Remembering the Saints

November 2, 2010

Prior to Keith Willis’ funeral service last September, I had never experienced the stirring ritual called “The Last Page,” performed by Keith’s fellow comrades in the Cherokee Fire Department. At the conclusion of his service, about thirty firefighters stood in silent reverence as twenty bells were rung in his honor. The Fire Chief then turned up his communication radio to full volume, so that all in the sanctuary could hear the station dispatcher call out Keith’s “Last Page.” She recited the following, each line separated by a few seconds of silence, and ending with the date of his death:

“Paging Keith Willis….”
“Paging Keith Willis….”
“Last page for Keith Willis….”
“Wednesday, September 22, 2010.”

I looked across the congregation and failed to see a dry eye. This was a stirring tribute to a man who had responded to every call in his life, as an active part of this town, a faithful disciple at St. Paul’s, and a self-giving member of the fire department. When the final bells rang and we heard his name uttered one last time, we knew he had answered his final call: the call to come home.

I’m thinking about Keith as we approach this Sunday, along with the thirteen other members of this church who have died since last November. We will remember each one at the start of our All Saints’ Sunday celebration, by chiming a bell, lighting a candle, calling their names, and standing in their honor.

Worship will include several moments that remind us that we gather in the company of these beloved people, in mysterious communion with Christ and the saints of the church. When we utter the Lord’s Prayer, we will hear their echoes as forerunners to the faith. When we affirm the Apostle’s Creed, we will be illumined by their example as ones who lived out their convictions. And when we gather around the communion table, we will share in their presence, participating in a dynamic remembrance of a Christ who is always with us.

The service will also serve as a springboard into an important moment in the history of St. Paul’s. The following Sunday, November 14, we will begin our Capital Campaign, and prepare our hearts and minds for commitment to the work of God’s church. Let us remember the sacrifice and generosity of our dearly departed loved ones, and carry out their example in the spirit of our campaign theme: “Together in Faith: Building a Better Future.” Just like Keith any many others before us, let us respond to the call, and move forward in faith.

Grace and Peace,

Magrey

The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA 51012
Ph: 712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org


INGATHERING!
All hands on deck! We need lots of volunteers to help make this Saturday’s Ingathering another success. The Hy-Vee truck will be at the Sanford Medical Equipment store to be loaded from 7:30 to 11:30. Please join us for all or part of that time to help pack and load boxes of kits for needy people all around the world. Then, at 2:30, the regional delivery truck will be here and people are needed to help transfer those boxes for delivery. Please contact Roni Timmerman for more information.

CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS
Just a reminder, this weekend marks the end of Daylight Savings Time. Please change your clocks back one hour before you go to bed Saturday night.

CHARGE CONFERENCE
We will be hosting several area churches this Monday night for our annual cluster charge conference on November 8, at 6:00pm. St. Paul’s will be celebrating another great year of ministry, and we will be voting on this year’s budget, mission priorities, and pastoral compensation package. Every member of the church is a voting member of the charge conference.

THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS MEMORIES REQUESTED
As part of our capital campaign, we are inviting people to bring in pictures and other personal items that share your favorite Thanksgiving and Advent/Christmas memories. Thanksgiving items will be displayed in the narthex on November 21, and Advent items on November 28. You can be bring them to the church office any time before then, and they will be secured for safe keeping and returned to you. For more information, contact Nancy Knapp.