A Cloud of Witnesses
Autumn weather is the perfect prelude to the other Tridium in our Church calendar; the three-day observance of All Hallows Eve, All Saints, and All Souls (October 31, November 1, and November 2). Even if you do not observe them on the actual days, church celebrations can be a great way to let your wider community connect, grieve, and celebrate with you. Here are some suggestions!
All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween)
Consider observing All Hallows’ Eve on the last Sunday in October (this year, Oct 26). You could use the suggested readings and prayers from the Book of Occasional Services. Use the gospel appointed for that Sunday. You might invite children of all ages to dress as their favorite saint, or wear costumes (no violent or disturbing costumes, please!) You might set up a table in front of the altar or at a side chapel, or outside on your grounds for a Day of the Dead altar with pictures of loved ones, flowers, food, and paper for writing prayers. Add votive candles and light them again on All Saints. Invite the community to add the names of those they want to remember at an outdoor altar.
If your church is in a neighborhood with foot traffic, consider giving out treats during the town’s trick-or-treat time. Maybe you can find a saint who will tape a business card to each treat: “Saints and Sinners welcome at St. Swithin’s Episcopal Church: Sunday service at 10 a.m.!” Or sign up to be part of a trick or trunk event. You might find costume ideas among old vestments…
All Saints
Use the readings for All Saints on the Sunday closest to November 1 (this year, November 2). You can also use some of the readings appointed for that Sunday, along with All Saints’ readings. Have children of all ages create crowns with their name on it (Saint Brian, Saint Sue, etc.) to wear on
Sunday morning. Maybe kids join the opening procession with their crowns on! Ideally, you have a baptism, but if not, you can replace the Creed, Prayers of the People, and Confession with a Renewal of Baptismal Vows and asperges (lots of great All Saints hymns to sing during that!)
All Souls
Many congregations add All Souls remembrances to the All Saints Sunday service. If you have a columbarium, you might start the service outside or in the area. Begin with the opening acclamation and then invoke the names of those buried, chanting, or speaking each of the names, i.e. “Blessed Sarah” with the people responding, “Pray with us.” Use an opening hymn to process into the church and continue with the collect of the day.
As part of the day, ask for a list of friends and family who have died in the past year. You might specifically invite family and friends and community members to attend the service. Choose two people to alternate reading the names as part of the Prayers of the People. While the names are read, the congregation is invited to come forward and take a small white candle, light it from the Pascal or altar candle, and place it in a dish of sand
(a large clay saucer works well) You can even use one or two of them on the altar in place of the usual altar candles. Then the cloud of witnesses lights the celebration of the Eucharist.
If your parish has experienced a large number of deaths in a year, and/or when November 2 occurs on a weekday, you might consider having a special evening service. It could be an Evensong or Taizé-style service using the readings for All Souls (the choices are the same as for funerals) and do the same reading of names and lighting of candles. Make sure to invite the individual families and encourage them to invite family
and friends. If there has been a particularly public death, consider inviting the mayor, first responders, and the public to the service.
My childhood priest was fond of reminding us that we are an Easter people! Celebrating All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints, and All Souls is a recognition that God is present in the space between life and death, in grief, in memory, and anywhere that resurrection is needed. Celebrating the living and the dead is one of the best ways to remember, in the words of our funeral rites, “All of us go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!”
Please contact Bishop Kara if you need sample worship services or have questions
about any of these idea.
