November is upon us and we are busy with the chaotic life we've lived for years.
Our worship today was the annual celebration of All Saints’ Sunday as we welcomed the one who will hopefully be our Parish’s new Music Director. We opened with the reminder that the body of Christ spans all of time. Our lesson from the prophet Isaiah foresees God overcoming death and restoring humanity to a proper relationship with God. The Psalmist’s song is a triumphal statement of God’s grace and bounty for all creation. Our gospel from John recounts the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and overcoming death in all people. The reading from the Revelation to John was the foundation for our sermon and relates the coming of God to restore relationship with God out of the chaos which occupies the world. The Apocalypse isn’t just a story that disturbs us but is a story which helps us realize that God’s plan succeeds, even when the world tries to thwart God. Not because we don’t realize the chaos, but because God has survived through all the mess that is human existence. Life can trouble us, but those troubles won’t have the last say, because God is there with us no matter what. Who has God placed in our midst to allow us to survive together forever?
I invite your comments,
Les+
Readings: Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 24; Revelation 21:1-6a; John 11:32-44
https://audiomack.com/fatherles-2/song/all-saints-sunday-sermon
