By William B. McClain
No wonder we are bold to stand and proclaim, and audacious to forthrightly declare the words of the ancient and historic creed: "I believe in God ... I believe in the communion of the saints." The saints in your life and in your balcony and in your attic. And the saints in my life: my Aunt Minnie serving 45 years as the communion steward preparing the elements for the Lord's Supper with grapes from her arbor, and unleavened bread baked on her wood stove, attending and waiting the tables in Sweet Home Methodist Church in Gadsden, Alabama and shouting the joy she felt when we sang: "The blood done signed my name!"
And my Cousin Cathaleen faithfully playing the organ and the piano, superintending and teaching Sunday School and organizing Vacation Bible Schools for more than 50 years all across the old Central Jurisdiction of the Methodist Church. And your Uncle John and your Cousin Peter, and your grandmother, Eunice and your mother, Lois; your teachers and mentors, pastors and colleagues -- your saints -- who led you to find God in your darkest hour and in the moments of your deepest need.
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Remember the saints in your lives who have given your life meaning and purpose, and given you the ability to believe in yourself and to believe in God. Yes, I believe in the communion of saints who gather with us at the Lord's table this day and are joined with us, for "all are one in Thee, for all are Thine."
And what is more, there is the promise from Jesus: "Where two or three are gathered in my name, I will be among them." What blest communion! What fellowship, divine! Because of their faith! Name your saints, those who have died in the faith without receiving the promise, and yet remained faithful. Name your saints, those "who punctuated their dignity" with their faithful presence at Divine worship. Name your saints, who kept their vows and upheld their church with their church with their presence, their gifts, and their service. Name your saints, and be in holy communion with them. Name your saints, and render to God thanksgiving for their faith, their lives, and their death, and may we all be joined together "as one, and one with the Holy Spirit," as we gather at the Lord's Table to break bread and to drink wine together on our knees.