For All the Saints Who from Their Labors Rest

This Sunday, we’ll observe All Saints, a celebration of all the “saints” of the church past and present. We’ll light a pillar candle for the members of our Soapstone family we have lost this year: Andrew Wilson Hayes, who was remembered to say, “If the good follow and don’t stand up, then there’s no one else to do it.” For Helen McIntyre, who learned self-sufficiency as the daughter of German immigrants, and passed it on to her children Mike and Marcia. For Shirley Johnson, wife of Darrel, whose kind smile lit up the Soapstone hallways for too brief a time. For Joe Booth, one of heaven’s newest saints, who met Patsy and asked her, “Will you grow old with me?” beginning a love affair that lasted more than 60 years.

On the way into the sanctuary, we invite you to stop by the table in the narthex and add the name of anyone you love who has gone on to the “church triumphant” to our All-Saints’ banner. As the banner is processed ahead of our choir, imagine these saints among us still, lifting up a song of praise to our God.

During the opening hymn, we will light votives and place them on the communion table to remember the loved ones who passed away in the last year, for in Christ, “light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:15). In preparation for Holy Communion, we’ll read their names and ring a bell as we gather for a foretaste of Christ’s heavenly banquet,

Most importantly, we will give thanks to God, for we walk in the knowledge that one day we will gather around the table with them again. 

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle. They in glory shine,
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

-Pastor Mitzi