FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
ATLANTA, GEORGA
BLEST BE THE TIE
JANUARY 17, 1993 4

yell ‘60

WORSHIP SERVICES q "

JoHN M. BUCHANAN, PASTOR
FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CHICAGO
SCRIPTURE
MATTHEW 5:1-12
HEBREWS 11:1-3, 13, 12:1-2

"SINCE WE ARE SURROUNDED BY SO GREAT A
CLOUD OF WITNESSES,...LET US RUN WITH
PERSEVERANCE THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE
us.” -HEBREWS 12:1 (NRSV)

TA Was been a Very great \vowe -for we be

Vou. Weer inuiled po Ma ae Pe of Atlante -for

Yovr fost “reaching \MASSTm - Weekend, | i Vere

Meru hly en oryer Mow eK \ meets Ww

wudous_s \eadus oy the word GA churet. =

erroouraeee your Wal amd Chwrmaiicwunt

fh ors Wye Nu cers ef MAetterunt
Wee ves Xs plac. |

py. Ww per ussrs.

mae Ca wa wica tes lei

aunt ti Gq Y- awd ib sms

earl,

ONE OF THE] MEMORIES WHICH I RATHER
SS IE

ENJOY REHEARSING IS OF SITTING BETWEEN

MY PARENTS IN THE PEW OF THE BROAD
Seg, —

AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN ALTOONA,

remeenesae Fok WHAT SEEMED LIKE INTER-

MINABLE HOURS OF ENFORCED QUIET AND
pee ry

STILLNESS.

AND so I SMILED IN RECOGNITION WHEN

I READ AN ESSAY BY ROBERT SHAW (NOT YOUR
S$
Soe rector - WHO# I ADMIRE VERY

MUCH)} BUT A POET AND PROFESSOR OF ENG-

qa Se
Co 4 Lae
LISH AT MT. Hocvoxe. | we WAS poe
Eee

Ror A WONDERFUL NEW COLLECTION OF ESSAYS

ENTITLED INCARNATION, CONTEMPORARY

WRITERS ON THE NEW TESTAMENT.

PERHAPS HIS FORMATIVE MEMORIES OF

CHURCH AND RELIGION WILL SOUND FAMILIAR
i |

TO YOU TOO.

—_—

"My MOTHER’S FATHER WAS A PRESBYTE-
RIAN MINISTER, AND UNTIL I WAS FOUR MY

PARENTS, MY BROTHER AND I LIVED WITH MY

GRANDPARENTS NEXT TO THE CHURCH. | we
SPENT A LOT OF TIME THERE PERFORCE. \ My
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF CHRISTIAN WORSHIP

WERE VIVIDLY SENSORY IN WAYS THAT MY AGE
Sa

WOULD EXPLAIN. | PARENTS ATTEMPTING TO
MAKE SMALL BOYS LOOK PROPER FOR SUNDAY
DRESSED THEM IN SUITS WITH SHORT PANTS
THEN, AND I REMEMBER HOW THE CUSHIONS OF
THE PEWS, | STUFFED WITH HORSEHAIR, | PRICK-
LED MY LEGS AS THEY DANGLED ABOVE THE
FLoor. | SITTING NEXT TO MY GRANDMOTHER I
WOULD LOOK AT THE STAINED GLASS OR THE
PEOPLE AROUND US, MOST OF WHOM SEEMED
VERY own. | THE WHITE-HAIRED LADIES,
ALWAYS WEARING HATS, ALL KNEW MY NAME,
ALTHOUGH I COULD NEVER TELL THEM aparr. |
THEY CARRIED LARGE POCKETBOOKS, WHICH

WERE BLACK IN THE WINTER AND WHITE IN

———.

THE SUMMER, AND OUT OF WHICH CAME LAVEN-
DER-SCENTED HANDKERCHIEFS, \CHANGE

PURSES, SPECTACLES, PEPPERMINTS AND MUCH

3

ELsE.\ My GRANDMOTHER HAD HER OWN SUPPLY
OF PEPPERMINTS WHICH SHE DOLED OUT TO ME
mF I SEEMED RESTLESS.” [p. 268]
emeeneet WHAT MR. SHAW IS WRITING ABOUT. IS TWAT
QUERIED INTRIGUIN E

IN THE 12TH CHAPTER OF HEBREWS:

“THEREFORE, SINCE WE ARE SURROUND-

ED BY SO GREAT A CLOUD OF

WITNESSES...LET US RUN WITH PERSEVERANCE
THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US.”

