While the world is busy getting costumes and candy ready, I wanted to draw our attention to another holy-day/holiday coming up this week. All Saints’ Day, also known as All Hallows’ Day and Hallowmas, is a Christian tradition honoring all the saints of the Church on November 1. (sidenote: see how All Hallows’ Eve, aka Halloween, got its name there?)
From the 4th century, feasts commemorating all Christian martyrs were held in various places, on various dates near Easter and Pentecost. In the 9th century, some churches in the British Isles began holding the commemoration of all saints on November 1, and in the 9th century this was extended to the whole Roman Catholic Church by Pope Gregory IV.
And so many mainline Christians continue to observe this day, usually on the Sunday prior. This Sunday, October 29, we will have the opportunity to remember and celebrate those beloved saints who were a part of our church family and have now gone on to the church in glory. While our Catholic siblings have some rules about official sainthood, we believe that all who follow Jesus are saints, are holy ones, are folks set apart for God’s special purposes. It may not be as dramatic as a martyr, but we can still offer our whole lives to God.
So we will celebrate this Sunday in worship, recognizing the many saints who have gone on to glory before us but leaving a rich legacy of faith, the anticipation of hope, the unrelenting practice of joy, and the bottomless well of love we know in God. We will bring our commitments for the coming year to lay upon the altar, becoming a living bridge the continues this legacy into future generations.
I am praying for you, beloved, especially as we all recall our dearly departed to mind. May their memory be a blessing.
grace & peace,
Pastor Jessica.