Some of my favorite moments in the life of the church are the rare ones where our past, our present, and our future sit together in the very same pew.
On Sunday, November 1, we get one of those moments. We will mark All Saints Sunday and Commitment Sunday together, and the more I pray over this day, the more convinced I am that they belong side by side.
Remembering the Foundation
On All Saints Sunday, we speak the names of those from our church family who have entered the church triumphant this past year. We will ring bells, light candles, and give thanks. A few tears will fall, and that is as it should be. Grief and deep gratitude almost always show up in the same room.
Every single one of us is worshiping here today because someone before us laid a foundation of faith. Maybe it was a grandmother who prayed for you by name, a teacher who showed up week after week, or a quiet saint who gave faithfully for decades without seeking recognition. The writer of Hebrews calls them a “great cloud of witnesses.” They aren’t just a memory behind us; they are cheering us forward.
The saints of Pittman Park built for people they would never meet. The sanctuary where we gather, the ministries that feed our community, the classrooms where children learn that God loves them, they all exist because faithful disciples gave of themselves for a future they trusted God to hold.
In a very real sense, we are the answered prayers of the people who came before us.
That is why Commitment Sunday belongs on this day.
Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3 that no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. Our giving is never about maintaining an institution or balancing a spreadsheet. It is about building on Christ so that the next generation of students, families, seekers, and neighbors encounter the same life-changing grace that found us.
Generosity isn’t something we wring out of ourselves through obligation or guilt. It is what happens when our gratitude for God’s faithfulness simply overflows. When we look back at what God has done, the natural response is an open hand.
As you prayerfully prepare your 2027 estimate of giving this week, ask yourself:
- Where have I witnessed God’s faithfulness in my life and church this past year?
- How is that gratitude inviting me to grow in trust and generosity?
- What kind of spiritual foundation do I want to leave for those who will sit in these pews long after me?
Whether this is your first time making a financial pledge or your fiftieth, whether your gift is modest or substantial, every commitment matters. Joined together, our pledges form the foundation for every ministry, every open door, and every act of mercy God is calling Pittman Park into for 2027.
During worship on November 1, we will bring our commitment cards forward as a joyful act of worship and dedication.
If you are traveling or worshiping with us from home, you can return your card to the church office this week or submit your commitment online through our church website.
There is profound power in walking forward together, honoring the saints whose shoulders we stand on, and declaring with one voice: It’s our turn to carry the work forward.
See you Sunday.
God bless,
Jonathan Smith
For Jesus. For People. For Community.