WHEN HE HEARS THAT PHRASE, /''CLOUD

OF WITNESSES," )MR. SHAW THINKS
"MOSTLY OF MY GRANDFATHER AND OTHERS OF
THAT GENERATION OF MY FAMILY, OF THOSE
OLD LADIES WITH THEIR POCKETBOOKS, WHOSE
NAMES I WILL NEVER KNOW, AND OF MANY
morE.” [p. 280]

MR. SHAW'S REFLECTIONS PROMPTED MY
OWN REMINISCENCES WHICH IS WHAT HE

INTENDED OF COURSE, INCLUDING SHORT PATS

EE EE é

4

P&eteES =n D PEPPERMIN]S AND SCENTED HAND-
KERCHIEFS AND STAINED GLASS AND DEAR
BSS ee

PEOPLE WHO KNEW MY NAME EVEN
==} Gere a

THOUGH I DID NOT AND DO NOT KNOW THEIRS « « °°

excerr FoR Mrs. RAWFORD WHO SAT IN
THE PEW IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF US AND
fetes aL eye eae
WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ONE OF THE
Bey
PROFOUND INSIGHTS IN MY LIFE,\A MOMENT

OF PURE REVELATION, || MRS. CRAWEORD WORE

A FOX WRAP OF SOME SORT IN THE NTER.
ae WINTE

THE FOX’S HEAD, COMPLETE WITH OPEN EYES,
eee, [rae ee F

TEETH VISIBLE - CLAMPED AROUND HIS Ob OWN
Gabi

TAIL, WAS PART OF THE caRMenT|h, AND | AND WHEN WHEN
WE SETTLED IN.FOR THE SERMON AND Mrs.
eT

CRAWFORD SLUNG HER WRAP OVER HER SHOUL-
nT SS

DER, THERE HE WAS STARING AT ME FOR

TWENTY OR THIRTY MINUTES... A REAL FOX,
—=s, (ees Sere

THAT RASCAL WHO LOOMED LARGE AND FERO-
== i feet)
CIOUS@® IN SO MANY CHILDHOOD STORIES,
Giese ie

ACTUALLY VERY SMALL ;)\ MANAGEABLE ALMOST
fee | ———=y

EVEN BY MY MODEST STANDARDS. \ue AND I

SPENT A LOT OF TIME STARING EACH OTHER DOWN.
ee th 5 = a

Mr. SHAW, THE POET, SUGGESTS THAT
—_— —_— ea

THE "CLOUD.OF WITNESSES" IN THE 12TH

CHAPTER OF HEBREWS INCLUDES Mrs. CRAw-

FORD AND MAYBE EVEN HER Fox.| PSYCHOLOG-
[=o

ICALLY HE'S correct.\ WE ARE_INFLUENCED

ea ad

BY MANY PEOPLE WHOSE IDENTITIES ARE LONG
Seay SS

roncorTeN.\ We ARE INDEBTED TO PARENTS,
a =
FAMILY, FRIENDS, A WIDENING CIRCLE OF
— el (Eden Soe
PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES INTERSECTED WITH OURS

=

AND WHO IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, POSITIVE-

LY OR NEGATIVELY, HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT
ON_US.

THEQLOGICALLY HES RIGHT AS WELL.
ete

RELIGIOUS FAITH IS SHAPED, TO A GREAT
Ep
EXTENT, BY RELATIONSHZPS; COMMUNITIES.
ESP

IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT THERE IS NO SUCH
[er |

se
THING AS A SOLITARY JEW OR CHRISTIAN

BECAUSE YOU NEED THE comunzty.\ Gop

CALLS, NOT JUST INDIVIDUALS, BUT INDI-

6

Btcomt
VIDUALS WHO ARE TO @ “THE.PEQE PEOPLE."
JESUS CALLS DISCIPLES INTO A NE A NEW_COMMU-
naty.\ \\ ater THREE_YEARS, OF wah: INIS-
TRY, WHAT JESUS LEAVES BEHIND ARE NOT
JUST ISOLATED INDIVIDUALS HERE AND
THERE, BUT A COMMUNITY... THE CHURCH.
Were, par . COMMUNEREES— ARE CHERETHMOTVING .
pyc? | \povt EAN VANIER, FOUNDER OF THE L’ARCHE
eu pei CoMMUNITIES IN FRANCE WHICH CARE FOR

