All Saints’ Day has fallen on November 1 in the Catholic and Western Christian tradition for 1,300 years. Interestingly, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, it is observed the Sunday after Pentecost (when we celebrate Trinity Sunday). It is a major feast of the Christian Church, and this year we have the chance to actually celebrate it on a Sunday. Personally, this is one of my favorite seasons of our church year. I love the way that the three days of All Hallow’s Eve, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day invite us to reflect more fully on how we are all held in God’s loving embrace–and that “nothing, not even death, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord,” as St. Paul reminds us.
There is something almost primal about the human desire to look to others whose lives inspire us to see the best potential in ourselves–whether they be as well known as St. Francis or St. Teresa of Avila or as loved as Roc Carroll and Nancy Parks. Our lives are filled with saints, and we can joyfully sing “and I want to be one too!” Deep down, we realize that our connection with one another transcends the limits of our physical deaths.
I invite you to share in this Sunday’s prayers as we enter into this time of cooler weather and deeper reflection. We will mark the feast at all three of our Sundays services, reading off a list of names of those you have submitted. For those joining in worship from home, you may want to light a candle and keep it close by to remind you of the Light of Christ that dwells within each of our hearts. As well, our 10:45 live stream service will be recorded and available to the entire parish so you can watch this special prayer service whenever you may need it in the days to come.
Stuart+