All Souls Day or the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed.

All Souls Day follows All Saints Day (Nov 1) and the vigil of All Saints (Halloween). Like many parishes, St. Simon’s will remember All Saints Day at our weekend services following Nov 1st, and we are guilty of mashing together All Saints and All Souls. For me, following the New Testament understanding that all those who have died in Christ are saints, but also recognizing those who have a special remembrance in our calendar of Lesser Feasts is a juggling act worth the juggle. We will name in church all those we have lost since the previous All Saints Day as well as allowing time for people to name their loved ones who are part of the Faithful Departed. We celebrate their lives and sing for ALL the saints who from their labors rest.

Today begins our Craft Fair at St. Simon’s, come shop if you are in the area! Over 100 booths of homemade crafts, great Christmas shopping opportunities along with our world famous Cajun Pickles!

Then tonight we are joining with a multitude of faith groups in a prayer vigil for those lost in the mass murders at the synagogue in Pittsburg, to pray and remind each other of the way of love in the midst of a world that seems to has lost that way at times. We will be at the Landing in Ft. Walton Beach at 5pm,

For to your faithful people, O Lord, life is changed, not ended; and when our mortal body lies in death, there is prepared for us a dwelling place eternal in the heavens.

I love the reading from Ecclesiasticus today – in fact have really enjoyed going through this seldom looked at book from the Apocrypha. This passage on “Wisdom” is mystical and beautiful. It reminds us of the chosen people of Israel, a good reminder during these times of mourning for the horrible murders in the synagogue. But also describes the special place of Jerusalem, and as I will be leading a group of 36 to the Holy Land in a few weeks, reading this gets me really excited about the trip.

A reading from Ecclesiasticus 24:1-12

Wisdom praises herself, and tells of her glory in the midst of her people. In the assembly of the Most High she opens her mouth, and in the presence of his hosts she tells of her glory: “I came forth from the mouth of the Most High, and covered the earth like a mist. I dwelt in the highest heavens, and my throne was in a pillar of cloud. Alone I compassed the vault of heaven and traversed the depths of the abyss. Over waves of the sea, over all the earth, and over every people and nation I have held sway. Among all these I sought a resting place; in whose territory should I abide? “Then the Creator of all things gave me a command, and my Creator chose the place for my tent. He said, ‘Make your dwelling in Jacob, and in Israel receive your inheritance.’ Before the ages, in the beginning, he created me, and for all the ages I shall not cease to be. In the holy tent I ministered before him, and so I was established in Zion. Thus in the beloved city he gave me a resting place, and in Jerusalem was my domain. I took root in an honored people, in the portion of the Lord, his heritage.