7 eal MENTALLY HANDICAPPED ADULTS IN THE
[eee

CONTEXT OF A RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY WRITES:
"THERE ARE TIMES WHEN TOGETHER WE

DISCOVER THAT WE MAKE UP A SINGLE BODY,

THAT WE BELONG TO EACH OTHER AND THAT
Gop HAS CALLED US_TOGETHER AS A SOURCE ..

OF LIFE FOR EACH OTHER.” | [WEAVINGS, Vawier Ae
_ommo aE ee

Juty/Aucgust 1990] ;
THE IDEA I E BECOME none 2) “Commun

RELATIONSHIP THAN WE ARE IN UZSOLATION. is West )
= ae

AND FURTHERMORE THAT HUMAN COUMUNITIES, fur

EVEN THE SMALLEST AND MOST MODEST, HAVE jumsicr |
Sa ene
GENERAGIMEAND HEALINGAND LIVE-GIVING POWER.
: _——-

LEER. .

THAT 1S, I THINK THE ENORMOUS

—
TY $
at nt A OF CHEER WHOSE TERMINATION

AT THE END OF THIS TELEVISION SEASON
Geen
WILL LEAVE A SUBSTANTIAL GAP ON THURSDAY
EVENING FOR MANY OF US. \ IT’S A LITTLE
en oe, ie
communz Ty -[A KIND OF CHURCH - IN THAT
Boston PuB y WITH ITS WONDERFULLY _ECCEN-
a \ Hn bertende,

TRIC AND HUMAN CONGREGATION: AND

CARLA -( THE WISE WOMAN WITH QUESTIONABLE

SS
MORALS,) REBECCA AND Norw.\ Cuter THE

MAILMAN AND WOODY - THE CHILDLIKE INNO-
—— J =r

CENT WHO OFTEN LEADS THEM®AS THE BIBLE
— ae

SAYS CHILDREN WILLJAND FRAZER AND Fe- Lilie. +a kw
Soh

ee

It's ponmunzry, [common IN an rs Rogelrdar be

= BRONUS Hee DTinTSmSO..VER
URBAN SETTIN MERY.

PRECIOUS THERE.

melf ANNE TYLER'S BOOK, ST. MAYBE 1S

ALSO ABOUT AN ECCENTRIC COMMUNITY OF

razr; |rwe TINY STOREFROON CHURCH WHOSE
= =.

8

CONGREGATION CONSISTS OF ODD BUT WONDER- 4,
et

FULLY HUMAN BEINGS, AND INTO WHOM WANDERS
A YOUNG MAN WHO NEEDS MORE THAN ANYTHING

—a— ty back ~ Ww
TO EXPERIENCE FORGIVENESS, UNCONDITIONAL v h

LOVE AND THE PROMISE OF RESURRECTION. ~ Loman =

(ia ot
SOUL, EVERYBODY IS REA

/ \THomMAS MORE WHOSE aadae CARE OF THE Ww duy 9
D

NG All| ONE OF cee
becca
THE STRONGEST NEEDS OF/ THE SOUL “IS FOR

Sere

COMMUNITY... SOUL YEARNS FOR INTIMACY. |
i —_— == st

|
pity \0C\C A SUFFICTEWTLY DEEP EXPERI=)
ENCE OF COMMUNITY.” 9

EVERYBODY HAS A CHURCH, SOMEONE

ossenven; [WHETHER OR NOT YOU BELONG TO
a Y ee
THE InstrTuTION.| EVERYONE HAS A SMALL
——— oc Se)
GROUP OF PEOPLE ~- MAYBE ONLY ONE OTHER -
homeien aa

