August 31, 2026
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I Corinthians 1:1-3
In the Presbyterian understanding of The Saints, all believers, past and present are among the saints. And yet, even we, tacitly acknowledge some heroes of the faith we commonly admire, from Mr. Rogers (an ordained Presbyterian clergy) to theologians and martyrs, like Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther King Jr., or people who fought for justice and equality out of a moral and religious conviction like Dorothy Day or Sojourner Truth. And this week, many of us remembering Dolly Parton this way.
Dolly made no secret of her deep faith, which led her to a life of philanthropic work and culture change. Her foundation donated over 300 million books to children, and she led the charge in her hometown county for literacy and learning - lowering the dropout rate from a third of all students to single digits. She made massive donations to finding a Covid vaccine and advocated for people getting it. She supported the arts, science, and common sense, and left a legacy of acceptance, love, and leading change through generosity of resources, time, and spirit. Few people have been remembered so fondly by such diverse groups.
In the wake of so many good things being said, it’s become obvious that her passing is different from many other leaders, entertainers, and influential people. There is unity in our grief, harmony in our inspiration, and commonality in our remembrance. No one is claiming Dolly Parton was perfect, but that she was determined, humble, and filled with God’s love for others, especially the poor and needy.
When Paul writes to the imperfect people of Corinth, he doesn’t call them saints because they are good examples or have the potential to one day be perfect. He calls them saints because we are set apart by God to holy purpose. And if we are as determined as Dolly to use every day to do the most with what we’ve been entrusted, God will bless that labor and one day call us home.
Prayer
Lord, make us humble, loving, and generous, determined to fulfill your holy purpose for us. Amen.
Rev. Brian Daoust
Associate Pastor for Mission & Youth
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