Nov 5 - Heritage Sunday

We remember those who have nurtured and encouraged our faith and plan for ways we can become encouragers.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (New Living Translation)
12 So then, with endurance, let’s also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. Let’s throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up, 2 and fix our eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter. He endured the cross, ignoring the shame, for the sake of the joy that was laid out in front of him, and sat down at the right side of God’s throne. 3 Think about the one who endured such opposition from sinners so that you won’t be discouraged and you won’t give up.

I Thessalonians 2:9-13 (New Revised Standard Version)

9 You remember, brothers and sisters, our efforts and hard work. We preached God’s good news to you, while we worked night and day so we wouldn’t be a burden on any of you. 10 You and God are witnesses of how holy, just, and blameless we were toward you believers. 11 Likewise, you know how we treated each of you like a father treats his own children. 12 We appealed to you, encouraged you, and pleaded with you to live lives worthy of the God who is calling you into his own kingdom and glory.

13 We also thank God constantly for this: when you accepted God’s word that you heard from us, you welcomed it for what it truly is. Instead of accepting it as a human message, you accepted it as God’s message, and it continues to work in you who are believers.

Reflection Notes:

As Heritage Sunday today, we pause this day to a time of remembering and giving thanks to those saints who have gone on before us but lit the way for us to embrace and capture faith in God. We also lean into the ways we are sharing our faith and lighting the way for others to also embrace and capture faith in our God. We hear the foundational stories of faith in our remembering and honoring.