ZACHARY'S NOTES:

Stanza 1 // For a hymn listed to be sung in celebration of All Saints’ Day, this text has much to teach us about what it means to be named a saint. At all times - most especially when “all around seems bleak” - saints rely solely on “God’s good promise” in life and death.

Stanza 2 // The hope of John the Baptist [and King Herod] is the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. This same hope has been given to us today, greater than all the kingdoms of the world, a “beacon ever bright” even when the world serves our head on a platter to those in power.

Stanza 3 // The concerns of this weekend’s cast of characters is what they want, what they desire, and their own preservation. John the Baptist lived [and died] as one who pointed in faith to Jesus Christ. This is what it means to show God’s love in all we say and do, that God’s concerns might be our own, and God’s love shown through the lives God gives.

Stanza 4 // With all the saints of our Lord’s Church, we share the One who is the “way, truth, and life” - and is their and our way through life and death! Whether saints of “ages past” or those “alive today” - we rely on God’s promise and give thanks to walk the way of faith God gives.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

ELW 428 - Give Thanks for Saints - REPTON

ELW 418 - Rejoice in God’s Saints - LAUDATE DOMINUM

ELW 421 - By All Your Saints - KUORTANE [stanzas 1, 2 and/or 14, and Last]

ELW 424 - Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones - LASST UNS ERFREUEN

ELW 428 - Give Thanks for Saints - REPTON

ELW 429 - In Our Day of Thanksgiving - ST. CATHERINE’S COURT

ELW 776 - What God Ordains Is Good Indeed - WAS GOTT TUT

ELW 786 - O Holy Spirit, Enter In - WIE SCHÖN LEUCHTET

ELW 812/813 - Faith of Our Fathers - ST. CATHERINE

LBW 175 - Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones - LASST UNS ERFREUEN

LBW 178 - By All Your Saints in Warfare - KING’S LYNN [stanzas 1, 15, and 3]

LBW 446 - What God Ordains Is Always Good - WAS GOTT TUT

LBW 459 - O Holy Spirit, Enter In - WIE SCHÖN LEUCHTET

LBW 500 - Faith of Our Fathers - ST. CATHERINE

LSB 518 - By All Your Saints in Warfare - KING’S LYNN [stanzas 1, 2 and 18]

LSB 670 - Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones - LASST UNS ERFREUEN

LSB 760 - What God Ordains Is Always Good - WAS GOTT TUT

LSB 913 - O Holy Spirit, Enter In - WIE SCHÖN LEUCHTET

RH 174 - Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones - LASST UNS ERFREUEN

RH 216 - Faith of Our Fathers - ST. CATHERINE