In the sermon last Sunday, Pastor Don talked about the saints who have touched our lives.  I thought about all the people who have influenced me with their actions and with their faith.  When I went to church for the first time, there was a woman who sat beside me and showed me how to follow the service and how to use the hymnal. There was another woman who would take me on her errands to Port Huron and we would talk. I was 15 and she would tell me to value myself and to love others. They showed me Christian caring.  Then there was the Pastor that would later come to that church; he told me of my responsibility to the church and to always uphold that responsibility.  He showed me the duty of putting faith into action. Then there was another pastor who, while speaking about communion, made me realize that Christ died for my sins and loved even me. He brought me closer to Christ. 

Years later there was a woman who had voted against a change in the church. When she was outvoted, she was the first to step up to help implement the change.  She taught me the lesson of being part of the community of believers and our responsibility to that community.  Then there was the Pastor who asked me to undertake a position that was embroiled in division and controversy.  When I said I didn’t think I was capable, he reaffirmed his belief that I was. I prayed about it and took the position.  With God’s help I accomplished the job. He taught me to trust that God was with me in all things.

I have been blessed with a lot of saints in my life and I thank God for each one. Some are still influencing me daily as they do God’s work.  As the list of saints who have passed was read on Sunday. A lot of them were friends -some from years past, some I had ushered with, some I had been in classes with, some who I had served with, some that I loved to listen to their stories, some that I just knew from the pews. All had touched my life with their presence and their faith. I thank God for their lives, and for all the saints.

Ephesians 6:16-18 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Thank you, Lord, for those saints that have touched our lives, may they be wrapped in your heavenly love. Be with those who are seeking you, may they know that you have not moved, that you are waiting for them to realize you are right there with them.  Be with our church, may we be the hands and feet of Christ. Be with our Pastor, our Staff and our Leaders, may they feel your presence and protection.  In Jesus name, we pray. Amen

Grace Epperson