All Saints
When we think of October 31st, we think of it as a time to dress up and have fun by Trick or Treating for Halloween. However, we don’t always think of its connection to the church. The name Halloween comes from the term “All Hallows Eve”. Hallows is an old Scottish word which means “saints”. Just as Christmas Eve is the evening before Christmas, Halloween is the evening before the Hallows (the Saints), which is All Saints’ Day. This is the day when we commemorate the lives of all the saints, those living and those who have gone to heaven. Together we are the great cloud of witnesses who are believers that share our faith with others.
All Saints Day will be Friday, November 1, but we plan to pause and give thanks for the saints of Williamsburg Presbyterian Church during our morning worship service on November 3rd. And a special prayer will be given to celebrate those dear to us who have passed away in the last year. We will lift up each name and thank God for their time among us, as well as their new life in the eternal realm. And we will lift up saints who are still living, sharing, and witnessing to the love of Jesus Christ.
The first verse of the hymn, By All Your Saints Still Striving, sums it up well.
By all your saints still striving, for all your saints at rest, your holy name, O Jesus, forevermore is blessed! For those passed on before us, we sing our praise anew and, walking in their footsteps, would live our lives for you.
Peace, Josie
Leave a Reply