WITH WHOM YOU_ SHARE JOYS AND_SORROWS,

WHOSE PRESENCE AFFIRMS AND SUPPORTS YOU,
=

a

WHOSE COMPANY YOU seex\ WHEN. SOMEONE

You LOVE DIES, THE HANDS OF THAT COMMU-

NITY BEGIN TO REACH OUT TO YOU TO TOUCH
aay tere ee. a ee

9

AND TO GATHER YOU IN. \ wduen YOUR GRAND-
=p en

CHILD IS BORN, IT IS TO THESE PEOPLE YOU
(Pi tutaete elh Berra al

BRING THE EEC TURES - \@ CHURCH WITHIN A
——.. Sn

cnurci")z7 HAS BEEN CALLED. \. REALISTI-
eee eet ep eS =

CALLY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IN A LARGE,
St mee

DIVERSE, URBAN CONGREGATION LIKE THIS

ONE, NOT EVERYONE CAN BE CONNECTED TO
= Mm ee,
EVERYONE ELSE...
GROUP THE via FAMILY REUNION,
eae oe
COFFEE TOGETHER, |A PHONE CALL ONCE A
el Sap

mae SS Sas
WEEK... [rie RELIGIOUS WORD FOR IT IS
fe Gets SES

Comm ERSAETEL? Ti BIBLICAL

IMAGE IS THAT "CLOUD OF WITNESSES" WHICH

Creed calls |
OTe : at SURROUNDS EACH OF us(CX

wee Et wmunzon;\ Is

aoe OM You DON'T HAVE TO BE SAINTLY TO Get tay
yur wart Reps. thst Communids «
wads & me "SAINTLY" HAS COME TO MEAN PIOUS OR A

We. Covawwr PARAGON OF MORAL VIRTUE.\ "SHE'S A

5_ Tat . SAINT, ") "HE'S NO SAINT," ARE MORAL
t DESCRIPTIONS, ORDINARILY. | ORIGINALLY

10

"SAINTLY" DIDN'T MEAN THAT AT ALL. \ THe
SEeccgep

WRITER OF THE BOOK OF HEBREWS WAS AD-

DRESSING A COMMUNITY OF CHRISTIANS IN

FIRST Y WH FACI ST
THE ST CENTUR O WERE FACING ALMO

CERTAIN PERSECUTION AND WHO WERE NOT AT
Sve 6
ALL GSRREIN THAT THEY WERE STRONG ENOUGH

=e
TO enoune | SOME OF THEM WERE GOING TO
== aEEy eS

SUFFER, BE ARRESTED, MAYBE TORTURED,
== Ream ee

EXECUTED. \ SO INSTEAD OF ADMONITION, THE

WRITER CALLS THE ROLE OF HERQES AND
ene oh
HEROINES FROM THE PAST;\ MEN AND WOMEN
geo =P ——s

WHO WERE FAITHFUL AGAINST ALL THE ODDS

AND IN THE MIDST OF SOME VERY FRIGHTEN-
4
ING crrcumstances. \ THAT'S WHO'S IN THE

—
CLOUD OF WITNESSES FOR YOU HE TOLD THEM:
eee Sg Discreet

YOU AREN'T ALQNE | | No AND ABRAHAM AND
—_— ;(faas,

SARAH AND MOSES AND GIDEON AND DAVID AND
SAMUEL ARE WITH vou. | AND RAHAB THE
a =a [eee oy
HARLOT!
JUST IN CASE YOU ARE THINKING THAT
- ~~“

