For All the Saints

Dear Friends,

I’ve just finished celebrating All Saints’ Day with our school community. It was a festive, noisy, wonderful all-school Eucharist. We sang, prayed, blessed, and broke bread together to kick off this wonderful weekend when we remember those saints who’ve gone before. And we have much to celebrate!

On Sunday morning, we’ll gather for joyous Eucharists as we celebrate All Saints’ Sunday. As my son mentioned in the car this morning, All Saints’ is about the “big ones.” I think he meant the famous saints. It’s a feast that gives thanks for those whose bold witness empowers us to serve God in our day. So, it makes sense that our Sunday will include two baptisms at our 11 o’clock Eucharist. We’ll make two new saints who will seek to follow the example of the glorious saints in light.

There’s another holiday associated with this weekend, though. November 2 is the Feast of All Faithful Departed, which is sometimes called All Souls’ Day. On this day it’s not just the “big ones,” that my son mentioned. It’s also those quieter saints, the ones who’ve meant much to us, though the world may not know them. They, too, are part of the great company. They, too inspire us to live lives emboldened by the gospel.

We’ll make the turn toward the themes of All Souls’ on Sunday night, when Quinn Ruins Everything will take a look at our theology around death. I think it will be a rich, encouraging, and challenging conversation. I hope you’ll be part of it.

May the one who has shown his glory in the saints who have gone before and who calls us into their glorious company bless you and yours this All Saints' Day and always.

Grace and Peace,
Quinn+

[Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay]