I remember when I was growing up you never saw the word "Hallowe'en" without the apostrophe between the two E's. That's because, properly speaking, it is a contraction for "Hallows Even," or the evening before All Hallows' Day. Or as we know it, All Saints' Day. I still insist on writing it this way, often to the perplexity of mystified readers. The reason for this peculiar habit is because I want to maintain the sense of holiness in both the word and the day.

Some people think that the name for this holy day, "All Saints," means that all people become saints and go to heaven. However, "the gate that leads to damnation is wide, the road is clear, and many choose to travel it. But how narrow is the gate that leads to life, how rough the road, and how few there are who find it!" (Mt 7:13-14)

How do we escape damnation and become a saint, that is, how do we become holy? What do the Scriptures say? We become holy not by our power, but by the Holy Spirit (see Zec. 4:6). We become holy when in one Spirit we are baptized into one body (1 Cor. 12:13). We grow in holiness as we follow the lead of the Spirit, Who makes us holy (Gal 5:25). "If by the Spirit" we "put to death the evil deeds of the body," we will live and become holy (Rom. 8:13). If we pray in the Spirit (Eph. 6:18; Jude 20) and love in the Spirit (see Gal. 5:22), we will become holy as the Lord is holy (1 Pet. 1:16). We will become holy in every aspect of our conduct (1 Pet. 1:15) as temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19).

All Saints Day is a day for all of God's holy people. May this holy day be truly holy by the power of the Holy Spirit. Come, Holy Spirit! Amen.

Promise: "We are God's children now; what we shall later be has not yet come to light. We know that when it comes to light we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." (1 John 3:2)

Praise: "They cried out in a loud voice, 'Salvation is from our God, Who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb!'" (Rev. 7:10)

My dear brothers and sisters of Zion: It has been my privilege to serve as your Interim Pastor these past five months. I pray that our heavenly Father keep you steadfast in His Word as Pastor Fritsche takes up the mantle. I hope that I may have another opportunity to work together with you in laboring for the Lord. May He bless and preserve you now and always.