Nearly a year ago, my grandpa Bob Twiton died. Since then my family has been through its share of “firsts” – our first Easter without grandpa, birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmas. I know of several other families who are going through the same journey of grief.

My grandpa was a pastor for over 50 years. It’s remarkable to think of the number of weddings, baptisms, funerals, visits, council meetings, confirmation lessons, and sermons that can happen in a half century. I remember, too, the stories grandpa passed on from his life and ministry.

Towards the end of his life, my grandpa wrote a short essay on his motivation for ministry called “Therefore…” He based his reflection on Hebrews 12:1-2: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith…” This cloud of witnesses supported and motivated in faith.

Because of this, I’ve been thinking about this great cloud of witnesses in my life and in the life of faith more generally.

One of the things that strikes me about the Christian faith is how often God is present to us through other people. Just to name a few examples, Jesus promises to be present to us in the poor and the stranger (Matthew 25:40), when we welcome children (Matthew 18:5), whenever at least two or three are gathered (Matthew 18:20), and when we share the Holy Meal together (Matthew 26:26).

In other words, Christian life is a team sport. We all need the great cloud of witnesses to run the race before us.

I’ve been thinking of this great cloud of witnesses as Orfordville Lutheran prepares to celebrate its 150th anniversary as a congregation. It’s not lost on me that our church gathers on the same ground as many of our ancestors in faith. We remember the immigrant farmers, Sunday School teachers, pastors, Women’s Circles, property committees, treasurers, choir directors, and so many more who faithfully served God’s mission before us. God has blessed this congregation with a great cloud of witnesses.

I thought also of this great cloud of witnesses while watching the new Disney/Pixar movie Coco. Coco is a beautiful story based on the Mexican holiday of Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead. Día de los Muertos is a day where families remember their loved ones who have died with stories, pictures, food, and traditions. It’s a day, in other words, to celebrate the great cloud of witnesses. (I recommend seeing Coco but be sure to bring some Kleenex!)

When I was in college and was grieving the loss of another grandparent, I remember a pastor telling me about a family tradition of hers. In her family, whenever they were going to be separated by distance, circumstance, or death, they would say to each other, “I’ll see you at the communion table.”

It’s based on the idea that whenever we gather around the Lord’s Table it’s not just the local church that gathers but in some mystical sense we are gathered with the faithful of all times and places. As we say in the liturgy of Holy Communion: “With all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending him.” We commune with our Christian family all over the world and with those in heaven.

Some older churches used to communicate this mystery through their architecture. Perhaps you’ve been in an old country church with a half-moon communion railing. Often times in these churches, the cemetery would be on the other side of the wall from the Lord’s Table. The idea is that the other half of the communion rail is completed in the cemetery. So, the congregation of the living are joined with the Church Triumphant in the cemetery around the same Holy Meal.

I think of the great cloud of witnesses when Christ gathers us at his table. And until I see my grandpa again, I’ll see him at Holy Communion.

God blesses us with witnesses of love and grace and faith and peace. Who are those witnesses for you? May God surround you with them, so we might be given strength to run the race before us.

Note: This post originally appeared in the Brodhead Free Press and the Independent Register as part of their weekly “Pastor’s Corner” column.