All Saints Sunday (Year A, Matthew)
Introduction
All Saints' Day is the church's family reunion, a day to give thanks for the faithful who have gone before us and to remember that we still belong to one another across the boundary of death.
This complete liturgy for All Saints' Day, Year A, follows the Revised Common Lectionary and can be used on November 1 or on the first Sunday in November. It includes a call to worship, opening prayer, prayer of confession, assurance of pardon, prayer for Illumination, and benediction, written with room for grief, gratitude, and hope. Hey, we do the same things; consider joining my newsletter:, join my newsletter.
In the weeks leading up to All Saints, I feel a sadness. I remember the lives of the dear congregants who passed away. I think of their spouses, children, or parents who grieve them, their friends who showed up from across the state and nation to say goodbye at their memorial. As we serve others, we often take on the harder tasks - to serve, speak, and plan while mourning. May God bless and keep you as you serve.
Lectionary readings for this Sunday
Revelation 7:9-17: John sees a multitude no one can count from every nation, robed in white and singing before the throne and the Lamb. Read about the Lamb of God and the songs in the Book of Revelation.
Psalm 34:1-10, 22: A song of praise from one who sought the Lord and was delivered from every fear, written as an acrostic poem. See how the Bible uses poetry.
1 John 3:1-3: We are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. Read who wrote 1 John and what glorification means.
Matthew 5:1-12: Jesus sits down on the mountain and blesses the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, and the merciful. Explore the "Blessed are" sayings in the Beatitudes.
Liturgy for this Sunday
Call to Worship
One: We gather in the company of all the saints.
All: Those who have gone before us, and those who sit beside us now.
One: O taste and see that the Lord is good.
All: Happy are those who take refuge in God.
One: O magnify the Lord with me.
All: We exalt the Lord our God and take refuge under the Everlasting Arms.
Opening Prayer
God of every generation, you gather a multitude no one can count, from every nation and people and language, singing before your throne. Today we give thanks for the saints who have shown us your face: those whose names the church remembers, and those whose names only we hold dear. Speak your blessing over us, as Jesus did on the mountain, and make us poor in spirit, merciful, and pure in heart. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Holy God, we come before you aware of how far we fall short of the saints we remember. We have hungered for many things, but too seldom for righteousness. We have kept quiet when we were called to make peace. We have let grief harden into silence, and forgotten that those we love are held in your hands. Forgive us, renew us, and make us your children in truth, that we may one day join the company of all your saints. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
"See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are." (1 John 3:1)
Friends, hear the good news: in Jesus Christ we are forgiven, and we belong to God. Amen.
More on the Assurance of Pardon
Prayer for Illumination
Gracious God, quiet us now as disciples before our teacher. Open our hearts to receive your Word, and let it bless us in ways we do not expect. Amen.
Benediction
Go in peace, remembering those who have gone before you and loving those who walk beside you. And may the God who will wipe away every tear keep you in hope, until we gather with all the saints. Amen.
More Benedictions and Blessings
See also
Worship Resources
Calls to Worship
Opening Prayers
Assurance of Pardon
Prayer for Illumination
Benedictions and Blessings
Planning next Sunday?
This liturgy is one of many. Find more for your worship planning in two places.
