This weekend is the celebration of All Saints. This celebration of remembrance provides us with a unique opportunity to remember those special saints who have died in the faith but who have also given witness to the whole church and to us as individuals. As we remember the saints of our congregation here at St. John's, who have gone on to "the church triumphant" during this past year, we are also provided the opportunity to remember those saints from our extended families and from our own past, who have been so important to each of us in our personal faith development and growth.

There are some religious traditions which distinguish between "saints" who are obedient to the will of God and ordinary "sinners" who continually seem to disobey God. In some traditions, saints are set apart as exceptionally holy and righteous individuals, who stand above others in terms of their faith or actions. Ordinary believers just haven't done anything extraordinary enough to be placed in the category of saints.

But Martin Luther had a wonderful correction to this understanding. He suggested that being a saint didn't have anything to do with our actions, but rather it had to do with our relationship with God! That is also true of being a sinner. Luther's understanding of sin was the self-centered failure to trust God (Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article II). The ultimate expression of sin is our own desire to act more like "the Creator," rather than "the Creature." We would like to rely on our own judgment rather than trusting God.

The insight of Luther is his description of Christians as "simultaneously saint and sinner." This both/and approach is a distinctly Lutheran understanding of who we are in God's eyes. Luther also re-defines a saint as a "forgiven sinner." We are called "saints," not because we change into something different. We are called "saints" because our relationship with God changes as a result of God's grace. Luther said, "The saints are sinners, too, but they are forgiven and absolved."

Join us this weekend as we celebrate All Saints. Pastor David Misenheimer will be preaching at all our worship services. Pastor Misenheimer has served as our stewardship consultant for the “A Church Alive!” Capital Campaign as well as our annual stewardship drive -- Ministries Alive - 2009. This weekend we will also be showing the special DVD presentation of “A Church Alive!” produced by St. John's members, Kirk and Norma Fagerland. Many have already seen this DVD as part of our "Tell the Story" events in October, but there are many who St. John's have not yet had the opportunity to view it. Please make every effort to attend worship this weekend.

Also remember that next weekend (November 8/9) is Pledge Weekend. We hope you will make every effort to join us for worship, as we dedicate our pledges and gifts to our “A Church Alive!” Capital Campaign as well as our Ministries Alive - 2009 Stewardship Drive. St. John's needs the support of every one of our members. Your pledge, whatever the amount, is absolutely critical to the success of these efforts. Help us to truly be "A Church Alive!"

Alive in Christ,