ONLY SAINTLY PEOPLE GET INTO THE COMMUNE TY oe
on — = —

11

, THERE’S RAHAB, A PROSTI-
— —

TUTE WHOSE CLIENTS ONE DAY INCLUDE TWO
[ea =e

ISRAELITE SPIES WHO ARE ON A RECONNAIS-
=e Sees

a

SANCE MISSION IN JERICHO FOR JOSHUA, BUT

— 4 =a ee a

END UP AT RAHAB'S ESTABLISHMENT AND SHE
Bite i ee

HIDES THEM FROM THE AUTHORITIES AND THUS

ieee ep
SEE sss

PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE IN JOSHUA'S SUCCESS-

FUL CAMPAIGN AGAINST Jerxcxo.)| RAHAB THE

Sarnr.\ RAHAB WHO WAS FAITHFUL BY DOING
—— SS Ss jor

WHAT SHE HAD TO DO WHEN SHE HAD TO DO

IT. | sausgass? Lc IN THE CLOUD

OF WITNESSES ENCOURAGES US TO SEE THAT
—_ oe

THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THERE WHO WERE OUR

Bee
ENABLERS \ OUR SUPPORTERS, | WHOSE TIMELY
‘a —s fm ; an
FAITHFULNESS IS SOMEHOW AND IN SOME WAY

See

RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR BEING HERE. | KARL

BARTH SAID GOD COMMANDEERS PEOPLE FOR
ee eee oS

SAINTHOOD.

AT THE TIME OF THE..REEORMATION THE

NEW PROTESTANT CHURCH DISCONTINUED THE

ee

TRADITION OF CANONIZING sarurs.| AND so

12

THERE ARE NO OFFICIAL SAINTS IN PROTES-

TANTISM AS THERE ARE IN THE ROMAN CATHO-
a

LIC TRADITION. | THE REFORMERS HOPED TO
i)

RECOVER THIS VERY ANCIENT NOTION OF THE
Sp a

COMMUNION OF SAINTS.

BUT WHAT ACTUALLYSHARRENED
THROUGHOUT WESTERN CULTURE WAS A RADICAL
INDIV IESM-WHICH™IN SOME WAYS WAS AND
IS DIRECTLY COUNTER TO THE NOTION OF

ep eS?
COMMUNITY) COMMEEEEmeENTS. INSTEAD

eco ae
OF CELEBRATING THE LIFE-GIVING POTENTIAL
OF GOMMU WE HAVE CELEBRATED THE
‘ Hae

GOOD OF INDIVIDUAL «GLONOMy , INDEPEND-
a= ep

ENCE.\\IT HAS SERVED US WELL SOMETIMES.

ee

IT HAS FOSTERED INDIVIDUAL INITIATIO“ J

AND RESPONSIBILITY. || BUT SOMETIMES THE
eome a bona)

RESULTS HAVE NOT BEEN SO ATTRACTIVE.

THE DETERIORATION OF LIFE IN Seg waonre OUr CITIES
t= ae

oes" IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED, A
zy

RESULT OF INDIVIDUALISM RUN amoK.\ Our

TUSRtiocaND UNWILLINGNESS TO TAKE CARE
See,

Se ee

13

OF OUR POOR AND WEAK AND HELPLESS,\| FROM

INFANTS WHOSE MORTALITY RATE IS APPALL-
ee i a.

ING TO THE HOMELESS ELDERLY, WHOSE

PRESENCE ON OUR_STREETS, SICK, EATING

OUT OF GARBAGE CANS, COLD, UNABLE TO
eS =e

cope...| Resyuts FROM A RADICAL INDIVIDU-

ALISM THAT WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE Bom ob e Zeick ,

==

RATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANYTHING. (3A Hlarvars Feammid +

our Waly, Appl -
Sec, | lor
says Aud us
Ct Siac / ere of 5.bicr|
r&ividy7\uan
Was gersoviy

P

lt oad
commune ry js toe:
SO THIS PRECIOUS NOTION IS rene Au. felon

———— é

AND CRITICAL; [razs OLD NOTION THAT | Le \a SM
| a ded

NO ONE OF US IS AN ESLAND; | THES LOVELY | \\é$ Sete’ ate =
SUGGESTION THAT WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER, War drt ~
THAT THERE IS LIFE IN TOGETHERNESS AND QUO’ EVES of

tell

!
FURTHERMORE THAT EACH OF us IS SURROUN = Qrv alte -

14

ED BY A CLOUD OF WITNESSES...
(or COURSE THERE ARE SAINTS. [ THev
a a
ARE THE ONES WHO POINT THE way. | They

ARE THE ONES WHOSE LIVES ARE TRANSPARENT
Sa sated

TO SOMETHING ELSE, SOMETHING LARGER,
. E
SAID PAUL TILLICH SAINTS _ARE THOSE WHO
POINT SOMETIMES TO SOMETHING IN US THAT
pe
WE COULD NOT SEE IN OURSELVES. ————>

