A Moment for Mission
“Jesus began to weep.” —John 11:35, NRSVUE
Martha eagerly looked forward to her Disciple Bible Study group. She especially enjoyed being with Jayne, a woman several years younger. Jayne had a way of stating things that always seemed to clarify concepts that were hard for Martha to grasp.
Jayne shared with the Disciple group that she had an aggressive and inoperable brain tumor. As her body became weak, her faith became stronger. The Bible Study group met at Jayne’s home many times so that she could participate. A few days after the group’s final Communion service was celebrated around her bedside, Jayne joined the Church Triumphant.
As All Saints’ Day approached, Martha found strength beyond her grief. She asked if she could serve as a worship leader during the All Saints’ service during which Jayne and others would be remembered. The altar table was filled with unlit candles of all shapes and sizes. As the names of the deceased were read, Martha and another member of the Disciple class lit a candle for each name read. As Jayne’s name was read, Martha lit a candle close to her side of the table. As the wick grew brighter, Martha felt the Holy Spirit offer comfort and peace. This was not an empty liturgical activity for Martha or the other worshipers; it was personal and allowed them the holy space to grieve and to proclaim the Resurrection. Read more.
Children’s Message
Read the Beatitudes to Children from the Common English Bible, the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition Bible, or the Spark Story Bible. Emphasize that this is where Jesus offers us his expectations for his followers. Within them we see humility, sorrow, meekness, justice, mercy and peace. God’s blessing will be on those who experience these. Take some time to help children think about the people in the church, in history, in the community and in their families who are examples of these expectations of Jesus. Ponder some of these questions with children and follow up with an activity.
WONDERINGS:
I wonder how we might offer hope to the hopeless?
I wonder how we might offer gladness to the grieving?
I wonder how we might offer nourishment to the hungry?
I wonder if nourishment can be more than food and drink?
I wonder how we might offer mercy to others?
I wonder who we know who is humble? How have we witnessed this?
I wonder who we know who has a pure heart? How do we witness this?
I wonder who we know who offers peace to others? How have we witnessed this?
I wonder who we know who stands up for what they believe,
even when they are bullied by others?
ACTIVITY STARTERS:
Share stories about these saints.
Draw pictures of these saints.
Write a note of thankfulness to the saints who are still with us.
Light candles for the saints in our lives.
Read more ideas for sharing with children about All Saints’ Day
Prayer
(Written by Safiyah Fosua)
We give you thanks, O God, for all the saints who ever worshiped you,
whether in arbors or cathedrals,
wooden churches or cement meeting houses.
We give you thanks, O God, for hands lifted in praise:
manicured hands and hands stained with grease or soil,
strong hands and hands gnarled with age,
holy hands.
We thank you, God, for hardworking saints,
whether hard-hatted or aproned,
blue-collared or three-piece-suited.
They left their mark for you, for us, for our children to come.
Thank you for the sacrifices made by those who have gone before us.
Bless the memories of your saints.
May we learn how to walk wisely from their examples of faith, dedication, worship, and love.
Offertory Prayer: Discipleship Ministries
Merciful God, you open our eyes to your truth, and we bring our gifts to you with gratitude. As we reflect on the story of Bartimaeus, we bring our offerings as a response to your call, a step in faith to follow you more closely. Use these gifts to spread your love and light, helping others to see your grace and mercy. Bless our giving and open our hearts to see the needs around us so that we may serve with compassion and humility. In Jesus’s name, we pray. Amen. (Mark 10:46-52)
Newsletter Nugget
“Jesus began to weep” —John 11:35, NRSVUE
John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, enjoyed and celebrated All Saints’ Day. In a journal entry from November 1, 1767, Wesley calls it “a festival I truly love.” On the same day in 1788, he writes, “I always find this a comfortable day.” The following year he calls it “a day that I peculiarly love.”
Charles Wesley, John’s brother, picks up on this theme in his hymn that appears in our United Methodist Hymnal as “Come, Let Us Join Our Friends Above,” #709. In the first verse, he offers a wonderful image of the church through the ages:
Let saints on earth unite to sing with those to glory gone,
for all the servants of our King in earth and heaven are one.
On All Saints’ Day we can remember all those who are part of the “communion of saints” we confess whenever we recite The Apostles’ Creed. We share stories of those “to glory gone.”
Retelling these stories grounds us in our history. These memories teach us how God has provided for us through the generosity and sacrifice of those who have come before us. The stories of the saints encourage us to be all God has created us to be. Read more.