Sunday, November 3rd - All Saints Sunday

(First time here? Read the Introduction for more info)

This week is All Saints' Sunday, which made my job of musical planning an easy one. "For All the Saints" is a given and aside from that, there are plenty others to choose from to fill out the service. I didn't grow up in a tradition that observed All Saints' so I wouldn't be the best person to explain it if you have questions about it, but here is a link to the Wikipedia article for your edification: All Saints.


Opening Hymn: For All the Saints H-287

I'm pretty sure a lot of churches around the world will be singing "For All the Saints" on Sunday. It's nice to feel connected not only to those who have gone before us but to other Christians around the world. That's the power of music - it can create a bridge between past, present, and future, across oceans, and even across cultures.


Sequence Hymn: Blest Are They G-469

The Gospel reading is the Beatitudes. Last week I had the choir sing the beautiful, "Blest are They" by David Haas so that it might be somewhat fresh in the congregations minds for this week. It is a musical setting of the Beatitudes and it's beautiful.


Offertory: Heaven's Choir

I've been wanting my choir to sing this for years now and decided to finally go for it this year. I think this song speaks for itself, so here is a recording and here are the lyrics:

When we lift our voices to heaven
When we sing alleluias to worship the Lord
We prepare for the day when we join all heaven's praise
With an audience of one we will sing to the Son

In heaven's choir, we'll join saints in glory
In heaven's choir, we'll worship the Lord

And when we bow before the throne

We'll sing "Holy, holy, holy, holy"
We'll praise the Lord on high in heaven's choir

In the church are many nations, different races, different songs
There are separate denominations who proclaim Christ as Lord

But there will be no more division when we reach our heavenly home

We will all sing as one in the presence of the Son

In heaven's choir, we'll join saints in glory
In heaven's choir, we'll worship the Lord

And when we bow before the throne

We'll sing "Holy, holy, holy, holy"
We'll praise the Lord on high in heaven's choir

We'll join saints in glory
In heaven's choir, we'll worship the Lord

And when we bow before the throne

We'll sing "Holy, holy, holy, holy"
We'll praise the Lord on high in heaven's choir

We'll join with the angels on high in heaven's choir

Communion Hymn: I am the Bread of Life H-335

When I first heard this hymn earlier in the year, I thought the words seemed a bit funeral-ish. Not in a depressing way (quite the opposite), but the refrain says, "And I will raise you up, and I will raise you up, and I will raise you up on the last day." So I logged it away in the back of my mind for All Saints' because it seemed so fitting. 

Recessional: I Sing a Song of the Saints of God H-293

Several people suggested "I Sing a Song of the Saints of God" for this Sunday and I had never previously heard it. I loved it immediately. It's fairly simple (but some of the best songs are) and has a great message. I think my favorite is the last verse:

They lived not only in ages past, there are hundreds of thousands still

The world is bright with the joyous saints who love to do Jesus' will

You can meet them in school or in lanes or at sea, in church or in trains or in shops or at tea

For the saints of God are just folk like me, and I mean to be one too.

I can't think of a better sentiment to sing as we leave church this Sunday. All the saints of God were just people, and I can be one too. Amen.

I hope this adds to your worship experience. If you are joining us on Sunday, please feel free to bring something to place on the altar to memorialize a loved one who has passed. See you there!