Dear Friends,

As I was driving into Glen Mar this morning, I could hear, “Oh when the saints, go marching in, oh when the saints go marching in, oh how I want to be in that number, oh when the saints go marching in—go marching in” singing loudly in my head.  I remembered as a child really punching in that last line, “go marching in.”  At that point in my life, I did not really understand All Saints’ Day, but I knew my goal was to be a saint because I wanted to be “in that number.”  It is still my goal: to be a part of the great crowd of witnesses.  I think we all share that goal: to hear “well done my good and faithful servant.”

All Saints’ Day is a time of remembrance where Christians of the past and present from all corners of the earth are honored. Saints from all times are honored as the “great crowd of witnesses” that have gone before us, lived faithfully and shared their light and faith with us.

This has been a year where we have lost many of the saints in our lives.  Our mourning and grief are palpable.  Yet, we have hope in the assurance that they are now cheering us on along our race.  Encouraging us to keep moving forward as our feet feel faint and our legs begin to buckle.  They remind us of our eternal assurance in Christ Jesus.

All Saints’ Day will be observed in worship on Sunday, November 7, 2021, at both the 9:30 am and 11:00 am services. You are invited to submit pictures and names of the saints in your life who have passed from labor to reward over this past year. Please submit pictures and names to us by Monday, November 1, 2021.

See you in church,

Pastor Melaina