For All the Saints. ELW 422
1 For all the saints who from their labors rest, who thee by faith before the world confessed, thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
2 Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might;
thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight;
thou, in the darkness drear, their one true light.
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
3 Oh, blest communion, fellowship divine, we feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
4 And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long, steals on the ear the distant triumph song, and hearts are brave again and arms are strong.
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
5 The golden evening brightens in the west;
soon, soon to faithful servants cometh rest;
sweet is the calm of paradise the blest.
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
6 But then there breaks a yet more glorious day:
the saints triumphant rise in bright array;
the King of glory passes on his way.
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
7 From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast, through gates of pearl streams in the countless host, singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
Devotion
Oh, blest communion, fellowship divine,
we feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in these for all are thine.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
We come to the table so different but together. Each person kneels and opens hands wide knowing that the person to the left, the person at the church down the street and the person on the other side of the world may believe and express a few things differently. But our disagreements fade when we hear that this is the body and blood of Christ shed for all of us. And suddenly, our divisions don't seem so wide anymore.
Prayer
God of glory, you gather your people across time and space at a splendid table made of altars everywhere. Thank your for this foretaste of the feast to come and for all the saints who taste and see that you are good. Amen.