Meditation by The Rev. Dr. Joan E. Beilstein

Church of the Ascension

All Saints Day – November 6th, 2016

During this meditative litany - the petition -- “Lord in your goodness” -- will be followed by the people’s response --“We remember them.”

Today - we commemoratethe principal Feast Day of All the Saints - also known as - All Hallows' Day - this holy Christianfestival – on which it is good and right – to celebrate - and honor all the saints - known and unknown.

Lord in your goodness,

We remember them.

Irene Hadden

Lewis Hadden

Judy Spencer

Frank Austell

Cindy Littlejohn

Ingrid Rounasville

Lyne Delissa Blair

Cheryl Louise Smith

Larry Brandt

Claude Martin

Oran Sandel

Tim Holden

Chris Matthews

Eli Beilstein-Griffin

Betty Embrey

Peter Bocock

Peter Craig

Cory Craig

Bill & Caroline

Katie Bocock

Sammy Boren

Elizabeth and William T. Porter

Elizabeth Ann James Shiblog

Thomas Rees Porter

James Scott

Annalise Hood

Dorothy Stansbury

Fred Bordley

Robert Taylor

Sandra Beeson

Mary Ann Aplin

Larry O’Brian

Cheyenne Dicks

Annalisa LaHood

M Gulistan

Amanda

Elizabeth Ann James

Gabby Perrine DeShield

Ernie Howe

John Bowling

Alison Harrigan

Scott Bowling

Robert Beales

Francis and Eleanor Knight

Roy Bowling

Imogene Jackson

Mary and William Roy Bowling

Jane and Fred Dommel

Our celebration of All Saints' Day (November 1st) and All Souls' Day (November 2nd) - stems from our strong belief- that there is a powerful spiritual bond -between those in heaven (the "Church triumphant") and our selves the living (the "Church militant").

Lord in your goodness,

We remember them.

Sherman and Rebecca Woodley

Robert D. Brown, Sr.

Dr. Florence Brown

Lester Blackwell Graner

Laurie Weissinger

Bruce and Betty Brown

Eng-Choy, Chan

Lian-Ngo, Lee

Idona Clarke Jackson

Linda McAllister-Mah

Melville “Melly” Jackson

Wilford “Sandy” Jackson

James Corrigan

Dimitru Ruscimc

Jamaal Meade

The Roach, Meade, and Cosby Family members

Sidney Walter Denham

Elizabeth Akin Denham

Tom and Marie Probey

Christopher Probey

John Probey

Evelyn and Bob Brobet

Grace and Ken Kurtz

John Shada

Charles M. Ermer, Sr.

Elsa Ermer

Mary Helen Malvequx

Cora Jones

Stella Anderson

And all deceased friends

George Oliver

Petronelle Ogden

Guy Ogden

Alvaro Galvan

Willoree Galvan

Gail Galvan

Maria Zaki

R. Stephen Gough

Jane Gough

Tammy Reese

Bonnie Frijters

Von Millard

Jane Fox-Robinson

The Rev. Wilfred Fox-Robinson

Andrew Fox-Robinson

Victoria Keric

Nicholas Keric

All Saints Day and All Souls Day revolve around "giving God solemn thanks for the lives and deaths of God’s saints", including those who are "famous or obscure.”

As such - individuals throughout the Church Universal - are honored - such as Paul the Apostle - Francis of Assisi - Julian of Norwich - and Catherine of Sienna - in addition to individuals - who have personally led us - to faith in Jesus – and been role models for us – in holy living - such as a parent – grandparent – teacher - mentor – pastor - or friend.

Lord, in your goodness.

We remember them.

