Podcasts about all saints sunday

All Saints Sunday, November 3rd, 2024 by Sermons and Catechesis from Christ Church, Waco

Sermon by Tim Rich from worship at 10:00 a.m. on All Saints Sunday, November 10, 2024 at All Saints Church, Pasadena. Readings: Ruth 3:1–5; 4:13–17, Psalm 127:1-4, Hebrews 9:24-28 and Mark 12:38-44. Watch the sermon on YouTube. Please consider pledging to All Saints Church at https://allsaints-pas.org/pledge/, or donate to support the mission and ministries of All Saints at https://allsaints-pas.org/giving/. Any donation, big or small, is appreciated! Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AllSaintsPasadena/. Follow us on Instagram at #allsaintspas. Check out the rest of our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/allsaintspasadena1/videos. Subscribe, like, get notifications every time we post! Enjoy our extensive archive of stimulating and inspiring content!

All Saints Sunday calls us into a space of reverence, where we hold the memories of loved ones, mentors, and friends who walked with us in faith. Hear Rev. A's message recorded on November 3rd 2024 as we observe this holy day of remembering.

Michelle Matthews preaches on Nehemiah 4 on All Saints Sunday, discussing how Nehemiah displays a leadership combination of self, skills, and spirit that still applies today. The sermon is followed by a prayer for our nation on the eve of the 2024 election.

This past Sunday was All Saints Sunday. Pastor Emily shared a sermon referencing Revelation 7:9-17. While you worship online, we invite you to fill out a connection card. This card is not only a way for us to connect with you but also an opportunity for you to share any prayer requests you may have: firstchurchorlando.org/connection-card Giving: firstchurchorlando.org/give-now Missed a past service? Check out our YouTube Channel for past services or you can find our Podcast wherever you podcast from. Like and Subscribe for more First Church content. Want to know more about First Church? Visit our website at firstchurchorlando.org

Sermon preached by Father Spencer Ruark at The Table worship gathering on Sunday, October 3rd, 2024. All Saints Sunday.

All Saints Sunday is a day when we give thanks for people who have gone before. We remember not only that there are those who have died in our lifetimes, but there is also a great cloud of witnesses above, and that we too will be in their ranks soon. We draw on the powerful image of dancing saints to depict the community that those of us still living have with those who have died. This message comes from Pastor Sarah. Our lesson is from Hebrews Chapter 12, verses 1-2, and the Gospel is from John Chapter 11, Verses 32-44.

The Rev. Michael McGhee preached on Matthew 5:1-12 on All Saints Sunday on November 3rd. 

The Sanctuary Service, November 3, 2024 The Sanctuary Choir, joined by members of the Richmond Symphony Chorus, soloists, and chamber orchestra, will present Dan Forrest's extraordinary musical work on All Saints Sunday.  

All Saints Sunday 2024 (Nov 3)The sunflower on the maintenance road didn't get the memo — it didn't belong there and it was too late in the season.  Yet it was there, and for the folks walking by, it became a beautiful symbol of God's faithfulness.  In spite of how broken our world is, there remains enough signposts and sacraments, signs of God's goodness, that we are forced to reckon with the reality of God's presence and faithfulness in our lives.This All Saints Sunday we reflect on the sunflowers on the road of our lives — the people whose presence bore witness to God's faithfulness in our lives.  We link back to Jesus meeting people on the road of life's sorrows (John 11:32-44) as he becomes the chief sunflower on the road for us.

On All Saints Sunday, United Methodists around the world publicly remember and honor those who have passed away. All Saints Sunday honors the impact each life has on another.

Sermon from Revd Colin James for All Saints Sunday on the call for all of us to be saints, by the God who loves and welcomes us all. 3rd November 2024

Sermon by Tim Rich from worship at 10:00 a.m. on All Saints Sunday, November 32, 2024 at All Saints Church, Pasadena. Readings: John 11:32-44. Watch the sermon on YouTube.          Please consider pledging to All Saints Church at https://allsaints-pas.org/pledge/, or donate to support the mission and ministries of All Saints at https://allsaints-pas.org/giving/. Any donation, big or small, is appreciated! Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AllSaintsPasadena/. Follow us on Instagram at #allsaintspas. Check out the rest of our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/allsaintspasadena1/videos. Subscribe, like, get notifications every time we post! Enjoy our extensive archive of stimulating and inspiring content!

All Saints Sunday 2024 by Matt Rawle

In our INTERSECTION message from All Saints Sunday, Brian shares with us from Revelation 21: 1-6. One day, through God's grace, we will all be home. 

In our All Saints Sunday sermon, Andy shares with us from Revelation 21:1-6. We are heading home. We aren't yet there, but God is taking us to better place. We rejoice for our saints who are already there. But we know we are going home. 

