All Saints' Sunday

Gathered through the power of the Holy Spirit, we worship God with gladness. We encourage you to pray over the words that follow, and follow the links within the liturgy. Prayers in this service are adapted from Celebrate God’s Presence (UCPH). Thanks this week to Taye, Cor, and Heather!

PRELUDE: “Flying Free” (Besig)

OPENING PRAYER

For all the saints
who went before us
who have spoken to our hearts
and touched us with your fire,
we praise you, O God.

For all the saints
who live beside us
whose weaknesses and strengths
are woven with our own,
we praise you, O God.

For all the saints
who live beyond us
who challenge us
to change us
to change the world with them,
we praise you, O God.

HYMN OF PRAISE: “Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty!”

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;
holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye made blind by sin thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea;
holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

May Christ,
who makes saints of sinners,
and who has transformed those we remember today,
transform us too, made new in his likeness.
Surround us with your Spirit,
and call us find within ourselves
the heroic virtue that defines the saints.
Help us to see Christ in others,
and serve them, as we are served. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

God will give us what we need:
strength for today,
hope for tomorrow,
and forgiveness
for all that is past.
Amen.

SPECIAL MUSIC: “When in Our Music God is glorified” (Green/Stanford)

FIRST READING: Psalm 107

O give thanks, for God is gracious;
God’s steadfast love endures for ever.
Let the redeemed of God say so, those redeemed from trouble,
whom God gathered in from the lands,
from the east and the west,
from the north and the south.

Some lost their way in desert wastes, finding no place to settle;
hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.
Then they cried to you, God, in their trouble;
you rescued them from their distress.
You led them by a straight path,
till they reached a place to settle.
Let them thank you, O God, for your steadfast love,
for the wonders you do for us.
For you satisfy the thirsty,
and fill the hungry with good things.

SECOND READING: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13:

9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.

HYMN: “Shall we gather at the river”

Shall we gather at the river,
where bright angel feet have trod;
with its crystal tide for ever
flowing by the throne of God?
Yes, we’ll gather at the river,
the beautiful, the beautiful river;
gather with the saints at the river
that flows by the throne of God.

Ere we reach the shining river,
lay we every burden down;
grace our spirits will deliver,
and provide a robe and crown.
Yes, we’ll gather at the river,
the beautiful, the beautiful river;
gather with the saints at the river
that flows by the throne of God.

Soon we’ll reach the shining river,
soon our pilgrimage will cease,
soon our happy hearts will quiver
with the melody of peace.
Yes, we’ll gather at the river,
the beautiful, the beautiful river;
gather with the saints at the river
that flows by the throne of God.

REFLECTION

I suspect my mother was a secret Catholic.

And while my evidence may be vague and and a little flimsy, it remains a question in my mind. My suspicion began with the purchase of a late 70s Corolla, used, brown in colour with a beige vinyl roof. Already you find this story troubling, and that’s before you sit inside. For there, in the middle of the dashboard, was a small ornament, like a small coin on a pedestal.

Me: Mother, what is that?
Mother: That’s St. Christopher, patron saint of travellers.
Me: But you’re not Catholic.
Mother: I know, but he’s the patron saint of travellers.
Me: You’re just gonna leave it there, aren’t you?
Mother: Of course.

It was only later that I learned that St. Christopher had been demoted—maybe reassigned—within the list of Catholic saints. I can’t imagine that this information would have any bearing on the shiny metal object in the middle of the dash, since leaving it there was more about avoiding bad luck. In other words, she was not-so-secretly superstitious rather than secretly Catholic.

If you are currently looking at the St. Christopher medal on your keychain, I do not mean to offend. He’s an interesting case, and represents an important step in the evolution of the idea of sainthood. His story mirrors numerous saints who emerged in the middle ages and became increasingly popular. Christopher, like his colleagues St. Nicholas and St. George, appeared with the kernel of a story that was embellished over the centuries.

The name Christopher means Christ-bearer, and he is said to have carried a young child across a river, only to discover that he was carrying Christ. In this sense, he blesses travellers, as he was blessed. He becomes the embodiment of “entertaining angels unawares” (Heb 13) or serving Christ in the form of the “least of these.” (Mat 25)

This, of course, was not enough to keep him on the formal list of saints. Church reform in the 1960s demanded that saints who were more legend than fact be removed from the primary calendar of commemoration. They were never fully omitted, just placed in a new category. This allowed the church to emphasize saints that were recognized through the highly organized process of canonization.

Over here in the Protestant Church, we’ve taken a different approach. Our Anglican friends continue to commemorate pre-Reformation saints, but have shifted focus to “saints and heroes” of the faith. On the west front of Westminster Abbey you will find statues of Martin Luther King Jr. and Óscar Romero, modern saints and heroes, just two examples. Methodists have taken a similar approach, never praying to saints, but lifting them up as examples to follow.

