Weekly Rector's Note: The Holiness of Halloween

Dear Saints,

This Sunday children, youth and kids at heart may wear their Halloween costumes to church and join us in a special costume processional. Simply meet the Altar Party at the entrance of the worship space right before the 10:15am service. We will have special Halloween themed treats at the 10:15 service Coffee Hour, and Music Director James Denman will be offering a wonderfully spooky postlude.

Though most people know Halloween as a secular holiday, it is actually steeped in religious roots, particularly those of our Catholic and Celtic spiritual ancestors. The holiday can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced “SAH-win”), a pagan religious celebration to welcome the harvest at the end of summer. At this celebration, people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts.

In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor saints. Soon after, All Saints Day came to incorporate some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before All Saints Day was known as All Hallows Eve and later, Halloween. (Library of Congress, loc.gov)

In the church calendar today, we have All Hallows Eve (Oct 31), which is the vigil celebration of All Saints; All Saints Day, or All Hallows Day (Nov 1), honoring the saints in heaven whom we know, as well as the saints whose names are unknown to us; and All Souls' Day (Nov 2), a day of prayer and remembrance for the departed. These three days taken together are our “Days of the Dead,” or a triduum of feasts that begin with Halloween. Together they give us a beautiful chance for us to celebrate those who have died and the great Communion of Saints that connects us to them even now.

As we prepare for our parish’s celebration of All Saints Day on November 6, please bring a picture of a loved one or a beloved animal companion to place on our remembrance altar. You will be able to take them home after the service on November 6. Also, please consider signing up to bring a salad, pasta, or bread to our All Saints Day feast, which will happen after the 10:15 service next Sunday.

Since this Sunday is also our Ingathering Sunday, please bring your cards listing pledges of time, talent and/or treasure for 2023 so that we can celebrate the results on November 6.

Lastly, please note, we will be postponing Rev. Leroy Barber’s visit with us to another Sunday this fall. He and I met with Bishop Akiyama this last week and we are excited about the possibilities for our church, our diocese and our city. Stay tuned!

It’s going to be very meaningful as we enter into this sacred time together.

At all Hallow's Tide, may God keep you safe

From goblin and pooka and black-hearted stranger,

From harm of the water and hurt of the fire,

From thorns of the bramble, from all other danger,

From Will O' The Wisp haunting the mire;

From stumbles and tumbles and tricksters to vex you,

May God in His mercy, this week protect you. - Irish Blessing

Andria+