{"id":884,"date":"2020-10-31T21:32:37","date_gmt":"2020-10-31T21:32:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/?p=884"},"modified":"2020-10-31T21:32:37","modified_gmt":"2020-10-31T21:32:37","slug":"all-saints-sunday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/2020\/10\/31\/all-saints-sunday\/","title":{"rendered":"All Saints&#039; Sunday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/image-10.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-887\"\/><figcaption>St Anne&#8217;s Church, Highgate, London (1853), Google Streetview<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>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\u2019s Presence (UCPH). Thanks this week to Taye, Cor, and Heather!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>PRELUDE: \u201cFlying Free\u201d (Besig)<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/flyingfree-besig.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>OPENING PRAYER<\/p>\n\n\n<p>For all the saints <br \/> who went before us<br \/> who have spoken to our hearts<br \/> and touched us with your fire,<br \/>   <strong>we praise you, O God.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<p>For all the saints <br \/> who live beside us<br \/> whose weaknesses and strengths<br \/> are woven with our own,<br \/>   <strong>we praise you, O God.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<p>For all the saints<br \/> who live beyond us<br \/> who challenge us<br \/> to change us<br \/> to change the world with them,<br \/>   <strong>we praise you, O God.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN OF PRAISE: \u201cHoly, holy, holy! Lord God almighty!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/holyholyholy.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty!<br \/> Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;<br \/> holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,<br \/> God in three persons, blessed Trinity!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,<br \/> casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;<br \/> cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,<br \/> which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,<br \/> though the eye made blind by sin thy glory may not see,<br \/> only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,<br \/> perfect in power, in love, and purity.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty!<br \/> All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea;<br \/> holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,<br \/> God in three persons, blessed Trinity!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>PRAYER OF CONFESSION<\/p>\n\n\n<p>May Christ, <br \/>\nwho makes saints of sinners, <br \/>\nand who has transformed those we remember today,<br \/>\ntransform us too, made new in his likeness.<br \/>\nSurround us with your Spirit,<br \/>\nand call us find within ourselves<br \/>\nthe heroic virtue that defines the saints.<br \/>\nHelp us to see Christ in others,<br \/>\nand serve them, as we are served.  Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>ASSURANCE OF PARDON<\/p>\n\n\n<p>God will give us what we need:<br \/>\nstrength for today,<br \/>\nhope for tomorrow,<br \/>\nand forgiveness<br \/>\nfor all that is past.<br \/>\nAmen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>SPECIAL MUSIC: \u201cWhen in Our Music God is glorified\u201d (Green\/Stanford)<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/wheninourmusic-green.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>FIRST READING: Psalm 107<\/p>\n\n\n<p>O give thanks, for God is gracious;<br \/>     <strong>God&#8217;s steadfast love endures for ever.<\/strong><br \/> Let the redeemed of God say so, those redeemed from trouble,<br \/>     <strong>whom God gathered in from the lands,<\/strong><br \/> from the east and the west,<br \/>    <strong> from the north and the south.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<p>Some lost their way in desert wastes, finding no place to settle;<br \/>    <strong> hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.<\/strong><br \/> Then they cried to you, God, in their trouble;<br \/> you rescued them from their distress.<br \/>    <strong> You led them by a straight path,<br \/>     till they reached a place to settle.<\/strong><br \/> Let them thank you, O God, for your steadfast love,<br \/> for the wonders you do for us.<br \/>     <strong>For you satisfy the thirsty,<br \/>     and fill the hungry with good things.