“In life and in death we belong to God. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve.” – From A Brief Statement of Faith, 1991

t is a special day in the life of the church as we name and remember each church member who has passed from this life to the next since this time last year.  In worship this Sunday, a bell will be tolled as each name is read. The banner next to the pulpit – an oil painting on gray canvas – was created by Martha Huggins and gifted to the church for use both at memorial services and on All Saints’ Sunday.

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated, of course, and those of us worshiping online are reminded to prepare our own tables with bread and juice. Any bread and juice will do; it is Christ’s grace that makes the ordinary extraordinary.

Are you seeking a quiet place of reflection and remembrance? Consider the Memorial Garden and its labyrinth, where there is gracious seating and the sights and sounds of fall serve as visceral reminders of God’s presence and eternal care.