News • Worship

Monday, June 15
Service of Commemoration and Holy Communion

By Bruce Batchelor Glader

While it is the tradition in East Ohio to begin each session of Annual Conference with the Wesley hymn “And Are We Yet Alive?”, this year’s celebration was a time to focus on “all the saints, who from their labors rest”.

The Christ Candle was brought into worship with the singing of “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light”, accompanied by liturgical dance, violin and flute.  Hoover Auditorium was filled to near capacity with member of annual conference, friends and families of the remembered, and others who wished to share in the morning worship.

There was a time of remembrance and thanksgiving for the many pastors, spouses of clergy, and lay leaders who have entered into eternal glory since last year’s conference.  The tolling of a bell and the lighting of a remembrance candle accompanied the reading of each name.
The Conference Choir offered two anthems: The spiritual “Sweet Home” and the beloved hymn of faith “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”.

Bishop John Hopkins, using Revelation 7:9-17 (which describes the saints in heaven) as his text, noted that we live in a technologically fast paced and overly future-focused age in which the past is often set aside, ignored, or forgotten.

“Remember the saints”, he implored.  “Without memory, we cannot prepare for the future.” The busyness of our American lifestyle sends forth the illusion that “If we can just stay busy enough or surround ourselves with enough things, we don’t have to think about our mortality.”

The bishop told a story about a loaded gun over the mantle of a colonial house, loaded for an encounter that never happened. “Many have loaded their spiritual rifles, making their affirmation of faith, just waiting for the right time to be a witness.  I hope that right time comes for them before it is too late.”

We were encouraged to remember those who have sacrificed for the gospel.  “Let us remember those who not only talked, but gave their lives for us to know the love of Jesus Christ.  The saints laid a foundation for us to know and serve our God.”
Using entries from the journal of Thomas Ware, a Methodist preacher from the 18th and 19th centuries, Bishop Hopkins helped us to see that the basic challenges and joys of ministry are still the same.

“Ministry today is not easy; it’s risk taking.  It has its sacrifices.  If you’re not sacrificing somewhat, you probably don’t have much of a ministry.”

And yet, ministry has its blessings, too.  The generosity and encouragement of others is what keeps us going.  The bishop reminded us that it is the witness of the saints that is responsible for our presence at annual conference and our service in the church.             “Don’t ever forget about the communion of saints.”

With this call to remembrance the saints of East Ohio gathered with all the saints around the table of communion, to break the bread and drink the cup of salvation.
Knowing that the best way of remembrance is a life of active faith, the saints dispersed from Hoover Auditorium, ready for a week of shared remembrances and ongoing witness.

Photos:
Commemoration | Holy Communion