Day (Year B)

All Saints Day ll who claim and trust in the promises of God are blessed. As in ages past, God’s saints today are called to embrace God’s new creation, here and now. In baptism, we become God’s new Focus Scripture Acreation – God’s saints – and are commissioned to live now in the presence of God’s promises, Revelation 21:1–6a working toward their fulfillment. Additional Scriptures Isaiah 25:6–9 or Wisdom 3:1–9 Focus Scripture: Revelation 21:1–6a Psalm 24 The beginning of the book of Revelation tells us that it This new heaven and new earth are not meant to John 11:32–44 is the record of the visions of John concerning “what completely replace the old, for that would mean that must soon take place” (1:1). The term for this kind of human history is ultimately unimportant to God. The Holy God, your revelation is apocalypse, meaning “unveiling.” Revela- vision is one of renewal. Like the flower in the bulb wisdom has tion was likely written around 95 CE. This date, plus or the oak in the acorn, the new has been present in formed all that the style of language, leads most scholars to say it the old all along. has been, that was not written by the apostle John or the author of Another vision of God’s ultimate reign is given in is, and that shall the gospel of John. This John was a Christian proph- Isaiah 25:6–9. The prophet describes the time when be. Thanks for et, speaking a vision of God’s word to seven early God will call “all peoples” to a new life on God’s holy revealing your churches. mountain – a location that suggests the meeting of glorious ways A central tenet of Judeo-Christian beliefs is that heaven and earth – where death will be swallowed in Christ and the universe has been created by God for a purpose; up forever. On a similar note, the writer of Wisdom in the lives of therefore, history has meaning and purpose. Accord- 3:1–9 describes how God watches over the souls of all your saints. ing to this belief, history is not an endless cycle where righteous ones forever, in spite of what mortals may Strengthen us events are destined to repeat themselves, but rather a perceive. Psalm 24:4 echoes the refrain of God’s glori- path with a destination. As the Bible begins with cre- ous reign as home for those “who do not lift up their to live faith- ation in Genesis, so it ends with re-creation in Revela- souls to what is false.” filled lives, with tion. There, John speaks of the goal of God’s creation John 11:32–44 is the account of Jesus journeying confidence in – a purpose never fully realized in the history of time to be with Mary and Martha as they grieve the death your eternal love. and space, but not entirely beyond history, either. of their brother Lazarus. Jesus weeps with them, yet Amen. The text speaks of a new Jerusalem “coming down” still offers the promise of new life in God’s glory. from heaven, the place of perfection. Jerusalem, the cen- • • • • • tral and most important point in the world for Jews – It is often said that the past informs the present, but and at this early stage the church was predominately it may be just as true to say the future informs the Jewish in self-understanding – is portrayed as a charac- present. When we faithfully place ourselves in God’s ter in a wedding ceremony. In this new time of living, presence, new possibilities for life and service become God will remove death and tears. The time of human visible. All Saints Day is a time to remember the saints pain will have passed. who have gone before us and to give thanks for the At the same time, the sea is “no more.” For ancient blessings God has given us to share with others. Vi- Jews, the sea was a threatening place and in Revelation sions of renewal, of new covenant, and of all creation it was a place from which the beast had come (13:1). sing­ing praises to God – how do these glimpses of With it gone, there would no longer be any chaotic God’s hope for the new heaven and the new earth forces that resist God’s sovereign love. There would inspire us to bring renewal right here, right now? be “a new heaven and a new earth”– perfect, holy, and in union with God.

1 SeasonsSeasons ofof thethe SpiritSpirit™tm Congregational Congregational Life Life • All Saints Day - Year B For Lutheran, Episcopal, and Anglican congregations Worship Resources for All Saints Day – Year B Prepare NOTE: All of these suggestions are mere starting points; adapt, delete and add according to your local needs. q Recruit volunteers needed for worship: three for q Select a Seasons of the Spirit poster that suggests the the prayer of confession (optional). Body of Christ or the communion of God’s saints. Revised Common q Create a slide show or photo gallery as described in q Bring candles for the Communion prayer. Lectionary (Yr B) gather. Isaiah 25:6–9 or Gather Wisdom of Solomon 3:1–9 Psalm 24 Create a slide show or arrange to have a photo gallery men and women, hopeful and despairing. Revelation 21:1–6a as people enter that includes the members of your We give thanks for the welcome John 11:32–44 community who died during the previous year. You all receive from you, Divine Beloved, Liturgical colour: may choose to include a verse of scripture that was and for the ways we continue white read during each person’s memorial service. During to be enfolded into community. the prayers of the people or the Communion prayer, With grateful hearts, we mention now these names may be mentioned and the scripture the names of those who have shaped our faith, Music verses read. Play instrumental music during the encouraging us as saints in your realm… Suggestions presentation and/or sound a bell between each name. (people mention names aloud).

