Description
This Year All Saint’s Day, the 1st of November, is on a Sunday, giving congregations the choice of holding an All Saints’ Day service as the Sunday service, or as well as the usual Sunday Service. Like all special days for those following the Revised Common Lectionary, this day is nominated as a special day by using the colour White or Gold instead of the Green we have become familiar with over the last 23 weeks.
What is All Saint’s Day?
Like many traditions it has evolved from early times and from other traditions. Today in Protestant churches we tend to honour all Christians both the dead and those still living.
On exploring the readings assigned for this day in the Revised Common Lectionary I was especially struck by the strong images of Giving Thanks in Worship that ran through most readings. In the Revelation reading we have a strong image of this in v.12 and the reasons for those assembled to be thankful in v’s: 16-17. Likewise, the verses chosen from Psalm 34, 1-10 give reasons to be thankful, and shares how that is expressed in vs:2-3. 1 john 3: 1-3 is different in that it reminds us of whose child we are. (A great reason to be Thank full). The Gospel reading is commonly known as the Beatitudes, the New Revised Common Version (NRSV) that I have been using starts each verse with the word blessed, though the Greek for this word can also mean happy. As we often face All Saints Day with sadness, it is a great reminder that even in times of sadness we have much to be thankful for.
Extension Activity: You might like to ask everyone to look up the history of All Saint’s Days and how it has evolved over time. Or ask just a handful of people and allocate different eras or different traditions to research and then present to the whole congregation.