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<p>SECOND READING: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13:<\/p>\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/image-11-1024x689.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-896\"\/><figcaption>Brookdale United Church, Boileau, QC, circa 1905, restored 2010.  Photo by Herman Meyer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>HYMN: \u201cShall we gather at the river\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shallwegather.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>Shall we gather at the river,<br \/> where bright angel feet have trod;<br \/> with its crystal tide for ever<br \/> flowing by the throne of God?<br \/>     Yes, we&#8217;ll gather at the river,<br \/>     the beautiful, the beautiful river;<br \/>     gather with the saints at the river<br \/>     that flows by the throne of God.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Ere we reach the shining river,<br \/> lay we every burden down;<br \/> grace our spirits will deliver,<br \/> and provide a robe and crown.  <br \/>        Yes, we&#8217;ll gather at the river,<br \/>     the beautiful, the beautiful river;<br \/>     gather with the saints at the river<br \/>     that flows by the throne of God.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Soon we&#8217;ll reach the shining river,<br \/> soon our pilgrimage will cease,<br \/> soon our happy hearts will quiver<br \/> with the melody of peace. <br \/>        Yes, we&#8217;ll gather at the river,<br \/>     the beautiful, the beautiful river;<br \/>     gather with the saints at the river<br \/>     that flows by the throne of God.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>REFLECTION<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/nov1sermon.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>I suspect my mother was a secret Catholic.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>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\u2019s before you sit inside.  For there, in the middle of the dashboard, was a small ornament, like a small coin on a pedestal.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>Me: Mother, what is that?<br \/>\nMother: That\u2019s St. Christopher, patron saint of travellers.<br \/>\nMe: But you\u2019re not Catholic.<br \/>\nMother: I know, but he\u2019s the patron saint of travellers.<br \/>\nMe: You\u2019re just gonna leave it there, aren&#8217;t you?<br \/>\nMother: Of course.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>It was only later that I learned that St. Christopher had been demoted\u2014maybe reassigned\u2014within the list of Catholic saints.  I can\u2019t 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.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>If you are currently looking at the St. Christopher medal on your keychain, I do not mean to offend.  He\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>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 \u201centertaining angels unawares\u201d (Heb 13) or serving Christ in the form of the \u201cleast of these.\u201d (Mat 25) <\/p>\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Over here in the Protestant Church, we\u2019ve taken a different approach.  Our Anglican friends continue to commemorate  pre-Reformation saints, but have shifted focus to \u201csaints and heroes\u201d of the faith.  On the west front of Westminster Abbey you will find statues of Martin Luther King Jr. and \u00d3scar 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.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>The phrase \u201chero of the faith\u201d is helpful, since the common definition of sainthood is to display \u201cheroic virtue.\u201d  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, \u201cfaith, hope, and love.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n<p>In many ways, Paul\u2019s 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:<\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>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.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>Paul is keen to remind them that he was trying to set an example, demonstrating \u201cfaith, hope, and charity\u201d at Thessalonica, and urging them to do likewise.  In some ways it sounds immodest, reminding them that he and his helpers were \u201choly, righteous, and blameless\u201d 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.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>His words are not fully without doctrine, because he shares an important principle in the next section:<\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>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.