All Saints Sunday 

November 2nd  

Remembering the Saints

 Dear Friends of Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church,

When Janna and I were living in Central and Eastern Europe, one of the most memorable celebrations was All Saints on November 1st. Whether you were Roman Catholic or Protestant, families would make the annual pilgrimage to the family cemetery to honor those who were their ‘beloved saints’. Most often these were family members, but they could also be cultural and political figures. The candles and lamps would burn well into the night. Surprisingly, the following night the lights would reappear again as families moved on to other family cemeteries. All Saints was more than a cultural ritual. It was way to reconnect with the past and to retell the stories of family and faith of an earlier generation.

Remembering the saints is one of the most important tasks we have as Christians. In Proverbs 10:7 we read, The memory of the righteous is a blessing. St. Paul writes about celebrating the faith of the saints both living and the dead, in his letter to the Ephesians 1:15-17, I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. Remembering the saints is honoring the men and women who have nurtured us in our faith. It is also a confession, that no Christian stands strong alone. We are supported by a host of “saints” who support and encourage us in own journey.

How we choose to remember the saints in our lives is a matter of culture and tradition. Several years ago, Janna and I drove around to the various cemeteries where our grandparents were buried. We carried our lamp with us from place to place where we said a prayer and sang a song. It was a meaningful day. In worship, we often light candles and ring bells to honor and remember the newly passed. This coming Sunday we would like you to come forward during the singing of the hymn of the day Shall We Gather at the River to place a flower in a vase in front of the Easter Paschal candle in memory of the fallen saint in your life.

There is still another way of remembering the saints. Traditionally at Lake of the Isles, members and friends have designated special financial gifts to the LOTI Endowment Fund on All Saints Sunday. These gifts continue to grow and serve as a reminder that the legacy of faith doesn’t end in death. The life of faith lives on through love, memory and continuing service.
Join us this Sunday, November 2nd for All Saints Sunday and consider what ways you can remember the saints in your life.

Peace, Pastor Arden Haug