"Transferred to the Church Above"

In the recitation that accompanies the beloved hymn, "Beyond the Sunset" there are these words; "And memory is one gift of God that death cannot destroy." Indeed, memories are a gift from God. It is our memories which we hold onto and cherish when death separates us from those whom we love and care for.
There is a beautiful and meaningful tradition that the early church used to do when one of their members died. They would write in their record books by the deceased member's name, these words; "Transferred to the Church above." Yesterday, on All Saints and Souls' Day we had the wonderful opportunity to remember those of our loved ones who have "transferred to the Church above."
There is a poem which captures the union that exists between the church above and the church below in this way:

"Yet she on earth hath union with God the Three-in-One,

And mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won;

O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we

Like them, the meek and lowly, on high may dwell with Thee!"

During the celebration of Eucharist at our All Saints and Souls' Day service, I shared with those present that the Holy Communion is a meal of the past, present and future. It is a celebration of the past as we recall the life, death and resurrection of Christ. It is a meal of the present, as we consider our own lives and the new life we have received in and through Christ. But Holy Communion is also a meal of the future. "For as often as you eat this bread and drink from this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes again!" Through the celebration of Holy Communion we long for and anticipate Christ's coming, when all things will be made new.

Brian Wren captures this message in the words of his poem titled; "When All Is Ended." Brian gives us a glimpse of the picture John describes for us in Revelation 21. Although, presently, we have a foretaste of this poem through Christ who has restored our broken lives and made us a new creation; we still long for that day when all things will be made new and paradise restored.

Brian writes:

"When all is ended, time and troubles past,

Shall all be mended, sin and death outcast?

In hope we sing, and hope to sing at last.

As in the night, when lightening flickers free,

And gives a glimpse of distant hill and tree,

Each flash of good discloses what will be.

Against all hope, our weary times have known

Wars ended, peace declared, compassion shown,

Great days of freedom, tyrants overthrown.

Then do not cheat the poor, who long for bread,

With dream-worlds in the sky or in the head,

But sing of slaves set free and children fed.

With earthly faith we sing a song of heaven;

All life fulfilled, all loved, all wrong forgiven,

Christ is our sign for hope, for Christ who died is now risen.

With all creation, pain and anger past,

Evil exhausted, love supreme at last,

Alive in God, we'll sing an unsurpassed;

Alleluia! Alleluia, at last!"

As we celebrate the memory of those faithful saints who have gone before us, let us allow their lives to instruct us that we may be the saints of today and teach the saints of tomorrow; until that day we join with all of God's saints in the New Jerusalem.

Pace e Bene;

Pastor Christopher