Welcome to November 1, All Saints’ Day. (The night before may be more familiar, All Hallow’s Eve.) On All Saints’ Day we are invited to thank God for all those faithful folk, living or dead, who have inspired our faith. In my faith journey, the thanks is coupled with praise in the incredible word/tune combination which appear as hymn 326 in the Glory to God Hymnal, For All the Saints:
1 For all the saints who from their labors rest,
who Thee by faith before the world confessed;
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia, Alleluia!2 Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!3 O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!6 From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
in praise of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Until we join that parade, I will be praising God from the sidelines for the great saints I’ve known.
Prayer
God of all people and places, thank you for the people who have shared their faith journey with me. And thank you for the promise of your presence with us, and our presence with you, today and forever. Amen.