Join us this week for our 11 AM worship service as Rev. Ramsey Jay preaches on Revelation 21:1-6a on All Saints Sunday. On this special Sunday, we honor and uplift the memory of those who have passed since last year, celebrating their lives, the legacy they leave behind, and the sacred, thin places where we […] The post November 3, 2024 Modern | Thin Places appeared first on Christ United Methodist Church.

Join us this week for our 11 AM worship service as Rev. Kristin Steed preaches on Revelation 21:1-6a on All Saints Sunday. On this special Sunday, we honor and uplift the memory of those who have passed since last year, celebrating their lives and the legacy they leave behind. Visit Christ United online at www.cumc.com or come […] The post November 3, 2024 Traditional | All Saints appeared first on Christ United Methodist Church.

Today is ALL SAINTS SUNDAY where we remember the Saints who have gone on to glory and the witness they have provided us. We lift up the families who continue to grieve and pray that we would be faithful witnesses who hear "well done good and faithful servants."

On All Saints Sunday, we remembered the church members who've died this year. "Let saints on earth in concert sing with those whose work is done; for all the servants of our King in heaven and earth are one." - Charles Wesley   The scripture came from Psalm 24: The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob. Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty— he is the King of glory.

Sunday, November 3 2024 - Sermon by Pastor Brett JenkinsGeneral podcast introduction using "Be Thou My Vision." General podcast outro using "Be Thou My Vision."

What does it mean to be a saint? Join Hunter Myers as he unpacks the rich theology found in the collect for All Saints Sunday in preparation for testimonies of the saints.

Fr. Andrew invites us to explore three lessons from Mark 12 about our daily call to the makings of a saint on this All Saints Sunday.

Co-Pastor Rev. Colin Holtz preached on All Saints Sunday, November 3, 2024. The Church at Ponce & Highland is a multiracial, pro-LGBTQ, economically diverse, member-led church in intown Atlanta. We value radical inclusivity, thoughtful spirituality, and caring community. To learn more, hit subscribe or visit http://churchatponceandhighland.org/

Jesus Cries with Us, Jesus Cries Out for Us Last Sunday afternoon Jamie, Laurie, Phylis and I sitting at a large round table visited with Anna, Ashley, Alison (from Panama), Fatima (from Venezuela), three little people, and a faithful member of St. Christopher Episcopal Church.   St. Christopher is a sanctuary church in El Paso, Texas, a safe place for migrant people to live until they can travel on to a more permanent safe and caring community in which they could live and work and thrive.  Many take dangerous and often illegal risks.  Many are filled with great anxiety and uncertainty, exacerbated by antiquated immigration laws and processes that can mean months and even many years of waiting.  Many are filled with fear both of countries they have fled and of our country because they know we are a deeply divided nation given to fear and even hatred of these aliens, these sojourners, these strangers. But Sunday we all were in this safe and sacred place.  Except for the little ones we introduced ourselves, shared little bits of our life stories, either in Spanish or English or both.  All of us children of God, all of us on a journey, though for Alison and Fatima, a much more dangerous and harrowing one.  We talked together, prayed together, sang a little together, ate a meal together, held babies (the best part!) and hugged one another… A couple thousand years ago, Jesus too was on a dangerous journey.  In John 11 we read of his crossing the Jordan River, going to Judea where he knowingly faced threats of stoning, persecution, and death.  On the way there he received a message from beloved friends, Mary and Martha, that their brother Lazarus was ill.  Jesus, the Son of God, knew that Lazarus' illness was terminal.  In fact, Jesus knew, he had already died.  Yet Jesus stayed where he was for two more days… And then came the account from the Gospel of John for this All Saints Sunday.  In it we learn what God is like when we suffer, when we die.  We know what God, is like, revealed most fully to us in Jesus, when Bob and Joy and Walter and Dale and Chip and David, whom we remember this morning, died during this past year.  Jesus, the Son of God, wept with and for their families and friends. Jesus cried with them. Jamie and Laurie and Phylis and I spent five days with Border Servant Corps guides, mostly with Ashley, a young woman about to graduate from college and then after a gap year on to law school.  With her we visited border patrol folk, spent time with “guests,” always these migrant people were called guests, in processing centers and shelters on both sides of the Rio Grande River, talked with criminal court Judge Ritter presiding over cases against those crossing the border between legal points of entry.  Perhaps most moving for us was our visit with Amanda, a federal public defender.  With all of them we could see Jesus.  We could see Jesus “greatly disturbed' and crying with these guests and with those so committed to accompanying them on their journeys toward some semblance of mercy and justice.      We saw Jesus in Gracias, a feisty, self-proclaimed activist who is the shepherd of the shelter we visited in Juarez, Mexico.  In, I think, more than a coincidence for us sojourners from Faith, Okemos, her call to this ministry came years agowhen she mourned the killing of two LGBT people at the border.  At times Gracias has provided a safe haven for as many as 370 guests in a clean but very dilapidated five-story building.  Last Monday we prepared and served a meal for 60 men, women, and children currently living there.  We saw Jesus in Gracias and in Cesi with us that day, who translated my mini-sermon proclaiming God's watchful care for these his beloved children.  Cesi walks step by step with guests when they are able to fly or take a bus from El Paso to a new home somewhere in our country.   We saw Jesus in the guarded but gently smiling faces of these guests, perhaps especially in the faces of the children. But the gospel for today is not only about people for whom and with whom Jesus wept, for Martha and Mary and their friends.  It is that, Jesus, the Son of God, the incarnation of God, was also for them the resurrection and the life.  Jesus was and is God making of death only a transitory experience.  Jesus, the resurrection and the life, cried out, now not with tears, but with a loud voice, to a man dead for four stinky days, “Lazarus, come out!” To Walter and Dale and Bob and Chip and Joy and David, Jesus said, perhaps more gently, “Come, dwell with me now in my Father's house.  There you be forever safe, forever free, forever whole, forever loved and in love with all the children of God from Michigan and Texas and Mexico and Panama and Venezuela, from Sudan and Ghana and Mauritania, from Palestine and Lebanon and Israel, from Ukraine and Russia…” On this All Saints Sunday remember.  Remember that Jesus cries with you and Jesus cries out for you.  Remember that Jesus cried with the family and friends of Joy, Chip, Dale, Walt, David, and Dale.  Remember he wept for the LGBT people killed at the border.  Remember he wept for those who bodies were and are still to this day found in the deserts of Mexico, bodies of souls striving in desperate, vain attempts to find a better life in our country.    But remember too and above all that Jesus cried out for Lazarus to come out, to rise from death.  Remember, as you come at his invitation to dine with him at the communion table this morning, that he suffered and died for you and that he rose again for you and for all whom we remember this day. I think of these beautiful words from Romans 6:  Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  Therefore, we have been buried with him by baptism into death so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.  For if we have united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. Phylis and I, Laurie and Jamie, we did see Jesus at the border.  With the eyes of faith, we see him here too, with our congregation in our worries, with us in our pain, with us in our losses.  We see him here in the hearts of so many here who care deeply about each other and about strangers, about people on difficult journeys, people God has called us to walk with in love, to “walk in newness of life.”  We see Jesus speaking through the work of the call committee, “crying out” to us to come out of any dark tombs of worry, of any paralyzing fears about the future well-being of our congregation. And, especially this week, may all of us see Jesus crying with us and crying out to us, “Come out of your dark tomb!”, no matter the outcome of the election on Tuesday.        

