Dear AGAC friends
All Saints Day was started in the eighth century by the Catholic Church as a day to commemorate all the ‘official’ Saints or martyrs who didn’t already have a specific day of remembrance. For the church today, it has become a day for celebrating all those followers of Jesus whose lives inspire or have inspired us. This day is a chance to remember those Christians who have gone before us and influenced our lives in some way and to reflect on the continued presence of Christ on earth through his followers.
All Souls Day is in many ways an extension of All Saints Day, but with particular emphasis on remembering those who have died. It is a time also to reflect on the hope that is part of the Christian faith – that of life beyond this life. And to consider the ‘great cloud of witnesses’ that is talked about in Scripture – the idea that we remain connected to and seen by all those who have been gathered into God, as we are in Christ and Christ is in us beyond the boundary of time, space, and death.
Those we name as Saints in our tradition are those who were willing to pour themselves out in some way. They may not have been perfect, but they reflected strongly one facet of God’s goodness in a way that brought great inspiration and healing to others.
The feast days themselves are on Friday/Saturday. We will observe them together on Sunday 3 November, in a service of Eucharist that will include commemoration of our loved ones who have died.
I look forward to worshipping with you on this special day.
May God feel near
Yukiko
