All Saint's Day / All Soul's Day

For me, All Saints Day (as well as All Souls - tomorrow) is a day to celebrate the saints who have gone on before. And I use the term "saints" in the New Testament sense of any and all believers, be they someone like St. Francis of Assisi or St. Paul or someone like my Grandparents or your cousin. For me, it is a time to remember this great communion of saints who is present around us. Without realizing it, my understanding over the years fits very closely with the understanding that Kriacos Markides relates in my post last week (A Time to Reflect). For me, heaven is not so much a place that is "up" as a place that is around us. To use a metaphor, it is like the fourth or fifth dimension.
So, how appropriate to celebrate these great saints who have finished their course in faith and now rest in God.

Here is a ritual that I have used in churches, but I also think can work quite well aboard boats, in small communities, or even by yourself, etc.

Blessed Be

GREETING
Grace to you and peace from God
     who is, and was, and is to come. Amen.
And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness,
     the firstborn of the dead, and ruler of the kings on earth. Amen.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.

(USA, 20th cent., alt)

PRAYER
We bless your holy name, O God,
     for all your servants who, having finished their course,
     now rest from their labors.
Give us grace to follow the example
     of their steadfastness and faithfulness,
     to your honor and glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(England, 20th cent., alt)

At this point, I have lit a candle for each person (saint) that the congregation names. To get people thinking about this, one can ask the following types of questions: Who has died during the last year? Who are those who have mentored you in the faith? After an appropriate amount of time, close with the following prayer.

PRAYER
Almighty God,
     you have knit together your elect
     in one communion and fellowship,
     in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord.
Grant us grace
     so to follow your holy saints in all virtuous and godly living,
     that we may come to those unspeakable joys,
     which you have prepared for those who sincerely love you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(after The Book of Common Prayer)

*** The above greeting and prayers come from the United Methodist Book of Worship (#414 & 415) and the United Methodist Hymnal (#713) respectively.