To be called a “Sunday people” is generally a compliment, suggesting a grounding in the Christian faith whose foundation is the Lord’s Day. Unfortunately, however, it can also suggest an inability or unwillingness to worship on a day other than that, leaving the commemoration of floating church festivals to scramble for the closest Sunday, to observe them on the proper day with a faithful remnant, or to ignore them altogether.
All Saints’ Day is always on November 1, where it is overshadowed by the popular civic celebration of Halloween, which takes place the day before. That is regrettable because in many ways this commemoration of the saints goes to the heart of our faith: death has not won (1 Cor. 15:55–57); in all we do we are accompanied by fellow Christians, living and dead (Heb. 12:1); and we will in the end join others in praising God eternally (Rev. 7:9–10).
This is also a significant opportunity to remember the saints who have gone before us, recently or long past. In my last pastorate, the All Saints’ Day service (on the Sunday closest, of course) included a significant period of silence in the midst of the pastoral prayer, during which time members of the congregation were invited to share, whether aloud or in the silence of their hearts, the names of persons important to them who had died.
In the Jewish tradition, remembering the dead also includes lighting a special candle called a Yahrzeit (yar-tz-ite, which means “remember” or “anniversary”), that burns for a twenty-four-hour period from sunset to sunset. These candles can be purchased in many supermarkets, and electric lamp versions are available. Just as Christians use fire as a metaphor for the Holy Spirit and the spirit within us, Judaism has compared the flame of a candle to a soul. Four times a year, most prominently on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) and on the date of the person’s death, one candle is lit to remember the deceased. There are no special prayers for the day, only a time of recollection and reflection.
As Christians, consider building on this practice of our sister faith. Perhaps a candle could be lighted on All Saints’ Day, the date of the person’s death, and the anniversary of their baptism. This latter is not only a day to recollect fondly, to be noted in the family Bible, or to be lost in session records. Rather, it is when we die with Christ and are given newness of life (see Romans 6:4–5 and the Book of Order, W-2.3002).
Consider crafting a worship service with scripture, song, prayer, and light. A variety of resources already exist with which one could design a meaningful All Saints’ Day worship service at home. The Book of Common Worship and Daily Prayer include prayers and scripture readings appropriate to the day. In addition to the traditional “For All the Saints,” The Presbyterian Hymnal also has a wonderful piece called “I Sing a Song of the Saints of God.” A free calendar of commemoration is available through the Office of Spiritual Formation. Saints are listed date and alphabetical order, along with an annotated version giving more detail on the person. Take time to explore the lives of saints connected to birthdays, baptismal dates, and deaths of those near to you.
We can never remember enough loved ones and their influence on our lives. All Saints’ Day is the perfect place to begin, and our homes are the perfect place to start.
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