Wednesday Word: All Saints' Day
Friends,
We had a wonderful time at Trunk or Treat on Sunday night. Thanks to Mrs. Erin and all of her helpers and to our very creative volunteers and families who decorated trunks and created clever costumes.
Much as the Easter Bunny can eclipse the meaning of Easter, and Santa sometimes obscures the mystery of Christmas, Halloween tends to overshadow an observance of the church. Halloween is All Hallows Eve, the day before All Saints' Day (November 1), and The Commemoration of All Souls (November 2).
On All Saints' Day, we remember the Saints of God whose life and witness taught the whole church how to follow Jesus. The Episcopal Church reviews this calendar of saints every three years or so at General Convention. A fairly up to date calendar of these saints is here. On All Souls Day, we remember the saints of God who taught us personally how to follow Jesus. We will celebrate All Souls Day tonight with Eucharist in the columbarium at 5:30, with reading names commended to our prayers and blessing the ground.
We tend to combine these observances on All Saints' Sunday, the first Sunday after All Saints' Day, whenever that falls. We talk about both the well-known saints of the Church and the personal saints who meant so much to us. We also celebrate baptism and give thanks for the new life of Christ that is making saints of us all, with the help of God.
I hope you enjoyed Halloween by either passing out candy yourself or taking children trick-or-treating. Now that we've had that fun, let's focus on the real meaning of these days - our calling to follow the example of the Saints of God. Consider both the Saints of the Church and your personal saints, and give thanks to God.
For all the saints who from their labors rest, thy name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Blessings,
Grace
