The Feast Days of All Saints and All Souls
Dear Friends
This Sunday we will celebrate the two feast days of All Saints and All Souls, brought together. These are quite different occasions but both encourage us to focus on the lives of others.
All Saints on 1st November, traditionally known as All Hallows, is a time to remember all the heroes of Christianity, men and women who down the ages have given so much to proclaim and preserve the faith. Many suffered grievously for what they believed and endured gruesome deaths, but more led quiet lives of dedication and service. All Saints is particularly a day for those who are not famous, the thousands of saints without names who do not have a special day in the year to be remembered. Their lives are no less special to God and their otherwise ordinary lives are an inspiration to us all.
All Souls on the 2nd November has a much wider remit. It is a time to remember all people, whoever they were and whatever they did. We believe that God loves all and invites them all to join his Kingdom. We might particularly recall amongst the departed, people we have known, those who were very much part of our lives, those who are still dear to us, and those who have died recently. At the service on Sunday, we will read out the names of these departed family members and friends, trusting that the mercy and the love of God surrounds them. We will light the Easter candle as a sign of hope in the resurrection life, promised to all through the death and rising of Jesus.
At the feast days of All Saints and All Souls we recall those who have gone before. Some of the saints may have set what might seem like impossible standards for us to follow. We probably do not consider ourselves to be worthy of sainthood. But at All Souls we are reminded that God`s love is for all people, and through his grace we might all be brought into his eternal presence.
This will be my last Sunday amongst you for now, but I look forward to the opportunity to be with you again in the future. Thank you for your kind and warm welcome and may God bless you in the weeks and months ahead.
Fr. John
A Prayer for All Souls
O Loving Father, whose mercies cannot be numbered,
accept our prayers for all who have died.
Bring them into the land of light and joy,
into the fellowship of your saints, surrounded by your love.
Rest eternal grant to them O Lord,
and let light perpetual shine upon them:
May their souls, and the souls of all the departed,
through the mercy of God rest in peace
and rise in glory.
Amen
This week's service will be led by Revd. John Tomlinson. Volunteers to help organise refreshments after the service are welcome.
You will be able to join us online for this week's Sunday service with this link https://youtu.be/Ko3V3whtymU and the order of service can be found here.
The recording of last Sunday's service, the Last Sunday after Trinity (Bible Sunday), can be viewed with this link https://youtu.be/R9yXl5F-454
Services for the Month of November
6 November (3rd Sunday before Advent) - Holy Communion led by Revd. Maree Wilson
13 November (Remembrance Sunday) - Holy Communion led by Revd. Maree Wilson
20 November (Christ the King) - Holy Communion led by Revd. Maree Wilson
27 November (Advent Sunday) - Holy Communion led by Revd. Ian Eglin
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Ukrainian Day Centre
An ecumenical initiative of  three English-speaking churches in Lausanne (Christ Church, the Scots Kirk, and Our Lady of Faith), the Centre provides support for Ukrainian refugees who have recently arrived to Lausanne. The Centre is hosted by the Scots Kirk on Thursday and Sunday afternoons from 2 pm - 5 pm.
For more information on the Day Centre and how to volunteer or provide financial support please see this link.
Please see this link to read this month's newsletter from the day center.
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