Fr. Wiley reminds us that on All Saints Sunday we remember all who have been saved by the grace of God and celebrate the promise of new life in Christ.

In our All Saints Sunday sermon, Andy shares with us from Revelation 21:1-6. We are heading home. We aren't yet there, but God is taking us to better place. We rejoice for our saints who are already there. But we know we are going home. 

This sermon was preached by David Sims on November 3, 2024, All Saints Sunday.

The good news of our future. A sermon for All Saints Sunday on Revelation 21:1-6 by Rev. Justin Morgan.

On this All Saints Sunday, we not only celebrate baptisms, but we remember the saints among us who have joined God's eternal church. In Pastor Jonathan's reflection this morning, he talks about the people that have had the most positive effect on us: those who live 'in the now' but spread the joy that is the the coming Kingdom of God.

DateNovember 3, 2024SynopsisIn this sermon, we explore the life of Henri Nouwen—Catholic priest, prolific author, and wounded healer—whose lifelong struggle with feeling worthy of love led him to discover God's grace in unexpected places. Through Nouwen's journey from prestigious academic positions to living among those with disabilities at L'Arche, we learn that our wounds aren't liabilities but pathways to healing, and that like trapeze artists, we're all called to trust in the divine Catcher who promises to hold us. This message will especially resonate with anyone who has ever felt like an impostor, struggled with feeling worthy of love, or longed to be enough—inviting us to consider how our own wounds might become sources of healing for others, just as Nouwen taught us that "when our wounds cease to be a source of shame and become a source of healing, we have become wounded healers."ReferencesScripture: Matthew 3:13–17; Hebrews 12:1–2About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

In this sermon, based on John 11:32-44, Pastor Scott explores the reality of life and death through the example of Jesus raising Lazarus back to life. We are reminded that we mourn together but also that God mourns with us. This is the assigned gospel text for Sunday November 3rd, All Saints Sunday.

Have you ever met people who have a quick answer when you suffer a loss? People who might say, 'Oh, you'll get over it quickly, cheer up' or 'It was for the best after all'. Or, especially when we mourn the loss of a child, 'Now the good Lord has one more angel in paradise'. And maybe the worst: 'You may not understand it now, but God has a plan' The post All Saints Sunday appeared first on Wicker Park Lutheran Church.