ene, -
In HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY, FREDERICH

BUECHNER TELLS ABOUT WRITING A FLORID,
Se

OVER-BLOWN ESSAY AT PREP SCHOOL AND
ee ER ==

BEING STUNNED WHEN Mr. MARTIN, THE

EACHER, GAVE HIM AN UNHEARD OF 100%.
= a
I THINK IT IS NOT TOO MUCH TO SAY THAT

FROM THAT MOMENT ON, I KNEW THAT WHAT I
\ WANTED TO BE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE WAS
A WRITER. Mr. MARTIN MAY JUST HAVE

CHANGED THE WHOLE COURSE OF MY LIFE WITH

THAT PREPOSTEROUS GRADE." | [THE SACRED >
JOURNEY,
Pp. 74]

15

YOUR SAINTS POINT@&® THE WAY BY
—— Oy
HAVING CONFIDENCE IN YOU, BY TIRING
ee

MUCH FOR YOU, BY GIVING YOU OPPORTUNI~

So a

TIES, AND MOST OF ALL BY SHOWING YOU
— ————a

STRENGTH AND RESOLVE AND COMPETENCE IN
nr eel

YOURSELF THAT WITHOUT_THEM_ YOU NEVER
=.

WOULD wave prscovereD.\\ SomerzMES YOUR

SAINTS ‘\ SOMETIMES A SAINT

HAS TO BE PUSHY AND ALMOST RUDE, SOME-

TIMES UNCOMPROMISING IN EXPECTATION OF
ipa

YOU AND HOPE FOR YOU.

AND SOMETIMES BY EXAMPLE YOUR

SAINTS SHOWM#> YOU HOW_TOULIVE:| SHoMdi>
Cem

YOU H \ WT
OW TO BELIEVE,\HOW TO JRUST, HOW TO
LOVE_AND FORGIVE, HOW TO WEEP AND_LAUGH,

HOW TO BE A CHRISTIAN. \r's A_GQOD.. IDEA
eee
TO IDENTIFY THEM AND ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR

Qi LOSS ae =e

PRESENCE IN THAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES AND

TO THANK THEM. \\ "MENTALLY POPULATE YOUR
Dera | 2

OWN CLOUD OF WITNESSES," ROBERT SHAW

URGES US.| M0 IT TODAY = OVER LUNCH ©
= Eat

16

- THE (ELEMENTARY TEACHER WHO
ges

RECOGNIZED. SC IN YOU AND WOULD
NOT _LET.YOU GO.
- THE OUT R WHO HELPED YOU
= ee |

LEARN THAT EVEN YOUR (TWELVE-YEAR-OLD
Crane mun FUNCTION AND AGJUALLY TIE
INCTION AND AGTUA

A CLOVE HITCH.

- TH CH WHO CAUGHT YOU ACCEPT-
ING MEDIO YOURSELF AND INSISTED
== Sep

THAT YOU HAD MORE TO GIVE PHYSICALLY
ee tenia

THAN YOU HAD EVER GIVEN TO ANYTHING AND
@ES Sa
THEREFORE DIDN'T KNOW WAS THERE.
aaa,
“ E FRIEND WHO ACCEPTED.YOU AND
ai ee

OVERLOOKED YOUR FOIBLES AND STOQD_ WITH

YOU AND SHOWED YOU WHAT LOYALTY IS, OR
a

THE FRIEND WHO STEPPED IN ANDEOUGHT A

FIGHT THAT WAS YOURS AND TAUGHT YOU

COURAGE.

17

———,

- {ue parent T you TO

SHARE AND TO BE STRONG AND TO BE BRAVE

eee
AND TO FORGIVE.

