Living by Heart

Living by Heart – Today is All Saints Sunday, an annual celebration of the lives of those who have gone before us, whether they be in the faith, in the history of our church, among our own families and friends, but, especially, honoring the lives of those West End UMC members who have died since last year’s All Saints Sunday. Their names are printed on the bulletin covers, and, as part of the Prayer for the Whole State of Christ’s Church, their names are read aloud and a candle is lit honoring each one. It is also a communion service, and the liturgy is largely from Thomas Cranmer, written nearly 500 years ago, and used through the history of the Methodist Church. Rev. Dr. Carol Cavin-Dillon, in delivering the Communion Meditation, reminds us of the eternal love of God, felt by those before us through the centuries. We have been in a series of Sundays during which we are exploring the Book of Jeremiah, and in today’s scripture, God is holding out a new covenant for the people of Israel if they will return to him. Carol reminds us of Jeremiah’s place in the history of Israel, when he was reminding the people that God is ever seeking them, yearning, as God does today, for relationship with God’s people, and we can see that in those who have gone before us, and we, too, can respond to God’s eternal love.