Thursday, October 29

"Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses. . ."

As I prepare the All Saints Sunday sermon, these words form the inspiration. They remind us of all who have come before us, who have laid a foundation for us, and who now, from their heavenly stadium, urge us forward.

In a world that yields to fear rather than hope, arguments rather than dialog, separation rather than unity, and despair rather than hope, this is the time for the church to speak. It is not a time for the church to be timid or water down its message. This is a time for the church's message of light and hope and endurance to be heard. The world aches for the change only the church can provide.

There are those who think that this is not the right time for a capital campaign or that we need to lower our goals or that we need to scale back the design. I think just the opposite. This is the fullness of time!

"Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside any sin that weighs us down and run the race that is set before us."