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Before you take or send your children out to trick or treat, or before you welcome all the ghosts and ghouls to your front door, think about taking a few moments to have a special All Hallow's Eve Service in your own home. Invite other family or friends to be part of your service. Gather a Bible, a Book of Common Prayer, and a few candles to set the sacredness of the space.
ALL HALLOW'S EVE SERVICE AT HOME
The service begins in partial darkness.
L: Light and peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord.
R: Thanks be to God.
L: If we say, "surely the darkness will cover me, and the light around me turns to night," darkness is not dark to you, O Lord; the night is as bright as the day; darkness and light to you are both alike. (Psalm 139:10-11)
L: Let us pray. Lord Christ, your saints have been the lights of the world in every generation: Grant that we, who follow in their footsteps, may be made worthy to enter with them into that heavenly country where you live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.
Candles are now lighted. The Phos hilaron is said.
R: O gracious light,
Pure brightness of the ever living Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
And our eyes behold the vesper light,
We sing your praises, O God:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times
to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of life,
And to be glorified through all the worlds.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
The service continues with two or three lessons, each followed by a Psalm, Canticle, or hymn and Prayer.
The Witch of Endor
1 Samuel 28:3-25 and Psalm 130
It would be appropriate that this scripture lesson be read by a narrator, and by other readers for Saul, the witch, and Samuel.
Let us pray:
Almighty and ever living God, you have made all things in our wisdom and established the boundaries of life and death: Grant
that we may obey your voice in this world, and in the world to come may enjoy that rest and peace which you have appointed
for your people; through Jesus Christ who is Resurrection and Life, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
The Valley of the Dry Bones
Ezekiel 37:1-14 and Psalm 143:1-11
Let us pray:
O God, you have called your people to your service from age to age. Do not give us over to death, but raise us up to serve you,
to praise you, and to glorify your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The War in Heaven
Revelation 12:1-12 and Psalm 103:17-22 or Canticle 1 (parts I and IV) or Canticle 12
Let us pray:
O most merciful and mighty God, your son Jesus Christ was born of the Blessed Virgin Mary to bring us salvation and to
establish your kingdom on earth: Grant that Michael and all your angels may defend your people against Satan and every
evil foe, and that at the last we may come to that heavenly country where your saints sing for ever sing your praise; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The service concludes with the singing of a favorite hymn of praise, the Lord's Prayer, the Collect for All Saint's Day, and a final blessing.
Collect for All Saint's Day
Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord:
Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have
prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in
glory everlasting. Amen.
May the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be with us now and remain with us forever. Amen.
Our service is ended, let us go in the light and peace of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
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