Saints are not born to it
Except most rarely
Nor by default do they come to God having no other choice.
But rather, like sunflowers do they grow and turn,
Following the course of God with upturned faces,
Growing each day taller, stronger,
more resistant to the wind of the world
and even in times without sun
They wait, turned toward dawn, knowing the promise of light.
In their holy simplicity, the saints of God remember what I forget too easily:
That having found the Son, the source of life,
We give thanks for the saints. I would define a saint as one who is a child of God, and through this one, God’s love and light shines.
This Sunday is All Saints Sunday. On this day, we pause to remember the saints who from their labors rest – those members of the congregation and in our own lives who have passed away over the past year. Special candles will be placed on the altar this weekend to honor our eight Epiphany saints who have left us during this past year: Lois Bainter, Chervyl Bartos, Cameron Dolansky, David Glover, Sue Krueckeberg, Rosemary Loeb, Miriam McDowell and Marvel Walker. All are invited to light a candle during worship in honor of the saints, both past and present, in your life.
We give thanks to God for blessing our lives with their lives, and once again we remember and give thanks for the sure and certain hope we have in Jesus Christ, that death is not the final word. Because of Jesus and the empty tomb, the final word is life. Every funeral, we remember this good news, and through it, God’s love and light shines.
This promise is made to us in baptism, and we give thanks for the many saints who have been baptized here at Epiphany in the past year – 25 to be exact. Every baptism, God’s love and light shines brightly.
At the baptismal font, God acts. God names and claims the one washed clean as a child of God, and heir to God’s riches and blessings. At the font, promises are made to raise this one in the Christian faith, and the congregation promises to support and encourage this to happen.
This past Sunday, 21 young men and women (listed below) took those promises and claimed them as their own – they said “YES” to their baptism and took a giant step forward on their journey of faith. It was a great celebration. Surrounded by family and friends and loved ones, the hope for the future of these men and women is exciting to see. On them and through them, God’s love and light shines brightly.
2015 Confirmands
Mentor: Ed Wasser
Nicholas Brian Conley, son of Brian & Kimberly Conley
Guide: Janelle Humphrey
Emily Nicole Beyerle, daughter of Pete & Heather Beyerle
Brenna Nicole Campbell, daughter of John & Vicki Campbell
Molly Michelle Dunham, daughter of Scott & Carrie Dunham
Virginia Arlene Hauberg, daughter of Jonathan & Deborah Hauberg
Grace Katherine Kilroy, daughter of Kelly & Miriam Kilroy
Taylor Elizabeth Lloyd, daughter of Kurt & Kathy Lloyd
Audrey Marie Mullen, daughter of Scott & Emily Mullen
Kelsey Ann Turner, daughter of Dale S & Whitney J Turner
Guides: Ed & Tina McNachtan
Alexander Christian Chapman, son of Joseph & Jennifer Chapman
Lucas Matthew Davenport, son of Matt & Beth Davenport
David Mitchell Hillix, son of Hugh & Kim Hillix
Joe L Humphrey II, son of Joe L Humphrey & Sara Janelle Humphrey
Michael Reagan Lim, son of Lynn Richardson
Benton William Miller, son of Lisa Miller (Michael W Miller)
Guides: Matt Bond & Kelly Kilroy
Benjamin Clark Bond, son of Matthew & Sharon Bond
Ross Matthew Harmon, son of Andy & Kristy Harmon
Hane Tor Kaiser, son of Mark & Huet Tshin Kaiser
Hunter Thomas McNachtan, son of Edward & Tina McNachtan
Nathaniel Thomas Reitz, son of Thomas Louis & Anne Christine Reitz
Jacob Hunter Valentini, son of Penny Manfredi