The phrase “hero of the faith” is helpful, since the common definition of sainthood is to display “heroic virtue.” Beginning in the middle ages, this meant demonstrating the four cardinal virtues (prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance) along with the three theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity. If these three sound familiar, it may relate to the many weddings you have attended. St. Paul commends faith, hope, and charity in 1 Corinthians, though we usually flatter the bride and groom by using the alternate translation, “faith, hope, and love.”

In many ways, Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians is an expanded version of faith, hope, and charity. The letter is less concerned with matters of doctrine, and more about living together as believers. The passage that Joyce shared is like a letter inside the letter, giving us the gist of the matter:

For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

Paul is keen to remind them that he was trying to set an example, demonstrating “faith, hope, and charity” at Thessalonica, and urging them to do likewise. In some ways it sounds immodest, reminding them that he and his helpers were “holy, righteous, and blameless” while with them, but it strengthens his point. By living lives worthy of God, we practice the ultimate form of devotion, the greatest gift we can give.

His words are not fully without doctrine, because he shares an important principle in the next section:

And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.

“You accepted…the word of God, which is indeed at work in you…”

I’m going to be bold and suggest that what Paul is giving us is a summary of sainthood, a summary that includes virtue (in the word of God) and the abiding sense that God is at work in us. Consider it: when we follow the word, we take it on, we embody it—then we take it into the world. Without us, there is risk that the word of God will simply be words in a page. But when we live it, when we personify the word, then God is working in us.

And this, of course, is why we treasure scripture. It provides comfort and hope, inspiration and direction, but it also reminds us of the many ways we can allow God to work in us. Think about some of your favourite passages, and then consider the mandate of allowing God to “work in us and others.” Think of Micah 6, for example: “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Countless believers have lived these words on their daily walk with the Most High. Likewise, these words from Proverbs 3: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” (Prov 3)

Perhaps the Proverbs passage is a little less familiar than Micah, but “lean not on your own understanding” is also at the heart of sainthood. We imagine that the great heroes of the faith had all the answers, knew exactly what they were doing, always did the right thing—but this is not the case. Allowing God to work in us, allowing God to anchor our lives, doesn’t make us less human. In fact, allowing God to work in us will make us more aware of our need for redemption, and the power of God’s mercy.

I want to conclude with the list of church names that we have been compiling since last Sunday. As an anniversary project, the list represents all the churches that formed us, and formed Central, making us who we are today. That was last week. This week, we ponder the list and call to mind all the saints represented by the congregations of the list. Consider the service rendered by these congregations: the mercy shown, the comfort given, the instruction shared, the inspiration kindled. Each church on our list represents devoted service—the work of saints—to keep the faith, share hope, and enact the charity that God provides.

We’ll pray over these names in a few moments, but for now we give thanks, thanks for lives lived and love enacted, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

O God,
we thank you for the many people throughout the ages
who have followed your way of life joyfully;
for the many saints and martyrs, men and women,
who have offered up their very lives,
so that your life abundant may become manifest.
For your love and faithfulness we praise you.

O God,
we thank you for those who chose the way of Christ.
In the midst of trial, they held out hope;
in the midst of hatred, they kindled love;
in the midst of persecutions, they witnessed to your power;
in the midst of despair, they clung to your promise.
For your love and faithfulness we praise you.

O God,
we thank you for the truth they passed on to us:
that it is by giving that we shall receive;
it is by becoming weak that we shall be strong;
it is by loving others that we shall be loved;
it is by offering ourselves that the kingdom will unfold;
it is by dying that we shall inherit life everlasting.
O God, give us courage to follow your way of life.
For your love and faithfulness we praise you. Amen.

O God,
bless the saints who embodied your Word:
through work and worship,
and the desire to serve others.
We call to mind these congregations,
some active, some gone, but none forgotten.
Bless everyone touched by these
expressions of your love,
and bless us as we read these names:

