On Nov. 1, students gathered in the gym for a special chapel service for All Saints’ Day. All Saints’ Day is a day of reflection of family and friends who believed in Jesus and are now resting with Him.

Rev. Dr. David Loy, Dean of Christ College, said, “Many churches in The Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod commemorate All Saints’ Day by inviting members to share the names of family and friends who were believers in Jesus and passed away in the preceding year.” 

Rev. Quinton Anderson, Lead Pastor and Assistant Vice President of Spiritual Life and Development, said that in this time of reflection, we, “set aside to remember those who have lived in faith, and died in Christ, who now rest from their labors.”

Anderson described the heart behind this holiday and explained that there are three things we do and reflect on. Anderson first said, “We do this to give God thanks for His grace given to them through faith in Jesus,” and, “We do this to be strengthened in our faith; reminded that the grace and promise given to them has been secured by Christ for us as well.” Last, “We do this to remember their examples of walking by faith as excellent models for our life,” he explained.

The service started with an opening song called “United in Christ,” a welcome from Rev. Anderson, a baptismal remembrance. After that, Psalm 116 was read aloud. Loy said that in All Saints’ Day tradition, “Often special hymns are sung during the service as well, and passages from the Bible are read, to remind us of God’s promise of eternal life in Christ and to give thanks to God for keeping His the departed Christians faithful during their lives,” and that “This is the same practice we follow here at Concordia.” 

Afterward, Dr. Steven Mueller, Vice President and Chief Mission Officer, gave a devotion about grief and what this celebration of life means. Later, the service, following typical LCMS All Saints’ Day traditions, had a “Roll Call of the Saints.” 

Emily Davis, Administrative Assistant to the Campus Pastor, said, “During this part of the service, Pastor Anderson reads from a list of submitted names of baptized Christians who have passed in the last year. This list is composed of names submitted by the Concordia community through our online link or through the physical cards we offer. After every name is said, a bell toller will ring their bell in remembrance. After the list is read, we have a moment of silence.” 

Davis continued, “The purpose of this service is to give thanks to God for the gift of grace that He has given to each of the Saints through faith in Jesus Christ. This is also a reminder that the grace and promise given to them has also been secured for us, and to remember their example as excellent models for our faith and life.”

After this roll call, Loy said, “A prayer is said asking for God to keep us who still walk this earth as faithful to Christ as the saints who have passed away before us.” The service wrapped up with a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s grace and promise, and a closing song “For All the Saints,” often associated with All Saints’ Day, according to Anderson. 

Before he attended, Loy reflected on his personal investment in the service. Loy said, “My parent’s names will be read during our service here at Concordia… It will be a bittersweet moment for me because it will remind me of the sadness I feel about losing them, but it will also remind me that they are now resting from their earthly labors and waiting for the day when Christ will raise them again in the resurrection.”

Abbey west encourages you to come to the next special service, “Concordia Candlelight.” This celebratory worship service will be held on Dec. 10, the Tues. of finals week, as a way to celebrate Christmas before students leave for break. This service is open to not just Concordia students and faculty, but to the whole community as well.

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