#1

At the Center for University Ministry, we are doing a Dia de la Muertos service celebration -- beginning at a fountain at the university, we will process to La Casa (the hispanic student union) to have a service of remembrance and celebration. Everyone is invited to bring pictures of their deceased loved ones along. We will then have some hymn singing and prayers.

From: Kurt Messick kurt_messick@yahoo.com

#2

All Saints:
1) it's a great time to dedicate memorial gifts.

2) it's a good time for folks to remember the people who've made a difference to their faith lives (Sunday school teachers, youth counselors, mothers, fathers, grandparents, mentors, whoever introduced them to Jesus Christ, etc).

-- Have folks say the names out loud and respond (thanks be to God or something similar -- "yay, God" if you're being informal). Or have them tell something about the person (this is, of course, witnessing, but do not tell them that).
-- Say the names out loud and light a candle for each.
-- Give everyone a cutout leaf shape in fall colors -- write the names on the leaf -- post on a "thanksgivings" tree.

3. combine with halloween and come in costume as Bible saints.

4. celebrate living saints -- folks in your fellowship who live the gospel (including those who live it in quiet or unknown ways) -- plant a tree in their honor.

Incidentally, our women's group is doing a "count your blessings" fund-raiser -- inviting folks to put in one coin for each blessing in their lives. You might do something similar to honor past or present saints.

Lynne Hundley pylnne@visi.net
United Methodist

#3

Traditionally, Hallows or Hallowed Eve was a time to remember dead ancestors. It was a very blessed and holy time. Some would stay in cemeteries and light candles and hold a vigil in honor of the dead. Leave it to us to distort it into Halloween and scary stuff. Part of that was fear --- and witch burning. All Souls Day is traditionally November 1. In ELCA we celebrate October 31 as Reformation Day ---- why don't more denominations do that? Zwingli and others were there at the beginning --- reformation took place all o ver. It wasn't just Uncle Martin's show --- besides, he didn't even want to do more than debate a few issues! The Sunday after All Souls and All Saints this year will be November 7. In years past we have tried to interweave our past and present with a naming of loved ones who died within the past year and welcoming those who will receive their first communion to the Lord's table that day. Hopefully this helps us to remember as we receive the body and blood of Christ and look to day of the eternal banquet!
from wogac@aol.com

#4

All Saints' Day -- or All Hallows Day is traditionally November 1 in the Western Church. Prior in the British Isles, (probably Ireland) there existed pagan rituals in the cemeteries, some to scare off evil spirits -- others to enlist aid of evil. Christians attempted to "transform" the pagan rites by matching All Saints' to the pagan rituals -- now
going to cemeteries and in mock drama on the eve of All Saints' -- (thus All Hallows' Eve -- which becomes Hallow-een) - scaring the evil ones the night before the saints were honored. We have not been too successful at transformation -- the evil background has been retained to a larger degree than intended. In some cultures the All Saints' Day liturgy happens in cemeteries to honor the ancestors -- the saints who have gone before. All Souls devloped as a twin to All Saints' -- Bigger saints on November 1 -- regular folks -- All Souls -- on
November 2.
Bob+

#5

We have a very large, very beautiful cut crystal bowl that was given to our church by our sister church in Scotland. On All Saint's Day (or the Sunday closest) we write that names of a our "saints" living and dead. We place them n the bowl and place the bowl on the altar or a table in the chancel flanked by two large white candles. They will remain there for all of November.

Gayle at bachats@erols.com

#6

At our church we ask everyone to bring a cut flower on All Saints' Day in memory of a loved one (more than one is certainly permissible). The names are written on a piece of paper as they hand the flower to a helper. A member who is a florist arranges the flowers as they are brought in and the arrangement is brought down on the first hymn (For all the Saints, of course). During the prayers the names are read. It is a beautiful and meaningful way to remember loved ones who have died in the faith, gives us a chance to remember them by name, and provides a visual reminder of the cloud of witnesses.

Rev. Claire Clyburn mcc@oastalnet.com
Calvary Memorial UMC
Snow Hill NC

#7

What I usually do on All saints. I always use it as a time to celebrate all the saints we have known and know. I begin by sending around a pad for people to write down anyone deceased that they would like prayed for by name. I have already put on the list everyone from our congregation who has died during the past year. I explain that the purpose of the day is to remember and celebrate all the saints who don't have a special day appointed to them. A saint is anyone who has touched your life in a special way, and who God has worked through to share his love with the world, including YOU! These are all read off during the prayers of the people. Then the whole service revolves around this theme and the fact that WE are saints. I encourage everyone to wear their work clothes (my husband is a judge so he dresses accordingly, we have a logger who dresses accordingly, several nurses, etc.) I don't vest on that day, but rather wear my "teacher jumper" or something similar. We talk about how we can be saints in the world, sharing God's love to those around us each day. I also have included a list of each congreagation member (we have about 40) and read off some of the gifts we see in each of them. This might be hard to do in a larger congreagation, but it is a powerful experience in a small one. To hear ones name read off, with appreciation and thanks for the gifts people see you sharing. Sometimes it is the first time they see themselves with that gift! Anyway, it is a popular service, people come up to me starting in September giving me names and gifts to be read (a nice time to focus on the good we see in one another instead of the disagreements). It also brings home the point that everyone is the church! We are All Saints Episcopal church, all saints.
Many blessings,
Cheri Ford sford@up.net