The sermon from the All Saints Sunday, November 3, 2024, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “Living Into the Will of God” in the worship series “United at the Table: Gratitude Beyond Differences.” Scripture lessons: Deuteronomy 6:1-9 and Mark 12:28-34 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

John 11:32-44 When Mary came to Jesus and saw him she said to him, “Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping and the other Jews with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said to them, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” Then Jesus came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone lying against it. Jesus said to them, “Take away the stone.” But Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I know that you always hear me, but I've said this for the sake of those standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” Death and dying have been hanging heavy on my mind lately – and I know that's true for many of you, too. We had Steve Ellenberger's celebration of life last Saturday. I had another funeral last Sunday afternoon, for the father of a college friend, down in Southport. We're getting ready to do the same for Dick Bowen this weekend. On Monday night, our Stephen Ministers did some “continuing education” about what it means to pre-plan your funeral – a session we scheduled months ago. And Wednesday, a group of us wrapped up a seven-week conversation about what it means to die well – to approach, and even embrace, the gravity of getting old … and the nearness and certainty of our own demise.All of these things, each in their own way, were pointing me toward what we're up to on this high, holy, festival we call “All Saints Sunday” in the Church. We've already read our names and tolled our bells toward that end. We've been reminded about the power of baptism and we will receive the power and blessing of Holy Communion, in light of it all, too – as we should.But the catch to all of this, of course… the thing that sometimes gets lost in the mix, or glossed over, or denied by the rose-colored glasses of Sunday morning worship; by the bright lights and the white paraments; by the pretty flowers and the rousing music of it all… is that in order to be the kind of saint we're commemorating and celebrating… in order to become the kind of saints we're remembering and honoring this morning… a person first has to be dead.And Jesus reminds us this morning, with the help of Mary and Martha and their brother Lazarus, that death and mortality are sad, scary, messy, and mystifying parts of life in this world. But part of life, nonetheless.Even Jesus weeps in this bit of John's Gospel as he makes his way to his friend's tomb, and when we find him there this morning, he's still “greatly disturbed,” even though, presumably, he knew what he was going to try to do for Lazarus. And Martha and her sister Mary are so distraught over their brother's dying, that they have the nerve to blame Jesus for not coming to the rescue sooner.But Jesus does come. And he's not afraid of what awaits him there: the mourning of the sisters; the sadness of the crowds; his own deep grief; the improbability of the task before him; the grave clothes; the large stone; the stench of a four-day-old corpse in the Judean heat.So, I feel like I'm being invited, again this morning – in the light of recent events and on this All Saints Sunday – to get up close and personal with death and mortality – mine, yours, ours – in another new, holy kind of way. And I think we honor those who've gone before us – whose deaths we commemorate, whose lives we celebrate, and whose love we remember – when we open ourselves to connecting the dots between their living and dying and our own more deliberately. That seven-week class that just ended – the one about the grace and gravity of getting old – was based on a book by Parker Palmer, called On the Brink of Everything. (Some in our group thought that the title was the best thing about the book, so take my recommendation with a grain of salt!)But, “On the Brink of Everything?” I am captivated and encouraged and inspired by that hopeful perspective about dying and by what it means to inch closer and closer to death and to whatever waits for us on the other side of this life – and to do it deliberately, intentionally, and with your heart and mind and life wide open to God's possibilities.And what Jesus does this morning, in a way I thought about differently this time because of it, is he shows us how thin the veil is between this life and the next when he's part of the mix – and I don't just mean the “veil” of that stinky cloth that was wrapped around Lazarus head when we stepped out of his tomb.No, what speaks now to me about all of this is what it means to live with one foot firmly and faithfully planted in life as we know it, on this side of Heaven, and another foot poised and ready to land safely, securely, and fearlessly on the other side of Heaven, whenever that time comes.And Jesus' little stunt with Lazarus gives me hope to remember that there are saints on both sides of it all. And it challenges me to remember that I'm called to be one of them – here and now, whenever and wherever and however I can muster it – just as surely as I hope to join saints like Steve Ellenberger and Dick Bowen and all the rest, on the other side of God's eternity, too.For some reason, I've found myself recounting for a couple of people lately, something my dad's heart surgeon told me, my brother, and my mom, while my dad was still in the ICU following his second open-heart surgery, more than 20 years ago. After recounting all of the ways my dad was going to have to continue changing or maintaining his lifestyle as a heart patient – eating this, not eating that, exercising, monitoring his stress, and so on – the doctor said, “BUT, it's also important to remember that the point of living is not NOT to die.”“The point of living is not NOT to die.”And that's great, practical advice when it comes to having a steak or a drink or a cigar every once in a blue moon. But it's also great, practical, solid spiritual advice, too, if you ask me. “The point of living is not NOT to die.”I believe when we live our lives pretending or denying or keeping our distance from death – as we are so often inclined to do – it is that much harder to face, or digest, or journey through it in healthy, faithful ways when death comes – for us, for someone we love, or when it shows up in the world around us.And I believe keeping our distance from death keeps us from living as fully and as faithfully as we should, could, would, or want to be living, if we truly considered what it means to be “on the brink of everything” – on the verge of God's heavenly, holy ground, more often.So, I wonder, what if we saw ourselves and others – more readily – as saints already, on this side of heaven, not just the next?What if we saw all that we experience in this life – the beautiful and the bland, the joy and the sadness, the hopeful and the despairing – as holy stepping stones on a pathway to the brink of God's great eternity?What if we lived more acutely aware and accepting of the notion that a sacred, holy communion of saints surrounds us – right where we live, as we make our way through life in this world?What if we stopped pretending that death was this untouchable thing to be avoided at all costs – that we could or should live forever and always, even though we know that's not possible and was never the plan?What if we lived like God's Kingdom was closer, nearby, within and around – not only in the communion of saints who've gone on to glory – but close, nearby, within and around those of us who are called to be saints here and now, just the same?I think it would impact how we give, how we serve, how we forgive, how we live, and how we die, too.Because Jesus shows up – if we're paying attention, and reminds us – like he proved to Lazarus, and like he reminded Martha – that if we believe … if we keep our eyes open … if we invite the presence of God's grace to live among us – we will see the glory of God in this life, in ways that fill us with hope – now, and for whatever's yet to come.Amen

