A Hymn for All Saints' Day

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. (Psalm 116:15)

The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. (Psalm 34:22)

For much of church history, November 1 has traditionally been observed as All Saints’ Day. In our church, we dedicate the closest Sunday to remembering those in our congregation who have died in faith and gone to be with the Lord during the past year. We mourn their absence, but we also rejoice that because they died in faith, they are now experiencing fullness of joy in the presence of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and that we will be reunited with them on the last day, when Christ returns in glory, our bodies are resurrected, when he will dwell with us and we with him in the new heavens and new earth, and so we shall be with the Lord forever. (1 Thess 4:13-18; Ps 16:11; 1 Cor 15:50-58; Rev 21:1-5)

Every year, on All Saints’ Sunday, we sing this hymn. I invite you to meditate and pray these words along with us, thank God for the faithfulness of the saints who went before us, praise him for his faithfulness to them, rest in his promise to be faithful to us as well, and joyfully look forward to the day when every eye shall see him, and the church militant will enter into her eternal Sabbath rest as the church triumphant.

“For All the Saints"
William Walsham How, 1864

For all the saints who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed;
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

​O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

But lo! there breaks a still more glorious day:
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Alleluia, Alleluia!