Bishop Ward combines thoughts on All Saints Day and creation care through the Psalm text for the day – Psalm 24 – “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.”
Grace and peace to you God’s saints.
This day, we celebrate all God’s saints – those alive in heaven and those alive on earth. We take our place in this great cloud of witnesses.
The appointed text for All Saints Day, Nov. 1, is Psalm 24. The first verse proclaims, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.” And then the Psalm goes on to encourage us to take our place with clean hands and pure hearts, living before God, faithfully out into the world.
This beautiful Guatemalan carving of Saint Francis is a reminder of all those who have lived faithfully before us. We take our place alongside Saint Francis and Saint Claire who, in Assisi, Italy long ago, called the birds and the trees and the animals and the fish their brothers and sisters.
We are profoundly connected in creation, and as we experience storms worsening, becoming more frequent year by year, we are summoned to care for creation, so that generations following us will have health and life upon this earth.
The Creation Care Team of the North Carolina Conference is providing wonderful resources for your use. Click the link and check out these resources. Use them in your church and community.
Together, let us live toward God, caring for this beautiful earth which is our home for a season and let us anticipate our heavenly home with all God’s saints forevermore.