Frank Kilby, Larry Day, Betty Mullinix, Oliver Baker, to name a few, and many more this year, people who attended worship in this church, who were confirmed in faith in this congregation, who were known to members of this community, passed away.

In the midst of the beauty of fall, we see also the decay of fallen leaves and the harbingers of winter, dark and cold, to come. In the midst of life, we can find ourselves weighed down with grief over the lives of those we love but see no more. We find ourselves buried under the pain of loss, which is inescapable and unfair in its selection.

We lose little ones who have never taken a breath. We lose our sense of wholeness when we receive a diagnosis. We lose our sense of normality when we are told we have a disease which requires treatment and effort to manage. And even if we prevail, even if we find ourselves in remission, or in recovery, we lose our sense of security in our own bodies. We find ourselves mistrustful of our own selves. In the midst of life, we are in death.

That’s often the way we look at things. But Jesus offers another way. When faced with the death of a friend, he weeps. But he doesn’t look down to the ground, he doesn’t hang his head in defeat. He looks up. And silently he prays to God to bring about life where there is none. Aloud he offers thanksgiving. And a miracle arises.

You and I may look around and see only reasons to despair, only reasons to stay inside on cold mornings and early evenings, only reasons to go back to bed and try to sleep away the day, sleep away the week, sleep away your life.

But you and I are not cursed. We can see the world as Jesus sees it – yet alive. You are not incomplete. You are not lacking or imperfect. You are beloved. You are blessed. You have with you the One who holds all of us in love. You have with you the riches of the kingdom of God, which cannot be taken away, cannot be stolen, cannot be devalued or depreciated, cannot be shaken.

It’s not just something you imagine. You have before you, a feast prepared by God, provided to you freely, offered to you abundantly and without restriction. This day, you have God’s promise and covenant presented to you in the cup. This hour, you have the life of God, made visible in this bread, and shared with you, within reach. All you have to do is hold out your hands and receive it.

Even in the midst of death, you are in life. Will you believe this? I pray you will.