All Saints’ Day is a solemn holy day of the Church celebrated annually, in the Catholic Church, on November 1. Different denominations of the Christian faith celebrate the day at various times and, some, not at all. The day is dedicated to the saints of the Church, that is, all those who have died in the faith and have attained heaven. In our congregation, we observe the day on the Sunday closest to November 1.
While different churches have different types of observations, at Christ the King, the day has been very personal. It is a day to remember those people whom we have known and on whose shoulders we stand. Although we are indebted to the Prophets, the Apostles, the Church Fathers, John Wesley, Martin Luther, and many other great leaders of Christianity, those are not those whom we commemorate on this day.
Our church is 20 years old. We began in a living room and, after several weeks, moved into a funeral home chapel, Carmichael-Hemperley Funeral Home in Peachtree City, GA, where we held services for over six years. Fourteen years ago, we constructed a sanctuary and moved on to our property and built a Parish Life Center a few years later. Many men women, youth, and children were a part of that growth process. Some are no longer with us. They have attained Heaven.
The service on Sunday begins as it always does and proceeds normally until after the sermon. At that point, someone reads from the Intertestamental book of Ecclesiasticus, (also known as Sirach) chapter 44, verses 1:15, which reads, in part:
“Let us now sing the praises of famous men, our ancestors in their generations… There were those who ruled… those who gave counsel because they were intelligent…who composed musical tunes…Some of them have left behind a name, so that others declare their praise. But of others there is no memory…But these also were godly men, whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten…Their descendants stand by the covenants…Their offspring will continue forever, and their glory will never be blotted out. Their bodies are buried in peace, but their name lives on generation after generation. The assembly declares their wisdom, and the congregation proclaims their praise.”
Following the reading, the names of those who were members of our congregation, and have died during the last two decades, are called out. This is followed by the ringing of the Sanctus bells after each name. Then, members of the congregation are invited to come forward and speak the names of those believers, parents, Sunday School teachers, pastors, and others who were an influence to them but are now deceased. It is always a moving and, sometimes, emotional time of reflection and remembrance. It is a reminder that, as a church and as individuals, we did not get to where we are on our own. We stand on the shoulders of those who have helped us and we want them to be remembered.
The intention is, that every year on this occasion, the names of all those of the church who have died, will have their names called. Someday they will call my name. Thus far, we have been faithful to commemorate these who have stood with us. The first name we ever called was Tom Hennessy. The last name that we will call tomorrow will be Seth Dickinson whose funeral was last Saturday and who left us at the age of 16. The youngest was William Gatlin, a baby boy who was stillborn. The oldest were several men and women in their 90’s. We miss them every one. There are 31 in all.
Our society tends to forget people rather quickly unless they are gangsters, rock stars, or film personalities. We choose not to make this mistake. We will remember those on whose shoulders we stand.
David Epps is the pastor of the Cathedral of Christ the King, Sharpsburg, GA (www.ctkcec.org). He is the bishop of the Mid-South Diocese which consists of Georgia and Tennessee (www.midsouthdiocese.org) and the Associate Endorser for the Department of the Armed Forces, U. S. Military Chaplains, ICCEC. He may contacted at [email protected]
