Dear church,
When I lived in Mexico, one of the most poignant experiences of the year was the Day of the Dead celebration, or what we call All Saints Day. In nearly every home, families take time to create ofrendas, which are altars of remembrance. They adorn a table in their home with bright marigolds, sugar skulls, candles, paper cut-outs, and then they add specific objects or photos that help them remember their ancestors. I remember tables filled with photos, chocolate, tortillas, bowls of mole and tamales, as well as sports jerseys, kitchen utensils, and tools. And then many families opened up their homes, inviting neighbors and strangers alike to enter and observe the ofrenda, and in doing so, pay tribute to their ancestors. I found it to be such a beautiful, sacred tradition.
On Sunday, we will create something similar in worship for All Saints Day. We will have Tables of Remembrance at the front of the sanctuary, and all of you are invited to contribute something (or many things!) that help you remember the specific people in your life who have gone ahead of you. The idea behind these tables is not just that they help us remember, but that they also draw our ancestors closer and give us a sense of their presence still with us today.
I invite you to get creative, church! Bring whatever it is that comes to mind when you think of your grandparent, your parent, your child, your friend. And in addition to whatever it is you bring, we will also have paper outside of the sanctuary, where you can write down the names of loved ones and add that to the table as well.
I’m so grateful for this day in the church year that honors our grief, helps us remember, and draws our ancestors a little closer.
See you Sunday,
Pastor Sarah
Oct 30, 2026
Next
Next