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou accepted\u2026the word of God, which is indeed at work in you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m 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\u2014then 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.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>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 \u201cwork in us and others.\u201d  Think of Micah 6, for example: \u201cWhat does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.\u201d  Countless believers have lived these words on their daily walk with the Most High.  Likewise, these words from Proverbs 3: \u201cTrust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.\u201d (Prov 3)<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Perhaps the Proverbs passage is a little less familiar than Micah, but \u201clean not on your own understanding\u201d 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\u2014but this is not the case.  Allowing God to work in us, allowing God to anchor our lives, doesn\u2019t 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&#8217;s mercy.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>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\u2014the work of saints\u2014to keep the faith, share hope, and enact the charity that God provides.      <\/p>\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ll pray over these names in a few moments, but for now we give thanks, thanks for lives lived and love enacted, in Jesus\u2019 name. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.torontopubliclibrary.ca\/da\/images\/LC\/tspa_0111190f.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>Former St. James-Bond United Church, Toronto.  The congregation was an amalgamation of <em>St. James Square United  Church<\/em>&nbsp;with&nbsp;<em>Bond Street&nbsp;<\/em>United Church in 1928.  The congregation then amalgamated with <em>Fairlawn Avenue United Church<\/em> in 2005.  The site has been redeveloped for housing.  Some believe that Ian Fleming, 007 creator, observed the name while staying with friends nearby.  Photo by Reg Innell, Toronto Star Photograph Archive, Courtesy of Toronto Public Library.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE<\/p>\n\n\n<p>O God, <br \/>\nwe thank you for the many people throughout the ages<br \/>\nwho have followed your way of life joyfully;<br \/>\nfor the many saints and martyrs, men and women,<br \/>\nwho have offered up their very lives,<br \/>\nso that your life abundant may become manifest.<br \/>\nFor your love and faithfulness we praise you.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>O God, <br \/>\nwe thank you for those who chose the way of Christ.<br \/>\nIn the midst of trial, they held out hope;<br \/>\nin the midst of hatred, they kindled love;<br \/>\nin the midst of persecutions, they witnessed to your power;<br \/>\nin the midst of despair, they clung to your promise.<br \/>\nFor your love and faithfulness we praise you.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>O God, <br \/> we thank you for the truth they passed on to us:<br \/> that it is by giving that we shall receive;<br \/> it is by becoming weak that we shall be strong;<br \/> it is by loving others that we shall be loved;<br \/> it is by offering ourselves that the kingdom will unfold;<br \/> it is by dying that we shall inherit life everlasting.<br \/> O God, give us courage to follow your way of life.<br \/> For your love and faithfulness we praise you.  Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>O God,<br \/>\nbless the saints who embodied your Word:<br \/>\nthrough work and worship,<br \/>\nand the desire to serve others.<br \/>\nWe call to mind these congregations,<br \/>\nsome active, some gone, but none forgotten.<br \/>\nBless everyone touched by these <br \/>\nexpressions of your love,<br \/>\nand bless us as we read these names:<\/p>\n\n\n<p>  All Saints Roman Catholic Church, Toronto<br \/>  Althorpe United Church, Althorpe, ON<br \/>  Angus United Church, Angus, ON<br \/>  Applewood United Church, Mississauga<br \/>  Bethesda-Dixie United Church, Mississauga<br \/>  Beth Tzedec Synagogue, Toronto<br \/>  Beverly Hills United Church, North York<br \/>  Blakey Street Mission, Blackburn, Lancashire, UK<br \/>  Bloor Street United Church, Toronto<br \/>  Bolingbroke United Church, Bolingbroke, ON<br \/>  Bracebridge United Church, Bracebridge, ON<br \/>  Broadway United Church, Regina, SK<br \/>  