Call to worship Prayer of confession Come and Seek the Ways of Wisdom (based on Psalm 24) Divide the congregation into three sections, each echoing Ruth Duck, Donna the last two words of the worship leader. Or, arrange to Kasbohm; Seasons Who can climb the mountain of our God, have three readers read the responses from different places Songbook, vol. 7 and dwell in a holy place? in the worship space. Come Build the Come, people of God – Church Ken Medema; Seasons eader God is here in our midst, inviting us into a new place. L : In our worry and despair, for you, O God, Songbook, vol. 7 Who can climb the mountain of our God, we wait… and dwell in a holy place? One: We wait… Somlandela/ We Will Follow The God who offered a land Two: We wait… Zulu; Seasons Songbook, flowing with milk and honey, Three: We wait… vol. 7 offers a new heaven and a new earth, God’s Family a holy city, a place of God’s presence. Leader: When tears threaten to overwhelm us, we P. Shelly; Seasons Who can climb the mountain of our God, wait… Songbook, vol. 7 and dwell in a holy place? One: We wait… All Things New God calls us to cleanse our hearts, Two: We wait… Rory Cooney to offer ourselves to God with all our being. Three: We wait… Let us climb the mountain of our God, For All the Saints Ralph Vaughn Williams and dwell in a holy place! Leader: When we long for a fresh start and newness Come, let us worship God. of heart, we wait… I Sing a Song of the One: We wait… Saints of God Lesbia Scott Opening prayer Two: We wait… Invite people to consider someone who has helped give Three: We wait… shape to their faith. It may be a family member, friend, church school leader, minister, or historical figure. An- Leader: When we consider the state of our world, nounce that they will be invited to say this person’s name we wait… aloud at the conclusion of this prayer. One: We wait… Two: We wait… We come into this sacred space, Three: We wait… mindful of the generations of faith who have come before us: Leader: When we have done all that we can, for you, adults and children, certain and questioning, O God, we wait…

For Lutheran, Episcopal, and Anglican congregations Seasons of the Spirittm CongregationalSeasons of the Spirit™ Life • All Congregational Saints Day - Year Life B 2 Worship Resources for All Saints Day – Year B

One: We wait… God’s presence is among us Two: We wait… and our salvation is at hand. Three: We wait… God has wiped away the tears from our faces and disgrace and shame are no more. Words of assurance Let us rejoice. (inspired by Isaiah 25:6–9) Thanks be to God. This is the day we have waited for; Engage Scripture readings Revelation 21:1–6a In God’s dream, everyone will have a home. (Stretch Read Revelation 21:1–6a slowly, accompanied by soft hands over heads and touch fingertips to form roofs over instrumental music. their heads.) Alleluia! Alleluia! Opening the word with children Art reflection In God’s dream, there will be no more hungry people. Show the children the Seasons of the Spirit poster you (Rub tummies.) selected that suggests the Body of Christ or the com- Alleluia! Alleluia! munion of God’s saints. In a manner appropriate to the age level of the children and in keeping with your trad- In God’s dream, God will never, ever leave us. (Hug ition, explain that the communion of saints is made up themselves.) of people from throughout history – from Bible times Alleluia! Alleluia! until today – who try to follow Jesus and do the things that Jesus teaches us to do. Invite the children to con- What a wonderful dream! sider the poster and ask where they would like sit or Let’s dream with God about this totally stand in this image and why. wonderful new world. (Jump up and shout.) Alleluia! Alleluia! God’s dream (based on Revelation 21:1–6a) Proclaiming the word On a sheet of newsprint, draw an oval with eyes, a nose, and “This new heaven and new earth are not to completely some hair. Bring a marker. Put an adhesive bandage on your replace the old (for that would mean that history is hand. Invite everyone to say the repeating words and, when ultimately discarded and unimportant to God). The appropriate, do the motions after you. vision is of renewal. Like the flower in the bulb, the oak in the acorn, the new has been present in the old God has a dream – a wonderful dream! all along” (from the biblical background). Listen while I tell you about this wonderful, wonder- ful dream. What new life is emerging from the old, like a flower In God’s dream, there will be no more sadness. (Draw from a bulb, in your life? Where is new life emerging a happy smile on the face.) within your congregation? How do the visions in Alleluia! Alleluia! Isaiah 25:6–9 and Revelation 21:1–6a compare and contrast with the life emerging within and around In God’s dream, there will be no more sickness. (Take you? off bandage and throw it away.) Alleluia! Alleluia! Consider the Seasons of the Spirit poster you selected that suggests the Body of Christ or the communion of In God’s dream, there will be no more need to cry God’s saints. How is the communion of saints repre- because everyone will live in peace. (Wipe eyes with sented in this poster for you? If you could include your hands.) picture in this poster, where would it be and why? Alleluia! Alleluia!

