November is a month that rings of
thankfulness; a time that draws us to name that for which we are thankful and
those for whom, having known, we feel blessed. Indeed, the month of
Thanksgiving begins in celebration of those who have gone before, having lived
faithfully, served graciously, and shared generously; this is All Saints Day:
November 1.
The feast of All Saints achieved great prominence in the ninth
century, in the reign of the Byzantine Emperor, Leo VI "the Wise"
(886–911). His wife, Empress Theophano—commemorated
on December 16—lived a devout life. After her death in 893,
her husband built a church, intending to
dedicate it to her. When he was forbidden to do so, he decided to dedicate it
to "All Saints," so that if his wife were in fact one of the
righteous, she would also be honored whenever the feast was celebrated. –
[Wikipedia]
Who do we wish to be honored in this
celebration of the Saints? As we think on the church, the congregation, the
building, the people and ministry – for whom can we give thanks for their
commitment and dedication to faithfully sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
For those willing to risk the chartering of 1st
Presbyterian Church of Phoenix and those whose ongoing support saw the
construction of the current building, for those who have given countless hours
teaching Sunday school and those who have joyfully served at numberless
potlucks and coffee hours, and sang in the choir and lead worship; we lift in
prayer the memories those who have prayerfully shaped the congregational life
of 1st Phoenix – from worship and fellowship to the outreach and
mission; for their steadfast faithfulness in their use and maintenance of this
facility; for those who have served as Elders (now referred to as Ruling elders
in our new Form of Government -nFoG) prayerfully discerning where and how God’s
spirit is giving shape to this congregation, for those Deacons who have
faithfully sat with those in need faithfully tending to the down-trod and
broken hearted; for the pastors (now referred to as Teaching Elders under
nFog), and for the many, many, many faithful members who have given of their
time, their talents – who have given from the depths of their very selves: For all of these people who have come
before, paved the ground and smoothed the rough places, who have laid the
foundations encouraging us to imagine, dream and discern what ministries God is
calling us into, we lift prayers of thanksgiving and gratitude.
One day, each of us hope to enter into
this litany of those remembered; and so it is also appropriate to lift in
prayer those who will come after us – hopeful that the work we’ve done, the
commitments, the abundant gifts of time, talent and treasures God shares
through the lives we live might prayerfully, faithfully, spiritually empower
generations of the faithful to follow how they feel God leading them to be the
Body of Christ for their time. In the hope of passing on the blessings with
which we have been blessed, let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
May you have a blessed season of
Thanksgiving.
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