Friday morning’s All Saints Celebration and Memorial Service began on a note of unity and comfort as a choir of NC Conference clergywomen offered their voices for the choral piece “We Are Not Alone,” setting a tone of shared faith and community that would carry throughout the worship service.
Bishop Connie Mitchell Shelton then led the congregation in a call to worship and invited all present to lift their voices together in the beloved hymn “For All the Saints”—a hymn of praise that honored both the living and those who have gone before.
Jill Charville, President of the NC Conference Clergy Spouses Association, led a prayer and guided those gathered through a Canticle of Hope which drew from the imagery of Revelation 21, speaking of God’s promise to make all things new.
The scripture reading took on special resonance as Rev. Marisol Hernandez proclaimed selected verses from Hebrews chapters 11 and 12 in both English and Spanish, emphasizing the universal nature of faith.
With evident respect and affection, Bishop Shelton introduced the morning’s preacher, Rev. Bob Bergland, describing him as a beloved truth-teller and mentor who has touched countless lives throughout the annual conference.
As Bergland approached the pulpit, he graciously acknowledged the choir’s beautiful ministry and expressed gratitude to Bishop Shelton for the opportunity to address the congregation. His sermon wove together the ancient wisdom of Hebrews with the very human questions all carry.
“When people gather together,” Bergland observed, “we naturally share what’s on our hearts and minds.” He noted that one question which surfaces frequently—especially at memorial services like this—is simply: “What happens to me when I die?” Bergland acknowledged this as a deeply reasonable question, reflecting a human desire to understand the mysteries of death and resurrection.
Drawing from the scripture, Bergland shared a profound truth about resurrection: “The resurrection story doesn’t begin with the claim that there’s something so wrong with you that God needed to fix. The resurrection story begins with the claim that there is something so right with you that God will stop at nothing to preserve it.”
To illuminate his message further, Bergland turned to the novel “Peace Like a River,” by Leif Enger. Describing it as a story about miracles and faith, death and resurrection, Bergland drew upon wisdom from a young character called Swede: “People fear miracles because they fear being changed—though ignoring them will change you also.” He continued with another of Swede’s insights: “No miracle happens without a witness. Someone to declare: ‘Here’s what I saw. Here’s how it went. Make of it what you will.’”
“Today,” Bergland reminded the congregation, “we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses. Though we cannot see them, we can surely feel their presence. These faithful souls we honor today witnessed countless miracles throughout their lives and undoubtedly participated in creating many more. We gather in profound gratitude for the lives of these witnesses who continue to inspire us.”
Following the sermon, the choir shared the anthem “Total Praise,” and their voices carried a message of worship and thanksgiving.
The service then moved into a solemn and sacred time as Charville and Rev. Larry Robinson read aloud the names of the honored dead. With each name spoken, a bell was tolled—its clear tone reverberating through the hall as a reminder of lives well-lived by faithful servants. Congregation members rose in silent prayer, each carrying their own memories and gratitude for those they had known and loved.
Robinson then offered a prayer of blessing for “those servants who now from their labors rest,” acknowledging the faithful service that had marked their earthly journey.
Bishop Shelton brought the service to a close with a benediction that embraced all those gathered, sending them forth with the comfort of community and the hope that had been shared throughout this meaningful morning of worship and remembrance.