3 SeasonsSeasons ofof thethe SpiritSpirit™tm Congregational Congregational Life Life • All Saints Day - Year B For Lutheran, Episcopal, and Anglican congregations Worship Resources for All Saints Day – Year B Respond Eucharistic prayer for All Saints Day God be with you. with our hearts, souls, and minds, And also with you. and our neighbours as ourselves. Lift up your hearts. When we do these things, We lift them to God. we are holy, we are saints. Let us give thanks to God. Thanks be to God. It is good to give God thanks and praise. We give thanks for the many people It is always right and good to praise God, who have gone before us, who created us and never stops loving us. and are with us even now: God has such great love for us a great cloud of witnesses who have tried that we can call ourselves the children of God, to live God’s love every day, and indeed, that is what we are: and with their lives, have shown us we are God’s children. how to be followers of Jesus. Thanks be to God. (Here you may wish to name particular individuals, includ- God sent Jesus ing those members of your church who have died in the past to share our life and journey with us, year. You may toll a bell or light a candle as each departed to show us how to live as God wants. saint is named.) Through reading the Bible, prayer, acts of justice and kindness, We are part of the communion of saints. and this holy meal, Thanks be to God. we seek to be more like Jesus each day. We are followers of Jesus. Jesus invited saints and sinners Thanks be to God. to dine with him and be his friends. With words and actions And Jesus invites us to this sacred meal, Jesus taught us that the ways of God in which we can taste and see, are sometimes different from the ways of the world. experience and remember the goodness of our God. We are called to love God (Continue the prayer according to your tradition.) Bless Go from this place to continue the work Where there is neglect, and loneliness abides, of making our world new with the Spirit of Christ. we will be God’s love. Where there is hurt, and tears are falling, Go as saints of this generation who are we will be God’s comfort. the love of God, Where there is anger, and violence reigns supreme, the incarnation of Christ, we will be God’s peace. and the friendship of the Spirit. Amen. Special Days Commentary November 1 – All Saints Day November 2 – All Souls Day In many churches, All Saints Day celebrates all people For those traditions who use All Saints Day to com- of faith, recalling how, in New Testament usage, the memorate canonized saints, or those whose lives have word saints refers to Christians collectively, as well as been particularly Christlike, All Souls Day on Nov- to people of special significance who have been set ember 2 provides an opportunity to remember other apart by the church or canonized. It is the recognition Christians who have died. A simple, reflective service of the common bond of Christians, both living and can provide an opportunity to invite those who have dead, and the common bond of the church here on been bereaved during the year to gather to remember earth and the church triumphant in heaven. If Nov- their loved ones in prayer. ember 1 falls on a weekday, All Saints Day is generally observed on the following Sunday.

For Lutheran, Episcopal, and Anglican congregations Seasons of the Spirittm CongregationalSeasons of the Life Spirit™ • All Saints Congregational Day - Year BLife 4