Neeley's Notions on All Saints

Grace Abounds!

Sermon writing and worship preparations are a holy art. I prayerfully engage the living word with imagination, curiosity, and an openness for the Spirit to dance!

My hope as your pastor through “Neeley’s Notions” is to offer stories and perspectives to ignite your own imagination, curiosity, and openness to the Spirit. - this will be a periodical email offering as the Spirit leads!

What is All Saints' Day?

All Saints’ Day is a time to rejoice in all who through the ages have faithfully served the Lord. The day reminds us that we are part of one continuing, living communion of saints. It is a time to claim our kinship with the “glorious company of apostles … the noble fellowship of prophets … the white-robed army of martyrs” (Te Deum). It is a time to express our gratitude for all who in ages of darkness kept the faith, for those who have take the gospel to the ends of the earth, for prophetic voices who have called the church to be faithful in life and service, for all who have witnessed to God’s justice and peace in every nation.

An excerpt from the Companion to the Book of Common Worship (Geneva Press, 2003, 150-151)

"The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs" by Fra Angelico

Scripture this Sunday

This is an angel I was given by Rev. Dr. Jeri Parris Perkins on my last day of serving the church of FPC Hartsville, SC. Jeri is one of mine and many others present day saints as I seek to faithfully answer the call of minister of word and sacrament. Fun fact, Jeri served as an intern here at FPC Covington in 1984-1987!

Ephesians 1:11-23

On this All Saints Sunday, we will explore Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus. We will lean into the words in verse 16.

“I don’t stop giving thanks to God for you when I remember you in my prayers”

All Saints gives us an opportunity to pause and give thanks for the saints in our lives past and present.

We hold space for prayers of lament and thanksgiving for the ways our saints who have died impacted our lives and journeys of faith. We pray prayers of gratitude for the present-day saints who walk alongside us day in and day out.

Just recently, I had the humble honor of participating as part of the service in Witness to the Resurrection of my beloved childhood pastor, Frank Colladay. As I pause and give thanks this All Saints' Day, I share with you a glimpse of his influence on my faith journey through a few of the words I wrote for his funeral.

“Here is the church, here is the steeple,

Open it up and see all the people!”

Frank would sit on the top step in the front of the sanctuary on Sunday mornings and say these words. And sweet goodness did Frank love God’s people. Frank was always reminding us of God’s love with a big hug or saying, “Know you are loved my dear,” when the phone call was coming to an end. Frank laid a foundation for me as a little girl, of who God is and what divine love looks like. He taught me the expansive and inclusive understanding of the kingdom.

As I drove into Dahlonega (my hometown) on the day before his funeral, I found myself needing to “hug” home. I went straight to the pottery shop on the square.

I knew Brad Walker would be there with his smile. Brad held me has I cried. Then he looked at me and said,

“Frank gave us all a foundation. Now we get to carry it!”

Frank planted and cultivated seeds in my life that make me who I am today. He was my family’s pastor and dear friend from the time I was two years old! He put up with a lot of shenanigans from my sisters and me! I remember the day in worship when my sister, Elizabeth who was a little girl at the time, stood up in worship and told Frank in front of the whole congregation he was praying too long! What a memory!

Frank’s impact on my life is hard to put into words. He was Saint on my journey. Today, I can hear him still telling me:

“You are so beautiful to me.”

He would sing this song in worship, at baptisms, and at weddings.

“It’s okay to cry, Neeley. Jesus wept.”

He taught me on of my dear comforts in life that tears speak of deep love and gratitude.

“Remember nothing, I mean nothing, can ever separate you from God’s love.”

Frank taught me forgiveness and love.

And last by not least, I hear him saying the benediction I give every Sunday. It is one I heard as a little girl and throughout my childhood. It was one of Frank’s benedictions.

“May you see the face of Christ in everyone you meet and may everyone you meet see the face of Christ in you!”

Frank did. So authentically and we can too, church.

A Prayer of Thanksgiving for Frank

Holy One,

As my little sister said on the day of Frank’s death – we need more Franks in the world.

Let not our hearts be troubled, but may we desire to reflect your light and your love as we give witness to the resurrection. God prompt us by your Spirit’s leading to not only hold close the stories of love, the memories of tears and laughter, the joy of Frank, thus ignite in us your light and love through our voices, our hands, our feet as we are called to carry on the foundation Frank shared with us.

For Frank’s love, his perseverance, his courage, and yes his stubbornness, for his smile, his laughter, even his bald head, we give thanks. For the weddings, baptisms, lunch dates, montreat small groups, the athletic events, theatre productions, karaoke nights, for all the milestones of life’s journey where we knew Frank would always be right there beside us, we give thanks.

Spirit of the Living God, we give thanks for our brother, our cousin, our uncle, our Buddha, our pastor, our friend, our beloved Frankie.

And all God’s children say, Amen.

As you take time this week to pray prayers of thanksgiving for the saints in your life, I encourage you to write down your prayers. Draw, Journal, Sing, Dance. I would love for you to share your ponderings with me. It is a gift to hear who has been or is a saint in your life.

You can share any way you wish, but I suggest hitting reply on this email. What you send will come directly to me.

If you need some guidance in your reflecting, I offer you a few resources:

Children's Books written for all ages

The Invisible String by Patrice Karst

The Invisible String is the perfect tool for coping with all kinds of separation anxiety, loss, and grief. In this relatable and reassuring contemporary classic, a mother tells her two children that they're all connected by an invisible string.