All Saints Sunday 2024 (I Corinthians 1:1-3) by Madison United Methodist Church

All Saints Sunday - a sermon from John 11:32-44

All Saints Sunday, Year B

On All Saints Sunday, we honor those whose lives have shown us glimpses of God's kingdom on earth and hold on to the hope of an eternal home, where love and life continue beyond all bounds. At both services, we will observe the Sacrament of Communion and candle lighting in honor of loved ones who know live in the eternal fullness of Christ.

This Sunday, we gather for All Saints Sunday, a time to remember and honor those saints who have gone before us—those who have shown us what it means to walk faithfully with Christ. Our sermon, "Saints Are...", will explore the qualities that define saints among us and around us, those who inspire us with lives of grace, courage, and love. Together, let's celebrate these examples of faith and reflect on how we, too, are called to live as saints in the making, shining the light of God's love in our world. Join us as we honor this sacred legacy and seek to carry it forward.

The post All Saints Sunday appeared first on St. Timothy's Lutheran Church - San Jose, CA.

Historically, All Saints Sunday has been a sacred day in the Christian Tradition, observed as early as the 4th Century. In this week's service, we will celebrate Holy Communion, recognizing the communion of saints—those who are present with us and those who have joined the heavenly assembly. We will also name those in our congregation who have passed in the last year, giving thanks for their witness and reflecting on how their lives continue to inspire and challenge us today. I am grateful that many of their family members will be with us in worship.

On this All Saints Sunday, Pastor Jim Lindus explores how timing is so important in life, as is saying the words that matter… words that we all yearn to hear. It's later than you think.

