“The Ofrenda for All Saints and All Souls"
Begins October 26th!
November 1, is a major feast day on the Christian calendar - All Saints Day, and this year we will celebrate All Saints Day and All Souls Day on Sunday, November 2nd.
All Saints Sunday has its origins in the ancient church when it was celebrated on the Saturday before Easter - the day now called Holy Saturday when Jesus descends to hell to free everyone from the grip of death.
All Saints and All Souls Days merged to become special masses for martyrs and those who had died anonymously. In later centuries, the day shifted into the weeks before Advent, and the day we now call "Halloween" is actually All Hallows Eve.
This year we are beginning with a tradition which is common in many areas: La Ofrenda, a special table in the church where we display items representing people we love who have died. La Ofrenda is a major element of El Dia de los Muertos, Mexico's "Day of the Dead," and is popular in churches throughout California and the Southwest and also in several churches where I have served.
We will put out our Ofrenda on October 26th, and you are invited to place an object on the Ofrenda in honor and memory of a loved one. We will keep the Ofrenda up until Christ the King Sunday on November 23rd.
The Collect for the All the Faithful Departed:
O God, the Maker and Redeemer of all believers: Grant to the faithful departed the unsearchable benefits of the passion of your Son; that on the day of his appearing they may be manifested as your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Reverend Peter Carey, Rector