I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic (universal) church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. -Apostle’s Creed

In the Apostle’s Creed we recite these words, “I believe… in the communion of saints.”  There are several ways to read this phrase.  One understanding is that we, the gathered church, are the saints because of God’s forgiveness.  Another understanding is the idea from Hebrews 12:1 that there is a great “cloud of witnesses”, joining us in worship; that those who have gone before (the saints) are still connected to us through the communion table and our experience of God in worship.  However we interpret this idea, it is helpful to remember that our worship echoes the worship continually going on in heaven.  The vision from Revelation is one of gathered people in worship of God.

The many losses we have all faced this year create a corporate sense of grieving and working through the communal trauma of a global pandemic.  Families who have experienced the particular grief of the death of a loved one have felt this pain in unique ways; ways in which the gathered church typically helps to heal by pouring the balm of community support and love upon those grieving.  We have not been able to do that this year in the same ways we normally would.  It also has been a time when the acute reminders of the absence of loved ones seems to weigh heavier because we don’t have our typical distractions to keep our minds and hearts busy.

We, as God’s gathered (and at present scattered) people, are reminded of the communion of saints.  As we join together in worship, may we feel God’s presence, know God’s peace, and feel the comfort of the Holy Spirit for we, who grieve.  This Sunday, we will share the sacrament of Communion and light candles as we read the list of our saints who have left us and joined the Church Triumphant.  I pray you will join us in person and online to know God’s love and peace in profound ways.

Beloved God, who was known to our mothers and fathers, and even to our spiritual forebears, have mercy on us. We do not always love as you would have us love. We do not always do as you would have us do. In our stubbornness, we turn from you when we should turn toward you. Hold us, dear One – comfort us when we mourn the passing of friends and family, and help us to know that they are rejoicing in your presence. We praise you for the grace you shower on us, constantly forgiving our errors, especially the ones that we don’t share with any but you.  Give us patience and grace and love for others.  Help us draw the welcome circle wider.  Amen.