Today is All Saints Sunday at Greenfield Presbyterian Church in Berkley, MI. Scripture Reading is Romans 16:1-16 Introduction to Phoebe 16 I'm introducing our sister Phoebe to you, who is a servant of the church in Cenchreae. 2 Welcome her in the Lord in a way that is worthy of God's people, and give her whatever she needs from you, because she herself has been a sponsor of many people, myself included. Greetings to Roman Christians 3 Say hello to Prisca and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their own necks for my life. I'm not the only one who thanks God for them, but all the churches of the Gentiles do the same. 5 Also say hello to the church that meets in their house. Say hello to Epaenetus, my dear friend, who was the first convert in Asia for Christ. 6 Say hello to Mary, who has worked very hard for you. 7 Say hello to Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners. They are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. 8 Say hello to Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. 9 Say hello to Urbanus, our coworker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. 10 Say hello to Apelles, who is tried and true in Christ. Say hello to the members of the household of Aristobulus. 11 Say hello to my relative Herodion. Say hello to the members of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. 12 Say hello to Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who are workers for the Lord. Say hello to my dear friend Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Say hello to Rufus, who is an outstanding believer, along with his mother and mine. 14 Say hello to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters who are with them. 15 Say hello to Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Say hello to each other with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ say hello to you.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.ktfpress.comListen to a recording of our monthly subscriber chat from this past Tuesday, where Jonathan, Sy, and our subscribers get into:-        How to practice hope and peacemaking in fearful times like this election season-        How peace is different than unity, and takes power dynamics into account-        How hope is shaped by God's presence with us, the depths of evil and suffering we see around us, and perspectives outside our context-        And we discuss and contextualize the news about increased BIPOC support for TrumpCredits-            Follow KTF Press on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Subscribe to get our bonus episodes and other benefits at KTFPress.com.-        Follow host Jonathan Walton on Facebook Instagram, and Threads.-        Follow host Sy Hoekstra on Mastodon.-        Our theme song is “Citizens” by Jon Guerra – listen to the whole song on Spotify.-        Our podcast art is by Robyn Burgess – follow her and see her other work on Instagram.-        Transcripts by Joyce Ambale and Sy Hoekstra.-        Editing and Production by Sy Hoekstra and our incredible subscribersTranscript[An acoustic guitar softly plays six notes in a major scale, the first three ascending and the last three descending, with a keyboard pad playing the tonic in the background. Both fade out as Jonathan Walton says “This is a KTF Press podcast.”]Intro and AnnouncementsSy Hoekstra: Welcome to Shake the Dust, seeking Jesus, confronting injustice. I'm Sy Hoekstra, and this is a bonus episode where we are bringing you the subscriber conversation that we had just a couple of days ago. You might notice that I, both in the recording and right now sound a little bit sickly just because I have COVID. Don't worry, everything is fine. It's been pretty mild, but I sound stuffy.We are bringing you a great conversation today about hope and about peacemaking in difficult times and times like this election, frankly. Why hope is so hard to have, both because it's risky, but also because it can seem privileged and naive, and why we think it's not and we do it anyways. Some stories of where that kind of hope comes from. And we talk about peacemaking and how it's not the same as just unity and kumbaya, but how we sometimes strive for unity in the name of peace. And sometimes we strive for a little bit of strife, maybe, to tell some truth in the name of peace. Not maybe, we definitely do that a lot [laughs]. And then we get into a little bit about some kind of changing, somewhat changing demographics about who is voting Republican and why that is. And that actually makes sense when you understand it from the perspective of whiteness and colonization.Quick favor to ask, if you like this podcast, which I know you do because you're listening to the subscriber only feed, go give this show a rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. And if you're on Apple, give us a written review too. They are so encouraging, and the ratings and the reviews help other people find us and see that other people think that this show is good and worth their time.Also, in case you missed it, we are going to be doing a Substack live conversation on November 6th at 1pm, that's the day after the election. If you're listening to this, you're already on our mailing list, so that means you will be notified via email. You will need the Substack app. There will be a link in that email, but you can also download the app at any time, iOS or Android, and then you'll be able to watch our live video conversation. We've already done the tech check and everything [laughs] to make sure that it all works. It's a new feature on Substack, and we're excited to talk to you, kind of in that new format. So do join us, Wednesday, November 6th, at 1pm to hear our reactions to what happened on Election Day and whatever is going on after it. There's a lot of possibilities. Trump will have declared that he won no matter what happened, that's my guess, and we will be moving on from there. So please do come join us. That'll be, I don't want to say, a fun conversation, but it'll be an interesting conversation for sure, and you will find some grace in it and some people who share your values. So join us then, and alright, without any further ado here is our monthly subscriber conversation for October.[The intro piano music from “Citizens” by Jon Guerra plays briefly and then fades out.]Jonathan Walton: Let's pray. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, deliver us from the evil one. For thine is kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, amen.Sy Hoekstra: Amen.Jonathan Walton: And thanks again for all of you all for being here. Sy is gonna set up our time.What does it mean to have hope or be a peacemaker in stressful times like the election?Sy Hoekstra: Yeah, thanks for coming. We just figured we wanted to, I mean, obviously we do this every month, but we wanted to talk some about kind of what it means to be a thoughtful peacemaker in a time like the next week [laughs] or the next couple of months to come, depending on what exactly happens next week. And first of all, you'll hear I'm a little stuffed. I apologize. I have the COVID virus.Mindy: Oh no.Sy Hoekstra: I've been okay, don't worry. It's been a mild cold for me. Welcome Allison. And so I will sound nasally, but [laughs] that's all. And so I guess we wanna talk a little bit about that, and then we wanted to get into, assuming people don't have questions. At any point anybody can interrupt with questions that they have, you put in the chat, or you can just join the conversation and ask questions. So we wanna talk about what it means to be a peacemaker in this time. And then also, a little bit about interesting things that have been happening around, like where voting demographics and stuff with the with the Trump campaign. So Jonathan, I think you had some thoughts to get us started on what you think it means to follow Jesus' instructions to be a peacemaker in a time that is as unpeaceful as this. So [laughs] do you wanna get us going?Jonathan Walton: Yeah. I think we may have talked about this a little bit on the podcast last week, just about how the invitation from culture, particularly the people texting me to give to campaigns [laughter] and emailing me. I got a text, it literally said, “We have texted you six times. You have not made a donation.” And I was like, “That