Wednesday 1 November
All Saints Day
The traditions and meanings around All-Hallows Eve and All Saints Day are richer than many of us allow. Laurence Wareing puts the case for reclaiming Halloween within Christian worship in All Saints and All-Hallows Eve. However, many others have also explored this theme.
John Birch unpacks the Celtic festival of Samhain (a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture) and offers a lovely Christian liturgy to mark this time. On Worship Words, a number of contributors (from the UK and internationally) have written prayers and reflections to enrich our thinking about All Saints.
General
For all the saints who from their labours rest (StF 745)
For all the saints who showed your love (StF 746)
Lead us God (website only)
One human family God has made (StF 687)
We gather round this table (website only) communion hymn
Ye servants of God (StF 340)
More suggestions and reflections at Singing All Saints and All-hallows Eve.
Revelation 7: 9-17
Blessing and honour, glory and power are rightly yours (StF 765)
Come let us join our cheerful songs (StF 743)
Come let us join our friends above (StF 744)
Glorious things of thee are spoken (StF 748)
Holy, holy, holy Lord (StF 789)
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty! (StF 11)
How shall I sing that majesty? (StF 53)
Just as we are (website only)
King of Kings, Majesty (StF 331)
Let earth and heaven agree (StF 358)
Love divine, all loves excelling (StF 503)
Praise, my soul, the king of heaven (StF 83)
There is a higher throne (StF 337)
Psalm 34: 1-10, 22
Hymns echoing the psalmist’s theme
I will bless the Lord at all times (StF 809) (Psalm 34: spoken, responsive)
King of Glory, King of Peace (StF 56)
My soul finds rest in God alone (StF 633)
Through all the changing scenes of life (StF 638)
1 John 3: 1-3
Author of life divine (StF 572) communion hymn
Come let us sing of a wonderful love (StF 443)
Father God, I wonder (StF 72)
Help us, O Lord, to learn (StF 501)
More like you, Jesus, more like you (StF 505)
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord (StF 451)
Purify my heart, let me be as gold (StF 508)
Matthew 5: 1-12
Beatitude (Blessed are the poor in Spirit) (website only)
Blest are the pure in heart (StF 244)
Blest are they, the poor in spirit (StF 245)
Community of Christ (StF 681)
Hear the call of the kingdom (StF 407)
The kingdom of God (StF 255)