Richard MacPherson Lucille MacPherson Tagney

Lowell and Mary Hardin

Wyotta Holden

Stanley Holden

Clara Miller

Frank Holden

Connie Ewy

Clara Wing

Naveda Johnson

Anna Clark

Ann Janney

Grace Johnson

Kathy O’Reilly

Donald Kent

Ernie Howe

Lacy Hibbs

Isobel Hibbs

Grace Hibbs

Dorothy Ann Russo

Pat Hyatt

Solomon N. Jacobs

Hiram & Lucia Jacobs

George & Rachel Henry

Earl & Esther Henry

Randolph and Elaine Jacobs

Gwendolyn Crawford

Jack Jacobs

Dorothy Smith

Elizabeth Rhines

Sue and Ralph Jury

June and Larry Chaffee

Syvia Stokes

Ralph and Mary Jury

Albert and Maybeth Edmonds

Mary Elizabeth LeVeque

Katharine W. LeVeque

James R. LeVeque

Don D. Bates

Marilyn Wilson

Donald Wilson

Sheila Bush

James McElroy

Ric Rutledge

Herbie LeCount

Lisette Fratani

Jean Fratani

Ruth Peacock

Luther Bazemore

Patricia Ruddy

James M. B. Martey

Florence K. Kotey

Emmanuel Amon-Kotei

Falicia M. Laryea-Adjopi

Comfort and Vida Martey

Emmanuel Martey-Mon-Kwei

The Rev. Florance Boatang

The Rev. Fr. Ebenezer Hargoe

Mami Afria

Sarah O. Mills

Thomas Sarfo

Valma Yearwood

In the Western Christian practice - the liturgical celebration begins at Vespers on the evening of October 31st - All Hallows' Eve - and ends at the close of November 1st. It is thus the day before All Souls' Day - which commemorates the faithful departed. In many traditions - All Saints' Day is part of the triduum of Allhallowtide - which lasts three days from October 31st - November 2ndinclusive.

Lord, in your goodness,We remember them.

Donna Martin

Frank Martin

Cecile Martin

Debbie Martin

Leo Martin

Lew Spangler

Arthur Sussman

Richard Weems

Janet Weems

Angelyn, Dale, and Marianne Weems

Charles and Elizabeth Martin

Frances Mariama Sow

Stanley P. Thomas

For all people who have diedalone and forgotten.

Eva and Edwin McCullough

Irene and Adam Tavuowski

James E. Kelly

Betty Ann Burroghs

Brian Gallagher

Nancy Shapiro

Joseph W. Houle

The Rev. Robert Davenport

Mildred Freeboyrne

Joyce Freeboyrne

Daphne Burgher

Roy Burgher

Norman Rumble

Howard Collash

Clifford Russell

Seymore Mitchell

Joseph Nakamura

John and Jane Estopinal

Robert and Alma Sisk

Ernest and Elizabeth Rohrbaugh

Louis Rohrbaugh

The Rev. Dr. David A. Schattschneider

Marie Jean Georges

Oliver Peart

Egar Roberts

Esther Friths

Louis Fuster

Ollie Rex Threadgill

Marjorie Alexander

Eldica Cadette

Perrine De Shield

Ruby Garcia

Brenda Lakham

Clarence Persad

Henrietta Simon

Irving Thomas

Mildred Thomas

David Thomas

Adriana Thomas

Jean Thomas

Unc Thomas

Elaine Wilson

Valma Yearwood

O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day those whom we love but see longer - those who now live in the communion of the saints. We thank you for giving them to us - theirfamily and friends - to know and to love as companions - onour earthly pilgrimages.

In your boundless compassion - console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life - so that in quiet confidence - we may continue our course on earth - until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before.

Lord, in your goodness,

We remember them.

Julia, Edmund, Sam, Clyde, Sarah, Bill,

Tom and Margaretin the Todd-Williams families

Jane A. and Warren Woods

Ruth Woods Smith

Adalaide Hughes Woods

Daisy and Lemon James Clayton

Pat McNeeley

John Leonard

Ken Leonard

Virginia Woods

Christopher Richard Columbus

Allan Williams Van Buren

Rebecca Anderson

Gloria Armstrong

Carol Callender

James Edwards

Kenneth Simpson

Rudy Stubbs

Delores Warren

Benjamin Yates Brewster, Jr.

Joan Jessup Brewster

Jacob and Margaret Baker

Bill and Dorothy Poling

Amy Collins

Frederick B. Beilstein, Jr.

The Rt. Rev. John T. Walker

The Rt. Rev. Ronald H. Haines

The Rt. Rev. Jane Holmes Dixon

The Rev. Janice Robinson

John Pontius

Tim Veney

Baby Boy Howard

The Rev. Lloyd Goodrich

Chance Howard

Jack Guidone

Harold Durant Howard

Mary Elizabeth Clifton Howard

Lucy J. Cardwell

Charles A. Cardwell

Michael Cardwell

Mo Cardwell

Charlene Hatton Cardwell

Stephanie Cardwell

Joan Saunders

Martcia Wade Eyring

Gino Rios, Sr.

Gino Rios, Jr.

Aurora Rodriguez Rios Velazquez

Alice Borden

Katharine and Nicholas Doman

Carter and Mary Higgins

Dick and Mark Higgins

John and Clara Higgins

Elisabeth Higgins Null

O God - the King of saints - we praise and glorify your holyName - for all your servants - who have finished their course inyour faith and fear: for the blessed Virgin Mary; for the holypatriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs; and for all yourother righteous servants, known to us and unknown;

and we pray that - encouraged by their examples -and aided by their prayers - we also maybe partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.

Lord in your goodness,

We remember them.

Are there others you wish to remember today?

I invite you to share their names at this time.

SILENCE

God of all we pray to you for those whom we love but see no longer – but will see again on the day of resurrection. Grant to them eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

1