is true, I have not made a donation [laughs]. I did not know you had texted me six times.” But Walz wanted me to know that. But the feeling is that I should be afraid, and then as Sy mentioned on the podcast, is that his sense is that he should be cynical. And so this invitation to cynicism and to fear, and just no. Jesus says no to that [laughs].So what does it look like to be hopeful and have our hope be set on the hope that does not disappoint in that way, and then that we can ask questions and be introspective, and do the radical interrogation that is necessary to follow Jesus in ways that are transformative and helpful in a world that is fractured and falling apart, and not be cynical. And so, I don't know if you all have thoughts about that or feelings about that, but how are you pushing towards hope when you're pressed to be afraid, and then how are you, or do you have questions about leaning into radical interrogation and asking good, hard, deep questions without slipping into cynicism? I have thoughts, but that was something I wanted to open up with, particularly in light of CNN, and a certain rally that happened in New York City two days ago. Does anybody not know what I'm talking about when I say the rally?Sy Hoekstra: You might as well just say because people listen to it later, so [laughs].Jonathan Walton: Okay, great. So there was a… shoot, what's his name? Shoot. Donald Trump [laughter] had a rally.Sy Hoekstra: What's his name. Old What's His Name?Jonathan Walton: Well, because I was writing another… so I did not write this blurb. This will not show up in the newsletter, but I was trying to write, and it turned into too many links about the Nazi rally from the 1930s at Madison Square Garden, and that comparison to the rally that happened yesterday, and like they're strikingly similar. Also the similarities between Elon Musk and Henry Ford and their anti-Semitism racism, but that's an essay, friends. That's not a blurb in our newsletter, and takes more time and energy than I have right now. But all that to say, Donald Trump was at Madison Square Garden, and he did a rally there were however many thousands of people there. And it was littered with racist, xenophobic nationalists just… it was a lot. It was a lot of them in one speech with lots of people.So I honestly can't tell you what other content was there, because there were so many groups that got kind of called out, which was similar to Trump's presidency. But I think the invitation from that is to be afraid and then to be cynical, because it's quite likely that he could win. And so that feels for me particularly pertinent to present to being hopeful and present to asking good, hard questions and loving the Lord with my mind in that way. So yeah, any thoughts, comments, puzzles that you'd like to share Allison sighed. I mean [laughs], Mindy sighed. And David looks very reflective [laughs]. So feel free to share about that, what you all are thinking and feeling. David, looks like you almost started. Did you have anything to share? No? Alright.Making Peace Involves Taking Power Dynamics into AccountSy Hoekstra: Okay. I could talk a little bit, Jonathan. The guy who spoke, the guy who most of the comments that the media is focusing on, was a comedian who opened for Trump who told a bunch of racist jokes. And I think when I think about what it means to be hopeful and peaceful in this moment, I do contrast it a little bit with what I think a lot of people who I think would probably be sort of politically in the middle. Oh, David says he can't unmute himself, Jonathan.David: Now I can.Sy Hoekstra: Oh, there you go.David: Sorry, go ahead.Sy Hoekstra: Okay, well, I'll keep talking, and then you can go, I guess, since I started [laughs]. But I've just been contrasting in a little bit with what I think some people in kind of the middle would view as peace, which is…Typically the default in our conversation is, without recognizing this or making this explicit, the default is people who vote for Trump are real Americans, with the concerns that we should care about and we need to understand and empathize with. And lots of other people, especially people who are marginalized, are more marginal. Not to say that no Trump voters are marginalized, but more marginalized than the demographics that vote for Trump are like DEI concerns, you know what I mean?Like some kind of special concern outside of the concerns of real Americans. And so I do think that, in part, what it means to be not cynical and not fearful and hopeful and peaceful is to reject that binary and to say, for me to be a peacemaker, I need to take into account power dynamics and say that the thing that has to happen is, yes, everybody needs to be understanding and kind and empathetic and everything toward each other, but because there are power dynamics, there actually are people who need to do that more than others [laughs]. And it is not that the elite liberal media on the coasts needs to understand the farmers in the middle [laughs]. That's not the power dynamic.The power dynamic is everybody who has positions of privilege, whether they're on the coast or in the middle or whatever else, whatever part they're part of needs to be making an attempt to understand people who have less of a voice and less of a say in the world than they do. So that's my initial thought. I don't know, David, if yours is related to that at all, but you're welcome to go ahead.God's Often Confusing Presence in Our Grief Is a Foundation for HopeDavid: No. Thanks, Sy. And I agree. I think it's there's a combination of, what do you do? What should I do? And I don't have a lot of clarity on that. And I think you're right. I mean, I think some of us have more responsibility than others to do and to stand up for the people who are going to be feeling marginalized no matter what happens in our church.Sy Hoekstra: Yeah. I was just gonna say, what are you doing as a pastor? It's an interesting question.David: Yeah, this coming Sunday we have All Saints Sunday, and the gospel reading is the end of the raising of Lazarus. And I was talking to someone this morning who said, “This really should be the reading for the Sunday after the election, because we can say it's been four days and it stinks”Sy Hoekstra: [laughs].David: Which I guess is the cynicism temptation. But just sort of in reflecting on that, I think that's one of the things that I've been trying to wrestle with, is being in the space of Jesus both knows what he's going to do at the end, it's gonna be good, when he tells us what to do we're gonna say, “Oh no, no, no, that's not a good idea.” But we haven't gotten to that point in the story yet. And we're at the point of the story where we're weeping, and God is weeping with us and present with us. And I think for me at least, I think we have to be grounded in that first. That God will show up. No matter what happens, God will show up. God will show up in a way that we don't expect, don't understand, and probably will resist at first, but we don't know what that is yet.And right now, emotions are raw, and they're gonna be raw, and just knowing that God is present in that, I think that has to be the starting point. Because if we don't start there we're gonna just do whatever comes to our mind first, and that's probably not gonna be the right thing, because we're reacting out of a place of fear.Jonathan Walton: Yeah.David: And there's a lot to be afraid of.Jonathan Walton: Right. [laughs] Mindy nodded, yes, there's a lot to be afraid of.Sy Hoekstra: Yeah.David: But there really is a lot to be afraid of.Sy Hoekstra: Right.Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: What you're saying is…David: Regardless of who wins, to be honest.Jonathan Walton: Yes, absolutely.Insisting on Hope is Difficult and Emotionally ComplicatedSy Hoekstra: And what you're saying is not to delegitimize that reality.David: Yeah.Sy Hoekstra: And it's a hard thing to do to insist on hope [laughs]. It's not just a hard thing to do because you're risking, like, what if I hope and I'm wrong and I get hurt? But there's also just, there are people who are going to see hope and think it's the wrong thing to do, and it might even be an insulting thing to do, depending on where they are, and we're still called to it, and that is just genuinely complex.

