May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing and acceptable to your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. Amen.

Apostle Paul prays for the Ephesians, “I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints…You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.” (Ephesians 1:15a, 19-20, NRSV)

We are celebrating All Saints Day today although it was actually yesterday. This feast day originated in the Syrian Church referred to as the Feast of All Martyrs honoring martyrs such as Stephen, Perpetua, and Ignatius. However, the question arose as to who was considered a saint. This question caused liturgical conflict within the church. The medieval church thought they had a solution for this conflict. They would have two days to acknowledge the saints. (Homily Service, p.4, Nov.2006)

Thus, some churches celebrate All Saints Day on November 1 and All Souls on November 2. All Souls Day is devoted to offering prayers for all departed souls. However, after the Reformation All Saints Day was retained but in some cases both days were dropped. Nevertheless, after the First World War, many Protestant churches reinstituted both days by combining the acknowledgement of all the faithfully departed regardless of whether those persons were canonized or not. The Episcopal Church has designated All Saints Day as a principal feast day worldwide traditionally celebrated on November 1(or the first Sunday in November) since the 4th century. (copied and adapted from Homily Service, p.4, Nov.2006)

During our procession, you noticed we walked around the church saying the names of all persons the congregation of this parish are remembering on this day because they are the saints who have gone before us. We remember them, their lives, and their faithfulness to God. These persons--the martyrs and saints of the whole Church are being remembered today because during their lifetime, they were for the early Church and for us today the “great cloud of witnesses” that ran the race of life with perseverance--letting nothing separate them from the love of God and guidance of Jesus Christ in their lives.

The Saints are our loved ones and the church martyrs who taught us how to endure the race that is set before us as followers of Christ. The Church saints we honor include: Richard Hooker (priest), Jonathan Daniels (seminarian), Teresa of Avila (a nun), Martin Luther King, Jr. (civil rights leader), Margaret of Scotland (a queen), our neighbors, uncles, aunts, parents, grandparents, friends, teachers, and the countless unknown persons who receive no notoriety for their faithful acts of compassion. They were the examples for us and helped us along our way. These saints continue to enjoy a new state of life that is without want and filled with eternal joy and happiness.

In the Beatitudes of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus begins to teach the disciples of they and all who follow him can have joy and a state of happiness as a gift from God. Jesus references those who are in a right relationship with God-the poor in spirit, those that mourn, the meek, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Jesus describes a rule of life that will bring a state of blessedness to the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted. Jesus purpose was to outline a new way of relating to others. This was the challenge for all the saints who have gone before us and it is our challenge today. The good news is that God does not expect perfection just a desire to love God and love others.

We are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. This household was built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ…as the cornerstone. When we are baptized, we enter the Church as saints not because of our deeds or lifestyles but only because of God’s grace. We become part of the communion of saints belonging to God. (copied and adapted from Synthesis, p.2, 1991). In our collect today we hear that God knits us together in communion and fellowship in the mystical body of Christ our Lord. We are called to be ever more mindful of what God has done for us and to be open to God working through us.

At St. Margaret’s, there are known and unknown saints within our faith community. Those who tirelessly help at the rummage and book sale; Custard’s Last Stand; share communion with our sick and shut-in; lead our youth and adult education programs; feed and clothe our clients at Charlie’s Place; purchase food for Thanksgiving Day dinners for our neighbors; purchase Christmas gifts for families at Mary’s Center; and walk for the homeless. Additionally, there are those who sing in our choir and serve in the worship services. We have those who use their voices for justice and equality, who mentor an ex-offender, who offer a shoulder and an ear with compassion for others. I am looking at the saints of God before me who have touched my life and yours.

We are called as baptized saints and Christians to be stewards of the ministries in this very church where we worship every Sunday. I encourage everyone to discern and think about your God given gifts and how best to continue to use and offer your time and talents at
St. Margaret’s. Apostle Paul reminds us that we are called to give thanks to God who has made us worthy to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (Colossians 1:12, NRSV)

We can all rejoice today with faithful living with the assurances of being counted among the saints that have gone before us as Jude proclaims, “See, the Lord is coming with ten thousands of His holy ones…” (Jude 14-15, NRSV)

We are called to live in the communion of saints in this life and the life to come. Some of you maybe familiar with these lyrics, “When the saints, go marching in, O when the saints go marching in, O Lord, I want to be in that number when the saints go marching in.”(Negro Spiritual; arr. by Stephen Key, #595 in African American Heritage Hymnal, GIA publications, 2001.)

Let us pray:

Almighty God, your saints are one with you in the mystical body of Christ; give us the grace to follow them in all virtue and holiness until we come to those inexpressible joys which you have prepared for those who truly love you; you have always taken humankind of every nation, age, and race and made them saints; like them, transformed, like them baptized in Jesus’ name, take us to share your glory. Amen. (New Zealand Prayer Book, San Francisco: Harpers Collins Publishers, Inc.,
p. 670-671)