- THE DEAR_ONES, WHO KNEW YOUR NAME

AND CALLED YOU BY NAME AND GAVE YOU AN
Geer ol

(x IDENTITY.
= -_
A A Www do AND LATER, THE PRECIOUS _ONES, WHO
WLS SHOWED YOU HOW TO BE VULNERABLE AND NOT

ue SO STRONG, | How TO BE SICK AND HOW TO

oS BEES
fs ee — @ IS FOR EACH OF US
4 ye Der CL ' -(1 LIKE TOUTHINK OF
a et a THEM AS A CHEERING SECTION, (FULL OF

irr a
FACES WE KNEW AND LoveD, [races OF

= vy’ PEOPLE WE HAVE ADMIRED FROM AFAR AND
ee WHOSE EXAMPLE HAS GIVEN US STRENGTH,
al yy oa iii *
v OF AND FACES OF PEOPLE WE NEVER KNEW AT ALL
(Boe hn a)
A\ { Wows) BUT WHOSE LIVES CONTINUE IN OURS -

Wy y) GREAT, GREAT EAT s,| pro-

A}
ee FESSIONAL PREDECESSORS\POL ITI IANS AND
Q -
VA! ee ; POETS AND GENERALS AND..REFORMERS

oh ae 18
Wow

MARTIN LUTHERING AND DIETRICH BONHOEFF-
(fare
ER AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND JOUN CALVIN

AND MaRTZA. LUTHER. |\Joay OF ARC, FRANCIS
OF Assisza\ JULzAXor NorwicH,( PETER AND

* '
MARXAND. MARTHA ANDJESUS: THEY'RE IN
THAT CLOUDEQ0, THAT CHEERING SECTION, THA COMM LH,

PULLING FOR YOU. _

ON A HOT SUNDAY AFTERNOON EVERY
ee

AUGUST THERE WAS A FAMILY REUNION.\ IN
fae a

THIS PARTICULAR EXTENDED FAMILY MY OWN

WAS OUT ON THE EDGr.\\\ THe ONLY TIME I

SAW THOSE PEOPLE WAS ON THAT_INEVITABLY
Se

Gee
HOT SUNDAY AFTERNOON. WHEN AME. TIME

TO EAT \ AND ALL THE DISHES OF BAKED
BEANS AND BAKED CORN AND MEALLOAF..AND

JELLQSALADAND FRIED CHICKEN, STRETCHED
sai
OUT ON THE PICNIC TABLE, THE FAMILY WAS
mb ks. a ==
CALLED TO ORDER BY AN OLD wan, (1 RETIRED
Sr ee a pei 2
METHODIST LAY PREACHER )wHo TQLD US WHO

HAD BED) AND WHO HAD BEEN BORN DURING
[= =

THE YEAR AND THEN PRAYED A VERY LONG
——- ET armen eee yo

19

PRAYER | WHICH INCLUDED THE ONES WHO HAD

DIED AND THE ONES WHO HAD BEEN BORN AND

T USINS AND UNCLES FIGHTING THE
Ea,

WaR@,| AND OF COURSE, THE GRACE BEFORE
: a ee

THE mea. \ AND THEN WE SANG A_HYMN WHICH
[a eiiiieiaaeinmmaneataiiaaeetaead

EVERYBODY KNEW EVEN WITHOUT HAVING THE

WORDS IN FRONT OF THEM.

Ee
awk Xne smaller. Ir's aout THE comyzy. ns
Lhentady ——.
= ~ saith Uday \ ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY OF EBITH. ( It's
syrall Comyn

ABOUT EVERY COMMUNITY WHICH SUSTAINS ou >

YOUR COMMUNION OF SAINTS \ THOSE DEAR
pation = ee

ONES WHO ENCOURAGE AND STRENGTHEN YOU,
% On ee THOSE DEAR ONES WHO, IN GOD'S ETERNAL
grqri Se ! \o — —
€0a
ate MAY ow _ LOVE STILL CHEER YOU ON, STILL HOLD YOU

UP .IN LOVE AND CONFIDENCE.

"BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS

OuR HEARTS IN CHRISTIAN LOVE:

THE FELLOWSHIP OF KINDRED
MINDS

Is LIKE TO THAT ABOVE."

THANKS BE TO GoD. AMEN.

Dr at alae

An D rrvolesy =

QO Aecr Gd, Www areal wa ae Ly; Yh
gift of Communin- Gor aur sale — WH
lou | UgV* Ar Ow Li conde weer fs ~ hr
ver Clin - + for Your Lou, Coruryrd, wed.
reek ote AWA at- Wa Xl wv - Hey AC