It's Time to Celebrate the Saints

It's Time to Celebrate the Saints
 
“For all the saints, who from their labors rest…” and, if I don’t have the hymnal in front of me, I sort mumble something unintelligible until the really good part – “Thy name O Jesus (shout it out now!) be forever blessed, A-ha-leluia, A-ha-ha-leluia.”  Awesome!  Thank you, William W. How for writing that Top Ten hit in 1864.  Brother, you rock.

For a number of you, this Sunday will be the day you sing that beloved hymn.  Yes, it’s All Saints Day, one of my favorite days in the church year.  This is the chance to remember people who have passed on to glory during the previous year and to recall all the saints who poured their time, talent, and treasure into the place you call your spiritual home. It reminds us that no one is forgotten and that everyone is important.

Who are the saints in your life?  Who needs to be remembered on this very hallowed Sunday?  How will the recognition of a life well-lived inspire others to live the life that Christ has called us to experience?  How can we ever show how grateful we are for the saints?
 
If you want a real four-minute treat, here’s "For All the Saints" sung by 5,000 people in the Royal Albert Hall in 2004.  How tears aren’t streaming down everyone’s faces, I’ll never know.  Excuse me while I go and reapply my make-up.
 
So this Sunday, sing that famous hymn with gusto – even if you have a teeny tiny congregation.  Give thanks and praise that we have a “great cloud of witnesses” that have provided us with countless examples of how to live a faithful life.  Surely, that is something to celebrate.  A-ha-leluia, A-ha-ha-leluia!

Cesie Delve Scheuermann is a consultant in stewardship, development, and grant writing. Over the past decade, while working as a volunteer and part-time consultant, she helped raise over $2 million dollars for numerous non-profit organizations. She served as the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference Lay Leader from 2008-2012.  She is hoping that most of you will make it through all eleven verses of "For All the Saints."  Her position with the Conference is funded through a  generous grant from the Collins Foundation. You can reach her at inspiringgenerosity@gmail.com.

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