Can you believe it? It is already November. And during the last week, we went through a whole series of holidays: Halloween, All Saints Day, All Souls Day, Day of the Dead, and Election Day. I could easily comment on any of them, but I would like to talk about All Souls’ Day.   I used to think All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day were the same thing, but they are different. All Saints’ Day (November 1st): Honors all saints and martyrs in heaven, including those not formally canonized. All Souls’ Day (November 2nd): Focuses broadly on all deceased believers, particularly those undergoing purification. Since these holidays are considered catholic holidays, Baptists do not pay much attention to these days, but I do think we can use this day to remember Christians who have died.  

On All Souls’ Day, Christians of various denominational backgrounds, including Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, and Methodists, among others, often help one another clean the graves in cemeteries and adorn them with flowers. All Souls’ Day emphasizes “the Christian belief in bodily resurrection and eternal life”. Some All Souls’ Day traditions are associated with the doctrine of the poor souls of purgatory (in Roman Catholicism) or the intermediate state (in Protestantism and Orthodoxy). Church bell tolling is done in honor of the dead. Lighting candles serves to kindle a light for the poor souls, honor the dead, and ward off evil.

I remember one time my family went back home in Louisville, KY, to celebrate my nephews' and my birthdays, and the following Sunday I went to my old church, Lynnhurst United Church of Christ. Pastor Bob was now the pastor, and since it was November 2nd, they did a short All-Souls ceremony. I was not familiar with this ceremony, but it consisted of remembering those members of the church who had died in the last year. The families of the now-deceased members would attend. During the ceremony, each person who died was mentioned by name, a few words were said about them as a candle was lit, and then a bell was rung. At the end of the ceremony, this was said: “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.” After the service, the congregation met in the Fellowship Hall for a simple meal.

I thought this was a great way to honor and remember the people who had died, and when both of my parents died, they were remembered in the same fashion. I almost wish we at First Baptist did something like this, where we, as a congregation, could remember those who have passed in the last year and honor their memory. We can also use this day to remember all Christians, whether in our family, church, or community, and to honor their memory. We can visit them in the cemetery or honor their memory with a contribution to the church or their favorite charity. 

One aspect of the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) that I like, derived from All Souls' Day, is that on that day the family takes a large picnic to the family plot at the cemetery and spends a good part of the day there. It may sound morbid to some of us, but whether they are dead or alive, the family can spend time together on this special day, the living talking and telling stories about those living and dead. It’s a day of celebration and remembrance. 

So this week, let us remember those Christians who have passed on and honor them, thanking God for them and the influence that they had on our lives. Let us also thank God for giving them the gift of eternal life, and for the day we die, when we will see them again and never be parted from them.

Take care,

Bill R