November 2013 – A Seminarian’s Letters Homes

To the membership of Circle of Faith Parish:

Greetings to you all from Evanston, IL! Every year at this time, I can’t help but remember the words of the great American philosopher who said, “Well, another Halloween has come and gone.” And yes, that philosopher was Charlie Brown. He said that to Linus, who was feeling down after having spent yet another entire Halloween night in the pumpkin patch, waiting for the Great Pumpkin to show up, which never happens. Yet, the last clip in that cartoon is always Linus’ defiant shout: “The Great Pumpkin will appear, and I’ll be waiting for him! I’ll be there, Charlie Brown! Just wait till next year!”

On November 1st and 2nd, the Church celebrates two days that carry similar notes. We call them All Saints and All Souls. On All Saints, we remember all those who have been baptized, every last one of us, who have been marked with the cross, wrapped in white, and rendered eternally equal members of God’s kingdom. We mourn the things that divide Christ’s body on earth, and pray to be held close together. On All Souls, we remember all those who have died in the promise of the resurrection of the body, which we profess each Sunday to believe. We grieve for those whom we loved and long to see again. On both these days, to paraphrase Linus, we proclaim that Christ is risen, and will come again. And we, living and dead, marked with Christ’s cross forever and promised a share in that resurrection and everlasting life, will be waiting. And the promise Christ made us will be fulfilled.

Going into this late fall through All Saints to Thanksgiving, let us pray for God’s blessing, using these words:

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. [ELW, All Saints Day]

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Your fellow member and pilgrim,
Carl P. Rabbe, M.Div.