All Saints Roman Catholic Church, Toronto
Althorpe United Church, Althorpe, ON
Angus United Church, Angus, ON
Applewood United Church, Mississauga
Bethesda-Dixie United Church, Mississauga
Beth Tzedec Synagogue, Toronto
Beverly Hills United Church, North York
Blakey Street Mission, Blackburn, Lancashire, UK
Bloor Street United Church, Toronto
Bolingbroke United Church, Bolingbroke, ON
Bracebridge United Church, Bracebridge, ON
Broadway United Church, Regina, SK
Brookdale United Church, Boileau, QC
Calvary United Church, Calgary, AB
Calvin United Church, DeWitt’s Corners, ON
Canadian Memorial United Church, Vancouver
Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury, Kent, UK
Central United Church, Weston
Chalmers United Church, Mount Dennis
Chapel on the Hill UCC, Largo, Florida
Christ Church Anglican Church, Ivy, ON
Christ the King Chapel, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA
Church of the Good Shepherd, Mount Dennis
The Church on the Road to the Dump, Kawartha Lakes
Coppercliff United Church, Sudbury
Davenport Presbyterian Church, Toronto
Deer Park United Church, Toronto
Dublin Street United Church, Guelph
Eastminster United Church, Toronto
Eden United Church, Mississauga
Elizabethville United Church, Elizabeth, ON
Elverston-Trethrewey United Church, Toronto
Etobicoke Salvation Army Church, Etobicoke
Exmouth Street United Church, Saint John, NB
Faith United Church, Toronto
Fenelon Falls United Church, Fenelon Falls, ON
Foothills United Church, Banff, AB
Forest Hill United Church, Toronto
Fort Totten Chapel, Fort Totten, Queens, NY
Fraserburg United Church, Bracebridge, ON
Glen Ayr United Church, Scarborough
Grace United Church, Barrie
Grace United Church, Tavistock, ON
Greenwood United Church, Greenwood, ON
Gilmore Park United Church, Richmond, BC
Heritage United Church, Regina, SK
Hillview Presbyterian Church, Etobicoke
HMCS Cornwallis Chapel, Deep Brook, NS
Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Thornhill
Humber Valley United Church, Etobicoke
Inverary United Church, Inverary, ON
John Calvin Hungarian Presbyterian Church, Hamilton
Knox Presbyterian Church, Toronto
Knox United Church, Dunchurch, ON
Knox United Church, Nippising, ON
Königin Luise Kirche. Königsberg, Ostpreußen (Germany, now Russia)
Lady Margaret Road Wesleyan, Kentish Town, London UK
Maple Presbyterian Church, Maple, ON
Martingrove United Church, Etobicoke
Medical Ministry International
Mount Albert United Church, Mount Albert, ON
Mount Dennis United Church, Mount Dennis
Mount Dennis Baptist Church, Mount Dennis
Nobleton United Church, Nobleton
North Bramalea United Church, Bramalea
Ossington Baptist Church, Toronto
Park Lawn Baptist Church, Toronto
Pasadena Community Church, St. Petersburg, FL
Pearen Memorial United Church, Mount Dennis
The People’s Church, Toronto
Pioneer United Church, Hillside, ON
Rexdale United Church, Rexdale
Runnymede United Church, Toronto
Silverthorn United Church, Toronto
Simcoe Street United Church, Oshawa
South Burnaby United Church, Burnaby, BC
South Wilberforce United, Wilberforce, ON
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Humber Heights
St. Andrew’s United Church, Oshawa
St Andrews-Chalmers Presbyterian Church, Uxbridge, ON
St. Anne’s Church, Highgate, London, UK
St. David’s United Church, Toronto
St. George’s Presbyterian Church, Blackburn, Lancashire, UK
St. Gregory’s Catholic Church, Oshawa
St. James-Bond United Church, Toronto
St. John the Evangelist, Weston
St. John’s United Church, Stratford
St. Margaret’s United Church, Kingston, ON
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Kitchener
St. Mark’s United Church, Whitby
St. Matthew’s United Church, Toronto
St. Paul’s United Church, Oakville
St. Paul’s United Church, Waterloo
St. Petersburg United Methodist Church, St. Petersburg, FL
St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, Toronto
St. Stephen’s United Church, Vancouver, BC
St. Stephen’s Church, Lewisham, London, UK
St. Willibrord’s, The Hague
Streetsville United Church, Mississuaga
Sunbury United Church, Sunbury, ON
Swastika United Church, Swastika, ON
Teresia van Avilakerk, The Hague
Teston United Church, Teston, ON
Thistletown United Church, Thistletown
Thornhill United Church, Thornhill
Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, Toronto
Trinity United Church, Huntsville
Trinity United Church, Malton
Tsawwassen United Church in Delta, BC
Unity Church of Truth, Toronto
Wesley Hall Methodist Church, Leicester, UK
Westdale United Church, Hamilton
Westmount Church, Etobicoke
Westminster United Church, Mississauga
Westminster United Church, Orangeville
Westminster United Church, Weston
Weston Park Baptist Church, Toronto
Weston Presbyterian Church, Weston
Westway United Church, Etobicoke
Zion United Church, Moose Jaw

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

HYMN: “For all the saints, who from their labours rest”

For all the saints, who from their labours rest,
all who by faith before the world confessed,
your name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Hallelujah, hallelujah!

You were their rock, their fortress, and their might:
you were their captain in the well-fought fight;
you, in the darkness drear, their one true light.
Hallelujah, hallelujah!

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one within your great design.
Hallelujah, hallelujah!

The golden evening brightens in the west;
soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
sweet is the calm of paradise the blest.
Hallelujah, hallelujah!

But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day
the saints triumphant rise in bright array:
as God to glory calls them all away.
Hallelujah, hallelujah!

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:
Hallelujah, hallelujah!

BLESSING

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way,
and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless
until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. Amen.
—1 Thessalonians 5:23

God be with you till we meet again;
loving counsels guide, uphold you,
with a shepherd’s care enfold you;
God be with you till we meet again.