All Saints Sunday Liturgy
Worshiping God and giving thanks for those who have gone before
All Saints Sunday is a day of grief and gratitude held together. The church remembers the faithful who have died, reads their names, lights candles, and gives thanks for the great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1), all in the light of the resurrection.
Below you will find a complete liturgy for each year of the Revised Common Lectionary, along with calls to worship and prayers written for this day.
All Saints Sunday Liturgies
Each liturgy includes a call to worship, prayers of confession and illumination, an assurance of pardon, and a benediction for that year's readings.
Calls to Worship and Prayers for All Saints
Use these on their own or alongside any of the liturgies above.
Lectionary Readings for All Saints Sunday
The Revised Common Lectionary assigns different readings to All Saints in each year of its three-year cycle.
Year A
- Revelation 7:9-17
- Psalm 34:1-10, 22
- 1 John 3:1-3
- Matthew 5:1-12
Year B
- Isaiah 25:6-9
- Psalm 24
- Revelation 21:1-6a
- John 11:32-44
Year C
- Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18
- Psalm 149
- Ephesians 1:11-23
- Luke 6:20-31
Common Questions About All Saints Sunday
What is All Saints Sunday?
All Saints Sunday is the Sunday a congregation sets aside to remember all believers who have died in the faith, from the well-known saints of the church to the beloved members of our own families and congregations. It is closely tied to All Saints Day, November 1.
Many churches read the names of members who died in the past year, light a candle for each, and give thanks for the great cloud of witnesses. It is a moment of grief and gratitude held within the hope of the resurrection.
When is All Saints Sunday?
All Saints Day always falls on November 1. Many churches observe it on the first Sunday in November, which is All Saints Sunday.
Upcoming dates: November 1, 2026; November 7, 2027; November 5, 2028; November 4, 2029; November 3, 2030.
How is All Saints Sunday different from All Souls' Day?
All Saints remembers and gives thanks for all the faithful who have died. All Souls' Day, November 2, is observed mainly in Roman Catholic and some Anglican traditions as a day of prayer for the departed. Most Presbyterian and Reformed churches fold both into a single All Saints observance.
Is the Paschal candle lit on All Saints Sunday?
In many churches, yes. The Paschal candle is the Easter candle, and it is also lit at baptisms and funerals. Lighting it on All Saints Sunday places the remembrance of the dead in the light of Christ's resurrection, and individual candles for each name are often lit from its flame.
What color is used for All Saints Sunday?
White is the traditional color for All Saints, the color of resurrection and of the saints robed in white in Revelation 7. Some churches use gold or red.
A complete All Saints' Day liturgy for Year A, with call to worship, prayers, and benediction for Revelation 7 and the Beatitudes.