Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (3)

Reading the names of the departed on All Saints’ Day has the purpose of remembering God’s grace in Christ to those who have fallen asleep in him. Other customs have been connected with the reading of the names:

• Some churches have the custom of lighting candles or ringing bells as the names are read.
• Some churches have the custom of reading the individuals’ confirmation verses along with the names.
• In larger congregations, a simple reading of the names may suffice.

This rite may follow the Prayer of the Church / Prayers of the Faithful, or may be used at another appropriate place in the service.

You, Christ, are the King of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.

You overcame the sting of death
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You sit at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father.
We believe that you will come to be our judge.

Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.

With hope in Christ and in the resurrection to eternal life, we remember those in this congregation who have died in the last year:

The names of those to be remembered are read aloud.

Let us pray.

Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Resurrection and the Life, and through your victory you have brought us eternal righteousness, joy, and holiness. As you have promised, we pray, bring us a joyful resurrection to life and a homecoming in the eternal paradise of our Father’s kingdom. You, Jesus, are arisen from death, and rule with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Amen.

Link to access this rite in Christian Worship: Service Builder.

Source: Based on a document from the Diocese of Gloucester. (https://www.gloucester.anglican.org/content/pages/documents/1380206639.pdf). Responsive reading is from the Te Deum Laudamus. Closing collect is translated and adapted from Prayer for the Order of Burial, found in Allgemeines evangelisches Gesang- und Gebetbuch zum Kirchen und Hausgebrauch,Hamburg, 1846, p. 758.