All Saints’ Day and More – St. Nick’s News Nov. 1, 2024

Full St. Nick’s News for November 1, 2024

Dear Friends –

Blessed All Saints’ Day to you.

Beginning on the 31st we in the church celebrate a triduum of sorts – many are calling October 31st through November 2nd an Autumnal Triduum.

Originally, Halloween on the 31st of October had nothing to do with candy and costumes but was a day for preparing for All Saints’ and All Souls’ day. All Hallows’ Eve was a day when people would prepare for the celebrations of the following feast days. Much like Christmas Eve is a celebration and preparation for Christmas Day. Over time, Halloween became the cultural celebration with trick or treating and costume fun. Halloween or All Hallows’ Eve carries a much deeper spiritual reminder – we belong to God in Christ Jesus – we belong to something bigger than ourselves. And in this belonging, we profess faith in God in Christ Jesus who conquers fear and death as we proclaim the light of Christ in all the world.

November 1st is All Saints’ Day and we celebrate the famous saints and the more ordinary saints like doctors, nurses, our grandparents and the really kind neighbor down the street who helped you with the project for your yard. We call these saints “the great cloud of witnesses” who have proclaimed the good news of Jesus. All Saints’ reminds us that we are called to be saints and we have been, are, and will continue to be connected to one another because we are the Body of Christ.

All Souls’ Day on November 2nd is when we pray for the faithful departed – those we love and see no longer. We give God thanks for their life and remind ourselves they are resting in God’s glory with all the saints in heaven.

It is a great and holy three days for the church. This past Wednesday, we began placing pictures of loved ones on an altar set-up in the back of our sanctuary. I want to invite you to bring your pictures of loved ones this coming Sunday when we celebrate All Saints’ in our time of worship. You can bring a framed picture or a photograph. You can also offer a prayer of thanks for your loved ones and put it on the altar.

I will confess, I was especially moved Wednesday at our Dinner Church gathering as people shared their stories of loved ones. Such a vivid reminder of those who have gone before us and formed us in faith and love. I found my soul stirring with a renewed commitment to our hope in Jesus and sure confidence in the resurrection. We will, one day, be reunited with our loved ones and in the meantime we have love, joy, grace, and hope to share with all the every day saints around us.

Pray with me the New Zealand Prayer Book’s Collect for All Saints’ –

Almighty God, your saints are one with you in the mystical body of Christ; give us grace to follow them in all virtue and holiness until we come to those inexpressible joys which you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

As always, I am looking forward to seeing you on Sunday. I am also looking forward to hearing of your loved ones and seeing their picture on our altar. Every Sunday we come together to hear the stories of our faithful scriptural family, this Sunday, I look forward to hearing the stories of your faithful family and friends.

God’s Peace, Love, and Blessings,
Beth+