The Christ Candle First

Higher, first, the Christ candle first
lit and placed on the altar
burning, higher than the rest
the saint, my brother
all the saints after, throughout the ages
pieces of his life, a reflection, an amplifying
sharing his light, his life, his love
touching lives in our journey, in their walk before us
by their faithfulness witnesses, by their deeds examples
like him before them, like Abraham, the grandfather
the patriarchs, all the faithful, down through the pages
remembered in shimmering light
lighting our worship,
glowing, bits of light, of God’s love
warming the sanctuary with flickering faith
a fire in its abundance

November 2, 2008
All Saints’ Day Sunday
Psalm 78:1-7
Hebrews 12:1-3 and sermon,
“Seizing the Future By Remembering the Past”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church