY message to: Respond? Click 'Reply' or write to For further information about this list, contact the list administrator at: Rev. Fr. Eric J. Stefanski or visit our website: + + + + + +