It's time for All Saints Sunday, folks, one of the weirdest and, arguably, most wonderful celebrations in the Christian Year. We take a Sunday to remember and honor and grieve those who have died...but it's not a morbid service. It is an affirmation of legacy, and love, and life, the connections that still hold us together. Enjoy today's conversation, and maybe find a church on Sunday to enter in to the mystery that is life. 

Join Profs. Karoline Lewis, Joy J. Moore, and Matt Skinner for a conversation on the Revised Common Lectionary texts for All Saints Sunday (Year B) on November 3, 2024.  In this episode of Sermon Brainwave, our hosts explore the themes of grief, remembrance, and eternal life for All Saints Sunday, focusing on the comforting presence of Jesus in times of loss. They also discuss how preachers can connect their messages to the congregation's experiences, emphasizing hope and God's promise to wipe away every tear. Commentaries for All Saints Sunday (Year B):  https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/all-saints-day/commentary-on-john-1132-44-6. Watch the Full Episode: https://youtu.be/3ibA9XCwga4.

Join Profs. Karoline Lewis, Joy J. Moore, and Matt Skinner for a conversation on the Revised Common Lectionary texts for the Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost (Ord. 31B) on November 3, 2024.  In this episode of Sermon Brainwave, the hosts discuss the 24th Sunday after Pentecost, focusing on love, commandments, and God's nature. They explore themes from Deuteronomy, the Psalms, Ruth, and Hebrews, highlighting the call to embody faith through action and love in the Kingdom of God. Commentaries for the Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost (Ord. 31B):  https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/ordinary-31-2/commentary-on-mark-1228-34-7. Are you preaching on texts for All Saints Sunday? Tune into this episode: https://youtu.be/3ibA9XCwga4. Watch the Full Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/UNgQhK0xJWs.

In this episode of "I Love to Tell the Story: A podcast on the Narrative Lectionary," Luther Seminary Profs. Kathryn Schifferdecker, Joy J. Moore, and Rolf Jacobson explore the significance of All Saints Sunday through the story of Elijah in 1 Kings. They dive deeper into themes of scarcity, God's provision, and the importance of strong leadership, especially with upcoming elections. The conversation ends with reflections on hope, life, and the legacy of saints. Commentary on 1 Kings 17 :1-16 [17-24] by Kristin A. Swanson: https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/narrative-lectionary/gods-care-for-the-widow-2/commentary-on-1-kings-171-16-17-24-2. Overview to Year 3 of the Narrative Lectionary: https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/narrative-lectionary/introduction-to-year-3-2/47470. Watch the Full Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VixC23zO-gU.

Saints are those who have died believing in the blood of Christ for salvation. Saints are to be remembered with thanksgiving, seen as examples of holy living for the sake of being strengthened in faith. However, whenever saints are seen in such a way as makes it appear that they help with atonement, Christ's sufficient work on the cross is lost. We can faithfully proclaim the ways that saints have lived a holy life at funerals and at the celebration of All Saints Sunday without confusing the salvation belonging only to Christ. “Oh, blest communion, fellowship divine! We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine. Alleluia! Alleluia!” LSB 677, st. 4 Rev. Dennis McFadden, pastor at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, IN, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study the Scriptural truth on the invocation of saints Find your copy of the Book of Concord - Concordia Reader's Edition at cph.org or read online at bookofconcord.org.