Brookdale United Church, Boileau, QC<br \/>  Calvary United Church, Calgary, AB<br \/>  Calvin United Church, DeWitt&#8217;s Corners, ON<br \/>  Canadian Memorial United Church, Vancouver<br \/>  Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury, Kent, UK<br \/>  Central United Church, Weston<br \/>  Chalmers United Church, Mount Dennis<br \/>  Chapel on the Hill UCC, Largo, Florida<br \/>  Christ Church Anglican Church, Ivy, ON<br \/>  Christ the King Chapel, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA<br \/>  Church of the Good Shepherd, Mount Dennis<br \/>  The Church on the Road to the Dump, Kawartha Lakes <br \/>  Coppercliff United Church, Sudbury<br \/>  Davenport Presbyterian Church, Toronto<br \/>  Deer Park United Church, Toronto<br \/>  Dublin Street United Church, Guelph<br \/>  Eastminster United Church, Toronto<br \/>  Eden United Church, Mississauga<br \/>  Elizabethville United Church, Elizabeth, ON<br \/>  Elverston-Trethrewey United Church, Toronto<br \/>  Etobicoke Salvation Army Church, Etobicoke<br \/>  Exmouth Street United Church, Saint John, NB<br \/>  Faith United Church, Toronto<br \/>  Fenelon Falls United Church, Fenelon Falls, ON<br \/>  Foothills United Church, Banff, AB<br \/>  Forest Hill United Church, Toronto<br \/>  Fort Totten Chapel, Fort Totten, Queens, NY<br \/>  Fraserburg United Church, Bracebridge, ON<br \/>  Glen Ayr United Church, Scarborough<br \/>  Grace United Church, Barrie<br \/>  Grace United Church, Tavistock, ON<br \/>  Greenwood United Church, Greenwood, ON<br \/>  Gilmore Park United Church, Richmond, BC<br \/>  Heritage United Church, Regina, SK<br \/>  Hillview Presbyterian Church, Etobicoke<br \/>  HMCS Cornwallis Chapel, Deep Brook, NS<br \/>  Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Thornhill<br \/>  Humber Valley United Church, Etobicoke<br \/>  Inverary United Church, Inverary, ON<br \/>  John Calvin Hungarian Presbyterian Church, Hamilton<br \/>  Knox Presbyterian Church, Toronto<br \/>  Knox United Church, Dunchurch, ON<br \/>  Knox United Church, Nippising, ON<br \/>  K\u00f6nigin Luise Kirche. K\u00f6nigsberg, Ostpreu\u00dfen (Germany, now Russia) <br \/>  Lady Margaret Road Wesleyan, Kentish Town, London UK<br \/>  Maple Presbyterian Church, Maple, ON<br \/>  Martingrove United Church, Etobicoke<br \/>  Medical Ministry International<br \/>  Mount Albert United Church, Mount Albert, ON<br \/>  Mount Dennis United Church, Mount Dennis <br \/>  Mount Dennis Baptist Church, Mount Dennis<br \/>  Nobleton United Church, Nobleton<br \/>  North Bramalea United Church, Bramalea<br \/>  Ossington Baptist Church, Toronto<br \/>  Park Lawn Baptist Church, Toronto<br \/>  Pasadena Community Church, St. Petersburg, FL<br \/>  Pearen Memorial United Church, Mount Dennis<br \/>  The People\u2019s Church, Toronto<br \/>  Pioneer United Church, Hillside, ON<br \/>  Rexdale United Church, Rexdale <br \/>  Runnymede United Church, Toronto<br \/>  Silverthorn United Church, Toronto<br \/>  Simcoe Street United Church, Oshawa <br \/>  South Burnaby United Church, Burnaby, BC<br \/>  South Wilberforce United, Wilberforce, ON<br \/>  St. Andrew\u2019s Presbyterian Church, Humber Heights<br \/>  St. Andrew&#8217;s United Church, Oshawa<br \/>  St Andrews-Chalmers Presbyterian Church, Uxbridge, ON<br \/>  St. Anne\u2019s Church, Highgate, London, UK<br \/>  St. David&#8217;s United Church, Toronto<br \/>  St. George&#8217;s Presbyterian Church, Blackburn, Lancashire, UK<br \/>  St. Gregory&#8217;s Catholic Church, Oshawa<br \/>  St. James-Bond United Church, Toronto<br \/>  St. John the Evangelist, Weston<br \/>  St. John&#8217;s United Church, Stratford<br \/>  St. Margaret&#8217;s United Church, Kingston, ON<br \/>  St. Mark&#8217;s Lutheran Church, Kitchener<br \/>  St. Mark&#8217;s United Church, Whitby<br \/>  St. Matthew&#8217;s United Church, Toronto<br \/>  St. Paul&#8217;s United Church,  Oakville<br \/>  St. Paul\u2019s United Church, Waterloo<br \/>  St. Petersburg United Methodist Church, St. Petersburg, FL<br \/>  St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, Toronto<br \/>  St. Stephen\u2019s United Church, Vancouver, BC<br \/>  St. Stephen&#8217;s Church, Lewisham, London, UK<br \/>  St. Willibrord\u2019s, The Hague<br \/>  Streetsville United Church, Mississuaga<br \/>  Sunbury United Church, Sunbury, ON<br \/>  Swastika United Church, Swastika, ON<br \/>  Teresia van Avilakerk, The Hague<br \/>  Teston United Church, Teston, ON<br \/>  Thistletown United Church, Thistletown<br \/>  Thornhill United Church, Thornhill<br \/>  Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, Toronto <br \/>  Trinity United Church, Huntsville<br \/>  Trinity United Church, Malton<br \/>  Tsawwassen United Church in Delta, BC<br \/>  Unity Church of Truth, Toronto<br \/>  Wesley Hall Methodist Church, Leicester, UK<br \/>  Westdale United Church, Hamilton<br \/>  Westmount Church, Etobicoke<br \/>  Westminster United Church, Mississauga<br \/>  Westminster United Church, Orangeville<br \/>  Westminster United Church, Weston<br \/>  Weston Park Baptist Church, Toronto <br \/>  Weston Presbyterian Church, Weston <br \/>  Westway United Church, Etobicoke<br \/>  Zion United Church, Moose Jaw<\/p>\n\n\n<p>THE LORD\u2019S PRAYER<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Our Father who art in heaven,<br \/>\nhallowed be thy name.<br \/>\nThy kingdom come,<br \/>\nThy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.<br \/>\nGive us this day our daily bread;<br \/>\nand forgive us our trespasses<br \/>\nas we forgive those who trespass against us;<br \/>\nand lead us not into temptation<br \/>\nbut deliver us from evil.<br \/>\nFor thine is the kingdom,<br \/>\nand the power, and the glory,<br \/>\nfor ever and ever. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN: \u201cFor all the saints, who from their labours rest\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/forallthesaints.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>For all the saints, who from their labours rest,<br \/> all who by faith before the world confessed,<br \/> your name, O Jesus, be forever blest.<br \/> Hallelujah, hallelujah!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>You were their rock, their fortress, and their might:<br \/> you were their captain in the well-fought fight;<br \/> you, in the darkness drear, their one true light.<br \/> Hallelujah, hallelujah!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>O blest communion, fellowship divine!<br \/> We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;<\/em><br \/><em> yet all are one within your great design.<br \/> Hallelujah, hallelujah!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>The golden evening brightens in the west;<br \/> soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;<br \/> sweet is the calm of paradise the blest.<br \/> Hallelujah, hallelujah!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day<br \/> the saints triumphant rise in bright array:<br \/> as God to glory calls them all away.<br \/> Hallelujah, hallelujah!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>From earth&#8217;s wide bounds, from ocean&#8217;s farthest coast,<br \/> through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,<br \/> singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:<br \/> Hallelujah, hallelujah!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>BLESSING<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way,<br \/> and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless<br \/> until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. Amen.<br \/> \u20141 Thessalonians 5:23<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/meetagainredux.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>God be with you till we meet again;<br \/> loving counsels guide, uphold you,<br \/> with a shepherd\u2019s care enfold you;<br \/> God be with you till we meet again.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/0\/0b\/Kaliningrad_05-2017_img48_Amalienau.jpg\/614px-Kaliningrad_05-2017_img48_Amalienau.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>K\u00f6nigin Luise Kirche, former K\u00f6nigsberg, East Prussia.  The church, heavily damaged during World War II, was rebuilt in the 1960s to become a puppet theatre.  <em>K\u00f6nigsberg<\/em> is now called Kaliningrad, located in the Kaliningrad Oblast, an exclave of the Russian Federation. Photo by A. Savin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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\u2019s Presence (UCPH). Thanks this week to Taye, Cor, and Heather! PRELUDE: \u201cFlying Free\u201d (Besig) OPENING PRAYER &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/2020\/10\/31\/all-saints-sunday\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">All Saints&#039; Sunday<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/884"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=884"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/884\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=884"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=884"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}