Whenever we state the Apostles' Creed we affirm our belief in the "communion of saints." Far more than having "something to do with the Lord's Supper," this statement lies near the heart of an understanding of All Saints observance. "All Saints is a time to rejoice in all who through the ages have faithfully served God. It reminds us that we are part of one, continuing, living communion..." (ed. Richardson, et. al., The Westminster dictionary of Christian theology, Westminster, 1983). The communion of saints draws on the message of Hebrews 12, that there is a great company of witnesses surrounding us like a cloud. The death of God's disciples does not end their relationship with God, but indeed they enter into a fuller fellowship in the glory of God. The family of God is "united in heaven and on earth, as one body, in which all members are 'alive unto God.'" Our communion is not interrupted, let alone ended, but is merely changed.
Important to Presbyterians is the notion of the "priesthood of all believers." This is right in line with how we understand All Saints Sunday. We acknowledge the Godly lives of our spiritual ancestors and by drawing the example of their lives of faith and worship and mission to mind, we seek to emulate the same in our own lives. Veneration and adoration can be taken to extreme, hence the on-going Protestant re-interpretation of the doctrine surrounding All Saints. The meaning is captured fully and quite simply in the line from Lesbia Scott's hymn "I sing a song of the saints of God:" "I mean to be one too."
To celebrate the Lord's Supper at an All Saints celebration is singularly appropriate. "This service is a deep remembrance in which we encounter anew the most profound dimensions of what it is to be the church. There is a clear eschatological vision and tone to this celebration, since it reminds us of those for whom the battle is over, the victory won, and also of our continuing pilgrimage toward God and heavenly banquet" (Hickman, et. al., Handbook of the Christian year, Abingdon, 1986). The service is meant to be solemn without being sad, a service of remembrance not dwelling on persons but rather on the grace of God evidenced in persons' lives and encouragement to seek similar attitudes of devotion and service in our own lives.
In the weeks between now and All Saints, be reminded, each time we say what we believe, that in a few weeks we will have a wonderful opportunity to enact and live out our faith as we "rejoice in God's saints."
Rejoice in God's saints, today and all days!
A world without saints forgets how to praise.
Their faith in acquiring the habit of prayer,
their depth of adoring, Lord, help us to share.
Some march with events, to turn them God's way;
some need to withdraw, the better to pray;
some carry the gospel through fire and through flood:
our world is their parish: their purpose is God.
Rejoice in those saints, unpraised and unknown,
who bear someone's cross, or shoulder their own:
they shame our complaining, our comforts, our cares:
what patience in caring, what courage is theirs!
Rejoice in God's saints, today and all days!
A world without saints forgets how to praise.
in loving, in living, they prove it is true:
The way of self-giving, Lord, leads us to you.
Fred Pratt Green, 1977
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