All Saints Sunday
November 4, 2018
Holy Communion at 8:30 and 11am


Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, you have knit your people together in one communion in the mystical body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant us grace to follow your blessed saints in lives of faith and commitment, and to know the inexpressible joys you have prepared for those who love you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Scripture readings
Isaiah 25:6-9
Psalm 24: 1-10
Revelation 21:1-6a
John 11:32-44

Sermon 

"Death Is off the Menu"
Isaiah 25:6-9; John 11:32-44
On this All Saints Sunday, Isaiah opens up a vision of the Lord’s reign. And the reign looks like a party! The people are called to the mountain for a feast. The menu is filled with rich meats and good wines; it’s a feast fit for kings and queens, lords and ladies. But what does the Lord eat? While the people eat good things, the Lord is busy eating death. Swallowing it up forever. What once stalked and consumed us has now been chewed up and swallowed down. Yes, death is still part of life. Even Lazarus was raised into a world where he would die again. But because of Jesus, the One who died and yet lives, there is no death in the reign of God. Death is an empty shell, powerless. It will consume you no more. God has swallowed death, and all that is left for us is life. Life in this world, life in the next. All free for God’s saints. Jesus has picked up the tab.

Hymns

In our prayers we remember Kidz Express.

Education hour at 9:45am

Sunday School,  Pre-Confirmation and  Confirmation students meet in their regular classrooms. 

2018-19 schedule  

Adult Education

Reflections on Vocation
November 4 - Mary Margaret Bartley, Case Hoogendoorn, Stephanie Wilkening
November 11 - Kristin Vogen, Pam Todd, James Claud
The vocation or calling of every Christian is “to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.” In these two sessions, Grace members reflect on their work and on what vocation means to them.

The Sunday morning Bible study group meets in the conference room.

Adult Ed schedule September–November 2018

The Grace Church Library is open and staffed on Sundays from 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Look for books related to Adult Ed topics as well as many other subjects. The library is also open for self-service during the week.