Liturgy Planning for Sunday after All Saints

Lectionary:

Revelation 7:9-17


After this I, John, looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
"Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,singing,
"Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.
"Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from? "I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows. " Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."



Psalm 34:1-10, 22 Page 627, BCP
Benedicam Dominum


1
I will bless the LORD at all times; *his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
2
I will glory in the LORD; *let the humble hear and rejoice.
3
Proclaim with me the greatness of the LORD; *let us exalt his Name together.
4
I sought the LORD, and he answered me *and delivered me out of all my terror.
5
Look upon him and be radiant, *and let not your faces be ashamed.
6
I called in my affliction and the LORD heard me *and saved me from all my troubles.
7
The angel of the LORD encompasses those who fear him, *and he will deliver them.
8
Taste and see that the LORD is good; *happy are they who trust in him!
9
Fear the LORD, you that are his saints, *for those who fear him lack nothing.
10
The young lions lack and suffer hunger, *but those who seek the LORD lack nothing that is good.
22
The LORD ransoms the life of his servants, *and none will be punished who trust in him.



1 John 3:1-3


See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.


Matthew 5:1-12


When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Collect:

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.

Hymn Suggestions:

from The 1982 Hymnal

231 and 232 By All Your Saints Still Striving
275 Hark the Sound of Holy Voices
276 For Thy Blest Saints, a Noble Throng
279 For Thy Dear Saints, O Lord
280 God of Saints, to Whom the Number
286 Who Are These Like Stars Appearing
287 For All the Saints
450 and 451 All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name
526 Let Saints on Earth in Concert Sing
545 Lo! What a Cloud of Witnesses
558 Faith of our Fathers*
560 Remember Your Servants Lord
618 Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones
619 Sing Alleluia Forth in Duteous Praise
623 O What Their Joy and Glory Must Be
624 Jerusalem the Golden

Other Hymns and Anthems

For All Your Saints Still Active (Hymns Old and New)
How Shall I Sing that Majesty (John Mason)
My Soul there is a Country (Henry Vaughn)
Sing with All the Saints in Glory (United Methodist Hymnal 702)
Come Let Us Join Our Friends Above (United Methodist Hymnal 709)
Beati voi poveri (Taize)
We Adore You, Lord Jesus Christ (Taize)
O Quam Gloriosum (Philip Moore)
O Quam Gloriosum (Tomas Luis de Victoria)

De Tus Santos en la Tierra (El Himnario 194)
Te Loamos, Dios Clemente (El Himnario 198)

Other Notes:

This is a wonderful time to use Prayer D in the 1979 Prayer Book, and of course one must chant the Mozarabic setting.

The dignity of this feast also allows for a solemn Te Deum, either as a "separate liturgy" after the Mass, or after Matins or Evensong. Incense may be used, but the altar should not be censed. If after the Mass, the celebrant should remove the chasuble and replace it with a cope.

If there is an Evensong on this feast day, it may be followed by a Solemn Benediction






If it is desired to introduce this devotion in places where it is not observed, one could begin with a simpler service of Devotions before the Blessed Sacrament, (p. 157 in Dennis Michno's A Priest's Handbook.