It has been the tradition at Bridgewater United Methodist Church to honor our loved ones that have passed away since last All Saints Sunday. This year our celebration will take place on November 7th at both our 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. worship services.
All Saints Sunday is a time to bring the past and the present together. From the early days of Christianity, there is a sense that the Church consists of not only all living believers but also all who have gone before us. For example, in Hebrews 12 the author encourages Christians to remember that a "great cloud of witnesses" surrounds us encouraging us, cheering us on.
Charles Wesley, the great hymn-writer of the Methodist Church, picks up on this theme in his hymn that appears in our United Methodist Hymnal as "Come, Let Us Join our Friends Above," #709. In the first verse, he offers a wonderful image of the Church through the ages:
Let saints on earth unite to sing, with those to glory gone,
for all the servants of our King in earth and heaven, are one.
The great cloud of witnesses includes those who came before us and helped us come to know the good news of Jesus Christ. This includes those who first documented their witness of the life of Jesus like Matthew, Paul, John, and Luke We honor those who have shaped our faith traditions, like John Wesley, along with those who planted this church here in Bridgewater many years ago. We pay reverence to those who helped grow and sustain our church through their gifts, time, talents, faith, and witness. And most personally, we honor those who were closest to each of us individually who planted seeds of faith in our hearts, nurturing, and encouraging us on our faith journey. This may have been a relative who told Bible stories, a youth pastor, a camp counselor, or a friend from Sunday School. Maybe it was a stranger who shared our first witness, giving us the divine gift to know and experience God. These are the saints of our lives.
On All Saints Sunday, BUMC will publicly remember and honor those who have passed away since the last All Saints Sunday. During both services, we will be lighting a tapered candle in honor of each church member that has passed away since last All Saints Sunday, as their name is read aloud while the church bell tolls for them.
In addition, all those present during the worship service will have the opportunity to come forward and light a votive candle in memory of the loved ones in their own family that have died and await us in heaven.
We would be honored if you could join us at either the 8:30 or 11:00 a.m. worship services to help us remember the contribution that the saints have made in your life.
On All Saints Sunday, November 7th let us give thanks for both the saints in glory and those on earth, who have led us to Jesus. As they have shared the gospel with us, may we add our voices so someone else may hear about the grace and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
All Saints Sunday
It has been the tradition at Bridgewater United Methodist Church to honor our loved ones that have passed away since last All Saints Sunday. This year our celebration will take place on November 7th at both our 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. worship services.
All Saints Sunday is a time to bring the past and the present together. From the early days of Christianity, there is a sense that the Church consists of not only all living believers but also all who have gone before us. For example, in Hebrews 12 the author encourages Christians to remember that a "great cloud of witnesses" surrounds us encouraging us, cheering us on.
Charles Wesley, the great hymn-writer of the Methodist Church, picks up on this theme in his hymn that appears in our United Methodist Hymnal as "Come, Let Us Join our Friends Above," #709. In the first verse, he offers a wonderful image of the Church through the ages:
Let saints on earth unite to sing, with those to glory gone,
for all the servants of our King in earth and heaven, are one.
The great cloud of witnesses includes those who came before us and helped us come to know the good news of Jesus Christ. This includes those who first documented their witness of the life of Jesus like Matthew, Paul, John, and Luke We honor those who have shaped our faith traditions, like John Wesley, along with those who planted this church here in Bridgewater many years ago. We pay reverence to those who helped grow and sustain our church through their gifts, time, talents, faith, and witness. And most personally, we honor those who were closest to each of us individually who planted seeds of faith in our hearts, nurturing, and encouraging us on our faith journey. This may have been a relative who told Bible stories, a youth pastor, a camp counselor, or a friend from Sunday School. Maybe it was a stranger who shared our first witness, giving us the divine gift to know and experience God. These are the saints of our lives.
On All Saints Sunday, BUMC will publicly remember and honor those who have passed away since the last All Saints Sunday. During both services, we will be lighting a tapered candle in honor of each church member that has passed away since last All Saints Sunday, as their name is read aloud while the church bell tolls for them.
In addition, all those present during the worship service will have the opportunity to come forward and light a votive candle in memory of the loved ones in their own family that have died and await us in heaven.
We would be honored if you could join us at either the 8:30 or 11:00 a.m. worship services to help us remember the contribution that the saints have made in your life.
On All Saints Sunday, November 7th let us give thanks for both the saints in glory and those on earth, who have led us to Jesus. As they have shared the gospel with us, may we add our voices so someone else may hear about the grace and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.