In popular culture, the 31st of October is a time to dress up in scary costumes and participate in Halloween.
The word Halloween comes from ancient pagan times. For centuries since, Christians have known this time as All Saints or All Souls. Far from being the festival of all things horror that it has become, particularly in North America, All Saints is a day to pause and honor those who we miss, or those who have influenced us, as we walk our faith journey.
In a time when real horror is occurring daily in places of war and conflict around the world, I wonder about the appropriateness of pretend horror for our entertainment’s sake.
Traditionally, All Saints has been a time to light candles in memory of those who have died, not in a scary way, but as an act of honoring all that they have left behind for us to learn from. This year St Andrew’s will be hosting a service on All Saints Day to remember those who have gone ahead of us: Sunday 1 November 10.00am. Everyone is welcome to come and light a candle in honor of someone they are missing.
TAIZÉ SERVICES OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER
St Andrew’s invites all who are seeking a time of contemplative reflection at the end of a busy week to join us for two Taizé services. The Taizé style of service offers meditation through silence and repeated simple choruses that anyone can sing (or hum) or just listen to. There is no sermon, but lots of candles lit in silence.
Service times:
Friday 30 October 5.30 pm St Andrew’s Church on Dublin Street and Friday 27 November 5.30 pm. All are welcome regardless of your past or present, faith or no faith.
