What hope is there for those who die in Christ? It is always terribly sad when a loved one passes away, and Christian communities have always felt something of the sting of death. But after his resurrection Christ ascended into heaven, leaving behind the promise to return for his dearly loved people. In this week’s sermon we will meditate on Paul’s comforting words of hope in 1 Thessalonians 5:13-18. We’ll see that though we grieve, we have rock solid hope of meeting brothers and sisters again when Christ returns. It’s as certain as Christ’s own resurrection.