I am not sure I would want to hitch my wagon to Peter or the other disciples. Certainly not given their track record up to now in the scriptures. They do not look like rocks. But now they are going to be the rock on which Jesus builds his church.
     We have seen time and time again that the disciples crack under stress and that they do not comprehend what Jesus tells them. However, Jesus calls them.

Beloved of God, grace to you and peace. . .
The other day I was searching through one of our closets to find Valentine’s decorations and I came across this little red heart. It is inscribed with the word “Blessed”. I remember picking this out at a shop several years ago and I’m still a little surprised that I bought it. Truth be told, I have a love/hate relationship with the word “Blessed”. This may be a risky confession for a pastor to make. But I hear this word used a LOT, and used in ways that are puzzling to me.

On All Saints Sunday, we make time to give thanks for the life and witness of those who have died in the faith. We lean into the promise given through Jesus’ resurrection for new life in God’s presence forever. We trust that in life or death we are not ever lost to God.
All this is a right, good and faithful thing we do together as part of the long faith history of God’s family in Christ Jesus. Especially today we give thanks to God for those who now rest from their earthly labor. We believe our mortal life is gifted through God’s grace and mercy and forgiveness with immortality. Old earthly life is exchanged for new heavenly life.
But I have a question for each of you. It comes from the singer Peggy Lee. It’s her song that asks: is that all there is, is that all there is?

​     In 1530 Martin Luther’s co-worker Philip Melanchthon constructed a confession of faith of 21 articles on matters of faith and 7 articles on protestant reform issues in an attempt to answer challenges raised by the Roman Catholic church. It forms the basis of Lutheran Christianity still.
     This being an election year, you might be curious to learn what the Augsburg Confession says about our civic duties as Christians. While there were strong efforts by other Protestant groups to withdrawal from civic responsibilities, our Confession encourages the following engagement in such duties.

Not long ago, I saw her in the parking lot in front of Safeway, getting into the passenger seat of a car across the aisle. Her back was hunched so far over that, even when she tilted her head back as far as it would go, she was still looking down. It was a lovely day. There was a gentle breeze. Wispy clouds danced across the blue sky. A couple of young women chatted next to the display of hanging plants, while a boy practiced his skateboard skills on the walkway, but the woman missed it all. All she could see was the cracked asphalt, with its oil stains and flattened fast food cups.

As I got out of my car, I couldn’t help wondering what her life must be like. It made me sad. I could imagine the pain in her back as she went about her business, and I found myself hoping I would never be hunched over like that. I found I couldn’t get her out of my mind. Then I read today’s Gospel lesson.
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“She was bent double, and quite unable to stand up straight.”